Electro-Hydraulic Tubing Punch

Abstract

An electro-hydraulic tubing punch is provided, comprising a controller, an electronic section, a hydraulic chamber, a punch head, and an oriented centralizer. The controller transmits signals to the electronic section, which activates a motor-driven pump in the hydraulic chamber, communicating hydraulic fluid to the punch head. The punch head includes a retractable piercing punch with a tip, neck, body, and stem, where the neck is shaped as a truncated hyperboloid and the stem includes an internal channel. Hydraulic fluid displaces a punch piston within a fluid cavity, causing the piercing punch to extend through an engagement panel. The oriented centralizer includes hinged arms and collars for positioning. The electro-hydraulic tubing punch transitions between retracted and extended configurations via user input received by a punch actuator.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electro-hydraulic tubing punch comprising:
 a hydraulic chamber;   a punch head; and   an oriented centralizer;   wherein:
 the punch head is coupled to the hydraulic chamber; 
 the oriented centralizer is coupled to the punch head; 
 the hydraulic chamber comprises a tubular housing containing hydraulic fluid; 
 the punch head comprises a piercing punch, a main body, and a fluid channel; 
 the fluid channel communicates hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic chamber into the punch head; and 
 the piercing punch retractably extends projects from the main body of the punch head; 
 the oriented centralizer comprises a plurality of hinged arms. 
   
     
     
         2 . The electro-hydraulic tubing punch as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the piercing punch comprises:
 a tip;   a neck;   a body; and   a stem;   wherein:
 the tip is adjacent to the neck; 
 the neck is interposed between the tip and the body; 
 the body is interposed between the neck and the stem; and 
 the neck comprises a truncated hyperboloid shape. 
   
     
     
         3 . The electro-hydraulic tubing punch as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the piercing punch further comprises a channel wherein said channel extends inwardly through the stem. 
     
     
         4 . The electro-hydraulic tubing punch as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the main body further comprises a fluid cavity;
 the fluid channel extends into the fluid cavity;   the fluid channel communicates hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic chamber into the fluid cavity.   
     
     
         5 . The electro-hydraulic tubing punch as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the punch head further comprises:
 an engagement panel; 
 a fluid cavity; and 
 a punch piston; 
 wherein:
 the fluid channel extends into the fluid cavity; 
 the engagement panel retractably projects from the main body of the punch head; 
 the engagement panel further comprises a hole such that the piercing punch retractably projects through said hole; 
 the piercing punch being coupled to the punch piston; 
 the punch piston slidingly traversing the fluid cavity such that communication of hydraulic fluid into the fluid cavity through the fluid channel displaces the punch piston. 
 
 
     
     
         6 . The electro-hydraulic tubing punch as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the punch head further comprises a spring;
 the spring is interposed between the engagement panel and the punch piston; and   the spring is further circumferentially positioned around the piercing punch.   
     
     
         7 . The electro-hydraulic tubing punch as claimed in  claim 5 , further comprising a retracted configuration and an extended configuration wherein:
 the electro-hydraulic tubing punch is selectively switched between the retracted configuration and the extended configuration;   in the retracted configuration, the engagement panel is inset within the main body of the punch head and the piercing punch is retracted within the main body of the punch head; and   in the extended configuration, the engagement panel is extended outwardly from the main body.   
     
     
         8 . The electro-hydraulic tubing punch as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the oriented centralizer comprises:
 an elongated member; 
 a plurality of collars; 
 a plurality of arms; 
 a head; and 
 a spring; 
 wherein:
 the elongated member extends from the punch head such that one end of the elongated member is coupled to the punch head and an opposing end comprises the head; 
 the plurality of collars, comprising a first collar and a second collar; is interposed between the head and the punch head, such that the first collar and the second collar are offset from each other; 
 the plurality of arms extend between the plurality of collars wherein said plurality of arms are hingedly coupled to each of the first collar and the second collar; and 
 the spring is interposed between the head and the plurality of collars, circumferentially positioned around the elongated member. 
 
 
     
     
         9 . The electro-hydraulic tubing punch as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein each arm of the plurality of arms comprises:
 a first member;   a second member; and   an elbow;   wherein:
 the first member is hingedly coupled to the first collar; 
 the second member is hingedly coupled to the second collar; 
 the elbow is a pivoting connection joining the first member and the second member of each respective arm. 
   
     
     
         10 . The electro-hydraulic tubing punch as claimed in  claim 9  wherein, the first collar is slidably coupled to the elongated member such that a force applied to the head laterally displaces the collar. 
     
     
         11 . The electro-hydraulic tubing punch as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the hydraulic chamber further comprises:
 a motor; and 
 a pump; 
 wherein:
 the motor drives the pump, thereby communicating hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic chamber into the punch head. 
 
 
     
     
         12 . The electro-hydraulic tubing punch as claimed in  claim 11  further comprising an electronic section wherein said electronic section comprises a processor;
 the processor transmitting electrical signals to the motor. 
 
     
     
         13 . The electro-hydraulic tubing punch as claimed in  claim 12  wherein the electronic section further comprises a connection port. 
     
     
         14 . The electro-hydraulic tubing punch as claimed in  claim 13  further comprising a controller wherein said controller transmits user input signals through the connection port. 
     
     
         15 . A electro-hydraulic tubing punch comprising:
 an electronic section;   a hydraulic chamber;   a punch head; and   a controller;   wherein:
 the controller is electronically connected to the electronic section; 
 the electronic section is threadedly coupled to the hydraulic chamber; 
 the hydraulic chamber is threadedly coupled to the punch head; 
 the electronic section comprises:
 a connection port; and 
 a processor; 
 
 the hydraulic chamber comprises:
 a motor; 
 a pump; and 
 hydraulic fluid; 
 
 the punch head comprises:
 a piercing punch; 
 a main body; and 
 an engagement panel; 
 
 the controller provides electrical signals to the processor through the connection port;
 the motor drives the pump contained within the hydraulic chamber, communicating hydraulic fluid to the punch head; 
 the engagement panel retractably projects from the main body; and 
 the piercing punch retractably projects from the engagement panel. 
 
   
     
     
         16 . The electro-hydraulic tubing punch as claimed in  claim 15  wherein the punch head further comprises:
 a fluid channel; and 
 a fluid cavity; 
 wherein:
 the pump communicates hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic chamber to the fluid cavity, through the fluid channel; amd 
 communication of hydraulic fluid into the fluid cavity linearly displaces the piercing punch. 
 
 
     
     
         17 . The electro-hydraulic tubing punch as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the piercing punch comprises:
 a tip;   a neck;   a body; and   a stem;   wherein:
 the tip is adjacent to the neck; 
 the neck is interposed between the tip and the body; 
 the body is interposed between the neck and the stem; and 
 the neck comprises a truncated hyperboloid shape. 
   
     
     
         18 . The electro-hydraulic tubing punch as claimed in  claim 15  wherein the controller comprises:
 a punch actuator; 
 wherein:
 the punch actuator receives a user input, thus selectively switching the electro-hydraulic tubing punch between a retracted configuration and an extended configuration; 
 in the retracted configuration, the engagement panel is inset within the main body of the punch head and the piercing punch is retracted within the main body of the punch head; and 
 in the extended configuration, the piercing punch is extended outwardly from the main body. 
 
 
     
     
         19 . A electro-hydraulic tubing punch comprising:
 a controller;   an electronic section;   a hydraulic chamber;   a punch head; and   an oriented centralizer;   wherein:
 the electronic section is electronically coupled to the controller; 
 the hydraulic chamber is threadedly coupled to the electronic section; 
 the punch head is threadedly coupled to the hydraulic chamber; 
 the oriented centralizer is threadedly coupled to the punch head; 
 the hydraulic chamber comprises a pump and hydraulic fluid; 
 the punch head comprises a piercing punch; 
 the controller communicates electrical signals to the pump, thereby communicating hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic chamber into the punch head; 
 communicating of hydraulic fluid into the punch head causes outwardly directed linear displacement of the piercing punch. 
   
     
     
         20 . The electro-hydraulic tubing punch as claimed in  claim 19  wherein the piercing punch comprises:
 a tip; 
 a neck; 
 a body; and 
 a stem; 
 wherein:
 the tip is adjacent to the neck; 
 the neck is interposed between the tip and the body; 
 the body is interposed between the neck and the stem; 
 the stem comprises a channel wherein said channel extends inwardly through the stem; and 
 the neck comprises a truncated hyperboloid shape.