Packer cup for use on downhole wellbore tools

Abstract

A packer cup for use on downhole wellbore tools is provided herein. The packer cup has a composite annular body made from elastomer and/or polymer materials capable of accomplishing effective sealing at normal to high operating temperatures and at all pressure ranges in order to provide superior resistance to aggressive fluids, such as sour crude oil or gas, lubricating oil additives and amine corrosion inhibitors. The packer cup has a radial array of concave reinforcing wires that are retained by a metal cylindrical sleeve. In addition, the packer cup may include a support cup that is received about a lower tapered end in order to provide additional structural support to the cup.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A packer cup for use on downhole wellbore tools, said packer cup comprising:
 an annular body comprising an open upper end and an open lower end separated by a tubular intermediate portion, said annular body fabricated from an elastomer and/or polymer material capable of accomplishing effective sealing at normal to high operating temperatures and at all pressure ranges;   a metal cylindrical sleeve comprising an annularly projecting ridge with a plurality of apertures,   a plurality of reinforcing wires retained within said apertures of said sleeve, said reinforcing wires embedded in said elastomer and/or polymer materials of said annular body.   
     
     
         2 . The packer cup of  claim 1  wherein said cylindrical sleeve forms an internal annular shoulder within said body. 
     
     
         3 . The packer cup of  claim 1  wherein said reinforcing wires further comprises a radial array of concave reinforcing wires. 
     
     
         4 . The packer cup of  claim 1  wherein said reinforcing wires are stainless steel or a metallic or polymeric material. 
     
     
         5 . The packer cup of  claim 1  wherein said elastomer and/or polymer material is hydrogenated or highly saturated nitrile. 
     
     
         6 . The packer cup of  claim 5  wherein said hydrogenated or highly saturated nitrile has a hardness of between about 75 and about 85 durometer A. 
     
     
         7 . The packer cup of  claim 1  wherein said annular body further comprises an external annular stop shoulder and a downwardly tapered, terminal end portion. 
     
     
         8 . The packer cup of  claim 7  further comprising a support cup received about said downwardly tapered, terminal end portion of said annular body. 
     
     
         9 . The packer cup of  claim 8  wherein said support cup further comprises a circular base and an upstanding annular wall. 
     
     
         10 . The packer cup of  claim 9  where said upstanding annular wall of said support cup comprises an outwardly tapered, inner diameter that parallels said downwardly tapered, terminal end portion of said lower end of said body. 
     
     
         11 . The packer cup of  claim 1  further comprising a support cup received about said lower end of said annular body. 
     
     
         12 . The packer cup of  claim 11  wherein said support cup further comprises a circular base and an upstanding annular wall. 
     
     
         13 . The packer cup of  claim 12  where said upstanding annular wall of said support cup comprises an outwardly tapered, inner diameter that parallels a downwardly tapered, terminal end portion of said lower end of said body. 
     
     
         14 . The packer cup of  claim 13  wherein said annular body further comprises an external annular stop shoulder. 
     
     
         15 . The packer cup of  claim 3  further comprising a support cup received about said lower end of said annular body. 
     
     
         16 . The packer cup of  claim 15  wherein said support cup further comprises a circular base and an upstanding annular wall. 
     
     
         17 . The packer cup of  claim 16  where said upstanding annular wall of said support cup comprises an outwardly tapered, inner diameter that parallels a downwardly tapered, terminal end portion of said lower end of said body. 
     
     
         18 . The packer cup of  claim 17  wherein said lower end of said annular body further comprises an external annular stop shoulder. 
     
     
         19 . A packer cup for use on downhole wellbore tools, said packer cup comprising:
 an annular body comprising an open upper end and an open lower end separated by a tubular intermediate portion, said annular body fabricated from hydrogenated or highly saturated nitrile having a hardness of between about 75 and about 85 durometer A, said lower end of said annular body further comprising an external annular stop shoulder and a downwardly tapered, terminal end portion;   a metal cylindrical sleeve comprising an annularly projecting ridge with a plurality of apertures, said sleeve joined with said lower open end of said annular body; and   a radial array of concave reinforcing wires retained within said apertures of said sleeve, said reinforcing wires embedded within said annular body.   
     
     
         20 . The packer cup of  claim 19  further comprising a support cup having a circular base and an upstanding annular wall, and said support cup received about said downwardly tapered, terminal end portion of said annular body.