US3982433A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Spinner tool for boreholes
Assignee: WORTHWELL SURVEYS Inc
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Filing: 1974-12-05
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Granted: 1976-09-28
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Expires: 1994-12-05
Abstract
Abstract A spinner tool comprises an elongate, cylindrical housing including a portion having elongate, axially extending, angularly disposed slots formed therethrough at circumferentially spaced points. An impeller is mounted within the housing and comprises circumferentially spaced, axially extending blades which are each J-shaped in cross-section so that the impeller is rotated in response to radially directed fluid flow entering the slots of the housing, but is not rotated in response to axial fluid flow. The impeller is mounted on a shaft which is supported by bearing structure that is substantially self-cleaning under the action of fluids flowing through the housing. A plurality of magnets are secured to the shaft for rotation under the action of the impeller, and a reed switch is positioned for actuation by the moving magnets to generate an output signal indicative of rotation of the impeller. Electronic circuitry is provided in the housing for amplifying and shaping the output signal from the reed switch. The spinner tool is utilized in a well logging system including apparatus for lowering the spinner tool into a borehole and a recorder for providing a plot of the rotation of the impeller as a function of the position of the spinner tool in the borehole.
Inventors
- 👤 Beauford F. Stout
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 19:48
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B47/00; E21B47/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
173 words
A spinner tool for detecting radially directed fluid flow in boreholes comprising: an elongate, cylindrical housing; a portion of the housing having a plurality of axially extending, angularly disposed slots formed therein at spaced apart points around the circumference of the housing; an impeller rotatably supported in the housing and comprising a plurality of axially extending rigid blades positioned in alignment with the slots of the housing for actuation by fluid flow therethrough; the blades having a substantially J-shaped cross-section and extending adjacent to the angularly disposed slots to resist radially directed fluid flow therethrough; means responsive to rotation of the impeller under the action of fluid flowing through the slots in the housing for generating an output signal; a shaft having the impeller mounted thereon; the lower end of the shaft being rotatably supported on a ball which is in turn supported on the housing; and the point of the shaft which engages the ball being exposed to the radially directed fluid flow through the angularly disposed slots to allow self-cleaning thereof.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
173 words
A spinner tool for detecting radially directed fluid flow in boreholes comprising: an elongate, cylindrical housing; a portion of the housing having a plurality of axially extending, angularly disposed slots formed therein at spaced apart points around the circumference of the housing; an impeller rotatably supported in the housing and comprising a plurality of axially extending rigid blades positioned in alignment with the slots of the housing for actuation by fluid flow therethrough; the blades having a substantially J-shaped cross-section and extending adjacent to the angularly disposed slots to resist radially directed fluid flow therethrough; means responsive to rotation of the impeller under the action of fluid flowing through the slots in the housing for generating an output signal; a shaft having the impeller mounted thereon; the lower end of the shaft being rotatably supported on a ball which is in turn supported on the housing; and the point of the shaft which engages the ball being exposed to the radially directed fluid flow through the angularly disposed slots to allow self-cleaning thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
The spinner tool according to claim 1 wherein the output signal generating means is further characterized by at least one magnet mounted for rotation with the impeller, and means responsive to the magnet for generating the output signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The spinner tool according to claim 2 wherein the magnet responsive means comprises magnetically responsive switch means mounted adjacent to the path of rotation of the magnet.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
59 words
The spinner tool according to claim 1 further including means supported on the housing and spaced a predetermined distance above the ball for receiving the shaft and thereby maintaining alignment of the shaft with the ball and for allowing radially directed fluid flowing through the angularly disposed slots to flow around the point where the shaft engages the ball.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The spinner tool according to claim 4 wherein the upper end of the shaft is conically shaped and is received in a similarly shaped aperture formed in the housing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The spinner tool according to claim 1 wherein the rigid J-shaped blades extend radially outward from the center axis and terminate some predetermined relatively short distance from the opposing interior surface of the cylindrical housing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
215 words
A spinner tool for detecting radially directed fluid flow in boreholes comprising: an elongate, cylindrical housing including a portion having a plurality of substantially axially extending slots formed therethrough at circumferentially spaced points; an impeller rotatably supported in the housing and comprising a plurality of substantially axially extending rigid blades positioned in alignment with the slots of the housing whereby the impeller is rotated in response to radially directed fluid flow entering the slots but is not rotated in response to axially directed fluid flow; the blades extending adjacent to the slots to thereby offer resistance to radially directed fluid flowing at any point through the slots; at least one magnet mounted for rotation relative to the housing under the action of the impeller; means mounted in the housing and responsive to movement of the magnet for generating an output signal indicative of the speed of rotation of the impeller under the action of radial fluid flow entering the slots of the housing; said impeller being mounted on the shaft; and the bottom of the shaft being rotatably supported on a ball which is in turn rotatably supported on a portion of the housing, said shaft engaging the ball in an area of the housing where fluid flows through to allow self-cleaning of the ball.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
