Systems and methods for transmitting torque
AssigneeSchlumberger Technology Corporation
InventorsEdward Richards, Thomas Fox
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A device may include an inner shell including an inner groove having an inner groove angle relative to the rotational axis. A device may include an intermediate shell circumferentially around the inner shell and having a slot therein, the slot being at least partially oriented in a longitudinal direction of the rotational axis. A device may include an outer shell circumferentially around the intermediate shell and including an outer groove having an outer groove angle relative to the rotational axis different from inner groove angle. A device may include a bearing positioned in the slot and contacting the inner groove and the outer groove.
Claims19
A system for providing torque to a drill bit, the system comprising:
- a torque input element configured to provide an input torque around a rotational axis;
- a drill bit configured to receive an output torque around the rotational axis;
- and
- a torque transmission device located between the torque input element and the drill bit, the torque transmission device including:
- a first shell including a first groove having a first groove angle relative to the rotational axis, the first shell being rotationally fixed relative to the torque input element and configured to receive the input torque;
- a second shell circumferentially concentric with the first shell and including a second groove having a second groove angle relative to the rotational axis different from the first groove angle, the second shell being rotationally fixed relative to the drill bit and configured to provide the output torque;
- an intermediate shell circumferentially between the first shell and the second shell and having a slot therein, the slot being at least partially oriented in a longitudinal direction of the rotational axis;
- and
- a bearing positioned in the slot and contacting the first groove and the second groove.
A method of transmitting torque in a downhole environment, the method comprising:
- receiving an input torque from a downhole motor of a bottomhole assembly (BHA) at a first shell of a concentric torque transmission device;
- rotating the first shell around a rotational axis;
- converting a rotation of the first shell to a longitudinal movement of a bearing in the concentric torque transmission device;
- rotating a second shell around the rotational axis based on the longitudinal movement of the bearing;
- and
- rotating a drill bit with an output torque based on a rotation of the second shell.
A bottomhole assembly (BHA) comprising:
- a downhole motor;
- a drill bit having a rotational axis;
- and
- a concentric torque transmission device coupled to the drill bit and configured to receive an input torque from the downhole motor, the concentric torque transmission device including:
- a first shell including a first groove having a first groove angle relative to the rotational axis, the first shell configured to receive the input torque from the downhole motor;
- a second shell circumferentially concentric with the first shell and including a second groove having a second groove angle relative to the rotational axis different from the first groove angle, the second shell being rotationally fixed relative to the drill bit and configured to provide an output torque;
- an intermediate shell circumferentially between the first shell and the second shell and having a slot therein, the slot being at least partially oriented in a longitudinal direction of the rotational axis;
- a plurality of bearings positioned in the slot and contacting the first groove and the second groove;
- and
- a return channel configured to circulate the plurality of bearings from a first longitudinal end of the slot to a second longitudinal end of the slot.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.