Rotating Control Device Bearing Assembly Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rotating control devices for wellbore drilling face challenges in efficiently changing bearings and seals while maintaining a connected housing, particularly in managing fluid pressure and preventing debris accumulation, which can lead to operational inefficiencies and equipment stuck conditions.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a bearing and seal assembly with radially extendable locking elements, such as pistons, and a bearing adapter sleeve with a split retaining ring and selected tensile/shear strength fasteners, allows for secure locking and easy disassembly of the bearing and seal assembly within the RCD housing, enabling efficient assembly and disassembly without the need for protective sleeves and facilitating operation in varying internal diameters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a connected housing is maintained in rotating control devices, then structural integrity and sealing are improved, but the ability to change bearings and seals efficiently deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is divided into a non-rotating housing portion and a rotating portion that can be separated. The bearing and seal assembly is positioned between these segments, allowing the rotating portion to be removed and replaced without removing the entire housing or disconnecting the housing from the conduit, thus maintaining structural integrity while enabling efficient bearing and seal changes.
2Reliability
If traditional locking mechanisms are used for bearing assemblies, then secure locking is achieved, but disassembly complexity and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism uses radially extendable locking elements (such as pistons) that can dynamically transition between extended (locked) and retracted (unlocked) positions. This dynamic mechanism allows secure locking during operation while enabling quick disassembly by simply retracting the locking elements, significantly reducing disassembly time compared to static traditional locking mechanisms.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If protective sleeves are used during assembly, then debris prevention is improved, but device complexity and assembly steps increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the need for protective sleeves by designing a system where the bearing and seal assembly can be directly accessed and replaced through the open end of the housing without requiring protective coverings. The locking elements and bearing adapter sleeve work together to secure the assembly in place without needing additional protective components, thereby reducing device complexity while still preventing debris accumulation through proper sealing design.
4Ease of manufacture
If fixed internal diameter housing is used, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but adaptability to varying conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing adapter sleeve is designed with a variable internal diameter that can adapt to different housing sizes and drilling conditions. This dynamic adaptation capability allows the same bearing and seal assembly design to be used across various applications with different internal diameters, maintaining manufacturing simplicity at the housing level while achieving versatility through the adaptive bearing adapter sleeve design.
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
This solution ensures reliable locking and easy removal of the bearing and seal assembly, preventing debris accumulation and allowing for continued drilling operations even if the bearing adapter sleeve becomes stuck, thus enhancing operational efficiency and flexibility in managing fluid pressure and internal diameters.
Implementation Method 1
Fluid pressure, for example hydraulic fluid under pressure, may be selectively applied to one side of the one or more first locking elements (e.g., pistons) to extend them radially inwardly into the through bore 150C
Implementation Method 2
a bearing adapter sleeve with a split retaining ring and selected tensile/shear strength fasteners, allows for secure locking and easy disassembly
Implementation Method 3
a seal assembly disposed within the outer housing and configured to seal against a rotating tubular member extending axially through a throughbore of the outer housing
Implementation Method 4
a first proximity sensor disposed along an inner surface of the outer housing, and a first sensor element disposed along an outer surface of the inner housing. The first proximity sensor is configured to measure the rotational speed of the seal assembly in response to rotation of the seal assembly in the outer housing
Data Source
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AI summary
An apparatus includes a non-rotating housing, a rotatable member rotatably supported in the non-rotating housing and a bearing adapter sleeve disposed externally to the non-rotating housing. The bearing adapter sleeve has an internal upset for limiting longitudinal movement of the non-rotating housing. The bearing adapter sleeve has a retaining ring affixed to a longitudinal end of the bearing adapter sleeve to limit longitudinal movement of the non-rotating housing.