Downhole progressive cavity type drilling motor with flexible connecting rod

Claim 2

A downhole drilling motor, comprising: a stator of the progressive cavity type; a rotor, within the stator, wherein the rotor rotates and gyrates in response to fluid flow through the stator; a housing, connected to the stator; a bearing shaft, concentrically located within the housing, and rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the bearing shaft and the housing; a bearing between the housing and the bearing shaft; a flexible rod, extending between the rotor and the bearing shaft, for translating the rotation and gyration of the rotor to the true rotation of the bearing shaft; an upper threaded connection, nonintegral to, but connected to one end of the rod, for connecting the rod to the rotor; a lower threaded connection, nonintegral to, but connected to the other end of the rod, for connecting the rod to the bearing shaft; a cylindrical overload sub, located concentrically around the rod; and means for engaging the sub and the selected connection in a manner so as to allow the connections to rotate axially a limited amount in relation to one another.

Claim 3

A downhole drilling motor, comprising: a stator of the progressive cavity type; a rotor, within the stator, wherein the rotor rotates and gyrates in response to fluid flow through the stator; a housing, connected to the stator; a bearing shaft, concentrically located within the housing, and rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the bearing shaft and the housing; a bearing between the housing and the bearing shaft; a flexible rod, extending between the rotor and the bearing shaft, for translating the rotation and gyration of the rotor to the true rotation of the bearing shaft; an upper threaded connection, nonintegral to, but connected to the one end of the rod, for connecting the rod to the rotor; a lower threaded connection, nonintegral to, but connected to other end of the rod, for connecting the rod to the bearing shaft; a spline on a selected one of the connections; and a cylindrical overload sub, located concentrically around the rod, and having a slot on the end of the sub for engagement with the spline on the selected connection; wherein the slot on the sub is wider than the spline on the selected connection, so that the connections can rotate axially a limited amount in relation to one another.

Claim 4

A downhole drilling motor, comprising: a stator of the progressive cavity type; a rotor, within the stator, wherein the rotor rotates and gyrates in response to fluid flow through the stator; a housing, connected to the stator; a bearing shaft, concentrically located within the housing, and rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the bearing shaft and the housing; a bearing between the housing and the bearing shaft; a flexible rod, extending between the rotor and the bearing shaft, for translating the rotation and gyration of the rotor to the true rotation of the bearing shaft; an upper threaded connection, nonintegral to, but connected to the one end of the rod, for connecting the rod to the rotor; a lower threaded connection, nonintegral to, but connected to other end of the rod, for connecting the rod to the bearing shaft; a spline on a selected one of the connections; and a cylindrical overload sub, located concentrically around the rod, and having a slot on the end of the sub for engagement with the spline on the selected connection; wherein the slot on the sub is wider than the spline on the selected connection, so that the connections can rotate axially a limited amount in relation to one another.

Claim 5

A downhole drilling motor, comprising: a stator of the progressive cavity type; a rotor, within the stator, wherein the rotor rotates and gyrates in response to fluid flow through the stator; a housing, connected to the stator; a bearing shaft, concentrically located within the housing, and rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the bearing shaft and the housing; a bearing between the housing and the bearing shaft; a flexible rod, extending between the rotor and the bearing shaft, for translating the rotation and gyration of the rotor to the true rotation of the bearing shaft; an upper threaded connection, nonintegral to, but connected to one end of the rod, for connecting the rod to the rotor; a lower threaded connection, nonintegral to, but connected to the other end of the rod, for connecting the rod to the bearing shaft, wherein a selected one of the connections has a slot; a cylindrical overload sub, located concentrically around the rod; and a spline on one end of the sub, for engagement with the slot on the selected connection; wherein the slot on the selected connection is wider than the spline on the sub, so that the connections can rotate axially a limited amount in relation to one another.

Claim 6

A downhole drilling motor, comprising: a stator of the progressive cavity type; a rotor, within the stator, wherein the rotor rotates and gyrates in response to fluid flow through the stator; a housing, connected to the stator; a bearing shaft, concentrically located within the housing, and rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the bearing shaft and the housing; a bearing between the housing and the bearing shaft; a flexible rod, extending between the rotor and the bearing shaft, for translating the rotation and gyration of the rotor to the true rotation of the bearing shaft; an upper threaded connection, nonintegral to, but connected to one end of the rod, for connecting the rod to the rotor; a lower threaded connection, nonintegral to, but connected to the other end of the rod, for connecting the rod to the bearing shaft, wherein a selected one of the connections has a slot; a cylindrical overload sub, located concentrically around the rod; and a spline on one end of the sub, for engagement with the slot on the selected connection; wherein the slot on the selected connection is wider than the spline on the sub, so that the connections can rotate axially a limited amount in relation to one another.

