Title: Inflatable packer and method of constructing same

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Abstract: The inflatable packer element of the present invention includes an inflatable bladder means having a braided wire reinforcing element. An end of the reinforcing element is received between a tapered surface of an annular anchor means and a tapered surface of an annular wedge means. A threaded portion of the anchor means engages a threaded portion of an annular ring. The wedge means is slidably received within the annular ring and engages an abutment of the ring, so that when the threaded connection between the anchor means and the annular ring is made up the reinforcing element is clamped between the tapered surfaces. An additional clamping force is then applied by applying liquid epoxy under pressure against the wedge means to further drive it toward the anchor means and increase the clamping force on the reinforcing element. The pressure is maintained until the epoxy is hardened. The joint is then further strengthened by forcing additional liquid epoxy into the area between the reinforcing element and the tapered surface of the anchor means to bond the reinforcing element to the anchor means.


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