Guide and protector arrangement incorporating fill-up float valve means

Claim 2

A bit guide and protector arrangement for a bit with fluid passages adapted to be lowered in a borehole comprising: a. molded jacket means for the bit cutting surfaces, said jacket means including passage means therein for communicating fluid through said jacket means to the bit; b. fluid pressure responsive means within said jacket means and communicating with the passage means intermediate the ends thereof, said fluid pressure responsive means being responsive to fluid pressure to aid in removing said jacket means for exposure of the bit cutting surfaces; and c. fill-up float valve means positioned in said jacket means for controlling the fluid flow between the borehole and the passage means in said jacket means.

Claim 3

The invention of claim 1 wherein cooperating means are provided on said jacket means and said float valve to enable said float valve to be readily engaged with and removed from position in said jacket means.

Claim 4

The invention of claim 1 wherein said float valve comprises: a. a body having passage means extending longitudinally thereof; b. plunger means slidably and sealably fitting in said body for controlling flow through said body passage means in response to fluid pressure acting on said plunger means; and c. cooperating surface means on said body and plunger means for shutting off flow through said passage means when said plunger is moved to a predetermined position in said body.

Claim 5

The invention of claim 3 including snap ring means fitting in a groove in said body for removably retaining said plunger means within said body.

Claim 6

The invention of claim 2 wherein said cooperating means comprises cooperating threaded surfaces on said jacket means and float valve.

Claim 7

The invention of claim 1 wherein said float valve includes passage means therethrough, and frangible disc means closing off said passage means but breakable when the pressure thereon reaches a predetermined amount to open the passage means to fluid flow.

Claim 8

The invention of claim 1 wherein said jacket means is formed of a plurality of sections, and means for bonding said sections together after they are positioned on the bit.

Claim 9

The invention of claim 1 wherein said float valve comprises: a. a body; b. said body having a chamber therein extending longitudinally from one end of said body and terminating within said body spaced from the other end; c. said body having passage means extending from said other end of said body into the chamber; d. plunger means for slidably fitting in the chamber of said body; e. said means for sealing between said plunger and body; f. there being passage means extending longitudinally through said plunger means; and g. means in said body cooperating with said plunger means to close off the passage means in said body and plunger means when said plunger moves a predetermined distance longitudinally of said body.

Claim 10

The invention of claim 8 wherein said chamber comprises two concentric bores, one of which is of a smaller diameter than the other and said plunger means extends within both of the bores.

Claim 11

The invention of claim 9 wherein there are seal means between said body and plunger means in both of the bores.

Claim 12

The invention of claim 10 including snap ring means for fitting in a groove in said body for removably retaining said plunger means within said body.

Claim 13

THe invention of claim 1 wherein said float valve comprises a body, cooperating means on said body and jacket means for removably positioning said body within said jacket means and said body having passage means therethrough for communicating with the passage means in said jacket means.

Claim 14

The invention of claim 1 wherein said float valve comprises: a. body means; b. said body having a chamber therein extending longitudinally from one end of said body to the other end, the chamber comprising two concentric bores, one of which is of a smaller diameter than the other; c. plunger means for slidably fitting within both of the bores; d. seal means between said plunger means and body for slidably and sealably receiving the plunger within the larger of the two bores; e. means within the larger of the two concentric bores for retaining said plunger within said body; f. there being passage means in said body, one end of which communicates with the larger of the two bores on one side of said retaining means and with the smaller of the two bores at its other end; and g. seal means carried by said body within the smaller bore between said other passage end and said other body end whereby a predetermined movement of said plunger means within said body means closes off the passage in said body.

Claim 15

The invention of claim 10 wherein said plunger means includes port means extending therethrough between said seal means for discharge of trapped fluid when said plunger moves longitudinally of said body.

Claim 16

A guide and protector arrangement for the lower end of devices such as tubular members and the like which are to be lowered in a borehole comprising: a. molded jacket means for covering the lower end of the devices, said jacket means including passage means therein for communicating fluid between the well bore and the interior of the devices; b. fluid pressure responsive means within said jacket means and communicating with the passage means intermediate the ends thereof, said fluid pressure responsive means being responsive to fluid pressure to aid in removing said jacket means for exposure of the lower end of the device; and c. fill-up float valve means positioned in said jacket means for controlling the fluid flow between the borehole and the remainder of the passage means in said jacket means.

Claim 17

A guide and protector arrangement for the lower end of devices such as tubular members and the like which are to be lowered in a borehole comprising: a. molded jacket means for covering the lower end of the devices, said jacket means including passage means therein for communicating fluid between the well bore and the interior of the devices; b. fluid pressure responsive means within said jacket means and communicating with the passage means intermediate the ends thereof, said fluid pressure responsive means being responsive to fluid pressure to aid in removing said jacket means for exposure of the lower end of the device; and c. fill-up float valve means positioned in said jacket means for controlling the fluid flow between the borehole and the remainder of the passage means in said jacket means.