Sealing apparatus

A sealing apparatus having particular utility in a submersible electric motor utilized in subterranean wells comprises a tubular housing assembly securable in upwardly projecting, sealed relationship to the motor housing. An extension of the motor shaft projects upwardly through the tubular housing to drive a pump or other subterranean well tool. The upper end of the extension shaft is exposed to well fluids and a first shaft seal is mounted in a seal mounting chamber defined in the upper end of the tubular housing assemblage. Below the seal mounting chamber, the tubular housing assemblage defines a diaphragm chamber. A conduit is provided between the lower portions of the seal mounting chamber and the lower portions of the diaphragm chamber. A flexible, annular diaphragm divides the diaphragm chamber and is exposed on its exterior to well fluids, and on its interior to a light density motor protective fluid, thus equalizing any pressure differential between the motor protective fluid and the external well fluids. The diaphragm chamber is connected at its upper end to a downwardly extending axial passage surrounding the motor shaft and communicating with the interior of the motor housing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The invention relates to a sealing apparatus for a submersible electric 
motor, and particularly a motor employed to drive a pump in a subterranean 
well. 
2. History of the Prior Art 
Electric motors have long been utilized to pump well fluids from 
subterranean wells. Normally, the motor and pump are located at 
substantial distances below the surface and are surrounded by well fluids. 
Since the well fluids to be pumped must penetrate the housing of the pump, 
it is unavoidable that the well fluids will come into contact with the 
shaft connecting the electric motor and the driven pump. Shaft seals in a 
large variety of configurations have been employed to prevent the leakage 
of well fluids downwardly along the shaft and into the motor housing, thus 
destroying the electrical insulation necessarily provided for the motor 
windings. Additionally, it is common practice to fill the interior of the 
motor housing with a high dielectric protective oil and this same oil has 
been provided in surrounding relationship to the shaft seals and bearings 
to absorb heat that is necessarily developed in the normal operation of 
the motor. When such protective fluid is employed, care must be taken to 
equalize the pressure of the confined protective fluid with that of the 
well fluids surrounding the motor for the reason that the existence of a 
substantial pressure differential in either direction will greatly 
contribute to leakage of the protective fluid of the motor enclosure, or 
worse, leakage of the well fluids into the motor housing. 
To provide such pressure equalization, the prior art has resorted to the 
use of diaphragms which are disposed intermediate the motor protective 
fluid and the well fluid to achieve constant equalization of pressures 
therebetween through the expansion or contraction of the flexible 
diaphragm. Even this precaution does not preclude eventual leakage of well 
fluids into the interior of the motor housing resulting in a substantial 
reduction in the useful life of the downhole electric motor. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The invention provides a sealing apparatus for a downhole electric motor of 
the type employed for driving pumps in a subterranean well. Such sealing 
apparatus comprises a tubular housing assembly sealably attachable to the 
downhole motor housing and extending upwardly in concentric relationship 
to an extension shaft connected to the driving shaft of the motor and 
utilized to drive a pump. At the upper end of the tubular housing 
assembly, a seal mounting chamber is defined and within such chamber a 
double acting shaft seal is disposed to minimize leakage of well fluids 
downwardly along the shaft surface. The seal mounting chamber is connected 
by downwardly extending passages to the lower portions of an annular 
diaphragm chamber which is defined between a tube surrounding the motor 
extension shaft in radially spaced relationship and the inside surface of 
the outer tubular wall of the tubular housing assembly. Within this 
diaphragm chamber, a flexible annular rubber diaphragm is centrally and 
sealably mounted. Radial ports are provided at the upper end of the 
diaphragm chamber in the inner tube, thus providing fluid communication 
between the inner diaphragm chamber and an annular axial passage extending 
downwardly and communicating with the interior of the motor housing. 
The seal mounting chamber and the inner diaphragm chamber are filled with 
motor protective fluid concurrently with the filling of the motor housing 
with such fluid. The external surface of the flexible diaphragm is exposed 
to well fluids. Thus, any pressure differentials existing between the 
motor protective fluid and the well fluids are absorbed by contraction or 
expansion of the flexible diaphragm. 
In the event of leakage of the well fluid past the first of the double 
shaft seals, such well fluids, being heavier than the motor protective 
fluid, will flow by gravity to the bottom of the inner diaphragm chamber. 
They will be trapped in such chamber until the level of leakage well 
fluids reaches the ports disposed at the top of the diaphragm chamber, 
hence cannot flow downwardly into the motor housing until such level is 
reached. 
