Turbodrill

Claim 2

A turbodrill including a top portion connected with the lower end of the string of drill pipes for receiving a flushing fluid and a bottom portion including a member for connection with a bit, comprising: a casing with stators secured therein, said stators including vanes forming guide passages for passing the flushing fluid delivered from the string of drill pipes; rotors in said casing having vanes directed opposite to said vanes of the stator and so arranged that said rotor and stator vanes form turbine stages wherein the progressive motion of the flushing fluid is transformed into the rotary motion of the rotors; a shaft with said rotors located thereon axIally installed in the casing on supports for relative rotation with respect to the casing; a suporting unit for transmitting loads from the string of drill pipes to the bit; carriers including bearing means installed therein; means for transmitting torgue from said carriers to said supporting unit; said carriers with the bearing means being so arranged between said stators and rotors as to form a friction reducer with the latter whose inner driving wheel is said rotors and the outer wheel is said stators and between which said bearing means roll along during rotation of said rotors under the action of the contact friction force developed between the bearing means, stators and rotors; the diameter of said inner driving wheel of the reducer being smaller than that of said outer wheel thereof, the speed of rotation of said member to which the bit is attached reduces with respect to the speed of rotation of said rotor; and means for pressing said bearing means to said inner and outer wheels of the friction reducer.

Claim 3

A turbodrill including a top portion connected with the lower end of the string of drill pipes for receiving a flushing fluid and a bottom portion including a member for connection with a bit, comprising: a casing with stators secured therein, said stators including vanes forming guide passages for passing the flushing fluid delivered from the string of drill pipes; rotors in said casing having vanes directed opposite to said vanes of the stator and so arranged that said rotor and stator vanes form turbine stages wherein the progressive motion of the flushing fluid is transformed into the rotary motion of the rotors; a shaft with said rotors located thereon axially installed in the casing on supports for relative rotation with respect to the casing; a supporting unit for transmitting loads from the string of drill pipes to the bit; carriers including bearing means installed therein; means for transmitting torgue from said carriers to said supporting unit; said carriers with the bearing means being so arranged between said stators and retors as to form a friction reducer with the latter whose inner driving wheel is said rotors, the outer wheel is said stators and between which said bearing means roll along during rotation of said rotors under the action of the contact friction force developed betwen the bearing means, stators, and rotors; said rotors and stators having raceways for rolling the bearing means with the rotor raceways in an operating position located above the respective raceways of the stators due to which said bearing means are pressed to said raceways under the action of axial force directed downward and developed on the rotors due to the course of the progressive motion of the flushing fluid through said turbine stages thus resulting in formation of a contact friction force between said bearing means, stator, and rotor raceways which ensure transmission of the torque to the bit, the diameter of the rotor raceways being smaller than that of the stator raceways, the speed of rotation of said member to which the bit is attached reduces with respect to the speed of rotation of said rotors.

Claim 4

A turbodrill including a top portion connected with the lower end of the string of drill pipes for receiving a flushing fluid and a bottom portion including a member for connection with a bit, comprising: a casing with stators secured therein, said stators including vanes forming guide passages for passing the flushing fluid delivered from the string of drill pipes; rotors in said casing having vanes directed opposite to said vanes of the stator and so arranged that said rotor and stator vanes form turbine stages wherein the progressive motion of the flushing fluid is transformed into the rotary motion of the rotors; a shaft with said rotors located thereon axially installed in the casing on supports for relative rotation with respect to the casing; a supporting unit for transmitting loads from the string of drill pipes to the bit; carriers including bearing means installed therein; means for transmitting torgue from said carriers to said supporting unit; said carriers with the bearing means being so arranged between said stators and retors as to form a friction reducer with the latter whose inner driving wheel is said rotors, the outer wheel is said stators and between which said bearing means roll along during rotation of said rotors under the action of the contact friction force developed betwen the bearing means, stators, and rotors; said rotors and stators having raceways for rolling the bearing means with the rotor raceways in an operating position located above the respective raceways of the stators due to which said bearing means are pressed to said raceways under the action of axial force directed downward and developed on the rotors due to the course of the progressive motion of the flushing fluid through said turbine stages thus resulting in formation of a contact friction force between said bearing means, stator, and rotor raceways which ensure transmission of the torque to the bit, the diameter of the rotor raceways being smaller than that of the stator raceways, the speed of rotation of said member to which the bit is attached reduces with respect to the speed of rotation of said rotors.

Claim 5

A turbodrill as claimed in claim 2 wherein the force with which said bearing menas are pressed against said raceways of the rotors and stators is increased by providing the latter with a means providing axial displacement relative to said casing for increasing dependability of operation of said friction reducer.

Claim 6

A turbodrill including a top portion connected with the lower end of the string of drill pipes for receiving a flushing fluid and a bottom portion for connection with a bit, comprising: a casing including means for connection at an upper end with the string of drill pipes; a shaft in said casing on supports for relative rotation to the casing; a supporting unit for transmitting loads from said string of drill pipes to the bit, said unit being located in said casing and accommodating said shaft and connecting said shaft to the bit; stators secured in said casing, said stator including vanes forming guide passages for receiving the flushing fluid delivered from said string of drill pipes; rotors in said casing having vanes directed opposite to said vanes of the stators and so arranged that said rotor and stator vanes form turbine stages wherein the progressive motion of the flushing fluid is transformed into the rotary motion of the rotors; said rotors being axially installed on said shaft to be rotatable relative to said rotating shaft; said rotors and stators being provided with raceways, the raceways of the rotors in the operating position being disposed above the respective raceways of the stators; carriers with bearing means installed therein arranged in each stage of the turbine between the raceways of said stators and rotors so that said rotors thrust through said bearing means upon said stators and form with the latter and said carriers a planetary friction-reducer whose inner driving wheel is said rotors, whose outer stationary wheel is said stators, the planetary frictionreducer wheels including pinions comprising the bearing means, and the driven element of said reducer being said carriers, said carriers transmitting torque generated being provided with hubs connected to said shaft and being axially displaceable relative to the shaft, the diameter of said raceways of the rotors being smaller than that of said raceways of the stators, the speed of rotation of said carriers and the shaft connect to the bit being reduced with respect to the speed of rotation of said rotors.

Claim 7

A turbodrill including a top portion connected with the lower end of the string of drill pipes for receiving a flushing fluid and a bottom portion for connection with a bit, comprising: a casing including means for connection at an upper end with the string of drill pipes; a shaft in said casing on supports for relative rotation to the casing; a supporting unit for transmitting loads from said string of drill pipes to the bit, said unit being located in said casing and accommodating said shaft and connecting said shaft to the bit; stators secured in said casing, said stator including vanes forming guide passages for receiving the flushing fluid delivered from said string of drill pipes; rotors in said casing having vanes directed opposite to said vanes of the stators and so arranged that said rotor and stator vanes form turbine stages wherein the progressive motion of the flushing fluid is transformed into the rotary motion of the rotors; said rotors being axially installed on said shaft to be rotatable relative to said rotating shaft; said rotors and stators being provided with raceways, the raceways of the rotors in the operating position being disposed above the respective raceways of the stators; carriers with bearing means installed therein arranged in each stage of the turbine between the raceways of said stators and rotors so that said rotors thrust through said bearing means upon said stators and form with the latter and said carriers a planetary friction-reducer whose inner driving wheel is said rotors, whose outer stationary wheel is said stators, the planetary frictionreducer wheels including pinions comprising the bearing means, and the driven element of said reducer being said carriers, said carriers transmitting torque generated being provided with hubs connected to said shaft and being axially displaceable relative to the shaft, the diameter of said raceways of the rotors being smaller than that of said raceways of the stators, the speed of rotation of said carriers and the shaft connect to the bit being reduced with respect to the speed of rotation of said rotors.

Claim 8

A turbodrill as claimed in claim 4 in which said bearing means are of maximum possible diameter, said carriers with the bearing means being arranged under the vanes of the rotors of said turbine stages.

Claim 9

A turbodrill as claimed in claim 4 in which said carriers and bearing means are arranged between the vanes of said stators and rotors and said shaft for increasing efficiency and keeping the turbodrill at reduced length.

Claim 10

A turbodrill as claimed in claim 4 wherein said rotors and stators include rings which extend along the turbodrill axis, said rings being provided with raceways for said b bearing means.

