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US 9,541,073 B2Granted
Mechanism and system for rotating an elongate member of an oil pump
AssigneeNational Oilwell Varco, L.P.
InventorsJeremy Michael Rappenecker, Matthew S. Davison
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A rotator mechanism for rotating an elongate member in a pumping system includes a body member having a longitudinal body axis and a through-hole aligned with the body axis and configured to receive the elongate member. The rotator mechanism also includes a worm gear concentric with the body axis and a worm meshing with the worm gear. The rotator mechanism includes a lever configured to rotate the worm, and a clutch coupled between the lever and the worm and configured to cause the worm to rotate in a first direction when the lever moves in the first direction. Rotation of the worm causes the worm gear and the elongate member to rotate about the body axis.
Claims22
A rotator mechanism for rotating an elongate member in a pumping system, the rotator mechanism comprising:
- a body member having a longitudinal body axis and a through-hole aligned with the body axis and configured to receive a portion of the elongate member;
- a worm gear set coupled to the body member and including:
- a worm gear disposed about the body axis;
- and
- a worm meshing with the worm gear and having a worm axis, a worm first end, and a worm second end spaced-apart from the first end along the worm axis, the worm rotatably coupled to the body member;
- a lever coupled to the worm, the lever configured to rotate the worm relative to the body member;
- a first clutch coupled between the lever and the worm first end and configured to cause the worm to rotate in a first direction about the worm axis when the lever moves in the first direction about the worm axis and configured to allow the lever to rotate freely relative to the worm when the lever moves in a second direction about the worm axis, opposite the first direction;
- and
- a second clutch coupled to the worm and configured to allow the worm to rotate in the first direction about the worm axis and to prevent the worm from rotating in the second direction about the worm axis;
- wherein the worm gear is configured to rotate the elongate member about the body axis when the worm rotates in the first direction about the worm axis;
- and
- wherein the first and second clutches each have a plurality of circumferentially-spaced sprags, each clutch configured to allow rotation of an outer race relative to an inner race in a first direction about the worm axis while preventing the rotation of the outer race relative to the inner race in the opposite direction
- wherein the inner race of the first clutch is coupled for rotation with the worm, and the outer race of the first clutch is coupled for rotation with the lever.
10 more elements
A rotator mechanism for rotating an elongate member in a pumping system, the rotator mechanism comprising:
- a body member having a longitudinal body axis and a through-hole aligned with the body axis and configured to receive a portion of the elongate member;
- a worm gear set coupled to the body member and including:
- a worm gear disposed about the body axis;
- and
- a worm meshing with the worm gear and having a worm axis, a worm first end, and a worm second end, the worm rotatably coupled to the body member;
- a lever coupled to the worm, the lever configured to rotate the worm relative to the body member;
- and
- a first clutch coupled between the lever and the worm first end and configured to cause the worm to rotate in a first direction about the worm axis when the lever moves in the first direction about the worm axis and configured to allow the lever to rotate relative to the worm when the lever moves in a second direction about the worm axis, opposite the first direction;
- wherein the first clutch is coupled between the worm and a first clutch housing, and the first clutch housing is coupled between the first clutch and the lever;
- wherein the first clutch housing extends along the worm axis away from the first clutch, and the lever is spaced-apart from the first clutch along the worm axis;
- wherein the first clutch housing is rotatable relative to the body member;
- and
- wherein the worm gear is configured to rotate the elongate member about the body axis when the worm rotates in the first direction about the worm axis.
10 more elements
A pumping system comprising
- a surface unit having a reciprocating member;
- an elongate member coupled to the reciprocating member for reciprocation, and configured to extend into a wellbore and to rotate relative to the reciprocating member;
- and
- a rotator mechanism coupled to the elongate member and to the reciprocating member and comprising a body axis, an annular first clutch, and an annular second clutch axially aligned with the first clutch;
- wherein the rotator mechanism, including the first clutch, is configured to cause the elongate member to rotate incrementally in a predetermined direction about the body axis when the reciprocating member reciprocates;
- wherein the second clutch is configured to prevent the elongate member from rotating opposite the predetermined direction when the reciprocating member reciprocates;
- and
- wherein at least one of the first clutch and the second clutch comprises a plurality of circumferentially-spaced sprags axially-adjacent a plurality of circumferentially-spaced bearing elements.
5 more elements
A pumping system comprising:
- a surface unit having a reciprocating member;
- an elongate member coupled to the reciprocating member for reciprocation, and configured to extend into a wellbore and to rotate relative to the reciprocating member;
- and
- a rotator mechanism coupled to the elongate member and to the reciprocating member and comprising:
- a body axis;
- a body member extending longitudinally along the body axis and having a through-hole aligned with the body axis and configured to receive a portion of the elongate member;
- a worm gear set coupled to the body member and including:
- a worm gear disposed about the body axis;
- and
- a worm meshing with the worm gear and having a worm axis, a worm first end, and a worm second end, the worm rotatably coupled to the body member;
- a lever coupled to the worm, the lever configured to rotate the worm relative to the body member;
- a first clutch coupled between the lever and the worm first end;
- and
- a second clutch coupled between the worm and the body member;
- wherein the first clutch is configured for angular movements and is configured to cause the worm to rotate in a first direction about the worm axis when the lever moves in the first direction about the worm axis and configured to rotate freely relative to the worm when the lever moves in a second direction about the worm axis, opposite the first direction;
- wherein the worm gear is configured to rotate the elongate member in the predetermined direction about the body axis when the worm rotates in the first direction about the worm axis;
- wherein the second clutch is configured for angular movements and is configured to allow the worm to rotate in the first direction about the worm axis and to prevent the worm from rotating in the second direction about the worm axis;
- wherein the second clutch is disposed axially beyond the worm;
- and
- wherein the rotator mechanism is configured to cause the elongate member to rotate incrementally in a predetermined direction about the body axis when the reciprocating member reciprocates.
17 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.