High torque, flexible, dual, constant velocity, ball joint assembly for mud motor used in directional well drilling
US8033920B1 · kind B1 · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 10, 2009 |
| Grant date | Oct 11, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 21, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S464/906
- WIPO fieldMechanical elements
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A flexible, dual ball joint assembly used for increasing the wear life of a mud motor. The ball joint assembly includes an drive shaft with a drive shaft hollow ball joint. An outer circumference of the hollow ball joint includes a plurality of equally spaced apart drive shaft ball bearings. An inner circumference, inside the hollow ball joint, includes a plurality of equally spaced apart drive shaft grooves. Also, the ball joint assembly includes an annular shaped torque coupler with a torque coupler ball joint. An outer circumference of the torque coupler ball joint includes a plurality of equally spaced apart torque coupler ball bearings. The torque coupler ball bearings are received in the drive shaft grooves for providing lateral movement between the drive shaft and the torque coupler. An outer circumference of the torque coupler next to the torque coupler ball joint includes a plurality of torque coupler lobes equally spaced apart therearound. Further, the ball joint assembly includes a sliding torque sleeve used to secure the drive shaft to the torque coupler during the operation of the ball joint assembly.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.