US 12,247,628 B2
Transmission assembly for transmitting torque across an angular connection between a torsional drive component and a torsionally driven component
Gregory Clarence Goff, Bar Nunn, WY (US); Patrick Daniel Gallagher, Mills, WY (US); Daniel Robert Gallagher, Casper, WY (US); and Krista D. Anderson, Evansville, WY (US)
Assigned to New Ventures Marketing, LLC, Casper, WY (US)
Filed by New Ventures Marketing, LLC, Casper, WY (US)
Filed on Nov. 1, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/386,168.
Application 17/465,471 is a division of application No. 16/384,389, filed on Apr. 15, 2019, granted, now 11,137,033, issued on Oct. 5, 2021.
Application 18/386,168 is a continuation of application No. 17/465,471, filed on Sep. 2, 2021, granted, now 11,808,310.
Application 16/384,389 is a continuation in part of application No. 16/166,819, filed on Oct. 22, 2018, granted, now 11,092,199, issued on Aug. 17, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2024/0159277 A1, May 16, 2024
Int. Cl. F16D 3/18 (2006.01); E21B 4/02 (2006.01); E21B 17/03 (2006.01)
CPC F16D 3/185 (2013.01) [E21B 4/02 (2013.01); E21B 17/03 (2013.01)] 6 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of transmitting a torque from a drive component to a driven component across an articulating joint, comprising:
coupling a universal joint (U-joint) assembly between the drive component and the driven component, the U-joint assembly comprising:
a female U-joint member coupled with the driven component, the female U-joint member defining a longitudinal axis and including a receptacle end, the receptacle end comprising a cavity extending into the receptacle end, the cavity terminating in a circular receptacle and including four flat surfaces extending longitudinally from the cavity at 90-degree intervals about an inner diameter of the cavity;
a male U-joint member coupled with the drive component and having a drive end comprising four multi-angled surfaces extending longitudinally from the drive end at 90-degree intervals about a periphery of the drive end, the drive end received coaxially within the cavity of the female U-joint member such that each of the multi-angled surfaces of the drive end of the male U-joint member opposes a corresponding one of the four flat surfaces of the cavity of the female U-joint member, and a conical end cavity that terminates in a concave semi-spherical bearing surface;
a central ball seat including:
a circular base received within the circular receptacle of the female U-joint member; and
a central shaft positioned coaxial to the longitudinal axis, the central shaft extending proximally-to-distally from the circular base to a convex semi-spherical bearing surface configured to impinge upon the concave semi-spherical bearing surface of the conical end cavity of the male U-joint member, wherein when the torque is transmitted from the male U-joint member to the female U-joint member, the convex semi-spherical bearing surface of the central ball seat impinges upon the concave semi-spherical bearing surface of the conical end cavity of the male U-joint member;
articulating the male U-joint member relative to the longitudinal axis such that the male U-joint member is disposed at an articulation angle relative to the longitudinal axis; and
actuating the drive component such that the torque is transmitted from the male U-joint member to the female U-joint member through a contact area between select ones of the four multi-angled surfaces that are positioned parallel to the articulation angle of the male U-joint member and opposing ones of the flat surfaces of the female U-joint member.