# US 9,038,729 B2 · Adaptor flange for rotary control device

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- Number: US 9,038,729 B2
- Document ID: US9038729B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/247,485
- Filed: 2011-09-28
- Published: 2012-03-29
- Granted: 2015-05-26
- Earliest claimed: 2010-09-28
- Assignees: Smith International, Inc.
- Applicants: Trung Leduc; Sudar Chellappa
- Inventors: Trung Leduc; Sudar Chellappa
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9038729B2

## CPC

- E21B 33/085: {Rotatable packing means, e.g. rotating blow-out preventers}
- E21B 19/006: {including heave compensators}
- Y10T 29/49826: Assembling or joining
- Y10T 29/49963: Threaded fastener
- E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

An adapter assembly having a sealing element, a drive bushing, and an adapter flange disposed between the sealing element and the drive bushing. Also, a method of assembling a rotational control device that includes coupling mechanically an adapter flange to a sealing element, coupling mechanically the adapter flange to a drive bushing, and installing the adapter flange, sealing element, and drive bushing in the rotational control device.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An adapter assembly comprising:
a sealing element;
a drive bushing; and
an adapter flange disposed between the sealing element and the drive bushing, the adapter flange including a first plurality of mechanical attachment apertures and a second plurality of mechanical attachment apertures, wherein the second plurality of mechanical attachment apertures is formed to have a slot open to an outer periphery of the adapter flange.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The adapter assembly of claim 1, wherein the adapter flange is coupled to the sealing element with a plurality of mechanical attachment mechanisms.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The adapter assembly of claim 2, wherein the plurality of mechanical attachment mechanisms comprises at least one of a plurality of screws and bolts.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The adapter assembly of claim 3, wherein the bolts are hex bolts.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The adapter assembly of claim 2, wherein the plurality of mechanical attachment mechanisms are axially aligned with apertures in the sealing element.

### Claim 6 (depends on 2)

The adapter assembly of claim 2, wherein the adapter flange is coupled to the drive bushing with a second plurality of mechanical attachment mechanisms.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The adapter assembly of claim 6, wherein the second plurality of mechanical attachment mechanisms are axially aligned with apertures in the drive bushing.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The adapter assembly of claim 7, wherein the second plurality of mechanical attachment mechanisms comprises at least one of a plurality of screws and bolts.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The adapter assembly of claim 1, wherein the second plurality of mechanical attachment apertures comprises a locking groove.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The adapter assembly of claim 9, wherein the locking groove comprises a progressive wedge geometry.

### Claim 11

A method comprising:
coupling mechanically an adapter flange to a sealing element of a rotational control device;
coupling mechanically the adapter flange to a drive bushing by rotating at least one of the adapter flange or the drive bushing relative to the other thereby sliding a plurality of bolts coupled to the drive bushing from an outer periphery of the adapter flange along a corresponding slot disposed in the adapter flange such that the plurality of bolts coupled to the drive bushing is secured in the adapter flange; and
installing the adapter flange, sealing element, and drive bushing in the rotational control device.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the coupling mechanically the adapter flange to the sealing element comprises installing the plurality of bolts.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein coupling mechanically the adapter flange to the drive bushing comprises installing the plurality of bolts.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein the plurality of bolts are threaded into a locking groove of the adapter flange.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein the plurality of bolts are axially aligned with the sealing element and the adapter flange.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein the plurality of bolts are axially aligned with the drive bushing.

### Claim 17

An adapter assembly comprising:
a first sealing element;
a second sealing element;
an adapter flange disposed between the first sealing element and the second sealing element; and
a plurality of mechanical fasteners configured to couple the adapter flange to an upper surface of a first sealing element and a bottom surface of a second sealing element.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The adapter assembly of claim 17, further comprising a drive bushing connected to the second sealing element.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The adapter assembly of claim 18, further comprising a second adapter assembly coupled to the second sealing element and the drive bushing.