US 12,421,973 B2
Spring actuated axially locking shaft coupling for bi-directional loading
David McManus, Tulsa, OK (US); Steven Andrew Lovell, Tulsa, OK (US); Casey Laine Newport, Tulsa, OK (US); and Andre Joseph Bernier, Tulsa, OK (US)
Assigned to Halliburton Energy Services, Inc., Houston, TX (US)
Filed by Halliburton Energy Services, Inc., Houston, TX (US)
Filed on Aug. 29, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/819,700.
Application 18/819,700 is a division of application No. 17/731,675, filed on Apr. 28, 2022, granted, now 12,104,613.
Prior Publication US 2024/0418176 A1, Dec. 19, 2024
Int. Cl. F04D 29/044 (2006.01); E21B 17/02 (2006.01); E21B 43/12 (2006.01); F04D 13/10 (2006.01); F04D 29/04 (2006.01); F16D 1/10 (2006.01)
CPC F04D 29/0405 (2013.01) [E21B 17/02 (2013.01); E21B 43/128 (2013.01); F04D 13/10 (2013.01); F04D 29/044 (2013.01); F16D 2001/103 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
9. A coupling assembly adapted to couple a first shaft with a second shaft, the coupling comprising:
a coupling cylindrical in shape with an outer surface and an inner surface, wherein a groove is formed radially within the inner surface of the coupling and wherein a pin port is defined by the coupling;
a plunger bore extending axially into the first shaft;
a locking key positioned in a key port disposed in the first drive shaft, wherein the key port extends radially into the plunger bore;
a plunger assembly comprising a plunger and a plunger spring;
wherein the plunger of the plunger assembly retains the locking key in the groove within the inner surface of the coupling;
a release device coupled to the pin port in the coupling and to a pin port defined in the second drive shaft; and
wherein the coupling assembly is configured to transfer tensile force from the first shaft to the second shaft via the locking key in the groove within the inner surface of the coupling and the release device in the pin port in the coupling and the pin port defined in the second drive shaft.