Downhole vortex generator and method

Claim 3

The method of claim 1, wherein said step of directing said first stream of fluid into said annulus further includes a step of: increasing a velocity of said first stream of drilling fluid, as it flows upward through said annular space, by decreasing a cross-sectional area of said annular space.

Claim 4

The method of claim 1, wherein: said flowing step is further characterized as flowing said first stream of fluid upward through an upwardly spiraling annular space.

Claim 5

The method of claim 3, wherein: said flowing step is further characterized as flowing said first stream of fluid upward through an upwardly left-hand spiraling annular space.

Claim 6

The method of claim 3, wherein: said flowing step is further characterized as flowing said first stream of fluid upward through an upwardly right-hand spiraling annular space.

Claim 7

The method of claim 1, wherein: said ejecting step is further characterized as ejecting said upwardly swirling first stream of fluid through an annular opening, circumscribing said housing, into said annulus.

Claim 8

The method of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, wherein: said imparting step is further characterized as imparting a sufficient swirling motion about said drill string to said upward flowing second stream of drilling fluid to create a vortex in said second stream extending downward to said drill bit.

Claim 9

The method of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, wherein: said imparting step is further characterized as imparting sufficient swirling motion to said upward flowing second stream of drilling fluid to thereby decrease a fluid pressure in said borehole at an interface between said drill bit and an underground formation being drilled by said drill bit to thereby increase a penetration rate of said drill bit as compared to rates achievable in the absence of said swirling motion of said upward flowing second stream of drilling fluid.

Claim 10

A drilling apparatus, comprising: a rotatable drill string means, having a drill bit attached to a lower end thereof, for boring a well borehole by rotating an upper end of said drill string means; flow dividing means for dividing a downward flow of drilling fluid in said drill string means, at a first elevation above said drill bit, into a first stream and a second stream; means for directing said second stream of fluid downward, through a portion of said drill string means below said first elevation, to said drill bit, then out at least one orifice of said drill bit, and then upward through an annulus between said drill string means and said well borehole; means for directing said first stream of fluid into said annulus, at a second elevation above said drill bit, with a velocity component tangential to said annulus, and thereby imparting a swirling motion in only one direction about said drill string means to said upward flowing second stream of drilling fluid; a cylindrical housing having a longitudinal passageway disposed therethrough; wherein said means for directing said second stream of fluid includes a lower portion of said longitudinal passageway located below said flowing dividing means; wherein said means for directing said first stream of fluid includes a transverse passageway communicating said longitudinal passageway with said annulus; wherein said flow dividing means includes a junction between said longitudinal passageway and said transverse passageway; and wherein said transverse passageway includes: an annular cavity disposed in said housing around said longitudinal passageway; a supply passage means for communicating said longitudinal passageway with said annular cavity, said supply passage means being oriented at a junction with said annular cavity so that said first stream of fluid flowing from said supply passage means into said annular cavity has a velocity component tangential to said annular cavity; and an ejection passage means for communicating said annular cavity with an outer surface of said housing.

Claim 11

A drilling apparatus, comprising: a rotatable drill string means, having a drill bit attached to a lower end thereof, for boring a well borehole by rotating an upper end of said drill string means; flow dividing means for dividing a downward flow of drilling fluid in said drill string means, at a first elevation above said drill bit, into a first stream and a second stream; means for directing said second stream of fluid downward, through a portion of said drill string means below said first elevation, to said drill bit, then out at least one orifice of said drill bit, and then upward through an annulus between said drill string means and said well borehole; means for directing said first stream of fluid into said annulus, at a second elevation above said drill bit, with a velocity component tangential to said annulus, and thereby imparting a swirling motion in only one direction about said drill string means to said upward flowing second stream of drilling fluid; a cylindrical housing having a longitudinal passageway disposed therethrough; wherein said means for directing said second stream of fluid includes a lower portion of said longitudinal passageway located below said flowing dividing means; wherein said means for directing said first stream of fluid includes a transverse passageway communicating said longitudinal passageway with said annulus; wherein said flow dividing means includes a junction between said longitudinal passageway and said transverse passageway; and wherein said transverse passageway includes: an annular cavity disposed in said housing around said longitudinal passageway; a supply passage means for communicating said longitudinal passageway with said annular cavity, said supply passage means being oriented at a junction with said annular cavity so that said first stream of fluid flowing from said supply passage means into said annular cavity has a velocity component tangential to said annular cavity; and an ejection passage means for communicating said annular cavity with an outer surface of said housing.

