Progressive cavity pump with flexible coupling

Abstract

A progressive cavity pump located in a well and driven by a downhole electrical motor. A connector locates between the drive shaft of the motor and the rotor of the pump. The connector includes a connector shaft which has a lower end restrained on a longitudinal axis. The upper end orbits with the lower end of the rotor. The connector shaft has splined ends that are received in couplings. The connector shaft flexes during the orbiting movement.

We claim:  
     
       1. In a pump assembly having a progressive cavity pump with a stator and a rotor, a motor which rotates a drive shaft for rotating the rotor in orbiting motion, an improved coupling between the motor and the pump, comprising: 
       a connector shaft having a splined rotor end and a splined drive shaft end;  
       a rotor coupling connected to the rotor for orbiting movement therewith and having an internal splined receptacle which slides over the rotor end of the connector shaft to cause the rotor end of the connector shaft to orbit in unison with the rotor;  
       a drive shaft coupling connected to the drive shaft and having an internal splined receptacle which slides over the drive shaft end of the connector shaft; and  
       a guide means for restraining the drive shaft from orbiting motion, the connector shaft having sufficient flexibility to accommodate the orbiting movement of its rotor end.  
     
     
       2. The pump assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the connector shaft is a solid steel member. 
     
     
       3. The pump assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
       a connector shaft housing which encloses the connector shaft, and wherein the guide means comprises:  
       a radial bearing mounted in the housing in engagement with the drive shaft coupling.  
     
     
       4. The pump assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
       a connector shaft housing which encloses the connector shaft, and wherein  
       the pump has a well fluid intake which is located in the connector shaft housing.  
     
     
       5. In a pump, comprising in combination: 
       a progressive cavity pump having a stator, and a rotor which rotates eccentrically;  
       a solid steel connector shaft having a splined rotor end and a splined drive shaft end;  
       a rotor coupling connected to the rotor for eccentric movement therewith and having an internal splined receptacle which slides over the rotor end of the connector shaft to cause the rotor end of the connector shaft to rotate eccentrically in unison with the rotor,  
       a motor assembly which rotates a drive shaft which has a splined end;  
       a drive shaft coupling having internal splines which slide over the drive shaft end of the connector shaft and splines which connect to the splined end of the drive shaft;  
       a connector housing which encloses the connector shaft and the couplings and which is connected between the pump and the motor assembly;  
       the connector housing having an intake port for admitting well fluid to the interior of the connector housing which flows into the pump housing; and  
       a bushing sleeve in the connector housing which rotatably engages the drive shaft coupling to prevent eccentric movement of the drive shaft coupling, the connector shaft having sufficient radial flexibility to accommodate the eccentric movement of its rotor end.  
     
     
       6. The pump according to  claim 5  wherein the motor assembly comprises: 
       an electric motor; and  
       a seal section located between the connector housing and the motor for sealing well fluid from the motor, equalizing well fluid pressure with lubricant contained in the motor and for absorbing pump thrust.  
     
     
       7. In a pump assembly having a progressive cavity pump with a stator and a rotor, a motor which rotates a drive shaft for rotating the rotor in orbiting motion, an improved coupling between the motor and the pump, comprising: 
       
         a connector shaft having a rotor end and a drive shaft end, wherein at least one of the ends is splined;  
       
       
         a rotor coupling connected to the rotor for orbiting movement therewith and having an end which mates with the rotor end of the connector shaft to orbit in unison with the rotor;  
       
       
         a drive shaft coupling connected to the drive shaft and having an end which mates with the drive shaft end of the connector shaft; and  
       
       
         a guide mounted in engagement with the drive shaft coupling for restraining the drive shaft from orbiting motion, the connector shaft having sufficient flexibility to accommodate the orbiting movement of its rotor end. 
       
     
     
       8. The pump assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein the connector shaft is a solid steel member. 
     
     
       9. The pump assembly according to  claim 7 , further comprising: 
       
         a connector shaft housing which encloses the connector shaft; and wherein the guide comprises:  
       
       
         a radial bearing mounted in the housing in engagement with the drive shaft coupling. 
       
     
     
       10. The pump assembly according to  claim 7 , further comprising: 
       
         a connector shaft housing which encloses the connector shaft; and wherein  
       
       
         the pump has a well fluid intake which is located in the connector shaft housing. 
       
     
     
       11. A pump assembly, comprising in combination: 
       
         a progressive cavity pump having a stator and a rotor which rotates eccentrically;  
       
       
         a solid steel connector shaft having a rotor end connected to the rotor for eccentric movement therewith and a splined drive shaft end containing a plurality of splines;  
       
       
         a motor assembly which rotates a drive shaft;  
       
       
         a drive shaft coupling connected to the drive shaft and having a splined end which mates in sliding engagement with the splines of the drive shaft end of the connector shaft to cause the rotor to rotate;  
       
       
         a connector housing which encloses the connector shaft and the couplings and which is connected between the pump and the motor assembly;  
       
       
         the connector housing having an intake port for admitting well fluid to the interior of the connector housing which flows into the pump; and  
       
       
         a bushing sleeve in the connector housing which rotatably engages the drive shaft coupling to prevent eccentric movement of the drive shaft coupling, the connector shaft having sufficient radial flexibility to accommodate the eccentric movement of its rotor end. 
       
     
     
       12. The pump assembly according to  claim 11  wherein the motor assembly comprises: 
       
         an electric motor; and  
       
       
         a seal section located between the connector housing and the motor for sealing well fluid from the motor, equalizing well fluid pressure with lubricant contained in the motor and for absorbing pump thrust.