Centralizer

Abstract

A centralizer having a hollow cylindrical body that includes an exterior surface. The centralizer includes a first centralizer blade protruding from the exterior surface of the hollow cylindrical body and has a first contact pad defined by a region of peak protrusion, wherein the first contact pad is positioned at a first vertical position on the body. The first centralizer blade is a ridge having a flat top. The centralizer includes a second centralizer blade protruding from the exterior surface of the hollow cylindrical body and has a second contact pad defined by a region of peak protrusion positioned at a second vertical position on the body, wherein the second vertical position does not vertically overlap with the first vertical position of the first contact pad.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A centralizer, comprising:
 a) a hollow cylindrical body having an exterior surface;   b) a first centralizer blade protruding from the exterior surface of the hollow cylindrical body and having a first contact pad defined by a region of peak protrusion, wherein the first contact pad is positioned at a first vertical position on the body; and   c) a second centralizer blade protruding from the exterior surface of the hollow cylindrical body and having a second contact pad defined by a region of peak protrusion positioned at a second vertical position on the body, wherein the second vertical position does not vertically overlap with the first vertical position of the first contact pad.   
     
     
         2 . The centralizer of  claim 1 , further comprising a third centralizer blade protruding from the exterior surface of the hollow cylindrical body and having a third contact pad positioned at a third vertical position on the body, wherein the third vertical position does not completely overlap with the first vertical position and does not completely overlap with the second vertical position. 
     
     
         3 . The centralizer of  claim 1 , wherein the first centralizer blade and the second centralizer blade spiral about the hollow cylindrical body. 
     
     
         4 . The centralizer of  claim 1 , wherein the first centralizer blade and the second centralizer blade are not sharp. 
     
     
         5 . The centralizer of  claim 1 , wherein the first contact pad overlaps with no other contact pads. 
     
     
         6 . The centralizer of  claim 1 , wherein the first centralizer blade is a ridge having a flat top and the hollow cylindrical body is a solid body. 
     
     
         7 . The centralizer of  claim 2 , wherein the third contact pad partially overlaps vertically with each of the first contact pad and the second contact pad. 
     
     
         8 . A centralizer, comprising:
 a) a hollow cylindrical body having an exterior surface;   b) a first centralizer blade having no sharp edges and protruding from the exterior surface of the hollow cylindrical body and having a first contact pad defined by a region of peak protrusion, wherein the first contact pad is positioned at a first vertical position on the body; and   c) a second centralizer blade having no sharp edges and protruding from the exterior surface of the hollow cylindrical body and having a second contact pad defined by a region of peak protrusion positioned at a second vertical position on the body, wherein the second vertical position does not vertically overlap with the first vertical position of the first contact pad.   
     
     
         9 . The centralizer of  claim 8 , further comprising a third centralizer blade having no sharp edges and protruding from the exterior surface of the hollow cylindrical body and having a third contact pad positioned at a third vertical position on the body, wherein the third vertical position does not completely overlap with the first vertical position and does not completely overlap with the second vertical position. 
     
     
         10 . The centralizer of  claim 9 , wherein the first centralizer blade, the second centralizer blade, and the third centralizer blade each spiral about the hollow cylindrical body. 
     
     
         11 . The centralizer of  claim 10 , wherein the third contact pad partially overlaps vertically with each of the first contact pad and the second contact pad. 
     
     
         12 . A centralizer, comprising:
 a) a hollow cylindrical body having an exterior surface;   b) a first centralizer blade having no sharp edges and protruding from the exterior surface of the hollow cylindrical body and having a first contact pad defined by a region of peak protrusion, wherein the first contact pad is positioned at a first vertical position on the body;   c) a second centralizer blade having no sharp edges and protruding from the exterior surface of the hollow cylindrical body and having a second contact pad defined by a region of peak protrusion positioned at a second vertical position on the body, wherein the second vertical position does not vertically overlap with the first vertical position of the first contact pad; and   d) a third centralizer blade having no sharp edges and protruding from the exterior surface of the hollow cylindrical body and having a third contact pad positioned at a third vertical position on the body, wherein the third vertical position does not completely overlap with the first vertical position and does not completely overlap with the second vertical position, and wherein the third contact pad partially overlaps vertically with each of the first contact pad and the second contact pad.