# US 10,371,214 B2 · Flexible joint connection

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- Number: US 10,371,214 B2
- Document ID: US10371214B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/397,541
- Filed: 2017-01-03
- Published: 2017-04-27
- Granted: 2019-08-06
- Earliest claimed: 2012-12-26
- Assignees: GE Oil & Gas ESP, Inc.
- Applicants: GE Oil & Gas ESP, Inc.
- Inventors: Charles Collins; Aaron Noakes
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10371214B2

## CPC

- F16D 3/185: {radial teeth connecting concentric inner and outer coupling parts}
- E21B 17/04: between rod {or the like} and bit or between rod and rod {or the like}
- E21B 43/128: {Adaptation of pump systems with down-hole electric drives}
- F04B 47/02: the driving mechanisms being situated at ground level (F04B47/12 takes precedence)
- F04C 13/008: {Pumps for submersible use, i.e. down-hole pumping}
- F04C 15/0061: {Means for transmitting movement from the prime mover to driven parts of the pump, e.g. clutches, couplings, transmissions}
- F16D 3/16: Universal joints in which flexibility is produced by means of pivots or sliding or rolling connecting parts
- F16D 3/845: {allowing relative movement of joint parts due to the flexing of the cover}
- F04C 2/1071: {the inner and outer member having a different number of threads and one of the two being made of elastic materials, e.g. Moineau type}
- F16D: COUPLINGS FOR TRANSMITTING ROTATION; CLUTCHES; BRAKES
- E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- F04B: POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS (machines for liquids, or pumps, of rotary-piston or oscillating-piston type F04C; non-positive-displacement pumps F04D; pumping of fluid by direct contact of another fluid or by using inertia of fluid to be pumped F04F)
- F04C: ROTARY-PISTON, OR OSCILLATING-PISTON, POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS (engines F03C); ROTARY-PISTON, OR OSCILLATING-PISTON, POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS

## Abstract

An adapter is used to connect a first component within a downhole pumping system to a second component within the downhole pumping system. The adapter includes an upstream section adjacent the first component and a downstream section adjacent the second component. The adapter further includes an articulating joint that permits the angular movement of the first component with respect to the second component. The articulating joint includes a flexible metal casing extending between the upstream section and the downstream section.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An adapter for use in connecting a first component within a downhole pumping system to a second component within the downhole pumping system, wherein the adapter comprises:
an upstream section adjacent the first component;
a downstream section adjacent the second component;
an articulating joint, wherein the articulating joint permits the angular movement of the first component with respect to the second component and wherein the articulating joint comprises a flexible metal casing extending between the upstream section and the downstream section;
an upstream shaft;
a downstream shaft;
a shaft coupling that permits an angular articulation between the upstream shaft and downstream shaft; and
a fluid passage, wherein the fluid passage is disposed between the upstream shaft and the upstream section, the downstream shaft and the downstream section, and the shaft coupling and the articulating joint.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The adapter of claim 1, wherein the flexible metal casing includes a ribbed external surface that includes one or more circumferentially oriented grooves.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The adapter of claim 1, wherein the upstream shaft is integral with a shaft extending through the first component.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The adapter of claim 3, wherein at least one of the upstream shaft and the downstream shaft includes an end with a series of convex curved splines.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The adapter of claim 3, wherein the shaft coupling is selected from the group consisting of universal joints; constant velocity joints, and flex receivers.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The adapter of claim 1, wherein the shaft coupling comprises:
an upstream receiver configured to receive an end of the upstream shaft; and
a downstream receiver configured to receive an end of the downstream shaft.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The adapter of claim 6, wherein at least one of the upstream receiver and the downstream receiver includes a series of convex curved splines.

### Claim 8

A submersible pumping system comprising:
an upstream component;
a downstream component; and
a flexible adapter connected between the upstream component and the downstream component, wherein the flexible adapter comprises:
an upstream section adjacent the upstream component;
a downstream section adjacent the downstream component;
an upstream shaft
a downstream shaft
a shaft coupling that permits an angular articulation between the upstream shaft and downstream shaft
an articulating joint, wherein the articulating joint permits the angular movement of the first component with respect to the second component and wherein the articulating joint comprises a flexible metal casing extending between the upstream section and the downstream section; and
a fluid passage, wherein the fluid passage is disposed between the upstream shaft and the upstream section, the downstream shaft and the downstream section, and the shaft coupling and the articulating joint.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The submersible pumping system of claim 8, wherein the flexible metal casing includes a ribbed external surface that includes one or more circumferentially oriented grooves.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The submersible pumping system of claim 8, wherein the upstream shaft is integral with a shaft extending through the first component.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The submersible pumping system of claim 8, wherein the shaft coupling comprises:
an upstream receiver configured to receive an end of the upstream shaft; and
a downstream receiver configured to receive an end of the downstream shaft.

### Claim 12

A submersible pumping system comprising:
an upstream component;
a downstream component; and
a flexible adapter connected between the upstream component and the downstream component, wherein the flexible adapter comprises:
an upstream section adjacent to the upstream component
a downstream section adjacent to the downstream component
an upstream shaft;
a downstream shaft;
an articulating joint, wherein the articulating joint comprises:
a flexible metal casing extending between the upstream section and the downstream section; and
a shaft coupling that permits an angular articulation between the upstream shaft and downstream shaft; and
a fluid passage, wherein the fluid passage is disposed between the upstream shaft and the upstream section, the downstream shaft and the downstream section, and the shaft coupling and the flexible metal casing.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The submersible pumping system of claim 12, wherein the upstream shaft is integral with a shaft extending through the first component.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The submersible pumping system of claim 12, wherein the shaft coupling comprises:
an upstream receiver configured to receive an end of the upstream shaft; and
a downstream receiver configured to receive an end of the downstream shaft.