Drill head and sealing apparatus therefore

Claim 2

A drill head having an annular chamber formed therethrough for the reception of a rotating driving member used in the drilling of wells, comprising: an annular sleeve; a first annular housing adapted to concentrically receive said annular sleeve, thereby forming a chamber between said annular sleeve and said first annular housing; bearing means disposed within said chamber such that said annular sleeve is rotatable; a second housing adapted to receive said first annular housing and said annular sleeve in a manner such that an annulus is formed between said annular sleeve and said second housing; packing means adapted to be positioned in said annulus; means for applying pressure on said packing means in a first direction thereby forming a rotating hermetic seal between said annular sleeve and said second housing; means for capping the upper extremity of said drill head, said means adapted to receive said driving member and further providing a seal preventing the egress of any existing well fluids via the upper extremity; means for directing any internal forces generated by said well onto said packing means in a second direction further insuring a hermetic seal to exist between said annular sleeve and said second housing;

Claim 3

A drill head according to claim 1 wherein said annular sleeve and said second housing have a clearance formed therebetween such that said annular sleeve is rotatable independently of said second housing.

Claim 4

A drill head according to claim 2 wherein said first annular housing and said second housing are stationery.

Claim 5

A drill head according to claim 3 wherein said clearance is formed between the lower extremity of said annular sleeve and the upper extremity of said second housing.

Claim 6

A drill head according to claim 4 wherein said second housing includes a wash pipe such that when said second housing receives said first annular housing, the outside wall of said wash pipe and the inside wall of said annular sleeve define said annulus.

Claim 7

A drill head according to claim 1 in which said first annular housing comprises an annular tube terminated at each end with a flange.

Claim 8

A drill head according to claim 6 in which said bearing means comprise tapered roller bearings having both radial and thrust capabilities.

Claim 9

A drill head according to claim 1 wherein said means for directing any generated internal forces onto said packing means comprises an annular groove formed on the bottom end of the annular sleeve, said annular groove being connected to a plurality of inlets, said inlets being in communication with the annular chamber formed through said drill head.

Claim 10

A drill head according to claim 1 wherein said packing means comprises an annular gland, wherein said annular gland has an inside diameter greater than the outside diameter of said wash pipe and positioned such that it encircles a portion of said second housing at the upper extremity thereof and is capable of longitudinal movement about said wash pipe.

Claim 11

A drill head according to claim 9 wherein said means for applying pressure on said pacKing means is provided by said annular gland having a shoulder formed thereon, said shoulder being of a dimension and size such that said annulus formed between said annular sleeve and said second housing being adapted to receive said shoulder.

Claim 12

A drill head according to claim 10 wherein said annular gland is threadedly affixed to the lower extremity of said annular sleeve.

Claim 13

A drill head according to claim 1 wherein said means for capping comprises an elongated resilient steel reinforced mass having an opening therethrough along the longitudinal axis thereof for the reception of said rotating driving member, the exterior of said resilient mass being tapered inwardly in a downwardly direction, said means for capping thereby providing a constrictive seal about said driving member extending therethrough and insuring a tighter seal upon the application of any pressurized fluids thereto, said mass retained on said annular sleeve by compression means.

Claim 14

A drill head according to claim 1 wherein said second housing further includes a side outlet tube for the egress of well fluids, cuttings and the like.

Claim 15

A drill head having an annular chamber formed therethrough for the reception of a rotatable driver member, such as a kelley, for use in conventional and pressure well drilling, comprising: a first stationery housing including a tubular projection at the upper extremity thereof and also including an outlet tube for the egress of well fluids, cuttings and the like, said stationery housing having means for affixing same to a well casing; a second stationery housing, adapted for mounting on said first stationary housing; a rotatable sleeve member concentrically disposed within said second stationery housing, said second stationery housing adapted for mounting on said first stationery housing thereby forming an annulus between said sleeve member and said tubular projection; bearing means interposed between said rotatable sleeve and said second stationery housing; means for lubricating said bearing means; packing means positioned in said annulus; an adjustable gland to regulate the compression of said packing means in a first direction thereby forming a rotating hermetic seal between said rotating sleeve and said tubular projection, said adjustable gland being in fixed relationship with said rotatable sleeve; capping means for the upper extremity of said rotating sleeve member, said capping means adapted to receive a driving member and further providing a seal between said drill head and said driving member; means for compressively holding said capping means with said rotatable sleeve, and means for directing any internal well pressures onto said packing means in a direction opposing said first direction thereby resulting in the expansion of said packing means, further tightening said hermetic seal.

