Underwater speed reducer assembly and underwater drilling system
By introducing a pressure compensator into the underwater reducer assembly, the high pressure in the underwater environment is balanced, and the problem of sealing damage of existing reducers in the underwater environment is solved, achieving efficient sealing effect and corrosion resistance.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202420972037.X
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-05-07
- Publication Date
- 2025-03-25
- Estimated Expiration
- 2034-05-07
AI Technical Summary
The existing reducers may be damaged due to high pressure and seawater corrosion in underwater environments and cannot meet the requirements of underwater operations.
An underwater reducer assembly is designed, including a reducer housing, gear set and pressure compensator. The pressure compensator transfers the static pressure of the external underwater environment to the lubricating oil inside the reducer to balance the static pressure applied by the underwater environment outside the reducer housing, thereby eliminating the internal and external pressure difference and enhancing the effectiveness of the seal.
This design can reduce or eliminate the destructive effect of high underwater pressure on the reducer seal, dynamically balance internal and external pressure imbalance, alleviate seawater corrosion, and improve sealing effect.
Smart Images
Figure CN222668853U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present application relates to a reducer assembly, in particular to an underwater reducer assembly suitable for operation in an underwater environment (such as a seabed environment). In addition, the present application also relates to an underwater drilling system. Background Art
[0002] Generally, reducers are designed to be used on land, and the pressure of their working environment is basically equivalent to atmospheric pressure. Therefore, the impact of environmental pressure on the reducer as a whole and its internal parts can be ignored. However, in some cases, the environmental pressure is relatively large and cannot be ignored. For example, underwater, especially in harsh environments such as the seabed. However, in some cases, it is necessary to work in such an environment.
[0003] For offshore oil exploration and production operations, it is often necessary to locate and implement drilling operations on the seabed. With the prior art, a drilling vessel is often driven above the seabed to be drilled, and most of the mechanical equipment required for drilling is equipped on the drilling vessel. Another way is to build an offshore operating platform and load such mechanical equipment on the platform. For example, a reducer is used to drive the coil to extend into the seawater, and the front end of the coil carries a drill bit, which is used to perform drilling operations on the predetermined seabed position.
[0004] However, in order to improve drilling efficiency, it is hoped that some or even all of the equipment on the drilling vessel or drilling platform can be adjusted to operate in seawater. Considering the difference between the atmospheric environment and the seawater environment, especially the pressure difference, the seal of the reducer applied to the coil may be damaged by seawater (for example, due to the underwater pressure and the corrosiveness of the seawater itself), and cannot meet the requirements of underwater operation.
[0005] In view of the above circumstances, it is desirable to provide a novel underwater reducer assembly to solve or at least alleviate the above problems. Utility Model Content
[0006] The present application aims to provide an underwater reducer assembly, which is advantageous in at least one aspect over the prior art.
[0007] To this end, the present application provides, in one aspect, an underwater reducer assembly, characterized in that it includes: a reducer, which includes a reducer housing and a gear set arranged in the reducer housing, wherein the space between the reducer housing and the gear set is filled with lubricating oil and air is excluded, wherein an O-ring is arranged at the connection between the reducer housing and the end plate; and a pressure compensator, which can be connected to the reducer and is configured to transfer the static pressure of the external underwater environment to the lubricating oil inside the reducer, so that the static pressure exerted on the O-ring by the lubricating oil inside the reducer housing can balance the static pressure exerted by the underwater environment outside the reducer housing, so as to eliminate the pressure difference between the inside and outside of the reducer, thereby enhancing the sealing effectiveness of the O-ring without changing the structure of the O-ring.
[0008] In a feasible exemplary embodiment, an end plate is formed on the reducer housing, and a first connection port is arranged on the end plate, wherein the pressure compensator includes a pressure compensator housing, and a second connection port is arranged on the pressure compensator housing, and when the first connection port and the second connection port are connected, the pressure compensator can transfer the pressure of the external environment to the interior of the reducer.
[0009] In a possible exemplary embodiment, the first connection port and the second connection port are connected to each other by a flexible connection.
