TUBING ROTATOR

ROTATEUR DE TUBES

English Abstract

A tubing rotator includes a first annular body and a
second annular body. The second annular body is concentrically
positioned within an interior bore of the first annular body.
Gears are provided to rotate the second annular body relative
to the first annular body. The interior surface of the second
annular body is smooth and has an interior seating portion that
is tapered. A tubing hanger is provided having an exterior
surface that is smooth and has an exterior seating portion that
is tapered. The tapered exterior seating portion of the tubing
hanger engages the tapered interior seating portion of the
second annular body to form a taper lock, which couples the
tubing hanger with the second annular body solely by frictional
engagement.

Claims

7
THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY
OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A tubing rotator, comprising:
a first annular body having an interior surface defining
an interior bore;
a second annular body having a first end, a second end,
an exterior surface and an interior surface defining an
interior bore, the second annular body being concentrically
positioned within the interior bore of the first annular body,
a driven gear being mounted to the exterior surface of the
second annular body;
a driving gear engaging the driven gear to impart a force
to rotate the second annular body relative to the first annular
body;
the interior surface of the second annular body being
smooth and having an interior seating portion that is inwardly
tapered from the first end toward the second end;
a tubing hanger having a first end, a second end and an
exterior surface, the exterior surface of the tubing hanger
being smooth and having an exterior seating portion that is
tapered from the first end toward the second end, the tubing
hanger being concentrically positioned within the interior bore
of the second annular body, with the exterior seating portion
of the tubing hanger engaging the interior seating portion of
the second annular body.
2. The tubing rotator as defined in Claim 1, wherein the
driving gear is positioned in a gear chamber in the first
annular body.
3. The tubing rotator as defined in Claim 1, wherein the
driving gear is a worm gear.
4. The tubing rotator as defined in Claim 1, wherein a radial
bearing is disposed between the exterior surface of the second
annular body anal the interior surface of the first annular

8
body.
5. The tubing rotator as defined in Claim 4, wherein the
radial bearing is a bushing.
6. The tubing rotator as defined in Claim 1, wherein a
lubrication chamber in the first annular body communicates with
the driven gear.
7. The tubing rotator as defined in Claim 1, wherein a thrust
bearing is disposed between the exterior surface of the second
annular body and the interior surface of the first annular
body.
8. The tubing rotator as defined in Claim. l, wherein at least
one pressure member is provided to force the exterior seating
portion of the tubing hanger into engagement with the interior
seating portion of the second annular body.
9. The tubing rotator as defined in Claim 8, wherein at least
one inclined plane is positioned adjacent the first end of the
tubing hanger and the at least one pressure member is secured
to one of the first annular body and the second annular body,
the at least one pressure member engaging the inclined plane
to force the tubing hanger toward the second annular body,
thereby forcing the exterior seating portion of the tubing
hanger into engagement with the interior seating portion of the
second annular body.
10. The tubing rotator as defined in Claim 9, wherein a
rotating bearing is positioned at the first end of the tubing
hanger, the rotating bearing having an upper inclined plane
surface .

9
11. A tubing rotator, comprising:
a first annular body having an interior surface defining
an interior bore;
a second annular body having a first end, a second end,
an exterior surface and an interior surface defining an
interior bore, the second annular body being concentrically
positioned within the interior bore of the first annular body,
a driven gear being mounted to the exterior surface of the
second annular body;
a radial bearing is disposed between the exterior surface
of the second annular body and the interior surface of the
first annular body;
a thrust bearing is disposed between the exterior surface
of the second annular body and the interior surface of the
first annular body;
a driving gear positioned in a gear chamber in the first
annular body, the driving gear engaging the driven gear to
impart a force to rotate the second annular body relative to
the first annular body;
a lubrication chamber in the first annular body in fluid
communication with the driven gear;
the interior surface of the second annular body being
smooth and having an interior seating portion that is inwardly
tapered from the first end toward the second end;
a tubing hanger having a first end, a second end and an
exterior surface, the exterior surface of the tubing hanger
being smooth and having an exterior seating portion that is
tapered from the first end toward the second end, the tubing
hanger being concentrically positioned within the interior bore
of the second annular body, with the exterior seating portion
of the tubing hanger engaging the interior seating portion of
the second annular body.
12. The tubing rotator as defined in Claim 11, wherein the
driving gear is a worm gear.

