Claims
- 1. A submersible pump assembly, comprising:
first and second modules that connect together, each of the modules having a central shaft and an outer housing; a first shaft end on the shaft within the first module; second shaft end on the shaft within the second module; and a latch assembly having mating portions on each of the shaft ends that latches the first and second shaft ends together when the shaft ends and housings are brought into engagement with each other with straight axial movement, the latch assembly transmitting axial tensile forces from one of the shafts to the other and transmitting torque from one of the shafts to the other.
- 2. The submersible pump according to claim 1, wherein the latch assembly comprises:
a set of external splines on each shaft end; a sleeve that has internal splines that slide into engagement with the external splines of both shaft ends to transmit torque; a latch member mounted to one of the shaft ends; and a load shoulder carried by the other of the shafts, the latch member snapping into engagement with the load shoulder upon straight axial movement of the shaft ends toward each other.
- 3. The submersible pump according to claim 1, wherein the latch assembly comprises:
a set of external splines on each shaft end; a sleeve that has internal splines that slide into engagement with the external splines of both shaft ends to transmit torque; a latch member mounted to one of the shaft ends; a load shoulder member mounted within the sleeve, the latch member having a biased resilient retainer that snaps into engagement with the load shoulder member; and a pin that extends transversely through the load shoulder member and the sleeve to retain the load shoulder member with the sleeve.
- 4. The submersible pump according to claim 1, wherein the latch assembly comprises:
a set of external splines on each shaft end; a sleeve that has internal splines that slide into engagement with the external splines of both shaft ends to transmit torque, the sleeve having an internal annular recess; a radially movable locking member mounted to one of the shafts for moving radially into and out of engagement with the recess; and an actuator axially carried within the other of the shafts in engagement with the locking member, the actuator being axially movable between a locked position pushing the locking member radially into engagement with the recess in the sleeve and a released position, allowing the locking member to retract out of engagement with the sleeve, the actuator being axially biased to the locked position.
- 5. The submersible pump according to claim 4, further comprising an access port extending through one of the shafts at an end of the actuator for providing access to push the actuator to the released position.
- 6. The submersible pump according to claim 4, further comprising:
an access port extending through one of the shafts at an end of the actuator; and an annular manifold mounted between the housing and the shaft at the access port; an inlet port leading through the housing to the manifold for applying fluid pressure to push the actuator to the released position.
- 7. The submersible pump according to claim 1, wherein the latch assembly comprises:
a set of castellations on each of the shaft ends for meshing engagement with each other to transmit torque; a load shoulder carried by one of the shaft ends; and a resilient retainer carried by the other of the shaft ends that snaps into engagement with the load shoulder when the shaft ends are brought into engagement with each other.
- 8. The submersible pump according to claim 1, wherein the latch assembly comprises:
a set of external splines on each shaft end; a sleeve that has internal splines that slide into engagement with the external splines of both shaft ends to transmit torque; a latch member mounted to one of the shaft ends, the latch member having a biased resilient retainer; a tubular load shoulder member mounted to the other of the shaft ends for receiving the latch member, the load shoulder member having an internal shoulder that is engaged by the retainer; and a shear member that secures the load shoulder member to the other of the shaft ends that is sheared by an excessive tensile force to release the shaft ends from each other.
- 9. An electrical submersible pump assembly comprising:
first and second modular component sections, each of the sections having an outer housing and an inner shaft member; a coupling sleeve having a bore and disposed between the modular component sections and receiving therein the shaft member of each of the component sections, the bore of the coupling sleeve and the shaft members having mating radial load transmitting shoulders for transmitting torque; an axial load transmitting shoulder affixed to the shaft member of the first modular component section and located in the bore of the coupling sleeve; and a locking element carried by the shaft member of the second modular section that engages the axial load transmitting shoulder to secure the shaft members to one another for transferring axial tension from one of the shaft members to the other.
- 10. The assembly of claim 9 wherein the outer housings of the component sections are in an abutting relation for the transmittal of axially compressive forces.
- 12. The assembly of claim 9 wherein the locking member comprises:
a latch member having a plurality of axially extending fingers with catches that are shaped and sized to engage the axial load transmitting shoulder.
- 13. The assembly of claim 9 further comprising a hub member within the bore of the sleeve, the axial load transmitting shoulder being formed on the hub member; and
a shear member that retains the hub member to the shaft member of the first modular section, the shear member shearing upon sufficient tensile overpull to release the shaft members from each other.
- 14. The assembly of claim 9 wherein the locking member comprises a plurality of spherical locking balls that are selectively moveable into and out of a locked position with the axial load transmitting shoulder.
- 15. The assembly of claim 14 wherein the locking member further comprises an actuator disposed within one of the shaft members and axially moveable therein, the actuator being associated with the locking balls to move the balls out of the locked position when the actuator is moved axially.
- 16. The assembly of claim 15 wherein the actuator is axially biased toward a position wherein the locking balls are in the locked position.
- 17. The assembly of claim 9 wherein the load transmitting shoulder comprises:
a biased resilient retainer ring carried within a groove in the bore of the coupling sleeve; and the locking member comprises:
a rod having an external ledge thereon that is engaged by the retainer ring as the rod enters the retainer ring.
- 18. A connection assembly for a pair of submersible pump modules, each having a central shaft and an outer housing, the connection assembly comprising:
a first shaft end having at least one radial drive shoulder thereupon; a second shaft end having at least one radial drive shoulder thereupon; and a coupling sleeve having a bore and a radial drive shoulder within the bore that meshes with the radial drive shoulders of the first and second shaft ends to transmit torque; a hub located within the bore, the hub having a passage with an axial load transmitting shoulder therein, the hub being affixed to the first shaft end; and a latching member affixed to the second shaft end, the latching member that snaps into engagement with the axial load transmitting shoulder when the shaft ends are moved into engagement with each other.
- 19. The connection assembly of claim 18 further comprising a shear member that connects the hub with the first shaft end, wherein the latching member is selectively released by applying an excessive amount of divergent tension to the shaft ends to shear the shear member.
- 20. The connection assembly of claim 18 wherein the latching member has a resiliently biased retainer portion that engages the axial load transmitting shoulder.
- 21. The connection assembly of claim 18, further comprising:
a boss on the first shaft end, the hub sliding over the boss; and a shear pin extending transversely through the boss and the hub, thereby affixing the hub to the fist shaft end.
- 22. The connection assembly of claim 18, wherein the retainer portion of the latching member comprises a plurality of axially extending fingers with catches that are shaped and sized to engage the axial load transmitting shoulder.
- 23. A method of releasably connecting an adjacent pair of modular component sections within a pump assembly, each of the sections having a shaft and an outer housing member, the method comprising:
providing a latch assembly having mating portions on each of the shaft ends; bringing the shafts of each of the component sections toward each other in straight axial movement, causing the mating portions of the latch assembly to latch into engagement with each other; transmitting torque through the latch assembly; and transmitting axial tensile forces from one of the shafts to the other through the latch assembly.
Parent Case Info
[0001] This application claims the provisional filing date of Jun. 5, 2001, Ser. No. 60/296,014.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60296014 |
Jun 2001 |
US |