Apparatus for actuating an annular piston
An apparatus comprising a first tubular member; a second tubular member positioned within and coupled to the first tubular member; a first annular piston chamber defined by the space between the first and second tubular members; an annular piston movably coupled to the second tubular member and positioned within the first annular piston chamber; and a third tubular member for receiving the first and second tubular members coupled to the first tubular member. The third tubular member comprises a radially expandable and plastically deformable tubular member.
1. An apparatus, comprising:
a first tubular member;
a second tubular member positioned within and coupled to the first tubular member;
a first annular chamber defined by the space between the first and second tubular members;
an annular piston movably coupled to the second tubular member and positioned within the first annular chamber;
an annular sleeve coupled to the annular piston and positioned within the first annular chamber;
a third tubular member coupled to the second tubular member and positioned within and movably coupled to the annular sleeve;
a second annular chamber defined by the space between the annular piston, the third tubular member, the second tubular member, and the annular sleeve;
an inlet passage fluidicly coupled to the first annular chamber; and
an outlet passage fluidicly coupled to the second annular chamber.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first tubular member defines a longitudinal passage, a first radial passage, and a second radial passage; wherein the first annular chamber is fluidicly coupled to the first radial passage; and wherein the second annular chamber is fluidly coupled to the second radial passage.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the outside diameter of the annular piston is less than the inside diameter of the first annular chamber.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the outside diameter of the annular sleeve is less than the inside diameter of the first annular chamber.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
one or more sealing members coupled to the third tubular member for sealing the interface between the third tubular member and the annular sleeve.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a fourth tubular member for receiving the first and second tubular members coupled to the first tubular member.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 , further comprising another annular piston movably coupled to the second tubular member and positioned within a third annular chamber defined between the first tubular member and the fourth tubular member.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the operating pressure of a region of the third annular chamber downstream from the other annular piston is less than the operating pressure of the second annular chamber.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the fourth tubular member comprises an expandable tubular member; and wherein the other annular piston comprises an expansion cone for radially expanding and plastically deforming the expandable tubular member.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the annular expansion cone comprises a reversible annular expansion cone.
11. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the annular expansion cone comprises a plurality of outer conical surfaces.
12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first tubular member defines a longitudinal passage, a first radial passage, and a second radial passage; wherein the first annular chamber is fluidicly coupled to the first radial passage; wherein the second annular chamber is fluidly coupled to the second radial passage; wherein the outside diameter of the annular piston is less than the inside diameter of the first annular chamber; and wherein the outside diameter of the annular sleeve is less than the inside diameter of the first annular chamber.
13. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
one or more sealing members coupled to the third tubular member for sealing the interface between the third tubular member and the annular sleeve;
wherein the operating pressure of the first annular chamber is greater that the operating pressure of the second annular chamber.
14. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a fourth tubular member for receiving the first and second tubular members coupled to the first tubular member; and
another annular piston movably coupled to the second tubular member and positioned within a third annular chamber defined between the first tubular member and the fourth tubular member;
wherein the operating pressure of a region of the third annular chamber downstream from the other annular piston is less than the operating pressure of the second annular chamber;
wherein the fourth tubular member comprises an expandable tubular member; and wherein the other annular piston comprises an expansion cone for radially expanding and plastically deforming the expandable tubular member;
wherein the annular expansion cone comprises a reversible annular expansion cone; and
wherein the annular expansion cone comprises a plurality of outer conical surfaces.
15. An apparatus for actuating an expansion cone for radially expanding and plastically deforming an expandable tubular member, comprising:
a first tubular support member defining a first longitudinal passage, a first radial passage, and a second radial passage;
a second tubular support member defining a second longitudinal passage for receiving the first tubular support member coupled to the first tubular support member;
an annular piston movably coupled to the first tubular support member and positioned within a first annular chamber defined between the first and second tubular members;
a tubular sleeve coupled to an end of the annular piston;
a flange coupled to the first tubular support member and positioned within and proximate the tubular sleeve;
one or more sealing members coupled to the flange for sealing the interface between the tubular sleeve and the flange;
an expandable tubular member defining a third longitudinal passage for receiving the first and second tubular support members coupled to the first tubular support member; and
a reversible annular expansion cone comprising a plurality of outer conical surfaces movably coupled to the first tubular support member and positioned within a second annular chamber defined between the expandable tubular member and the first tubular support member;
wherein the first annular chamber is fluidicly coupled to the first radial passage of the first tubular support member;
wherein the second annular chamber is fluidicly coupled to the second radial passage of the first tubular support member; and
wherein the maximum outside diameters of the annular piston and the tubular sleeve are both less than the inside diameter of the first annular chamber.
