COUPLING BETWEEN WELLBORE TOOLS HAVING CENTRAL TRANSMISSION SHAFTS

• US 20110036563A1
• Filed: 03/19/2009
• Published: 02/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: I-Tech Corporation (II-VI Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: I-Tech Corporation (II-VI Incorporated)
• Inventors: Brække, Kristoffer
• Granted Patent: US 8,950,478 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 166/170
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/046 with ribs, pins, or jaws, and complementary grooves or the like, e.g. bayonet catches
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 23/00 Apparatus for displacing, setting, locking, releasing or removing tools, packers or the like in boreholes or wells setting of casings, screens or liners E21B43/10
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 37/00 Methods or apparatus for cleaning boreholes or wells E21B21/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 1/108 having retaining means rotating with the coupling and acting by interengaging parts, i.e. positive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2001/103 the torque is transmitted via splined connections
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/7018 including separably interposed key

Abstract

Two well tools (100, 200) having centrally mounted drive shafts (160, 260) is provided with means to remove debris from a coupling between them. Thereafter, the tools can be coupled by inserting a first outer sleeve (110) on the first tool into and rotation lock it to a second outer sleeve (210) on the second tool. The drive shafts (160, 260) are coupled in a similar manner. The means for removing debris can comprise mechanical means to displace the debris and/or a flushing device (170) using well fluid to stir up debris. The coupling has space for debris that is not removed, e.g. in the form of a chamber 264. The female part of the coupling may comprise a spring loaded lid (271) to reduce pollution by debris when the coupling is not in use.

Claims

1-10. -10. (canceled)

11. A coupling for wellbore applications between a first tool (100) comprising a first drive shaft (160) rotatably mounted in a first outer sleeve (110) and a second tool (200) comprising a second drive shaft (260) rotatably mounted in a second outer sleeve (210), characterized in

that the outer diameters of the first outer sleeve (110) are less than or equal to corresponding inner diameters of the second outer sleeve (210) and wherein one of the outer sleeves (110) comprises at least one first latching dog (121) fitting into at least one first groove (221) in the other outer sleeve (210),

that the outer diameters of the first drive shaft (160) are less than or equal to corresponding inner diameters of the second drive shaft (260) and wherein one of the drive shafts (160) comprises at least one second latching dog (131) fitting into at least one second groove (231) in the other drive shaft (260), and

that at least one of the tools comprises means (161, 162, 170, 271) for removing debris from the coupling.

12. Coupling according to claim 11, comprising at least one conduit through which displaced fluids may escape when connecting the first tool (100) to the second tool (200).

13. Coupling according to claim 11, comprising a chamber (264) in the axial extension of the first driveshaft (160) and within the second drive shaft (260) in order to accommodate residual debris.

14. Coupling according to claim 11, comprising a latch (111) on one tool (100) and a corresponding radially extending shoulder on the other tool (200), whereby relative axial movement between the tools (100, 200) is prevented when the latch (111) abuts the shoulder.

15. Coupling according to claim 14, comprising a release sleeve (114) axially movable over inclined faces on the latch (111), whereby the latch (111) is moved radially away from the shoulder when the release sleeve (114) is moved towards the distal end of the latch (111).

16. Coupling according to claim 11, wherein the head of the first drive shaft (160) has the form of a concave depression (161) or a screw (162), whereby debris is loosened and transported axially away from the coupling when the first drive shaft is rotated.

17. Coupling according to claim 11, wherein the first tool (100) comprises at least one inlet for well fluid and a pump, and wherein the head of the first drive shaft (160) comprises a conduit (170) and one or more outlets, whereby well fluid may be discharged with sufficient pressure to stir up the debris in order to facilitate its transport away from the coupling.

18. Coupling according to claim 11, comprising an axially preloaded lid (270-280) adapted to substantially close the entrance to the second outer sleeve (210) when the coupling is not in use.

19. Coupling according to claim 18 wherein the lid (270-280) comprises a flexible scraper (271) adapted to scrape the inner surfaces of the second driveshaft (260) when the first drive shaft (160) is inserted into or withdrawn from the second drive shaft (260).

20. Coupling according to claim 19, wherein the flexible scraper (271) is a brush with radially extending bristle.