MUD MOTOR UNIVERSAL JOINT ASSEMBLY

摘要

A mud motor universal joint assembly includes a pair of cylindrical drivers and a cylindrical driven member. Each drive member is configured to attach to a drive unit at one end, and to a driven member at second ends through interlocking tangs. Each cylindrical drive member has an internal blind tapered bore within the interlocking tang portion containing a hard cylindrical load bearing member. The assembly is connected by hardened cylindrical rod members inserted into the internal blind tapered bores of each drive member and retained therein by a plurality of balls in recesses. The drive members, connecting rods, and bearing members may be surface hardened to improve wear. Tang portions may include cavities with rubber inserts therein to reduce slack and slapping during use down hole.

主权项

1. A mud motor universal joint assembly comprising:
a) first and second cylindrical driver body members each configured to connect to a drive at one end and each having a mortised pair of diametrically quartered tang portions at opposite ends, a central internal blind bore comprising a circumferential recess, at least one perpendicular bore intersecting one wall of the central internal blind bore at the opposite end, caps in respective perpendicular bores, and a cylindrical bearing member slidably inserted within the internal blind bore of each driver body member; b) a cylindrical driven body member having first and second ends, each end having a mortised pair of diametrically quartered tang portions, a central internal blind bore, and at least one perpendicular bore intersecting one wall of each central internal blind bore behind the tang portions, the tang portions of the first cylindrical driver body being juxtaposed in a meshing manner with the first end tang portions of the cylindrical driven body member, and the tang portions of the second cylindrical driver body being juxtaposed in a meshing manner with the second end tang portions of the cylindrical driven body member, and at least one retainer interposed within the at least one perpendicular bore intersecting one wall of each central internal blind bore behind the tang portions of the cylindrical driven body member; c) first and second connecting rods each having a neck portion and a crowned head portion at each end, first ends of each connecting rod slidably inserted within the central blind bores of the cylindrical driver body members and in contact with the cylindrical bearing members, such that the neck portions are opposite the circumferential recesses, and second ends of each connecting rod slidably inserted within respective blind bores of the cylindrical driven body member; and d) first and second pluralities of ball bearings positioned in respective neck portions of the ends of the first and second connecting rods inserted within the central blind bore of the first and second cylindrical driver body members, the ball bearings also partially positioned in the circumferential recesses.