Claim 16

A drill head having an annular chamber formed therethrough for the reception of a rotatable driver member, such as a kelley, for use in conventional and pressure well drilling, comprising: a first stationery housing including a tubular projection at the upper extremity thereof and also including an outlet tube for the egress of well fluids, cuttings and the like, said stationery housing having means for affixing same to a well casing; a second stationery housing, adapted for mounting on said first stationary housing; a rotatable sleeve member concentrically disposed within said second stationery housing, said second stationery housing adapted for mounting on said first stationery housing thereby forming an annulus between said sleeve member and said tubular projection; bearing means interposed between said rotatable sleeve and said second stationery housing; means for lubricating said bearing means; packing means positioned in said annulus; an adjustable gland to regulate the compression of said packing means in a first direction thereby forming a rotating hermetic seal between said rotating sleeve and said tubular projection, said adjustable gland being in fixed relationship with said rotatable sleeve; capping means for the upper extremity of said rotating sleeve member, said capping means adapted to receive a driving member and further providing a seal between said drill head and said driving member; means for compressively holding said capping means with said rotatable sleeve, and means for directing any internal well pressures onto said packing means in a direction opposing said first direction thereby resulting in the expansion of said packing means, further tightening said hermetic seal.

Claim 17

A drill head according to claim 14 wherein said means for directing any internal well pressures onto said packing means comprises an annular groove formed on the bottom edge of said rotatable sleeve, said annular groove positioned immediately adjacent the upper portion of said packing means and said annular groove being further connected to a plurality of inlets, said inlets being in communication with any generated well pressures.

Claim 18

A drill head according to claim 15 wherein said adjustable gland has an inside diameter greater than the outside diameter of said tubular projection and positioned such that said gland encircles said tubular projection and is adjustably affixed to said rotating sleeve and is rotatable therewith.

Claim 19

A drill head having an annular chamber formed therethrough in communication with any existing well pressures, said annular chamber adapted to receive a rotatable driver member for use in conventional and well drilling operations, comprising: a first stationery housing including a hard smooth tubular projection at the upper extremity thereof, said first stationery housing furtHer including an outlet for the egress of internal well wastes and also including means for affixing said stationery housing to a well casing; a second stationary housing adapted for mounting on said first stationary housing; a sleeve member rotatable disposed within said second stationery housing wherein an annulus is formed between the inside surface of a shoulder formed on the lower extremity of said sleeve member and the outside surface of said tubular projection when said second stationery housing is mounted on said first stationery housing; packing means concentrically positioned in said annulus; an adjustable gland to regulate the compression of said packing means in a first direction thereby forming a rotating hermetic seal between said rotating sleeve member and said tubular projection, said adjustable gland being in fixed relationship with said rotatable sleeve and having an inside diameter greater than the outside diameter of said tubular projection and positioned such that said gland encircles said tubular projection and is adjustably affixed to said rotating sleeve; capping means for the upper extremity of said rotating sleeve member, said capping means adapted to receive a driving member and further providing a seal between said drill head and said driving member; means for holding said capping means in compression with said rotatable sleeve member, and an annular groove and a plurality of inlets formed on the bottom edge of said sleeve member, said annular groove being connected to said inlets, said inlets being in communication with the well chamber whereby any generated forces are directed through said inlets to said groove and applied directly to said packing means by said groove, said forces being directed onto said packing means in a direction opposing said first direction.

Claim 20

A drill head having an annular chamber formed therethrough in communication with any existing well pressures, said annular chamber adapted to receive a rotatable driver member for use in conventional and well drilling operations, comprising: a first stationery housing including a hard smooth tubular projection at the upper extremity thereof, said first stationery housing furtHer including an outlet for the egress of internal well wastes and also including means for affixing said stationery housing to a well casing; a second stationary housing adapted for mounting on said first stationary housing; a sleeve member rotatable disposed within said second stationery housing wherein an annulus is formed between the inside surface of a shoulder formed on the lower extremity of said sleeve member and the outside surface of said tubular projection when said second stationery housing is mounted on said first stationery housing; packing means concentrically positioned in said annulus; an adjustable gland to regulate the compression of said packing means in a first direction thereby forming a rotating hermetic seal between said rotating sleeve member and said tubular projection, said adjustable gland being in fixed relationship with said rotatable sleeve and having an inside diameter greater than the outside diameter of said tubular projection and positioned such that said gland encircles said tubular projection and is adjustably affixed to said rotating sleeve; capping means for the upper extremity of said rotating sleeve member, said capping means adapted to receive a driving member and further providing a seal between said drill head and said driving member; means for holding said capping means in compression with said rotatable sleeve member, and an annular groove and a plurality of inlets formed on the bottom edge of said sleeve member, said annular groove being connected to said inlets, said inlets being in communication with the well chamber whereby any generated forces are directed through said inlets to said groove and applied directly to said packing means by said groove, said forces being directed onto said packing means in a direction opposing said first direction.