Split shell shaft coupling for submersible pump assemblies

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9702360-B2
Application number	US-201414586332-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 30, 2014
Priority date	Dec 30, 2014
Publication date	Jul 11, 2017
Grant date	Jul 11, 2017

Abstract

An electrical submersible pump assembly has a number modules including a pump, a motor and a pressure equalizer. Each module has a rotatable shaft with a splined end that joins a splined end of another module, and those splined ends may differ in dimensions. A coupling that joins the shafts has a first shell has a splined bore that mates with the splined end of the first shaft. A second shell has a splined bore that mates with the splined end of the second shaft. An adopter has a first splined end in mating engagement with the splined bore of the first shell and a second splined end in mating engagement with the splined bore of the second shell. Fasteners secure the adapter to the shells. An annular seal isolates fluid communication between the first shell bore and the second shell bore.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An electrical submersible pump assembly comprising:
a plurality of modules including a pump, a motor and a pressure equalizer;
a first one of the modules having a rotatable first shaft with a splined end;
a second one of the modules having a rotatable second shaft with a splined end;
a first shell having a splined bore dimensioned such that it intermeshes with the splined end of the first shaft;
a second shell having a splined bore dimensioned such that it intermeshes with the splined end of the second shaft;
the splined bores of the first and second shells being coaxially aligned along an axis of the assembly; a torque transfer member that secures the first and second shells together such that torque of the first shaft passes through the first shell to the second shell and from the second shell to the second shaft, wherein:
the torque transfer member has a first splined end that intermeshes with the splined bore of the first shell; and
the torque transfer member has a second splined end that intermeshes with the splined bore of the second shell.

2. The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein:
the first splined end of the torque transfer member intermeshes with an inner portion of the splined bore of the first shell, the splined end of the first shaft intermeshing with an outer portion of the splined bore of the first shell; and
the second splined end of the torque transfer member intermeshes with an inner portion of the splined bore of the second shell, the splined end of the second shaft intermeshing with an outer portion of the splined bore of the second shell.

3. The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein:
the splined bore of the first shell defines an inner diameter that is larger than an inner diameter defined by the splined bore of the second shell.

4. The assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a first retaining ring that inserts into mating grooves formed on the torque transfer member and in the splined bore of the first shell; and
a second retaining ring that inserts into mating grooves formed on the torque transfer member and in the splined bore of the second shell.

5. The assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising:
an annular seal that seals between the first splined end of the torque transfer member and the splined bore of the first shell.

6. An electrical submersible pump assembly comprising:
a plurality of modules including a pump, a motor and a pressure equalizer;
a first one of the modules having a rotatable first shaft with a splined end;
a second one of the modules having a rotatable second shaft with a splined end;
a first shell having a splined bore having an inner end and an outer end, the outer end receiving and mating with the splined end of the first shaft;
a second shell having a splined bore having an inner end and an outer end, the outer end of the second shell receiving and mating with the splined end of the second shaft;
an adapter having a first splined end that extends through the inner end of the first shell into mating engagement with the splined bore of the first shell, the adapter having a second splined end that extends through the inner end of the second shell into mating engagement with the splined bore of the second shell;
a first fastener that secures the adapter to the first shell; and
a second fastener that secures the adapter to the second shell.

7. The assembly according to claim 6 , wherein:
the inner ends of the first shell and the second shell abut each other.

8. The assembly according to claim 6 , wherein the splined bore of the first shell and the splined bore of the second shell are coaxial along an axis of the assembly.

9. The assembly according to claim 6 , wherein:
the first splined end of the adapter extends part of a length of the splined bore of the first shell and the splined end of the first shaft extends part of the length of the splined bore of the first shell; and
the second splined end of the adapter extends part of a length of the splined bore of the second shell and the splined end of the second shaft extends part of the length of the splined bore of the second shell.

10. The assembly according to claim 6 , wherein the splined end of the first shaft has a different diameter from the splined end of the second shaft.

11. The assembly according to claim 6 , wherein:
the first fastener comprises a first retaining ring; and
the second fastener comprises a second retaining ring.

12. The assembly according to claim 6 , wherein:
the first fastener comprises a retaining ring located within aligned grooves formed in the splined bore of the first shell and on the first splined end of the adapter; and
the second fastener comprises a retaining ring located within aligned grooves formed in the splined bore of the second shell and on the second splined end of the adapter.

13. The assembly according to claim 6 , wherein:
the adapter transfers torque imposed on the first shell from the first shaft to the second shell, which transfers the torque to the second shaft.

14. The assembly according to claim 6 , further comprising:
a seal ring between the splined bore of the first shell and the first splined end of the adapter.

15. An electrical submersible pump assembly comprising:
a plurality of modules including a pump, a motor and a pressure equalizer;
a first one of the modules having a rotatable first shaft with an end having splines;
a second one of the modules having a rotatable second shaft with an end having splines;
a first shell having a bore with an inner end, an outer end, and splines extending a selected length along the bore, the splines of the first shell dimensioned to receive and mate with the splines of the first shaft;
a second shell having a bore with an inner end, an outer end, and splines extending a selected length along the bore of the second shell, the splines of the second shell dimensioned to receive and mate with the splines of the second shaft;
an adapter having a first end that extends into the inner end of the first shell and has splines that intermesh with the splines in the bore of the first shell, the adapter having a second end that extends into the inner end of the second shell and has splines that intermesh with the splines in the bore of the second shell, the first and second ends of the adapter being coaxial along an axis of the assembly;
a first retaining ring that secures the adapter to the first shell; and
a second retaining ring that secures the adapter to the second shell.

16. The assembly according to claim 15 , wherein:
the splines of the first shaft engage a greater length of the splines of the first shell than the splines on the first end of the adapter; and
the splines of the second shaft engage a greater length of the splines of the second shell than the splines on the second end of the adapter.

17. The assembly according to claim 15 , wherein the inner ends of the first and second shells abut each other.

18. The assembly according to claim 15 , wherein the adapter has a central portion located intermediate the first end and the second end that is free of splines.

Assignees

• Baker Hughes Inc

Inventors

• Meyer Aron M
• Tanner David
• Wichert Chase

Classifications

• F16D1/10

  Quick-acting couplings in which the parts are connected by simply bringing them together axially · CPC title

• F04C13/008 Primary

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

• F16D2001/103

  the torque is transmitted via splined connections · 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