One way clutch train for arresting backspin

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12345139-B2
Application number	US-202318202394-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 26, 2023
Priority date	May 26, 2022
Publication date	Jul 1, 2025
Grant date	Jul 1, 2025

Abstract

An ESP system having a driveshaft assembly; an electrical motor coupled with an end of the driveshaft assembly, and that when energized rotates the driveshaft assembly in a first direction. The ESP system also includes a pump coupled with an end of the driveshaft assembly distal from the motor, and a one-way clutch train in the driveshaft assembly that arrests rotation of the driveshaft assembly in a second direction. In this example the driveshaft assembly includes a pump shaft having an end engaged with an end of a motor shaft; opposing ends of the pump and motor shafts respectively couple with the pump and motor. The one-way clutch train includes a shaft-to-shaft clutch coupled between inner and outer surfaces of the pump and motor shafts and a shaft to housing clutch coupled between an outer surface of one of the pump and motor shafts and an outer housing.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electrical submersible pumping (“ESP”) system comprising:
a driveshaft assembly that comprises elongated segments that include a pump shaft;
an electrical motor coupled with an end of the driveshaft assembly, and that when energized rotates the driveshaft assembly in a first direction;
a pump coupled with an end of the driveshaft assembly distal from the motor; and
a one-way clutch train in the driveshaft assembly that is rotationally disengaged with the driveshaft assembly when the driveshaft assembly rotates in the first direction, and that is rotationally engaged with the driveshaft assembly when the driveshaft assembly rotates in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction, and that comprises,
a shaft-to-shaft clutch comprising,
an outer race on an outer surface of one of the segments,
an inner race on an inner surface of an adjacent segment, and
sprag type elements between the inner and outer races, and

a shaft to housing clutch coupled between the one of the segments and an outer housing, the shaft to housing clutch being selectively changeable between an engaged configuration and a disengaged configuration, and when the shaft to housing clutch is in the engaged configuration, the housing is rotationally coupled to the one of the segments by the shaft to housing clutch, and when the shaft to housing clutch is in disengaged configuration the one of the segments is rotatable with respect to the housing.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein one of the segments comprises a pump shaft and another one of the segments comprises a motor shaft, the pump shaft having an end selectively coupled with an end of the motor shaft, wherein opposing ends of the pump and motor shafts respectively couple with the pump and motor.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein changing a rotational direction of the pump shaft changes the shaft to housing clutch between the engaged configuration and the disengaged configuration.

4. The system of claim 2 , wherein the shaft-to-shaft clutch is selectively changeable between an engaged configuration and a disengaged configuration, wherein when in the engaged configuration the motor shaft is rotationally coupled to the pump shaft by the shaft-to-shaft clutch, and wherein when in the disengaged configuration the pump shaft is rotatable with respect to the motor shaft.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein changing a rotational direction of the motor shaft changes the shaft-to-shaft clutch between the engaged configuration and the disengaged configuration.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the sprag type elements are generally planar elements that are pivotable about an axis that is substantially parallel with an axis of the ESP assembly.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the sprag type elements are strategically dimensioned so that opposing ends of the sprag type elements are wedged between the inner and outer races when elongate widths of the sprag type elements are oriented radially from the axis, wherein the sprag type elements are selectively oriented radially from the axis in response to rotation of the outer race with respect to the inner race in a first direction.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein when the sprag type elements become wedged between the inner and outer races, and the shaft-to-shaft clutch assembly between the outer race and the inner race is in an engaged configuration and relative rotation of the outer race to the inner race in a first direction is arrested.

9. The system of claim 7 , wherein the sprag type elements are in sliding contact with the inner and outer races when the elongate widths of the sprag type elements are oriented oblique to the axis, and wherein the sprag type elements are selectively oriented oblique to the axis in response to rotation of the outer race with respect to the inner race in a second direction that is opposite the first direction.

10. An electrical submersible pumping (“ESP”) system comprising:
a driveshaft assembly that comprises elongated segments;
an electrical motor coupled with an end of the driveshaft assembly, and that when energized rotates the driveshaft assembly in a first direction;
a pump coupled with an end of the driveshaft assembly distal from the motor, one of the segments comprising a motor shaft and another one of the segments comprising a pump shaft having an end selectively coupled with an end of the motor shaft, and opposing ends of the pump and motor shafts being respectively coupled with the pump and motor,
a one-way clutch train in the driveshaft assembly that is rotationally disengaged with the driveshaft assembly when the driveshaft assembly rotates in the first direction, and that is in rotationally engaged with the driveshaft assembly when the driveshaft assembly rotates in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction, and that comprises:
a shaft-to-shaft clutch comprising an outer race on an outer surface of one of the segments, an inner race on an inner surface of an adjacent segment, and sprag type elements between the inner and outer races, the motor shaft comprises a receptacle that receives the end of the pump shaft distal from the pump and wherein the shaft-to-shaft clutch is disposed in the receptacle.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the outer race is press fit inside the receptacle, and the inner race is press fit onto an outer surface of the pump shaft.

12. An electrical submersible pumping (“ESP”) system comprising:
a housing;
an electrical motor that when energized generates rotational force in a first direction;
a pump; and
a driveshaft assembly coupled between the motor and the pump and that comprises,
a pump shaft having an end coupled with the pump,
a motor shaft having an end coupled with the motor,
a shaft-to-shaft clutch comprising,
a first plurality of sprag type elements disposed in an annulus between the pump shaft and motor shaft, the first plurality of sprag type elements being changeable between a radial orientation in which opposing lateral edges of the sprag type elements are wedged between inner and outer races mounted respectfully on the pump shaft and motor shaft and a rotational torque is transferred between the pump shaft and motor shaft through the plurality of sprag type elements, and an oblique orientation in which the pump shaft and motor shaft are rotatable with respect to one another and pump shaft and motor shaft are each in selective sliding contact with the sprag type elements, and

a shaft to housing clutch comprising,
a second plurality of sprag type element disposed in an annulus between the pump shaft and housing the second plurality of sprag type elements being changeable between a radial orientation in which a rotational torque is transferred between the pump shaft and housing through the second plurality of sprag type elements, and an oblique orientation in which the pump shaft is rotatable with respect to the housing.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the first plurality of sprag type elements are in the radial orientation when the motor shaft is rotated by the motor in a first direction so that the pump shaft is also rotated in the first direction, and wherein the second plurality of sprag type elements are in the oblique configuration when the pump shaft is rotated in the first direction, so that when the motor is energized, rotational torque from the motor is transferred to the pump through the driveshaft assembly.

14. The system of claim 12 , wherein the second plurality of sprag type elements are in the radial configuration when a rotational torque is applied to the pump shaft in a second direction that

Assignees

• Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations Llc

Inventors

• Wang Chengbao
• Ye Zheng
• Tanner David
• Perisho Randal

Classifications

• F04D13/086

  the pump and drive motor are both submerged · CPC title

• F04D29/044

  Arrangements for joining or assembling shafts · CPC title

• F16D41/12

  with hinged pawl co-operating with teeth, cogs, or the like (F16D41/02, F16D41/24 take precedence) · CPC title

• F04D13/08

  for submerged use · CPC title

• F16D23/06

  and a blocking mechanism preventing the engagement of the main clutch prior to synchronisation · CPC title