Drill tool shaft-to-housing locking device

• US 7,234,544 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2004
• Issued: 06/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Original Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Inventors: Kent, Gerald Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Bates; Zakiya W.
• Application Number:
  US10/876,661
• Publication Number:
  US 20040231893A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,093 Days
• Field of Search: 175/73, 175/74, 175/256, 175/300, 175/306, 175/321, 175/325.6, 175/325.7
• US Class Current: 175/74
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 7/062 the tool shaft rotating inside a non-rotating guide travelling with the shaft E21B7/067 and E21B7/068 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 7/067 with means for locking sections of a pipe or of a guide for a shaft in angular relation, e.g. adjustable bent sub

Abstract

In a tool having an inner member supported within an outer member, wherein the tool defines a longitudinal axis, a device is provided for preventing relative rotation of the inner member and the outer member. The device is comprised of a locking mechanism and a locking actuator. The locking mechanism is positioned between the inner member and the outer member, wherein the locking mechanism is movable longitudinally between a first locking mechanism position in which the inner member and the outer member are disengaged and capable of relative rotation and a second locking mechanism position in which the inner member and the outer member are engaged and not capable of relative rotation. The locking actuator causes the locking mechanism to move longitudinally.

Claims

1. In a tool having an inner member supported within an outer member, wherein the toot defines a longitudinal axis, a device for preventing relative rotation of the inner member and the outer member, the device comprising:

(a) a locking mechanism positioned radially between the inner member and the outer member, wherein the locking mechanism is movable longitudinally between a first locking mechanism position in which the inner member and the outer member are disengaged and capable of relative rotation and a second locking mechanism position in which the inner member and the outer member are engaged and not capable of relative rotation; and

(b) a locking actuator for causing the locking mechanism to move longitudinally.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the locking actuator is capable of moving the locking mechanism both from the first locking mechanism position to the second locking mechanism position and from the second locking mechanism position to the first locking mechanism position.

3. The device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the locking actuator is comprised of a power source for causing the locking mechanism to move longitudinally.

4. The device as claimed in claim 3 wherein the power source is comprised of a hydraulic system.

5. The device as claimed in claim 4 wherein the hydraulic system is comprised of an actuator piston and an actuator cylinder, wherein the actuator piston and the actuator cylinder move longitudinally relative to each other in order to cause the locking mechanism to move longitudinally.

6. The device as claimed in claim 5 wherein the actuator piston is connected with the locking mechanism and wherein the actuator piston moves longitudinally relative to the actuator cylinder in order to cause the locking mechanism to move longitudinally.

7. The device as claimed in claim 5 wherein the actuator piston and the actuator cylinder are positioned between the inner member and the outer member.

8. The device as claimed in claim 5 wherein the hydraulic system is further comprised of a pump for supplying a hydraulic fluid to the actuator cylinder.

9. The device as claimed in claim 8 wherein the pump is powered by rotation of the inner member.

10. The device as claimed in claim 9 wherein the pump is positioned between the inner member and the outer member.

11. The device as claimed in claim 3 wherein the power source is double acting so that the locking actuator is capable of moving the locking mechanism both from the first locking mechanism position to the second locking mechanism position and from the second locking mechanism position to the first locking mechanism position.

12. The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the locking sleeve is comprised of an inner member engagement surface which is adapted to engage with the inner member to prevent relative rotation of the inner member and the locking sleeve and wherein the locking sleeve is further comprised of an outer member engagement surface which is adapted to engage with the outer member to prevent relative rotation of the outer member and the locking sleeve.

13. The device as claimed in claim 12 wherein the locking sleeve is slidably mounted on the inner member so that the locking sleeve is movable longitudinally between the first looking mechanism position and the second locking mechanism position.

14. The device as claimed in claim 13 wherein the inner member engagement surface engages the inner member to prevent relative rotation of the inner member and the locking sleeve in both the first locking mechanism position and the second locking mechanism position.

15. The device as claimed in claim 14 wherein the outer member engagement surface engages the outer member to prevent relative rotation of the outer member and the locking sleeve only in the second locking mechanism position.

16. The device claimed in claim 15 wherein the locking actuator is capable of moving the locking mechanism both from the first locking mechanism position to the second locking mechanism position and form the second locking mechanism position to the first locking mechanism.

17. The device as claimed in claim 15 wherein the inner member is comprised of a rotatable drilling shaft and wherein the outer member is comprised of a housing.

18. The device as claimed in claim 12 wherein the inner member engagement surface is comprised of a plurality of splines which are adapted to engage a plurality of complementary splines associated with the inner member.

19. The device as claimed in claim 12 wherein the outer member engagement surface is comprised of a plurality of splines which are adapted to engage a plurality of complementary splines associated with the outer member.

20. The device is claimed in claim 19 wherein the inner member engagement surface is comprised of a plurality of splines which are adapted to engage a plurality of complementary splines associated with the inner member.

21. The device as claimed in claim 20 wherein the locking actuator is capable of moving the locking mechanism both from the first locking mechanism position to the second locking mechanism position and from the second locking mechanism position to the first locking mechanism position.

22. The device as claimed in claim 20 wherein the inner member is comprised of a rotatable drilling shaft and wherein the outer member is comprised of a housing.

23. The device as claimed in claim 22 wherein the locking actuator is comprised of a power source for causing the locking mechanism to move longitudinally.

24. The device as claimed in claim 23 wherein the power source is double acting so that the locking actuator is capable of moving the locking mechanism both from the first locking mechanism position to the second locking mechanism position and from the second locking mechanism position to the first locking mechanism position.

25. The device as claimed in claim 12 further comprising a locking ring connected with the outer member, wherein the outer member engagement surface is adapted to engage the locking ring to prevent relative rotation of the outer member and the locking sleeve.

26. The device as claimed in claim 25 wherein the locking ring is positioned between the inner member and the outer member.

27. The device as claimed in claim 28 wherein the locking actuator is capable of moving the locking mechanism both from the first locking mechanism position to the second locking mechanism position and from the second locking mechanism position to the first locking mechanism position.

28. The device as claimed in claim 12 wherein the inner member is comprised of a rotatable drilling shaft and wherein the outer member is comprised of a housing.

29. The device as claimed in claim 28 wherein the locking actuator is capable of moving the locking mechanism both from the first locking mechanism position to the second locking mechanism position and from the second locking mechanism position to the first locking mechanism position.

30. The device as claimed in claim 12 wherein the locking actuator is capable of moving the locking mechanism both from the first locking mechanism position to the second locking mechanism position and from the second locking mechanism position to the first locking mechanism position.

31. The device as claimed in claim 12 wherein the locking actuator is comprised of a power source for causing the locking mechanism to move longitudinally.

32. The device as claimed in claim 31 wherein the power source in double acting so that the locking actuator is capable of moving the locking mechanism both from the first locking mechanism position to the second locking mechanism position and from the second locking mechanism position to the first locking mechanism position.

33. The device as claimed in claim 32 wherein the inner member is comprised of a rotatable drilling shaft and wherein the outer member is comprised of a housing.

34. The device as claimed in claim 32 wherein the power source is comprised of a hydraulic system.

35. The device as claimed in claim 34 wherein the hydraulic system is comprised of an actuator piston and an actuator cylinder, wherein the actuator piston and the actuator cylinder move longitudinally relative to each other in order to cause the locking mechanism to move longitudinally.

36. The device as claimed in claim 35 wherein the actuator piston is connected with the locking mechanism and wherein the actuator piston moves longitudinally relative to the actuator cylinder in order to cause the locking mechanism to move longitudinally.

37. The device as claimed in claim 35 wherein the actuator piston and the actuator cylinder are positioned between the inner member and the outer member.

38. The device as claimed in claim 35 wherein the hydraulic system is further comprised of a pump for supplying a hydraulic fluidto the actuator cylinder.

39. The device as claimed in claim 38 wherein the pump is powered by rotation of the inner member.

40. The device as claimed in claim 39 wherein the pump is positioned between the inner member and the outer member.

41. The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the inner member is comprised of a rotatable drilling shaft and wherein the outer member is comprised of a housing.