Well intervention cable bending restriction for a rigid resilient rod-shaped intervention cable

Abstract

A bending restrictor for a rigid but resilient rod-shaped intervention cable includes a series of pipe sections and articulation sleeves. Each pipe section includes a straight pipe piece with a spherical sector in either end. Each articulation sleeve includes two axially oppositely directed spherical-sector seats for holding about each pipe's spherical sector. The spherical sector seats are arranged in either ends of a central axial passage for the intervention cable. Two guide sheaves each with its sheave groove reside in the articulation sleeve's axial plan is laterally displaced relative to the middle of the axial passage so as for enveloping the axial passage for the intervention cable. The articulation sleeve is provided with two opposite axially directed and flattened pivot funnels, and each pivot funnel is provided with its narrower end in adjacent to each its spherical-sector seat. Each pivot funnel has, in the axial plane a funnel shape which allows the pipe section's straight pipe piece to pivot about the spherical sector seat in the axial plane, and wherein the pivot funnel's funnel shape is flattened in another axial plane perpendicular to the first axial plane, so as for the pipe sections to be able to pivot only in the first axial plane. The articulation sleeve is splittable in the plane into two articulation sleeve half housings.