Patent US6341323B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3874464A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Processing of drilling an earth formation
Assignee: Aardvark Corp
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Filing: 1974-06-03
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Granted: 1975-04-01
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Expires: 1994-06-03
Abstract
Abstract The process employs a rotary drill rod comprising an elongated pipe having a longitudinally extending bore therethrough and a percussive bit at the distal end thereof. An abutment is provided relatively transverse the bore adjacent the bit, which is operatively connected with the bit to receive and transmit hammer blows into the working face of the bit. Moreover, a piston-like member is inserted into the bore of the pipe, which is slidably engageable with the wall of the bore and has a hammer mechanism thereon. The hammer of the mechanism is reciprocated between the member and the abutment to apply blows to the abutment, while fluid is passed through the member and exhausted into the region adjacent the working face of the bit. The exhausted fluid is discharged from said region toward the proximal end of the pipe on the opposite side of the pipe from the piston-like member and a pressure differential is generated across the piston-like member longitudinally of the bore to maintain the hammer mechanism in operative relationship to the abutment during the application of the blows.
Inventors
- 👤 Gerald T Sweeney
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 05:57
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B4/00; E21B4/06; E21B25/00; E21B25/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
183 words
In the process of drilling an earth formation using a rotary drill rod comprising an elongated pipe having a longitudinally extending bore therethrough and percusive bit at the distal end thereof, the steps of providing relatively transverse the bore adjacent the bit an abutment which is operatively connected with the bit to receive and transmit hammer blows into the working face of the bit, inserting into the bore of the pipe, a pistonlike member which is slidably engagable with the wall of the bore and has a hammer mechanism thereon, reciprocating the hammer of the mechanism between the member and the abutment to apply blows to the abutment, while passing fluid through the member and exhausting the fluid into the region adjacent the working face of the bit, discharging the exhausted fluid from said region toward the proximal end of the pipe on the opposite side of the pipe from the piston-like member and generating a pressure differential across the piston-like member longitudinally of the bore to maintain the hammer mechanism in operative relationship to the abutment during the application of the blows.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
183 words
In the process of drilling an earth formation using a rotary drill rod comprising an elongated pipe having a longitudinally extending bore therethrough and percusive bit at the distal end thereof, the steps of providing relatively transverse the bore adjacent the bit an abutment which is operatively connected with the bit to receive and transmit hammer blows into the working face of the bit, inserting into the bore of the pipe, a pistonlike member which is slidably engagable with the wall of the bore and has a hammer mechanism thereon, reciprocating the hammer of the mechanism between the member and the abutment to apply blows to the abutment, while passing fluid through the member and exhausting the fluid into the region adjacent the working face of the bit, discharging the exhausted fluid from said region toward the proximal end of the pipe on the opposite side of the pipe from the piston-like member and generating a pressure differential across the piston-like member longitudinally of the bore to maintain the hammer mechanism in operative relationship to the abutment during the application of the blows.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The drilling opEration according to claim 1 wherein the hammer mechanism is fluid operated and the fluid is exhausted into the region adjacent the working face of the bit after the mechanism has operated.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
The drilling operation according to claim 1 wherein the bit has a greater diameter than the pipe, and the fluid is discharged through an annulus which is disposed between the pipe and the wall of the excavated hole.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The drilling operation according to claim 3 wherein the pipe is rotated during the operation, and the bit is engaged on the distal end of the pipe to rotate in conjuction therewith.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
The drilling operation according to claim 3 wherein the fluid is exhausted through the body of the bit, and the outer periphery of the bit is adapted to enable the exhausted fluid to discharge thereacross into an annulus formed by the pipe and the wall of the excavated hole.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The drilling operation according to claim 1 wherein an anvil is relatively reciprocably interposed in the bore between the hammer and the abutment to receive and transmit the blows to the abutment.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
The drilling operation according to claim 6 wherein the bit is annular and the operation further comprises providing excavation means on the distal end of the anvil adjacent the inner peripheral opening of the bit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
The drilling operation according to claim 7 wherein the anvil is engaged with the abutment and the excavation means is interposed between the abutment and the mouth of the opening.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
The drilling operation according to claim 7 wherein the excavation means is recessed and the recess is interposed between the anvil and the mouth of the opening to receive earth material through the opening.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The drilling operation according to claim 7 wherein the anvil defines a passage for the fluid and the fluid is exhausted through the anvil passage.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
The drilling operation according to claim 10 wherein the excavation means defines a continued passage for the fluid with the rod, and the fluid is exhausted through the continued passage.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
The drilling operation according to claim 11 wherein the bit defines a port for the fluid through the body thereof, and the fluid is exhausted through the port.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
41 words
The drilling operation according to claim 6 wherein the anvil and the piston-like member are retractably inserted in the bore, the anvil is operably connected with the piston-like member, and the member and the anvil are conjointly retracted from the bore.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
The drilling operation according to claim 13 wherein the anvil is also slidably engaged with the wall of the bore.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
42 words
The drilling operation according to claim 1 wherein the proximal end portion of the bore is fluid pressurized, and the pressure differential is generated by causing a pressure drop across the member in the direction of the distal end of the bore.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
90 words
The drilling operation according to claim 1 wherein the piston-like member defines a passage for the fluid and the passage has a throttle valve therein which is biased to close the passage to fluid flow until a predetermined fluid pressure is achieved at the proximal end thereof, and wherein the proximal end portion of the bore is fluid pressurized to a pressure below said predetermined pressure, to pump the member lengthwise of the bore, and then pressurized to a pressure above said predetermined pressure to pass fluid through the member.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
36 words
The drilling operation according to claim 1 wherein the hammer mechanism is interposed between the piston-like member and the distal end of the bore in spaced relationship to the abutment and the wall of the bore.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
31 words
The drilling operation according to claim 1 wherein the piston-like member is retractably inserted in the bore and is retracted from the bore by a wire line retriever or the like.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
47 words
The drilling operation according to claim 1 wherein the bit is annular, an anvil is relatively reciprocably interposed in the bore between the hammer and the face of the bit to receive and transmit the blows to the bit, anD the fluid is exhausted through the anvil.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
30 words
The drilling operation according to claim 19 wherein the anvil is inserted in the pipe and slidably engaged with the wall of the bore between the hammer and the bit.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
70 words
The drilling operation according to claim 1 wherein the bit is annular and the piston-like member is retractably inserted in the bore of the pipe, and wherein the operation further comprises retractably inserting excavation means in the inner peripheral opening of the bit, operably connecting the piston-like member with the excavation means, and conjointly retracting the piston-like member and the excavation means from the rod adjacent the proximal end thereof.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
32 words
The drilling operation according to claim 21 wherein the excavation means is recessed and a core sample is captured in the recess thereof before the excavation means is retracted from the rod.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
30 words
The drilling operation according to claim 21 wherein the abutment is disposed on the pipe and the excavation means is inserted therethrough into the inner peripheral opening of the bit.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
41 words
The drilling operation according to claim 21 wherein an anvil is operably connected with the excavation means and interposed between the piston-like member and the excavation means to receive and transmit the hammer blows into the working face of the bit.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-03-31 | 1978-09-30 | 1979-04-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-03-31 | 1982-09-30 | 1983-04-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-03-31 | 1986-09-30 | 1987-04-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |