Apparatus for reducing casing wear during drilling operations

Claim 1

IN COMBINATION: FIRST AND SECOND DRILL PIPE SECTIONS CONNECTED TOGETHER BY A BOX AND PIN COUPLING AND HAVING OPPOSED ANNULAR FACES THEREBETWEEN AT THE ENDS THEREOF, SAID OPPOSED FACES BEING SPACED APART WHEN SAID SECTIONS ARE CONNECTED TOGETHER; AN ANNULAR RIDGE PROJECTING FROM EACH SAID FACES; AN ANNULAR WEAR MATERIAL SUPPORT MEMBER FITTED AROUND AT LEAST ONE OF SAID SECTIONS AT SAID COUPLING; AN ANNULAR FLANGE PROJECTING INWARDLY FROM SAID SUPPORT MEMBER INTO THE SPACE BETWEEN SAID ANNULAR FACES AND HAVING ANNULAR GROOVES THEREIN MATINGLY ENGAGING SAID ANNULAR RIDGES; AND AN ANNULAR BAND OF WEAR MATERIAL AFFIXED TO SAID SUPPORT MEMBER, SAID ANNULAR BAND OF WEAR MATERIAL COMPRISING AN ANNULAR ALUMINUM BAND AFFIXED TO SAID SUPPORT MEMBER, AN ANNULAR RUBBER BAND AFFIXED TO SAID ALUMINUM BAND, AND A PLURALITY OF PLASTIC INSERTS EXTENDING THROUGH SAID RUBBER BAND AND AFFIXED TO SAID ALUMINUM BAND.