US3851714A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Rotary drilling head and method of breaking pipe joints
Assignee: Cubex Ltd
•
Filing: 1973-12-26
•
Granted: 1974-12-03
•
Expires: 1993-12-26
Abstract
Abstract A rotary driving head for powering a drill string having a splined plunger within its powered spindle which is remotely controlled for selectively rigidly interconnecting the spindle and a joined section of drill pipe so that the latter can be unscrewed from its lower coupling by simply reversing the rotation of the rotary head.
Inventors
- 👤 R Visser
- 👤 V Steward
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 23:59
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B19/00; E21B19/16; E21B19/167; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49815; Y10T29/49822
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
92 words
A rotary driving head for a drill string comprising a casing, a drive spindle projecting therefrom, coupling means rotatable with said spindle for attachment to complementary coupling means on the end of a drill pipe, plunger means movable along said spindle, torque applying means on said plunger means for cooperating with complementary torque receiving means on the drill pipe coupling means, and means for shifting said plunger means between a retracted position clear of said coupling means and an advanced position projecting into said coupling means for locking said coupling means together.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
92 words
A rotary driving head for a drill string comprising a casing, a drive spindle projecting therefrom, coupling means rotatable with said spindle for attachment to complementary coupling means on the end of a drill pipe, plunger means movable along said spindle, torque applying means on said plunger means for cooperating with complementary torque receiving means on the drill pipe coupling means, and means for shifting said plunger means between a retracted position clear of said coupling means and an advanced position projecting into said coupling means for locking said coupling means together.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
A rotary driving head as described in claim 1 in which said spindle has a threaded coupling at its free end for attachment to a threaded complementary coupling on a drill pipe.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
A rotary driving head as described in claim 1 in which said spindle is hollow and said plunger is slidable within said spindle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
A rotary driving head as described in claim 3 further including means for applying pressured fluid to said plunger for actuating the same to and from its retracted and advanced positions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
A rotary driving head as described in claim 3 in which said torque applying means comprise splines on said plunger.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
A rotary driving head as described in claim 4 further including spring means for actuating said plunger in one direction and a control for said pressured fluid for selectively actuating said plunger in the other direction.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
92 words
A rotary driving head for a drill string comprising a casing and powering means, a hollow drive spindle projecting forwardly from said casing and having an internal chamber and a tool joint at its forward end, an internally splined guide sleeve in the forward portion of said chamber, an externally splined plunger reciprocable in said spindle chamber from a retracted position wholly within said chamber to an extended position projecting forwardly of said chamber for cooperating with a complementarily spliNed pipe coupling to secure said spindle and said coupling against relative rotation.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
92 words
A rotary driving head for a drill string comprising a casing and powering means, a hollow drive spindle projecting forwardly from said casing and having an internal chamber and a tool joint at its forward end, an internally splined guide sleeve in the forward portion of said chamber, an externally splined plunger reciprocable in said spindle chamber from a retracted position wholly within said chamber to an extended position projecting forwardly of said chamber for cooperating with a complementarily spliNed pipe coupling to secure said spindle and said coupling against relative rotation.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
A rotary driving head as described in claim 7 in combination with a complementary tool joint threadedly coupled to said joint with internal splines for mating with the splined plunger in the advanced position thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
45 words
A rotary driving head as described in claim 7 in combination with support means movably mounting said head and a remotely controlled pipe gripping device for application to a pipe string on the side of a joint to be broken opposite to said rotary head.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
120 words
The method of breaking a pipe joint in a drill pipe string threadedly attached to the drive spindle of a rotary drilling head movably mounted on a mast and of the type in which the spindle carries a member movable between a retracted position within the spindle and an advanced position securing the spindle and an attached pipe against relative rotary movement, including the steps of a. locking the pipe string on the side of the joint to be broken opposite to the rotary head, b. advancing said member into the attached pipe to lock said spindle and pipe against relative movements, and c. reversely actuating said head and spindle to unscrew the spindle attached pipe section at said joint.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
120 words
The method of breaking a pipe joint in a drill pipe string threadedly attached to the drive spindle of a rotary drilling head movably mounted on a mast and of the type in which the spindle carries a member movable between a retracted position within the spindle and an advanced position securing the spindle and an attached pipe against relative rotary movement, including the steps of a. locking the pipe string on the side of the joint to be broken opposite to the rotary head, b. advancing said member into the attached pipe to lock said spindle and pipe against relative movements, and c. reversely actuating said head and spindle to unscrew the spindle attached pipe section at said joint.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-12-02 | 1978-06-03 | 1978-12-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-12-02 | 1982-06-03 | 1982-12-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-12-02 | 1986-06-03 | 1986-12-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |