US 12,253,175 B2
Metal bellows for downhole use
Adrian Caruana, Indre Arne (NO)
Assigned to TCO AS, Indre Arna (NO)
Filed by TCO AS, Indre Arna (NO)
Filed on Feb. 9, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/668,353.
Claims priority of application No. 20210177 (NO), filed on Feb. 11, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0268360 A1, Aug. 25, 2022
Int. Cl. F16J 3/04 (2006.01); B21D 15/10 (2006.01); B23K 31/02 (2006.01); B23K 101/08 (2006.01); F16J 15/52 (2006.01)
CPC F16J 3/047 (2013.01) [F16J 15/52 (2013.01); B21D 15/10 (2013.01); B23K 31/027 (2013.01); B23K 2101/08 (2018.08)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A metal bellows seal system (5) in a downhole tool, characterized by that it comprises:
a first section (50) comprising a bellows mounting component (53) with a through bore (52);
a second section (60) comprising a bellows mounting component (63) with a through bore (62);
a metal bellows (20, 1) arranged between the first section (50) and the second section (60)
wherein:
the first section (50), second section (60), and metal bellows (20, 1) are arranged within a housing (90);
a fluid path is established between the first section bore (52), an inner diameter (21) of the bellows (20, 1), and the second section bore (62);
the first section (50) and the second section (60) can move with respect to each other in the axial direction;
further, one or both of configuration (A) and/or configuration (B):
(A) wherein there is no fluid connection through the bellows between an outer diameter (22) and the inner diameter (21) of the bellows (20, 1); and
wherein the housing further comprises a housing chamber (91), in fluid connection with the first section bore (52) and the outer diameter (22) of the bellows (20, 1);
and/or
(B) further comprising:
a liner (80) comprising a liner body (80), wherein:
the liner is arranged in the fluid path between the first section (50) and the second section (60) wherein:
the liner is attached to the first section (50) and the liner body has a smaller diameter than the bore (62) of the second section (60);
a liner space (82) is arranged between the liner body (80) and the second section bellows mounting component (63), allowing for fluid communication between the second section bore (62) and a liner chamber (83);
wherein the bellows inner diameter (21) is in fluid communication with the liner chamber (83).