215 words
A spinner tool for detecting radially directed fluid flow in boreholes comprising: an elongate, cylindrical housing including a portion having a plurality of substantially axially extending slots formed therethrough at circumferentially spaced points; an impeller rotatably supported in the housing and comprising a plurality of substantially axially extending rigid blades positioned in alignment with the slots of the housing whereby the impeller is rotated in response to radially directed fluid flow entering the slots but is not rotated in response to axially directed fluid flow; the blades extending adjacent to the slots to thereby offer resistance to radially directed fluid flowing at any point through the slots; at least one magnet mounted for rotation relative to the housing under the action of the impeller; means mounted in the housing and responsive to movement of the magnet for generating an output signal indicative of the speed of rotation of the impeller under the action of radial fluid flow entering the slots of the housing; said impeller being mounted on the shaft; and the bottom of the shaft being rotatably supported on a ball which is in turn rotatably supported on a portion of the housing, said shaft engaging the ball in an area of the housing where fluid flows through to allow self-cleaning of the ball.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The spinner tool according to claim 7 wherein each slot on the housing is angularly disposed relative to a diameter of the housing extending therethrough.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The spinner tool according to claim 7 wherein each of the axially extending blades of the impeller is substantially J-shaped in cross-section.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
65 words
The spinner tool according to claim 5 further characterized by means mounted on the housing for receiving the shaft to maintain alignment thereof with the ball, and wherein the alignment maintaining means is supported on the housing and spaced a predetermined distance above the ball so that the rotational support of the shaft is substantially self-cleaning under the action of fluid flow through the slots.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
The spinner tool according to claim 7 wherein the portion of the housing rotatably supporting the ball is movable in an axial direction for adjusting the engagement of the ball with the bottom of the shaft.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
196 words
A spinner tool for detecting radial fluid flow in a borehole comprising: an elongate cylindrical housing including a portion having elongate, axially extending, angularly disposed slots formed therethrough at circumferentially spaced points; an impeller rotatably supported in the housing and comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced rigid blades extending axially adjacent to the slots and each J-shaped in cross section, said blades being aligned with the slots in the housing such that the impeller is rotated under the action of radially directed fluid flow entering the slots of the housing; means mounted within the housing for generating an output signal indicative of rotation of the impeller under the action of radially directed fluid flow entering the slots of the housing; electronic circuitry means mounted within the housing for amplifying and shaping the output signal; said impeller being supported on the shaft; the bottom of the shaft being rotatably supported on a ball which is in turn rotatably supported on a portion of the housing; and the slots extending radially to the point where the ball rotatably supports the shaft to allow fluid flowing through the slots to self-clean the ball and the bottom of the shaft.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
196 words
A spinner tool for detecting radial fluid flow in a borehole comprising: an elongate cylindrical housing including a portion having elongate, axially extending, angularly disposed slots formed therethrough at circumferentially spaced points; an impeller rotatably supported in the housing and comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced rigid blades extending axially adjacent to the slots and each J-shaped in cross section, said blades being aligned with the slots in the housing such that the impeller is rotated under the action of radially directed fluid flow entering the slots of the housing; means mounted within the housing for generating an output signal indicative of rotation of the impeller under the action of radially directed fluid flow entering the slots of the housing; electronic circuitry means mounted within the housing for amplifying and shaping the output signal; said impeller being supported on the shaft; the bottom of the shaft being rotatably supported on a ball which is in turn rotatably supported on a portion of the housing; and the slots extending radially to the point where the ball rotatably supports the shaft to allow fluid flowing through the slots to self-clean the ball and the bottom of the shaft.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
53 words
The spinner tool according to claim 12 wherein the signal generating means comprises at least one magnet mounted for rotation with the impeller, and magnetically operated switch means mounted in the housing adjacent to the path of rotation of the magnet for generating the output signal in response to movement of the magnet.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
57 words
The spinner tool according to claim 10 further characterized by means mounted on the housing for maintaining alignment of the bottom of the shaft with the ball, said alignment maintaining means being spaced apart from the ball so that the rotational support of the shaft is substantially self-cleaning under the action of fluids flowing through the housing.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
33 words
The spinner tool according to claim 12 wherein the upper end of the shaft is conically shaped, and is received in a similarly shaped aperture formed in a depending portion of the housing.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-09-28 | 1980-03-29 | 1980-09-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-09-28 | 1984-03-29 | 1984-09-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-09-28 | 1988-03-29 | 1988-09-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |