# US 10,480,247 B2 · Combined multi-coupler with rotating fixations for top drive

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- Number: US 10,480,247 B2
- Document ID: US10480247B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/447,926
- Filed: 2017-03-02
- Published: 2018-09-06
- Granted: 2019-11-19
- Earliest claimed: 2017-03-02
- Assignees: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC
- Applicants: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC
- Inventors: Folke Theesen
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10480247B2

## CPC

- E21B 3/022: {Top drives}
- E21B 17/03: between drilling rod or pipe and drill motor {or surface drive}, e.g. between drilling rod and hammer
- E21B 17/06: Releasing-joints, e.g. safety joints
- F16D 1/116: the interengaging parts including a continuous or interrupted circumferential groove in the surface of one of the coupling parts (circlips for retaining hubs on shafts F16B21/18)
- E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- F16D: COUPLINGS FOR TRANSMITTING ROTATION; CLUTCHES; BRAKES

## Abstract

A method and system for coupling a drive unit to a tool adapter includes joining a first plate to a second plate; stabbing a stabbing member of the first plate into a hollow of the second plate; and rotating a bar of the second plate from an open position to a closed position to secure the stabbing member in the hollow. An embodiment includes positioning the tool adapter below the drive unit; stabbing a coupling head into a coupling recess; moving a fixation ring vertically; and securing bolts of the drive unit in notches of the coupling head.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A coupling system of a top drive system comprising:
a first plate having a stabbing member that is perpendicular to the first plate, wherein the first plate includes a central bore:
a drive stem at least partially disposed in the central bore, wherein the drive stem is rotatable relative to the first plate; and a second plate having:
a hollow complementary to the stabbing member; a bar bore in the second plate; and
a bar that is rotatable within the bar bore between an open position and a closed position;
wherein the stabbing member is secured in the hollow when the first plate is joined to the second plate and the bar is in the closed position.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The coupling system of claim 1, wherein the stabbing member is a docking sleeve having a docking sleeve bore, the coupling system further comprising an auxiliary coupling at least partially disposed in the docking sleeve bore.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The coupling system of claim 2, wherein:
the hollow comprises a docking recess complementary to the docking sleeve;
the bar bore traverses the docking recess;
the bar comprises a coupling recess, a dimension of which matches the docking recess;
the docking sleeve comprises a notch on an external surface;
the bar is disposed in the notch when the first plate is joined to the second plate and the bar is in the closed position, thereby securing the stabbing member in the hollow; and
the coupling recess is disposed in the notch when the first plate is joined to the second plate and the bar is in the open position.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The coupling system of claim 1, wherein the stabbing member is a key plate, the coupling system further comprising:
a docking sleeve having a docking sleeve bore; and
an auxiliary coupling at least partially disposed in the docking sleeve bore.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The coupling system of claim 4, wherein:
the first plate comprises the docking sleeve;
the second plate comprises a docking recess complementary to the docking sleeve;
the hollow comprises a cavity complementary to the key plate;
the second plate comprises:
a pocket adjacent to the cavity; and
a key at least partially disposed in the pocket; and
the key is at least partially disposed in a key hole of the key plate when the first plate is joined to the second plate and the bar is in the closed position, thereby securing the key plate in the cavity.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The coupling system of claim 1, further comprising:
a tool stem rotatable relative to the second plate.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The coupling system of claim 6, wherein the drive stem includes a first flow bore and the tool stem includes a second flow bore.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The coupling system of claim 6, further comprising:
a tool string coupled to the tool stem, wherein the first flow bore and the second flow bore are configured to allow fluid communication between the top drive system and the tool string.

### Claim 9 (depends on 2)

The coupling system of claim 2, wherein the auxiliary coupling comprising at least one selected from the group of:
a hydraulic coupling;
a pneumatic coupling;
an electronic coupling;
a fiber optic coupling;
a power coupling;
a data coupling; and
a signal coupling.

### Claim 10 (depends on 2)

The coupling system of claim 2, wherein the auxiliary coupling includes:
a supply line disposed in the docking sleeve bore;
a socket disposed in the docking sleeve bore and attached to the supply line;
a plug disposed in the hollow; and
a delivery line disposed in the in the second plate.

### Claim 11

A coupling system of a top drive system comprising:
a first plate having a stabbing member that is perpendicular to the first plate, wherein the stabbing member includes a notch; and a second plate having:
a hollow complementary to the stabbing member; a bar bore in the second plate; and a bar having a coupling recess, wherein the bar is rotatable within the bar bore between an open position and a closed position, wherein at least a first majority of the coupling recess is disposed in the hollow when in the open position, and wherein at least a second majority of the coupling recess is disposed in the bar bore in the closed position;
wherein the stabbing member is secured in the hollow when the first plate is joined to the second plate and the bar is in the closed position.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The coupling system of claim 11, wherein the stabbing member is a docking sleeve having a docking sleeve bore, the coupling system further comprising an auxiliary coupling at least partially disposed in the docking sleeve bore.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The coupling system of claim 12, wherein:
the hollow comprises a docking recess complementary to the docking sleeve;
the bar bore traverses the docking recess;
the coupling recess is disposed in the notch when the first plate is joined to the second plate and the bar is in the open position.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The coupling system of claim 12, wherein the auxiliary coupling comprising at least one selected from the group of:
a hydraulic coupling;
a pneumatic coupling;
an electronic coupling;
a fiber optic coupling;
a power coupling;
a data coupling; and
a signal coupling.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

The coupling system of claim 12, wherein the auxiliary coupling includes:
a supply line disposed in the docking sleeve bore;
a socket disposed in the docking sleeve bore and attached to the supply line;
a plug disposed in the hollow; and
a delivery line disposed in the in the second plate.

### Claim 16 (depends on 11)

The coupling system of claim 11, further comprising:
a drive stem at least disposed in a central bore of the first plate and rotatable relative to the first plate; and
a tool stem rotatable relative to the second plate.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The coupling system of claim 16, further comprising:
a first flow bore of the drive stem;
a second flow bore of the tool stem; and
a tool string coupled to the tool stem, wherein the first flow bore and second flow bore are configured to allow fluid communication between the top drive system and the tool string.

### Claim 18

A coupling system of a top drive system comprising:
a first plate having a stabbing member that is perpendicular to the first plate, wherein the stabbing member includes a notch; and
a second plate having:
a hollow complementary to the stabbing member;
a bar bore in the second plate; and
a bar rotatable within the bar bore between an open position and a closed position, wherein the bar is not disposed in the hollow when in the open position, and wherein the bar is at least partially disposed in the hollow in the closed position;
wherein the stabbing member is secured in the hollow when the first plate is joined to the second plate and the bar is in the closed position.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The coupling system of claim 18, wherein the stabbing member is a docking sleeve having a docking sleeve bore, the coupling system further comprising an auxiliary coupling at least partially disposed in the docking sleeve bore.