US 11,913,301 B2
Integral bellows for oilfield equipment
Srinand Karuppoor, Sugar Land, TX (US); and Abbigail Ullrich, Houston, TX (US)
Assigned to Schlumberger Technology Corporation, Sugar Land, TX (US)
Filed by Schlumberger Technology Corporation, Sugar Land, TX (US)
Filed on Apr. 8, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/658,481.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/201,028, filed on Apr. 9, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0325597 A1, Oct. 13, 2022
Int. Cl. F16J 15/52 (2006.01); F16J 3/04 (2006.01); E21B 33/10 (2006.01); E21B 17/02 (2006.01)
CPC E21B 33/10 (2013.01) [E21B 17/02 (2013.01); F16J 3/047 (2013.01); F16J 15/52 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A bellows assembly for a downhole tool, the bellows assembly comprising:
a first seal ring;
a second seal ring; and
a bellows positioned at least partially between the first and second seal rings, wherein the first seal ring, the second seal ring, and the bellows are integral with one another such that the bellows assembly is monolithic, wherein the bellows is configured to expand and retract, wherein the bellows is annular and has a diameter that varies over a length of the bellows, and wherein the bellows is shaped as a wave form along the length, the wave form including:
an inner curved portion;
an outer curved portion; and
an intermediate portion coupling the inner and outer curved portions;
the inner and outer curved portions are made from a shape-memory alloy; and
the intermediate portion is made from a non-shape-memory alloy.