Compliant keyway for an electric submersible pump bearing sleeve

1. A compliant keyway system for an electric submersible pump (ESP) bearing sleeve comprising:

the ESP bearing sleeve coupled to an ESP shaft by an elongate key such that the ESP bearing sleeve is rotatable with the ESP shaft, the ESP bearing sleeve inward of a non-rotatable bushing;

the elongate key seated on a first elongate side within a shaft keyway extending longitudinally along the ESP shaft, and the elongate key seated on a second elongate side within a sleeve keyway;

an inner diameter of the ESP bearing sleeve comprising the sleeve keyway extending along a length of the bearing sleeve, the sleeve keyway comprising a keyway means for compliance with deflection of the elongate key seated within the sleeve keyway; and the elongate key transferring torque between the ESP shaft and the ESP bearing sleeve,

wherein the keyway means for compliance with deflection of the elongate key comprises a flared keyway, the flared keyway comprising: a driving side edge opposing a trailing side edge;

the driving side edge comprising a lower portion angled away from the trailing side edge and downwards;

and the trailing side edge comprising an upper portion angled away from the driving side edge and upwards.

2. The compliant keyway system of claim 1 , wherein an upper portion of the driving side edge extends longitudinally, and a lower portion of the trailing side edge extends longitudinally.

3. The compliant keyway system of claim 2 , wherein the upper portion of the driving side edge intersects the lower portion of the driving side edge at a waist of the ESP bearing sleeve, the upper portion of the trailing side edge intersects the lower portion of the trailing side edge at the waist, the upper portion of the driving side edge is parallel to the lower portion of the trailing side edge, and the lower portion of the driving side edge is parallel to the upper portion of the trailing side edge.

4. The compliant keyway system of claim 1 , wherein the keyway means for compliance with deflection of the elongate key comprises a swivel carriage, the swivel carriage comprising: a carriage frame surrounding three sides of the elongate key; and a pin pivotally coupling the carriage to the ESP bearing sleeve.

5. The compliant keyway system of claim 4 , wherein the keyway means for compliance with deflection of the elongate key further comprises at least two spring members, a first spring member extending between the driving side edge of the sleeve keyway and the carriage frame and a second spring member extending between a trailing side edge of the sleeve keyway and the carriage frame.

6. The compliant keyway system of claim 5 , wherein the first spring member engages the lower portion of the driving side edge of the flared keyway, and the second spring member engages the upper portion of the trailing side edge of the flared keyway.

7. The compliant keyway system of claim 1 , wherein the ESP bearing sleeve comprises a flange around a top of the ESP bearing sleeve, the flange extending over the non-rotatable bushing, the bushing press-fit to a centrifugal pump diffuser.

8. An electric submersible pump (ESP) flanged thrust bearing sleeve comprising:

a sleeve keyway, the sleeve keyway configured to be compliant in response to misalignment of a torque transmitting key from a longitudinal axis of the flanged thrust bearing sleeve,

the sleeve keyway comprising a flared keyway, the flared keyway comprising:

a driving side edge opposing a trailing side edge;

the driving side edge comprising a lower portion angled away from the trailing side edge and downwards;

and the trailing side edge comprising an upper portion angled away from the driving side edge and upwards; and

the torque transmitting key seated within the sleeve keyway on a first elongate side of the torque transmitting key and a keyway of a rotatable shaft of an ESP on a second elongate side of the torque transmitting key.

9. A compliant keyway system for an electric submersible pump (ESP) bearing sleeve comprising:

the ESP bearing sleeve coupled to an ESP shaft by an elongate key such that the ESP bearing sleeve is rotatable with the ESP shaft, the ESP bearing sleeve inward of a non-rotatable bushing;

the elongate key seated on a first elongate side within a shaft keyway extending longitudinally along the ESP shaft, and the elongate key seated on a second elongate side within a sleeve keyway;

an inner diameter of the ESP bearing sleeve comprising the sleeve keyway extending along a length of the bearing sleeve, the sleeve keyway comprising:

a flared keyway, the flared keyway comprising:

a trailing side edge and a driving side edge opposing the trailing side edge,

the driving side edge comprising a lower portion angled away from the trailing side edge and downwards;

and the trailing side edge comprising an upper portion angled away from the driving side edge and upwards;

a first spring member extending between the trailing side edge of the sleeve keyway and the elongate key;

a second spring member extending between the driving side edge of the sleeve keyway and the

elongate key; and

the elongate key transferring torque between the ESP shaft and the ESP bearing sleeve.

10. The compliant keyway system of claim 9 , wherein the first spring member and the second spring member comprise helical coil springs.