IP Library Granted Patent US 11,598,928
Granted Patent B2
US 11,598,928 · App. 16/511,190 · Granted Mar 7, 2023

Cable to reduce optical fiber movement and methods to fabricate

Inventors: Edward M. Dowd (Madison, CT); Domino Taverner (Bethany, CT); John J. Grunbeck (Northford, CT)
Assignee: WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, LLC
G02B6/4488B23K26/24G02B6/443G02B6/4438G02B6/4485
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,598,928
App. No.
16/511,190
Granted
Mar 7, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide techniques for making armored cables. An example method for making an armored cable includes forming a strip stock into an armor tubing; welding a seam of the armor tubing in a welding zone; inserting at least one of a first optical fiber or a first wire into a first end of a first guide tube, wherein: the first guide tube extends through the welding zone; the first guide tube protects the at least one of the first optical fiber or the first wire during the welding of the seam; and the first guide tube is not part of the armored cable after the making of the armored cable; and supporting the first guide tube within the armor tubing by a plurality of support legs such that the first guide tube does not contact the armor tubing.

Claims (68)

1. A method for making an armored cable, comprising:

applying an adhesive material to a strip stock;

forming the strip stock with the adhesive material into an armor tubing;

welding a seam of the armor tubing in a welding zone;

inserting at least one of a first optical fiber or a first wire into a first end of a first guide tube; and

supporting at least a portion of the first guide tube with a plurality of support legs, wherein:

the first guide tube extends through the welding zone;

the first guide tube protects the at least one of the first optical fiber or the first wire during the welding of the seam;

the at least one of the first optical fiber or the first wire contacts the adhesive material after the at least one of the first optical fiber or the first wire exits a second end of the first guide tube;

the first guide tube is not part of the armored cable after the making of the armored cable; and

at least one of the plurality of support legs comprises at least a portion of a support wire.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein applying the adhesive material comprises applying a strip of the adhesive material to the strip stock.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein applying the adhesive material comprises applying discrete quantities of the adhesive material to the strip stock.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the supporting comprises supporting the at least the portion of the first guide tube with the plurality of support legs within the armor tubing such that the at least the portion of the first guide tube does not contact the armor tubing.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the supporting comprises preventing the at least the portion of the first guide tube from contacting the adhesive material.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second end of the first guide tube is supported by the plurality of support legs.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein a middle portion of the support wire is attached to the first guide tube and wherein at least one end portion of the support wire is one of the plurality of support legs.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the support wire extends axially along the first guide tube, wherein a plurality of first portions of the support wire are attached to the first guide tube, and wherein a plurality of second portions of the support wire are spaced from the first guide tube and each form one of the plurality of support legs.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein a middle portion of the support wire is wrapped around the first guide tube and wherein at least one end portion of the support wire is one of the plurality of support legs.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first guide tube is disposed within an outer guide tube.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising introducing a gas within the outer guide tube.

12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising inserting at least one of a second optical fiber or a second wire into a first end of a second guide tube, wherein:

the second guide tube extends through the welding zone;

the second guide tube protects the at least one of the second optical fiber or the second wire during the welding;

the at least one of the second optical fiber or the second wire contacts the adhesive material after the at least one of the second optical fiber or the second wire exits a second end of the second guide tube; and

the second guide tube is not part of the armored cable after the making of the armored cable.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the adhesive material adheres the at least one of the first optical fiber or the first wire to an interior surface of the armor tubing.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the adhesive material adheres a plurality of first portions of the at least one of the first optical fiber or the first wire to a plurality of locations on an interior surface of the armor tubing, and wherein a plurality of second portions of the at least one of the first optical fiber or the first wire are not adhered to the interior surface of the armor tubing.

15. A method for making an armored cable, comprising:

applying discrete quantities of an adhesive material to a strip stock;

forming the strip stock with the discrete quantities of the adhesive material into an armor tubing;

welding a seam of the armor tubing in a welding zone; and

inserting at least one of a first optical fiber or a first wire into a first end of a first guide tube, wherein:

the first guide tube extends through the welding zone;

the first guide tube protects the at least one of the first optical fiber or the first wire during the welding of the seam;

the at least one of the first optical fiber or the first wire contacts the adhesive material after the at least one of the first optical fiber or the first wire exits a second end of the first guide tube; and

the first guide tube is not part of the armored cable after the making of the armored cable.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising supporting the first guide tube within the armor tubing such that the first guide tube does not contact the armor tubing.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein supporting the first guide tube comprises preventing the first guide tube from contacting the adhesive material.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the second end of the first guide tube is supported by a plurality of support legs.

19. The method of claim 15 , wherein the first guide tube is disposed within an outer guide tube.

20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising introducing a gas within the outer guide tube.

21. The method of claim 15 , further comprising inserting at least one of a second optical fiber or a second wire into a first end of a second guide tube, wherein:

the second guide tube extends through the welding zone;

the second guide tube protects the at least one of the second optical fiber or the second wire during the welding;

the at least one of the second optical fiber or the second wire contacts the adhesive material after the at least one of the second optical fiber or the second wire exits a second end of the second guide tube; and

the second guide tube is not part of the armored cable after the making of the armored cable.

22. The method of claim 15 , wherein the adhesive material adheres a plurality of first portions of the at least one of the first optical fiber or the first wire to a plurality of locations on an interior surface of the armor tubing, and wherein a plurality of second portions of the at least one of the first optical fiber or the first wire are not adhered to the interior surface of the armor tubing.

23. A method for making an armored cable, comprising:

applying an adhesive material to a strip stock;

forming the strip stock with the adhesive material into an armor tubing;

welding a seam of the armor tubing in a welding zone; and

inserting at least one of a first optical fiber or a first wire into a first end of a first guide tube; and

supporting at least a portion of the first guide tube with a plurality of support legs disposed beneath the first guide tube, wherein:

the first guide tube extends through the welding zone;

the first guide tube protects the at least one of the first optical fiber or the first wire during the welding of the seam;

the at least one of the first optical fiber or the first wire contacts the adhesive material after the at least one of the first optical fiber or the first wire exits a second end of the first guide tube; and

the first guide tube is not part of the armored cable after the making of the armored cable.

24. The method of claim 23 , wherein applying the adhesive material comprises applying a strip of the adhesive material to the strip stock.

25. The method of claim 23 , wherein applying the adhesive material comprises applying discrete quantities of the adhesive material to the strip stock.

26. The method of claim 23 , wherein the supporting comprises supporting the at least the portion of the first guide tube with the plurality of support legs within the armor tubing such that the at least the portion of the first guide tube does not contact the armor tubing.

27. The method of claim 23 , further comprising inserting at least one of a second optical fiber or a second wire into a first end of a second guide tube, wherein:

the second guide tube extends through the welding zone;

the second guide tube protects the at least one of the second optical fiber or the second wire during the welding;

the at least one of the second optical fiber or the second wire contacts the adhesive material after the at least one of the second optical fiber or the second wire exits a second end of the second guide tube; and

the second guide tube is not part of the armored cable after the making of the armored cable.

28. The method of claim 23 , wherein the adhesive material adheres the at least one of the first optical fiber or the first wire to an interior surface of the armor tubing.

29. The method of claim 23 , wherein the adhesive material adheres a plurality of first portions of the at least one of the first optical fiber or the first wire to a plurality of locations on an interior surface of the armor tubing, and wherein a plurality of second portions of the at least one of the first optical fiber or the first wire are not adhered to the interior surface of the armor tubing.

Assignments (8)
PATENT SECURITY INTEREST ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 26, 2023
From: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 063470/0629 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 1, 2021
From: WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, LLC; WEATHERFORD NETHERLANDS B.V.; WEATHERFORD NORGE AS; HIGH PRESSURE INTEGRITY, INC.; PRECISION ENERGY SERVICES, INC.; WEATHERFORD CANADA LTD.; WEATHERFORD SWITZERLAND TRADING AND DEVELOPMENT GMBH; WEATHERFORD U.K. LIMITED
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 057683/0706 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 1, 2021
From: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, LLC; WEATHERFORD NETHERLANDS B.V.; WEATHERFORD NORGE AS; HIGH PRESSURE INTEGRITY, INC.; PRECISION ENERGY SERVICES, INC.; WEATHERFORD CANADA LTD; WEATHERFORD SWITZERLAND TRADING AND DEVELOPMENT GMBH; PRECISION ENERGY SERVICES ULC; WEATHERFORD U.K. LIMITED
Reel/Frame 057683/0423 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 28, 2020
From: WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, LLC; WEATHERFORD NETHERLANDS B.V.; WEATHERFORD NORGE AS; HIGH PRESSURE INTEGRITY, INC.; PRECISION ENERGY SERVICES, INC.; WEATHERFORD CANADA LTD.; WEATHERFORD SWITZERLAND TRADING AND DEVELOPMENT GMBH; PRECISION ENERGY SERVICES ULC; WEATHERFORD U.K. LIMITED
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 054288/0302 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 28, 2020
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, LLC; WEATHERFORD NETHERLANDS B.V.; WEATHERFORD NORGE AS; HIGH PRESSURE INTEGRITY, INC.; PRECISION ENERGY SERVICES, INC.; WEATHERFORD CANADA LTD.; WEATHERFORD SWITZERLAND TRADING AND DEVELOPMENT GMBH; PRECISION ENERGY SERVICES ULC; WEATHERFORD U.K. LIMITED
Reel/Frame 053838/0323 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 26, 2019
From: WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, LLC; WEATHERFORD NETHERLANDS B.V.; WEATHERFORD NORGE AS; HIGH PRESSURE INTEGRITY, INC.; PRECISION ENERGY SERVICES, INC.; WEATHERFORD CANADA LTD.; WEATHERFORD SWITZERLAND TRADING AND DEVELOPMENT GMBH; PRECISION ENERGY SERVICES ULC; WEATHERFORD U.K. LIMITED
To: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 051419/0140 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 18, 2019
From: WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS LLC; WEATHERFORD NETHERLANDS B.V.; WEATHERFORD NORGE AS; HIGH PRESSURE INTEGRITY INC.; PRECISION ENERGY SERVICES INC.; WEATHERFORD CANADA LTD.; WEATHERFORD SWITZERLAND TRADING AND DEVELOPMENT GMBH; PRECISION ENERGY SERVICES ULC; WEATHERFORD U.K. LIMITED
To: WELLS FARGO BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 051891/0089 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 17, 2019
From: DOWD, EDWARD M.; TAVERNER, DOMINO; GRUNBECK, JOHN J.
To: WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, LLC
Reel/Frame 049778/0228 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62701157 · Jul 20, 2018
Related Publication 20200026020A1 · Jan 23, 2020