1. An engagement device comprising:
an engaged portion disposed rotatably about a rotating shaft and configured to rotate in conjunction with the rotating shaft;
an engaging portion disposed coaxially with the engaged portion and configured to perform engagement with the engaged portion and release from the engagement with the engaged portion by shifting in an axial direction;
a control unit configured to control rotation of the engaged portion and shifting of the engaging portion in the axial direction; and
a one-way clutch disposed on a power transmission path from the rotating shaft to a coupling member coupled to the engaging portion,
wherein the control unit is configured to rotate the engaged portion in an idling direction of the one-way clutch, at a time of performing engagement or release of the engaging portion with or from the engaged portion.
2. The engagement device according to claim 1, wherein the engaging portion and the engaged portion constitute a dog clutch.
3. The engagement device according to claim 1, wherein the one-way clutch is disposed closer to the coupling member than the engaging portion on the power transmission path.
4. The engagement device according to claim 3, comprising:
a hub configured to couple the engaging portion to the one-way clutch; and
a connecting member configured to connect the one-way clutch to the coupling member,
wherein the control unit includes a driving source configured to drive the engaging portion,
the engaging portion, the engaged portion, the hub, and the one-way clutch are disposed on an inner circumferential side of the driving source,
the engaging portion, the hub, and the one-way clutch are disposed in this order from outside to inside in a radial direction,
an outer race of the one-way clutch is integrated with the hub, and
an inner race of the one-way clutch is integrated with the connecting member.
5. A power transmission device comprising:
an engagement device provided on a power transmission path from a power source to a driving wheel, the engagement device including:
an engaged portion disposed rotatably about a rotating shaft and configured to rotate in conjunction with the rotating shaft;
an engaging portion disposed coaxially with the engaged portion and configured to perform engagement with the engaged portion and release from the engagement with the engaged portion by shifting in an axial direction;
a control unit configured to control rotation of the engaged portion and shifting of the engaging portion in the axial direction; and
a one-way clutch disposed on a power transmission path from the rotating shaft to a coupling member coupled to the engaging portion,
wherein the control unit is configured to rotate the engaged portion in an idling direction of the one-way clutch, at a time of performing engagement or release of the engaging portion with or from the engaged portion.
6. The power transmission device according to claim 5, comprising:
an engine;
a first rotating machine;
a power distribution mechanism connected to the engine and the first rotating machine and configured to distribute power of the engine to a driving wheel and the first rotating machine; and
a second rotating machine connected to the driving wheel,
wherein the engaged portion of the engagement device is coupled to a rotating shaft of the first rotating machine,
the one-way clutch of the engagement device is disposed to idle in a negative rotational direction of the first rotating machine,
the control unit of the engagement device is configured to perform control for restricting rotation of the first rotating machine by engaging the engaging portion with the engaged portion, and
the one-way clutch is suppressed from idling by controlling rotation of the engaged portion and generating a torque in an engaging direction of the one-way clutch, while the control is performed and when there is an engine braking request.
7. The power transmission device according to claim 5, wherein the engaging portion and the engaged portion constitute a dog clutch.
8. The power transmission device according to claim 5, wherein the one-way clutch is disposed closer to the coupling member than the engaging portion on the power transmission path.
9. The power transmission device according to claim 8, comprising:
a hub configured to couple the engaging portion to the one-way clutch; and
a connecting member configured to connect the one-way clutch to the coupling member,
wherein the control unit includes a driving source configured to drive the engaging portion,
the engaging portion, the engaged portion, the hub, and the one-way clutch are disposed on an inner circumferential side of the driving source,
the engaging portion, the hub, and the one-way clutch are disposed in this order from outside to inside in a radial direction,
an outer race of the one-way clutch is integrated with the hub, and
an inner race of the one-way clutch is integrated with the connecting member.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
What is claimed is:
1. A method for producing an inert rich gas for use in removing cuttings from a drilling region of a well comprising:
removing at least a substantial portion of oxygen contained within a feed stream of air to produce an inert rich gas and an oxygen enriched waste gas; and
supplying the inert rich gas to equipment for direction to the drilling region of the well at a pressure and flow rate sufficient to remove cuttings from the drilling region.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the well is an oil or gas well.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein the equipment comprises a surface equipment installation.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of supplying the inert rich gas comprises boosting the pressure of the inert rich gas to a level sufficient to remove the cuttings from the drilling region of the well.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the inert rich gas is nitrogen rich gas.
6. The method of claim 5 wherein the nitrogen rich gas contains at least 85 percent nitrogen.
7. The method of claim 5 wherein the nitrogen rich gas contains at least 95 percent nitrogen.
8. The method of claim 4 wherein the pressure of the inert rich gas is boosted to at least 200 psig.
9. The method of claim 4 wherein the pressure of the inert rich gas is boosted to at least 1000 psig.
10. The method of claim 5 wherein the removing step comprises passing a feed stream of air through a membrane which preferentially separates nitrogen gas from other components of the air stream.
11. The method of claim 4 wherein the inert rich gas is nitrogen rich gas.
12. A method for producing an inert rich gas for use in lightening a drilling fluid comprising:
removing at least a substantial portion of oxygen contained within a feed stream of air to produce an inert rich gas and an oxygen enriched waste gas; and
supplying the inert rich gas to equipment for combination with a drilling fluid.