Claim 11

A turbodrill as claimed in claim 7 wherein said raceways of the rotors and stators have a concave shape for improving contact of said bearing means and alignment of said rotors.

Claim 12

A turbodrill as claimed in claim 7 wherein said raceways of the rotor are of concave shape, and the raceways of the stator are tapered for insuring permanent action of the contact friction force during wear of said bearing means.

Claim 13

A turbodrill as claimed in claim 7 wherein sealing rings are located between said carriers and below said rotors with rings being an extension of the rotors, said sealing rings increasing the pressure on said bearing means in said raceways.

Claim 14

A turbodrill including a top portion is connected with the lower end of the string of drill pipes for receiving a flushing fluid and a bottom portion connected to a bit, comprising: a casing including means adapted for connection at its upper end with the string of drill pipes; a shaft accommodated in said casing on supports for rotation relative to the casing; a supporting unit for transmitting loads from said string of drill pipes to the bit; said unit being located under said casing and accommodating said shaft and connecting the casing with the bit; stators secured in said casing having vanes forming guide passages for passing the flushing fluid delivered through said string of drill pipes; rotors in said casing having vanes directed opposite to said vanes of the stators and so arranged that said rotor and stator vanes form turbine stages wherein progressive motion of the flushing fluid is transformed into the rotary motion of the rotors, said rotors being axially installed on said shaft for rotation rotatable relative to said rotating shaft; said rotors and stators including rings having an extension along the turbodrill axis and having raceways; carriers with bearing means installed therein and arranged in each stage of the turbine between the raceways of said rings of said stators and rotors so that said rotors thrust through said bearing means upon said stators with rings and form with the latter and said carriers a planetary friction-reducer whose inner driving wheel is said rotors with rings, the outer stationary wheel is said stators with rings, the planetary wheel pinions comprise the bearing means, and the driven element of said reducer is said carriers; said carriers comprising means for transmitting the torque including hubs; one part of said hubs being connected to said shaft and being axially displaced relative to the latter and the other part of said hubs to increase the transmission ratio of the reducer, at least each second hub along the length of said turbodrill being connected with the rotors of said turbine stages located therebelow, and friction reducer being multi-stage, and the majority of the hubs being connected with the next lower rotors for increasing the transmission ratio of said reducer.

Claim 15

A turbodrill including a top portion is connected with the lower end of the string of drill pipes for receiving a flushing fluid and a bottom portion connected to a bit, comprising: a casing including means adapted for connection at its upper end with the string of drill pipes; a shaft accommodated in said casing on supports for rotation relative to the casing; a supporting unit for transmitting loads from said string of drill pipes to the bit; said unit being located under said casing and accommodating said shaft and connecting the casing with the bit; stators secured in said casing having vanes forming guide passages for passing the flushing fluid delivered through said string of drill pipes; rotors in said casing having vanes directed opposite to said vanes of the stators and so arranged that said rotor and stator vanes form turbine stages wherein progressive motion of the flushing fluid is transformed into the rotary motion of the rotors, said rotors being axially installed on said shaft for rotation rotatable relative to said rotating shaft; said rotors and stators including rings having an extension along the turbodrill axis and having raceways; carriers with bearing means installed therein and arranged in each stage of the turbine between the raceways of said rings of said stators and rotors so that said rotors thrust through said bearing means upon said stators with rings and form with the latter and said carriers a planetary friction-reducer whose inner driving wheel is said rotors with rings, the outer stationary wheel is said stators with rings, the planetary wheel pinions comprise the bearing means, and the driven element of said reducer is said carriers; said carriers comprising means for transmitting the torque including hubs; one part of said hubs being connected to said shaft and being axially displaced relative to the latter and the other part of said hubs to increase the transmission ratio of the reducer, at least each second hub along the length of said turbodrill being connected with the rotors of said turbine stages located therebelow, and friction reducer being multi-stage, and the majority of the hubs being connected with the next lower rotors for increasing the transmission ratio of said reducer.

