Torque transmission joint with shape-memory alloy cladding for a bottom-hole assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9976358-B2
Application number	US-201515027123-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 25, 2015
Priority date	Aug 25, 2015
Publication date	May 22, 2018
Grant date	May 22, 2018

Abstract

A method and apparatus for transmitting torque in a downhole assembly. The apparatus includes a driver sub, a driveshaft extending within the driver sub, a first insert disposed between the driver sub and the driveshaft, and a first shape-memory alloy cladding bonded to the first insert and configured to transmit torque between the first insert and the driveshaft.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus adapted to be disposed within a wellbore, the apparatus comprising:
a driver sub comprising an annular body defining an internal surface, at least a portion of the internal surface of the driver sub defining a contact surface;
a driveshaft extending within the driver sub, the driveshaft comprising an elongated body defining an external surface, at least a portion of the external surface of the driveshaft defining a contact surface;
a first insert disposed adjacent and between the respective contact surfaces of the driver sub and the driveshaft, the first insert comprising an annular body defining internal and external surfaces, at least a portion of the internal surface of the first insert defining an inside contact surface, and at least a portion of the external surface of the first insert defining an outside contact surface; and
a first shape-memory alloy cladding bonded to at least a portion of the inside contact surface of the first insert and configured to transmit torque between the first insert and the driveshaft.

2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first shape-memory alloy cladding is actuatable between a first state and a second state;
wherein, when the first shape-memory alloy cladding is in the first state, a first fit is maintained between the first shape-memory alloy cladding and the contact surface of the driveshaft; and
wherein, when the first shape-memory alloy cladding is in the second state, a second fit, which is tighter than the first fit, is maintained between the first shape-memory alloy cladding and the contact surface of the driveshaft.

3. The apparatus as recited in claim 2 , wherein the first shape-memory alloy cladding is actuated from the first state to the second state at a transformation temperature;
wherein the first state of the first shape-memory alloy cladding is a twinned-martensite solid phase, which occurs when the first shape-memory alloy cladding is at a temperature below the transformation temperature; and
wherein the second state of the first shape-memory alloy cladding is an austenite solid phase, which occurs when the first shape-memory alloy cladding is at a temperature above the transformation temperature.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the inside contact surface of the first insert and the contact surface of the driveshaft each define a corresponding number of axially-extending and circumferentially-spaced polygonal flats; and
wherein the polygonal flats on the inside contact surface of the first insert mate with the polygonal flats on the contact surface of driveshaft.

5. An apparatus adapted to be disposed within a wellbore, the apparatus comprising:
a driver sub comprising an annular body defining an internal surface, at least a portion of the internal surface of the driver sub defining a contact surface;
a driveshaft extending within the driver sub, the driveshaft comprising an elongated body defining an external surface, at least a portion of the external surface of the driveshaft defining a contact surface;
a first insert disposed adjacent and between the respective contact surfaces of the driver sub and the driveshaft, the first insert comprising an annular body defining internal and external surfaces, at least a portion of the internal surface of the first insert defining an inside contact surface, and at least a portion of the external surface of the first insert defining an outside contact surface; and
a first shape-memory alloy cladding bonded to at least a portion of the inside contact surface of the first insert,
wherein the contact surface of the driver sub and the outside contact surface of the first insert are tapered to a substantially equal degree.

6. The apparatus as recited in claim 5 , wherein a tension lock nut is threadably engaged with the external surface of the driveshaft and adapted to apply an axial load on the first insert; and wherein, when the tension lock nut applies an axial load on the first insert, the first insert and, consequently, the first shape-memory alloy cladding, are urged radially inward toward the contact surface of the driveshaft.

7. An apparatus adapted to be disposed within a wellbore, the apparatus comprising:
a driver sub comprising an annular body defining an internal surface, at least a portion of the internal surface of the driver sub defining a contact surface;
a driveshaft extending within the driver sub, the driveshaft comprising an elongated body defining an external surface, at least a portion of the external surface of the driveshaft defining a contact surface;
a first insert disposed adjacent and between the respective contact surfaces of the driver sub and the driveshaft, the first insert comprising an annular body defining internal and external surfaces, at least a portion of the internal surface of the first insert defining an inside contact surface, and at least a portion of the external surface of the first insert defining an outside contact surface;
a first shape-memory alloy cladding bonded to at least a portion of the inside contact surface of the first insert;
a second insert disposed adjacent and between the contact surface of the driver sub and the outside contact surface of the first insert, the second insert comprising an annular body defining an internal surface and an external surface, at least a portion of the internal surface of the second insert defining an inside contact surface, and at least a portion of the external surface of the second insert defining an outside contact surface; and
a second shape-memory alloy cladding bonded to at least a portion of the inside contact surface of the second insert.

8. The apparatus as recited in claim 7 , wherein the first and second shape-memory alloy cladding are each actuatable between a first state and a second state;
wherein, when the first shape-memory alloy cladding is in the first state, a first fit is maintained between the first shape-memory alloy cladding and the contact surface of the driveshaft;
wherein, when the first shape-memory alloy cladding is in the second state, a second fit, which is tighter than the first fit, is maintained between the first shape-memory alloy cladding and the contact surface of the driveshaft;
wherein, when the second shape-memory alloy cladding is in the first state, a third fit is maintained between the second shape-memory alloy cladding and the outside contact surface of the first insert; and
wherein, when the second shape-memory alloy cladding is in the second state, a fourth fit, which is tighter than the third fit, is maintained between the second shape-memory alloy cladding and the outside contact surface of the first insert.

9. The apparatus as recited in claim 7 , wherein the inside contact surface of the first insert and the contact surface of the driveshaft each define a corresponding number of axially-extending and circumferentially-spaced polygonal flats;
wherein the inside contact surface of the second insert and the outside contact surface of the first insert each define a corresponding number of axially-extending and circumferentially-spaced polygonal flats;
wherein the polygonal flats on the inside contact surface of the first insert mate with the polygonal flats on the contact surface of driveshaft; and
wherein the polygonal flats on the inside contact surface of the second insert mate with the polygonal flats on the outside contact surface of the first insert.

10. The apparatus as recited in claim 7 , wherein an internal shoulder is formed on the internal surface of the driver sub and adjacent the contact surface thereof, the second insert being adapted to abut the internal shoulder of the driver sub; and
where

Assignees

• Halliburton Energy Services Inc

Inventors

• Poyyara Ragi Lohidakshan

Classifications

• F03G7/06146

  Torque tubes or torsion bars · CPC title

• F16D1/0805

  with radial clamping due to deformation of a resilient body or a body of fluid (F16D1/091 takes precedence; elastic couplings F16D3/80; fluid pressure clutches F16D25/04) · CPC title

• F03G7/065

  using a shape memory element · CPC title

• E21B17/04 Primary

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

• E21B4/02

  Fluid rotary type drives · CPC title