13. The method of claim 12 wherein the inert rich gas is nitrogen rich gas.
14. The method of claim 13 wherein the removing step comprises passing a feed stream of air through a membrane which preferentially separates nitrogen gas from other components of the air stream.
15. The method of claim 12 wherein the equipment comprises a surface equipment installation.
16. The method of claim 12 wherein the step of supplying the inert rich gas comprises compressing the inert rich gas.
17. A method for producing an inert rich gas for use as a drilling fluid comprising:
providing a feed stream of air;
separating at least a substantial portion of an inert gas from other components of the feed stream of air; and
supplying the inert rich gas to equipment for use as a drilling fluid.
18. The method of claim 17 wherein the inert rich gas is nitrogen rich gas.
19. The method of claim 18 wherein the separating step comprises passing a feed stream of air through a membrane which preferentially separates nitrogen gas from other components of the air stream.
20. The method of claim 11 wherein the supplying step comprises compressing the inert rich gas.
21. The method of claim 20 wherein the compressing step comprises boosting the pressure of the inert rich gas to a level sufficient for use as a drilling fluid.
22. The method of claim 21 wherein the drilling fluid is used to remove cuttings from a drilling region and the pressure is boosted to at least 200 psig.
23. The method of claim 21 wherein the drilling fluid is used to remove cuttings from a drilling region and the pressure is boosted to at least 1000 psig.
24. The method of claim 17 wherein the equipment comprises a surface equipment installation.
25. A method for producing a nitrogen rich gas for use in reducing a density of a cement-like material used to secure casings in a well comprising:
removing at least a substantial portion of oxygen contained within a feed stream of air to produce a nitrogen rich gas and an oxygen enriched waste gas; and
supplying the nitrogen rich gas to equipment for combination with the cement-like material.
26. The method of claim 25 wherein the removing step comprises passing a feed stream of air through a membrane which preferentially separates nitrogen gas from other components of the air stream.
27. The method of claim 25 wherein the well is an oil or gas well.
28. The method of claim 25 wherein the equipment comprises a surface equipment installation.
29. The method of claim 25 wherein the supplying step comprises compressing the nitrogen rich gas.
30. A method for producing a nitrogen rich gas for use in enhancing gas or oil production by assisting gas or oil to rise out of a well comprising:
removing at least a substantial portion of oxygen contained within a feed stream of air to produce a nitrogen rich gas and an oxygen enriched waste gas; and
supplying the nitrogen rich gas to equipment for use in assisting the gas or oil to rise out of the well.
31. The method of claim 30 wherein the removing step comprises passing a feed stream of air through a membrane which preferentially separates nitrogen gas from other components of the air stream.
32. The method of claim 30 wherein said nitrogen rich gas contains at least 85 percent nitrogen.
33. The method of claim 30 wherein said nitrogen rich gas contains at least 95 percent nitrogen.
34. The method of claim 30 wherein the supplying step comprises boosting the pressure of the nitrogen rich gas to a level sufficient to assist the oil or gas to rise out of the well.
35. The method of claim 34 wherein the pressure of the nitrogen rich gas is boosted to at least 200 psig.
36. The method of claim 30 wherein the equipment comprises a surface equipment installation.
37. A method of producing a nitrogen rich gas for use in carrying an additive into a well comprising:
removing at least a substantial portion of oxygen contained within a feed stream of air to produce a nitrogen rich gas and an oxygen enriched waste gas; and
supplying the inert rich gas to equipment for combination with the additive.
38. The method of claim 37 wherein the additive is proppants.
39. The method of claim 38 wherein the well contains cracks or fissures and wherein the proppants embed in the cracks or fissures.
40. The method if claim 38 wherein the proppants are selected from the group consisting of sand and glass beads.
41. The method of claim 37 wherein the additive is an acid.
42. The method of claim 37 wherein the supplying step comprises boosting the pressure of the nitrogen rich gas to a level sufficient to carry the additives into the well.
43. The method of claim 37 wherein the removing step comprises passing a feed stream of air through a membrane which preferentially separates nitrogen gas from other components of the air stream.
44. The method of claim 37 wherein the well is an oil or gas well.
45. The method of claim 37 wherein the equipment comprises a surface equipment installation.
46. An apparatus for producing an inert rich gas for use in oil or gas drilling or completion operations comprising:
a membrane separator for separating at least a substantial portion of oxygen contained within a feed stream of air to produce an inert rich gas and an oxygen enriched waste gas; and
a booster compressor to increase the pressure of the inert rich gas to a level sufficient for use in oil or gas drilling or completion operations and to supply the inert rich gas to equipment for use in oil or gas drillings or completion operations.
47. The apparatus of claim 46 wherein said inert gas is nitrogen rich gas.
48. The apparatus of claim 46 wherein said membrane separator comprises a plurality of bundles of hollow fiber, semipermeable membranes and a central core tube.
49. The apparatus of claim 46 further comprising a compressor for supplying the feed stream of air to the membrane separator.
50. The apparatus of claim 46 further comprising a conduit for supplying the pressurized inert rich gas from the booster compressor to equipment for use in oil or gas drilling or competition operations.
51. The apparatus of claim 46 wherein the equipment comprises a surface equipment installation.
52. A method for producing an inert rich gas for use in removing cuttings from a drilling region of a well comprising:
removing at least a substantial portion of oxygen contained within a feed stream of air to produce an inert rich gas and an oxygen enriched waste gas; and
supplying the inert rich gas to equipment for direction to the drilling region of the well to remove cuttings from the drilling region.