IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,624,254
Granted Patent B2
US 11,624,254 · App. 16/543,738 · Granted Apr 11, 2023

Accumulator system

Inventors: Christopher Nault (Houston, TX); Matthew David Givens (Houston, TX); Vikas Rakhunde (Cypress, TX)
Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
E21B33/0355E21B33/062E21B33/064
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,624,254
App. No.
16/543,738
Granted
Apr 11, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

An accumulator system that includes a housing. The housing defines a function chamber and a balance chamber. A piston moves axially within the housing. The piston separates the function chamber from the balance chamber. An electric actuator couples to and drives the piston within the housing to compress and drive a first fluid out of the function chamber.

Claims (41)

1. An accumulator system, comprising:

a housing, the housing defining a function chamber and a balance chamber;

a piston configured to move axially within the housing, the piston configured to separate the function chamber from the balance chamber;

an electric actuator configured to couple to and drive the piston within the housing to compress and drive a first fluid out of the function chamber;

a battery within the housing and coupled to the electric actuator;

a shaft coupled to the piston and to the electric actuator,

wherein the shaft is coupled to the electric actuator with a screw adapter, the screw adapter defining an aperture that enables the shaft to extend through the screw adapter, and wherein rotation of the screw adapter is configured to drive the piston axially; and

an anti-rotation system comprising:

an anti-rotation housing defining a cavity; and

a plurality of anti-rotation guides,

wherein the shaft is received in the cavity of the anti-rotation housing, and

wherein the plurality of anti-rotation guides blocks rotation of the shaft.

2. The accumulator system of claim 1 , wherein the electric actuator is within the balance chamber.

3. The accumulator system of claim 1 , wherein the balance chamber is configured to receive a second fluid as the piston moves in a first direction and to discharge the second fluid as the piston moves in a second direction opposite the first direction.

4. The accumulator system of claim 1 , wherein, the electric actuator includes an electric motor including a rotor and a stator, each of the rotor and the stator being disposed in the balance chamber.

5. An accumulator system, comprising:

an accumulator system housing, the accumulator system housing defining a function chamber and a balance chamber;

a piston configured to move axially within the accumulator system housing, the piston configured to separate the function chamber from the balance chamber;

an electric actuator housed in an actuator housing, the electric actuator being configured to couple to and drive the piston within the accumulator system housing to compress and drive a first fluid out of the function chamber;

a shaft configured to couple to the piston and to the electric actuator, wherein the shaft couples to the electric actuator with a screw adapter, and wherein rotation of the screw adapter is configured to drive the piston axially;

a plurality of roller screws configured to couple directly to the shaft and to the screw adapter, wherein the roller screws are configured to transfer rotation of the screw adapter to axially move the shaft;

an anti-rotation housing defining a cavity and at least one slit; and

at least one anti-rotation guide,

wherein the shaft is received in the cavity of the anti-rotation housing, and

wherein the at least one anti-rotation guide extends into the at least one slit to block rotation of the shaft by contacting the anti-rotation housing.

6. The accumulator system of claim 5 , wherein the electric actuator is within the balance chamber.

7. The accumulator system of claim 5 , wherein the balance chamber is configured to receive a second fluid as the piston moves in a first direction and to discharge the second fluid as the piston moves in a second direction opposite the first direction.

8. The accumulator of claim 5 , wherein, the electric actuator includes an electric motor including a rotor and a stator, each of the rotor and the stator being disposed in the balance chamber.

9. A mineral extraction system, comprising:

a mineral extraction component;

an accumulator system coupled to the mineral extraction component, wherein the accumulator system is configured to pressurize a fluid to actuate the mineral extraction component, the accumulator system comprising:

a housing, the housing defining a function chamber and a balance chamber;

a piston configured to move axially within the housing, the piston configured to separate the function chamber from the balance chamber;

an electric actuator configured to couple to and drive the piston within the housing to compress and drive a first fluid out of the function chamber, the electric actuator including an electric motor including a rotor and a stator, and each of the rotor and the stator being disposed in the balance chamber;

a shaft configured to couple to the piston and to the electric actuator, wherein the shaft couples to the electric actuator with a screw adapter, the screw adapter defining an aperture that enables the shaft to extend through the screw adapter, and wherein rotation of the screw adapter is configured to drive the piston axially,

an anti-rotation housing that receives the shaft; and

at least one anti-rotation guide that blocks rotation of the shaft by contacting the anti-rotation housing,

wherein the mineral extraction component is a blowout preventer.

10. The mineral extraction system of claim 9 , wherein the balance chamber is configured to receive a second fluid as the piston moves in a first direction and to discharge the second fluid as the piston moves in a second direction opposite the first direction.

11. The mineral extraction system of claim 9 , further comprising a position detection system configured to detect a position of the shaft.

12. The mineral extraction system of claim 11 , wherein the position detection system comprises a magnetic field sensor or an ultrasonic sensor.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 2, 2022
From: CAMERON INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
To: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 060078/0237 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 2, 2021
From: NAULT, CHRISTOPHER; GIVENS, MATTHEW DAVID; RAKHUNDE, VIKAS
To: CAMERON INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 057367/0934 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62719455 · Aug 17, 2018
Related Publication 20200056630A1 · Feb 20, 2020