Claim 7

A downhole drilling motor, comprising: a stator of the progressive cavity type; a rotor, within the stator, wherein the rotor rotates and gyrates in response to fluid flow through the stator; a housing, connected to the stator; a bearing shaft, concentrically located within the housing, and rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the bearing shaft and the housing; a bearing between the housing and the bearing shaft; a flexible rod, extending between the rotor and the bearing shaft, for translating the rotation and gyration of the rotor to the true rotation of the bearing shaft; an upper threaded connection, nonintegral to, but connected to one end of the rod, for connecting the rod to the rotor; a lower threaded connection, nonintegral to, but connected to the other end of the rod, for connecting the rod to the bearing shaft; a plurality of splines and slots on a selected one of the connections; a cylindrical overload sub, located concentrically around the rod; and a plurality of splines and slots on one end of the sub, for engagement with the splines on the selected connection; wherein the slots on the selected connection are wider than the splines on the sub, and the slots on the sub are wider than the splines on the selected connection, so that the connections can rotate axially a limited amount in relation to one another.

Claim 8

A downhole drilling motor, comprising: a stator of the progressive cavity type; a rotor, within the stator, wherein the rotor rotates and gyrates in response to fluid flow through the stator; a housing, connected to the stator; a bearing shaft, concentrically located within the housing, and rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the bearing shaft and the housing; a bearing between the housing and the bearing shaft; a flexible rod, extending between the rotor and the bearing shaft, for translating the rotation and gyration of the rotor to the true rotation of the bearing shaft; an upper threaded connection, nonintegral to, but connected to one end of the rod, for connecting the rod to the rotor; a lower threaded connection, nonintegral to, but connected to the other end of the rod, for connecting the rod to the bearing shaft; a plurality of splines and slots on a selected one of the connections; a cylindrical overload sub, located concentrically around the rod; and a plurality of splines and slots on one end of the sub, for engagement with the splines on the selected connection; wherein the slots on the selected connection are wider than the splines on the sub, and the slots on the sub are wider than the splines on the selected connection, so that the connections can rotate axially a limited amount in relation to one another.

Claim 9

A downhole drilling motor, comprising: a stator of the progressive cavity type; a rotor, within the stator, wherein the rotor rotates and gyrates in response to fluid flow through the stator; a housing, connected to the stator; a bearing shaft, concentrically located within the housing, and rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the bearing shaft and the housing; a bearing between the housing and the bearing shaft; a flexible rod, extending between the rotor and the bearing shaft, for translating the rotation and gyration of the rotor to the true rotation of the bearing shaft; an upper threaded connection, nonintegral to, but connected to one end of the rod, for connecting the rod to the rotor; a lower threaded connection, nonintegral to, but connected to the other end of the rod, for connecting the rod to the bearing shaft; a pair of splines, one on each of the connections; and a cylindrical overload sub, located concentrically around the rod, and having a slot on each end of the sub for engagement with the splines on the connections; wherein the slots on the sub are wider than the splines on the connections, so that the connections can rotate axially a limited amount in relation to one another.

Claim 10

A downhole drilling motor, comprising: a stator of the progressive cavity type; a rotor, within the stator, wherein the rotor rotates and gyrates in response to fluid flow through the stator; a housing, connected to the stator; a bearing shaft, concentrically located within the housing, and rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the bearing shaft and the housing; a bearing between the housing and the bearing shaft; a flexible rod, extending between the rotor and the bearing shaft, for translating the rotation and gyration of the rotor to the true rotation of the bearing shaft; an upper threaded connection, nonintegral to, but connected to one end of the rod, for connecting the rod to the rotor; a lower threaded connection, nonintegral to, but connected to the other end of the rod, for connecting the rod to the bearing shaft; a pair of splines, one on each of the connections; and a cylindrical overload sub, located concentrically around the rod, and having a slot on each end of the sub for engagement with the splines on the connections; wherein the slots on the sub are wider than the splines on the connections, so that the connections can rotate axially a limited amount in relation to one another.

Claim 11

A downhole drilling motor, comprising: a stator of the progressive cavity type; a rotor, within the stator, wherein the rotor rotates and gyrates in response to fluid flow through the stator; a housing, connected to the stator; a bearing shaft, concentrically located within the housing, and rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the bearing shaft and the housing; a bearing between the housing and the bearing shaft; a flexible rod, extending between the rotor and the bearing shaft, for translating the rotation and gyration of the rotor to the true rotation of the bearing shaft; an upper threaded connection, nonintegral to, but connected to one end of the rod, for connecting the rod to the rotor, the upper connection having a slot; a lower threaded connection, nonintegral to, but connected to the other end of the rod, for connecting the rod to the bearing shaft, the lower connection having a slot; a cylindrical overload sub, located concentrically around the rod; and a pair of splines, one on each end of the sub, for engagement with the slots on the connections; wherein the slots on the connections are wider than the splines on the sub, so that the connections can rotate axially a limited amount in relation to one another.

