Adjustable bent housing

Abstract

An adjustable bent housing ( 10 ) includes a first tubular body ( 12 ) and a second tubular body ( 14 ). The second tubular body ( 14 ) telescopically extends into the first tubular body ( 12 ) and is maintained in relative axial position by a threaded engagement ( 30 & 22 ). A locking sleeve ( 44 ) is provided to maintain the relative rotational position of the first tubular body ( 12 ) and the second tubular body ( 14 ). The locking sleeve ( 44 ) is non-rotatably coupled with and slidably movable the second tubular body ( 14 ) between a locking position and an adjusting position. A locking nut ( 48 ) is movable on the external surface ( 24 ) of the second tubular body ( 14 ) selectively clamps the locking sleeve ( 44 ) in the locking position. This adjustable bent housing ( 10 ) accommodates larger diameter drive shafts, while allowing adjustment to take place without changing the overall length of the housing.

1 . An adjustable bent housing ( 10 ), comprising: 
 a first tubular body ( 12 ) having an internal surface ( 16 ) defining a first portion ( 18 ) of an interior bore ( 20 ) and internal threads ( 22 ) in the internal surface ( 16 ) at one end;    a second tubular body ( 14 ) having an external surface ( 24 ), an internal surface ( 26 ) defining a second portion ( 28 ) of the interior bore ( 20 ) and first external threads ( 30 ) on the external surface ( 24 ) at one end and second external threads ( 32 ) on the external surface ( 24 ) spaced from the first external threads ( 30 ), the one end of the second tubular body ( 14 ) being adapted to telescopically extend into the one end of the first tubular body ( 12 ) with the first external threads ( 30 ) engaging the internal threads ( 22 );    means being provided to create a first axial deviation ( 34 ) in the first tubular body ( 12 ) and means being provided to create a second axial deviation ( 36 ) in the second tubular body ( 14 ), such that by relative rotation of the first tubular body ( 12 ) and the second tubular body ( 14 ) the first axial deviation ( 34 ) and the second axial deviation ( 36 ) can be either offset, made cumulative or set at an angular range between the offset and cumulative rotational positions;    a locking sleeve ( 44 ) non-rotatably coupled with and slidably movable along the exterior surface ( 24 ) of the second tubular body ( 14 ) between a locking position and an adjusting position, the locking sleeve ( 44 ) having an engagement face ( 46 ), in the locking position the engagement face ( 46 ) of the locking sleeve ( 44 ) engages the one end of the first tubular body ( 12 ) thereby preventing relative rotation of the first tubular body ( 12 ) and the second tubular body ( 14 ), in the adjusting position the locking sleeve ( 44 ) is spaced from the one end of the first tubular body ( 12 ), thereby permitting relative rotation of the first tubular body ( 12 ) and the second tubular body ( 14 ) to occur; and    a locking nut ( 48 ) being movable along the second external threads ( 32 ) on the external surface ( 24 ) of the second tubular body ( 14 ) to selectively clamp the locking sleeve ( 44 ) in the locking position, an engagement ( 50 ) being provided between the locking nut ( 48 ) and the locking sleeve ( 44 ), so that the locking nut ( 48 ) is used to pull the locking sleeve ( 44 ) from the locking position to the adjusting position.    
   
   
       2 . The adjustable bent housing as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the locking sleeve ( 44 ) is non-rotatably secured to the external surface ( 24 ) of the second tubular body ( 14 ) by at least one key ( 54 ).  
   
   
       3 . The adjustable bent housing as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the locking sleeve ( 44 ) is non-rotatably secured to the external surface ( 24 ) of the second tubular body by a splined arrangement ( 55 ).  
   
   
       4 . The adjustable bent housing as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the engagement is a retaining ring ( 50 ).  
   
   
       5 . The adjustable bent housing as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the engagement is a plurality of flexible fingers ( 51 ).  
   
   
       6 . The adjustable bent housing as defined in  claim 1 , wherein a seal ( 52 ) is positioned at the one end of the second tubular body ( 14 ) between the internal surface ( 16 ) of the first tubular body ( 12 ) and the external surface ( 24 ) of the second tubular body ( 14 ) to prevent drilling fluids passing along the interior bore ( 20 ) from getting into the first external threads ( 30 ).  
   
   
       7 . The adjustable bent housing as defined in  claim 1 , wherein an interlocking engagement ( 56 ) is provided between the engagement face ( 46 ) of the locking sleeve ( 44 ) and the one end of the first tubular body ( 12 ).  
   
   
       8 . The adjustable bent housing as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the engagement is a plurality of balls ( 53 ) contained within corresponding grooves ( 55 / 57 ) in the locking sleeve ( 44 ) and the locking nut ( 48 ).  
   
   
       9 . The adjustable bent housing as defined in  claim 7 , wherein the interlocking engagement ( 56 ) is in the form of teeth ( 58 ).  
   
   
       10 . The adjustable bent housing as defined in  claim 7 , wherein the interlocking engagement ( 56 ) is in the form of pins ( 59 ).  
   
   
       11 . The adjustable bent housing as defined in  claim 1 , wherein a seal ( 60 ) is positioned between an internal face ( 62 ) at a remote end of the locking nut ( 48 ) and the second tubular body ( 14 ) to prevent drilling fluids passing along the second tubular body ( 14 ) from getting into the second external threads ( 32 ).  
   
   
       12 . The adjustable bent housing as defined in  claim 1 , wherein changes in external diameter are curved to accommodate limited flexing and provide stress relief.  
   
   
       13 . The adjustable bent housing as defined in  claim 1 , wherein changes in internal diameter are curved to accommodate limited flexing and provide stress relief.  
   
   
       14 . The adjustable bent housing as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the means provided to create the first axial deviation ( 34 ) includes at least one of: machining the first tubular body ( 12 ) to create an inherent deviation or machining the internal threads ( 22 ) with an inherent deviation or machining the one end of the first tubular body ( 12 ) with an inherent deviation.  
   
   
       15 . The adjustable bent housing as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the means provided to create the second axial deviation ( 36 ) includes at least one of: machining the second tubular body ( 14 ) to create an inherent deviation or machining the first external threads ( 30 ) with an inherent deviation or machining the engagement face ( 46 ) on the locking sleeve ( 44 ) with an inherent deviation.