Importance

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Abstract

A downhole motor universal joint assembly includes a female coupler which receives a male end of a drive shaft. The female coupler has a retainer that prevents separation of the male end and the female coupler. The retainer has a rearward extending skirt with flow passages to prevent solid material from accumulating in an exposed space between the female coupler and the male coupler. Also to prevent solid material from accumulating in this space, a shoulder formed on the male coupler diverts the flow of well fluid towards the outside of the joint. Thrust loads are transmitted between the male coupler and the female coupler by a thrust ball positioned between the male coupler and the female coupler. Torque loads are transmitted between the male coupler and the female coupler by a plurality of balls positioned in annularly spaced concave pockets on the exterior surface of the male coupler. The balls move axially within grooves formed on the inside wall of the female coupler, allowing limited omnidirectional angular movement of the drive shaft and the female coupler with respect to one another. A compensating piston has seals to prevent well fluid from entering the joint. By moving axially within the space between the female and male couplers, the compensating piston equalizes the pressure within the joint and the pressure in the well fluid.

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First Claim