Seal and equalizing arrangement for a directional drilling apparatus

Claim 2

spaced seal means on said upper tubular member and said lower tubular member to form a closed chamber within the tool for receiving a fluid medium therein;

Claim 3

A deflection tool adapted to be connected in a drill string for use in the directional drilling of a well bore comprising: first tubular means; second tubular means pivoTally coupled to the first tubular means; fluid responsive means carried within the tubular means and responsive to drilling fluid pressure in the tubular means for urging one of the tubular means to pivot relative to the other; limiting means including a retrievable limiting device adapted for passage through the drill string and into the tubular means for limiting the extent of such pivotal movement while the limiting devise is in the tubular means; and spaced seal means on said first tubular means and said second tubular means to form a closed chamber within the tool for receiving a fluid medium therein.

Claim 4

A deflection tool adapted to be connected in a drill string for use in the directional drilling of a well bore comprising: first tubular means; second tubular means pivoTally coupled to the first tubular means; fluid responsive means carried within the tubular means and responsive to drilling fluid pressure in the tubular means for urging one of the tubular means to pivot relative to the other; limiting means including a retrievable limiting device adapted for passage through the drill string and into the tubular means for limiting the extent of such pivotal movement while the limiting devise is in the tubular means; and spaced seal means on said first tubular means and said second tubular means to form a closed chamber within the tool for receiving a fluid medium therein.

Claim 5

A deflection tool adapted to be connected in a drill string for use in the directional drilling of a well bore comprising: first tubular means; second tubular means pivoTally coupled to the first tubular means; fluid responsive means carried within the tubular means and responsive to drilling fluid pressure in the tubular means for urging one of the tubular means to pivot relative to the other; limiting means including a retrievable limiting device adapted for passage through the drill string and into the tubular means for limiting the extent of such pivotal movement while the limiting devise is in the tubular means; and spaced seal means on said first tubular means and said second tubular means to form a closed chamber within the tool for receiving a fluid medium therein.

Claim 6

A deflection tool adapted to be connected in a drill string for use in the directional drilling of a well bore comprising: first tubular means; second tubular means pivoTally coupled to the first tubular means; fluid responsive means carried within the tubular means and responsive to drilling fluid pressure in the tubular means for urging one of the tubular means to pivot relative to the other; limiting means including a retrievable limiting device adapted for passage through the drill string and into the tubular means for limiting the extent of such pivotal movement while the limiting devise is in the tubular means; and spaced seal means on said first tubular means and said second tubular means to form a closed chamber within the tool for receiving a fluid medium therein.

Claim 7

A deflection tool in accordance with claim 1 wherein the second tubular means is pivotally mounted within first tubular means and extends out one end thereof.

Claim 8

said upper tubular member including a portion extending into said lower tubular member; and

Claim 9

said upper tubular member including a portion extending into said lower tubular member; and

Claim 10

relief valve means in said portion to equalize fluid pressure internally and externally of said portion within said upper tubular means.

Claim 11

relief valve means in said portion to equalize fluid pressure internally and externally of said portion within said upper tubular means.

Claim 12

A deflection tool in accordance with claim 1 wherein the fluid responsive means includes a piston slidably located in one of the tubular means.

Claim 13

A deflection tool in accordance with claim 1 wherein the fluid responsive means includes a plurality of longitudinally spaced pistons located within one of the tubular means and interconnected by tubular stem means for enabling the pistons to work in unison with one another.

Claim 14

A deflection tool in accordance with claim 1 wherein: the second tubular means includes an extended portion which extends into the first tubular means; the fluid responsive means includes a longitudinally slidable piston located in the first tubular means; the fluid responsive means includes control lever means pivotally mounted within the first tubular means adjacent the end of such extended portion for converting the longitudinal movement of the piston into the lateral thrust on the end of such extended portion; and said first tubular means including a portion extending into said second tubular means; and relief valve means in said portion to equalize fluid pressure internally and externally of said portion within said first tubular means.

Claim 15

A deflection tool in accordance with claim 1 wherein: the first tubular means is located above the second tubular means; the first tubular means includes interior longitudinal passage means of reduced diameter; the second tubular means includes receiving means for receiving the retrievable limiting device; and the retrievable limiting device is of an elongated construction adapted for passage through the reduced diameter passage means and includes a limiting portion adapted to be seated in the receiving means and an enlarged portion located relative to such limiting portion a distance such that it remains in the reduced diameter passage means until the limiting portion has entered the receiving means, such enlarged portion being sized to substantially reduce the flow of drilling fluid through the tool as long as it is within the reduced diameter passage means.

Claim 16

A deflection tool adapted to be connected in a drill string for use in the directional drilling of a well bore comprising: upper tubular means; lower tubular means pivotally mounted within the upper tubular means and having an upper portion located above the pivot axis and extending upwardly within the upper tubular means and a lower portion located below the pivot axis and extending downwardly and out of the lower end of the upper tubular means; fluid responsive means carried within the upper tubular means and responsive to drilling fluid pressure in the upper tubular means for producing a lateral thrust on the upper portion of the lower tubular means for causing the lower tubular means to pivot about the pivot axis; laterally movable positioning means movably carried by the lower tubular means and extending into the center bore of the lower tubular means; a retrievable limiting device adapted for passage through the drill string and into the lower tubular means for engaging the laterally movable positioning means and thereby controlling the angular relationship between the two tubular means; and mEans for aiding in moving said upper and lower tubular means to a non-pivoted relationship including:

Claim 17

A deflection tool adapted to be connected in a drill string for use in the directional drilling of a well bore comprising: upper tubular means; lower tubular means pivotally mounted within the upper tubular means and having an upper portion located above the pivot axis and extending upwardly within the upper tubular means and a lower portion located below the pivot axis and extending downwardly and out of the lower end of the upper tubular means; fluid responsive means carried within the upper tubular means and responsive to drilling fluid pressure in the upper tubular means for producing a lateral thrust on the upper portion of the lower tubular means for causing the lower tubular means to pivot about the pivot axis; laterally movable positioning means movably carried by the lower tubular means and extending into the center bore of the lower tubular means; a retrievable limiting device adapted for passage through the drill string and into the lower tubular means for engaging the laterally movable positioning means and thereby controlling the angular relationship between the two tubular means; and mEans for aiding in moving said upper and lower tubular means to a non-pivoted relationship including:

Claim 18

A deflection tool in accordance with claim 7 wherein the upper tubular means is adapted to be connected to the lower end of a string of drill pipe and the lower tubular means is adapted to be connected to a downhole fluid motor unit for driving a rotary drill bit.

Claim 19

A deflection tool in accordance with claim 7 wherein the interior of the lower portion of the upper tubular means is shaped to allow pivoting of the lower tubular means in only one direction and to limit the maximum extent of such pivoting movement.

Claim 20

A deflection tool in accordance with claim 7 wherein the fluid responsive means includes: a plurality of toroidal pistons located for longitudinal movement within an upper portion of the upper tubular means; tubular stem means cooperating with the center bores of the pistons for interconnecting the pistons in a spaced apart coaxial manner and for providing a central flow passage through the upper portion of the upper tubular means; the interior of the upper portion of the upper tubular means being constructed to provide individual pistons chambers for the different pistons; and means for converting downward force produced by the pistons into a lateral thrust on the upper portion of the lower tubular means.

Claim 21

A deflection tool in accordance with claim 7 wherein the laterally movable positioning means is carried within the upper tubular means by the lower portion of the lower tubular means.

Claim 22

A deflection tool in accordance with claim 7 wherein the laterally movable positioning means comprises a positioning plug slidably mounted in a lateral passageway extending through the wall of the lower tubular member.

Claim 23

A deflection tool in accordance with claim 7 wherein the cross-sectional area of the retrievable limiting device is substantially less than the cross-sectional area of the interior of the lower tubular means for enabling a substantial flow of drilling fluid through the tubular means when the retrievable limiting device is in place in the lower tubular means.

Claim 24

A deflection tool in accordance with claim 7 wherein: the upper tubular means includes an interior longitudinal passage means of reduced diameter located at an upper location therein; the lower tubular means includes receiving means for receiving the retrievable limiting device; and the retrievable limiting device is of an elongated construction adapted for passage through the reduced diameter passage means and includes a lower limiting portion adapted to be seated in the receiving means and an enlarged portion located above such limiting portion a distance such that it remains in the reduced diameter passage means until the limiting portion has entered the receiving means, such enlarged portion being sized to substantially restrict the flow of drilling fluid through the tool as long as it is within the reduced diameter passage means.

Claim 25

A deflection tool in accordance with claim 7 wherein: the retrievable limiting device includes an elongated cylindrical probe member forming at least the lower part thereof; the tool includes a guide bushing located within the center bore of the lower tubular means and having a longitudinal center passage for receiving the probe member, longitudinal side passages for passing drilling fluid and a lateral passage running from the center passage to an opening at one side of such guide bushing; the lower tubular means includes a lateral passage extending through thE wall thereof and in alignment with the lateral passage in the guide bushing; and the laterally movable positioning means comprises a positioning plug slidably mounted in the lateral passages in the guide bushing and the lower tubular means, the length of such positioning plug being greater than the combined length of such lateral passages.

Claim 26

A deflection tool in accordance with claim 10 wherein the guide bushing and the cooperating lateral passage in the lower tubular means are located in a portion of the lower portion of the lower tubular means which is within the upper tubular means.

Claim 27

A deflection tool in accordance with claim 7 wherein the fluid responsive means includes: longitudinally movable pistons means slidably located within the upper tubular means; and means for converting downward movement of the piston means into a lateral thrust on the upper portion of the lower tubular means.

Claim 28

A deflection tool in accordance with claim 17 wherein the movement converting means comprises a control lever pivotally mounted within the upper tubular means adjacent the upper end of the upper portion of the lower tubular means and having an upper portion adapted to be engaged by the underside of the piston means during its downward movement.