Heavy-duty torque coupling

Claim 2

A heavy-duty dynamic high-torque-measuring coupling unit for interconnecting a torque-load-transmitting first shaft with a lateral drive, comprising in combination a second shaft attached at one end to said first shaft for transmitting said torque load, a co-axially disposed sleeve encompassing said second shaft and being attached at one end to the other end of said second shaft, first means for dynamically measuring the amount of relative angular displacement at two locations on said coupling unit, and gear means rigidly attached to said sleeve adjacent to the other end thereof for coupling said lateral drive, a first of said two locations being upon said sleeve between said gear means and said other end of said second shaft, and the second of said two locations being upon said second shaft inwardly from said other end.

Claim 3

A unit according to claim 1, wherein said first means comprises a dynamic torque meter having a pair of rotors and stators, means for attaching a first rotor to said sleeve at said first location, menas for attaching a second rotor to said second shaft at said second location, and unitary housing means for supporting said stators.

Claim 4

A unit according to claim 2, wherein said first rotor is maintained at the same relative angular displacement as the first location upon said sleeve, and wherein said second rotor-attaching means comprises radial means for attaching said second rotor to said second shaft such that said second rotor is maintained at the same relative angular displacement as said second shaft at said second location.

Claim 5

A unit according to claim 3, wherein said sleeve has circumferential slot means to permit relative angular movement between said radial attaching means and said sleeve.

Claim 6

A unit according to claim 4, wherein said unitary housing means includes a low-friction bearing for permitting free rotation of said sleeve and second shaft relative to said unitary housing.

Claim 7

A heavy-duty dynamic torque-measuring coupling unit for interconnecting a well drilling rotary unit with a chain-drive power supply, said rotary unit having a drive shaft with a splined free end; said torque-measuring coupling unit comprising in combination: a torque shaft having an internally grooved socket at one end for mounting on said splined free end of the rotary drive shaft, and a free end; a sleeve axially encompassing a portion of said torque shaft and attached to said free end a dynamic torque meter mounted to measure the amount of relative angular displacement of said sleeve and said shaft at two locations spaced axially between said socketed shaft end and said free shaft end, having a pair of rotors and stators, wherein a first rotor is attached to a first location upon said sleeve for maintaining said first rotor and said sleeve location at the same relative angular position under all load conditions, radial spokes integrally attached to said torque shaft at an axially spaced location inward from said shaft free end and having the second rotor attached thereto for maintaining said second rotor and said shaft location at the same relative angular position at all times, said sleeve having circumferentially extending slots therein to permit said spokes to pass through with enough clearance to permit the maxiMum twist under full load without contacting said spokes, and a unitary housing for supporting said pair of stators, said housing being supported on ball bearings mounted upon said sleeve.

Claim 8

A heavy-duty dynamic torque-measuring coupling unit for interconnecting a well drilling rotary unit with a chain-drive power supply, said rotary unit having a drive shaft with a splined free end; said torque-measuring coupling unit comprising in combination: a torque shaft having an internally grooved socket at one end for mounting on said splined free end of the rotary drive shaft, and a free end; a sleeve axially encompassing a portion of said torque shaft and attached to said free end a dynamic torque meter mounted to measure the amount of relative angular displacement of said sleeve and said shaft at two locations spaced axially between said socketed shaft end and said free shaft end, having a pair of rotors and stators, wherein a first rotor is attached to a first location upon said sleeve for maintaining said first rotor and said sleeve location at the same relative angular position under all load conditions, radial spokes integrally attached to said torque shaft at an axially spaced location inward from said shaft free end and having the second rotor attached thereto for maintaining said second rotor and said shaft location at the same relative angular position at all times, said sleeve having circumferentially extending slots therein to permit said spokes to pass through with enough clearance to permit the maxiMum twist under full load without contacting said spokes, and a unitary housing for supporting said pair of stators, said housing being supported on ball bearings mounted upon said sleeve.