US 6,543,554 B2Granted

Adjustable housing for a mud motor

AssigneeContinental Directional Corp.

InventorWinston Smith

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Abstract

There is provided an adjustable housing for use with a drill string for controlled directional drilling of a well hole. The housing includes an upper sub and a lower sub each having a first portion extending along a primary axis and a second portion extending along a secondary axis offset from the primary axis by a predetermined angle. The second portions are rotatably mounted together such that the secondary axes of the respective upper and lower subs are coincident. The upper sub is thus rotatable in relation to the lower sub between a bent position wherein the primary axes of the upper and lower subs are misaligned and a parallel position wherein the primary axes of the upper and lower subs are parallel to each other. A locking member is slidably mounted on splines extending radially from the second portion of the upper sub such that the locking member is slidable between an engaged position and disengaged position. In the engaged position the locking member engages teeth on the lower sub such that the upper sub cannot rotate relative to the lower sub. In the disengaged position each sub is rotatable in relation to the other.

Claims15

Dependent claims

An adjustable housing for use with a mud motor, the adjustable housing comprising:

an upper sub comprising a top portion having a primary longitudinal axis, a bottom portion having a secondary longitudinal axis offset from the primary longitudinal axis by a first predetermined angle, and a first set of splines extending axially along an outer surface of the bottom portion;
a lower sub comprising a lower portion having a primary longitudinal axis, a top portion having a secondary longitudinal axis offset from the primary longitudinal axis by a second predetermined angle, and an engaging face on a top end of the top portion;
mounting means rotatably mounting the bottom portion of the upper sub on the top portion of the lower sub such that the secondary axes are coincident along the bottom portion of the upper sub and the upper sub is rotatable relative to the lower sub;
an annular locking member mounted coaxially to the coincident secondary axes on the bottom portion of the upper sub, the locking member having a second set of splines extending axially along an inner surface of the locking member and engaging the first set of splines coaxially for sliding movement on the bottom portion of the upper sub between an engaged position wherein an end of the locking member engages the engaging face uniformly regardless of the relative orientation of the upper and lower subs to prevent rotation of the upper sub relative to the lower sub and a disengaged position wherein the locking member does not engage the engaging face such that the upper sub is free to rotate relative to the lower sub;
and
lock securing means for securing the locking member in the engaged position.

3 more elements

An adjustable housing for use with a mud motor comprising:

an upper sub comprising a top portion having a primary longitudinal axis, a bottom portion having a secondary longitudinal axis offset from the primary longitudinal axis by a first predetermined angle;
a lower sub comprising a lower portion having a primary longitudinal axis, an upper portion having a secondary longitudinal axis offset from the primary longitudinal axis by a second predetermined angle, the upper portion rotatably engaging the bottom portion to define an area along the housing where the secondary axes are coincident;
an annular locking member mounted coaxially to said bottom portion along said area of coincident secondary axes for sliding movement therealong between an engaged position with said lower sub to rotationally fix said upper sub thereto wherein said locking member uniformly engages said lower sub regardless of the relative orientation of said upper and lower subs, and a disengaged position wherein said locking member disengages said lower sub such that said upper sub is free to rotate relative to said lower sub;
and
securing means for securing said locking member in said engaged position.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.