Tool coupler with threaded connection for top drive

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10247246-B2
Application number	US-201715457572-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 13, 2017
Priority date	Mar 13, 2017
Publication date	Apr 2, 2019
Grant date	Apr 2, 2019

Abstract

Coupling a top drive to tools. A drive unit includes a drive stem having torque gear profile, threaded load coupling, torque sleeve movable between first position and second position, a sleeve gear profile engaging the torque gear profile when in second position; or spindle unit and annular motor coupled to the spindle unit; or drive stem having first friction surfaces; transmission unit having second friction surfaces parallel to first friction surfaces; and transmission selector movable to an “on” or an “off” position. A method may include rotating a drive stem of drive unit, threading coupling with a tool stem of tool adapter; moving a torque sleeve of drive unit to engage a torque gear profile of the drive stem and a stem gear profile of the tool stem; or rotating a spindle unit relative to drive stem to contact a counter nut of spindle unit with the tool stem.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A drive unit of a top drive system comprising:
a drive stem having a torque gear profile and a load coupling, wherein the load coupling is a threaded coupling;
a torque sleeve movable between a first position and a second position, and having a sleeve gear profile that engages the torque gear profile when the torque sleeve is in the second position, wherein the drive stem extends through the torque sleeve;
a tool adapter having a complementary load coupling to the load coupling of the drive stem, and a stem gear profile that is complementary to the sleeve gear profile; and
at least one coupling between the drive unit and the tool adapter selected from a group consisting of: threaded couplings, hydraulic couplings, pneumatic couplings, electronic couplings, fiber optic couplings, bi-directional torque couplings, axial load couplings, power couplings, data couplings, and signal couplings.

2. The drive unit of claim 1 , wherein the first position of the torque sleeve is a raised position, and the second position of the torque sleeve is a lowered position.

3. A drive unit of a top drive system, comprising:
a drive stem having a torque gear profile and a load coupling wherein the load coupling is a threaded coupling;
a torque sleeve movable between a first position and a second position, and having a sleeve gear profile that engages the torque gear profile when the torque sleeve is in the second position; and
a tool adapter having a complementary load coupling to the load coupling of the drive stem, and a stem gear profile that is complementary to the sleeve gear profile.

4. A drive unit of a top drive system comprising:
a drive stem having a torque gear profile and a load coupling, wherein the load coupling is a threaded coupling;
a torque sleeve movable between a first position and a second position, and having a sleeve gear profile that engages the torque gear profile when the torque sleeve is in the second position, wherein the drive stem extends through the torque sleeve; and
a tool adapter having a stem gear profile that is complementary to the sleeve gear profile.

Assignees

• Weatherford Tech Holdings Llc

Inventors

• Amezaga Federico

Classifications

• F16D2001/103

  the torque is transmitted via splined connections · CPC title

• E21B19/16

  Connecting or disconnecting pipe couplings or joints (E21B19/20 takes precedence) · CPC title

• E21B17/03

  between drilling rod or pipe and drill motor {or surface drive}, e.g. between drilling rod and hammer · CPC title

• F16D1/112

  the interengaging parts comprising torque-transmitting surfaces, e.g. bayonet joints · CPC title

• F16D1/092 Primary

  the pair of conical mating surfaces being provided on the coupled hub and shaft · CPC title