Top Drive Gear System Radial Bearing Float
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing top drive systems for wellbore operations often have limitations in the design of their gear systems, particularly with multiple radially secured bearings that do not allow for radial or axial floating, which can lead to interference and premature bearing failure.
Innovation Solution
A top drive system with a gear system featuring a lower planetary carrier that rotates relative to a gear housing, utilizing a single bearing and a bearing cartridge with a radially movable inner part to facilitate rotation and prevent horizontal interference, while being driven by a motor apparatus that allows lateral translational movement of the rotational axis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If multiple radially secured bearings are used in the gear system, then the structural stability is improved, but the bearing longevity deteriorates due to interference and premature failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes one of the multiple radially secured bearings from the gear system, retaining only a single bearing. This extraction eliminates the interference problems between multiple bearings while maintaining sufficient structural support for the lower planetary carrier, thereby resolving the contradiction between structural stability and bearing longevity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a bearing cartridge with a radially movable inner part that allows the single bearing to float radially. This dynamic adjustment capability enables the bearing to adapt to operational conditions and avoid interference, improving longevity while maintaining stability through controlled movement rather than rigid fixation.
2Power
If larger diameter motors are used for greater horsepower, then the power output is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the motor, gear system, and bearing cartridge into an integrated assembly where the bearing cartridge is positioned between the motor and gear system components. This merging allows the use of larger diameter motors for greater horsepower while managing overall system complexity through unified design and spatial optimization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent accommodates larger diameter motors by utilizing the radial movement capability of the bearing cartridge, which provides an additional degree of freedom in the radial direction. This dimensional flexibility allows power increase without proportionally increasing overall system complexity, as the bearing cartridge absorbs the dimensional changes.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If a single bearing is used instead of multiple bearings, then the bearing longevity is improved by reducing interference, but the structural stability may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a bearing cartridge with a radially movable inner part that allows the single bearing to float and adjust radially. This dynamic capability compensates for the reduction in bearing quantity, maintaining structural stability through adaptive positioning while eliminating interference between multiple fixed bearings, thus improving longevity.
Solution Approach 2:
The bearing cartridge acts as an intermediary element between the single bearing and the gear system components. It provides the necessary support and stability functions that would otherwise require multiple bearings, while enabling radial movement to prevent interference, thus resolving the contradiction between single bearing longevity and structural stability.
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 design enhances the operational efficiency and longevity of the top drive system by allowing the single bearing to float radially, reducing interference and wear, and enabling the use of larger diameter motors for greater horsepower with improved efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a single bearing positioned between the gear housing and the lower planetary carrier, the single bearing being adapted to facilitate a rotation of the lower planetary carrier relative to the gear housing
Data Source
AI summary
A gear system has a gear housing and a lower planetary carrier disposed in the gear housing, the lower planetary carrier being adapted to rotate relative to the gear housing. A top drive system is operatively coupled to the gear system, the top drive system having a top drive shaft that is adapted to be driven by the gear system. A single bearing that is adapted to facilitate rotation of the lower planetary carrier is positioned between the gear housing and the lower planetary carrier. A motor apparatus is operatively coupled to and adapted to drive the gear system by rotating the lower planetary carrier relative to the gear housing, wherein a rotational axis of the single bearing is adapted to move in a lateral translational direction with respect to the gear housing while the motor apparatus is rotating the lower planetary carrier.