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US 12,650,150 B2Granted
Shaft connector systems and methods
AssigneeAWC Frac Valves Inc.
InventorsScott E. Linder, Anthony J. Hanewinkel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method includes disposing a first shaft and a second shaft in an end to end arrangement, positioning a sleeve over the end to end arrangement, coupling the first shaft to the second shaft via the sleeve and a plurality of shear components that engage the sleeve and partially recess into the first shaft or the second shaft, retaining the plurality of shear components in the partially recessed position via one or more retaining mechanisms, and independently aligning the first shaft and the second shaft while transmitting torsional, translational, or torsional and translational loading through the plurality of shear components and not through the retaining mechanisms.
Claims10
A method comprising:
- installing an operator on a valve in an operational environment without disassembling the valve, wherein installing the operator comprises:
- disposing a valve shaft having a smooth outer surface along its length and an operator shaft having a smooth outer surface along its length in an end to end arrangement;
- positioning a sleeve over the end to end arrangement of the valve shaft and the operator shaft;
- coupling the valve shaft to the operator shaft via the sleeve and a plurality of shear components comprising cylindrical pins that extend through holes in the sleeve, engage the sleeve and extend into corresponding pre-configured recesses in the valve shaft and the operator shaft;
- retaining the plurality of pins in the pre-configured recesses via one or more retaining mechanisms comprising one or more circumferential wraps that engage the pins, wherein each wrap completely surrounds the sleeve, extends into a groove in the sleeve, and extends into grooves along an outer surface of each pin;
- and
- independently aligning the valve shaft and the operator shaft while transmitting torsional, translational, or torsional and translational loading through the plurality of shear components and not through the retaining mechanisms.
4 more elements
A method comprising:
- installing an operator on a valve in an operational environment without disassembling the valve, wherein installing the operator comprises:
- disposing a valve shaft having a smooth outer surface along its length and an operator shaft having a smooth outer surface along its length in an end to end arrangement;
- positioning a sleeve over the end to end arrangement;
- coupling the sleeve to the valve shaft and to the operator shaft via a plurality of fasteners cylindrical pins that extend through holes in the sleeve, engage the sleeve and extend into corresponding pre-configured recesses in the valve shaft and the operator shaft;
- allowing the sleeve to self adjust the alignment between the valve shaft and the operator shaft while transmitting torsional, translational, or torsional and translational loading through the plurality of pins;
- retaining the plurality of pins via one or more circumferential wraps that engage the pins, wherein each wrap completely surrounds the sleeve, extends into a groove in the sleeve, and extends into grooves along an outer surface of each pin;
- wherein the torsional, translational, or torsional and translational loading is not transmitted through the circumferential wraps.
4 more elements
A method comprising:
- installing an operator on a valve in an operational environment without disassembling the valve, wherein installing the operator comprises:
- disposing a valve shaft having a smooth outer surface along its length and a operator shaft having a smooth outer surface along its length in an end to end arrangement;
- positioning a sleeve over the end to end arrangement;
- coupling the sleeve to the valve shaft via a first set of fasteners comprising cylindrical shear components that extend through holes in the sleeve and extend into corresponding pre-configured recesses in the valve shaft;
- coupling the sleeve to the operator shaft via a second set of fasteners comprising shear components that extend through holes in the sleeve and extend into corresponding pre-configured recesses in the operator shaft;
- allowing the sleeve to self adjust the alignment between the valve shaft and the operator shaft while transmitting torsional, translational, or torsional and translational loading through the shear components of the first set of fasteners and the second set of fasteners;
- retaining the first set of fasteners within the valve shaft via one or more retaining mechanisms comprising one or more circumferential wraps that engage the shear components, wherein each wrap completely surrounds the sleeve, extends into a groove in the sleeve, and extends into grooves along an outer surface of each shear component;
- and
- retaining the second set of fasteners within the operator shaft via one or more retaining mechanisms comprising one or more circumferential wraps that engage the shear components, wherein each wrap completely surrounds the sleeve, extends into a groove in the sleeve, and extends into grooves along an outer surface of each shear component;
- wherein the torsional, translational, or torsional and translational loading is not transmitted through the retaining mechanisms;
- and
- wherein the shear components comprise cylindrical pins.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.