Flexible joint connection

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9260924-B2
Application number	US-201213727300-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 26, 2012
Priority date	Dec 26, 2012
Publication date	Feb 16, 2016
Grant date	Feb 16, 2016

Abstract

A downhole submersible pumping system includes an adapter for use in connecting a first component to a second component within the downhole pumping system. The adapter preferably includes an upstream section configured for connection to the first component and a downstream section configured for connection to the second component. The adapter further includes an articulating joint that permits the angular movement of the first component with respect to the second component.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A submersible pumping system comprising:
an upstream component;
a downstream component; and
a flexible adapter connected between the upstream component and the downstream component, wherein the flexible adapter comprises:
an upstream section adjacent the upstream component;
a downstream section adjacent the downstream component;
a flexible and impermeable outer housing extending from the upstream section to the downstream section; and
an articulating joint, wherein the articulating joint includes a fluid path that places the upstream component in fluid communication with the downstream component.

2. The submersible pumping system of claim 1 , wherein the articulating joint comprises:
a plurality of axial bolt bores extending through the upstream section and the downstream section; and
a plurality of axial bolts, wherein each of the plurality of axial bolts extends through a corresponding pair of the axial bolt bores within the upstream section and the downstream section and wherein the axial bolt bores have a diameter that is larger than the outer diameter of the axial bolts.

3. A submersible pumping system comprising:
an upstream component selected from the group consisting of pump assemblies, motor assemblies and seal sections;
a downstream component selected from the group consisting of pump assemblies, motor assemblies and seal sections; and
a flexible adapter connected between the upstream component and the downstream component, wherein the flexible adapter comprises:
an upstream section configured for connection to the upstream component;
a downstream section configured for connection to the downstream component;
an articulating joint surrounding the flexible and impermeable outer housing that permits an angular articulation between the upstream section and the downstream section;
an upstream shaft;
a downstream shaft;
a flexible and impermeable outer housing; and
a shaft coupling contained within the flexible and impermeable outer housing that permits an angular articulation between the upstream shaft and downstream shaft.

4. The submersible pumping system of claim 3 , wherein the shaft coupling is selected from the group consisting of: universal joints; constant velocity joints, and flex receivers.

Assignees

• Ge Oil & Gas Esp Inc

Inventors

• Collins Charles
• Noakes Aaron

Classifications

• E21B43/128

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

• F04C2/1071

  the inner and outer member having a different number of threads and one of the two being made of elastic materials, e.g. Moineau type · CPC title

• F04C15/0061

  Means for transmitting movement from the prime mover to driven parts of the pump, e.g. clutches, couplings, transmissions · CPC title

• F04C13/008

  Pumps for submersible use, i.e. down-hole pumping · CPC title

• E21B17/02 Primary

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