Leaf spring rotational vibration absorber

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11448288-B2
Application number	US-202017128033-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 19, 2020
Priority date	Dec 19, 2020
Publication date	Sep 20, 2022
Grant date	Sep 20, 2022

Abstract

A vibration damping device for use with a downhole tool having a tool axis and a drill string component (DSC), may comprise an inertia ring rotatably mounted on the DSC and including at least one cutout defining a chamber therein such that the DSC forms an end wall of the chamber, and a leaf spring disposed in the chamber, the leaf spring having first and second spring ends, the first end being attached to the inertia ring or the DSC such that relative rotation between the inertia ring and the DSC distorts the leaf spring. The second spring end may engage the other of the inertia ring or the DSC. A fluid may be included in the chamber and the spring may divide the chamber into two portions, so that relative rotation between the inertia ring and the DSC distorts the leaf spring and varies the volumes of the portions.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vibration damping device for use with a downhole tool, the downhole tool having a tool axis and including a drill string component, the vibration damping device comprising:
an inertia ring rotatably mounted on the drill string component and defining a radial interface therewith, the inertia ring including at least one cutout defining a chamber therein, wherein the drill string component forms an end wall of the chamber;
a leaf spring disposed in the chamber, wherein the leaf spring has a first spring end and a second spring end, wherein the first spring end is fixedly attached to one of the inertia ring or the drill string component such that relative rotation between the inertia ring and the drill string component distorts the leaf spring.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the second spring end engages the other of the inertia ring or the drill string component.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein the leaf spring divides the chamber into first and second chamber portions each having a volume, and wherein relative rotation between the inertia ring and the drill string component distorts the leaf spring so as to vary the volumes of the first and second chamber portions.

4. The device of claim 2 wherein the inertia ring includes at least two chambers and an inter-chamber passage therebetween, the inter-chamber passage providing fluid communication between the chambers.

5. The device of claim 2 wherein at least one end of the leaf spring is supported in an elastomeric member.

6. The device of claim 2 wherein the leaf spring includes at least one fluid flow passage therethrough, the fluid flow passage providing fluid communication between the first and second chamber portions.

7. The device of claim 2 wherein the leaf spring is configured to allow fluid communication between the first and second chamber portions around the leaf spring.

8. The device of claim 2 wherein two or more leaf springs are constructed so as to include a friction interface such that deformation of the two or more leaf springs results in friction at the friction interface.

9. The device of claim 2 , further including at least one of an axial bearing and a radial bearing between the inertia ring and the drill string component.

10. The device of claim 2 , further including a stop mechanism that mechanically limits the degree of relative rotation between the inertia ring and the drill string component.

11. The device of claim 10 wherein the stop mechanism comprises contact between the leaf spring and the inertia ring.

12. The device of claim 10 wherein the stop mechanism limits relative rotation between the inertia ring and the drill string component to a maximum of 45 degrees.

13. The device of claim 1 , further including at least one of a fluid and an elastomer in the chamber.

14. The device of claim 1 , further including a housing, wherein the inertia ring is disposed in the housing.

15. A vibration damping device for use with a downhole tool, the downhole tool having a tool axis and including a drill string component, the vibration damping device comprising:
an inertia ring rotatably mounted on the drill string component and defining a radial interface therewith, the inertia ring including at least one cutout defining at least two chambers therein, wherein the drill string component forms an end wall and an inner wall of each chamber,
a fluid disposed in the chamber;
a leaf spring disposed in the chamber, wherein the leaf spring has a first spring end and a second spring end, wherein the first spring end is fixedly attached to one of the inertia ring or the drill string component, wherein the second spring end engages the other of the inertia ring or the drill string component, and wherein the leaf spring divides the chamber into first and second chamber portions each having a volume, and wherein relative rotation between the inertia ring and the drill string component distorts the leaf spring so as to vary the volumes of the first and second chamber portions; and
a stop mechanism that mechanically limits the degree of relative rotation between the inertia ring and the drill string component.

16. The device of claim 15 wherein the leaf spring includes at least one fluid flow passage therethrough, the fluid flow passage providing fluid communication between the first and second chamber portions.

17. The device of claim 15 wherein the leaf spring is configured to allow fluid communication between the first and second chamber portions around the leaf spring.

18. The device of claim 15 wherein the inertia ring includes at least two chambers and an inter-chamber passage therebetween, the inter-chamber passage providing fluid communication between the chambers.

19. The device of claim 15 , further including at least one of an axial bearing and a radial bearing between the inertia ring and the drill string component.

20. The device of claim 15 wherein the stop mechanism comprises contact between the leaf spring and the inertia ring.

Assignees

• Scient Drilling Int Inc

Inventors

• Simanowski Mario
• Freyer Carsten

Classifications

• E21B17/076

  between rod or pipe and drill bit · CPC title

• F16F15/073 Primary

  using only leaf springs · CPC title

• F16F15/167

  having an inertia member, e.g. ring · CPC title

• F16F15/1215 Primary

  Leaf springs, e.g. radially extending · CPC title

• E21B17/04

  between rod {or the like} and bit or between rod and rod {or the like} · CPC title