US 11,939,837 B2
Electro-mechanical clutch for downhole tools
Nicholas Robert Wood, Carrollton, TX (US); Kevin Robin Passmore, Carrollton, TX (US); Bruce Edward Scott, Carrollton, TX (US); and Jon-Howard Elliott Hanson, Carrollton, TX (US)
Assigned to Halliburton Energy Services, Inc., Houston, TX (US)
Filed by Halliburton Energy Services, Inc., Houston, TX (US)
Filed on Jun. 24, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/848,928.
Prior Publication US 2023/0417125 A1, Dec. 28, 2023
Int. Cl. E21B 34/06 (2006.01); E21B 34/08 (2006.01); E21B 34/14 (2006.01); F16D 11/16 (2006.01); F16D 27/09 (2006.01); F16D 27/14 (2006.01)
CPC E21B 34/066 (2013.01) [E21B 34/08 (2013.01); E21B 34/14 (2013.01); F16D 11/16 (2013.01); F16D 27/09 (2013.01); F16D 27/14 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A clutch assembly, comprising:
an output coupler housing configured to couple to a lead screw of a mechanical linkage, the output coupler housing having a central opening extending at least partially therethrough;
an input shaft located at least partially within the central opening of the output coupler housing, the input shaft configured to couple to an output of a drive assembly;
an electromagnet coupled to the input shaft, the electromagnet configured to axially translate the output coupler housing from a de-coupled state to a coupled state when the electromagnet is energized; and
one or more grooves located in one of an outer surface of the input shaft or an inner surface of the central opening and one or more engagement members located in the other of the inner surface of the central opening or the outer surface of the input shaft, wherein:
the one or more engagement members are configured to not engage with the one or more grooves when the output coupler housing is in the de-coupled state to allow the input shaft and the output coupler housing to freely rotate relative to one another; and
the one or more engagement members are configured to engage with the one or more grooves when the output coupler housing is in the coupled state to rotationally fix the input shaft and the output coupler housing relative to one another.