Drill pipe reforming method and apparatus

Claim 2

Apparatus for reforming a crushed section of a pipe member having a threaded end portion and an interior annular shoulder portion located between said crushed section and said threaded end portion, comprising an elongate plunger member adapted for at least partial insertion longitudinally into and through said threaded end and interior shoulder portions and along the length of said crushed section of said pipe, a plurality of shoe members shaped to form a segmented hollow and generally cylindrical assembly having a cross-sectional diameter less than the inside diameter of said pipe member at said annular shoulder portion and positionable within and along the length of said crushed section of said pipe member, driving means for thrusting at least a portion of said plunger member through said cylindrical assembly of shoe members a preselected distance, and a plurality of link members interconnected between said driving means and said plurality of shoe members.

Claim 3

The apparatus described in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said plunger member is thrustable through said cylindrical assembly by said driving means to urge one or more of said shoe members radially outwardly against the inside surface of said crushed section of said pipe member.

Claim 4

The apparatus described in claim 2, wherein said driving means is interconnectable with said threaded end of said pipe member to position said cylindrical assembly of shoe members within and along the length of said crushed section of said pipe member.

Claim 5

The apparatus described in claim 3, wherein said shoe members are further adapted to form a cylindrical assembly having length greater than the length of said crushed section of said pipe member but not great enough to also extend into said annular interior shoulder portion thereof.

Claim 6

The apparatus described in claim 1, wherein said plunger member is interconnected with said driving means to be slidably movable through said cylindrical assembly of shoe members between a first position wherein the cross-sectional diameter of said cylindrical assembly is less than the inside diameter of said shoulder portion of said pipe member and a second position wherein the cross-sectional diameter of said cylindrical assembly approximately corresponds to the original inside diameter of said pipe member.

Claim 7

The apparatus described in claim 5, wherein each of said plurality of link members is interconnected between said driving means and a corresponding one of said shoe members.

Claim 8

The apparatus described in claim 5, wherein said driving means further comprises connector means for threadedly engaging said threaded end portion of said pipe member for immobilizing said pipe member during slidable movement of said plunger member through said cylindrical assembly of shoe members, and hydraulic cylinder means to drive said plunger member between said first and second positions.

Claim 9

The apparatus described in claim 7, wherein said plunger member includes a piston portion located at one end thereof and slidably positionable within said hydraulic cylinder means, and a tapered rod-like portion of the other end thereof for urging one or more of said shoe members radially outwardly against said crushed section of said pipe member.

Claim 10

The apparatus described in claim 8, further comprising a pipe rack for holding a plurality of pipes to be reformed.

Claim 11

The apparatus described in claim 9, further including roller means on said rack for supporting said pipe, and tightening means engageable with said pipe for rotating said pipe to thread said threaded end portion of said pipe member to said connector means.

Claim 14

The method described in claim 11, further comprising restraining longitudinal movement of said shoe members within said pipe member when said plunger member engages said cylindrical assembly.

Claim 15

The method described in claim 11, wherein said plunger member is thrusted through said cylindrical assembly to urge one or more of said shoe members radially outwardly against the inside surface of said crushed section of said pipe member.

Claim 16

The method described in claim 13, wherein said plunger member is slidably moved through said cylindrical assembly of shoe members between a first position wherein the cross-sectional diameter of said cylindrical assembly is less than the inside diameter of said shoulder portion of said pipe member and a second position wherein the cross-sectional diameter of said assembly corresponds to the original inside diameter of said pipe member.

Claim 17

The method described in claim 14, further comprising immobilizing said pipe member during slidable movement of said plunger member through said cylindrical assembly of shoe members.

Claim 18

Apparatus for reforming damaged drill pipe and the like comprising: a fluid actuated piston assembly having a cylinder head at one end thereof, collar attachment means connected to said cylinder head and including interior and exterior threads, a tapered ram connected to said piston and adapted to move from a retracted position to an extended position, passageway means in said cylinder head and collar means allowing movement of said ram therewithin, an externally threaded sleeve member connected to the interior threads of said collar means, said drill pipe being adapted to be connected to the exterior threads of said collar means, a plurality of flexible straps extending from said sleeve and into the interior of said drill pipe, a corresponding plurality of segmented solid collapsible and expandable shoe elements positioned within said drill pipe and being connected to said flexible straps, said shoe elements in the collapsed position defining an interior passageway of a taper corresponding to the taper of said ram, and means for actuating said piston to extend said ram through said passageway means, said straps and into the tapered passageway of said shoe elements, to cause said shoe elements to expand radially into and against the wall of said drill pipe.

