TORQUE TOOL WITH ELECTRIC MOTORS

• US 20200130112A1
• Filed: 10/26/2018
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Forum US, Inc. (L E Simmons & Associates Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Forum US, Inc. (L E Simmons & Associates Incorporated)
• Inventors: SLEET, Peter, OWEN, David
• Granted Patent: US 11,040,421 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 19/066 by electrical means
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 21/002 for special purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 23/147 specially adapted for electrically operated wrenches or screwdrivers
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 11/52 Tools specially adapted for working underwater, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B63G 2008/005 remotely controlled
• CPC Class Codes: B63G 8/001 Underwater vessels adapted for special purposes, e.g. unmanned underwater vessels; Equipment specially adapted therefor, e.g. docking stations self-propelled or direction controlled diving chambers with mechanical link to a base B63C11/42
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0011 associated with a remote control arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0094 involving pointing a payload, e.g. camera, weapon, sensor, towards a fixed or moving target

Abstract

A torque tool for use subsea with a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) includes a tool housing, a socket drive configured to rotate within the tool housing, and a drive mechanism configured to provide torque to rotate the socket drive within the tool housing. The drive mechanism includes a first torque electric drive motor configured to provide a first torque to the socket drive, and a second torque electric drive motor configured to provide a second torque to the socket drive different from the first torque. The first torque electric drive motor and the second torque electric drive motor are configured to together provide a third torque that is higher than the first torque and the second torque.

Claims

1. A torque tool for use subsea with a remotely operated vehicle (ROV), comprising:

a tool housing;

a socket drive configured to rotate within the tool housing; and

a drive mechanism configured to provide torque to rotate the socket drive within the tool housing, the drive mechanism comprising;

a first torque electric drive motor configured to provide a first torque to the socket drive; and

a second torque electric drive motor configured to provide a second torque to the socket drive different from the first torque.

2. The tool of claim 1, wherein the first torque is higher than the second torque.

3. The tool of claim 1, wherein the first torque electric drive motor and the second torque electric drive motor are configured to together provide a third torque to the socket drive that is higher than the first torque and the second torque.

4. The tool of claim 1, wherein, when torque is not provided by the first torque electric drive motor, the first torque electric drive motor is configured to rotate with the second electric drive motor to allow the second torque electric drive motor to provide the second torque to the socket drive without the first electric drive motor applying an electrical load against the second torque electric drive motor.

5. The tool of claim 1, wherein the first torque electric drive motor comprises a first torque drive member coupled with the socket drive to provide the first torque to the socket drive through the first torque drive member.

6. The tool of claim 5, wherein the second torque electric drive motor comprises a second torque drive member coupled with the socket drive to provide the second torque to the socket drive through the second torque drive member.

7. The tool of claim 6, wherein the first torque drive member and the second torque drive member are coupled to each other such that the first torque electric drive motor is configured to provide the first torque to the socket drive through the first torque drive member and the second torque drive member.

8. The tool of claim 7, wherein:

the first torque electric drive motor comprises a stator and a rotor configured to provide the first torque to the first torque drive member; and

the second torque electric drive motor comprise a stator and a rotor configured to provide the second torque to the second torque drive member.

9. The tool of claim 1, further comprising an electronics section configured to receive electric power and provide the electric power to the first torque electric drive motor and the second torque electric drive motor.

10. The tool of claim 9, wherein the electric power is provided from the electronics section to the second torque electric drive motor through the first torque electric drive motor.

11. The tool of claim 9, wherein the electronics section is configured to receive control signals to control the first torque electric drive motor and the second torque electric drive motor.

12. The tool of claim 1, further comprising a gearbox and a drive shaft coupled between the drive mechanism and the socket drive and configured to provide torque from the drive mechanism to the socket drive.

13. The tool of claim 1, further comprising a latch mechanism configured to move between an engaged position to engage a subsea component and a disengaged position to disengage the subsea component.

14. The tool of claim 1, further comprising:

a handle coupled to the tool housing and configured for the ROV to control the torque tool through the handle; and

a nose cone coupled to the tool housing with the socket drive configured to rotate with respect to the nose cone;

wherein the socket drive comprises a plurality of sockets movable with respect to each other.

15. A method of applying torque to a subsea component, comprising:

latching a torque tool to the subsea component;

receiving electric power at the torque tool;

receiving a control signal at the torque tool;

providing torque to the subsea component from the torque tool using the electric power based upon the control signal; and

unlatching the torque tool from the subsea component.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the providing the torque comprises:

providing a high torque to the subsea component through a high torque electric drive motor of the torque tool;

providing a low torque to the subsea component through a low torque electric drive motor of the torque tool;

or

providing a combined torque to the subsea component through the high torque electric drive motor and the low torque electric drive motor together.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the receiving the electric power comprises receiving the electric power from an ROV or a surface support structure.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the providing the torque comprises providing a first torque to the subsea component from the torque tool, the method further comprising:

latching the torque tool to a second subsea component;

receiving a second control signal at the torque tool;

providing a second torque different from the first torque to the second subsea component from the torque tool using the electric power based upon the second control signal; and

unlatching the torque tool from the second subsea component.

19. A torque tool configured to apply torque to a subsea component with a remotely operated vehicle (ROV), comprising:

a tool housing;

a socket drive configured to rotate within the tool housing;

a latch mechanism configured to move between an engaged position to engage the subsea component and a disengaged position to disengage the subsea component; and

a drive mechanism configured to provide torque to rotate the socket drive within the tool housing, the drive mechanism comprising;

a first torque electric drive motor configured to provide a first torque to the socket drive; and

a second torque electric drive motor configured to provide a second torque to the socket drive different from the first torque;

wherein the first torque electric drive motor and the second torque electric drive motor are configured to together provide a third torque to the socket drive that is higher than the first torque and the second torque.

20. The tool of claim 19, wherein:

a first torque drive member of the first torque electric drive motor and a second torque drive member of the second torque electric drive motor are coupled to each other with the first torque electric drive motor configured to provide the first torque to the socket drive through the first torque drive member and the second torque drive member;

when torque is not provided by the first torque electric drive motor, the first torque electric drive motor is configured to rotate with the second electric drive motor to allow the second torque electric drive motor to provide the second torque to the socket drive without the first electric drive motor applying an electrical load against the second torque electric drive motor; and

when torque is not provided by the second torque electric drive motor, the second torque electric drive motor is configured to rotate with the first electric drive motor to allow the first torque electric drive motor to provide the first torque to the socket drive without the second electric drive motor applying an electrical load against the first torque electric drive motor.