Abstract: There is disclosed herein a clutch-brake unit having a clutch disc pack and a separate brake disc pack which are designed for selective actuation by a single piston arrangement to transmit rotational driving forces from an input shaft to an output shaft via the clutch disc pack and to brake rotation of the ouput shaft via the brake disc pack as desired. An integral oil pump is provided on the input shaft and cooperates with portions of the housing to provide a high volume centrifugal pumping action to continuously circulate oil through passages provided in the housing, input shaft, output shaft and across the clutch and brake disc pads so as to cool them. In one embodiment, the integral oil pump includes a pump chamber separate from the central cavity formed by the housing and also working chambers for the clutch and brake disc packs are separated from the central cavity by annular inner housings.

Abstract: An inching drive unit for a brake unit, clutch/brake unit, or the like, the unit having a housing and a main rotatable member operably associated with a first portion of the housing, the inching drive unit comprising an inching motor having a drive shaft, a second portion of the housing secured to the inching motor into which the inching motor drive shaft extends, a first gear mechanism disposed at least in part within the inching drive portion of the housing and operably associated with the inching motor drive shaft, a second rotatable member mechanism operably associated with the main rotatable member, and a mechanism for selectively engaging the first gear mechanism with the second rotatable member mechanism wherein engagement of the first gear mechanism with the second rotatable member mechanism permits the inching motor to drive the input shaft of the clutch/brake unit.

Abstract: The downhole pumping member is reciprocated upwardly by pressurizing the column of oil using an above ground pressure actuator. When this occurs, the pumping member draws a charge of oil from the well. Next the column of oil is depressurized, allowing the pumping member to fall under gravity, which in turn forces the charge of oil upwardly toward the surface. The above ground actuator is hydraulically operated using a hydraulic fluid which is maintained separated from the production oil being pumped.

Abstract: A motor drive system comprising an electric motor having a first drive shaft moveable axially in response to commencement or cessation of operation of the motor and an oil shear clutch operably associated with said motor and having a second drive shaft extending therefrom, the clutch engaging the first and second drive shafts in response to axial movement of the first drive shaft at commencement of operation of the motor and disengaging the first and second drive shafts in response to axial movement of said first drive shaft at cessation of operation of said motor.

Abstract: A system for modifying the operation of an oil submerged clutch/brake unit comprising at least one accessory adapted to be capable of integration with the unit and at least one station on the unit including an arrangement for mounting the accessory to the housing with access by the accessory to at least communicate with the interior of the housing, wherein the accessory is adapted to be capable of modifying the operation of the clutch/brake unit. The accessories may include an inching drive, a reversing drive, and other accessories.

Abstract: There is disclosed herein a brake unit of the oil shear type which is specifically designed for use in controlling the drawworks of drilling rigs or the like. The drawworks brake unit comprises an input shaft driven by the drawworks which operates to drive a gear pump for circulating high volumes of oil under pressure over interposed brake discs and plates and through adjacent restricted orifices during a first direction of rotation such as during lowering of the pipe stands so as to both cool and lubricate the discs and plates. During an opposite rotation of the input shaft, such as during raising of the pipe stands, an alternate flowpath is provided by-passing the restricted orifices so as to reduce the drag placed on the drawworks during raising of the pipe stands. During the first direction of rotation or lowering, the gear pump also operates to provide self-actuating overspeed safety protection as well.

Abstract: An inching drive for a clutch/brake unit, the unit having a main housing and an input shaft and an output shaft operably associated with said main housing, the inching drive comprising an inching motor having a drive shaft, a housing secured to the inching motor into which the inching motor drive shaft extends, a first gear mechanism disposed at least in part within the inching drive housing and operably associated with the inching motor drive shaft, a second gear mechanism operably associated with the input shaft of the clutch/brake unit, and a mechanism for selectively engaging said first gear mechanism with said second gear mechanism wherein engagement of the first gear mechanism with the second gear mechanism permits the inching motor to drive the input shaft of the clutch/brake unit.

Abstract: An improved clutch and brake unit in combination with a rotatable flywheel, the clutch and brake unit having a housing assembly forming a reservoir chamber around a portion of the drive shaft of a machine and surrounding the clutch and brake unit which permit the housing assembly, clutch and brake unit, and shaft to be removably secured as one unit to the rotatable flywheel. A universal coupling is also disclosed, used in combination with an output shaft of a drive assembly and an extension shaft of a driven assembly, comprising radially outwardly extending flanges at the adjacent ends of each shaft, a mating boss on one shaft matable into a recess in the other shaft to dispose the shafts such that the flanges are adjacent one another, a key inserted in a transversely disposed keyway disposed in part within each shaft, a retainer to hold the shafts together at the flanges and retain the key and securement to secure the retainer to the shafts.

