Systems and methods for transmitting torque
A device may include an inner shell including an inner groove having an inner groove angle relative to the rotational axis. A device may include an intermediate shell circumferentially around the inner shell and having a slot therein, the slot being at least partially oriented in a longitudinal direction of the rotational axis. A device may include an outer shell circumferentially around the intermediate shell and including an outer groove having an outer groove angle relative to the rotational axis different from inner groove angle. A device may include a bearing positioned in the slot and contacting the inner groove and the outer groove.
1 . A system for providing torque to a drill bit, the system comprising:
a torque input element configured to provide an input torque around a rotational axis;
a drill bit configured to receive an output torque around the rotational axis; and
a torque transmission device located between the torque input element and the drill bit, the torque transmission device including:
a first shell including a first groove having a first groove angle relative to the rotational axis, the first shell being rotationally fixed relative to the torque input element and configured to receive the input torque;
a second shell circumferentially concentric with the first shell and including a second groove having a second groove angle relative to the rotational axis different from the first groove angle, the second shell being rotationally fixed relative to the drill bit and configured to provide the output torque;
an intermediate shell circumferentially between the first shell and the second shell and having a slot therein, the slot being at least partially oriented in a longitudinal direction of the rotational axis; and
a bearing positioned in the slot and contacting the first groove and the second groove.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first shell is an inner shell, and the second shell is an outer shell.
3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first groove angle and the second groove angle are oriented in different rotational directions around the rotational axis.
4 . A method of transmitting torque in a downhole environment, the method comprising:
receiving an input torque from a downhole motor of a bottomhole assembly (BHA) at a first shell of a concentric torque transmission device;
rotating the first shell around a rotational axis;
converting a rotation of the first shell to a longitudinal movement of a bearing in the concentric torque transmission device;
rotating a second shell around the rotational axis based on the longitudinal movement of the bearing; and
rotating a drill bit with an output torque based on a rotation of the second shell.
5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the input torque is in an opposite direction to the output torque.
6 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the input torque is greater than the output torque.
7 . The method of claim 4 , further comprising recirculating the bearing in the concentric torque transmission device.
8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the torque transmission device further comprises a return channel configured to circulate the bearing from a first longitudinal end of the slot to a second longitudinal end of the slot.
9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the return channel is located in an inner shell of the first shell and the second shell relative to the rotational axis.
10 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the return channel is located in an outer shell of the first shell and the second shell relative to the rotational axis.
11 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the return channel has a length that is an integer multiple of a bearing diameter of the bearing.
12 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the return channel is a first return channel and the torque transmission device further comprises a second return channel configured to circulate a second bearing from a first longitudinal end of the slot to a second longitudinal end of the slot.
13 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first groove angle and the second groove angle are oriented in a same rotational direction around the rotational axis.
14 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the slot is parallel to the rotational axis.
15 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the intermediate shell includes a plurality of slots, and further comprising at least one bearing in each slot of the plurality of slots.
16 . The system claim 1 , wherein the torque input element is a drill pipe.
17 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the output torque of the torque transmission device is co-axial with the input torque.
18 . A bottomhole assembly (BHA) comprising:
a downhole motor;
a drill bit having a rotational axis; and
a concentric torque transmission device coupled to the drill bit and configured to receive an input torque from the downhole motor, the concentric torque transmission device including:
a first shell including a first groove having a first groove angle relative to the rotational axis, the first shell configured to receive the input torque from the downhole motor;
a second shell circumferentially concentric with the first shell and including a second groove having a second groove angle relative to the rotational axis different from the first groove angle, the second shell being rotationally fixed relative to the drill bit and configured to provide an output torque;
an intermediate shell circumferentially between the first shell and the second shell and having a slot therein, the slot being at least partially oriented in a longitudinal direction of the rotational axis;
a plurality of bearings positioned in the slot and contacting the first groove and the second groove; and
a return channel configured to circulate the plurality of bearings from a first longitudinal end of the slot to a second longitudinal end of the slot.
19 . The BHA of claim 18 , wherein the concentric torque transmission device is configured to change a magnitude of an angular velocity of the input torque across the concentric torque transmission device.