In a preferred embodiment of this invention, the downwardly extending, 
annular passage around the extension shaft communicates with a labyrinth 
chamber which is defined between a second tube, which surrounds the shaft 
extension in radially spaced concentric relationship, and the inner 
surface of an outer tubular element of the housing assemblage. A 
downwardly extending fluid passage communicates from the first mentioned 
downwardly extending annular passage around the shaft to the bottom 
portion of the labyrinth chamber. Fluid can exit from the labyrinth 
chamber only through radial port means provided at the top of such passage 
which communicate with the top of the second axially extending passage 
which communicate through a tube to the bottom of a second labyrinth 
chamber. Fluid can exit from the second labyrinth chamber only through 
radial port means provided at the top of such chamber which communicate 
with the top of another downwardly extending annular passage surrounding 
the extension shaft. From there, fluid communication is provided through 
the bearings for the shaft extension and thence downwardly into the 
interior of the motor housing. Thus, a substantial amount of well fluids 
must leak past the first of the double shaft seals so as to fill both the 
diaphragm chamber and the labyrinth chamber before gaining access to the 
downwardly extending axial passage leading to the interior of the motor 
housing. The time required for this significantly large quantity of well 
fluid leakage to make its way past the first of the double shaft seals and 
the two labyrinth passages respectively defined in the diaphragm chamber 
and the labyrinth chamber, is substantially increased, thereby increasing 
the useful life of the motor by protecting the windings thereof from 
contact with well fluids. 
Further advantages of the invention will be readily apparent to those 
skilled in the art from the following detailed description, taken in 
conjunction with the annexed sheets of drawings, on which is illustrated a 
preferred embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
A sealing apparatus for a submersible motor embodying this invention 
comprises a tubular housing assembly 10 which is sealably attached to the 
top end of the housing 1 of any conventional submersible electric motor, 
the details of which are not shown. An end flange 1a on such motor housing 
mates with a flange 10a provided on the bottom of the tubular housing 
assemblage 10, and bolts 1c clamp such flanges together. An O-ring 1b 
effects a seal of the connection. The motor shaft 1d is provided with 
splines 1e which engage corresponding splines provided in the lower end of 
a coupling 2. The upper end of coupling 2 has an internally splined sleeve 
2a press fitted therein which receives the splined bottom end 5a of a 
motor shaft extension 5 which projects upwardly in concentric relationship 
to the tubular housing assembly 10 and terminates in a splined end 5b 
which is connectable by conventional apparatus to a subterranean well pump 
(not shown). 
The tubular housing assemblage 10 comprises a plurality of outer 
thin-walled tubular elements 11a, 11b, and 11c which are respectively 
internally threaded at both ends and threadably engagable with a bottom 
connecting housing 20, a lower guide housing 25, an upper guide housing 30 
and a shaft seal housing 40. The shaft seal housing 40 defines a bore 40a 
surrounding the upper portions of the motor extension shaft 5. A sleeve 
bearing 42 is snugly mounted in the bore 40a and the upper end of sleeve 
bearing 42 projects above the bottom of a counter bore 40b to cooperate 
with the internal bore 50a of a slinger element 50 which is sealably 
mounted on the motor extension shaft 5 by an O-ring 50b. Radial ports 41 
are provided between the counter bore 40b and the exterior of the tubular 
housing assembly 10, thus permitting well fluids to surround the slinger 
50 and the upper end of the sleeve bearing 42. Slinger 50 prevents 
particulates from settling in the bearing clearance between shaft 
extension 5 and sleeve bearing 42. 
Upper seal housing 40 further defines a series of downwardly opening, 
successively larger counter bores 40c, 40d, 40e and 40f. The counter bore 
40c slidably mounts a seal backup ring 43 which has an O-ring 43a engaging 
the counter bore 40c. 
The counter bore 40d defines a larger diameter annular chamber within which 
is mounted a conventional double shaft seal unit 44. Shaft seal unit 44 
incorporates an upper elastomeric seal ring 44a which is compressed into 
sealing engagement with the surface of extension shaft 5 and the adjacent 
surface of the backup ring 43 by a seal compression unit including a 
compression ring 44b, a spring guide 44c and a compression spring 44d. 
Identical elements are provided at the lower end of the double shaft seal 
unit 44 and effect the compression of a second elastomeric seal ring 44a 
by spring 44d against a seal support ring 46 which is sealably supported 
in an adaptor housing 45 by an O-ring 46a. Adaptor housing 45 is press 
fitted to the top of an upper guide tube 47, the lower end of which is 
press fitted in a counter bore 30b provided in the bore 30a of the upper 
guide housing 30. A second sleeve bearing 48 surrounds shaft 5 between 
lower seal support ring 43 and the top end of upper guide tube 47. 