Claim 12

A downhole drilling motor, comprising: a stator of the progressive cavity type; a rotor, within the stator, wherein the rotor rotates and gyrates in response to fluid flow through the stator; a housing, connected to the stator; a bearing shaft, concentrically located within the housing, and rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the bearing shaft and the housing; a bearing between the housing and the bearing shaft; a flexible rod, extending between the rotor and the bearing shaft, for translating the rotation and gyration of the rotor to the true rotation of the bearing shaft; an upper threaded connection, nonintegral to, but connected to one end of the rod, for connecting the rod to the rotor, the upper connection having a slot; a lower threaded connection, nonintegral to, but connected to the other end of the rod, for connecting the rod to the bearing shaft, the lower connection having a slot; a cylindrical overload sub, located concentrically around the rod; and a pair of splines, one on each end of the sub, for engagement with the slots on the connections; wherein the slots on the connections are wider than the splines on the sub, so that the connections can rotate axially a limited amount in relation to one another.

Claim 13

A downhole drilling motor, comprising: a stator of the progressive cavity type; a rotor, within the stator, wherein the rotor rotates and gyrates in response to fluid flow through the stator; a housing, connected to the stator; a bearing shaft, concentrically located within the housing, and rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the bearing shaft and the housing; a bearing between the housing and the bearing shaft; a flexible rod, extending between the rotor and the bearing shaft, for translating the rotation and gyration of the rotor to the true rotation of the bearing shaft; an upper threshold connection, nonintegral to, but connected to one end of the rod, for connecting the rod to the rotor, the upper connection having a plurality of splines and slots; a lower threaded connection, nonintegral to, but connected to the other end of the rod, for connecting the rod to the bearing shaft, the lower connection having a plurality of splines and slots; a cylindrical overload sub, located concentrically around the rod; and a plurality of splines and slots on each end of the sub, for engagement with the splines on the connections; wherein the slots on the connections are wider than the splines on the sub, and the slots on the sub are wider than the splines on the connections, so that the connections can rotate axially a limited amount in relation to one another.

Claim 14

A downhole drilling motor, comprising: a stator of the progressive cavity type; a rotor, within the stator, wherein the rotor rotates and gyrates in response to fluid flow through the stator; a housing, connected to the stator; a bearing shaft, concentrically located within the housing, and rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the bearing shaft and the housing; a bearing between the housing and the bearing shaft; a flexible rod, extending between the rotor and the bearing shaft, for translating the rotation and gyration of the rotor to the true rotation of the bearing shaft; an upper threshold connection, nonintegral to, but connected to one end of the rod, for connecting the rod to the rotor, the upper connection having a plurality of splines and slots; a lower threaded connection, nonintegral to, but connected to the other end of the rod, for connecting the rod to the bearing shaft, the lower connection having a plurality of splines and slots; a cylindrical overload sub, located concentrically around the rod; and a plurality of splines and slots on each end of the sub, for engagement with the splines on the connections; wherein the slots on the connections are wider than the splines on the sub, and the slots on the sub are wider than the splines on the connections, so that the connections can rotate axially a limited amount in relation to one another.

Claim 15

A downhole drilling motor, comprising: a stator of the progressive cavity type; a rotor, within the stator, wherein the rotor rotates and gyrates in response to fluid flow through the stator; a housing, connected to the stator; a bearing shaft, concentrically located within the housing, and rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the bearing shaft and the housing; a bearing between the housing and the bearing shaft; a flexible rod, extending between the rotor and the bearing shaft, for translating the rotation and gyration of the rotor to the true rotation of the bearing shaft; an upper threaded connection, nonintegral to, but connected to one end of the rod, for connecting the rod to the rotor; a lower threaded connection, nonintegral to, but connected to the other end of the rod, for connecting the rod to the bearing shaft; a pair of splines, one on each of the connections; and a cylindrical overload sub, located concentrically around the rod, and having a slot on each end of the sub for engagement with the splines on the connections; wherein the slot on one end of the sub is wider than the spline which that slot engages, and the slot on the other end of the sub is the same size as the spline which that slot engages, so that the connections can rotate axially a limited amount in relation to one another.

Claim 16

A downhole drilling motor, comprising: a stator of the progressive cavity type; a rotor, within the stator, wherein the rotor rotates and gyrates in response to fluid flow through the stator; a housing, connected to the stator; a bearing shaft, concentrically located within the housing, and rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the bearing shaft and the housing; a bearing between the housing and the bearing shaft; a flexible rod, extending between the rotor and the bearing shaft, for translating the rotation and gyration of the rotor to the true rotation of the bearing shaft; an upper threaded connection, nonintegral to, but connected to one end of the rod, for connecting the rod to the rotor; a lower threaded connection, nonintegral to, but connected to the other end of the rod, for connecting the rod to the bearing shaft; a pair of splines, one on each of the connections; and a cylindrical overload sub, located concentrically around the rod, and having a slot on each end of the sub for engagement with the splines on the connections; wherein the slot on one end of the sub is wider than the spline which that slot engages, and the slot on the other end of the sub is the same size as the spline which that slot engages, so that the connections can rotate axially a limited amount in relation to one another.

Claim 17

A downhole drilling motor, comprising: a stator of the progressive cavity type; a rotor, within the stator, wherein the rotor rotates and gyrates in response to fluid flow through the stator; a housing, connected to the stator; a bearing shaft, concentrically located within the housing, and rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the bearing shaft and the housing; a bearing between the housing and the bearing shaft; a flexible rod, extending between the rotor and the bearing shaft, for translating the rotation and gyration of the rotor to the true rotation of the bearing shaft; an upper threaded connection, nonintegral to, but connected to one end of the rod, for connecting the rod to the rotor, the upper connection having a slot; a lower threaded connection, nonintegral to, but connected to the other end of the rod, for connecting the rod to the bearing shaft, the lower connection having a slot; a cylindrical overload sub, located concentrically around the rod; and a pair of splines, one on each end of the sub, for engagement with the slots on the connections; wherein the slot on one of the connections is wider than the spline which that slot engages, and the slot on the other connection is the same size as the spline which that slot engages, so that the connections can rotate axially a limited amount in relation to one another.

Claim 18

A downhole drilling motor, comprising: a stator of the progressive cavity type; a rotor, within the stator, wherein the rotor rotates and gyrates in response to fluid flow through the stator; a housing, connected to the stator; a bearing shaft, concentrically located within the housing, and rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the bearing shaft and the housing; a bearing between the housing and the bearing shaft; a flexible rod, extending between the rotor and the bearing shaft, for translating the rotation and gyration of the rotor to the true rotation of the bearing shaft; an upper threaded connection, nonintegral to, but connected to one end of the rod, for connecting the rod to the rotor, the upper connection having a slot; a lower threaded connection, nonintegral to, but connected to the other end of the rod, for connecting the rod to the bearing shaft, the lower connection having a slot; a cylindrical overload sub, located concentrically around the rod; and a pair of splines, one on each end of the sub, for engagement with the slots on the connections; wherein the slot on one of the connections is wider than the spline which that slot engages, and the slot on the other connection is the same size as the spline which that slot engages, so that the connections can rotate axially a limited amount in relation to one another.

Claim 19

A downhole drilling motor, comprising: a stator of the progressive cavity type; a rotor, within the stator, wherein the rotor rotates and gyrates in response to fluid flow through the stator; a housing, connected to the stator; a bearing shaft, concentrically located within the housing, and rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the bearing shaft and the housing; a bearing between the housing and the bearing shaft; a flexible rod, extending between the rotor and the bearing shaft, for translating the rotation and gyration of the rotor to the true rotation of the bearing shaft; an upper threaded connection, nonintegral to, but connected to one end of the rod, for connecting the rod to the rotor, the upper connection having a plurality of splines and a plurality of slots; a lower threaded connection, nonintegral to, but connected to the other end of the rod, for connecting the rod to the bearing shaft, the lower connection having a plurality of splines and a plurality of slots; a cylindrical overload sub, located concentrically around the rod; and a plurality of splines on each end of the sub, for engagement with the splines on the connections; wherein the slots on one of the connections are wider than the splines on that end of the sub, the slots on that end of the sub are wider than the splines on the connection at that end of the sub, and the splines and slots at the other end of the sub are the same size, so that the connections can rotate axially a limited amount in relation to one another.

Claim 20

A downhole drilling motor, comprising: a stator of the progressive cavity type; a rotor, within the stator, wherein the rotor rotates and gyrates in response to fluid flow through the stator; a housing, connected to the stator; a bearing shaft, concentrically located within the housing, and rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the bearing shaft and the housing; a bearing between the housing and the bearing shaft; a flexible rod, extending between the rotor and the bearing shaft, for translating the rotation and gyration of the rotor to the true rotation of the bearing shaft; an upper threaded connection, nonintegral to, but connected to one end of the rod, for connecting the rod to the rotor, the upper connection having a plurality of splines and a plurality of slots; a lower threaded connection, nonintegral to, but connected to the other end of the rod, for connecting the rod to the bearing shaft, the lower connection having a plurality of splines and a plurality of slots; a cylindrical overload sub, located concentrically around the rod; and a plurality of splines on each end of the sub, for engagement with the splines on the connections; wherein the slots on one of the connections are wider than the splines on that end of the sub, the slots on that end of the sub are wider than the splines on the connection at that end of the sub, and the splines and slots at the other end of the sub are the same size, so that the connections can rotate axially a limited amount in relation to one another.