Force-measuring apparatus for use in a well bore pipe string

Claim 2

Apparatus adapted for sensing loads acting on a pipe string in a well bore and comprising: a load-bearing body adapted for coupling to a string of pipe; a deformable load-responsive member secured in a normal upright position between longitudinally-spaced portions of said loadbearing body and having an unrestrained intermediate portion adapted to deform in response to increases and decreases in axial loads imposed on said load-bearing body tending to move said spaced body portions longitudinally in relation to one another and to tilt in relation to its said normal position in response to torsional loads imposed on said load-bearing body tending to move said spaced body portions angularly in relation to one another; first transducer means coupled to said load-responsive member and having a measurable characteristic adapted to vary in response to deformation of said load-responsive member occurring upon relative longitudinal movement between said spaced body portions; and torque-responsive means including second transducer means coupled to said load-responsive member and having a measurable characteristic adapted to vary in response to tilting movements of said load-responsive member away from its said normal position occurring upon relative angular movement between said spaced body portions.

Claim 3

The load-sensing apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one of said measurable characteristics is an electrical property; and said first transducer means include at least one strain gage mounted on said intermediate portion of said load-responsive member and exhibiting a varying range of said electrical property in response to strain variations occurring upon the deforamtion of said load-response member by axial loads on said load-bearing body.

Claim 4

The load-sensing apparatus of claim 2 wherein said torque-responsive means include a deformable member projecting laterally from said intermediate portion of said load-responsive member and cooperatively arranged to deform in response to tilting movements of said load-responsive member, and said second transducer means include at least one strain gage mounted on said lateral member and exhibiting a varying range of said electrical property in response to strain variations occurring upon the deformation of said lateral member by torsional loads on said load-bearing body.

Claim 5

The load-sensing apparatus of claim 2 wherein said intermediate portion of said load-responsive member is cooperatively curved and arranged to be strained in proportion to the extent of curvature of said intermediate portion.

Claim 6

The load-sensing apparatus of claim 4 wherein said torque-responsive means include a deformable member projecting laterally from said intermediate portion of said load-responsive member and cooperatively arranged to deform in response to tilting movements of said load-responsive member, and said second transducer means include at least one strain gage mounted on said lateral member and exhibiting a varying range of said electrical property in response to strain variations occurring upon the deformation of said lateral member by torsional loads on said load-bearing body.

Claim 7

Apparatus adapted for sensing loads acting on a pipe string in a well bore and comprising: a load-bearing body adapted for coupling in a string of pipe; a load-responsive member having axially-spaced opposite portions respectively securEd between longitudinally-spaced portions of said load-bearing body for normally maintaining said load-responsive member in an upright position and an unrestrained non-linear intermediate portion cooperatively arranged to deflect in response to axial loads imposed on said load-bearing body tending to move one of said spaced body portions longitudinally in relation to the other of said spaced body portions as well as to shift away from said upright position in response to torsional loads imposed on said load-bearing body tending to move one of said spaced body portions angularly in relation to the other of said spaced body portions; first means coupled to said intermediate portion of said load-responsive member and cooperatively arranged for providing a first output signal proportional to deflections of said intermediate portion of said load-responsive member occurring upon relative longitudinal movement between said spaced body portions caused by axial loads imposed on said load-bearing body; and second means coupled to said intermediate portion of said load-responsive member and cooperatively arranged for providing a second output signal proportional to the extent of movement of said load-responsive member away from its said upright position occurring upon relative angular movements between said spaced body portions caused by torsional loads imposed on said load-bearing body.

Claim 8

Apparatus adapted for sensing loads acting on a pipe string in a well bore and comprising: a load-bearing body adapted for coupling in a string of pipe; a load-responsive member having axially-spaced opposite portions respectively securEd between longitudinally-spaced portions of said load-bearing body for normally maintaining said load-responsive member in an upright position and an unrestrained non-linear intermediate portion cooperatively arranged to deflect in response to axial loads imposed on said load-bearing body tending to move one of said spaced body portions longitudinally in relation to the other of said spaced body portions as well as to shift away from said upright position in response to torsional loads imposed on said load-bearing body tending to move one of said spaced body portions angularly in relation to the other of said spaced body portions; first means coupled to said intermediate portion of said load-responsive member and cooperatively arranged for providing a first output signal proportional to deflections of said intermediate portion of said load-responsive member occurring upon relative longitudinal movement between said spaced body portions caused by axial loads imposed on said load-bearing body; and second means coupled to said intermediate portion of said load-responsive member and cooperatively arranged for providing a second output signal proportional to the extent of movement of said load-responsive member away from its said upright position occurring upon relative angular movements between said spaced body portions caused by torsional loads imposed on said load-bearing body.

Claim 9

The load-sensing apparatus of claim 6 wherein said load-responsive member is interior of said load-bearing body.

Claim 10

The load-sensing apparatus of claim 7 further including: a sleeve member having upper and lower end portions respectively extending between said spaced body portions; means cooperating with said upper and lower end portions of said sleeve member for defining an enclosed chamber around said load-responsive member; and pressure-regulating means cooperatively arranged on said load-bearing body and adapted for maintaining said enclosed chamber at an elevated pressure.

Claim 11

The load-sensing apparatus of claim 6 wherein said second means include a laterally-oriented deformable member secured between said load-bearing body and said intermediate portion of said load-responsive member and cooperatively arranged to deform upon movement of said load-responsive member away from its said upright position, and transducer means including at least one strain gage cooperatively arranged on said deformable member and exhibiting a variable electrical characteristic which is proportional to the strain developed in said deformable member by deformation thereof.

Claim 12

The load-sensing apparatus of claim 6 wherein said intermediate portion of said load-responsive member is symmetrically curved away from an axis passing through said axially-spaced portions of said load-responsive member for producing a concentrated strain at about the mid-point of said intermediate portion upon deflection thereof; and said first means include at least one strain gage mounted on about said mid-point of said intermediate portion and exhibiting a variable electrical characteristic which is proportional to the strain developed in said mid-point of said intermediate portion.

Claim 13

The load-sensing apparatus of claim 10 wherein said second means include a laterally-deformable member secured between said load-bearing body and said intermediate portion of said load-responsive member and cooperatively arranged to deform upon movement of said load-responsive member away from its said upright position, and transducer means including at least a second strain gage cooperatively arranged on said deformable member and exhibiting a variable electrical characteristic which is proportional to the strain developed in said deformable member by deformation thereof.

Claim 14

Apparatus adapted for sensing loads acting on a drill bit dependently coupled to a drill string and operatively arranged for excavating a borehole and comprising: a tubular load-bearing body adapted for tandem coupling in a tubular dRill string and having a longitudinal bore for conducting drilling fluids flowing through such drill string sections; load-responsive means cooperatively arranged between upper and lower portions of said load-bearing body and adapted for selectively responding to compressional loads imposed on said load-bearing body tending to move said upper and lower body portions longitudinally in relation to one another and to torsional loads imposed on said load-bearing body tending to move said upper and lower body portions angularly in relation to one another, said load-responsive means including a deformable loop coaxially arranged around an intermediate portion of said load-bearing body and divided into at least one substantially-rounded compressible segment and at least one elongated strip-like bendable segment having one end coupled to one side of said rounded segment and extending laterally therefrom around said intermediate body portion, first and second means respectively securing the upper and lower edges of said rounded segment to said upper and lower body portions for alternatively compressing said rounded segment upon longitudinal movement of said upper and lower body portions toward one another and rolling said rounded segment to an inclined position upon relative angular movement between said upper and lower body portions so as to correspondingly tilt said strip-like segment; first electrical transducer means cooperatively arranged on said rounded segment and adapted for exhibiting a varying electrical characteristic proportional to the magnitude of compressional forces applied to said rounded segment; and second electrical transducer means cooperatively arranged on said strip-like segment and adapted for exhibiting a varying electrical characteristic proportional to the magnitude of torsional forces applied to said rounded segment.

