Cleaning device for downhole tools

1. A cleaning device connectable to a downhole tool for use within a well bore, the cleaning device comprising:

a base member non-rotatably mountable to the downhole tool; and

at least one sleeve member rotatably mountable to and around the base member, the sleeve member having a housing member, a support member, at least one protruding member, and a biasing device provided between the protruding member and the support member,

wherein the support member has an outer surface, the housing member is fixedly attachable to the outer surface of the support member so that the support member is disposed between the base member and the housing member, the housing member having an aperture, and being configured to retain the protruding member on the support member whereby the protruding member protrudes through the aperture on the housing member and, in use, is biased by the biasing device towards and into contact with an inner surface of the well bore,

wherein the base member has an outer surface, the support member comprises an annular sleeve surrounding the base member, the annular sleeve having an inner surface comprising a bearing material to bear against the outer surface of the base member.

2. A cleaning device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the cleaning device comprises a scraper device, and wherein the protruding member comprises a scraper blade.

3. A cleaning device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the cleaning device comprises a filter tool, and wherein the protruding member comprises a frictional contact member of a valve arrangement provided at the filter tool.

4. A cleaning device as claimed claim 1 , wherein the protruding member is adapted to substantially inhibit rotation of the sleeve member relative to the inner surface of the well bore.

5. A cleaning device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the support member comprises at least one ring, the ring supporting at least one protruding member.

6. A cleaning device as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the support member comprises a plurality of rings, and wherein the rings are sequentially and axially arranged along the base member.

7. A cleaning device as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the rings are arranged such that the protruding members of adjacent rings are circumferentially offset from each other.

8. A cleaning device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the protruding member includes a substantially planar base surface and the support member includes at least one planar land for the protruding member.

9. A cleaning device as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the support member defines at least one recess for receiving the protruding member, and wherein the recess defines the planar land.

10. A cleaning device as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the aperture in the housing member is alignable with the recess such that the protruding member may protrude from the support member and through the aperture to contact the inner surface of the well bore.

11. A cleaning device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein one of the base member and the sleeve member includes a lubricant reservoir in fluid communication with an interface of the base member and sleeve member such that rotation of the base member relative to the sleeve member lubricates the interface.

12. A cleaning device as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the lubricant reservoir is provided at the base member and the base member includes a piston which acts on the lubricant reservoir to apply lubricant to the interface.

13. A cleaning device as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the base member includes at least one transverse channel in fluid communication with a bore of the downhole tool, and wherein the piston is arranged at the channel to be displaced by pressure from fluid within the bore of the downhole tool and thereby act on the lubricant reservoir to apply lubricant to the interface.

14. A cleaning device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the bearing material comprises a copper alloy.

15. A cleaning device as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the bearing material comprises copper beryllium.

16. A cleaning device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the support member is non-axially movable relative to the base member.

17. A cleaning device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the base member and the support member are spaced apart by a distance when the base member and the support member are concentric.

18. A cleaning device as claimed in claim 1 , further including a downhole tool connectable to the cleaning device for use within a well bore.

19. A method of assembling a downhole tool including a scraper device, the method comprising the steps of:

providing an annular housing member including at least one aperture provided at the circumference of the housing member;

providing at least one protruding member having a base flange and a scraper blade protruding from the base flange;

inserting the protruding member through the aperture from within a bore of the annular housing member until the base flange contacts the inner surface of the bore of the annular housing member;

non-rotatably mounting the housing member and inserted protruding member to and around a support member, thus retaining the protruding member to the support member and housing member;

providing a biasing device between the protruding member and the support member to bias the protruding member away from the support member; and

rotatably mounting the assembled housing member and inserted protruding member and support member to a cylindrical shaft of the downhole tool, wherein the support member comprises an annular sleeve surrounding the shaft of the downhole tool, the annular sleeve having an inner surface comprising a bearing material to bear against the outer surface of the shaft of the downhole tool.

20. A method as claimed in claim 19 , including forming at least one recess at the support member such that the recess aligns with the aperture and such that the protruding member may protrude from the recess and through the aperture.

21. A method as claimed in claim 19 , wherein the support member comprises a plurality of rings, each ring supporting at least one protruding member, and wherein the method includes arranging the rings sequentially and axially along the downhole tool such that the protruding members of adjacent rings are offset from each other.

22. A method as claimed in claim 19 , including non-rotatably mounting a base member to the downhole tool, and rotatably mounting the assembled housing member and inserted protruding member and support member to the base member.

23. A method as claimed in claim 22 , including spacing apart the base member and the support member by a distance when the base member and the support member are concentric.

24. A cleaning device connectable to a downhole tool for use within a well bore, the cleaning device comprising:

a base member non-rotatably mountable to the downhole tool; and

at least one sleeve member rotatably mountable to and around the base member, the sleeve member comprising a housing member, a support member and at least one protruding member;

wherein the housing member is fixedly attachable to the support member, and is configured to retain the protruding member on the support member;

wherein the protruding member includes a substantially planar base surface and the support member includes at least one planar land for the protruding member, wherein the support member defines at least one recess for receiving the protruding member, and wherein the recess defines the planar land;

wherein the support member comprises a bearing material and;

wherein the housing member has an aperture alignable with the recess such that the protruding member protrudes from the support member and through the aperture to contact an inner surface of the well bore.

25. A method of assembling a downhole tool including a scraper device, the method comprising the steps of:

providing an annular housing member including at least one aperture provided at the circumference of the housing member;

providing at least one protruding member having a base flange and a scraper blade protruding from the base flange;

inserting the protruding member through the aperture from within a bore of the annular housing member until the base flange contacts the inner surface of the bore of the annular housing member;

providing a support member having at least one recess alignable with the aperture of the housing member;

non-rotatably mounting the housing member and inserted protruding member to and around the support member, and aligning the recess on the support member with the aperture such that the protruding member may protrude from the recess and through the aperture, thus retaining the protruding member to the support member and housing member; and

rotatably mounting the assembled housing member and inserted protruding member and support member to the downhole tool.