Universal joint

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10337261-B2
Application number	US-201615268618-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 18, 2016
Priority date	Sep 18, 2015
Publication date	Jul 2, 2019
Grant date	Jul 2, 2019

Abstract

A universal joint assembled to a drill string transfers torque and axial force between two components along a longitudinal axis where the shafts of the components are not completely aligned. The universal joint includes axially spaced members joined by transversely spaced links. As the joint rotates the links move to accommodate misalignment between the drill string components and the connected members.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A universal joint for transmitting torque from one shaft to another shaft, the joint comprising:
a first member for coupling with a first shaft, the first member having a first axis of rotation coincident with the axis of rotation of the first shaft when coupled with the first shaft;
a second member for coupling with a second shaft, the second member, when coupled with the second shaft, having a second axis of rotation coincident with the axis of rotation of the second shaft;
a spacer for separating the first and second shafts in a spaced relationship; and
a plurality of links, each including a first end, a second end, and a middle portion between the first end and the second end, the first end of each of the plurality of links being coupled to the first member at a first position displaced radially from the first axis, and the second end being connected to the second member at a second position displaced radially from the second axis, wherein the first position and the second position are axially and rotationally displaced from each other such that, when no torque is applied, at least the middle portion of each of the plurality of links is inclined relative to the first axis.

2. The universal joint of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of links is connected to at least one of the first member or the second member with a resilient terminating member.

3. The universal joint of claim 1 , wherein the first and the second members each have fixed positions relative to the first and second shafts, respectively.

4. The universal joint of claim 1 , wherein the second member comprises a sleeve that slides axially with respect to the second shaft but rotates with the shaft, and is resiliently biased away from the first member.

5. The universal joint of claim 1 , wherein the spacer has at least one set of complementary bearing surfaces for permitting rotation and articulation of the first and second member with respect to each other.

6. The universal joint of claim 5 , wherein the the at least one set of complementary bearing surfaces comprise a spherical surface and a complementary surface.

7. The universal joint of claim 5 , wherein the spacer comprises a ball bearing and the first and the second members have surfaces for receiving the ball.

8. The universal joint of claim 1 , wherein the spacer comprises a resilient material.

9. The universal joint of claim 1 , wherein the spacer comprises a solid material.

10. The universal joint of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of links comprises a cable.

11. The universal joint of claim 10 , wherein the cable that comprises a plurality of strands of flexible material and is less flexible than each of the individual strands.

12. The universal joint of claim 1 , wherein each of the links comprises a coiled wire.

13. The universal joint of claim 12 , wherein the coiled wire is wrapped around a material core.

14. The universal joint of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of links comprises a chain.

15. The universal joint of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of links comprises a solid member.

16. The universal joint of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of links is connected to the second member by a pivoting terminating connector such that the plurality of links are pivotable after connected to the second member.

17. The universal joint of claim 1 , wherein the first member comprises one of a plate or a sleeve connected with a rotating shaft.

18. The universal joint of claim 1 , wherein the first member is coupled to one of a source of torque or a drill bit, and the second member is coupled to the other of the source of torque and the drill bit.

19. The universal joint of claim 1 , wherein a source of torque is one of a positive displacement motor or a rotational impulse tool.

20. The universal joint of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of links comprises a cable and service life indicator visible on the cable.

21. The universal joint of claim 20 , wherein the service life indicator comprises strands of limited dimension or contrasting material properties in relation to adjacent strands from which the cable is fabricated.

22. A universal joint for transmitting torque from a source of torque to a drill bit, comprising:
a first member having a first axis of rotation coincident with the axis of rotation of a first shaft when connected to the first shaft;
a second member for coupling with a second shaft, the second member, when coupled with the second shaft, having a second axis of rotation coincident with the axis of rotation of the second shaft;
a spacer for separating the first and second shafts in a spaced relationship;
a plurality of links, each including a first and a second end, the first end of each of the plurality of links being coupled to the first member at a position displaced radially from the first axis, and the second end being connected to the second member at a position displaced radially from the second axis; and
at least one resilient member to absorb changes in torque transferred to the plurality of links, wherein the second member comprises a sleeve that slides axially with respect to the second shaft but rotates with the shaft, and wherein the at least one resilient member biases the sleeve away from the first member.

23. The universal joint of claim 22 , wherein the spacer comprises a bearing, and wherein the bearing comprises a spherical surface and a complementary surface.

24. A drill string for drilling a borehole with a drill bit, comprising:
a drill pipe;
a motor or a rotary impact tool for producing torque connected to the drill pipe;
a drill bit; and
a universal joint for transmitting torque from a source of torque to a drill bit, the universal joint comprising:
a first member for coupling with a first shaft, the first member, when coupled with the first shaft, having a first axis of rotation coincident with the axis of rotation of the first shaft;
a second member for coupling with a second shaft, the second member, when coupled with the second shaft, having a second axis of rotation coincident with the axis of rotation of the second shaft;
a spacer for separating the first and second shafts in a spaced relationship;
a plurality of links, each including a first, a second end, and a middle portion between the first end and the second end, the first end of each of the plurality of links being coupled to the first member at a first position displaced radially from the first axis, and the second end being connected to the second member at a second position displaced radially from the second axis, wherein the first position and the second position are axially and rotationally displaced from each other such that, when no torque is applied, at least the middle portion of each of the plurality of links is inclined relative to the first axis; and
at least one resilient member to absorb changes in torque transferred to the plurality of links.

25. The universal joint of claim 1 , further comprising:
at least one resilient member slidably coupled to each of the plurality of links to absorb changes in torque transferred to the plurality of links.

26. The universal joint of claim 22 , wherein the sleeve comprises a splined sleeve.

Assignees

• Ulterra Drilling Tech Lp

Inventors

• Maw Jason
• St Pierre Beau J
• Kummer Nikolai

Classifications

• E21B4/006

  Mechanical motion converting means, e.g. reduction gearings (E21B4/10 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F16D3/72

  with axially-spaced attachments to the coupling parts (F16D3/56 takes precedence) · CPC title

• E21B7/068

  drilled by a down-hole drilling motor (down-hole drives per se E21B4/00, E21B7/067 takes precedence) · CPC title

• E21B17/05 Primary

  Swivel joints · CPC title

• F16D3/62

  the links or their attachments being elastic · CPC title