Inflatable well packer
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An inflatable type packer for sealing across downhole conduits comprising:
- a pair of rigid tubular packer heads;
an inflatable tubular packer body disposed between said packer heads and coaxially interconnecting said packer heads;
a bladder in the form of an elongate, flexible, elastomeric sleeve including a central section lining said packer body, a pair of end sections adjacent opposite ends of said central section, each secured within a respective one of said packer heads, and a pair of annular shoulder sections each coaxially connecting a respective one of said end sections to the adjacent end of said central section;
and a rigid tubular mandrel having one end rigidly secured within one of said packer heads, extending coaxially through said packer body and into the other of said packer heads radially inwardly of said bladder;
wherein said packer has a fully assembled but deflated configuration wherein said central section of said bladder has a first outer diameter which is greater than the inner diameter of said packer body, said central section of said bladder being folded upon itself between said packer body and said mandrel, and in which said end sections of said bladder have a second outer diameter less than said first outer diameter;
and wherein said one packer head defines passage means for introducing fluid to the area between said mandrel and said bladder.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An inflatable packer for sealing across downhole conduits comprises a pair of rigid tubular packer heads coaxially interconnected by an inflatable tubular packer body. A bladder in the form of an elongate, flexible elastomeric sleeve includes a central section lining the packer body and having an outer diameter which, in a relaxed state of the bladder, is less than the deflated inner diameter of the packer body. The central section of the bladder is folded upon itself within the packer body in its deflated configuration. An inner reinforcing layer of the packer body is exposed in an annular area between the ends of the packer body.
53 Citations
14 Claims
-
1. An inflatable type packer for sealing across downhole conduits comprising:
-
a pair of rigid tubular packer heads; an inflatable tubular packer body disposed between said packer heads and coaxially interconnecting said packer heads; a bladder in the form of an elongate, flexible, elastomeric sleeve including a central section lining said packer body, a pair of end sections adjacent opposite ends of said central section, each secured within a respective one of said packer heads, and a pair of annular shoulder sections each coaxially connecting a respective one of said end sections to the adjacent end of said central section; and a rigid tubular mandrel having one end rigidly secured within one of said packer heads, extending coaxially through said packer body and into the other of said packer heads radially inwardly of said bladder; wherein said packer has a fully assembled but deflated configuration wherein said central section of said bladder has a first outer diameter which is greater than the inner diameter of said packer body, said central section of said bladder being folded upon itself between said packer body and said mandrel, and in which said end sections of said bladder have a second outer diameter less than said first outer diameter; and wherein said one packer head defines passage means for introducing fluid to the area between said mandrel and said bladder. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. An inflatable type packer for sealing across downhole conduits comprising:
-
a pair of rigid tubular packer heads; an inflatable tubular packer body disposed between said packer heads and coaxially interconnecting said packer heads; a rigid tubular mandrel having one end rigidly secured within one of said packer heads, extending coaxially through said packer body and into the other of said packer heads; and a tubular bladder having a central section disposed generally coaxially between said packer body and said mandrel; said packer having a fully assembled but deflated configuration wherein said central section of said bladder is folded upon itself.
-
Specification