Patent ID: 7131922
Filing Date: 2006-11-07
Classification: E21B

Abstract:
1. A tensioner assembly having a fully extended position, a fully retracted position, and a plurality of partially extended positions therebetween, comprising: a cylinder having a cylinder first end, a cylinder second end, a cylinder outer wall surface, a cylinder inner wall surface, and a cylinder cavity, the cylinder first end having a cylinder opening, the cylinder second end having a first attachment member, and the cylinder cavity having a first portion of hydraulic fluid disposed therein; a stop tube having a stop tube first end, a stop tube second end, a stop tube outer wall surface, a stop tube inner wall surface, and a stop tube cavity, the stop tube being disposed along at least a portion of the cylinder inner wall surface such that the cylinder inner wall surface is in communication with the stop tube outer wall surface; a ram having a ram first end, a ram second end, a ram inner wall surface, a ram outer wall surface, and a ram cavity, the ram first end being sealed and including a second attachment member, the ram second end having an annular piston disposed along the ram outer wall surface and a ram opening for fluid communication between the ram cavity and the cylinder cavity, the annular piston having at least one port, the ram cavity having a second portion of hydraulic fluid and a gas disposed therein in a gas over hydraulic fluid arrangement, the ram outer wall surface being slidably engaged with a portion of the stop tube inner wall surface and the annular piston being slidably engaged with a portion of the cylinder inner wall surface; a hydraulic fluid accumulator defined as an annular space created by the cylinder inner wall surface, the ram outer wall surface, the stop tube second end, and the annular piston, the hydraulic fluid accumulator being in fluid communication with the cylinder cavity through the at least one port of the annular piston; and at least one gas transfer tube disposed within a portion of the cylinder cavity and within a portion of the ram cavity, the at least one gas transfer tube being in fluid communication with a gas source and the gas disposed within the ram cavity.