Inflatable reusable packers are available in a number of designs, either manufactured with tubes and nipples in steel or aluminum and with rubber hose with textile or steel cord. The most common is a packer made with steel tube and nipples and rubber hose with textile cord.
Packers equipped with steel cord hose can generally withstand a higher expansion pressure than the same hose with textile cord.
Packers with nipples and tubes made of aluminum are mainly intended for use with TBM machines as these can be ground down if they get stuck in drillholes.
Important for inflatable packers is to calculate "Expansion pressure" ie the pressure a packer needs to be expanded with (inflated with) to resist; A) Planned injection pressure, B) The water column present in borehole, C) The resistance of the tubing itself to increase in dimension. The Expansion Pressure that is calculated to be used must never exceed the maximum Expansion Pressure that varies with the intended use diameter of the packer (see downloadable TDS). Formula for calculating expansion pressure is given below.
In general, you can say that the closer to the borehole diameter you go when choosing a packer (minimum diameter unexpanded packer close to the drillhole diameter), the more durable the packer will be (can handle a higher expansion pressure).
Table below shows the standard lengths of inflatable reusable packers that we do keep in stock.
Other: End of article number, after the last hyphen, refers to effective length of rubber hose between nipples on the packer. For more information, we refer to the respective TDS.
Extra long inflatable reusable packer with textile cord hose made with pipes, nipples and crimp sleeves in bright galvanized steel. These longer models are intended where rock conditions are worse (more porous) and/or where friction in drillholes is worse than normal.
The table below shows the longer models that are kept in stock. Note, however, that longer variants on other models (see standard models) can be manufactured on request, albeit with a slightly longer delivery time.
Length indication in article number (end of article number) refers to effective hose length between nipples on packers, while the total length of packers is approx. 350mm longer.
Applicable expansion pressure and connections for each pack are referred to the TDS for standard model (Technical data sheet) in the same size (diameter), where, however, the weight and lengths differ (some TDS available as well).
Reusable inflatable packer with steel core and rubber hose with 2 or 4-layer steel cord reinforcement.
Hose with steel cord is significantly more resistant than the corresponding size (diameter) with textile cord, but at the same time requires a higher inflation pressure to increase in size. The Maximum Expansion Pressure is significantly higher for the steel cord hose than the equivalent size with textile cord.
The table below shows some models we have as standard, more variants on request.
| GMA Part number | Work span Ø (mm) | Technical data sheet / Note |
| 852-45-80-600-2 | 45-80 | 2-layer steel cord |
| 852-55-85-600-2 | 55-85 | 2-layer steel cord |
| 852-60-90-600-4 | 60-90 | 4-layer steel cord |
Intended to be used where a lightweight packer is required and/or where a reusable packer is at risk of getting stuck so it may need to be drilled out at a later stage.
Table shows one model, more models available on request.
| GMA Part number | Work spanØ (mm) | Technical data sheet |
| 853-52-76-600A | 54-80 |
