RECIPROCATION-DAMPENING DRIVE SHAFT ASSEMBLY
First Claim
1. A reciprocation-dampening drive shaft assembly comprising:
- a first reciprocation-dampening adapter comprising a connection end and a cylindrical adapter portion, wherein the cylindrical adapter portion comprises a recessed inner aperture having a first diameter, a recessed inner aperture having a second diameter and a plurality of semispheroidal recessed portions, and a first adapter threaded end;
a first plurality of spring washers disposed within the recessed inner aperture having the first diameter of the first reciprocation-dampening adapter;
a first floating seat disposed within the recessed inner aperture having the first diameter of the first reciprocation-dampening adapter on a spring loaded side of the first plurality of spring washers, wherein the first floating seat comprises a spheroidal cap indentation configured to receive a portion of a spheroidal end of a first drive shaft portion;
the first drive shaft portion comprising the spheroidal end, a cylindrical shaft portion, and a shaft threaded end, wherein the spheroidal end comprises a plurality of ball cap indentations disposed about its outer surface;
a first floating ring comprising a plurality of semispheroidal recessed portions, wherein the plurality of semispheroidal recessed portions of the first dampening adapter are configured to receive a portion of a first plurality of balls partially disposed within the plurality of ball cap indentations of the spheroidal end of the first drive shaft portion and the plurality of semispheroidal recessed portions of the first floating ring are configured to receive a portion of the first plurality of balls partially disposed within the plurality of ball cap indentations of the spheroidal end of the first drive shaft portion;
a first plurality of spring washers disposed within the recessed inner aperture having the second diameter of the first reciprocation-dampening adapter;
a first reciprocation-dampening adapter cap comprising a recessed dampener aperture configured to receive a first dampener insert and a first adapter cap threaded end configured to removably connect to the first adapter threaded end of the first dampening adapter; and
a first boot configured to seal the first reciprocation-dampening adapter cap and the cylindrical shaft portion of the first drive shaft portion.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Mechanical stresses caused by jarring axial loads reduce the operational life of conventional drive shaft assemblies, increase non-productive downtime, and increase costs. A reciprocation-dampening drive shaft assembly is disclosed that allows the drive shaft to rotate and withstand axial loads, as well as vibration, without slippage or damage to the adapters of the drive shaft assembly, thereby extending productive uptime of drilling operations. The reciprocation-dampening drive shaft assembly includes first and second reciprocation-dampening adapters, first and second floating seats, first and second drive shaft portions, first and second floating rings, first and second reciprocation-dampening adapter caps with dampener inserts, and first and second boots. The spheroidal ends of the first and second drive shaft portions have limited axial freedom of motion while rotating without damaging the adapters. In addition, the dampener insert included with the first and second reciprocation-dampening adapter caps reduce vibration.
2 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A reciprocation-dampening drive shaft assembly comprising:
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a first reciprocation-dampening adapter comprising a connection end and a cylindrical adapter portion, wherein the cylindrical adapter portion comprises a recessed inner aperture having a first diameter, a recessed inner aperture having a second diameter and a plurality of semispheroidal recessed portions, and a first adapter threaded end; a first plurality of spring washers disposed within the recessed inner aperture having the first diameter of the first reciprocation-dampening adapter; a first floating seat disposed within the recessed inner aperture having the first diameter of the first reciprocation-dampening adapter on a spring loaded side of the first plurality of spring washers, wherein the first floating seat comprises a spheroidal cap indentation configured to receive a portion of a spheroidal end of a first drive shaft portion; the first drive shaft portion comprising the spheroidal end, a cylindrical shaft portion, and a shaft threaded end, wherein the spheroidal end comprises a plurality of ball cap indentations disposed about its outer surface; a first floating ring comprising a plurality of semispheroidal recessed portions, wherein the plurality of semispheroidal recessed portions of the first dampening adapter are configured to receive a portion of a first plurality of balls partially disposed within the plurality of ball cap indentations of the spheroidal end of the first drive shaft portion and the plurality of semispheroidal recessed portions of the first floating ring are configured to receive a portion of the first plurality of balls partially disposed within the plurality of ball cap indentations of the spheroidal end of the first drive shaft portion; a first plurality of spring washers disposed within the recessed inner aperture having the second diameter of the first reciprocation-dampening adapter; a first reciprocation-dampening adapter cap comprising a recessed dampener aperture configured to receive a first dampener insert and a first adapter cap threaded end configured to removably connect to the first adapter threaded end of the first dampening adapter; and a first boot configured to seal the first reciprocation-dampening adapter cap and the cylindrical shaft portion of the first drive shaft portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification