Lockable swivel apparatus

Abstract

A swivel apparatus includes upper and lower housings having a passage therethrough operably connected with a coupling for selective relative rotation; at least one movable piston having a first position where the housings are rotationally locked to each other and a second position where the housings are free for relative rotation; the piston is retained to the upper housing with a retainer secured within and discrete from the upper housing, and the retainer is axially spaced from a bearing assembly.

1 . A swivel apparatus, comprising:
 upper and lower housings having a passage therethrough operably connected with a coupling for selective relative rotation;   at least one movable piston having a first position where said housings are rotationally locked to each other and a second position where said housings are free for relative rotation;   wherein said piston is retained to said upper housing with a retainer secured within and discrete from said upper housing, said retainer axially spaced from a bearing assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said retainer radially disposed between said piston and said upper housing when said piston is in said second position. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said bearing assembly compnses a thrust bearing. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said upper housing is a single component. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said bearing assembly comprises radial bearings on opposed sides of a thrust bearing. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said bearing assembly compnses a larger diameter thrust bearing than a pair of adjacent radial bearings. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said bearing assembly comprises rolling element bearings. 
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said upper and lower housings comprise splines and said piston comprises spaced splines that selectively engage both splines on said upper and lower bodies for selective rotational locking of said bodies, and said splines are axially spaced from said coupling. 
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said bearing assembly comprises a thrust bearing that is disposed between a first and second pair of tapered surfaces;   said first pair of tapered surfaces disposed on said upper and lower housings and said second pair of surfaces disposed on said coupling and said lower housing; and   said bearing assembly further comprises a first spherical bearing on an opposite side of said first pair of tapered surfaces from said thrust bearing and a second spherical bearing on an opposite side of said second pair of tapered surfaces from said thrust bearing.   
     
     
         10 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said piston is movable with flow or pressure in said passage. 
     
     
         11 . The assembly of  claim 2 , wherein said bearing assembly compnses a thrust bearing. 
     
     
         12 . The assembly of  claim 11 , wherein said bearing assembly compnses radial bearings on opposed sides of said thrust bearing. 
     
     
         13 . The assembly of  claim 12 , wherein said thrust bearing comprises a larger diameter than said radial bearings. 
     
     
         14 . The assembly of  claim 13 , wherein:
 said thrust bearing is disposed between a first and second pair of tapered surfaces;   said first pair of tapered surfaces disposed on said upper and lower housings and said second pair of surfaces disposed on said coupling and said lower housing; and   said bearing assembly further comprises a floating roller bearing on an opposite side of said first pair of tapered surfaces from said thrust bearing and a spherical bearing on an opposite side of said second pair of tapered surfaces from said thrust bearing.   
     
     
         15 . The assembly of  claim 12 , wherein said radial bearings are rolling element bearings. 
     
     
         16 . The assembly of  claim 12 , wherein said upper and lower housings comprise splines and said piston comprises spaced splines that selectively engage at least one pair of splines on said upper and lower bodies for selective rotational locking of said bodies, and said splines are axially spaced from said coupling. 
     
     
         17 . The assembly of  claim 12 , wherein said upper housing is a single component. 
     
     
         18 . The assembly of  claim 12 , wherein said piston is movable with flow or pressure in said passage. 
     
     
         19 . The assembly of  claim 14 , wherein said upper and lower housings comprise splines and said piston comprises spaced splines that selectively engage both splines on said upper and lower bodies for selective rotational locking of said bodies, and said splines are axially spaced from said coupling. 
     
     
         20 . The assembly of  claim 19 , wherein said upper housing is a single component. 
     
     
         21 . The assembly of  claim 9 , wherein said first spherical bearing takes tensile thrust load. 
     
     
         22 . The assembly of  claim 14 , wherein said first pair of tapered surfaces contacting under tensile thrust loading.