Abstract: A reversing drive unit used in association with a clutch/brake unit and a motor driven in only one direction comprising a first shaft, a housing around at least a portion of the shaft with a second shaft extending from a position interior the housing to a position exterior of the housing, a gear disposed at the end of the second shaft engageable with one or the other of a first and second annular gears disposed on and coaxially encircling the axis of the first shaft, and a mechanism to engage one or the other of the annular gears, with the second shaft gear moving the gears between a first position for affecting engagement of the first annular gear with the second shaft gear to provide relative rotation between the second shaft and the first shaft in one direction and a second position for affecting engagement of the second annular gear with the second shaft gear to provide relative rotation between the second shaft and the first shaft in a second direction opposite to said first direction.

Abstract: An improved clutch and brake unit in combination with a rotatable flywheel, the clutch and brake unit having a housing assembly forming a reservoir chamber around a portion of the drive shaft of a machine and surrounding the clutch and brake unit which permit the housing assembly, clutch and brake unit, and shaft to be removably secured as one unit to the rotatable flywheel. A universal coupling is also disclosed, used in combination with an output shaft of a drive assembly and an extension shaft of a driven assembly, comprising radially outwardly extending flanges at the adjacent ends of each shaft, a mating boss on one shaft matable into a recess in the other shaft to dispose the shafts such that the flanges are adjacent one another, a key inserted in a transversely disposed keyway disposed in part within each shaft, a retainer to hold the shafts together at the flanges and retain the key and securement to secure the retainer to the shafts.

Abstract: There is disclosed herein a brake unit of the oil shear type which is specifically designed for use in controlling the drawworks of drilling rigs or the like. The drawworks brake unit comprises an input shaft driven by the drawworks which operates to drive a gear pump for circulating high volumes of oil under pressure over interposed brake discs and plates and through adjacent restricted orifices during a first direction of rotation such as during lowering of the pipe stands so as to both cool and lubricate the discs and plates. During an opposite rotation of the input shaft, such as during raising of the pipe stands, an alternate flowpath is provided by-passing the restricted orifices so as to reduce the drag placed on the drawworks during raising of the pipe stands. During the first direction of rotation or lowering, the gear pump also operates to provide self-actuating overspeed safety protection as well.

Abstract: A clutch/brake unit with a modular heat exchanger apparatus, the apparatus including a heat exchanger, oil flow control to the heat exchanger, low oil temperature and high oil temperature sensors associated with a control mechanism for starting and stopping the flow of cooling fluid through the heat exchanger, and an over temperature oil sensor associated with a control to stop the clutch/brake unit if the oil temperature is too high for proper utilization of the unit. The clutch/brake unit also includes a flywheel brake which can be readily pneumatically controlled, having a modular control mechanism.

Abstract: A drive system particularly suited for use in conjunction with a grinding mill is disclosed herein with a hydraulically actuated clutch of the oil shear type for transmission of driving forces to the grinding mill. A control system is also provided for selectively controlling the drive system and is operative to automatically accelerate the grinding mill up to full operating speed, to establish and maintain synchronization between multiple drive trains, and to provide a variety of operational modes including an inching capability, reduced speed operation, pendulum damping capability, and overload protection.

Abstract: An improved heavy duty motor clutch drive system is disclosed which includes a motor adapted to be drivingly connected to apparatus to be driven by means of a clutch unit of the oil shear type which may be selectively actuated by application of fluid pressure. Improved electrically actuated control valve means are provided for controlling the application of actuating fluid pressure to the clutch unit and includes associated control circuitry for operating the control valve so as to accelerate the driven apparatus in a predetermined manner. Additionally, in some applications a plurality of such drive systems may be utilized to drive a common apparatus in which case the clutch actuating controls may be interconnected so as to provide progressive predetermined delay actuation of the various clutch units.

Abstract: A clutch unit especially adapted for accurately controlling the transmission of high rotary forces with minimum residual drag. A servo control valve supplied with hydraulic fluid by a pump controls a first stage fluid amplifier supplied by a separate pump, this amplifier in turn controlling a second stage amplifier supplied by a third pump. The second stage amplifier supplies main and auxiliary inlet ports of the clutch unit. The oil shear type clutch has a plurality of interleaved plates and discs. Separate piston and cylinder means is provided for actuating the plates for each clutch disc by means of the main fluid supply, the pressure of which is varied in accordance with input signals to the servo control valve. The auxiliary supply to the clutch acts both to retract the piston and cylinder means, thus separating the plates and discs with a minimum of residual drag, and as a cooling medium.