IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,331,605
Granted Patent B2
US 12,331,605 · App. 18/733,729 · Granted Jun 17, 2025

Eccentric linkage gripper

Inventor: Rudolph Ernst Krueger, V (Aliso Viejo, CA)
Assignee: WWT North America Holdings, Inc.
E21B23/01E21B4/18E21B23/00E21B23/042
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,331,605
App. No.
18/733,729
Granted
Jun 17, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A gripper mechanism for a downhole tool is disclosed that includes an eccentric linkage mechanism. In operation, an axial force generated by a power section of the gripper expands the linkage mechanism, which applies a radial force to the interior surface of a wellbore or passage. A sliding portion allows the gripper to slide along a surface of the formation in response to the radial force applied to the interior surface of the wellbore or passage.

Claims (18)

1. A method for gripping an interior surface of a wellbore, comprising:

positioning a gripper having a body and a grip assembly coupled to the body, the grip assembly including a linkage with a wall engagement portion;

advancing a propulsion system positioned with the body to cause the linkage to expand and the wall engagement portion to extend away from the body to engage the interior surface of the wellbore;

exerting force through the wall engagement portion by the interior surface caused by movement of the linkage, resulting in translation of the body along the wellbore away from a wellbore opening, wherein exerting force on one side of the interior surface of the wellbore with the wall engagement portion positions the body of the gripper eccentrically within the wellbore; and

collapsing the gripper such that a cross-sectional area of the linkage is at least 35% of the cross-sectional area of the collapsed gripper, the latter being defined by the collapsed, throughfit outer diameter (OD) of the gripper.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein advancing the propulsion system causes the linkage to translate along a ramp for expanding the linkage.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein a ratio of an expanded throughfit OD of the gripper in an expanded configuration to a collapsed throughfit OD of the gripper is more than 2.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the exerting force on the gripper moves the gripper toward a wellbore opening and moves the wall engagement portion of the gripper toward the interior surface to propel the gripper within the wellbore.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the propulsion system comprises a hydraulic actuator.

6. A tractor having a gripper for gripping an interior surface of a wellbore, the tractor comprising:

an elongated body;

a propulsion system for applying thrust to the body; and

a gripper comprising a linkage having a wall engagement portion for anchoring the tractor to the interior surface of the wellbore while such thrust is applied to the body, wherein the gripper has an actuated position in which the wall engagement portion of the gripper prevents relative movement between the gripper and the interior surface of the wellbore using outward radial force, and a retracted position in which the gripper permits free relative movement between the gripper and the interior surface of the wellbore;

wherein each gripper is slidably engaged with the elongated body such that the body can be thrust longitudinally while the gripper is actuated.

7. The tractor of claim 6 , wherein the propulsion system comprises a hydraulic actuator.

8. The tractor of claim 6 , wherein the propulsion systems is positioned within the elongate body.

9. The tractor of claim 6 , wherein the gripper further comprises a ramp positioned to interact with the linkage as the wall engagement portion extends away from the body.

10. The tractor of claim 6 , wherein, in the retracted position configuration, a cross-sectional area of the linkage is at least 35% of a cross-sectional area of the gripper, the cross-sectional area of the gripper defined by a collapsed, throughfit OD of the gripper.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 25, 2025
From: KRUEGER, RUDOLPH ERNST, V
To: WWT INTERNATIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES, LLC
Reel/Frame 070620/0755 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 25, 2025
From: WWT INTERNATIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES, LLC
To: WWT NORTH AMERICA HOLDINGS, INC.
Reel/Frame 070622/0128 →
Continuity (9)
Continuation 18122985 · Mar 17, 2023
Continuation 17166339 · Feb 3, 2021
Continuation 16186861 · Nov 12, 2018
Continuation 15291925 · Oct 12, 2016
Continuation 14222310 · Mar 21, 2014
Provisional Application 61954372 · Mar 17, 2014
Provisional Application 61933755 · Jan 30, 2014
Provisional Application 61932192 · Jan 27, 2014
Related Publication 20250003303A1 · Jan 2, 2025
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