# US 2009/0260800 A1 · Sealed drive for a rotating sucker rod > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2009/0260800 A1 - Document ID: US20090260800A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/077,602 - Filed: 2008-04-22 - Published: 2009-10-22 - Earliest claimed: 2008-04-22 - Assignees: Robbins & Myers Energy Systems L.P. - Inventors: Billy W. White; Michael J. Guidry, JR. - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20090260800A1 ## CPC - 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 drive assembly for powering a rotating rod string 14 passing through a surface wellhead 18 includes a torque conveying housing 32 containing a radially outer member supporting a plurality of outer member magnets and rotated by a motor. A radially inner member 48 supports a plurality of inner member magnets and is rotatable within the outer member, with magnetic forces between the plurality of outer member magnets and the plurality of inner member magnets rotating the inner member magnets and thus the radially inner member. The drive assembly provides a highly reliable sealed construction for rotating in the rod string with minimal risk of fluid leaking from the assembly. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A drive assembly for powering a rotating rod string in a well having a surface wellhead, comprising: a motor having a drive shaft; a torque conveying housing below the motor and containing a radially outer member supporting a plurality of outer member magnets, the outer member rotated by the motor; a non-magnetic pressure bearing housing including an upper plate, a radially intermediate member extending downward from the upper plate, and a lower end sealed to the wellhead; a radially inner member supporting a plurality of inner member magnets and rotatable within the intermediate member, magnetic forces between the plurality of outer member magnets and the plurality of inner member magnets rotating the inner member magnets and thus the radially inner member when the motor rotates the outer member; and a drive shaft connected to the radially inner member and the sucker rod for rotating the sucker rod. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A drive assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the non-magnetic pressure bearing housing includes a lower flange sandwiched between the torque conveying housing and the wellhead. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A drive assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the motor axis is substantially aligned with a central axis of the wellhead. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A drive assembly as defined in claim 1, further comprising: a lower bearing member for guiding rotation of the drive shaft within a lower end of the intermediate member; and an upper bearing member for guiding rotation of the drive shaft within an upper end of the intermediate member. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A drive assembly as defined in claim 1, further comprising: an axial adjustment mechanism for adjusting an axial position of the drive shaft related to the sucker rod. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A drive assembly as defined in claim 1, further comprising: a support housing positioned on the wellhead for providing vertical support to the drive shaft. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A drive assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the radially outer member is substantially sleeve-shaped, and the radially inner member has a substantially cylindrical outer surface of the intermediate member; and the intermediate member is substantially sleeve-shaped. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A drive assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein each of the motor, the radially outer member, and a radially inner member are substantially concentric with a central axis of the sucker rod. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A drive assembly as defined in claim 1, further comprising: one or more static seals for sealing between the non-magnetic pressure bearing housing and the torque conveying housing, and between the non-magnetic pressure bearing housing and the wellhead. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) A drive assembly as defined in claim 9, further comprising: one or more additional static seals for sealing between the support housing and the pressure bearing housing, and between the support housing and the wellhead. ### Claim 11 A drive assembly for powering a rotating rod string in a well having a surface wellhead, comprising: a torque conveying housing containing a radially outer member supporting a plurality of outer member magnets, the outer member rotated by a motor; a radially inner member supporting a plurality of inner member magnets and rotatable within the outer magnets, magnetic forces between the plurality of outer member magnets and the plurality of inner member magnets rotating the inner member magnets and the radially inner member when the motor rotates the outer member; and the radially inner member connected to the sucker rod for rotating the sucker rod when the radially inner member rotates. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) A drive assembly as defined in claim 11, wherein the motor has an axis is substantially aligned with a central axis of the wellhead. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) A drive assembly as defined in claim 11, further comprising: a non-magnetic pressure bearing housing including an upper plate, a radially intermediate member extending downward from the upper plate, and a lower end sealed to the wellhead. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A drive assembly as defined in claim 13, wherein the non-magnetic pressure bearing housing includes a lower flange sandwiched between the torque conveying housing and the wellhead. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) A drive assembly as defined in claim 11, further comprising: a support housing positioned on the wellhead for providing vertical support to the drive shaft. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) A drive assembly as defined in claim 11, further comprising: an axial adjustment mechanism within the pressure bearing housing for adjusting an axial position of the sucker rod relative to the wellhead. ### Claim 17 A drive assembly for powering a rotating rod string in a well having a surface wellhead, comprising: a torque conveying housing containing a radially outer member supporting a plurality of outer member magnets, the outer member rotated by a motor within the torque conveying housing; a radially inner member supporting a plurality of inner member magnets, magnetic forces between the plurality of outer member magnets and the plurality of inner member magnets rotating the inner member magnets and the radially inner member when the motor rotates the outer member; a radially inner member being rotationally connected to the sucker rod for rotating the sucker rod; and a pressure bearing housing above the torque conveying housing for sealing fluid pressure within the wellhead. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) A drive assembly as defined in claim 17, wherein the motor has an axis substantially aligned with a central axis of the wellhead. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) A drive assembly as defined in claim 17, further comprising: an axial adjustment mechanism within the pressure bearing housing for adjusting an axial position of the sucker rod relative to the wellhead. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) A drive assembly as defined in claim 17, further comprising: each of the motor, the outer member, and the inner member are substantially concentric with a central axis of the sucker rod.