Electrically conductive pattern printer for downhole tools

• US 10,799,908 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2019
• Issued: 10/13/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Original Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Inventors: Reynolds, Robert L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Talbot, Brian K
• Application Number:
  US16/263,878
• Publication Number:
  US 20190160488A1
• Time in Patent Office: 621 Days
• Field of Search: 118300, 118503
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 1/00 Processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials B05D5/00, B05D7/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 1/02 performed by spraying
• CPC Class Codes: C09D 11/037 characterised by the pigment
• CPC Class Codes: C09D 11/52 Electrically conductive inks
• CPC Class Codes: C09D 5/00 Coating compositions, e.g. paints, varnishes or lacquers, characterised by their physical nature or the effects produced electrically insulating plastics, resins or waxes H01B3/30; Filling pastes
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/003 with electrically conducting or insulating means E21B17/028 and E21B17/023 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/26 operating with magnetic or electric fields produced or modified either by the surrounding earth formation or by the detecting device with electromagnetic waves G01V3/30
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 21/687 using mechanical means, e.g. chucks, clamps or pinches using elecrostatic chucks H01L21/6831
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 21/68707 the wafers being placed on a robot blade, or gripped by a gripper for conveyance
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 21/68728 characterised by a plurality of separate clamping members, e.g. clamping fingers
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/75621 Holding means
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/75703 Mechanical holding means
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/76621 Holding means
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/76703 Mechanical holding means
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/77621 Holding means, e.g. wire clampers
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/77703 Mechanical holding means
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/78621 Holding means, e.g. wire clampers
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/78703 Mechanical holding means
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/79621 Holding means
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/79703 Mechanical holding means
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/04 : Adaptation for subterranean or subaqueous use

Abstract

A device which prints an electrically conductive pattern on a downhole tool using electrical ink includes a print head assembly and gripper claw assembly to print and manipulate the downhole tool during printing, respectively. The electrically conductive pattern may be an antenna coil, circuit or other desired pattern. After printing, the accuracy of the pattern is verified by the system and an impact resistant coating is applied to the pattern.

Claims

1. A device to print an electrically conductive pattern on a downhole tool, the device comprising:

a print head assembly comprising a first reservoir containing electronic ink; and

a gripper claw assembly having at least one gripper claw comprising;

a first claw; and

a second opposing claw,

wherein the first and second claws operate in tandem to grip the downhole tool as the print head assembly prints the electrically conductive pattern on the downhole tool using the electronic ink.

2. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein the print head assembly further comprises a second reservoir.

3. A device as defined in claim 2, wherein the second reservoir contains an impact resistant coating that is applied to the electrically conductive pattern.

4. A device as defined in claim 3, wherein the impact resistant coating is an epoxy.

5. A device as defined in claim 2, wherein the print head assembly further comprises a sensor to detect a position of the print head along the downhole tool.

6. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein the electronic ink is graphene ink.

7. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein the gripper claw assembly comprises three gripper claws.

8. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein the gripper claw assembly further comprises:

an arm connected to the gripper claw; and

a track connected to the arm, wherein the track is configured to allow the gripper claw to move along an axis of the track.

9. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein the first and second claws comprise frictional balls to grip the downhole tool.

10. A device as defined in claim 9, further comprising a motor connected to the friction balls to rotate the friction balls, thereby resulting in movement of the downhole tool.

11. A device as defined in claim 1, further comprising a positioning system to move the print head assembly along the downhole tool.

12. A device to print an electrically conductive pattern on a downhole tool, the device comprising:

a print head assembly; and

a gripper claw assembly comprising;

a first claw; and

a second opposing claw that operates in tandem with the first claw to grip a downhole tool.

13. A device as defined in claim 12, wherein the print head assembly comprises a sensor to detect a position of the print head assembly along the downhole tool.

14. A device as defined in claim 12, wherein the first and second claws comprise frictional balls to grip the downhole tool.

15. A device as defined in claim 14, further comprising a motor connected to the friction balls to rotate the friction balls.

16. A device as defined in claim 12, wherein the print head assembly further comprises at least one reservoir.