Directional drilling tool

Claim 2

A directional drilling tool adapted for use on a fluid conductive drill string having a remote end mounting a drill bit and an opposite upper end portion, the tool comprising a tool body, having an internal receptacle at a predetermined position, adapted to be mounted on the drill string in substantially coaxial alignment therewith spaced from the drill bit in the direction of the upper portion of the drill string; a work member mounted on the tool body for selected movement laterally of said tool body for engagment with the wall of a borehole within which the drill string is received; a fluid conductive reciprocal member mounted within said tool body for movement substantially axially thereof and having an exterior cam surface in engagement with the work member internally of the tool body and a seat at the end thereof remote from the drill bit adjacent to the internal receptacle; and means for selective receipt in said seat in obstructing relation to fluid under a predetermined pressure conducted through the drill string to cause movement of the reciprocal member toward said drill bit within the tool body whereby the work member is moved laterally from said tool body and for gravitational movement from the seat and into said receptacle when fluid pressure is reduced below said predetermined pressure.

Claim 3

The tool of claim 1 wherein the cam surface of the reciprocal member has portions sloped in increments of increasing lateral distance from the axis of the reciprocal member in the direction of the seat whereby greater fluid pressure exerted against the reciprocal member produces greater lateral extension of the work member.

Claim 4

The tool of claim 2 wherein the tool body mounts means for limiting movement of the reciprocal member toward the drill bit beyond a predetermined position in the tool body until a predetermined fluid pressure is applied to said reciprocal member.

Claim 5

A directional drilling tool adapted for use on a fluid conductive drill string having a remote end mounting a drill bit and an opposite upper end portion, the tool comprising a tool body, having an internal receptacle located in a predetermined position, adapted to be mounted on the drill string in substantially coaxial alignment therewith spaced from the drill bit in the direction of the upper portion of the drill string; a work member mounted on the tool body for selected movement laterally of said tool body for engagement with the wall of a borehole within which the drill string is received; a fluid conductive reciprocal member mounted within said tool body for movement substantially axially thereof and having an exterior cam surface in engagement with the work member internally of the tool body and a seat at the end thereof remote from the drill bit, said cam surface being composed of portions sloped in increments of increasing lateral distance from the axis of the reciprocal member in the direction of the seat thereof whereby greater fluid pressure exerted against the reciprocal member produces a corresponding greater lateral extension of the work member and said reciprocal member being fluid conductive by means of a first passage extending substantially axially therethrough in communication with the seat and by means of a second passage by passing said seat; first resilient means interconnecting the tool body and the work member urging said work member into a retracted position in the tool body in engagement with the cam surface; second resilient means interconnecting the tool body and the reciprocal member urging said reciprocal member into a predetermined retracted position; and a substantially spherical ball dimensional for selective receipt in said seat of the reciprocal member in obstructing relation to fluid conducted through the drill string permitting selective pressurization against said ball and reciprocal member while simultaneously permitting fluid to be conducted to the drill bit through said second passage for continued operation of the drill string, said internal receptacle of the tool body being laterally adjacent to the seat of the reciprocal member for gravitational receipt of the ball when fluid pressure is reduced.

Claim 6

A directional drilling tool adapted for use on a fluid conductive drill string having a remote end mounting a drill bit and an opposite upper end portion, the tool comprising a tool body, having an internal receptacle located in a predetermined position, adapted to be mounted on the drill string in substantially coaxial alignment therewith spaced from the drill bit in the direction of the upper portion of the drill string; a work member mounted on the tool body for selected movement laterally of said tool body for engagement with the wall of a borehole within which the drill string is received; a fluid conductive reciprocal member mounted within said tool body for movement substantially axially thereof and having an exterior cam surface in engagement with the work member internally of the tool body and a seat at the end thereof remote from the drill bit, said cam surface being composed of portions sloped in increments of increasing lateral distance from the axis of the reciprocal member in the direction of the seat thereof whereby greater fluid pressure exerted against the reciprocal member produces a corresponding greater lateral extension of the work member and said reciprocal member being fluid conductive by means of a first passage extending substantially axially therethrough in communication with the seat and by means of a second passage by passing said seat; first resilient means interconnecting the tool body and the work member urging said work member into a retracted position in the tool body in engagement with the cam surface; second resilient means interconnecting the tool body and the reciprocal member urging said reciprocal member into a predetermined retracted position; and a substantially spherical ball dimensional for selective receipt in said seat of the reciprocal member in obstructing relation to fluid conducted through the drill string permitting selective pressurization against said ball and reciprocal member while simultaneously permitting fluid to be conducted to the drill bit through said second passage for continued operation of the drill string, said internal receptacle of the tool body being laterally adjacent to the seat of the reciprocal member for gravitational receipt of the ball when fluid pressure is reduced.

Claim 7

The tool of claim 4 wherein the tool body mounts means for limiting movement of the reciprocal member toward the drill bit beyond a predetermined position in the tool body controlling lateral extension of the work member until a predetermined fluid pressure is exerted on said reciprocal member and a sealing member is adapted selectively to be lowered through the drill string to engage the reciprocal member in sealing relation to the first and second passages to permit creation of said predetermined fluid pressure.

Claim 8

The tool of claim 5 wherein the limiting means includes a barrier secured within the path of movement of the tubular member by pins adapted to shear at said predetermined fluid pressure.

Claim 9

The tool of claim 6 wherein a pair of said tools is mounted on the drill string, the reciprocal members of said tools having seats and first passages of different diameters and the tool having the first passage of greater diameter mounted on the drill string above the other tool whereby the tools can be operated alternatively by inserting a ball adapted to be received in the seat of the desired tool.

Claim 10

The tool of claim 7 wherein the reciprocal member of each tool has a plate defining its respective seat, said plate being resiliently urged from said drill bit for expulsion of a ball from its seat for receipt by the receptacle by sufficient reduction of fluid pressure against the ball.

Claim 11

The tool of claim 8 wherein said second resilient means includes a sealed chamber enclosed between the tool body and reciprocal member adapted to receive a gas resiliently compressible by movement of the reciprocal member toward the drill bit.

Claim 12

A tool for use on a fluid conductive assembly, the tool having a tool body adapted to be mounted on the assembly in fluid transferring relation; means for performing a work operation borne on the tool body for movement along a path of travel extending to a position laterally disposed with respect to said tool body; and a reciprocal member received within the tool body for movement along a path substantially axially thereof and having an external cam surface engaging the performing means sloped in increments of increasing lateral distance from the axis of the reciprocal member whereby predetermined fluid pressure applied to said reciprocal member through a fluid conductive assembly upon which the tool is mounted causes predetermined movement of the reciprocal member and corresponding predetermined movement of said performing means along the path of travel.

Claim 13

A tool for use on a fluid conductive assembly, the tool having a tool body adapted to be mounted on the assembly in fluid transferring relation; means for performing a work operation borne on the tool body for movement along a path of travel extending to a position laterally disposed with respect to said tool body; and a reciprocal member received within the tool body for movement along a path substantially axially thereof and having an external cam surface engaging the performing means sloped in increments of increasing lateral distance from the axis of the reciprocal member whereby predetermined fluid pressure applied to said reciprocal member through a fluid conductive assembly upon which the tool is mounted causes predetermined movement of the reciprocal member and corresponding predetermined movement of said performing means along the path of travel.

Claim 14

The tool of claim 10 wherein the reciprocal member has an opening through which said fluid transferring relation is established with a fluid conducting assembly on which the tool is mounted and said tool includes an actuation member adapted selectively to be transported through said assembly for receipt in fluid obstructing relation to the opening to permit said predetermined fluid pressure to be applied to the reciprocal member and the actuation member.

Claim 15

The tool of claim 11 wherein the tool body has an internal receptacle laterally disposed with respect to said opening and adapted gravitationally to receive said actuating member from the opening when fluid pressure is reduced to a predetermined level fully to establish the fluid communication in the assembly through the tool.

Claim 16

The tool of claim 12 including a barrier borne on the tool body in a predetermined position in said path of movement of the reciprocal member by pins adapted to shear upon the application of predetermined pressure against said reciprocal member.

Claim 17

The tool of claim 13 wherein a pair of said tools are adapted to be mounted on a fluid conductive assembly, the reciprocal members of said tools having openings of different cross section and the tool having the opening of largest cross section mounted on the assembly above the other tool whereby the tools can be operated alternatively by transporting an actuating member through the assembly which is of a cross section to be received in the opening of the tool to be actuated.