Smith International, Inc.

Other

Gary M Crase

John E Tschirky

Kurt M Trzeciak

Kurt H Trezeciak

The invention relates to a universal joint composed of a driving member and a driven member connected through mortise and tenon joints extending perpendicularly to each other, suitable for connecting the rotor and shaft of a progressive cavity transducer such as a pump or motor.

Universal joint and progressive cavity transducer using the same

A releasable coupling or safety sub for a drill string including an inner tubular member piloted within an outer tubular member, the inner member including expansible, segmental lock members shiftable laterally of the tubular members into locking engagement with a transverse shoulder on the outer member, a retaining member holding the lock members outwardly in engagement with the shoulder, release of the retainer member from the lock members enabling the latter to move laterally inwardly to a position released from the shoulder, permitting the tubular members to be separated from one another. The coupling includes a device for imposing an axial preload on the inner and outer members to place the outer member in compression and the inner member in tension to provide a rigid structure.

Releasable couplings for drill strings

A releasable coupling or safety sub for a drill string including an inner tubular member piloted within an outer tubular member, the inner member including expansible lock members shiftable laterally of the tubular member into locking engagement with a transverse shoulder on the outer member, a retaining member holding the lock members outwardly in engagement with the shoulder, release of the retainer member from the lock members enabling the latter to move laterally inwardly to a position released from the shoulder, permitting the tubular members to be separated from one another. The coupling includes a device acting between the lock members and outer member for imposing an axial preload on the inner and outer members to place the outer member in compression and the inner member in tension to provide a rigid structure.

Tubular safety joint for drill strings

An in-hole motor drill assembly has the rotor of the motor which may be connected to the drill bit through a shaft connected to the rotor, and a housing which may be connected to the running string, and a normally disengaged clutch between said housing and said shaft. Means are provided for engaging the clutch by exerting a negative force on said housing, which is applied to the shaft by a pick-up bearing, if the bit is stuck against upward movement. The shaft can be rotated by rotation of the running string. In normal operation, during drilling, the clutch is disengaged to permit the shaft to rotate relative to the housing. The bearing which picks up the shaft and bit, during normal off-bottom circulation or retrieval of the assembly, is constructed to permit longitudinal movement of the housing relative to the shaft, when the bit is stuck, to engage the clutch.

In-hole motor drill with locking bit clutch

An in-hole motor drill assembly has the rotor of the motor connected to the drill bit and a housing connected to the running string, and normally disengaged torque transmitting members between said housing and said drill bit provide for engaging said bit and running string for mutual rotation, by pulling on the running string. The torque transmitting members are locked in engagement, enabling the tension on the drill pipe string to be relieved, and the bit can be rotated by rotation of the drill pipe string in either direction. The usual pick-up bearing between the housing and the shaft provides an abutment for a releasable thrust transmitting member which normally holds the clutch disengaged.

A bearing assembly, for a drive shaft connected to an in-hole motor rotor to drive a bit and a housing connected to the motor stator has sets of oppositely acting thrust bearings having corresponding members of bearings and parts at opposite sides of a thrust member on the shaft. Plural sets of thrust bearings are shown between spaced radial bearings to optimize load distribution.

Bearing assembly

An adjustable bearing assembly has radial and thrust bearings adjustable on a bearing shaft to eliminate clearance in the bearings and in springs in the bearing assembly. The bearing assembly is shown in combination with an in-hole motor of the fluid driven type. Components driven by the shaft are locked on the shaft by an eccentric surface or a combination of an eccentric and a concentric surface.

Adjustable bearing assembly

A fluid lubricated bearing assembly for use with an in-hole fluid motor has a housing and a shaft supported in the housing by a plurality of stacked adjustable bearings, through which thrust is transmitted to the shaft from a single thrust transfer point in the housing. The thrust bearings are individually adjustable to eliminate tolerance and thrust elements transfer load from the housing to the bearings from the single thrust transfer point. In the preferred form, the thrust elements include a flow restrictor sleeve in thrust transmission relation with bearings at opposite sides thereof. The flow restrictor sleeve cooperates with a companion flow restrictor sleeve on the shaft to limit the flow of fluid through the bearings from the motor. Radial contact bearings at opposite ends of the flow restrictor support the flow restrictor sleeves to minimize wear and resist bending forces applied radially of the sleeves.

An adjustable stacked bearing assembly has a plurality of bearing sub-assemblies interposed between thrust shoulders on a housing and a shaft extending through the housing, each bearing sub-assembly being individually adjustable or assembled in a condition in which all tolerance is eliminated. The bearings transmit thrust and radially center the shaft in the housing. The stacked bearing assembly is disclosed for use with a fluid pressure operated in-hole motor drill, the specific motor being shown as being of the helicoidal type.

Adjustable stacked bearing assembly

A connecting rod assembly has universal joints at the ends of a connecting rod of tubular construction, the universal joints being lubricated by grease contained in the tubular rod and retained in the universal joints by flexible boots disposed about the exterior of the universal joints, the tubular rod containing a pair of pistons between which fluid from exterior of the universal joints can enter the tubular rod and equalize the pressure in the universal joints with the external fluid pressure. The connecting rod assembly is installed between the rotor of an in-hole fluid motor of the progressive cavity type and the drive shaft of a bearing assembly for a motor driven drill.

Pressure compensating coupling for in hole motors

This invention relates to sleeves for sealed bearings for rotating shafts employing packing glands mounted in the floating sleeve whereby the integrity of the seal is maintained during transverse displacement of the shaft.

Sealed bearings

An angle adjustment sub which permits the rotational adjustment of adjacent portions of a running string to bring the axis of adjacent portions of a running string, which are deviated at different vertical angles, into a common planar axis.

Angle adjustment sub

This invention relates to hard metal radial bearings particularly suitable in connection with thrust bearings which are lubricated by erosive fluids passing through the radial bearings as are employed in down-hole drilling motors.

Radial bearings

This invention relates to circulation subs used in connection with hydraulic in-hole motors with means for selectively interrupting circulation through the circulation sub.

Circulation sub for in-hole hydraulic motors

This invention relates to flow restrictors in fluid motors where the operating fluid also passes through the bearings of the motor.

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Cypress, CA, United States of America

Gary M Crase