10
13. The tubing rotator as defined in Claim 11, wherein the
radial bearing is a bushing.
14. The tubing rotator as defined in Claim 11, wherein at
least one inclined plane is positioned adjacent the first end
of the tubing hanger and at least one pressure member is
secured to one of the first annular body and the second annular
body, the at least one pressure member engaging the inclined
plane to force the tubing hanger toward the second annular
body, thereby forcing the exterior seating portion of the
tubing hanger into engagement with the interior seating portion
of the second annular body.
15. The tubing rotator as defined in Claim 12, wherein a
rotating bearing is positioned at the first end of the tubing
hanger, the rotating bearing having an upper inclined plane
surface .

11
16. A tubing rotator, comprising:
a first annular body having an interior surface defining
an interior bore;
a second annular body having a first end, a second end,
an exterior surface and an interior surface defining an
interior bore, the second annular body being concentrically
positioned within the interior bore of the first annular body,
a driven gear being mounted to the exterior surface of the
second annular body;
a bushing is disposed between the exterior surface of the
second annular body and the interior surface of the first
annular body, thereby providing a radial bearing surface;
a thrust bearing is disposed between the exterior surface
of the second annular body and the interior surface of the
first annular body;
a driving gear positioned in a gear chamber in the first
annular body, the driving gear being a worm gear that engages
the driven gear to impart a force to rotate the second annular
body relative to the first annular body;
a lubrication chamber in the first annular body in fluid
communication with the driven gear;
the interior surface of the second annular body being
smooth and having an interior seating portion that is inwardly
tapered from the first end toward the second end;
a tubing hanger having a first end, a second end and an
exterior surface, the exterior surface of the tubing hanger
being smooth and having an exterior seating portion that is
tapered from the first end toward the second end, the tubing
hanger being concentrically positioned within the interior bore
of the second annular body, with the exterior seating portion
of the tubing hanger engaging the interior seating portion of
the second annular body; and
a rotating bearing with an upper incline plane surface
being positioned at the first end of the tubing hanger and
several pressure members being secured to the first annular
body, the pressure members engaging the upper inclined plane

12
surface to force the tubing hanger toward the second annular
body, thereby forcing the exterior seating portion of the
tubing hanger into engagement with the interior seating portion
of the second annular body.

13
17. A tubing rotator, comprising:
a first annular body having an interior surface defining
an interior bore;
a second annular body having a first end, a second end,
an exterior surface and an interior surface defining an
interior bore, the second annular body being concentrically
positioned within the interior bore of the first annular body;
a gear assembly for rotating the second annular body
relative to the first annular body;
the interior surface of the second annular body being
smooth and having an interior seating portion that is inwardly
tapered from the first end toward the second end;
a tubing hanger having a first end, a second end and an
exterior surface, the exterior surface of the tubing hanger
being smooth and having an exterior seating portion that is
tapered from the first end toward the second end, the tubing
hanger being concentrically positioned within the interior bore
of the second annular body, with the exterior seating portion
of the tubing hanger engaging the interior seating portion of
the second annular body to form a taper lock which couples the
tubing hanger with the second annular body solely by frictional
engagement.

Description

CA 02278059 1999-07-19
1
TITLE OF THE INVENTION:
Tubing rotator
NAMES) OF INVENTOR(S):
Michael Wawrzynowski
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a tubing rotator, and
particularly, a tubing rotator for use with tubing suspended
in a well from a tubing hanger.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Fluids may be supplied into a well or withdrawn from a
well by means of tubing. Normally, tubing is suspended in a
well from a tubing hanger. During the course of time, the
tubing in the well tends to wear unevenly, with the consequence
that weak spots are created within the sidewall of the tubing.
Worn or weakened tubing must then be withdrawn from the well
to effect replacement or repairs, resulting in downtime and
loss of productivity from the well. To counter the development
of uneven wear of the tubing, tubing rotators have been
developed which ;slowly rotate the tubing.
Tubing rotators presently in use employ an interlocking
engagement in the form of either keys or splines. Misalignment
can damage the splines or similar interlocking engagement.
Consequently, great effort and care are required to properly
install existing tubing rotators to ensure proper alignment.
3 0 SUL~IARY OF THE INVENTION
What is required is a tubing rotator that can be rapidly
installed and removed without risk of damage due to
misalignment.
According to the present invention there is provided a
tubing rotator which includes a first annular body and a second
annular body. The first annular body has an interior surface

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def fining an inter_ for bore . The second annular body has a f first
end, a second end, an exterior surface and an interior surface
defining an interior bore. The second annular body is
concentrically positioned within the interior bore of the first
annular body. A driven gear is mounted to the exterior surface
of the second annular body. A driving gear engages the driven
gear to impart a force to rotate the second annular body
relative to the first annular body. The interior surface of
the second annular body is smooth and has an interior seating
portion that is inwardly tapered from the first end toward the
second end. A tubing hanger is provided having a first end,
a second end and an exterior surface. The exterior surface of
the tubing hanger. is smooth and has an exterior seating portion
that is tapered i:rom the first end toward the second end. The
tubing hanger is concentrically positioned within the interior
bore of the second annular body, with the exterior seating
portion of the 'tubing hanger engaging the interior seating
portion of the second annular body.
The tubing rotator, as described above, relies solely upon
a tapered locking engagement between the exterior seating
portion of the tubing hanger and the interior seating portion
of the second annular body. The system is self aligning.
Once the teachings of the present invention are
understood, there are variations that can be made in terms of
gear and bearing configurations. A preferred embodiment will
hereinafter be described that discloses preferred gear and
bearing conf igur<~tions .
Although beneficial results may be obtained through the
use of the tubing rotator as described above, there may be some
applications in which it is undesirable to rely solely upon the
weight of the underlying tubing to force the exterior seating
portion of the tubing hanger into engagement with the interior
seating portion of the second annular body. In such
applications one or more pressure members can be used to exert

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a seating force. One configuration that will hereinafter be
further describE~d, has several inclined planes positioned
adjacent the first end of the tubing hanger. Several pressure
members are secured to either the first annular body or the
second annular body. The pressure members engage the inclined
plane to force the tubing hanger toward the second annular
body. This forces the exterior seating portion of the tubing
hanger into engagement with the interior seating portion of the
second annular body.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other features of the invention will become more
apparent from the following description in which reference is
made to the appended drawings, wherein:
FIGURE 1 is a side elevation view, in section, of a tubing
rotator constructed in accordance with the teachings of the
present invention.
FIGURE 2 is a top plan view, in section, of the tubing
rotator illustrated in FIGURE 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The preferred embodiment, a tubing rotator generally
identified by reference numeral 10, will now be described with
reference to FIGURES 1 and 2.
Referring to FIGURE 1, tubing rotator 10 includes a first
annular body 12 <~nd a second annular body 14. Tubing rotator
10 has a first end 11 and a second end 13. First annular body
12 has an interior surface 16 defining an interior bore 18.
Second annular body 14 has a first end 20, a second end 22, an
exterior surface 24 and an interior surface 26 defining an
interior bore 28. Second annular body 14 is concentrically
positioned within interior bore 18 of first annular body 12.
Referring to FIGURE 2, a driven gear 30 is mounted to exterior
surface 24 of second annular body 14. Referring to FIGURE 1,

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a bushing 32 is disposed between exterior surface 24 of second
annular body 14 and interior surface 16 of first annular body
12, thereby providing a radial bearing surface. A thrust
bearing 36 is disposed between exterior surface 24 of second
annular body 14 and interior surface 16 of first annular body
12 .
Referring to FIGURE 2, a driving gear 38 is positioned in
a gear chamber 40 in first annular body 12. Gear chamber 40
extends angular7Ly from an exterior surface 80 into first
annular body 12. An interior surface 82 of gear chamber 40
intersects with interior surface 16 of first annular body 12
to create an opening 84. A remote end 86 of gear chamber 40
extends past opening 84. Driving gear 38 is a worm gear that
has a connection end 88, a remote end 90, and an exterior
surface 92. Connection end 88 is intended to be connected to
a motor or a hand crank by means of which driving gear 38 is
rotated. Exterior surface 92 of driving gear 38 has a threaded
portion 94 that engages driven gear 30 through opening 84.
Rotation of driving gear 38 imparts a force on driven gear 30
to rotate second annular body 14 relative to first annular body
12. Driving gear- 38 is rotatably mounted with bearings 95 and
has a seal assembly 96 to prevent leakage of lubricant from
gear chamber 40 past connection end 88. A lubrication chamber
42 in first annular body 12 is in fluid communication with
driven gear 30, so that driven gear 30 is continuously
lubricated as it rotates.
Referring to FIGURE l, interior surface 26 of second
annular body 14 is smooth and has an interior seating portion
44 that is inwardly tapered from first end 20 toward second end
22. A tubing hanger 46 is provided that has a first end 48,
a second end 50 and an exterior surface 52. Exterior surface
52 of tubing hanger 46 is smooth and has an exterior seating
portion 54 that i.s tapered from first end 48 toward second end
50. Tubing hanger 46 is concentrically positioned within
interior bore 28 of second annular body 14, with exterior