Claim 19

Apparatus for reforming damaged drill pipe and the like comprising: a fluid actuated piston assembly having a cylinder head at one end thereof, collar attachment means connected to said cylinder head and including interior and exterior threads, a tapered ram connected to said piston and adapted to move from a retracted position to an extended position, passageway means in said cylinder head and collar means allowing movement of said ram therewithin, an externally threaded sleeve member connected to the interior threads of said collar means, said drill pipe being adapted to be connected to the exterior threads of said collar means, a plurality of flexible straps extending from said sleeve and into the interior of said drill pipe, a corresponding plurality of segmented solid collapsible and expandable shoe elements positioned within said drill pipe and being connected to said flexible straps, said shoe elements in the collapsed position defining an interior passageway of a taper corresponding to the taper of said ram, and means for actuating said piston to extend said ram through said passageway means, said straps and into the tapered passageway of said shoe elements, to cause said shoe elements to expand radially into and against the wall of said drill pipe.

Claim 20

Apparatus for reforming damaged tubular conduit having at least two cross-sectional areas of differing diameters and with the damaged area residing in the larger diameter portion thereof comprising: a fluid actuated piston assembly including a tapered ram attached to said piston and extending through a cylinder head of said assembly, said cylinder head including first and second connector means allowing passage of said ram therethrough, an expandable assembly connected to said first connector means of said cylinder head and including a plurality of flexible thin straps and a corresponding plurality of expandable shoe elements, said conduit being adapted to be attached to said second connector means of said cylinder head and with said shoe elements residing wholly within the confines of the larger diameter portion of said conduit and in the area of damage, and means for driving said ram into said shoe elements to expand said elements radially into the wall of said conduit.

Claim 21

Apparatus for reforming damaged tubular conduit having at least two cross-sectional areas of differing diameters and with the damaged area residing in the larger diameter portion thereof comprising: a fluid actuated piston assembly including a tapered ram attached to said piston and extending through a cylinder head of said assembly, said cylinder head including first and second connector means allowing passage of said ram therethrough, an expandable assembly connected to said first connector means of said cylinder head and including a plurality of flexible thin straps and a corresponding plurality of expandable shoe elements, said conduit being adapted to be attached to said second connector means of said cylinder head and with said shoe elements residing wholly within the confines of the larger diameter portion of said conduit and in the area of damage, and means for driving said ram into said shoe elements to expand said elements radially into the wall of said conduit.

Claim 22

Apparatus for reforming conduit having a small diameter entrance end followed by a passageway of greater diameter comprising: an expandable assembly including a plurality of thin flexible straps attached to a plurality of segmented shoes, said assembly being of a size to pass through said small diameter entrance end of said conduit and with said straps occupying both the entrance end and passageway of said conduit, said shoes adapted for placement entirely within the area of said passageway of greater diameter, and force applying means extendable into and through said entrance end and said shoes to radially expand said shoes outwardly against the inner surface of said conduit.

Claim 23

Apparatus for reforming conduit having a small diameter entrance end followed by a passageway of greater diameter comprising: an expandable assembly including a plurality of thin flexible straps attached to a plurality of segmented shoes, said assembly being of a size to pass through said small diameter entrance end of said conduit and with said straps occupying both the entrance end and passageway of said conduit, said shoes adapted for placement entirely within the area of said passageway of greater diameter, and force applying means extendable into and through said entrance end and said shoes to radially expand said shoes outwardly against the inner surface of said conduit.

Claim 24

The apparatus described in claim 18, wherein said force applying means comprises an elongate tapered plunger member movable between a first position wherein the cross-sectional diameter of said expandable member is less than said small diameter entrance end and a second position wherein the cross-sectional diameter of said expandable member is approximately equal to the original diameter of said passageway.

