Torque tool with latch assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10987768-B2
Application number	US-201816172360-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 26, 2018
Priority date	Oct 26, 2018
Publication date	Apr 27, 2021
Grant date	Apr 27, 2021

Abstract

A torque tool to apply torque to a subsea component with a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) includes a housing, a socket drive to rotate within the housing, and a latch mechanism. The latch mechanism includes a latch to move with respect to the housing between an engaged position to engage the subsea component and a disengaged position to disengage the subsea component. The latch mechanism further includes a biasing mechanism to bias the latch from the engaged position towards the disengaged position, and/or an electric motor to move the latch from the disengaged position towards the engaged position.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A torque tool configured to apply torque to a subsea component with a remotely operated vehicle (ROV), comprising:
a housing;
a socket drive rotatable within the housing;
a latch movable between an engaged position to engage the subsea component and a disengaged position to disengage the subsea component; and
a biasing mechanism at least partially positioned axially between the latch and an end of the housing and configured to move a collar to thereby move the latch from the engaged position to the disengaged position.

2. The tool of claim 1 , further comprising an electric motor coupled to a lead screw to rotate the lead screw, wherein rotation of the lead screw linearly moves the collar to move the latch between the disengaged position and the engaged position.

3. The tool of claim 2 , wherein the electric motor comprises a brushless DC electric motor.

4. The tool of claim 2 , wherein, when power is not provided to the electric motor, the electric motor allows the latch to move from the engaged position to the disengaged position without applying an electrical load against movement of the latch.

5. The tool of claim 2 , wherein the latch is rotatable between the engaged position and the disengaged position.

6. The tool of claim 5 , wherein linear movement of the collar with respect to the housing rotates the latch with respect to the housing.

7. The tool of claim 6 , wherein the biasing mechanism is positioned at least partially between the housing and the collar.

8. The tool of claim 7 , wherein the biasing mechanism comprises a spring positioned within the housing.

9. The tool of claim 6 , wherein:
the lead screw is threadedly coupled with a nut; and
the nut is coupled to the collar.

10. The tool of claim 9 , further comprising:
a drive coupling coupled between the electric motor and the lead screw;
a bearing assembly positioned about the drive coupling and between the drive coupling and the housing;
a seal assembly positioned about the drive coupling and between the drive coupling and the housing; and
a motor carrier positioned about the electric motor and between the electric motor and the housing.

11. The tool of claim 1 , wherein:
the tool further comprises a second latch;
the latch is positioned opposite the second latch with respect to an axis of the tool; and
the biasing mechanism is configured to bias the latch and the second latch from the engaged position to the disengaged position.

12. The tool of claim 1 , further comprising a drive mechanism comprising an electric motor configured to rotate the socket drive within the housing.

13. A torque tool configured to apply torque to a subsea component with a remotely operated vehicle (ROV), comprising:
a housing;
a socket drive rotatable within the housing; and
a latch movable between an engaged position to engage the subsea component and a disengaged position to disengage the subsea component;
an electric motor to coupled to a lead screw to rotate the lead screw, wherein rotation of the lead screw linearly moves a collar that moves the latch between the disengaged position and the engaged position; and
a biasing mechanism at least partially positioned axially between the latch and an end of the housing and configured to move the collar to thereby move the latch from the engaged position to the disengaged position.

14. The tool of claim 13 , wherein, when power is not provided to the electric motor, the electric motor allows the latch to move from the engaged position to the disengaged position without applying an electrical load against movement of the latch.

15. The tool of claim 13 , further comprising an electronics section configured to receive electric power and provide the electric power to the electric motor.

16. The tool of claim 15 , further comprising a drive mechanism comprising an electric motor configured to rotate the socket drive within the housing, wherein the electric power is provided from the electronics section to the electric motor through the drive mechanism.

17. The tool of claim 13 , further comprising an electronics section configured to receive control signals to control the electric motor.

18. A method of applying torque to a subsea component, comprising:
receiving electric power at a torque tool;
receiving a control signal at the torque tool;
latching a latch of the torque tool to the subsea component using the electric power based upon the control signal, the latching comprising rotating a lead screw to linearly move a collar that moves the latch; and
providing torque to the subsea component from the torque tool by rotating a socket drive positioned within a housing of the torque tool; and
unlatching the latch of the torque tool from the subsea component by biasing the collar using a biasing mechanism to move the collar and thereby move the latch, wherein the biasing mechanism is at least partially positioned axially between the latch and an end of the housing.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein:
the biasing the collar moves the collar and thereby moves the latch from an engaged position to a disengaged position to disengage and unlatch the torque tool from the subsea component.

20. The method of claim 18 , wherein the receiving the electric power comprises receiving the electric power from an ROV or a surface support structure.

Assignees

• Forum Us Inc

Inventors

• Sleet Peter
• Owen David

Classifications

• E21B41/0007

  for underwater installations (E21B41/005, E21B41/04, E21B41/06, E21B41/08, E21B41/10 take precedence) · CPC title

• B23P19/066 Primary

  by electrical means · CPC title

• E21B41/04

  Manipulators for underwater operations, e.g. temporarily connected to well heads · CPC title

• B63C11/52

  Tools specially adapted for working underwater, not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• B25B13/48 Primary

  for special purposes · CPC title