Downhole Centrifugal Pump Bearing Locking With Coupling Pins

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Solution Overview

Problem

Submersible pumps face operational inefficiencies and potential failure due to internal and external forces causing loosening and failure of couplings and orientations between components, particularly in high-heat and high-gas environments where lubrication is intermittent.

Innovation Solution

Incorporation of locking features such as coupling pins and bushings within the diffusers to secure bearings against rotational and axial movements, using materials with similar thermal expansion coefficients to minimize relative movement and enhance stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If bearings are positioned within diffusers to support the rotational shaft, then the pump can operate with proper shaft support, but the bearings may loosen or fail due to rotational forces applied during operation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebearing stabilityVSAvoidcoupling strength

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The coupling pins are pre-installed on the diffuser body before bearing installation, and the bearings are then positioned over these pins. This preliminary placement of locking features ensures that when the bearings are installed, they are immediately secured against rotational forces, preventing loosening during operation without requiring additional steps during pump operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The coupling pins act as intermediary elements between the diffuser body and the bearings. These pins transfer and resist the rotational forces that would otherwise directly act on the bearing-diffuser interface, distributing the mechanical stress and preventing direct loosening of the bearing assembly from the diffuser housing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If coupling pins are used to secure bearings against rotational forces, then bearing stability is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomponent stabilityVSAvoidpump structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pump assembly is segmented into distinct functional components: the diffuser body, the coupling pins as separate locking elements, and the bearings. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and assembled in a systematic manner, making the added complexity manageable and the locking mechanism replaceable without replacing entire assemblies.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The coupling pins are strategically positioned at specific locations on the diffuser body where rotational forces are most critical. Rather than uniformly complicating the entire pump structure, the locking features are applied locally only where needed to secure the bearings, minimizing overall structural complexity while providing targeted stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Stability of the object's composition

If materials with similar thermal expansion coefficients are used for diffusers and bearings, then relative movement between components is minimized, but material selection becomes more restricted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomponent orientation stabilityVSAvoidmaterial selection flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent specifies selecting materials for diffusers and bearings with matched thermal expansion coefficients, transforming the thermal parameter from a source of relative movement into a design criterion. By controlling this physical parameter, the invention ensures that temperature variations during operation do not cause differential expansion that would lead to loosening or misalignment of the bearing assembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enhances pump efficiency and reduces failure risk by maintaining component stability, even in high-heat and high-gas conditions, through the use of locking features that resist rotational and axial movements.

Implementation Method 1

coupling pins positioned between and engaged with the bearings and the at least some of the diffusers, the coupling pins configured to at least partially secure each of the bearings to one of the at least some of the diffusers against a rotational force applied to the bearings from the rotation of the rotational shaft

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Implementation Method 2

bushings positioned adjacent to the bearings, the bushings each configured to secure one of the bearings along the rotational shaft in the central portion of the body of the at least some of the diffusers

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentUS12352288B2Downhole centrifugal pumps including locking features and related components and methods

Publication Date: 2025.07.08 CHAMPIONX LLC

AI summary

Downhole centrifugal pumps and related components and methods may include diffusers housing impellers and a rotational shaft passing through the impellers to impart rotation to the impellers. Bearings are positioned within at least some of the diffusers to support the rotational shaft during the rotation of the impellers. Coupling pins may be positioned between and engage with the bearings and the at least some of the diffusers to at least partially secure each of the bearings to one of the at least some of the diffusers.