US4371958A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Drilling orientation tool
Assignee: Western Atlas International Inc
•
Filing: 1980-01-21
•
Granted: 1983-02-01
•
Expires: 2000-01-21
Abstract
Abstract In the preferred and illustrated embodiment of the present apparatus, a drilling orientation tool is disclosed utilizing a mud pressure charging system where the pressure charge is converted into hydraulic oil pressure. The hydraulic oil flows is supplied to a four-way, three-position, solenoid operated valve having a closed center position, the valve forming a control signal delivered to an adjustable constriction in the mud flow path through the tool. Variables are encoded dependent on opening and closing of the constriction. Consecutive variables are transmitted in the form of fine and coarse measures. The electrically operated solenoid valve thus encodes two or more variables for transmission to the surface by detecting mud pressure variations in the mud flow line at the surface.
Inventors
- 👤 Jack R. Claycomb
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 12:06
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B41/00; E21B41/0085; E21B47/00; E21B47/02; E21B47/022; E21B47/12; E21B47/14; E21B47/18; E21B47/24
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
244 words
A device for forming a mud flow modulated signal installable in a drill string, the device comprising: (a) an elongate, hollow outer body adapted to be connected in a drill string; (b) an elongate, tubular inner body received within said outer body; (c) means positioning said inner body in said outer body to form an annular space between said inner body and outer body directing mud flow through said annular space; (d) a closed hydraulic reservoir in said inner body and exposed to pressure of the mud flow through said annular space; (e) hydraulic fluid line means extending from said reservoir for delivering hydraulic fluid under pressure; (f) a piston in a cylinder; (g) constriction means in said annular space which directs the mud flow therethrough which constriction means is located in said outer body and which further directs the mud flow downwardly through said outer body; (h) plug means extending into said constriction means for varying the mud flow permitted through said constriction means, said plug means being movable by said piston relative to said constriction means; (i) electrically operated control valve means connected to said piston and cylinder for controllably delivering hydraulic fluid thereto from said hydraulic line means for controllably moving said piston in said cylinder; and (j) transducer means having an electrical output and adapted to respond to a variable of interest and which transducer means encodes the variable to form an electrical output to operate said control valve means.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
244 words
A device for forming a mud flow modulated signal installable in a drill string, the device comprising: (a) an elongate, hollow outer body adapted to be connected in a drill string; (b) an elongate, tubular inner body received within said outer body; (c) means positioning said inner body in said outer body to form an annular space between said inner body and outer body directing mud flow through said annular space; (d) a closed hydraulic reservoir in said inner body and exposed to pressure of the mud flow through said annular space; (e) hydraulic fluid line means extending from said reservoir for delivering hydraulic fluid under pressure; (f) a piston in a cylinder; (g) constriction means in said annular space which directs the mud flow therethrough which constriction means is located in said outer body and which further directs the mud flow downwardly through said outer body; (h) plug means extending into said constriction means for varying the mud flow permitted through said constriction means, said plug means being movable by said piston relative to said constriction means; (i) electrically operated control valve means connected to said piston and cylinder for controllably delivering hydraulic fluid thereto from said hydraulic line means for controllably moving said piston in said cylinder; and (j) transducer means having an electrical output and adapted to respond to a variable of interest and which transducer means encodes the variable to form an electrical output to operate said control valve means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 1 including a spring means and a pressure creating piston in said closed hydraulic reservoir.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
185 words
In a measuring while drilling apparatus which is adapted to be installed in a drill string, the improvement which comprises: (a) an elongate, hollow outer body adapted to be connected in a drill string; (b) an elongate, enclosed instrument package carrying instrumentation therein and supported by said outer body; (c) a first variable transducer means which encodes a variable to be measured by forming an output signal; (d) output means carried by said outer body for forming a mud pressure pulse signal in the drill string to be sensed at the well head which encodes variables input thereto and which output means is variably operated by said first transducer means; and (e) calibration means for operating said output means for specified calibration intervals to define encoded vertical measurements in the mud pressure pulse signals from said output means for contrast with signals formed by said output means from said first transducer means and wherein said mud pressure pulse signals are defined by variations from a base line value to exceed a signal dependent interval a selected elevated value to encode the variable and calibration signals.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
185 words
In a measuring while drilling apparatus which is adapted to be installed in a drill string, the improvement which comprises: (a) an elongate, hollow outer body adapted to be connected in a drill string; (b) an elongate, enclosed instrument package carrying instrumentation therein and supported by said outer body; (c) a first variable transducer means which encodes a variable to be measured by forming an output signal; (d) output means carried by said outer body for forming a mud pressure pulse signal in the drill string to be sensed at the well head which encodes variables input thereto and which output means is variably operated by said first transducer means; and (e) calibration means for operating said output means for specified calibration intervals to define encoded vertical measurements in the mud pressure pulse signals from said output means for contrast with signals formed by said output means from said first transducer means and wherein said mud pressure pulse signals are defined by variations from a base line value to exceed a signal dependent interval a selected elevated value to encode the variable and calibration signals.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the minimum value of the transducer means is encoded by a short calibration signal and said output means has two operative states, one state establishing a base line value and the second state establishing an elevated value.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said output means includes selectively operable constriction means for momentarily obstructing and thereby restricting flow through the drill string to form a mud pressure pulse signal in the drill string.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 4 including second and third transducer means to encode second and third variables.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2759143A
Cited
US3693428A
Cited
US3711825A
Cited
US3736558A
Cited
US4009613A
Cited
US3958217A
Cited
US3983948A
Cited
US4078620A
Cited
DE2852575A1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-01-31 | 1986-08-02 | 1987-02-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-01-31 | 1990-08-02 | 1991-02-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-01-31 | 1994-08-02 | 1995-02-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |