Abstract: A drilling motor provides rotational force within a wellbore and includes a power section within the interior of a housing, a rotor positioned within the power section, and a passage within the rotor. The passage is configured to bypass a portion of the drilling mud from above the power section within the interior of the housing to below the power section within the interior of the housing, and an interior valve at a downstream end of the passage, wherein the valve includes a rupture disc configured to close the passage when the pressure from the drilling mud is less than a threshold pressure, and to rupture to open the passage and pass the drilling mud through the valve when the pressure from the drilling mud is greater than the threshold pressure.

Abstract: A drilling motor provides rotational force within a wellbore and includes a power section within the interior of a housing, a rotor positioned within the power section, and a passage within the rotor. The passage is configured to bypass a portion of the drilling mud from above the power section within the interior of the housing to below the power section within the interior of the housing, and an interior valve at a downstream end of the passage, wherein the valve includes a rupture disc configured to close the passage when the pressure from the drilling mud is less than a threshold pressure, and to rupture to open the passage and pass the drilling mud through the valve when the pressure from the drilling mud is greater than the threshold pressure.

Abstract: A drilling motor provides rotational force within a wellbore and includes a power section within the interior of the housing having sealing elastomers, a rotor positioned within the power section, and a passage within the rotor. The passage is configured to bypass a portion of the drilling mud from above the power section within the interior of the housing to below the power section within the interior of the housing, and a valve below the passage. The valve is configured to provide a closing force that closes the passage when the pressure from the pressurized drilling mud is less than a threshold pressure, and to pass drilling mud through the valve when the pressure from the pressurized drilling mud is greater than the threshold pressure.

Abstract: A flow control valve for use with a downhole motor includes a housing with at least one port and a sleeve with at least one opening. The sleeve is movable within the housing to align and offset the ports and openings. A first biasing member associated with a first portion of the sleeve and a second biasing member associated with a second portion of the sleeve bias the sleeve in a first direction, while pressure applied to the sleeve due to fluid flow moves the sleeve in an opposing second direction. Movement of the sleeve in the second direction compresses the first and second biasing members, disengages the first portion of the sleeve from the first biasing member, and aligns the openings with the ports to permit transmission of the pressure through the openings and ports.

Abstract: A flow control valve for use with a downhole motor includes a housing with at least one port and a sleeve with at least one opening. The sleeve is movable within the housing to align and offset the ports and openings. A first biasing member associated with a first portion of the sleeve and a second biasing member associated with a second portion of the sleeve bias the sleeve in a first direction, while pressure applied to the sleeve due to fluid flow moves the sleeve in an opposing second direction. Movement of the sleeve in the second direction compresses the first and second biasing members, disengages the first portion of the sleeve from the first biasing member, and aligns the openings with the ports to permit transmission of the pressure through the openings and ports.

Abstract: A downhole oil-sealed bearing pack assembly is provided for protecting bearing elements and seals. The bearing pack assembly includes a non-contact flow restrictor for reducing large differential pressures across sealing elements. The non-contact flow restrictor includes an inner restrictive element attached to a rotatable drive shaft and an outer restrictive element secured to a stationary bearing housing. The inner restrictive element can include an outwardly extending ring adjacent to a first land and the outer restrictive element can include an inwardly extending ring adjacent to a second land. During rotation of the drive shaft the inwardly and outwardly extending rings remain a distance from the second and first lands, respectively, thus permitting a fluid to traverse the rings and lands. The invention also provides a wear sleeve for increasing seal and shaft life. The wear sleeve includes a groove cut into a hollow sleeve which is secured to the rotatable driveshaft.

Abstract: A combination drill motor with measurement-while-drilling sensor apparatus includes a rotor within a stator. The rotor rotates and gyrates in response to fluid flow through the stator. An outer housing assembly having a bearing housing and a sensor housing is connected to the stator. A drive shaft is concentrically located within the bearing housing. A bearing assembly is positioned between the bearing housing and the drive shaft. A sensor cartridge assembly having a longitudinal throughbore is suspended within the sensor housing. A power transmission assembly connects the rotor to the drive shaft. The power transmission assembly includes a shaft assembly extending through the longitudinal throughbore in the sensor cartridge assembly. An annular space is formed in the longitudinal throughbore between the sensor cartridge assembly and the shaft assembly and the fluid flows through the annular space.