The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 06, 2014
Filed:
May. 13, 2010
Pietro Valsecchi, Houston, TX (US);
Pietro Valsecchi, Houston, TX (US);
ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company, Houston, TX (US);
Abstract
Methods and mechanisms for fluid sealing are provided. The disclosed mechanisms include a tool having a cavity configured to form a toroidal vortex and a fluid sealing element to induce an azimuthal variation of the toroidal vortex (a 'dynamic seal'). The fluid sealing element may include a sharp change in the axial symmetry of the cavity to induce the azimuthal variation. Some exemplary shapes of the fluid sealing element may include a notch in a cavity, a step shaped cavity, or an angular cavity in the tool. Methods for manufacturing such a dynamic seal is also provided as well as methods for producing hydrocarbons with a plunger having the dynamic seals. The tool may be a plunger, a pig, an in-flow control device, or other cylindrical device traveling through a conduit or tubular member.