It should be recognized that any type of shaft seal may be mounted in the 
counter bore 40d and that the specific double seal unit 44 shown in the 
drawings represents only one of a large number of conventional structures 
that can be utilized at this point to effectively reduce leakage of well 
fluids downwardly along the exterior of the extension shaft 5. 
The exterior of the upper guide tube 47 cooperates with the internal bore 
surface of the uppermost outer tubular housing section 11c to define an 
annular chamber 60. The central portions of chamber 60 are employed as an 
expansion chamber by clamping the end portions of a flexible annular 
diaphragm 61 to the lower portion 45a of the adaptor housing 45 and an 
upwardly projecting cylindrical portion 30d of the upper guide housing 30. 
Conventional hose clamps 62 may be employed for this purpose. The flexible 
diaphragm 61 is formed from rubber or any other suitable elastomeric 
material that is not affected by well fluids. 
An axially extending passage 44g is provided in the seal mounting housing 
40 connecting the upper counter bore 40b and hence the well fluids to the 
outer portions of the expansion chamber 60. Additionally, an axial passage 
45c is provided in the adaptor housing 45 which extends from the lower end 
of the counter bore 40d in which the shaft seal unit 44 is mounted, to the 
inner expansion chamber 63 enclosed by the flexible diaphragm 61. 
Additionally, an extension tube 45k is mounted in the lower end of the 
passage 45c so that fluid coming through such passage is discharged 
adjacent the lower end of the inner expansion chamber 63. 
A third axial passage 45d is provided in the guide adaptor 45 connecting 
the top of the inner expansion chamber 63 with an axially extending 
passage 44h which leads upwardly to a venting port 44k which is normally 
closed by a threaded plug 44m. As will be later described, the internal 
chamber 63 defined by the flexible diaphragm 61, as well as the seal 
mounting chamber defined by counter bore 40d is filled with a high 
dielectic strength oil which is of substantially lighter density than well 
fluids. Accordingly, any well fluids leaking through the shaft seal unit 
44 will be deposited by passage 45c and extension tube 62 adjacent to the 
lower portions of the chamber defined by the flexible diaphragm 61. It 
follows that such well fluids cannot flow out of the chamber until 
sufficient fluids have collected to reach the elevation of the radial 
outlet ports 47a provided in upper guide tube 47 adjacent the upper end of 
the expansion chamber defined by the diaphragm 61. Moreover, any 
differences in pressure between the well fluids and the motor protective 
fluid will be equalized by contraction or expansion of the diaphragm 61, 
as the case may be. 
The upper guide tube 47 defines a downwardly extending annular passageway 
65 which could, if desired, lead directly into the interior of the motor 
housing. In accordance with the preferred embodiment of this invention, 
the downwardly extending axial passage 65 is instead sealed off within the 
upper guide housing 30. A sleeve bearing 31 and a shaft seal unit 32 are 
mounted in a counter bore 30b provided in the bottom end of the upper 
guide housing 30. The shaft seal unit 32 may constitute any conventional 
shaft seal unit and here is shown as comprising a backup ring 32a, an 
elastomeric sealing element 32b, a seal compressing ring 32c, a spring 
guide 32d, a spring 32e and a spring backup ring 32f. A C-ring 32g secures 
the backup ring 32f to the shaft extension 5. 
In the lower portion of the counter bore 30b of the upper guide housing 30, 
a mounting ring 35 and a lower guide tube 37 are mounted by a press fit. 
Guide tube 37 cooperates with the inner wall of the outer housing element 
11b to define a labyrinth chamber 66. An axially extending bypass passage 
30h is provided in the upper guide housing 30 which communicates between 
the lower end of the downwardly extending annular passage 65 and the 
labyrinth chamber 66. An extension tube 67 is mounted in the lower end of 
the bypass passage 30h so as to deposit any fluid flowing through such 
passage in the lower portions of the labyrinth chamber 66. Fluid can only 
exit from labyrinth chamber 66 through a plurality of radial ports 37a 
provided in the upper end of the lower guide tube 37. It necessarily 
follows that leakage well fluids must fill substantially the entire 
labyrinth chamber 66 before they would rise to a level permitting them to 
flow downwardly through the annular passage 68 defined between the inner 
wall of the lower guide tube 37 and the outer surface of the shaft 
extension 5. A vent passage 30k extends upwardly from chamber 66 to a 
radial port 30m which is normally closed by a plug 30n. 
The lower guide tube 37 is supported by being press fitted into a counter 
bore 25b provided in the central bore 25a of the lower guide housing 25. A 
downwardly opening counter bore 25c provides a mounting for still another 
sleeve bearing 26. 
