Torque tool with electric motors

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11040421-B2
Application number	US-201816172325-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 26, 2018
Priority date	Oct 26, 2018
Publication date	Jun 22, 2021
Grant date	Jun 22, 2021

Abstract

A torque tool for use subsea with a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) includes a tool housing, a socket drive configured to rotate within the tool housing, and a drive mechanism configured to provide torque to rotate the socket drive within the tool housing. The drive mechanism includes a first torque electric drive motor configured to provide a first torque to the socket drive, and a second torque electric drive motor configured to provide a second torque to the socket drive different from the first torque. The first torque electric drive motor and the second torque electric drive motor are configured to together provide a third torque that is higher than the first torque and the second torque.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A torque tool for use subsea with a remotely operated vehicle (ROV), comprising:
a tool housing;
a socket drive rotatable within the tool housing; and
a drive mechanism configured to provide torque to rotate the socket drive within the tool housing, the drive mechanism comprising:
a first torque electric drive motor configured to provide a first torque to the socket drive, the first torque electric drive motor comprising:
a shaft; and
a key positioned at an end of the shaft; and

a second torque electric drive motor configured to provide a second torque to the socket drive different from the first torque, the second torque electric drive motor comprising:
a plate, the plate comprising a groove having the key received in the groove, wherein the key positioned at the end of the shaft is coupled to the plate to provide the first torque to the socket drive through the shaft and the plate.

2. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the first torque is higher than the second torque.

3. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the first torque electric drive motor and the second torque electric drive motor are configured to together provide a third torque to the socket drive that is higher than the first torque and the second torque.

4. The tool of claim 1 , wherein, when torque is not provided by the first torque electric drive motor, the first torque electric drive motor is configured to rotate with the second torque electric drive motor to allow the second torque electric drive motor to provide the second torque to the socket drive without the first torque electric drive motor applying an electrical load against the second torque electric drive motor.

5. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the plate is coupled to a drive extension to provide the second torque to the socket drive through the plate and the drive extension.

6. The tool of claim 5 , wherein the plate comprises a key that is received in a groove of the drive extension to provide the second torque to the socket drive through the plate and the drive extension.

7. The tool of claim 6 , wherein:
the first torque electric drive motor comprises a first stator and a first rotor configured to provide the first torque to a first torque drive member, the first torque drive member comprising the shaft and the key;
the first torque drive member is disposed at least partially within the first rotor;
the first torque drive member further comprises one or more plates coupled to the shaft and the first rotor;
the second torque electric drive motor comprise a second stator and a second rotor configured to provide the second torque to a second torque drive member, the second torque drive member comprising the plate; and
the second torque drive member is disposed at least partially within the second rotor.

8. The tool of claim 1 , further comprising an electronics section configured to receive electric power and provide the electric power to the first torque electric drive motor and the second torque electric drive motor.

9. The tool of claim 8 , wherein the electric power is provided from the electronics section to the second torque electric drive motor through the first torque electric drive motor.

10. The tool of claim 9 , further comprising an electric conduit extending from a controller of the electronics section and to the second torque electric drive motor through the first torque electric drive motor, wherein the electric power is provided through the electric conduit.

11. The tool of claim 8 , wherein the electronics section is configured to receive control signals to control the first torque electric drive motor and the second torque electric drive motor.

12. The tool of claim 1 , further comprising a gearbox and a drive shaft coupled between the drive mechanism and the socket drive and configured to provide torque from the drive mechanism to the socket drive.

13. The tool of claim 1 , further comprising one or more latches movable between an engaged position to engage a subsea component and a disengaged position to disengage the subsea component.

14. The tool of claim 1 , further comprising:
a handle coupled to the tool housing and configured for the ROV to control the torque tool through the handle; and
a nose cone coupled to the tool housing with the socket drive configured to rotate with respect to the nose cone;
wherein the socket drive comprises a plurality of sockets movable with respect to each other.

15. A torque tool configured to apply torque to a subsea component with a remotely operated vehicle (ROV), comprising:
a tool housing;
a socket drive rotatable within the tool housing;
one or more latches movable between an engaged position to engage the subsea component and a disengaged position to disengage the subsea component; and
a drive mechanism configured to provide torque to rotate the socket drive within the tool housing, the drive mechanism comprising:
a first torque electric drive motor configured to provide a first torque to the socket drive, the first torque electric drive motor comprising:
a shaft; and
a key positioned at an end of the shaft; and

a second torque electric drive motor configured to provide a second torque to the socket drive different from the first torque, the second torque electric drive motor comprising:
a plate, the plate comprising a groove having the key received in the groove, wherein the key positioned at the end of the shaft is coupled to the plate to provide the first torque to the socket drive through the shaft and the plate,

wherein the first torque electric drive motor and the second torque electric drive motor are configured to together provide a third torque to the socket drive that is higher than the first torque and the second torque.

16. The tool of claim 15 , wherein:
a first torque drive member of the first torque electric drive motor and a second torque drive member of the second torque electric drive motor are coupled to each other with the first torque electric drive motor configured to provide the first torque to the socket drive through the first torque drive member and the second torque drive member, the first torque drive member comprising the shaft and the key positioned at the end of the shaft, and the second torque drive member comprising the plate comprising the groove;
when torque is not provided by the first torque electric drive motor, the first torque electric drive motor is configured to rotate with the second torque electric drive motor to allow the second torque electric drive motor to provide the second torque to the socket drive without the first torque electric drive motor applying an electrical load against the second torque electric drive motor; and
when torque is not provided by the second torque electric drive motor, the second torque electric drive motor is configured to rotate with the first torque electric drive motor to allow the first torque electric drive motor to provide the first torque to the socket drive without the second torque electric drive motor applying an electrical load against the first torque electric drive motor.

17. The tool of claim 16 , wherein:
the first torque electric drive motor comprises a first stator and a first rotor configured to provide the first torque to the first torque drive member;
the first torque drive member is disposed at least partially within the first rotor;
the first torque drive member further comprises one or more plates coupled to the shaft and the first rotor;
the second torque electric drive motor comprise a second stator and a second rotor configured

Assignees

• Forum Us Inc

Inventors

• Sleet Peter
• Owen David

Classifications

• B25B21/002 Primary

  for special purposes · CPC title

• B25B23/147

  specially adapted for electrically operated wrenches or screwdrivers · CPC title

• G05D1/0094

  involving pointing a payload, e.g. camera, weapon, sensor, towards a fixed or moving target · CPC title

• B63C11/52

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

• B23P19/066 Primary

  by electrical means · CPC title