Abstract: An assembly for use in a wellbore can include a drill string having an outer housing and a thrust bearing sleeve positioned within the outer housing of the drill string. The assembly can also include a stationary thrust bearing positioned within the thrust bearing sleeve and coaxially around a mandrel extending through a longitudinal length of the thrust bearing sleeve. The assembly can further include an interlocking component including a first end coupled to the stationary thrust bearing and a second end positioned in a recessed portion of a housing of the drill string for preventing the stationary thrust bearing from rotating about a central axis of the mandrel, and for allowing the stationary thrust bearing to rotate about one or more axes perpendicular to the central axis. The assembly can include a flexible member for opposing a rotational force applied to the stationary thrust bearing by another thrust bearing.

Abstract: A driveshaft transmission assembly may include a catch assembly having a catch mechanism and pressure plugs. The catch assembly may prevent the loss of certain driveshaft transmission assembly components downhole in the event of a failure of the driveshaft transmission due to dynamic loads produced during operation in a drilling system. The catch mechanism may be coupled to a radial bearing assembly by the pressure plugs. The pressure plugs may secure the catch mechanism to the radial bearing assembly during operation of the driveshaft transmission assembly using a normal force created by a pressure differential between downhole pressure external to the catch mechanism and ambient pressure sealed in the recesses of the radial bearing assembly.

Abstract: An assembly usable with a bottom hole assembly in a wellbore can include a fixed housing member coupleable to a bent housing member at a housing coupling location. The bent housing member can rotate relative to the fixed housing member and can include an offset opening for receiving a drive shaft. The assembly can include an RFID tag positioned on a piston that is slideably positioned within the fixed housing member. An RFID reader can be positioned on the fixed housing member for detecting the RFID tag in response to the RFID tag being in a detectable range of the RFID reader. The RFID reader can also be for transmitting information about the RFID tag for controlling a motor to rotate and position the drive shaft at a selected angular position.

Abstract: A driveshaft transmission assembly may include a catch assembly. The catch assembly may prevent the loss of certain driveshaft transmission assembly components downhole in the event of a failure of the driveshaft transmission due to dynamic loads produced during operation of a drilling system. The catch assembly may be coupled to a first radial bearing assembly using locking devices. The driveshaft transmission assembly may also include a second radial bearing assembly interlockably coupled to a thrust bearing and a bearing housing.

Abstract: An assembly usable with a bottom hole assembly in a wellbore can include a fixed housing member coupleable to a bent housing member at a housing coupling location. The bent housing member can rotate relative to the fixed housing member and can include an offset opening for receiving a drive shaft. The assembly can include an RFID tag positioned on a piston that is slideably positioned within the fixed housing member. An RFID reader can be positioned on the fixed housing member for detecting the RFID tag in response to the RFID tag being in a detectable range of the RFID reader. The RFID reader can also be for transmitting information about the RFID tag for controlling a motor to rotate and position the drive shaft at a selected angular position.

Abstract: An assembly for use in a wellbore can include a drill string having an outer housing and a thrust bearing sleeve positioned within the outer housing of the drill string. The assembly can also include a stationary thrust bearing positioned within the thrust bearing sleeve and coaxially around a mandrel extending through a longitudinal length of the thrust bearing sleeve. The assembly can further include an interlocking component including a first end coupled to the stationary thrust bearing and a second end positioned in a recessed portion of a housing of the drill string for preventing the stationary thrust bearing from rotating about a central axis of the mandrel, and for allowing the stationary thrust bearing to rotate about one or more axes perpendicular to the central axis. The assembly can include a flexible member for opposing a rotational force applied to the stationary thrust bearing by another thrust bearing.

Abstract: A driveshaft transmission assembly may include a catch assembly having a catch mechanism and pressure plugs. The catch assembly may prevent the loss of certain driveshaft transmission assembly components downhole in the event of a failure of the driveshaft transmission due to dynamic loads produced during operation in a drilling system. The catch mechanism may be coupled to a radial bearing assembly by the pressure plugs. The pressure plugs may secure the catch mechanism to the radial bearing assembly during operation of the driveshaft transmission assembly using a normal force created by a pressure differential between downhole pressure external to the catch mechanism and ambient pressure sealed in the recesses of the radial bearing assembly.

Abstract: A clamping assembly may include a split-ring device and bearing for coupling to a driveshaft. The split-ring device may comprise split-ring shells having protrusions on an interior radial surface for positioning in grooves adjacent to radial protrusions on the driveshaft. In some aspects, the split-ring shells may include tabs corresponding to cavities on a first bearing for coupling the split-ring shell to the first bearing. In other aspects, the split-ring shells may be sized to create one or more gaps when positioned on the driveshaft. The first bearing may include one or more corresponding tabs for positioning in the one or more gaps created by the split-ring shells. A second bearing may be threadably coupled to the first bearing to suppress the axial and rotational movement of the clamping assembly separate from the driveshaft.

Abstract: A system may include a bearing cylinder that has a bored hole for receiving a drive shaft. The bored hole can correspond to an eccentric inner diameter of the bearing cylinder. A radio frequency identification (RFID) tag may be positioned on a piston that may be slideably coupled to a housing of a bottom hole assembly. A motor may be positioned within the housing of the bottom hole assembly to rotate the bearing cylinder and position the drive shaft at a bend angle. An RFID reader may be coupled to the housing of the bottom hole assembly to detect the RFID tag in response to the RFID tag being in a detectable range of the RFID reader and to transmit information about the RFID tag to control the motor.

Abstract: A retention apparatus can be used for a driveshaft transmission assembly. The retention apparatus may include a catch mechanism and a resilient member. The retention apparatus may be mounted to a radial bearing assembly of a driveshaft transmission assembly. The catch mechanism of the retention apparatus may be sized to prevent the loss of certain driveshaft transmission assembly components downhole in the event of a failure of the driveshaft transmission due to dynamic loads produced during operation in a drilling system.

Abstract: A clamping assembly may include a split-ring device and bearing for coupling to a driveshaft. The split-ring device may comprise split-ring shells having protrusions on an interior radial surface for positioning in grooves adjacent to radial protrusions on the driveshaft. In some aspects, the split-ring shells may include tabs corresponding to cavities on a first bearing for coupling the split-ring shell to the first bearing. In other aspects, the split-ring shells may be sized to create one or more gaps when positioned on the driveshaft. The first bearing may include one or more corresponding tabs for positioning in the one or more gaps created by the split-ring shells. A second bearing may be threadably coupled to the first bearing to suppress the axial and rotational movement of the clamping assembly separate from the driveshaft.

Abstract: A system may include a bearing cylinder that has a bored hole for receiving a drive shaft. The bored hole can correspond to an eccentric inner diameter of the bearing cylinder. A radio frequency identification (RFID) tag may be positioned on a piston that may be slideably coupled to a housing of a bottom hole assembly. A motor may be positioned within the housing of the bottom hole assembly to rotate the bearing cylinder and position the drive shaft at a bend angle. An RFID reader may be coupled to the housing of the bottom hole assembly to detect the RFID tag in response to the RFID tag being in a detectable range of the RFID reader and to transmit information about the RFID tag to control the motor.

Abstract: A retention apparatus can be used for a driveshaft transmission assembly. The retention apparatus may include a catch mechanism and a resilient member. The retention apparatus may be mounted to a radial bearing assembly of a driveshaft transmission assembly. The catch mechanism of the retention apparatus may be sized to prevent the loss of certain driveshaft transmission assembly components downhole in the event of a failure of the driveshaft transmission due to dynamic loads produced during operation in a drilling system.

Abstract: A driveshaft transmission assembly may include a catch assembly. The catch assembly may prevent the loss of certain driveshaft transmission assembly components downhole in the event of a failure of the driveshaft transmission due to dynamic loads produced during operation of a drilling system. The catch assembly may be coupled to a first radial bearing assembly using locking devices. The driveshaft transmission assembly may also include a second radial bearing assembly interlockably coupled to a thrust bearing and a bearing housing.

Abstract: An apparatus for securing an end cap including an end cap flange to a shell including a shell flange by forming a lip portion including the end cap flange and the shell flange into a lock seam portion in which the end cap flange and the shell flange are engaged with each other. The apparatus includes an elongate tool element rotatable about the central axis, for receiving the end cap thereon. The apparatus also includes a number of roller subassemblies for forming the lip portion into the lock seam portion. Each roller subassembly includes a forming roller engageable with the lip portion while the tool element rotates. Each roller subassembly also includes an arm on which the forming roller thereof is rotatably mounted, and a support mechanism for positioning the arm to engage the forming roller with the lip portion.

Abstract: An apparatus for cold-forming a workpiece having a substantially round cross-section and an elongate body into a tube having a main portion with a substantially tetragonal cross-section and a reinforced end. The apparatus includes a die in which a received portion of the body of the workpiece is receivable and from which a preselected portion of the body extends, and a first punch adapted to bend the preselected portion radially outwardly to form a curled end. The apparatus also includes a second punch to form the curled end into a round reinforced end, and a die subassembly for forming the received portion of the body of the workpiece into the main portion of the tube having the substantially tetragonal cross-section and for forming the round reinforced end into the reinforced end of the tube.

Abstract: An apparatus for securing an end cap including an end cap flange to a shell including a shell flange by forming a lip portion including the end cap flange and the shell flange into a lock seam portion in which the end cap flange and the shell flange are engaged with each other. The apparatus includes an elongate tool element rotatable about the central axis, for receiving the end cap thereon. The apparatus also includes a number of roller subassemblies for forming the lip portion into the lock seam portion. Each roller subassembly includes a forming roller engageable with the lip portion while the tool element rotates. Each roller subassembly also includes an arm on which the forming roller thereof is rotatably mounted, and a support mechanism for positioning the arm to engage the forming roller with the lip portion.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming a thin wall sheet with first and second edge portions into a shell with a predetermined body configuration and a lockseam in which the edge portions are folded over each other. The apparatus includes a mandrel, a means for at least partially wrapping the sheet around the mandrel into the predetermined body configuration, and a number of gathering bars for engaging the sheet to configure the first and second edge portions according to a predetermined design. The apparatus also includes a number of forming bars for forming the first and second edge portions into respective preselected shapes extending above the top side of the mandrel, and a number of lockseaming rollers for folding the first and second edge portions over each other to form the lockseam.

Abstract: An apparatus for cold-forming a workpiece having a substantially round cross-section and an elongate body into a tube having a main portion with a substantially tetragonal cross-section and a reinforced end. The apparatus includes a die in which a received portion of the body of the workpiece is receivable and from which a preselected portion of the body extends, and a first punch adapted to bend the preselected portion radially outwardly to form a curled end. The apparatus also includes a second punch to form the curled end into a round reinforced end, and a die subassembly for forming the received portion of the body of the workpiece into the main portion of the tube having the substantially tetragonal cross-section and for forming the round reinforced end into the reinforced end of the tube.

Abstract: It has been found that a compressive force assists in obtaining desired cold flow characteristics of a tubular steel work piece during a hydroforming operation. It has also been found that the most desirable results are achieved when the compressive force applied to the ends of the tubular steel work piece is just slightly less than the force that drive the tubular steel work piece into its yield point. A work piece previously formed by the above mentioned hydroforming operation may now be bent and subjected to a secondary hydroforming operation to produce a bent hydroformed tubular steel finished work piece having complex geometry.