Claim 15

Apparatus adapted for sensing loads acting on a drill bit dependently coupled to a drill string and operatively arranged for excavating a borehole and comprising: a tubular load-bearing body adapted for tandem coupling in a tubular dRill string and having a longitudinal bore for conducting drilling fluids flowing through such drill string sections; load-responsive means cooperatively arranged between upper and lower portions of said load-bearing body and adapted for selectively responding to compressional loads imposed on said load-bearing body tending to move said upper and lower body portions longitudinally in relation to one another and to torsional loads imposed on said load-bearing body tending to move said upper and lower body portions angularly in relation to one another, said load-responsive means including a deformable loop coaxially arranged around an intermediate portion of said load-bearing body and divided into at least one substantially-rounded compressible segment and at least one elongated strip-like bendable segment having one end coupled to one side of said rounded segment and extending laterally therefrom around said intermediate body portion, first and second means respectively securing the upper and lower edges of said rounded segment to said upper and lower body portions for alternatively compressing said rounded segment upon longitudinal movement of said upper and lower body portions toward one another and rolling said rounded segment to an inclined position upon relative angular movement between said upper and lower body portions so as to correspondingly tilt said strip-like segment; first electrical transducer means cooperatively arranged on said rounded segment and adapted for exhibiting a varying electrical characteristic proportional to the magnitude of compressional forces applied to said rounded segment; and second electrical transducer means cooperatively arranged on said strip-like segment and adapted for exhibiting a varying electrical characteristic proportional to the magnitude of torsional forces applied to said rounded segment.

Claim 16

The load-sensing apparatus of claim 12 wherein said rounded segment is annular so that compressional forces imposed thereon will developed enhanced strains at selected positions thereon; and said first transducer means include at least one strain gage mounted on one of said selected positions and cooperatively arranged for responding to such enhanced strains.

Claim 17

The load-sensing apparatus of claim 12 wherein the other end of said strip-like segment is secured against vertical movement so that torsional forces imposed on said rounded segment tending to tilt said strip-like segment will develop enhanced strains at selected positions thereon; and said second transducer means include at least one strain gage mounted on one of said selected positions and cooperatively arranged for responding to such enhanced strains.

Claim 18

The load-sensing apparatus of claim 12 wherein said deformable loop is interior of said load-bearing body.

Claim 19

The load-sensing apparatus of claim 15 further including: a sleeve member cooperatively arranged within said deformable loop; means cooperative with said sleeve member and said load-bearing body above and below said deformable loop for defining an enclosed chamber therearound; and pressure-equalizing means on said load-bearing body and cooperatively arranged for maintaining said enclosed chamber at an elevated pressure at least about equal to the pressure of drilling fluids in said longitudinal bore.

Claim 20

The load-sensing apparatus of claim 16 wherein said rounded segment is annular so that compressional forces imposed thereon will develop enhanced strains at selected positions thereon; and said first transducer means include at least one strain gage mounted on one of said selected positions and cooperatively arranged for responding to such enhanced strains.

Claim 21

The load-sensing apparatus of claim 16 wherein the other end of said strip-like segment is secured against vertical movement so that torsional forces imposed on said rounded segment tending to tilt said strip-like segment will develop enhanced strains at selected positions thereon; and said second transducer means include at least one strain gage mounted on one of said selected positions and cooperatively arranged for responding to such enhanced strains.

Claim 22

Apparatus adapted for sensing loads acting on a drill bit dependently coupled to a drill string and operatively arranged for excavating a borehole and comprising: a tubular load-bearing body adapted for tandem coupling in a tubular drill string and having a longitudinal bore for conducting drilling fluids flowing through such drill string sections; load-responsive means cooperatively arranged between upper and lower portions of said load-bearing body and adapted for selectively responding to compressional loads imposed on said load-bearing body tending to move said upper and lower body portions longitudinally in relation to one another and to torsional loads imposed on said load-bearing body tending to move said upper and lower body portions angularly in relation to one another, said load-responsive means including a deformable loop coaxially arranged around an intermediate portion of said load-bearing body and divided into a circumferentially-spaced pair of substantially-rounded compressible segments and a circumferentially-spaced pair of elongated strip-like bendable segments having their ends respectively joined between the adjacent side edges of said rounded segments, first and second means respectively securing the upper and lower edges of said rounded segments to said upper and lower body portions for alternatively compressing said rounded segments upon longitudinal movement of said upper and lower body portions toward one another and rolling said rounded segments to a tilted position upon relative angular movement between said upper and lower body portions so as to correspondingly distort said strip-like segments; first electrical transducer means cooperatively arranged on said rounded segments and adapted for exhibiting a varying electrical characteristic proportional to the magnitude of compressional forces applied to said rounded segments; and second electrical transducer means cooperatively arranged on said strip-like segments and adapted for exhibiting a varying electrical characteristic proportional to the magnitude of torsional forces applied to said rounded segments causing distortion of said strip-like segments.

Claim 23

Apparatus adapted for sensing loads acting on a drill bit dependently coupled to a drill string and operatively arranged for excavating a borehole and comprising: a tubular load-bearing body adapted for tandem coupling in a tubular drill string and having a longitudinal bore for conducting drilling fluids flowing through such drill string sections; load-responsive means cooperatively arranged between upper and lower portions of said load-bearing body and adapted for selectively responding to compressional loads imposed on said load-bearing body tending to move said upper and lower body portions longitudinally in relation to one another and to torsional loads imposed on said load-bearing body tending to move said upper and lower body portions angularly in relation to one another, said load-responsive means including a deformable loop coaxially arranged around an intermediate portion of said load-bearing body and divided into a circumferentially-spaced pair of substantially-rounded compressible segments and a circumferentially-spaced pair of elongated strip-like bendable segments having their ends respectively joined between the adjacent side edges of said rounded segments, first and second means respectively securing the upper and lower edges of said rounded segments to said upper and lower body portions for alternatively compressing said rounded segments upon longitudinal movement of said upper and lower body portions toward one another and rolling said rounded segments to a tilted position upon relative angular movement between said upper and lower body portions so as to correspondingly distort said strip-like segments; first electrical transducer means cooperatively arranged on said rounded segments and adapted for exhibiting a varying electrical characteristic proportional to the magnitude of compressional forces applied to said rounded segments; and second electrical transducer means cooperatively arranged on said strip-like segments and adapted for exhibiting a varying electrical characteristic proportional to the magnitude of torsional forces applied to said rounded segments causing distortion of said strip-like segments.

Claim 24

The load sensing apparatus of claim 19 wherein each of said rounded segments is angular so that compressional forces imposed theron will develop enhanced strains at selected positions thereon; and said first transducer means include at least one strain gage mounted on one of said selected positions at each of said rounded segments and cooperatively arranged for responding to such enhanced strains.

Claim 25

The load-sensing apparatus of claim 20 wherein said second transducer means include at least one strain gage mounted on each of said strip-like segments at a position thereon expected to experience maximum distortion and, therefore, enhanced strains.

Claim 26

The load-sensing apparatus of claim 19 wherein said deformable loop is interior of said load-bearing body.

Claim 27

The load-sensing apparatus of claim 22 further including: a sleeve member cooperatively arranged within said deformable loop; first and second means cooperatively arranged between the upper and lower end portions of said sleeve member and said load-bearing body above and below said deformable loop for defining an enclosed chamber therearound; and pressure-equalizing means on said load-bearing body and cooperatively arranged for maintaining said enclosed chamber at an elevated pressure at least about equal to the pressure of drilling fluids in said longitudinal bore.

Claim 28

The load-sensing apparatus of claim 23 wherein each of said rounded segments is annular so that compressional forces imposed thereon will develop enhanced strains at selected positions thereon; and said first transducer means include at least one strain gage mounted on one of said selected positions on each of said roundeD segments and cooperatively arranged for responding to such enhanced strains.

Claim 29

The load-sensing apparatus of claim 24 wherein said second transducer means include at least one strain gage mounted on each of said strip-like segments at a position thereon expected to experience maximum distortion and, therefore, enhanced strains.