Rotating control device with replaceable bowl sleeve
A rotating control device has a bowl including a central passage configured for having a bearing assembly positioned therein. A bowl sleeve ledge is integral the bowl within the central passage. The bowl sleeve is removably disposed within the central passage. Movement of the bowl sleeve along a length of the central passage is constrained by the bowl sleeve ledge and movement of the bowl sleeve radially with respect to the length of the central passage is constrained by a central passage surface. A sealing device of a first configuration is engaged between an exterior surface of the bowl sleeve and the central passage surface. The bearing assembly has an exterior surface of its outer barrel engaged with the interior surface of the bowl sleeve. A sealing device of a second configuration is engaged between the interior surface of the bowl sleeve and the exterior surface of the outer barrel.
1. A rotating control device configured for use in drilling wells, comprising:
a bowl having a central passage and having a bowl sleeve ledge integral therewith within the central passage at a position between an upper end portion of the bowl and a lower end portion of the bowl;
a bowl sleeve removably disposed within the central passage, wherein movement of the bowl sleeve along a length of the central passage is constrained by the bowl sleeve ledge, wherein movement of the bowl sleeve radially with respect to the length of the central passage is constrained by a central passage surface of the bowl, wherein an entire portion of the bowl sleeve is located at a position within the central passage of the bowl, and wherein an interior surface of the bowl sleeve is tapered from a top end face thereof to a bottom end face thereof;
at least one sealing device engaged between the exterior surface of the bowl sleeve and the central passage surface;
a bearing assembly positioned within the central passage of the bowl and having an exterior surface of an outer barrel thereof directly engaged with the interior surface of the bowl sleeve, wherein the exterior surface of the outer barrel is tapered to mate with the tapered interior surface of the bowl sleeve; and
at least one sealing device engaged between the interior surface of the bowl sleeve and the exterior surface of the outer barrel;
wherein mating surfaces of the central passage of the bowl and the bowl sleeve are jointly configured for providing an interference fit between the bowl sleeve and the central passage of the bowl thereby causing the bowl sleeve to remain engaged with the bowl until the bowl sleeve is removed for addressing wear and routine maintenance thereof and thereby allowing the bearing assembly to be disengaged from the bowl sleeve while the bowl sleeve remains engaged with the bowl.
2. The rotating control device of claim 1 wherein:
the central passage has a substantially constant diameter from a first end face of the bowl to approximately the bowl sleeve ledge; and
the bowl sleeve has a substantially constant outside diameter at its exterior surface.
3. The rotating control device of claim 2 wherein:
the bowl sleeve ledge defines a transition at which a diameter of the central bore changes from a first diameter to a second diameter substantially less than the first diameter;
the central passage has a substantially constant diameter from a first end face of the sidewall structure to approximately the bowl sleeve ledge;
the bowl sleeve has a substantially constant outside diameter at its exterior surface;
the bowl sleeve includes a circumferential groove in the exterior surface thereof; and
said at least one sealing device includes an O-ring seal disposed within the circumferential groove.
4. The rotating control device of claim 3 wherein:
the bowl sleeve includes a circumferential groove in the exterior surface thereof; and
said at least one sealing device engaged between the exterior surface of the bowl sleeve and the central passage surface includes an O-ring seal disposed within the circumferential groove.