Patent US1034689A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US3968845A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3968845A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus and method for geological drilling and coring
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1975-03-06
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Granted: 1976-07-13
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Expires: 1995-03-06
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus and method for complete reverse air vacuum drilling by entrainment of chips and dust in a high velocity air stream created by applying a vacuum to the drill stem or the annulus of a drilled hole, removing the drilled particles by entrainment in the flow of air created by the vacuum and collection of the drilled particles for visual or other analysis.
Inventors
- 👤 John D. Chaffin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 10:21
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B21/00; E21B21/16; E21B21/01; E21B21/06; E21B21/07; E21B49/00; E21B49/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
212 words
A method of drilling in wet, dry, or caving formations with near 100% geologic sample recovery in dry formation and taking core samples in wet formation comprising the steps of: A. forming a continuous bore hole in the earth by drilling with a hollow stem rotary drill; B. removing the drilled material from the bore hole in dry formation by entraining the drilling material in a current of air rising in the drill stem created by a vacuum applied to the top of the drill stem; C. guiding the drilled material from the drill stem to a separator and collecting means; D. separating the drilled material from the air; E. collecting the drilled material; F. and, when wet formation or the depth limit of the vacuum is reached, the steps of disconnecting the vacuum from the drill stem; G. connecting a drilling fluid pump to the hollow drill stem; H. pumping drilling fluid down the hollow drill stem and removing the drilled material from the bore hole by entraining said material in the drilling fluid as it rises in the annulus formed between the hollow drill stem and the earth formation; I. and at selected depths in the bore hole the step of taking core samples and raising same to the surface.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
212 words
A method of drilling in wet, dry, or caving formations with near 100% geologic sample recovery in dry formation and taking core samples in wet formation comprising the steps of: A. forming a continuous bore hole in the earth by drilling with a hollow stem rotary drill; B. removing the drilled material from the bore hole in dry formation by entraining the drilling material in a current of air rising in the drill stem created by a vacuum applied to the top of the drill stem; C. guiding the drilled material from the drill stem to a separator and collecting means; D. separating the drilled material from the air; E. collecting the drilled material; F. and, when wet formation or the depth limit of the vacuum is reached, the steps of disconnecting the vacuum from the drill stem; G. connecting a drilling fluid pump to the hollow drill stem; H. pumping drilling fluid down the hollow drill stem and removing the drilled material from the bore hole by entraining said material in the drilling fluid as it rises in the annulus formed between the hollow drill stem and the earth formation; I. and at selected depths in the bore hole the step of taking core samples and raising same to the surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 1 including the further step of pushing a casing down between the earth formation and the drill stem after the wet formation is passed, or sealing off the wet formation with chemical.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method according to claim 2 with the additional steps of disconnecting the drilling fluid pump from the drill stem and removing all fluid by vacuum and connecting the vacuum thereto and removing the drilled material as in steps B through F.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method according to claim 1 and when drilling and removing the drilled material by steps B through F, the additional step of forcing air down the annulus to assist the vacuum in raising the drilled material up through the drill stem.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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Cited
US2167393A
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US2329330A
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US2849213A
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US2839273A
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FR1155672A
Cited
US3291229A
Cited
US3655001A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-07-13 | 1980-01-12 | 1980-07-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-07-13 | 1984-01-12 | 1984-07-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-07-13 | 1988-01-12 | 1988-07-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |