Direct drive drawworks with bearingless motor
AssigneeNabors Drilling Technologies USA, Inc.
InventorsBeat Kuttel, Kevin R. Williams, Brian Ellis, Faisal Yousef
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electric motor for a direct drive drawworks may be supported by one or more motor mounts. The motor mounts may include adjusting assemblies adapted to increase or decrease the length of the motor mounts. The motor mounts may include damping assemblies adapted to allow damped motion between the electric motor and the surface. The length and damping coefficients of the motor mounts may be adjusted to align the electric motor with the drum or shaft to reduce vibration. The electric motor may be removable from the drawworks by, for example, a splined shaft, a flange coupled shaft, or the rotor being selectively removable from the interior of the motor.
Claims23
A direct drive hoist, comprising:
- an electric motor,
- a first motor mount, the first motor mount adapted to couple the electric motor to a surface, the first motor mount including a damping assembly adapted to allow damped movement between the electric motor and the surface, the first motor mount including an adjusting assembly adapted to extend or retract the first motor mount;
- a shaft extending through electric motor wherein there is no bearing between the electric motor and the shaft, the shaft adapted to be rotated by the electric motor;
- and
- a load connected to the shaft, the load adapted to be rotated by the shaft as the shaft is rotated by the electric motor.
A method comprising:
- providing a direct drive hoist, the direct drive hoist including:
- an electric motor,
- a first motor mount, the first motor mount adapted to couple the electric motor to a surface, the first motor mount including a damping assembly adapted to allow damped movement between the electric motor and the surface, the first motor mount including an adjusting assembly adapted to extend or retract the first motor mount;
- a shaft extending through the electric motor wherein there is no bearing between the electric motor and the shaft, the shaft adapted to be rotated by the electric motor;
- and
- a load connected to the shaft, the load adapted to be rotated by the shaft as the shaft is rotated by the electric motor;
- and
- adjusting one or more of the damping assembly and the adjusting assembly in response to one or more of radial displacement of the shaft;
- misalignment between the electric motor and the shaft, load, or rotor;
- observed vibration;
- cogging;
- or bearing tolerances.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.