Claim 25

The apparatus described in claim 18, wherein each of said plurality of flexible straps is connected to a corresponding one of said segmented shoes.

Claim 26

As a subcombination; an annular sleeve member having external threads thereon, a plurality of thin flexible straps attached to said sleeve member at one end thereof, a corresponding plurality of shoe elements attached to said straps, each of said shoes being segmental in cross-section and of solid construction and being expandable and contractable as a unit, and said shoe elements in the contractable position defining as a unit within the confines thereof a tapered bore extending the length thereof.

Claim 27

As a subcombination; an annular sleeve member having external threads thereon, a plurality of thin flexible straps attached to said sleeve member at one end thereof, a corresponding plurality of shoe elements attached to said straps, each of said shoes being segmental in cross-section and of solid construction and being expandable and contractable as a unit, and said shoe elements in the contractable position defining as a unit within the confines thereof a tapered bore extending the length thereof.

Claim 30

The method as defined in claim 22, wherein said force applying means is inserted through said flow passageway a preselected distance.

Claim 31

The method as defined in claim 22, wherein each of said shoe elements is positioned within said flow passageway by a respective link member connected to said shoe element.

Claim 32

The method as defined in claim 22, wherein said force applying means is an elongate tapered plunger member responsive to a fluid activated piston assembly.

Claim 33

The method as defined in claim 22, wherein said plurality of expandable shoe elements are arranged to form a segmented hollow and generally cylindrical assembly.

Claim 34

The method as defined in claim 26, wherein said force applying means is inserted through said entrance passageway to a position wherein the cross-sectional diameter of said cylindrical assembly is approximately equal to the original diameter of said flow passageway.

Claim 35

Apparatus for reforming damaged drill pipe having a small diameter entrance passageway followed by a large diameter flow passageway and wherein the damaged area of the drill pipe resides in the flow passageway, comprising: a plurality of expandable shoe elements positioned wholly within said flow passageway adjacent the damaged area thereof, driving means for moving a force applying means through said entrance passageway and into said shoe elements in said flow passageway to expand said shoe elements radially outwardly and into the damaged area of said drill pipe, and a plurality of thin straps each connected at one end to said shoe elements and the other end of said straps extending through said entrance passageway.

Claim 36

Apparatus for reforming damaged drill pipe having a small diameter entrance passageway followed by a large diameter flow passageway and wherein the damaged area of the drill pipe resides in the flow passageway, comprising: a plurality of expandable shoe elements positioned wholly within said flow passageway adjacent the damaged area thereof, driving means for moving a force applying means through said entrance passageway and into said shoe elements in said flow passageway to expand said shoe elements radially outwardly and into the damaged area of said drill pipe, and a plurality of thin straps each connected at one end to said shoe elements and the other end of said straps extending through said entrance passageway.

Claim 37

The apparatus of claim 28 wherein said driving means comprises a fluid actuated piston and said force applying means includes a ram connected to said piston.

Claim 38

The apparatus of claim 29 wherein said shoe elements are segmental in cross-sectional area and of solid construction.

Claim 39

The apparatus of claim 30 wherein said shoe elements are collapsible and expandable as a unit and in the collapsed condition define an interior tapered bore extending along the length thereof.

Claim 40

The apparatus of claim 31 wherein said ram is tapered to correspond to the bore of said shoe elements.

Claim 41

The apparatus of claim 29, wherein said piston includes a cylinder head having a connector means attached thereto, and wherein said other end of said straps are attached to said connector means, said drill pipe being adapted to be attached to said connector means and with said drill pipe entrance passageway being in surrounding and concentric relationship to said other end of said straps.

Claim 42

The apparatus of claim 33 wherein said connector means comprises an externally and internally threaded collar, an externally threaded sleeve attached to said other end of said straps and with the threads of said sleeve matingly engaging the internal threads of said collar, and said entrance passageway of said drill pipe being internally threaded and in engagement with the external threads of said collar.

Claim 45

The method as defined in claim 35, wherein each of said shoe elements is longitudinally positioned within said flow passageway by a respective link member connected at one end to said shoe element.