Extrusion resistant inflatable tool

• US 6,595,283 B1
• Filed: 07/19/2000
• Issued: 07/22/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Original Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Inventors: Yuan, Yusheng, Turley, Rocky A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bagnell, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): GAY, JENNIFER HAWKINS
• Application Number:
  US09/619,463
• Time in Patent Office: 1,098 Days
• Field of Search: 166/189, 166/175, 166/195, 277/331, 277/334
• US Class Current: 166/195
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/1216 Anti-extrusion means, e.g. means to prevent cold flow of rubber packing
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/1277 characterised by the construction or fixation of the sleeve

Abstract

Extrusion resistant inflatable tool having a biaxially oriented woven material disposed about at least one elastomeric element of the inflatable tool and radially inwardly of a rib structure of the inflatable tool. The woven material prevents extrusion of the elastomeric element between individual ribs of the ribs structure during the inflation of the tool.

Claims

1. An inflatable tool comprising:

a mandrel;

an inflatable element disposed about said mandrel;

an extrusion resistant at least biaxially woven sleeve wherein said sleeve is composed of strong fibers laid in at least two axial directions, said sleeve being disposed about said element said sleeve being unaffixed on at least one end thereof; and

a plurality of ribs disposed about said extrusion resistant sleeve.

2. The inflatable tool of claim 1, wherein said tool further comprises a plurality of ribs disposed about said extrusion resistant sleeve.

3. The inflatable tool of claim 2, wherein said extrusion resistant sleeve is a woven material.

4. The inflatable tool of claim 3, wherein said woven material is biaxially woven.

5. The inflatable tool of claim 3, wherein said material is one of carbon fiber, Aramid fiber and fiberglass.

6. The inflatable tool of claim 1, wherein said tool further includes a friction lowering material disposed between said extrusion resistant sleeve and said inflatable element.

7. The inflatable tool of claim 6, wherein said friction lowering material is applied to said element.

8. The inflatable tool of claim 7, wherein said friction lowering material is polytetrafluoroethylene tape.

9. The inflatable tool of claim 6, wherein said friction lowering material is applied to said extrusion resistant sleeve.

10. The inflatable tool of claim 1, wherein said extrusion resistant sleeve is composed substantially of material having a low coefficient of friction.

11. An inflatable tool as claimed in claim 1 wherein said biaxially woven sleeve is constructed of fibers woven at an acuate angle to one another.

12. An inflatable tool as claimed in claim 11 wherein said acuate angle is about 45 degrees.