This invention pertains to down hole motors. More particularly, it pertains to structure that secures the motor as a single assembly, for recovery from a well bore, if some parts fail. The novel structure enhances the ability of the motor to withstand jarring stresses produced by drill string mounted jarring apparatus.
Drilling motors are used as part of a drill string, near the drill head, to drive the drill head rotationally relative to the upwardly continuing drill string. The drilling fluid flow is usually used to power the motor.
Drilling motors are often used on coiled tubing which cannot be rotated. In some cases the motor is used to rotationally attach the drill string to hardware down hole that is to be recovered by tension forces. Jars are sometimes used to deliver shock to the hardware. Motors that are designed for drilling are sometimes not designed to accept axial shock forces.
Motors used for drilling in open holes drive bits that can become stuck in the hole and require axial thrust along the drill string for recovery. Jars can provide shock to the stuck bit to free a bit not recoverable without jars. To benefit from the application of jars, motors need to withstand the shock applied.
Axial shock loads imposed upon motors can separate their output drive shafts. The usual structure of motors includes capture rings that will extract all of the output shaft when the damaged motor is removed from the well. The separation experience, however, ends the usefulness of the motor as a rotational drive, until it is removed and repaired. There is a need for apparatus in the motor to accept shock loads, even if the motor is not running when the shock loads are applied, yet allow the motor to continue in service when the shock loads are no longer being applied.
A sleeve is threadedly secured to the projecting end of the output shaft and extends into the motor housing, past the lower end of the thrust bearing assembly, to load a selected amount of bearings independently of the upwardly extending arbor of the output shaft. The output shaft is suspended in the general housing on bearings directly engaging the extended end of the output shaft. Axial forces imposed upon the general housing are transmitted to the projecting end of the output shaft without passing through the weaker part of the output shaft.
These and other objects, advantages, and features of this invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from a consideration of this specification, including the attached claims and appended drawings.
In the down hole motor art, a general housing may consist of several parts. In function, however, the assembled general housing attaches to a drill string, supports a confined motor and has a lower bearing housing which forms a housing closure from which an output shaft extends to engage and drive a drill bit.
Security sleeve 10 is supported in the housing by bearing ball sets 3a, 3b, and 3c by way of race grooves in the sleeve 10. Radial bearing 8 is shown as a rubber part in lower bearing housing 7. There are several types of radial bearings, including composite and metal, and selection depends upon the nature of intended motor use.
The secured sleeve 10 is threadedly attached by threads 9 to the major dimension of the motor output shaft 11, abutting at juncture 14. The motor output shaft 11 is retained within the housing by nut 16 which compresses the inner bearing race assembly 4. Race assembly 4 abuts sleeve 10 at juncture 5. The lower three races containing ball sets 3a, 3b, and 3c are preferably situated to cooperate with other bearing balls, if other bearings are needed, such that all bearings wear uniformly when wearing in normal motor service. Bearings 3a, 3b, and 3c run in races 10a, 10b, and 10c respectively, which are integral with sleeve 10. Tension forces applied to tools, such as drill bits, (not shown) by a drill string do not need to load nut 16 and, hence, do not need to load the weaker upper end of the output shaft 11. Tension forces from an attached drill string pass through housing 1, lower bearing housing 7, through juncture 6 to race stack 2, into balls 3a-3c to sleeve 10 and to the extended output shaft at threads 9. A drill bit is usually attached to tool joint box 13, or the equivalent. Fluid flow through channel 12 usually has powered the motor and usually exits through jets in the bit (not shown).
Shock committed bearings are those that run in races integral with sleeve 10. In some cases, the committed bearings are adequate to function as the total of bearings needed for normal motor function.
The description of three committed bearings is not to be construed in a limiting sense. It is preferred that the bearing stack committed to shaft security should not be the weakest link in the stressed assembly. The number of bearings committed may vary accordingly, depending upon the specific motor so protected.
Bearing ball sets 3a, 3b, and 3c, can be replaced by non-rolling friction bearing elements. Such an arrangement is shown by
From the foregoing, it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all of the ends and objects hereinabove set forth, together with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the apparatus.
It will be understood that certain features and sub-combinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and sub-combinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims.
As many possible embodiments may be made of the apparatus of this invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
3840080 | Berryman | Oct 1974 | A |
4308927 | Fox | Jan 1982 | A |
4811798 | Falgout | Mar 1989 | A |
6540020 | Falgout | Apr 2003 | B1 |