Claim 16

A turbodrill including a top portion connected to the lower end of the string of drill pipes for receiving a flushing fluid and a bottom portion connected to a bit, comprising: a casing including means for connection of its lower end with the bit; a shaft accommodated in said casing on supports with means for permitting the casing to be rotatable relative to the shaft; a supporting unit in said casing for transmitting loads from said string of drill pipes to the bit, said unit being located above said casing accommodating said shaft and connecting the latter with the string of drill pipes; stators secured in said casing having vanes forming guide passages for passing the flushing fluid delivered from said string of drill pipes; rotors in the casing having vanes directed opposite to said vanes of the stators so arranged that said rotor and stator vanes form turbine stages in the casing wherein progressive motion of the flushing fluid is transformed into the rotary motion of the rotors and stators, said rotors being axially installed on said shaft to be rotatable relative to said shaft, said shaft being fixed against rotation, said rotors and stators including rings comprising extensions along the turbodrill axis and having raceways, the raceways of the rotors being located in an operating position above the respective raceways of the stators; carriers with bearing means installed therein, said carriers being located in each stage of the turbine, under the vanes of the rotors and between said raceways of the rings of the rotors and stators so that said rotors, with rings thrust through said bearing means upon said stators with rings and form therewith and said carriers a friction reducer in which an inner driving wheel is said rotors with rings, the outer driven wheel is said stators with rings, the intermediate wheels are said bearing means, and the stationary element of the reducer is said carriers having hubs connected with said fixed shaft, said hubs being axially displaceable with respect to said shaft the diameter of said raceways of the rotor rings being smaller than that of the raceways of the stator rings whereby the speed of rotation of the casing coupled with the bit is reduced with respect to the speed of rotation of said rotors; sealing rings installed between said hubs of the carriers and said rotors and located therebelow to increaase the pressure of said bearing means onto said raceways of the stators and rotors.

Claim 17

A turbodrill including a top portion connected to the lower end of the string of drill pipes for receiving a flushing fluid and a bottom portion connected to a bit, comprising: a casing including means for connection of its lower end with the bit; a shaft accommodated in said casing on supports with means for permitting the casing to be rotatable relative to the shaft; a supporting unit in said casing for transmitting loads from said string of drill pipes to the bit, said unit being located above said casing accommodating said shaft and connecting the latter with the string of drill pipes; stators secured in said casing having vanes forming guide passages for passing the flushing fluid delivered from said string of drill pipes; rotors in the casing having vanes directed opposite to said vanes of the stators so arranged that said rotor and stator vanes form turbine stages in the casing wherein progressive motion of the flushing fluid is transformed into the rotary motion of the rotors and stators, said rotors being axially installed on said shaft to be rotatable relative to said shaft, said shaft being fixed against rotation, said rotors and stators including rings comprising extensions along the turbodrill axis and having raceways, the raceways of the rotors being located in an operating position above the respective raceways of the stators; carriers with bearing means installed therein, said carriers being located in each stage of the turbine, under the vanes of the rotors and between said raceways of the rings of the rotors and stators so that said rotors, with rings thrust through said bearing means upon said stators with rings and form therewith and said carriers a friction reducer in which an inner driving wheel is said rotors with rings, the outer driven wheel is said stators with rings, the intermediate wheels are said bearing means, and the stationary element of the reducer is said carriers having hubs connected with said fixed shaft, said hubs being axially displaceable with respect to said shaft the diameter of said raceways of the rotor rings being smaller than that of the raceways of the stator rings whereby the speed of rotation of the casing coupled with the bit is reduced with respect to the speed of rotation of said rotors; sealing rings installed between said hubs of the carriers and said rotors and located therebelow to increaase the pressure of said bearing means onto said raceways of the stators and rotors.

Claim 18

A turbodrill including a top portion connected to the lower end of a string of drill pipes for receiving a flushing fluid and a bottom portion for connection with a bit, comprising: a casing including means for connection at its lower end with the bit; a shaft accommodated in said casing on supports includinG means permitting the casing to be rotatable relative to the shaft; a supporting unit transmitting loads from said string of drill pipes to the bit, said unit being located above said casing and accommodating said shaft and connecting the latter with the string of drill pipes; stators secured in said casings having vanes forming guide passages for passing the flushing fluid delivered through said string of drill pipes; rotors in the casing having vanes directed opposite to said vanes of the stators so arranged that said rotor and stator vanes form turbine stages wherein progressive motion of the flushing fluid is transformed into the rotary motion of the rotors and stators, said rotors being axially installed on said shaft and rotatable relative to said shaft, said shaft being fixed relative to said casing, said rotors and stators having raceways of which the raceways of the rotors are located in an operative position above the respective raceways of the stators; carriers with bearing means installed therein, said carriers being located in each stage of the turbine between said vanes of the rotors and stators and said shaft in such a manner so that said rotors apply thrust through said bearing means onto said stators and form with them and said carriers a friction reducer having an inner driving wheel comprising said rotors, an outer driven wheel comprising said stators, intermediate wheels comprising said bearing means, and a stationary element of the reducer comprising said carriers having hubs connected with said rotatable shaft and being axially displaceable with respect to said shaft; the diameter of said raceways of the rotors being smaller than that of the raceways of the stator and the speed of rotation of the casing, coupled with the bit, reduces with respect to the speed of rotation fof said rotors.

