Pinned coupling with shims for electric submersible pump

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10907419-B2
Application number	US-201415522911-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 30, 2014
Priority date	Oct 30, 2014
Publication date	Feb 2, 2021
Grant date	Feb 2, 2021

Abstract

A shaft coupling is useful for connecting a distal end of a first shaft with a proximal end of a second shaft. The shaft coupling includes a body, a first receiving chamber within the body and a second receiving chamber within the body. The first receiving chamber receives the distal portion of the first shaft and the second receiving chamber receives the proximal portion of the second shaft. A pin maintains the axial positioning between the body and the distal portion of the first shaft. An axially adjustable connection is used between the second receiving chamber and the proximal portion of the second shaft.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A shaft coupling for connecting a distal end of a first shaft with a proximal end of a second shaft, wherein the second shaft includes an axially-directed center bore extending from the proximal end, the coupling comprising:
a body,
a first receiving chamber within the body, wherein the first receiving chamber receives the distal end of the first shaft and wherein the first receiving chamber includes a series of splines that engage a mating series of splines on an exterior of the distal end of the first shaft;
a second receiving chamber within the body, wherein the second receiving chamber receives the proximal end of the second shaft;
a thrust plate positioned within the body between the first receiving chamber and the second receiving chamber;
a lock pin; wherein the lock pin extends through the body and through the distal end of the first shaft;
an axial shaft bolt captured within the body of the coupling, wherein the axial shaft bolt is threadingly engaged to the center bore of the second shaft and wherein the axial shaft bolt comprises a bolt head inside the first receiving chamber and a bolt shaft extending through the thrust plate into the second receiving chamber in threaded engagement to the center bore of the second shaft; and
an anti-rotation key connected to the body and to the bolt head, wherein the anti-rotation key engages the splines of the first receiving chamber.

2. The coupling of claim 1 , wherein the first shaft is selected from the group consisting of motor shafts, seal section shafts, thrust chamber shafts and pump shafts.

3. The coupling of claim 2 , wherein the second shaft is selected from the group consisting of motor shafts, seal section shafts, thrust chamber shafts and pump shafts.

4. The coupling of claim 1 , wherein the second receiving chamber includes a series of splines that engage a mating series of splines on an exterior of the proximal end of the second shaft.

5. The coupling of claim 1 , wherein the second receiving chamber includes a spline insert that includes a series of splines that engage a mating series of splines on an exterior of the proximal end of the second shaft.

6. The coupling of claim 1 , further comprising one or more shims around the bolt shaft between the thrust plate and the proximal end of the second shaft.

7. An electric submersible pumping system comprising:
a motor, wherein the motor includes a motor shaft that transmits torque from the motor;
a pump, wherein the pump includes a pump shaft and wherein the pump is configured to discharge fluid toward the motor;
a seal section connected between the pump and the motor, wherein the seal section includes a seal section shaft; and
a shaft coupling connected between the seal section shaft and the pump shaft, wherein the coupling comprises:
a body;
a first receiving chamber within the body, wherein the first receiving chamber receives the seal section shaft and wherein the first receiving chamber includes a series of splines that engage a mating series of splines on an exterior of the seal section shaft;
a second receiving chamber within the body, wherein the second receiving chamber receives the pump shaft;
a thrust plate positioned within the body between the first receiving chamber and the second receiving chamber;
a lock pin; wherein the lock pin extends through the body and through the seal section shaft;
an axial shaft bolt captured within the body of the coupling, wherein the axial shaft bolt is threadingly engaged to the pump shaft and wherein the axial shaft bolt comprises a bolt head inside the first receiving chamber and a bolt shaft extending through the thrust plate into the second receiving chamber in threaded engagement to the pump shaft; and
an anti-rotation key connected to the body and to the bolt head, wherein the anti-rotation key engages the splines of the first receiving chamber.

8. The electric submersible pumping system of claim 7 , wherein the second receiving chamber includes a series of splines that engage a mating series of splines on an exterior of the pump shaft.

9. The electric submersible pumping system of claim 7 , wherein the seal section includes a lock pin port that provides access to the lock pin.

10. A shaft coupling for connecting a distal end of a first shaft with a proximal end of a second shaft, the coupling comprising:
a body;
a first receiving chamber within the body, wherein the first receiving chamber receives the distal end of the first shaft and wherein the first receiving chamber includes a series of splines;
a pinned connection between the body and the distal end of the first shaft;
a second receiving chamber within the body, wherein the second receiving chamber receives the proximal end of the second shaft;
an axially adjustable connection between the second receiving chamber and the proximal end of the second shaft, wherein the axially adjustable connection comprises:
a thrust plate positioned within the body between the first receiving chamber and the second receiving chamber;
an axial shaft bolt captured within the body of the coupling by the thrust plate, wherein the axial shaft bolt extends through the thrust plate and is threadingly engaged to a center bore of the second shaft; and
one or more shims positioned between the proximal end of the second shaft and the thrust plate, wherein the one or more shims control the extent of engagement between the axial shaft bolt and the center bore of the second shaft; and
an anti-rotation key connected to the body and to a bolt head of the axial shaft bolt, wherein the anti-rotation key engages the series of splines in the first receiving chamber.

Assignees

• Ge Oil & Gas Esp Inc
• Baker Hughes Esp Inc

Inventors

• Reeves Brian Paul
• Wang Chengbao
• Howell Steven Alan

Classifications

• E21B43/128

  Adaptation of pump systems with down-hole electric drives · CPC title

• E21B17/046 Primary

  with ribs, pins, or jaws, and complementary grooves or the like, e.g. bayonet catches · CPC title

• F04D13/10

  adapted for use in mining bore holes · CPC title

• E21B17/02 Primary

  Couplings; joints {(expandable couplings or joints E21B43/106)} · CPC title