Flow restrictor for a mud motor
AssigneeSmith International, Inc.
InventorLance D. Underwood
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An assembly to restrict fluid flow through the bearing section of a positive displacement or progressive cavity pump or motor. The assembly fits within the bearing chamber and includes an upper ring member, a lower ring member, an outer ring member and a floating member. The floating ring member is axially disposed between the upper and lower ring members. The floating ring member is also disposed at least partially around a drive shaft and is radially movable and constrained inwardly of the outer ring member. The floating ring member has a radial clearance between the drive shaft and a floating ring member inner surface with the radial clearance varying depending on the relative position of the floating ring member to the outer ring member.
Claims10
An assembly to restrict fluid flow through a bearing section, the assembly comprising:
- an upper ring member having an upper ring member inner surface, the upper ring member arranged and designed to be disposed at least partially around a drive shaft and within an annulus between the drive shaft and a housing, the upper ring member having an inner diameter permitting radial movement between the drive shaft and the upper ring member inner surface,
- a lower ring member having a lower ring member inner surface, the lower ring member arranged and designed to be disposed at least partially around the drive shaft and within the annulus between the drive shaft and the housing, the lower ring member having an inner diameter permitting radial movement between the drive shaft and the lower ring member inner surface,
- an outer ring member disposed at least partially around the drive shaft and axially between the upper and lower ring members, and
- a floating ring member axially disposed between the upper ring member and the lower ring member, the floating ring member disposed at least partially around the drive shaft and being radially movable and constrained inwardly of the outer ring member, the floating ring member having a radial clearance between the drive shaft and a floating ring member inner surface, the radial clearance varying depending on the relative position of the floating ring member to the outer ring member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.