Claim 19

A turbodrill including a top portion connected to the lower end of a string of drill pipes for receiving a flushing fluid and a bottom portion for connection with a bit, comprising: a casing including means for connection at its lower end with the bit; a shaft accommodated in said casing on supports includinG means permitting the casing to be rotatable relative to the shaft; a supporting unit transmitting loads from said string of drill pipes to the bit, said unit being located above said casing and accommodating said shaft and connecting the latter with the string of drill pipes; stators secured in said casings having vanes forming guide passages for passing the flushing fluid delivered through said string of drill pipes; rotors in the casing having vanes directed opposite to said vanes of the stators so arranged that said rotor and stator vanes form turbine stages wherein progressive motion of the flushing fluid is transformed into the rotary motion of the rotors and stators, said rotors being axially installed on said shaft and rotatable relative to said shaft, said shaft being fixed relative to said casing, said rotors and stators having raceways of which the raceways of the rotors are located in an operative position above the respective raceways of the stators; carriers with bearing means installed therein, said carriers being located in each stage of the turbine between said vanes of the rotors and stators and said shaft in such a manner so that said rotors apply thrust through said bearing means onto said stators and form with them and said carriers a friction reducer having an inner driving wheel comprising said rotors, an outer driven wheel comprising said stators, intermediate wheels comprising said bearing means, and a stationary element of the reducer comprising said carriers having hubs connected with said rotatable shaft and being axially displaceable with respect to said shaft; the diameter of said raceways of the rotors being smaller than that of the raceways of the stator and the speed of rotation of the casing, coupled with the bit, reduces with respect to the speed of rotation fof said rotors.

Claim 20

A turbodrill including a top portion connected to the lower end of the string of drill pipes for receiving a flushing fluid and bottom portion connected to a bit, comprising: a casing including means for connection at its lower end with the bit; a shaft accommodated in said casing on supports including means for permitting said casing to be rotatable relative to said shaft; a supporting unit transmitting loads from said string of drill pipes to the bit, said unit including means above said casing and accommodating said shaft and connecting the latter with the string of drill pipes; stators secured in said casing having vanes forming guide passages for passing the flushing fluid from said string of drill pipes; rotors in the casing having vanes directed opposite to said vanes of the stators and so arranged that said rotor and stator vanes form turbine stages wherein progressive motion of the flushing fluid is transformed into the rotary motion of the rotors and stators, said rotors being axially installed on said shaft to be rotatable relative to said shaft; said rotors and stators including rings comprising an extension along the turbodrill axis and have raceways, the raceways of the rotors being located in an operating position above the respective raceways of the stators; carriers with bearing means installed therein, said carriers with said bearing means being located in each stage of the turbine under said vanes of the rotors and between said raceways of the rings of the rotors and stators so that said rotors with rings apply thrust through said bearing means onto said stators with rings and form with them and said carriers a friction in which an inner driving wheel is said rotors with rings, an outer driven wheel is said stators with rings, intermediate wheels are said bearing means, and a stationary element of the reducer is said carriers, said carriers are provided with hubs for transmitting torque, one part of said hubs being connected to said shaft and being axially displaceable relative to the latter and the other part of said hubs to increase the transmission ratio of the reducer, at least each second hub along the length of said turbodrill being connected with the rotors of said turbine stages located below, and forming, as a result, a friction reducer which is multi-stage, and the majority of the hubs are connected with the next lower rotors for increasing the transmission ratio of said reducer.

Claim 21

A turbodrill including a top portion connected to the lower end of the string of drill pipes for receiving a flushing fluid and bottom portion connected to a bit, comprising: a casing including means for connection at its lower end with the bit; a shaft accommodated in said casing on supports including means for permitting said casing to be rotatable relative to said shaft; a supporting unit transmitting loads from said string of drill pipes to the bit, said unit including means above said casing and accommodating said shaft and connecting the latter with the string of drill pipes; stators secured in said casing having vanes forming guide passages for passing the flushing fluid from said string of drill pipes; rotors in the casing having vanes directed opposite to said vanes of the stators and so arranged that said rotor and stator vanes form turbine stages wherein progressive motion of the flushing fluid is transformed into the rotary motion of the rotors and stators, said rotors being axially installed on said shaft to be rotatable relative to said shaft; said rotors and stators including rings comprising an extension along the turbodrill axis and have raceways, the raceways of the rotors being located in an operating position above the respective raceways of the stators; carriers with bearing means installed therein, said carriers with said bearing means being located in each stage of the turbine under said vanes of the rotors and between said raceways of the rings of the rotors and stators so that said rotors with rings apply thrust through said bearing means onto said stators with rings and form with them and said carriers a friction in which an inner driving wheel is said rotors with rings, an outer driven wheel is said stators with rings, intermediate wheels are said bearing means, and a stationary element of the reducer is said carriers, said carriers are provided with hubs for transmitting torque, one part of said hubs being connected to said shaft and being axially displaceable relative to the latter and the other part of said hubs to increase the transmission ratio of the reducer, at least each second hub along the length of said turbodrill being connected with the rotors of said turbine stages located below, and forming, as a result, a friction reducer which is multi-stage, and the majority of the hubs are connected with the next lower rotors for increasing the transmission ratio of said reducer.

Claim 22

A turbodrill including a top portion connected to the lower end of the string of drill pipes for receiving a flushing fluid and a bottom portion for connection with a bit, comprising: a casing including means for connection at its upper end with the string of drill pipes; a shaft accommodated in said casing on supports for relative rotation to the casing; a supporting unit for transmitting loads from said string of drill pipes to the bit, said unit being located under said casing, accommodating said shaft and including means for connection to the bit; stators secured in said casing having vanes forming guide passages for passing the flushing fluid delivered through said string of drill pipes; rotors in said casing having vanes directed opposite to said vanes of the stators and so arranged that said rotor and stator vanes form turbine stages wherein the progressive motion of the flushing fluid is transformed into the rotary motion of the rotors, said rotors and stators including rings having extension along the turbodrill axis and having raceways, said rotors and rings extending axially and secured on said shaft; carriers with bearing means arranged between said raceways of the rings of said rotors and stators so that said rotors and its rings apply thrust through said bearings means upon said stators and its rings and form therewith and with said carriers a planetary friction-reducer whose inner driving wheel comprises said rotors with rings, outer stationary wheel comprises said stators with rings, planetary wheels (pinions) comprise the bearing means, and the driven element of said reducer comprises said carriers, said rings with raceqays of the rotors and stators and said carrier with the bearing means being located under said stages of the turbine, said carrier having in the lower portion thereof a coupling for connection to said supporting unit and transmitting torque to the bit.

Claim 23

A turbodrill including a top portion connected to the lower end of the string of drill pipes for receiving a flushing fluid and a bottom portion for connection with a bit, comprising: a casing including means for connection at its upper end with the string of drill pipes; a shaft accommodated in said casing on supports for relative rotation to the casing; a supporting unit for transmitting loads from said string of drill pipes to the bit, said unit being located under said casing, accommodating said shaft and including means for connection to the bit; stators secured in said casing having vanes forming guide passages for passing the flushing fluid delivered through said string of drill pipes; rotors in said casing having vanes directed opposite to said vanes of the stators and so arranged that said rotor and stator vanes form turbine stages wherein the progressive motion of the flushing fluid is transformed into the rotary motion of the rotors, said rotors and stators including rings having extension along the turbodrill axis and having raceways, said rotors and rings extending axially and secured on said shaft; carriers with bearing means arranged between said raceways of the rings of said rotors and stators so that said rotors and its rings apply thrust through said bearings means upon said stators and its rings and form therewith and with said carriers a planetary friction-reducer whose inner driving wheel comprises said rotors with rings, outer stationary wheel comprises said stators with rings, planetary wheels (pinions) comprise the bearing means, and the driven element of said reducer comprises said carriers, said rings with raceqays of the rotors and stators and said carrier with the bearing means being located under said stages of the turbine, said carrier having in the lower portion thereof a coupling for connection to said supporting unit and transmitting torque to the bit.

