Detachable Drive Key for Rotary Drilling Rig Power Head
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing drive keys in rotary drilling rigs suffer from wear and tear, leading to functional decline, high maintenance costs, and frequent replacements, especially when using machine lock drill rods, due to structural limitations and field conditions.
Innovation Solution
A detachable and combined drive key system comprising a drive sleeve with torque transfer keys and a pressure transfer key, allowing for independent replacement of worn components without disassembling the entire unit, thereby reducing maintenance costs and failure rates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single drive key bears the applied pressure, then the structure is simple, but the drive key bottom gets squeezed, warped, and deformed causing high failure rate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the drive key into multiple keys (typically three) arranged radially around the drive sleeve. Each key independently bears a portion of the applied pressure, preventing any single key from being overloaded. This segmentation distributes the mechanical stress and prevents deformation, warping, and failure of individual keys.
2Reliability
If the whole drive key unit is disassembled and replaced when wear occurs, then the drive key functionality is restored, but the replacing frequency and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The drive keys are designed as separable components that can be independently removed from the drive sleeve. When wear occurs on one or more keys, only those specific keys need to be replaced rather than the entire drive key assembly. This reduces replacement frequency and cost while maintaining drive key functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables selective replacement of worn drive keys while retaining the drive sleeve and other intact components. The worn keys are discarded and replaced with new ones, while the reusable parts are recovered and retained in the system, reducing overall replacement costs.
3Ease of repair
If the drive key is disassembled and assembled in field conditions, then the worn keys can be replaced, but the structural space restrictions and field conditions make it very difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The drive keys are designed as modular, independently removable components that can be accessed and replaced without disassembling the entire drive assembly. This segmentation allows field technicians to replace worn keys in situ under challenging field conditions without requiring extensive disassembly or specialized equipment.
Data Source
AI summary
A detachable and combined drive key of a power head of a rotary drilling rig is provided. The drive key includes torque transfer keys and a pressure transfer key. Each torque transfer key is respectively assembled on a key groove on an inner wall of the drive sleeve. The pressure transfer key is assembled at a bottom of a drive sleeve and includes a circular ring structure and a plurality of pressure pads. Each pressure pad has a width less than the torque transfer key. A central surface of each pressure pad is aligned with a central surface of each torque transfer key. The drive sleeve, the torque transfer keys, and the pressure transfer key are combined to form an integrated drive key with a same circular cross-section.