16. An apparatus, comprising:
a first tubular member;
a second tubular member positioned within and coupled to the first tubular member;
a first annular chamber defined by the space between the first and second tubular members;
an annular piston movably coupled to the second tubular member and positioned within the first annular chamber;
an annular sleeve coupled to the annular piston and positioned within the first annular chamber;
a third tubular member coupled to the second tubular member and positioned within and movably coupled to the annular sleeve;
a second annular chamber defined by the space between the annular piston, the third tubular member, the second tubular member, and the annular sleeve;
an inlet passage fluidicly coupled to the first annular chamber; and
an outlet passage fluidicly coupled to the second annular chamber;
wherein the first tubular member defines a longitudinal passage, a first radial passage, and a second radial passage;
wherein the first annular chamber is fluidicly coupled to the first radial passage; and
wherein the second annular chamber is fluidicly coupled to the second radial passage.
17. An apparatus, comprising:
a first tubular member;
a second tubular member positioned within and coupled to the first tubular member;
a first annular chamber defined by the space between the first and second tubular members;
an annular piston movably coupled to the second tubular member and positioned within the first annular chamber;
an annular sleeve coupled to the annular piston and positioned within the first annular chamber;
a third tubular member coupled to the second tubular member and positioned within and movably coupled to the annular sleeve;
a fourth tubular member for receiving the first and second tubular members coupled to the first tubular member;
a second annular chamber defined by the space between the annular piston, the third tubular member, the second tubular member, and the annular sleeve;
another annular piston movably coupled to the second tubular member and positioned within a third annular chamber defined between the first tubular member and the fourth tubular member;
an inlet passage fluidicly coupled to the first annular chamber; and
an outlet passage fluidicly coupled to the second annular chamber.
18. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the operating pressure of a region of the third annular chamber downstream from the other annular piston is less than the operating pressure of the second annular chamber.
19. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the fourth tubular member comprises an expandable tubular member; and wherein the other annular piston comprises an expansion cone for radially expanding and plastically deforming the expandable tubular member.
20. The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the annular expansion cone comprises a reversible annular expansion cone.
21. The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the annular expansion cone comprises a plurality of outer conical surfaces.
22. An apparatus, comprising:
a first tubular member;
a second tubular member positioned within and coupled to the first tubular member;
a first annular chamber defined by the space between the first and second tubular members;
an annular piston movably coupled to the second tubular member and positioned within the first annular chamber;
an annular sleeve coupled to the annular piston and positioned within the first annular chamber;
a third tubular member coupled to the second tubular member and positioned within and movably coupled to the annular sleeve;
a second annular chamber defined by the space between the annular piston, the third tubular member, the second tubular member, and the annular sleeve;
an inlet passage fluidicly coupled to the first annular chamber; and
an outlet passage fluidicly coupled to the second annular chamber;
wherein the first tubular member defines a longitudinal passage, a first radial passage, and a second radial passage;
wherein the first annular chamber is fluidicly coupled to the first radial passage;
wherein the second annular chamber is fluidicly coupled to the second radial passage;
wherein the outside diameter of the annular piston is less than the inside diameter of the first annular chamber; and
wherein the outside diameter of the annular sleeve is less than the inside diameter of the first annular chamber.
23. An apparatus, comprising:
a first tubular member;
a second tubular member positioned within and coupled to the first tubular member;
a first annular chamber defined by the space between the first and second tubular members;
an annular piston movably coupled to the second tubular member and positioned within the first annular chamber;
an annular sleeve coupled to the annular piston and positioned within the first annular chamber;
a third tubular member coupled to the second tubular member and positioned within and movably coupled to the annular sleeve;
a fourth tubular member for receiving the first and second tubular members coupled to the first tubular member;
a second annular chamber defined by the space between the annular piston, the third tubular member, the second tubular member, and the annular sleeve;
another annular piston movably coupled to the second tubular member and positioned within a third annular chamber defined between the first tubular member and the fourth tubular member;
an inlet passage fluidicly coupled to the first annular chamber; and
an outlet passage fluidicly coupled to the second annular chamber;
wherein the operating pressure of a region of the third annular chamber downstream from the other annular piston is less than the operating pressure of the second annular chamber;
wherein the fourth tubular member comprises an expandable tubular member; and wherein the other annular piston comprises an expansion cone for radially expanding and plastically deforming the expandable tubular member;
wherein the annular expansion cone comprises a reversible annular expansion cone; and
wherein the annular expansion cone comprises a plurality of outer conical surfaces.
24. An apparatus, comprising:
a first tubular member;
a second tubular member positioned within and coupled to the first tubular member;
a first annular piston chamber defined by the space between the first and second tubular members;
an annular piston movably coupled to the second tubular member and positioned within the first annular piston chamber;
a third tubular member for receiving the first and second tubular members coupled to the first tubular member;
wherein the third tubular member comprises a radially expandable and plastically deformable tubular member.
25. An apparatus, comprising:
a first tubular member;
a second tubular member positioned within and coupled to the first tubular member;
a first annular piston chamber defined by the space between the first and second tubular members;
a first annular piston slidably coupled to the second tubular member and positioned within the first annular piston chamber; and
a second annular piston slidably coupled to the second tubular member and positioned within the first annular piston chamber;
wherein the first annular piston sealingly engages the first and second tubular members.