Abstract: An energy storage means for a drilling rig has a source of power, an AC bus connected to the source of power, a DC bus, a load connected to the DC bus, a rectifier connected to the AC bus and to the DC bus for converting AC power from the source of power to DC power to the load, and an energy storage system connected to the DC bus. The energy storage system can be batteries, capacitors or combinations thereof. A diode is connected between the energy storage means and the DC bus so as to supply power to the load when the DC voltage is less than a DC source voltage. The energy storage system has a nominal voltage slightly lower than a voltage of a AC-to-DC conversion by the rectifier.

Abstract: A system for managing energy consumption in a heave-compensating drawworks includes a power supply, a winch drum connected to the power supply so as to receive power from the power supply, a flywheel connected to the winch drum and to the power supply, and a controller connected to the power supply and to the winch drum for passing energy to and from the flywheel during an operation of the winch drum. The flywheel includes a disk rotatably coupled to an AC motor. The power supply includes a first pair of AC motors operatively connected on one side of the winch drum and a second pair of AC motors operatively connected on an opposite side of the winch drum.

Abstract: A direct drive drawworks has a permanent magnet motor, a shaft extending from the permanent magnet motor so that the permanent magnet motor directly rotates the shaft, and a drum connected to the shaft away from the permanent magnet motor such that the rotation of the shaft causes a corresponding rotation of the drum. The permanent magnet motor has a housing, a stator positioned in the housing, and a rotor cooperative with the stator. The rotor has a drive plate affixed thereto. The shaft is directly connected to the drive plate. A bearing housing rotatably supports the shaft.

Abstract: A permanent magnet direct drive mud pump has a permanent magnet motor, a shaft connected to the permanent magnet motor, and a pump head connected to the end of the shaft opposite the permanent magnet motor. The permanent magnet motor has a housing, a stator positioned within the housing, and a rotor cooperative with the stator and positioned interior of the stator within the housing. The rotor is interconnectable with the shaft so that the rotational motion created by the permanent magnet motor can be directly imparted to the shaft and, accordingly, to the pump head without the use of a transmission.

Abstract: A system for managing energy consumption in a heave-compensating drawworks includes a power supply, a winch drum connected to the power supply so as to receive power from the power supply, a flywheel connected to the winch drum and to the power supply, and a controller connected to the power supply and to the winch drum for passing energy to and from the flywheel during an operation of the winch drum. The flywheel includes a disk rotatably coupled to an AC motor. The power supply includes a first pair of AC motors operatively connected on one side of the winch drum and a second pair of AC motors operatively connected on an opposite side of the winch drum.

Abstract: A motor apparatus has a housing, an outer stator positioned within the housing, an inner stator positioned within the housing and interior of the outer stator, a rotor positioned in the housing between the outer stator and the inner stator, a first squirrel cage affixed to an outer diameter of the rotor in spaced relationship to the outer stator, a second squirrel cage affixed to an inner diameter of the rotor in spaced relationship to the inner stator, and a shaft connected to the rotor such that the shaft rotates relative to a rotation of the inner rotor. The shaft extends outwardly of the housing. A power source is electrically connected to the outer stator and to the inner stator.

Abstract: A hybrid vehicle system having first and second internal combustion engines, first and second flywheels respectively coupled to the first and second internal combustion engines, a plurality of motorized wheels electrically interconnected to first and second flywheels, and a controller connected to the internal combustion engines and to the flywheels and to the plurality of motorized wheels for transferring energy therebetween. Each of the flywheels has permanent magnets affixed to a side of a housing thereof. Each of the flywheels is vacuum sealed within anon-ferrous housing.

Abstract: A system for managing energy consumption in a heave-compensating drawworks includes a power supply, a winch drum connected to the power supply so as to receive power from the power supply, a flywheel connected to the winch drum and to the power supply, and a controller connected to the power supply and to the winch drum for passing energy to and from the flywheel during an operation of the winch drum. The flywheel includes a disk rotatably coupled to an AC motor. The power supply includes a first pair of AC motors operatively connected on one side of the winch drum and a second pair of AC motors operatively connected on an opposite side of the winch drum.

Abstract: A low speed alternating current motor having motor shaft speeds of about 300 is provided, and such motor has application in numerous industries and devices, such as, for example, in top drive drilling systems. Because of the low shaft speed, mechanical speed reduction equipment may not be necessary. In addition, the motor shaft may be hollow to facilitate the flow of fluid, such as, for example, drilling mud.

Abstract: An energy recoverable wheel motor for attachment to an axle has a motor mount plate suitable for attachment to the axle, a rim defining an outwardly periphery of the wheel, a flywheel mounted interior of the rim and freely rotatable relative to the motor mount plate, a first rotor motor affixed to an interior surface of the flywheel so as to rotate with a rotation of the flywheel, and a second stator motor fixedly positioned relative to the first rotor motor. A second stator motor is affixed to the motor mount plate. A stator motor is fixedly positioned relative to the second stator motor. The first stator motor is affixed to one side of the vehicle mounting plate. The second rotor motor is affixed to an opposite side of the vehicle mounting plate.

Abstract: A low speed alternating current motor having motor shaft speeds of about 300 is provided, and such motor has application in numerous industries and devices, such as, for example, in top drive drilling systems. Because of the low shaft speed, mechanical speed reduction equipment may not be necessary. In addition, the motor shaft may be hollow to facilitate the flow of fluid, such as, for example, drilling mud.

Abstract: A solid state soft start controller system has a power supply, an electric motor, a thyristor electrically interconnected between the power supply and the electric motor so as to selectively allow current to pass from the power supply to the phases of the electric motor, a laser diode optically connected to the thyristor, and a controller connected to the laser diode for triggering the laser diode. Separate thyristors are connected to each phase of the polyphase electric motor. Separate laser diodes and associated light pipes connect the laser diode to the separate thyristors.

Abstract: A shaft for use on in a mud pump having a shaft portion and a hub portion integrally formed with the shaft portion. The hub portion extends radially outwardly of the shaft portion. The shaft portion and the hub portion are machined from a single steel black. The hub portion has an end face with a plurality of bolt holes formed therein. The hub portion is attached to a sheave so as to receive the drive belt of a motor.

Abstract: A control system for a polyphase AC motor having a predetermined horsepower rating is provided comprising a plurality of integrated control systems each rated at less than the hoursepower rating for the motor and having a rectifier section, an inverter section, and a controller section, and a parallel controller interfaced to each integrated control system.

Abstract: An electric motor cooling system including an electric motor with an air coolant inlet and an air coolant outlet, a first housing extending over and affixed to the electric motor with an air flow passageway therein, a first blower secured to the first housing having an outlet connected to the air coolant inlet of the electric motor, a second housing affixed to the first housing with an air flow passageway therein, a second blower affixed within the second housing so as to force air through the air flow passageway of the second housing, and a heat pipe array affixed within the air flow passageways of the first and second housings such that the heat pipe array has a bottom half within the air flow passageway of the first housing and a top half located in the air flow passageway of the second housing. The first blower is a centrifugal blower.

Abstract: An improved motor starter assembly is provided on a frame and having an external profile which matches that or is within that of a prior motor starter is disclosed. The improved motor starter assembly provides a soft start circuit within the profile. Retrofitting of prior art motor starters is accomplished by moving the power fuses and related hardware of an existing medium voltage (2.4 Kv to 7.2 Kv) and installing the new soft start circuit on the frame of the existing motor starter. The retrofitted arrangement mounts the motor fuses horizontally and the vacuum contactors vertically in an arrangement to provide enough space within the external profile to mount the soft start circuit arrangement.