US 11,920,411 B2
Tool coupler with sliding coupling members for top drive
Michael Henke, Hannover (DE); Michael Kratzert, Hagenburg (DE); Thomas Veit, Leipzig (DE); and Kevin Wood, Houston, TX (US)
Assigned to WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, LLC, Houston, TX (US)
Filed by Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC, Houston, TX (US)
Filed on Aug. 31, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/462,202.
Application 17/462,202 is a continuation of application No. 15/448,297, filed on Mar. 2, 2017, granted, now 11,131,151.
Prior Publication US 2022/0049557 A1, Feb. 17, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. E21B 17/046 (2006.01); E21B 3/02 (2006.01); E21B 3/03 (2006.01); E21B 17/03 (2006.01); F16D 7/00 (2006.01); F16L 37/23 (2006.01)
CPC E21B 17/046 (2013.01) [E21B 3/022 (2020.05); E21B 3/03 (2013.01); E21B 17/03 (2013.01); F16D 7/005 (2013.01); F16L 37/23 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A drive unit of a top drive system comprising:
a drive stem having a plurality of ports from an exterior thereof to an interior thereof;
a plurality of sliding coupling members disposed in the ports;
a coupling collar encircling the drive stem along a shared central axis and having linear actuation surfaces and annular recessed surfaces on an interior thereof, wherein the annular recessed surfaces align with the ports when the coupling collar is in a first position, and the linear actuation surfaces align with the ports when the coupling collar is in a second position; and
a tool stem having coupling recesses sized and distributed to align with the plurality of ports and engageable with the sliding coupling members, wherein engagement of the sliding coupling members with the coupling recesses provides a torque coupling between the drive stem and the tool stem;
spring elements disposed between sliding coupling members and the collar to force the sliding members towards the central axis; and
actuators symmetrically distributed about the drive stem to move the coupling collar relative to the drive stem along the axis.