US 12,454,864 B2
Clutch assembly and related systems and methods
Robert McCullough, Parkland County (CA); Adam Well, Spring, TX (US); Everett Hagar, Devon (CA); Sean O'Neill, Tomball, TX (US); and Harris Hurst, The Woodlands, TX (US)
Assigned to NTS AMEGA WEST USA, INC, Houston, TX (US)
Filed by NTS AMEGA WEST USA, INC, Houston, TX (US)
Filed on Oct. 11, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/913,490.
Application 18/913,490 is a continuation of application No. 17/977,678, filed on Oct. 31, 2022, granted, now 12,152,467.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/321,166, filed on Mar. 18, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2025/0034944 A1, Jan. 30, 2025
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. E21B 4/00 (2006.01); E21B 4/02 (2006.01); F16D 1/10 (2006.01); F16D 11/10 (2006.01)
CPC E21B 4/006 (2013.01) [E21B 4/02 (2013.01); F16D 1/10 (2013.01); F16D 11/10 (2013.01); F16D 2001/103 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for a drill string, comprising:
a clutch assembly comprising a driveshaft and a shuttle, wherein the driveshaft comprises a first coupling element, the shuttle comprises a second coupling element and is axially movable between an engaged position in which the first coupling element engages the second coupling element, and a disengaged position in which the first coupling element is disengaged from the second coupling element;
a circulation assembly comprising a tubular housing having at least one first aperture extending radially therethrough and a circulation piston received within the housing, the circulation piston having at least one second aperture extending radially therethrough, wherein the circulation piston is axially movable within the housing between a closed position in which the at least one first and second apertures are axially offset and an open position in which the at least one first and second apertures are axially aligned; and
an actuation mechanism operatively connected to the clutch assembly and the circulation assembly, the actuation mechanism selectively actuatable to move the shuttle between the engaged position and the disengaged position and the circulation piston between the closed position and the open position, wherein the actuation mechanism comprises:
a mandrel coupled between the shuttle and the circulation piston and axially movable therewith;
a biasing device that exerts a biasing force on the mandrel to maintain the shuttle in the engaged position and the circulation piston in the closed position;
a valve seat to receive a ball thereon; and
wherein, when the ball is seated on the valve seat, the mandrel overcomes the biasing force to axially move the shuttle to the disengaged position and the circulation piston to the open position.