# US 11,028,654 B2 · Roller coupling apparatus and method therefor > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,028,654 B2 - Document ID: US11028654B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/902,016 - Filed: 2020-06-15 - Published: 2021-01-28 - Granted: 2021-06-08 - Earliest claimed: 2019-07-23 - Applicants: Michael Brent Ford - Inventors: Michael Brent Ford - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11028654B2 ## CPC - E21B 17/1057: {Centralising devices with rollers or with a relatively rotating sleeve (E21B17/1014 takes precedence)} - E21B 17/1071: {specially adapted for pump rods, e.g. sucker rods} - E21B 17/042: Threaded - E21B 43/126: {Adaptations of down-hole pump systems powered by drives outside the borehole, e.g. by a rotary or oscillating drive (powered by fluid E21B43/129)} - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## Abstract A roller coupling apparatus for securing rods and other threaded components together in a pumping system. The roller coupling apparatus can include a body with a plurality of radially-positioned wheels rotatably coupled to the body. The arrangement of the wheels can uniformly spread the rod load within the interior diameter of the tubing. The body can include flat outer surfaces to facilitate increased fluid flow capacity around the apparatus. In operation, the wheels contact and roll along the interior diameter of the tubing, preventing surface-to-surface wear of the coupling body exterior and tubing interior, thereby prolonging coupling and tubing life. In one embodiment, the wheels can include wear grooves that can indicate wear areas in the wellbore. In one embodiment, the body can include grooves to permit retrieval of the apparatus when needed. Multiple apparatuses can be utilized to form rod strings of various lengths. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A roller coupling apparatus comprising, in combination: a body having a threaded upper end, a threaded lower end, and a plurality of alternating curved outer surfaces and flat outer surfaces; a first plurality of partial circumferential grooves positioned proximate the upper end of the body and a second plurality of partial circumferential grooves positioned proximate the lower end of the body; wherein an upper portion and a lower portion of each of the plurality of flat outer surfaces is T-shaped; and a plurality of wheels rotatably coupled to the body; wherein the wheels are positioned radially around the body; and wherein the wheels are spaced-apart equidistantly from each other. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The roller coupling apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of wheel wells positioned between the upper end and the lower end, wherein each wheel well is configured to receive one of the plurality of wheels. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The roller coupling apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a plurality of aligned pairs of openings in the body; a plurality of inserts, each insert having an opening configured to receive an axle, and wherein each insert is configured to be positioned in an opening in one of the plurality of wheels; a plurality of axles, wherein each axle is configured to be positioned through one of the plurality of aligned pairs of openings in the body and in one of the plurality of inserts. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The roller coupling apparatus of claim 1 wherein each wheel of the plurality of wheels comprises: an outer wall; a pair of sidewalls; and an opening wall defining a central opening, wherein the opening wall is configured to receive an insert. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The roller coupling apparatus of claim 4 wherein each wheel of the plurality of wheels further comprises a plurality of wear grooves. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The roller coupling apparatus of claim 5 wherein the wear grooves are concentric and spaced apart equidistantly from each other. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The roller coupling apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plurality of wheels comprises three wheels. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The roller coupling apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first plurality of partial circumferential grooves comprises three grooves and the second plurality of partial circumferential grooves comprises three grooves. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The roller coupling apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plurality of alternating curved outer surfaces and flat outer surfaces comprises three curved outer surfaces and three flat outer surfaces. ### Claim 10 A roller coupling apparatus comprising, in combination: a body comprising: a threaded upper end; a threaded lower end; a plurality of alternating curved outer surfaces and flat outer surfaces; a first plurality of partial circumferential grooves positioned proximate the upper end and a second plurality of partial circumferential grooves positioned proximate the lower end; wherein an upper portion and a lower portion of each of the plurality of flat outer surfaces is T-shaped; a plurality of wheel wells positioned between the upper end and the lower end; and a plurality of aligned pairs of openings; a plurality of wheels rotatably coupled to the body; a plurality of inserts, each insert having an opening configured to receive an axle, and wherein each insert is configured to be positioned in an opening in one of the plurality of wheels; a plurality of axles, wherein each axle is configured to be positioned through one of the plurality of aligned pairs of openings in the body and in one of the plurality of inserts; wherein each wheel well of the plurality of wheel wells is configured to receive one of the plurality of wheels; wherein the wheels are positioned radially around the body; and wherein the wheels are spaced-apart equidistantly from each other. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The roller coupling apparatus of claim 10 wherein each wheel of the plurality of wheels comprises: an outer wall; a pair of sidewalls; and an opening wall defining a central opening, wherein the opening wall is configured to receive one of the plurality of inserts. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The roller coupling apparatus of claim 10 wherein each wheel of the plurality of wheels further comprises a plurality wear grooves. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The roller coupling apparatus of claim 10 wherein the plurality of wheels comprises three wheels. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The roller coupling apparatus of claim 10 wherein the first plurality of partial circumferential grooves comprises three grooves and the second plurality of partial circumferential grooves comprises three grooves. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The roller coupling apparatus of claim 10 wherein the plurality of alternating curved outer surfaces and flat outer surfaces comprises three curved outer surfaces and three flat outer surfaces. ### Claim 16 A method for protecting pumping system components from wear during pumping operations, comprising the steps of: providing a pumping unit; providing a roller coupling apparatus comprising, in combination: a body having a threaded upper end, a threaded lower end, and a plurality of alternating curved outer surfaces and flat outer surfaces; a first plurality of partial circumferential grooves positioned proximate the upper end of the body and a second plurality of partial circumferential grooves positioned proximate the lower end of the body; wherein an upper portion and a lower portion of each of the plurality of flat outer surfaces is T-shaped; and a plurality of wheels rotatably coupled to the body; wherein the wheels are positioned radially around the body; and wherein the wheels are spaced-apart equidistantly from each other; providing a first threaded component; providing a second threaded component; securing together the first and second threaded components by threadably coupling the upper end of the roller coupling apparatus to a lower end of the first threaded component and threadably coupling the lower end of the roller coupling apparatus to an upper end of the second threaded component to form an assembly; positioning the assembly within tubing of a wellbore; causing the assembly to move up with an upstroke of the pumping unit and down with a downstroke of the pumping unit; and during the movement with the upstroke and the downstroke, causing the wheels of the roller coupling apparatus to contact and roll along an interior diameter surface of the tubing. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16 wherein: the first threaded component is one of a sucker rod and pony rod; and the second threaded component is one of a sucker rod, pony rod, and sinker bar. ### Claim 18 A roller coupling apparatus comprising, in combination: a body having a threaded upper end and a threaded lower end; and a plurality of wheels rotatably coupled to the body, wherein each wheel of the plurality of wheels comprises: a convex outer wall having only one circumferential wear groove, the circumferential wear groove centrally positioned on the outer wall; a pair of sidewalls having a plurality of wear grooves positioned on the sidewalls; and an opening wall defining a central opening, wherein the opening wall is configured to receive an insert; wherein the plurality of wheels are positioned radially around the body; wherein the plurality of wheels are horizontally coplanar with each other; and wherein the plurality of wheels are spaced-apart equidistantly from each other. ### Claim 19 A method for protecting pumping system components from wear during pumping operations, comprising the steps of: providing a pumping unit; providing a roller coupling apparatus comprising, in combination: a body having a threaded upper end and a threaded lower end; and a plurality of wheels rotatably coupled to the body, wherein each wheel of the plurality of wheels comprises: a convex outer wall having only one circumferential wear groove, the circumferential wear groove centrally positioned on the outer wall; a pair of sidewalls having a plurality of wear grooves positioned on the sidewalls; and an opening wall defining a central opening, wherein the opening wall is configured to receive an insert; wherein the plurality of wheels are positioned radially around the body; wherein the plurality of wheels are horizontally coplanar with each other; and wherein the plurality of wheels are spaced-apart equidistantly from each other; providing a first threaded component; providing a second threaded component; securing together the first and second threaded components by threadably coupling the upper end of the roller coupling apparatus to a lower end of the first threaded component and threadably coupling the lower end of the roller coupling apparatus to an upper end of the second threaded component to form an assembly; positioning the assembly within tubing of a wellbore; causing the assembly to move up with an upstroke of the pumping unit and down with a downstroke of the pumping unit; and during the movement with the upstroke and the downstroke, causing the wheels of the roller coupling apparatus to contact and roll along an interior diameter surface of the tubing.