Claim 24

A turbodrill having a top portion connected to the lower end of the string of drill pipes for receiving a flushing fluid and a bottom portion connected with the bit, comprising: a casing including means for connection at its lower end with the bit; a shaft accommodated in said casing on supports including means permitting said casing to be rotatable relative to said shaft; a supporting unit transmitting loads from said string of drill pipes to the bit, said unit including a portion located above said casing accommodating said shaft and being connected with the lower end of the string of drill pipes; stators secured in said casing having vanes forming guide passages for passing the flushing fluid through said string of drill pipes; rotors in said casing having vanes directed opposite to said vanes of said stators and so arranged that said rotor and stator vanes form turbine stages wherein the progressive motion of the flushing fluid is transformed into the rotary motion of the rotors and stators, said rotors and stators being provided with rings which are extensions along the turbodrill axis and have raceways in which the raceways of the rotor are located above the respective raceways of the stators, said rotors with their rings being axially installed in said casing and are secured on said shaft; carriers with bearing means installed therein arranged between said raceways of the rings of said rotors and stators so that said rotors with rings apply thrust through said bearing means upon said stators with ring and form therewith and said carriers a friction-reducer in which the inner driving wheel comprises said rotors with rings, the outer driven wheel comprises said stators with rings intermedIate wheels comprise said bearing means, and a stationary element of the reducer comprises said carriers, said rings with raceways of the rotors and stators and said carriers with the bearing means being located above said stages of the turbine, said carrier having in the upper portion thereof a coupling for connection to the lower portion of said supporting unit for transmission of reactive torque to the string of drill pipes.

Claim 25

A turbodrill having a top portion connected to the lower end of the string of drill pipes for receiving a flushing fluid and a bottom portion connected with the bit, comprising: a casing including means for connection at its lower end with the bit; a shaft accommodated in said casing on supports including means permitting said casing to be rotatable relative to said shaft; a supporting unit transmitting loads from said string of drill pipes to the bit, said unit including a portion located above said casing accommodating said shaft and being connected with the lower end of the string of drill pipes; stators secured in said casing having vanes forming guide passages for passing the flushing fluid through said string of drill pipes; rotors in said casing having vanes directed opposite to said vanes of said stators and so arranged that said rotor and stator vanes form turbine stages wherein the progressive motion of the flushing fluid is transformed into the rotary motion of the rotors and stators, said rotors and stators being provided with rings which are extensions along the turbodrill axis and have raceways in which the raceways of the rotor are located above the respective raceways of the stators, said rotors with their rings being axially installed in said casing and are secured on said shaft; carriers with bearing means installed therein arranged between said raceways of the rings of said rotors and stators so that said rotors with rings apply thrust through said bearing means upon said stators with ring and form therewith and said carriers a friction-reducer in which the inner driving wheel comprises said rotors with rings, the outer driven wheel comprises said stators with rings intermedIate wheels comprise said bearing means, and a stationary element of the reducer comprises said carriers, said rings with raceways of the rotors and stators and said carriers with the bearing means being located above said stages of the turbine, said carrier having in the upper portion thereof a coupling for connection to the lower portion of said supporting unit for transmission of reactive torque to the string of drill pipes.

Claim 26

A turbodrill as claimed in claim 1 wherein said vanes of the rotor and stator of the turbine stage have a propeller shape which ensures an optimum force of friction between said bearing means and the raceways of the stator and rotor for increasing turbodrill operating dependability.

Claim 27

A turbodrill as claimed in claim 1 wherein said carrier has sockets with replaceable bushings coated with an elastic material for receiving said bearing means to reduce the wear of said bushings and bearing means and facilitate maintenance.

Claim 28

A turbodrill as claimed in claim 1 wherein said bearing means comprise balls to increase dependability of the turbodrill operation.