(57) An inflatable well bore packer element (10), having inner and outer elastomer plies
(23, 24) and an intermediate sheath of reinforcing wires (26,30) is secured at each
end to a central mandrel (18) by inner and outer annular coupling members (32, 35).
Wedge-shaped gripping members (42, 43) that hold the free ends of the reinforcing
wires between facing surfaces of the coupling members are positioned and secured by
independently tightened rings (46, 48). The inner elastomer ply (23) is bonded to
the inside of the inner coupling member (32), and the tip of the inner coupling member
is formed with a deformable skirt portion (34) that flexes during packer inflation
to oppose extrusion of the inner ply into the reinforcing wire holding area between
the facing surfaces. The tip (36) of the outer coupling member is rounded to protect
the outer elastomer ply (24) from tearing.
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