Rotationally Selectable Lock of Shaft to Housing
AssigneeHalliburton Energy Services, Inc.
InventorsGeoffrey A. Samuel, Neil Roy Choudhury
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A rotationally selectable lock apparatus includes an outer element having a plurality of locking pins that are radially spring loaded to extend and retract through the outer element. An inner element is substantially encircled by the outer element and coupleable to a driveshaft. The inner element is configured to cause the plurality of locking pins to retract through the outer element in response to the driveshaft rotating in a first direction and extend through the outer element to engage a housing in response to the driveshaft rotating in a second direction, opposite to the first direction.
Claims20
A rotationally selectable lock apparatus comprising:
- an outer element having a plurality of locking pins radially spring loaded to extend and retract through the outer element;
- and
- an inner element substantially encircled by the outer element and coupleable to a driveshaft, the inner element configured to cause the plurality of locking pins to retract through the outer element in response to the driveshaft rotating in a first direction and extend through the outer element to engage a housing in response to the driveshaft rotating in a second direction, opposite to the first direction.
A method for drilling a borehole, the method comprising:
- applying a first torque to a driveshaft to rotate the driveshaft in a first direction within a housing to activate an unlock mode;
- and
- applying a second torque to the driveshaft to rotate the driveshaft in a second direction, opposite from the first direction, to active a lock mode wherein a plurality of locking pins are extended from the driveshaft to engage the housing and transfer at least a portion of the second torque to the housing.
A drilling system comprising:
- a drillstring coupled to a motor or a rotation able that are configured to provide a torque to the drill string;
- a driveshaft coupled between the drillstring and a drill bit to transfer the torque to the drill bit, the driveshaft configured to rotate axially within a housing comprising a plurality of splines extending longitudinally through the housing, the driveshaft configured to rotate in a first direction in an unlock mode and a second, opposite direction in a lock mode;
- and
- a rotationally selectable lock apparatus disposed circumferentially between the housing and the driveshaft, the apparatus comprising:
- an outer element having a plurality of locking pins, each locking pin radially spring loaded to force the locking pin below contact with the splines during the unlock mode;
- and
- an inner element substantially encircled by the outer element and coupled to the driveshaft, the inner element comprising a. plurality of engagement areas that force the plurality of locking pins to engage a respective spline in response to the lock mode.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.