RU2739823C1 - Cable connector for operation in conducting medium - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: electrical engineering.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to electrical engineering and can be used in operation of directional and horizontal oil and gas wells. Cable connector for operation in conducting medium is a part of cable termination modular equipment based on method of electric communication in conducting medium by means of pin and socket parts with fixation unit. Socket part is fixed on the geophysical cable and is lowered to the pin part located between the geophysical instruments and the drill pipe string. Fixation unit is located in the pin and socket parts of the connector. Hinge-holders and guide elements 6, 7 are installed in body of pin part for centering of socket part with contact pin 8. In the socket part on the outer surface a shear ring is installed, the dimensions of which are designed for a certain shearing force at disconnection, the disengagement force of the pin and socket parts is ensured by selecting thickness 12 of shear ring 9.

EFFECT: reliable fixation of the cable connector, reliable disconnection of the pin and socket parts at the specified force applied to the cable during operation in the drilling fluid and at considerable distance from the force application point.

1 cl, 3 dwg

Description

Technology area

The invention relates to electrical engineering and can be used during the operation of directional and horizontal oil and gas wells. The cable connector for working in a conductive environment is part of the modular cable descent equipment (MAKS), which is based on the method of electrical communication in a conductive environment using pin and socket parts with a fixing unit

State of the art

Known cable connector for US patent No. 4570709 (IPC H01R 13/52, publ. 1986) containing a housing, consisting of two parts (male and female), which contains the contact elements. The contact elements are made in the form of metal pins, which provide electrical contact when mechanically connected. The female part of the connector is a part of the body of the geophysical tool, which is lowered into the well using drill pipes. In the process of operation, the male part of the connector is lowered into the well through the drill pipes on the wireline. When both parts of the connector are docked, the electrical contacts are connected, providing electrical power to the blocks of the geophysical instrument and the passage of information from it along the logging cable to the surface.

The disadvantage of this connector is the possibility of drilling mud entering the inner cavity of the cable connector.

Known sealed electrical connector.with. No. 792383 (IPC H01R 13/52, publ. 30.12.80), containing a plug with pin contacts located in the insulator, and a centering sleeve, telescopically enclosing the socket, with sockets, the inner cavity of which is filled with an insulating liquid and is closed from the joint with an elastic a diaphragm, a unit for mutual fixation of a plug and a socket, elements of angular orientation in the form of a longitudinal groove and a finger located in it, made in the centering sleeve and in one of the connector parts, and a current lead, which is equipped with a cylindrical part having a weight that ensures the puncture of the diaphragm with pins, on one end of which a socket is fixed, the latter is connected to a conductor located in a cylindrical part for a part of the length, the mutual fixation unit is made in the form of a sleeve fixedly mounted on a free section of the current lead on the side opposite to the outlet, on which a pair of one-arm levers are hingedly connected to two-armed levers, one ends of which are connected m between themselves by a spring, and the others interact with an annular protrusion made on the inner surface of the centering sleeve, while the groove has a lead-in part and is formed on the cylindrical part, and the pin is in the centering sleeve, and the insulating liquid has a density less than the density of the flushing liquid, and the plug insulator is made of hydrophobic material.

The disadvantage of this solution is the possibility of drilling mud getting into the inner cavity of the connector, which leads to disruption of the contact of the connected parts of the connector.

Known closest in technical essence and the achieved result to the proposed cable connector for work in a conductive environment (patent No. 2282289, IPC H01R 13/52, publ. 20.08.2006).

The conductive cable connector consists of male and female parts with fixing assembly. The fixation unit is located in the pin part of the connector and includes a spring-loaded bushing, the inner diameter of which is larger than the outer diameter of the housing of the socket part, and fixing elements tightened by an elastic ring and fixed in a cage, which is pressed by a spring to the inner ledge of the pin part body. The pin part additionally contains a rotary damper and an associated lever mounted on the axle.

The disadvantage of the prototype solution is the complexity of the design, the lack of flushing of the pin contact, which leads to a breakdown in the contact of the connected parts of the connector, a variable force of separation of the detachable parts.

The essence of the invention

The proposed invention solves the problem of reliable fixation of the cable connector, reliable separation of the pin and socket parts at a given force, free from the disadvantages of the prototype.

The problem is solved using the features specified in the 1st claim in common with the prototype, such as a cable connector for operation in a conductive medium, consisting of a pin socket parts with a fixation unit, and distinctive essential features such as elements of the fixation unit are located as in both in the socket and in the pin parts of the connector, and the pin part includes fasteners-hooks that grip the socket part along the outer diameter and guide elements for centering the socket part with a contact pin, and a shear ring is installed on the socket part in the recess, the contact surface of which is made under an angle that provides a reliable cut when disconnecting the connector, while the contact edges of the fixing hooks and the shear ring have a mutual angle to ensure a reliable cut when the connector is disconnected.

According to claim 2 of the claims, the force of separation of the pin and socket parts is provided by the selection of the shear ring thickness.

The above set of essential features allows to obtain the following technical result - the design provides reliable fixation of the cable connector, reliable separation of the male and female parts at a given force applied to the cable when operating in the drilling fluid and at a considerable distance from the place of application of forces.

The proposed design is illustrated by drawings, where

in fig. 1 shows the female part of the cable connector,

in fig. 2 shows the pin part,

in fig. 3 cable connector in connection.

Information confirming the feasibility of the invention Cable connector for operation in a conductive environment (Fig. 1, 2, 3) consists of pin 1 female 2 parts with fixing unit 3. Elements of fixing unit 3 are located both in female 2 and pin 1 parts of the connector ... The pin part (Fig. 2) includes hooks 4 that grip the socket part along the outer diameter 5 and guide elements 6,7 for centering the socket part with the contact pin 8,

A special shear ring 9 is installed in the housing of the socket part 2 (Fig. 1). The protruding part of the ring is designed for a certain shear force required to separate the pin and socket parts of the connector. The ring is installed in a special recess in the body to prevent damage during running inside the drill string.

In the body of the pin part 1 (Fig. 2) there are guiding elements 6, 7 for centering the socket part with the contact pin 8. The contact edges of the fixing hooks 4 and the shear ring 9 have a mutual angle to ensure a reliable cut when the connector is disconnected.

When the socket part enters the pin, the hooks 4 cover the shear ring 9 (Fig. 3). To disconnect the connector, a force is applied on the cable, while the edge of the ring 9 is cut.

The use of a cable connector for working in a conductive environment as part of modular cable communication equipment (MAKS) allows solving geological problems when carrying out geophysical operations in wells with a complex profile, complex geological and technical conditions, including in highly inclined and horizontal wells. The instruments are delivered to the bottom at the end of the string. The geophysical instrument is connected to the pipe string through the male part of the cable connector. After assembly in a vertical wellbore, a logging cable is lowered into the string, equipped at the end with a female part of the cable connector, until it is connected to the male part, while establishing an electrical contact with the tool and fixing this contact. The connection can take place in the drilling or other fluid filling the well.

Work with the proposed cable connector is as follows.

The tools are mounted at the wellhead and connected to the pin part 1. Further, by extending the drill string, the tools are lowered to a predetermined depth. The geophysical cable, previously passed through a special unit, together with the socket part 2, is placed inside the drill string. Next, the socket part 1 is lowered to obtain an electrical connection with the devices. After logging, to disconnect the cable connector, it is necessary to apply the force to the cable, necessary to cut ring 9.

This description and drawings are considered as material illustrating the invention, the essence of which and the scope of patent claims are defined in the following claims, a set of essential features and their equivalents.

Claims (2)

1. Cable connector for operation in a conductive environment, consisting of pin 1, female 2 parts with fixing unit 3, characterized in that the elements of fixing unit 3 are located both in female 2 and pin 1 parts of the connector, and the pin part includes latches - hooks 4, which grasp the socket part along the outer diameter 5, and guide elements 6, 7 for centering the socket part with a contact pin 8, and a shear ring 9 is installed on the socket part in the recess, the contact surface 10 of which is made at an angle that provides a reliable cut when disconnecting the connector, while the contact edges 11 of the fixing hooks 4 and the shear ring 9 have a mutual angle to ensure a reliable cut when disconnecting the connector. 2. The connector according to claim 1, characterized in that the force of separation of the pin and socket parts is provided by the selection of the thickness 12 of the shear ring 9.

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