US 12,252,958 B2
Electro-mechanical clutch employing a magnetized output coupler housing 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. 17/849,235.
Prior Publication US 2023/0417124 A1, Dec. 28, 2023
Int. Cl. E21B 34/06 (2006.01); E21B 34/14 (2006.01)
CPC E21B 34/066 (2013.01) [E21B 34/14 (2013.01); E21B 2200/05 (2020.05)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
17. A method for operating a subsurface safety valve (SSSV), comprising:
providing a subsurface safety valve (SSSV) downhole within a wellbore, the subsurface safety valve (SSSV) including:
a valve body including a longitudinal bore extending axially through the valve body, the longitudinal bore operable to convey subsurface production fluids there through;
a bore closure assembly disposed proximate a downhole end of the longitudinal bore;
a bore flow management actuator disposed in the longitudinal bore;
a mechanical linkage coupled to the bore flow management actuator, the mechanical linkage operable to move the bore flow management actuator between a closed state and a flow state to engage or disengage the bore closure assembly to determine a flow condition of the subsurface production fluids through the longitudinal bore;
a drive assembly coupled to the mechanical linkage; and
a clutch assembly positioned between the drive assembly and the mechanical linkage, the clutch assembly including:
an output coupler housing configured to couple to a lead screw of the 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 the drive assembly;
one or more grooves located in an inner surface of the central opening and one or more engagement members located in an outer surface of the input shaft; and
an electromagnet coupled to the output coupler housing, the electromagnet configured to magnetize the output coupler housing when the electromagnet is energized, wherein:
the one or more engagement members are configured to not engage with the one or more grooves when the electromagnet is de-energizing and thereby be in a de-coupled state and 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 electromagnet is energized and thereby be in a coupled state and rotationally fix the input shaft and the output coupler housing relative to one another; and
energizing the electromagnet to cause the one or more engagement members to engage with the one or more grooves and thereby be in the coupled state and rotationally fix the input shaft and the output coupler housing relative to one another.