US 11,767,713 B2 · Method for operating a top drive

Abstract

A top drive for well operations having a gearbox, a traction motor connected to the gearbox so that a motor shaft of the traction motor extends into the gearbox, a quill extending into the gearbox, a gear train positioned within the gearbox and mechanically connected between the traction motor shaft and the quill, and a connector positioned in the gear train, wherein in a coupled configuration the connector communicates torque through the gear train, and wherein in a decoupled configuration the connector does not communicate torque through the gear train. A method for operating a top drive by applying a first torque to a quill with two traction motors, disconnecting one of the traction motors from the quill, and applying a second torque less than the first torque to the quill with the non-disconnected traction motor.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A method for operating a top drive for well operations, the method comprising:

applying a first torque to a quill with two traction motors;
disconnecting one of the traction motors from the quill, resulting in a disconnected traction motor and a non-disconnected traction motor, wherein said disconnecting one of the traction motors comprises sliding an inner pinion shaft within an outer pinion shaft until an internal spline hub disengages a shaft of the disconnected traction motor;
and
applying a second torque less than the first torque to the quill with the non-disconnected traction motor.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method for operating a top drive

Life of this patent

Method for operating a top drive

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims15