Combined multi-coupler for top drive

• US 10,544,631 B2
• Filed: 06/19/2017
• Issued: 01/28/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC (Weatherford International PLC)
• Original Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC (Weatherford International PLC)
• Inventors: Reinecke, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Wallace, Kipp C
• Application Number:
  US15/627,237
• Publication Number:
  US 20180363386A1
• Time in Patent Office: 953 Days
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/021 Devices for subsurface connecting or disconnecting by rotation
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/023 Arrangements for connecting cables or wirelines to downhole devices
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/03 between drilling rod or pipe and drill motor or surface drive, e.g. between drilling rod and hammer
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/043 with locking means
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 19/16 Connecting or disconnecting pipe couplings or joints E21B19/20 takes precedence

Abstract

In one embodiment, a coupling system for a top drive and a tool includes a housing of the top drive having a bore therethrough, an adapter of the tool, a latch member at least partially disposed within the housing and radially movable between an extended position and a retracted position, wherein the latch member is configured to longitudinally couple the housing to the adapter, and a lock member at least partially disposed within the housing and longitudinally movable relative to the housing, wherein the lock member is configured to move the latch member between the extended and the retracted positions.

Claims

1. A coupling system for a top drive and a tool, comprising:

a housing of the top drive having a bore therethrough;

an adapter of the tool, the adapter having a recess;

a latch member at least partially disposed within the housing and radially movable between an extended position and a retracted position, wherein the latch member, in the extended position, is at least partially disposed in the recess to longitudinally couple the housing to the adapter; and

a lock member at least partially disposed within the housing and longitudinally movable relative to the housing, wherein the lock member is configured to move the latch member between the extended and the retracted positions.

2. The coupling system of claim 1, wherein the lock member is configured to retain the latch member in the extended position.

3. The coupling system of claim 1, wherein the adapter includes a bore configured to receive the housing.

4. The coupling system of claim 1, wherein the lock member includes a tapered surface configured to engage the latch member.

5. The coupling system of claim 1, further comprising an actuator configured to longitudinally move the lock member.

6. The coupling system of claim 1, wherein the housing has a port formed therethrough.

7. The coupling system of claim 6, wherein an actuator is at least partially disposed through the port.

8. The coupling system of claim 6, wherein the latch member is at least partially disposed in the port.

9. The coupling system of claim 1, the adapter further comprising quick connection pins located at a longitudinal end thereof, wherein the quick connection pins are configured to transfer at least one of power, data, electronics, hydraulics, and pneumatics.

10. The coupling system of claim 1, further including a biasing member, the biasing member configured to bias the latch member towards the retracted position.

11. A method of coupling a top drive and a tool, comprising:

moving a top drive adjacent to a tool, the top drive including a housing, a lock member at least partially disposed within the housing, and a latch member at least partially disposed within the housing;

engaging the housing to an adapter of the tool;

shifting the lock member longitudinally relative to the housing; and

extending the latch member radially into a recess of the adapter, thereby coupling the tool to the top drive.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising retaining the latch member in the extended position using the lock member.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising biasing the latch member towards the retracted position.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising engaging a biasing member using the lock member.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising expanding the biasing member radially to move the latch member to the extended position.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising transferring at least one of power, data, electronics, hydraulics, and pneumatics between the adapter and the housing using quick connection pins.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising engaging splines of the housing with splines of the adapter, thereby transferring torque between the housing and the adapter.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the latch member is at least partially disposed within a port of the housing.

19. A coupling system for a top drive and a tool, comprising:

a housing of the top drive having a bore therethrough;

an adapter of the tool;

a latch member at least partially disposed in a port of the housing and radially movable between an extended position and a retracted position, wherein the latch member is configured to longitudinally couple the housing to the adapter;

a lock member at least partially disposed within the housing and longitudinally movable relative to the housing, wherein the lock member is configured to move the latch member between the extended and the retracted positions;

a plurality of drive keys formed on the housing; and

a plurality of adapter keys formed on the adapter, wherein the plurality of drive keys engage the plurality of adapter keys for transferring torque from the housing to the adapter.

20. The coupling system of claim 19, wherein the adapter includes a bore configured to receive the housing.

21. The coupling system of claim 20, wherein the lock member includes a tapered surface configured to engage the latch member.

22. The coupling system of claim 21, further comprising an actuator configured to longitudinally move the lock member.

23. The coupling system of claim 22, wherein the latch member in the extended position, is at least partially disposed in a recess to longitudinally couple the housing to the adapter.

24. The coupling system of claim 23, further including a biasing member, the biasing member configured to bias the latch member towards the retracted position.

25. The coupling system of claim 24, wherein the adapter further comprises quick connection pins located at a longitudinal end thereof, wherein the quick connection pins are configured to transfer at least one of power, data, electronics, hydraulics, and pneumatics.