Patent ID: 8360159

Claim:
A rotating control device configured for use in drilling wells, comprising: a bowl having a central passage and having a bowl sleeve ledge integral therewith within the central passage at a position between an upper end portion of the bowl and a lower end portion of the bowl; a bowl sleeve removably disposed within the central passage, wherein movement of the bowl sleeve along a length of the central passage is constrained by the bowl sleeve ledge, wherein movement of the bowl sleeve radially with respect to the length of the central passage is constrained by a central passage surface of the bowl, wherein an entire portion of the bowl sleeve is located at a position within the central passage of the bowl, and wherein an interior surface of the bowl sleeve is tapered from a top end face thereof to a bottom end face thereof; at least one sealing device engaged between the exterior surface of the bowl sleeve and the central passage surface; a bearing assembly positioned within the central passage of the bowl and having an exterior surface of an outer barrel thereof directly engaged with the interior surface of the bowl sleeve, wherein the exterior surface of the outer barrel is tapered to mate with the tapered interior surface of the bowl sleeve; and at least one sealing device engaged between the interior surface of the bowl sleeve and the exterior surface of the outer barrel; wherein mating surfaces of the central passage of the bowl and the bowl sleeve are jointly configured for providing an interference fit between the bowl sleeve and the central passage of the bowl thereby causing the bowl sleeve to remain engaged with the bowl until the bowl sleeve is removed for addressing wear and routine maintenance thereof and thereby allowing the bearing assembly to be disengaged from the bowl sleeve while the bowl sleeve remains engaged with the bowl.