Rotor Bearing System Eccentric Motion Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Progressing cavity machines experience rapid sealing material wear due to eccentric motion between the rotor head and driveshaft, leading to reduced efficiency and eventual machine failure during wellbore drilling operations.
Innovation Solution
A rotor bearing system that connects the rotor head of a progressing cavity machine to a driveshaft, utilizing a shaft member supported by inward and outward bearings to limit eccentric motion, thereby reducing static and dynamic loads on the sealing material.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the rotor head is directly coupled to the driveshaft without bearing support, then the device complexity is reduced, but the sealing material experiences rapid wear due to uncontrolled eccentric motion
Solution Approach 1:
A shaft member with bearings is introduced as an intermediary component between the rotor head and driveshaft. The shaft member includes a first bearing that supports the rotor head and a second bearing that couples to the driveshaft, mediating the connection and controlling eccentric motion to protect the sealing material from rapid wear.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If bearing support is added to the shaft member, then the lifespan of sealing material is extended by limiting eccentric motion, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The shaft member is segmented into distinct functional zones: a first bearing portion that supports the rotor head to limit eccentric motion, and a second bearing portion that couples to the driveshaft. This segmentation allows each bearing to perform its specific function independently, extending sealing material lifespan while managing overall device complexity through modular design.
Data Source
AI summary
A rotor bearing system configured to operatively couple a progressing cavity machine to an external device can comprise a housing including an inner surface defining a first bore extending through the housing along a central axis, a first bearing arranged on the inner surface, and a shaft member including an outer surface extending between a proximal portion and a distal portion of the shaft member and a second bearing arranged on the outer surface, the second bearing the second bearing configured to contact the first bearing to limit eccentric motion of the driveshaft of the external device and the rotor head of the progressing cavity machine relative to a stator of the progressing cavity machine during rotation of the rotor head, the shaft member, and the driveshaft.