[0010] In a feasible exemplary embodiment, the pressure compensator housing has a first section, a second section, and a connecting portion connecting the first section and the second section, wherein a through hole is provided on the first section for releasing fluid from the external environment into the interior of the pressure compensator, the second section is filled with lubricating oil, and the connecting portion has a film fixed therein, wherein the film is configured to isolate the fluid from the outside contained in the first section from the lubricating oil in the second section, while transmitting the pressure in the first section to the second section.
[0011] In a possible exemplary embodiment, the first section is shaped as a cylinder, a sphere, a hemisphere, and / or a sector.
[0012] In a possible exemplary embodiment, the through hole includes a plurality of through holes, and the plurality of through holes are arranged to be equidistantly distributed and / or symmetrically distributed on the first section.
[0013] In a possible exemplary embodiment, the pressure compensator includes a sensor, which is arranged on an outer surface of the pressure compensator housing to monitor pressure changes in the external environment.
[0014] In a feasible exemplary implementation, when the sensor detects that the pressure of the external environment exceeds the upper limit of the predetermined working pressure of the reducer, the pressure compensator is closed.
[0015] In a possible exemplary embodiment, the first connection port includes four first connection ports, and the second connection port includes four second connection ports respectively corresponding to the four first connection ports.
[0016] In addition, the present application provides an underwater drilling system in another aspect, characterized by comprising: an underwater reducer assembly according to the above-mentioned description and a coiled pipe positioned underwater, wherein the coiled pipe is configured to be driven by the underwater reducer assembly as described above.
[0017] In addition, the present application also provides an underwater oil production system, which includes the above-mentioned underwater reducer assembly and an oil pipeline, and the oil pipeline is configured to be driven by the above-mentioned underwater reducer assembly.
[0018] As can be seen from the above, the underwater reducer assembly disclosed in the present application has the ability to reduce or even eliminate the adverse effects of the underwater environment on the reducer, for example, the destructive effect of the underwater high pressure on the reducer seal, and can dynamically balance the pressure imbalance inside and outside the reducer as the water depth changes. For another example, the corrosive effect of seawater on the reducer can also be alleviated. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] Figure 1 A stereoscopic view of an underwater reducer assembly according to an embodiment of the present application is shown.
[0020] Figure 2 Shows Figure 1 A front view of the underwater reducer assembly is shown in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0021] Some feasible implementations of the present application are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the drawings are not drawn to scale. Some details may be enlarged for clear display, and some unnecessary details are omitted.
[0022] like Figure 1-2 , an underwater reducer assembly according to an embodiment of the present application is shown. The underwater reducer assembly comprises a reducer 100 and a pressure compensator 200. The pressure compensator 200 is configured to be connectable to the reducer 100.
[0023] The reducer 100 includes a reducer housing 101 and a gear set (not shown) arranged in the reducer housing 101. Lubricating oil is injected into the reducer housing 101 of the reducer 100 to fill the gap between the gear set and the reducer housing 101. There is no air inside the reducer 100. In this way, the gear set can be well lubricated. An input shaft for connecting a power source and a motor seat 1011 matched therewith are provided on one side of the reducer housing 101 for connecting to the motor 300, and an output shaft 1013 is provided on the other side opposite thereto for driving the movement of the coil (not shown). An end plate 1014 is formed on the reducer housing 101 on the side where the input shaft is provided. A first connection port 1015 is provided on the end plate 1014 for adapting to the pressure compensator 200. A sealing structure (O-ring) is arranged in the reducer housing 101.
[0024] The pressure compensator 200 includes a pressure compensator housing 201. A second connection port 2010 is arranged on the pressure compensator housing 201, which is adapted to the first connection port 1015. When the first connection port 1015 and the second connection port 2010 are connected, the pressure compensator 200 can transfer the pressure of the external environment (underwater static pressure) to the inside of the reducer 100 (for example, the internal lubricating oil). In this way, the internal and external pressure difference of the reducer 100 can be balanced or even eliminated. As a result, there is no need to change the sealing structure, that is, the sealing effectiveness of the sealing structure can be enhanced without changing the sealing structure of the reducer itself, and the sealing effect under high pressure can be achieved. At the same time, dynamic sealing adjustment that changes with the underwater depth and / or the density of the underwater fluid medium can also be achieved.