The lower guide housing 25 is provided with an axially extending bypass 
passage 25d communicating with the annular passage 68 at its upper end and 
at its lower end with a thrust bearing chamber 69 defined by the internal 
surface of the lower tubular element 11a of the tubular housing assembly 
10. Additionally, a venting or filling passage 25e is provided in the 
housing 25 communicating with a radial port 25f which is closed by a 
threaded plug 25g. 
A conventional thrust bearing unit 70 is mounted in the thrust bearing 
chamber 69. Since such thrust bearing forms no part of the present 
invention, it is shown only schematically. Suffice it to say that the 
thrust bearings are provided with fluid passages permitting the motor 
protective fluid to completely surround the thrust bearings to provide not 
only lubrication but also absorption of any heat resulting from the 
operation of the bearings. 
The lower portion of the thrust bearing chamber 69 is in direct 
communication with a large upwardly opening counter bore 20c provided in 
the bore 20a of the connection housing 20. The counter bore 20c has a 
fluid guide block 21 press fitted therein and such guide block provides 
axially extending fluid passages 21a communicating between the counter 
bore 20c and the annular space defined between bore 20a and the exterior 
of the connecting sleeve 2. An annular porous metal filter 22 is mounted 
in overlying relatinship to the upper end of the passages 21a. Filter 22 
is secured in position by a snap ring 23 which is secured to the upper end 
of the guide block 21. Thus, any particulates contained in fluid moving 
downwardly toward the motor housing 1 are removed from the downwardly 
moving stream by the porous metal filter 22. 
The operation of the aforedescribed sealing apparatus should be apparent to 
those skilled in the art from the foregoing description. The motor housing 
1 and the interconnected chambers 20c, 69, 66, 63 and 40d of the tubular 
housing assembly are filled with the motor protective fluid, generally by 
forcing such fluid into the motor housing 1 and causing it to rise 
upwardly, with the vent plugs 44m, 33g, 25g and 30n removed to permit the 
venting of any trapped air. Obviously, as the level of such fluid rises to 
the level of the vent plugs, the vent plugs are reinserted. 
To facilitate the release of pressure produced by the heating of the motor 
protective fluid after the initial fillup, an axial passage 30p is 
provided in upper guide housing 30 having its upper end communicating with 
the internal diaphragm chmaber 63. A downwardly inclined passage 30q 
connects the lower end of axial passage 30p to that portion of chamber 60 
exposed to well fluids. A check valve 32 is mounted in the top portions of 
axial passage 30p to permit only outward flow of the motor protective 
fluid to discharge the expansion of such fluid produced during initial 
heat up or by any other pressure build up of the motor protective fluid 
which cannot be equalized with well fluid pressure by the diaphragm 61. 
Well fluids are in contact with the extension shaft 5 only at the upper end 
thereof and can only flow downwardly along such shaft by leakage through 
the sleeve bearing 42 and the double seal 44. Any such fluid leakage moves 
by gravity through the downwardly extending passage 45c and extension tube 
45k into the bottom portions of the inner expansion chamber 63. The well 
fluids cannot move out of the expansion chamber 63 until such chamber is 
substantially full of well fluids, following which the leakage well fluids 
can flow down the annular downwardly extending passage 65 into the axially 
extending passage 30h and through the tube 67 into the bottom of the 
labyrinth chamber 66. Again, leakage well fluids can only escape from 
labyrinth chamber 66 by filling such chamber to the level of the radial 
ports 37a from which they can flow downwardly to the motor housing 1 
through the annular passage 68, chamber 69 and passages 21a, but may pass 
through the porous metal filter 22 before they reach the interior of the 
motor housing. 
It is therefore apparent that a substantial amount of time would be 
required for the very significant amount of leakage fluid to be collected 
in the sealing apparatus so as to permit it to gain access to the interior 
of the motor housing. 
At the same time, pressure differentials between the motor protective 
fluids and the well fluids are completely neutralized by the action of the 
flexible diaphragm 61. All heat generated by the operation of the various 
seals and bearings is absorbed by the motor protective fluid and, as 
mentioned, any pressure increase due to such temperature rise is readily 
absorbed by the flexible diaphragm 61. 
It follows that the useful life of a downhole subterranean well motor 
employing a sealing apparatus embodying this invention is significantly 
increased due to the substantial isolation of the motor windings from well 
fluids over a long period of time, even though some leakage through the 
seals of the apparatus may occur. 
Although the invention has been described in terms of specified embodiments 
which are set forth in detail, it should be understood that this is by 
illustration only and that the invention is not necessarily limited 
thereto, since alternative embodiments and operating techniques will 
become apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the disclosure. 
Accordingly, modifications are contemplated which can be made without 
departing from the spirit of the described invention.