Anchor ring assembly

Abstract

An anchor ring assembly for anchoring to a mandrel includes an annular housing which defines a through bore to permit mounting on a mandrel. A plurality of slips are circumferentially arranged within the through bore of the housing, and a plurality of activator members extend from an external surface of the housing to engage the slips. The activator members are adjustable relative to the housing to extend the slips radially inwardly to engage and grip a mandrel.

1 . An anchor ring assembly for anchoring to a mandrel, comprising:
 an annular housing defining a through bore to permit mounting on a mandrel;   a plurality of slips circumferentially arranged within the through bore of the housing; and   a plurality of activator members extending from an external surface of the housing to engage the slips, wherein the activator members are adjustable relative to the housing to extend the slips radially inwardly to engage and grip a mandrel.   
     
     
         2 . The anchor ring assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the activator members comprise activator screws threadedly engaged with the housing to permit adjustment to extend the respective slips. 
     
     
         3 . The anchor ring assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein a single activator member is provided for each slip. 
     
     
         4 . The anchor ring assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the activator member engage respective rear faces of the slips. 
     
     
         5 . The anchor ring assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein an activator member is configured to engage a respective slip generally centrally thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The anchor ring assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of:
 at least one slip defines an engagement profile on a rear surface thereof to be engaged by a respective activator member;   at least one slip comprises a gripping profile on inwardly facing surface thereof for use in gripping an outer surface of a mandrel;   at least one slip comprises gripping teeth;   at least one slip comprises first and second sets of gripping teeth;   at least one slip comprises first and second sets of gripping teeth and the first and second sets of gripping teeth are orientated in opposing directions;   at least one slip defines a curved profile.   
     
     
         7 - 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The anchor ring assembly according to  claim 1 , comprising a plurality of spacer ribs circumferentially distributed around the through bore of the housing, wherein adjacent slips are separated by a respective spacer rib. 
     
     
         13 . The anchor ring assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein at least one of:
 each spacer rib extends generally axially relative to the housing;   adjacent spacer ribs define a pocket therebetween for receiving a respective slip;   each spacer rib defines tapered side faces, wherein the circumferential faces of each slip define corresponding tapered faces;   at least two circumferentially adjacent spacer ribs retain a slip positioned therebetween within the assembly;   at least two circumferentially adjacent spacer ribs define a limit of radial movement of a slip positioned therebetween;   at least two circumferentially adjacent ribs define a minimum circumferential separation distance which is smaller than a circumferential dimension of a slip positioned therebetween:   at least two circumferentially adjacent ribs define a minimum circumferential separation distance which is smaller than a maximum circumferential dimension of a slip positioned therebetween;   at least two circumferentially adjacent ribs collectively define a retaining profile configured to retain a slip therebetween.   
     
     
         14 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The anchor ring assembly according to  claim 1 , comprising a retaining arrangement configured to retain one or more slips mounted within the housing. 
     
     
         22 . The anchor ring assembly according to  claim 21 , wherein at least one of:
 the retaining arrangement is configured to apply a retaining force to one or more slips to retain said slips within the housing;   the retaining arrangement biases one or more slips towards a retracted configuration;   the retaining arrangement is mounted radially inwardly of the slips;   one or more slips define a groove formed in an inner surface thereof for accommodating a retaining arrangement;   each slip defines a groove, wherein when the slips are mounted within the housing each individual groove is aligned to receive the retaining arrangement;   the retaining arrangement is mounted axially centrally of the slips;   the retaining arrangement comprises a spring member or element, such as a split spring element;   at least one slip comprises first and second axially separated gripping profiles, wherein a retaining arrangement is located between said first and second profiles.   
     
     
         23 - 29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . The anchor ring assembly according to  claim 1 , the annular housing defines a circumferential groove formed in an inner surface thereof, wherein said groove is configured to accommodate one or more slips. 
     
     
         31 . The anchor ring assembly according to  claim 30 , wherein at least one of:
 the circumferential groove is profiled, wherein at least one slip defines a corresponding profile to permit appropriate fitting of the slips within the groove;   at least one axial face of the groove is tapered, and at least one axial face of at east one slip is tapered to correspond and engage the tapered axial face of the groove;   opposing axial faces of the groove, and opposing axial faces of at least one slip are tapered.   
     
     
         32 - 33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . The anchor ring assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of:
 at least one axial end face of the housing defines a load surface; and   at least one axial end face of the housing is tapered relative to a central axis of the housing.   
     
     
         35 . (canceled) 
     
     
         36 . The anchor ring assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one axial end face of the housing comprises an axial extension configured to engage an external component, such as a sealing element. 
     
     
         37 . The anchor ring assembly according to  claim 1 , comprising a sealing arrangement configured to provide a seal with a mandrel. 
     
     
         38 . The anchor ring assembly according to  claim 1 , comprising a sealing element extending from one axial end of the housing. 
     
     
         39 . A method for anchoring to a mandrel, comprising:
 mounting an anchor ring assembly on a mandrel, wherein the anchor ring assembly comprises an annular housing and a plurality of slips circumferentially arranged within a through bore of the housing; and   adjusting a plurality of activator members which extend from an outer surface of the housing to engage the respective slips to extend the slips radially inwardly to engage and grip the mandrel.   
     
     
         40 . A sealing assembly for use in providing a seal in an annulus between a mandrel and a bore wall, comprising:
 an annular housing defining a through bore to permit mounting on a mandrel;   a plurality of slips circumferentially arranged within the through bore of the housing;   a plurality of activator members extending from an external surface of the housing to engage the slips, wherein the activator members are adjustable relative to the housing to extend the slips radially inwardly to engage and grip a mandrel; and   a sealing element extending from one axial end of the housing.   
     
     
         41 . The sealing assembly according to  claim 40 , comprising two annular housings located at opposite ends of the sealing element, wherein each annular housing accommodates slips for anchoring to a mandrel. 
     
     
         42 . A sealing assembly comprising:
 a mandrel; and   an annular sealing element bonded to the outer surface of the mandrel, wherein the sealing element comprises a swellable material configured to swell upon exposure to an activator.   
     
     
         43 . A sealing assembly comprising:
 a support member;   an outer swellable sealing element mounted on an outer surface of the support member; and   an inner swellable sealing element mounted on an inner surface of the support member,   wherein the outer swellable sealing element is configured to swell to define a seal between the support member and a bore wall, and the inner swellable sealing element is configured to swell to define a seal between the support member and a mandrel.   
     
     
         44 . The sealing assembly according to  claim 43 , configured to be mounted on a mandrel. 
     
     
         45 . The sealing assembly according to  claim 43 , wherein at least one of:
 the support member comprise a metallic support member:   the support member is generally cylindrical;   the support member comprises one or more perforations through its wall structure;   the support member comprises one or more perforations through its wall structure, the inner and outer sealing elements engage, for example by being integrally formed, via the perforations.   
     
     
         46 - 48 . (canceled) 
     
     
         49 . The sealing assembly according to  claim 43 , comprising one or more end rings. 
     
     
         50 . The sealing assembly according to  claim 49 , wherein at least one of:
 the support member engages at least one end ring;   the outer sealing element engages an axial end face or surface of an end ring;   the inner sealing element engages an axial end face or surface of an end ring;   the inner sealing element engages an inner circumferential face of an end ring; and   an end ring is secured relative to the support member via one or more screws.   
     
     
         51 - 54 . (canceled) 
     
     
         55 . A sealing assembly for use in providing a seal in an annulus between a mandrel and a bore wall, comprising:
 an annular housing defining a through bore to permit mounting on a mandrel, wherein the annular housing includes a sealing arrangement for providing a seal between the annular housing and a mandrel;   a plurality of slips circumferentially arranged within the housing, wherein the slips are configured to be extended radially inwardly to engage and grip a mandrel; and   a cup sealing element extending from one axial end of the housing.   
     
     
         56 . The sealing assembly according to  claim 55 , wherein one axial end of the housing includes an axial extension configured to engage the cup sealing element. 
     
     
         57 . The sealing assembly according to  claim 55 , wherein the cup sealing element is bonded to one axial end of the housing. 
     
     
         58 . The anchor ring assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the activator members are adjustable radially inwards relative to the housing to extend the slips radially inwardly to engage and grip a mandrel.