Downhole brush tool

Abstract

A downhole brush tool ( 10 ) includes a tool body ( 12 ) having a brush supporting portion ( 11, 13 ) on the tool body between upper and lower stops ( 20, 24, 26, 28 ). A split sleeve ( 32, 34 ) has a plurality of throughports ( 30 ) therein, and a plurality of brush elements ( 42 ) including a base member ( 44 ) and a plurality of bristles ( 46 ) extend from the base member. The base member is positioned within a cavity in the brush supporting portion of the tool body, and a stop surface ( 45 ) supported on the split sleeve engages a base member to prevent the brush element from passing radially outward.

1 . A downhole brush tool for supporting on a workstring to clean a wellbore, comprising:
 a tool body having a central throughbore in fluid communication with an interior of the workstring, and having axially spaced upper and lower stops each extending radially outward from a brush supporting portion of the tool body spaced axially between the upper and lower stops;   the brush supporting portion of the tool body including a plurality of cavities therein extending radially inward of a generally cylindrical exterior surface of the brush supporting portion;   a split sleeve supported on the brush supporting portion of the tool body and having a plurality of throughports therein;   a plurality of brush elements each including a base member and a plurality of bristles fixedly secured to and extending from the base member;   the base member of each of the plurality of brush elements positioned at least partially within the cavity in the brush supporting portion of the tool body while the plurality of bristles extend radially outward from a respective throughport in the split sleeve; and   a stop supported on the split sleeve for engaging a respective base member to prohibit a brush element from passing radially outward through a respective throughport in the split sleeve.   
     
     
         2 . The downhole brush tool as defined in  claim 1 , wherein each brush element includes a central brush element axis, and each brush element axis is substantially perpendicular to an outer generally cylindrical surface of the split sleeve. 
     
     
         3 . The downhole brush tool as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the split sleeve comprises first and second C-shaped sleeve portions, and ends of the C-shaped portions are secured together by fasteners. 
     
     
         4 . The downhole brush tool as defined in  claim 1 , wherein substantially the entirety of each brush element base member is positioned within the tool body. 
     
     
         5 . The downhole brush tool as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the base member has a generally sleeve-shaped body receiving a lower portion of the plurality of bristles therein. 
     
     
         6 . The downhole brush tool as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of brush elements are arranged circumferentially and axially along the tool body, and a corresponding cylindrical shaped cavity in the tool body receives at least a portion of a respective brush element base member therein. 
     
     
         7 . The downhole brush tool as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the base member diameter is larger than a diameter of a corresponding throughport in the split sleeve. 
     
     
         8 . The downhole brush tool as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the base member engages the stop on a radially interior surface of the split sleeve. 
     
     
         9 . A downhole brush tool for supporting on a workstring to clean a wellbore, comprising:
 a tool body having a central throughbore in fluid communication with an interior of the workstring, and having axially spaced upper and lower stops each extending radially outward from a brush supporting portion of the tool body spaced axially between the upper and lower stops;   the brush supporting portion of the tool body including a plurality of cavities therein each extending radially inward of a generally cylindrical exterior surface of the brush supporting portion;   a split sleeve supported on the brush supporting portion of the tool body and having a plurality of throughports therein, a split sleeve comprising first and second C-shaped sleeve portions;   a plurality of brush elements each including a base member and a plurality of bristles fixedly secured to and extending from the base member;   the base member of each of the plurality of brush elements positioned at least partially within a respective cavity in the brush supporting portion of the tool body while the respective plurality of bristles extend radially outward from a respective throughport in the split sleeve; and   a stop supported on the split sleeve for engaging the base member to prohibit a brush element from passing radially outward through a respective throughport in the split sleeve.   
     
     
         10 . The downhole brush tool as defined in  claim 9 , wherein each brush element includes a central brush element axis, and each brush element axis is substantially perpendicular to an outer generally cylindrical surface of the split sleeve. 
     
     
         11 . The downhole brush tool as defined in  claim 9 , wherein substantially the entirety of each brush element base member is positioned within the tool body. 
     
     
         12 . The downhole brush tool as defined in  claim 9 , wherein the base member diameter is larger than a diameter of a corresponding throughport in the split sleeve. 
     
     
         13 . The downhole brush tool as defined in  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of brush elements are arranged circumferentially and axially along the tool body. 
     
     
         14 . The downhole brush tool as defined in  claim 9 , wherein the base member engages the stop on a radially interior surface of the split sleeve. 
     
     
         15 . A downhole brush tool for supporting on a workstring to clean a wellbore, comprising:
 a tool body having a central throughbore in fluid communication with an interior of the workstring, and having axially spaced upper and lower stops each extending radially outward from a brush supporting portion of the tool body spaced axially between the upper and lower stops;   the brush supporting portion of the tool body including a plurality of cavities therein each extending radially inward of a generally cylindrical exterior surface of the brush supporting portion;   a split sleeve supported on the brush supporting portion of the tool body and having a plurality of throughports therein;   a plurality of brush elements each including a base member and a plurality of bristles fixedly secured to and extending from the base member;   the base member of each of the plurality of brush elements positioned at least partially within a respective cavity in the brush supporting portion of the tool body while the respective plurality of bristles extend radially outward from a respective throughport in the split sleeve; and   a radially interior surface of the split sleeve forming a stop or engaging the base member to fit the brush member from passing radially outward through a respective throughport in a split sleeve.   
     
     
         16 . The downhole brush tool as defined in  claim 15 , wherein the split sleeve comprises first and second C-shaped sleeve portions, and ends of the C-shaped portions are secured together by fasteners. 
     
     
         17 . The downhole brush tool as defined in  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of brush elements are arranged circumferentially and axially along the tool body, and each brush element includes a central brush element axis, and each brush element axis is substantially perpendicular to an outer generally cylindrical surface of the split sleeve. 
     
     
         18 . The downhole brush tool as defined in  claim 15 , wherein the base member diameter is larger than a diameter of a corresponding throughport in the split sleeve. 
     
     
         19 . The downhole brush tool as defined in  claim 15 , wherein substantially the entirety of each brush element base member is positioned within the tool body. 
     
     
         20 . The downhole brush tool as defined in  claim 15 , wherein the base member engages the stop on a radially interior surface of the split sleeve.