[0025] The pressure compensator housing 201 has a first (head) section 2011 and a second (tail) section 2012, and a connecting portion 2013 connecting the first section 2011 and the second section 2012. The first section 2011 is provided with a through hole 2011a for releasing fluid (such as seawater) from the external environment into the pressure compensator 200. The first section 2011 can be formed into a cylindrical shape (such as Figure 1 The through hole can be formed into a strip, in particular, a strip extending along the height of the cylindrical wall. The number of the through holes can be one or more. In the case of a plurality of through holes, the plurality of through holes can be evenly distributed, for example, equidistantly distributed, and / or symmetrically distributed. The through holes can also be formed into any other suitable shape, for example, a beaded shape, and / or evenly distributed circular shape, etc.
[0026] After the fluid from the external environment enters the interior of the pressure compensator 200 through the through hole, the pressure inside the pressure compensator 200 is (basically) equal to the external pressure. The second section 2012 is filled with lubricating oil. The lubricating oil in the second section 2012 can be the same as the lubricating oil in the reducer 100. The connecting portion 2013 has a film fixed therein. The film is configured to isolate the fluid from the outside contained in the first section 2011 from the lubricating oil in the second section 2012, while transmitting the pressure of the fluid from the outside contained in the first section 2011 to the lubricating oil in the second section 2012. When the first connection port 1015 and the second connection port 2010 are connected, the lubricating oil in the first section 2011 further transmits its pressure to the lubricating oil inside the reducer. In this way, the pressure inside the reducer 100 can be balanced (e.g., the same) with the pressure of the external environment.
[0027] The connection between the first connection port 1015 and the second connection port 2010 can be a flexible connection, such as a hose 300 connection. Such a hose can be, for example, a rubber hose. A bellows can also be used to connect the first connection port 1015 and the second connection port 2010. In this way, the stability of the connection between the reducer 100 and the pressure compensator 200 can be enhanced, and the impact of vibration and / or displacement caused by the working environment and other reasons can be alleviated. In some specific cases, a rigid connection can also be used. In addition, components such as springs can also be used to increase the flexibility of the connection.
[0028] The pressure compensator 200 may also include a sensor (not shown). The sensor may be arranged on the outer surface of the pressure compensator housing 201 to monitor pressure changes in the external environment. For example, when the sensor detects that the pressure of the external environment exceeds the predetermined upper limit of the working pressure of the reducer 100, the pressure compensator 200 may be closed. This may be done by a controller or a control center. Such a controller may be arranged directly at the pressure compensator 200. The control center may be arranged at a site away from the operation of the reducer, such as a remote control center (e.g. located at a drilling vessel and / or a drilling platform) connected to the reducer 100 and / or the pressure compensator 200 by wireless / wired communication.
[0029] The number of the first connection ports 1015 and / or the second connection ports 2010 may be one or more. The number of the first connection ports 1015 and the second connection ports 2010 are the same and correspond one to one. Figure 1 As shown, four first connection ports 1015 and four second connection ports 2010 are shown and correspond to ( Figure 1 Only one group is shown connected by a hose 300). The first connection port 1015 may be located on the end plate 1014 and away from the input shaft in a radial direction.
[0030] Some parts of the underwater reducer assembly can be made of corrosion-resistant materials (such as stainless steel) or coated with corrosion-resistant paint on the surface. For example, the reducer housing 101 and / or the pressure compensator housing 201 can be made of corrosion-resistant materials or coated with corrosion-resistant paint on the surface, in this way, the resistance to the adverse effects of seawater corrosion in the external environment can be further enhanced.
[0031] The underwater reducer assembly may also include a vibration reduction component (not shown) to alleviate or even eliminate disturbances caused by seawater flow, etc. The vibration reduction component may be installed on the surface of the underwater reducer. Such a vibration reduction component may be implemented as a spring pad, a rubber layer, etc.
[0032] The present application also discloses an underwater drilling system. The underwater drilling system includes an underwater reducer assembly and a coil as described herein. The coil may also be arranged underwater. The underwater reducer assembly is configured to drive the coil to move / extend downward (toward a predetermined drilling position). The lower end of the coil carries a drill bit. The drill bit is configured to rotate when the coil moves / extends downward.
[0033] In addition, the present application also discloses an underwater oil production system. The underwater oil production system includes an underwater reducer assembly and a coil as described herein. The coil can also be arranged underwater. The underwater reducer assembly is configured to drive the coil to move / extend downward. The coil is an oil pipeline.
[0034] The underwater reducer assembly disclosed in the present application is described in the case of being applied to a seawater environment, but it should be understood that the underwater reducer assembly can also be applied to a freshwater environment. Additionally or alternatively, it can also be applied to other external environments with high pressure.
[0035] As used herein, the term “comprising” is open ended and includes one or more stated features, elements, components, or functions, but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, elements, components, functions, or combinations thereof.
[0036] It is expressly intended that within the scope of the present application, the various aspects, embodiments, examples and alternatives listed in the preceding paragraphs, claims and / or in the following description and figures, and in particular the individual features thereof, may be used independently or in any combination. That is, all embodiments and / or features of any embodiment may be used in any manner and / or combination unless such features are incompatible. Applicants reserve the right to change any originally filed claims or to file any new claims accordingly, including amending any originally filed claim to be subordinate to and / or incorporate any features of any other claim, even though not originally claimed in this manner.
[0037] Although the present application is described herein with reference to specific embodiments, the scope of the present application is not limited to the details shown. Various modifications may be made to these details without departing from the basic principles of the present application.
Claims
1. An underwater reducer assembly, characterized in that include: A reducer (100), comprising a reducer housing (101) and a gear set arranged in the reducer housing (101), wherein the space between the reducer housing (101) and the gear set is filled with lubricating oil and air is excluded, wherein an O-ring is arranged at the connection between the reducer housing (101) and the end plate (1014); and The pressure compensator (200) can be connected to the reducer (100) and is configured to transmit the static pressure of the external underwater environment to the lubricating oil inside the reducer (100), so that the static pressure exerted on the O-ring by the lubricating oil inside the reducer housing (101) can balance the static pressure exerted by the underwater environment outside the reducer housing (101), so as to eliminate the pressure difference between the inside and outside of the reducer (100), thereby enhancing the sealing effectiveness of the O-ring without changing the structure of the O-ring.
2. The underwater reducer assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: An end plate (1014) is formed on the reducer housing (101), and a first connection port (1015) is arranged on the end plate (1014), wherein the pressure compensator (200) comprises a pressure compensator housing (201), and a second connection port (2010) is arranged on the pressure compensator housing (201), and when the first connection port (1015) and the second connection port (2010) are connected, the pressure compensator (200) can transmit the pressure of the external environment to the inside of the reducer (100).
3. The underwater reducer assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that: The first connection port (1015) and the second connection port (2010) are connected to each other by a flexible connection.
4. The underwater reducer assembly according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that: The pressure compensator housing (201) comprises a first section (2011) and a second section (2012), and a connecting portion (2013) connecting the first section (2011) and the second section (2012), wherein a through hole (2011a) is provided on the first section (2011) for releasing fluid from the external environment into the interior of the pressure compensator (200), the second section (2012) is filled with lubricating oil, and a film is fixed inside the connecting portion (2013), wherein the film is configured to isolate the fluid from the external environment contained in the first section (2011) from the lubricating oil in the second section (2012), while transmitting the pressure in the first section (2011) to the second section (2012).
5. The underwater reducer assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that: The first section (2011) is shaped as a cylinder, a sphere, a hemispherical shape, and / or a sector.
6. The underwater reducer assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that: The through holes include a plurality of through holes, and the plurality of through holes are arranged to be equidistantly distributed and / or symmetrically distributed on the first section (2011).
7. The underwater reducer assembly according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that: The pressure compensator (200) comprises a sensor, which is arranged on the outer surface of the pressure compensator housing (201) and is used to monitor pressure changes in the external environment.
8. The underwater reducer assembly according to claim 7, characterized in that: When the sensor detects that the pressure of the external environment exceeds the upper limit of the preset working pressure of the reducer (100), the pressure compensator (200) is closed.
9. The underwater reducer assembly according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that: The first connection port (1015) includes four first connection ports (1015), and wherein the second connection port (2010) includes four second connection ports corresponding to the four first connection ports (1015) respectively.
10. An underwater drilling system, characterized in that include: The underwater reducer assembly and the coiled pipe positioned underwater according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the coiled pipe is configured to be driven by the underwater reducer assembly.