The Gates Rubber Company

Other

Roy G Quinlan

James C Vance, Sr

A coupling device is adapted for attachment to an elastomeric tubular body having integral, looped reinforcement fibers as part of a tubular assembly. The coupling device includes a coupling member, a stem and a mechanism for retaining the elastomeric tubular body in sealing engagement with the stem when connected therewith. The retaining mechanism maintains this engagement by being interposed within loops of the reinforcement fibers to limit axial movement of the reinforcement fibers relative to the stem. Thus, the grommet retained coupling and the elastomeric tubular body are maintained in spaced relation to and sealing engagement with each other.

Tubular coupling device

An inflatable packer includes an elastomeric tubular body adapted for radial expansion and having a longitudinal axis. An elastic outer cover surrounds the tubular body, and coupling members are disposed on each end of the tubular body. A plurality of reinforcing elements are sandwiched between the cover and the body and have end portions terminating at the coupling members. The reinforcement elements include spirally wound members extending the length of said body between the coupling members. The reinforcement elements are wrapped about the tubular body in a manner to continuously decrease the lay angle thereof relative to the longitudinal axis of the body from each coupling member toward the center portion of the tubular body.

Reinforcement structure for inflatable downhole packers

An inflatable packer is disclosed and includes an elastomeric tubular body adapted for radial expansion and having a longitudinal axis. The packer includes an elastic outer cover surrounding said tubular body, and coupling members disposed on each end of the tubular body. A plurality of substantially concentric reinforcing layers are stacked atop each other and sandwiched between the body and the cover. Each layer includes spirally wound reinforcing members extending the length of the body between the coupling members. The reinforcing members and each of layers has a uniform lay angle at any circumferential position along the length of the body, with a lay angle of the members in one of the layers differing from the lay angles of the remaining layers at the same circumferential position along the length of the body.

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Littleton, CO, United States of America

Roy G Quinlan