CA 02278059 1999-07-19
seating portion 54 of tubing hanger 46 engaging interior
seating portion 44 of second annular body 14. A rotating
bearing 100 over7_ies a circumferential shoulder 102 on exterior
surface 52 of hanger 46. A bushing 104 is disposed between
5 exterior surface tubing hanger 46 and rotating bearing 100,
thereby providing a radial bearing surface. A locking sleeve
106 and a top plate 108 close first end 11 of tubing rotator
between a first end 62 of first annular body 12 and first
end 48 of tubing hanger 46. Rotating bearing 100 has an upper
10 inclined plane ~;urface 56. Several pressure members in the
form of anchor bolts 58 are secured to first annular body 12.
Anchor bolts 58 engage upper inclined plane surface 56 on
rotating bearing 100. This forces tubing hanger 46 toward
second annular body 14, thereby forcing exterior seating
portion 54 of tubing hanger 46 into engagement with interior
seating portion 44 of second annular body 14, while
accommodating relative rotational movement.
Referring t:o FIGURE 1, first annular body 12 has a
peripheral flange 60 at a first end 62 through which are bored
a plurality of axial bolt receiving holes 64 and a plurality
of radial cavities 66. An interior surface 68 of each radial
cavity 66 is threaded so as to matingly engage a threaded
portion 70 of anchor bolts 70. A peripheral collar 72 is at
a second end 63 of first annular body 12. Peripheral collar
72 has a first end 74 and a second end 76. A plurality of
threaded axial bolt receiving cavities 78 extends from second
end 76 toward first end 74 of peripheral collar 72. A series
of seals 110 and seals 112 are provided to maintain contain
pressure.
First end 6~? of first annular body 12 and first end 48 of
tubing hanger 46,, together with the outer surfaces of locking
sleeve 106 and t.op plate 108 are substantially coplanar and
form first end 11 of tubing rotator 10. Second end 63 of first
annular body 12, second end 22 of second annular body 14, and
second end 50 of tubing hanger 46 are substantially coplanar

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and form second end 13 of tubing rotator 10.
The use and operation of tubing rotator 10 will now be
described with :reference to FIGURES 1 and 2. In order to
remove tubing hanger 46, anchor bolts 58 are retracted and
locking sleeve 106 as well as top plate 108 are removed. V~Ihen
tubing hanger 46 is reinstalled after maintenance is performed,
tubing hanger 46 is concentrically positioned within interior
bore 28 of second annular body 14, with exterior seating
portion 54 of tubing hanger 46 engaging interior seating
portion 44 of second annular body 14. Tubing hanger 46 need
not be placed in any particular orientation, as the tapered
locking engagement between exterior seating portion 54 and
interior seating portion 44 is substantially self aligning.
Anchor bolts 58 are then used to exert pressure to bring
exterior seating portion 54 of tubing hanger 46 into tighter
engagement with :interior seating portion 44 of second annular
body 14. A motor or hand crank (not shown) imparts a
rotational force to driving gear 38, which acts upon driven
gear 30 positioned on exterior surface 24 of second annular
body 14 to rotate second annular body 14. Anchor bolts 58
engage inclined ;plane surfaces 56 on bearing race 100. This
enables pressure to be applied notwithstanding rotation of
second annular body 14 along with tubing hanger 46.
It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that
modifications may be made to the illustrated embodiment without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as
hereinafter defined in the Claims.

Representative Drawing