IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,527,104
Granted Patent B2
US 10,527,104 · App. 15/656,914 · Granted Jan 7, 2020

Combined multi-coupler for top drive

Inventor: Martin Liess (Seelze, DE)
Assignee: WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, LLC
F16D1/116E21B3/02E21B17/043E21B17/046E21B19/16E21B41/00F16D1/08
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,527,104
App. No.
15/656,914
Granted
Jan 7, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

In one embodiment, a coupler system for coupling a top drive and a tool, including a drive member of the top drive configured to transfer torque. The drive member having a housing with a bore therethrough and a window formed substantially laterally through the housing. An adapter of the tool is configured to be inserted through the window of the housing. In another embodiment, a method for coupling a top drive to a tool includes moving, the tool adjacent to the top drive, the tool including an adapter and the top drive including a housing having a window formed therethrough. The method also includes aligning the adapter with the window and inserting the adapter substantially laterally into the window of the housing, thereby longitudinally and torsionally coupling the top drive and the tool.

Claims (35)

1. A coupler system for coupling a top drive and a tool, comprising:

a drive member of the top drive configured to transfer torque, having:

a housing with a bore therethrough; and

a window formed substantially laterally through the housing; an adapter of the tool configured to be inserted through the window of the housing; and

one or more utility connectors longitudinally movable relative to the housing.

2. The coupler system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more utility connectors are configured to transfer at least one of power, data, electronics, hydraulics, and pneumatics.

3. The coupler system of claim 1 , wherein the adapter includes a bore configured to fluidly communicate with the bore of the housing when the adapter is inserted through the window.

4. The coupler system of claim 1 , further comprising a lock plate disposed in the housing.

5. The coupler system of claim 4 , wherein the lock plate is longitudinally movable relative to the housing.

6. The coupler system of claim 4 , wherein the lock plate is configured to connect to the adapter.

7. The coupler system of claim 1 , further comprising a compensation assembly configured to support a weight of the tool.

8. The coupler system of claim 7 , the compensation assembly comprising:

an actuator configured to move a lock plate disposed in the housing; and

a fastener configured to couple the adapter to the lock plate.

9. A method for coupling a top drive to a tool, comprising:

moving the tool adjacent to the top drive, the tool including an adapter and the top drive including a housing having a window formed therethrough;

aligning the adapter with the window; and

inserting the adapter substantially laterally into the window of the housing, thereby longitudinally and torsionally coupling the top drive and the tool.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

moving a lock plate disposed within the housing; and

connecting the lock plate to the adapter.

11. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

moving one or more utility connectors at least partially disposed within the housing.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

supporting a weight of the tool using a compensation assembly.

13. The method of claim 11 , further comprising connecting the one or more utility connectors to the adapter to transfer at least one of power, data, electronics, hydraulics, and pneumatics.

14. A coupler system for coupling a top drive and a tool, comprising:

a drive member for a top drive configured to transfer torque and support a weight of the tool, having:

a housing with a bore therethrough;

an adapter of a tool;

a lock plate disposed in the housing and longitudinally movable relative to the housing, wherein the lock plate is configured to connect to the adapter; and

one or more utility connectors longitudinally movable relative to the housing with the lock plate.

15. The coupler system of claim 14 , wherein the one or more utility connectors are configured to connect to the adapter.

16. The coupler system of claim 15 , wherein the one or more utility connectors are configured to transfer at least one of power, data, electronics, hydraulics, and pneumatics.

17. The coupler system of claim 14 , further comprising an actuator disposed in the housing and configured to move and connect the one or more utility connectors to the adapter.

Assignments (8)
PATENT SECURITY INTEREST ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 26, 2023
From: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 063470/0629 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 1, 2021
From: WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, LLC; WEATHERFORD NETHERLANDS B.V.; WEATHERFORD NORGE AS; HIGH PRESSURE INTEGRITY, INC.; PRECISION ENERGY SERVICES, INC.; WEATHERFORD CANADA LTD.; WEATHERFORD SWITZERLAND TRADING AND DEVELOPMENT GMBH; WEATHERFORD U.K. LIMITED
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 057683/0706 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 1, 2021
From: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, LLC; WEATHERFORD NETHERLANDS B.V.; WEATHERFORD NORGE AS; HIGH PRESSURE INTEGRITY, INC.; PRECISION ENERGY SERVICES, INC.; WEATHERFORD CANADA LTD; WEATHERFORD SWITZERLAND TRADING AND DEVELOPMENT GMBH; PRECISION ENERGY SERVICES ULC; WEATHERFORD U.K. LIMITED
Reel/Frame 057683/0423 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 28, 2020
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, LLC; WEATHERFORD NETHERLANDS B.V.; WEATHERFORD NORGE AS; HIGH PRESSURE INTEGRITY, INC.; PRECISION ENERGY SERVICES, INC.; WEATHERFORD CANADA LTD.; WEATHERFORD SWITZERLAND TRADING AND DEVELOPMENT GMBH; PRECISION ENERGY SERVICES ULC; WEATHERFORD U.K. LIMITED
Reel/Frame 053838/0323 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 28, 2020
From: WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, LLC; WEATHERFORD NETHERLANDS B.V.; WEATHERFORD NORGE AS; HIGH PRESSURE INTEGRITY, INC.; PRECISION ENERGY SERVICES, INC.; WEATHERFORD CANADA LTD.; WEATHERFORD SWITZERLAND TRADING AND DEVELOPMENT GMBH; PRECISION ENERGY SERVICES ULC; WEATHERFORD U.K. LIMITED
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 054288/0302 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 26, 2019
From: WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, LLC; WEATHERFORD NETHERLANDS B.V.; WEATHERFORD NORGE AS; HIGH PRESSURE INTEGRITY, INC.; PRECISION ENERGY SERVICES, INC.; WEATHERFORD CANADA LTD.; WEATHERFORD SWITZERLAND TRADING AND DEVELOPMENT GMBH; PRECISION ENERGY SERVICES ULC; WEATHERFORD U.K. LIMITED
To: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 051419/0140 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 18, 2019
From: WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS LLC; WEATHERFORD NETHERLANDS B.V.; WEATHERFORD NORGE AS; HIGH PRESSURE INTEGRITY INC.; PRECISION ENERGY SERVICES INC.; WEATHERFORD CANADA LTD.; WEATHERFORD SWITZERLAND TRADING AND DEVELOPMENT GMBH; PRECISION ENERGY SERVICES ULC; WEATHERFORD U.K. LIMITED
To: WELLS FARGO BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 051891/0089 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 25, 2017
From: LIESS, MARTIN
To: WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, LLC
Reel/Frame 043999/0605 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20190024721A1 · Jan 24, 2019
Cited By (1)
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