Claim 12

The drilling apparatus of claim 9 wherein: said supply passage means communicates said longitudinal passageway with a lower portion of said annular cavity; and said ejection passage means communicates an upper portion of said annular cavity with said outer surface of said housing.

Claim 13

The drilling apparatus of claim 10, further comprising: spiral guide means, located in said annular cavity, for defining a shape of said annular cavity in an upward spiral.

Claim 14

The drilling apparatus of claim 11, wherein: said supply passage means is further characterized as being so oriented that said tangential velocity component of said first stream of fluid flowing therefrom is in a clockwise direction as viewed from above; and said spiral guide means is further characterized as being a left-hand spiral.

Claim 15

The drilling apparatus of claim 11, wherein: said supply passage means is further characterized as being so oriented that said tangential velocity component of said first stream of fluid flowing therefrom is in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed from above; and said spriral guide means is further characterized as being a right-hand spiral.

Claim 16

The drilling apparatus of claim 10, wherein: said annular cavity is further characterized as having an upwardly decreasing cross-sectional area.

Claim 17

The drilling apparatus of claim 10, wherein: said ejection passage means includes a circumferential opening disposed in said outer surface of said housing.

Claim 18

The drilling apparatus of claim 10, wherein: said supply passage means is further characterized as being so oriented at its junction with said annular cavity that the velocity of said first steam of fluid flowing from said supply passage means into said cavity is substantially entirely tangential to said annular cavity.

Claim 19

The drilling apparatus of claim 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, or 16, wherein: said means for directing said first stream of fluid into said annulus and thereby imparting a swirling motion to said second stream of fluid is further characterized as a means for imparting a sufficient swirling motion about said drill string means to said upward flowing second stream of drilling fluid to create a vortex in said second stream extending downward to said drill bit.

Claim 20

The drilling apparatus of claim 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 or 16, wherein: said means for directing said first stream of fluid into said annulus and thereby imparting a swirling motion to said second stream of fluid is further characterized as a means for imparting a sufficient swirling motion to said upward flowing second stream of drilling fluid to thereby decrease a fluid pressure in said borehole at an interface between said drill bit and an underground formation being drilled by said drill bit to thereby increase a penetration rate of said drill bit as compared to rates achievable in the absence of said swirling motion of said upward flowing second stream of drilling fluid.

Claim 21

A drilling apparatus, comprising: a rotatable drill string means, having a drill bit attached to a lower end thereof, for boring a well borehole by rotating an upper end of said drill string means; flow dividing means for dividing a downward flow of drilling fluid in said drill string means, at a first elevation above said drill bit, into a first stream and a second stream; means for directing said second stream of fluid downward, through a portion of said drill string means below said first elevation, to said drill bit, then out at least one orifice of said drill bit, and then upward through an annulus between said drill string means and said well borehole; means for directing said first stream of fluid into said annulus, at a second elevation above said drill bit, with a velocity component tangential to said annulus, and thereby imparting a swirling motion in only one direction about said drill string means to said upward flowing second stream of drilling fluid; a cylindrical housing having a longitudinal passageway disposed therethrough; wherein said means for directing said second stream of fluid includes a lower portion of said longitudinal passageway located below said flowing dividing means; wherein said means for directing said first stream of fluid includes a transverse passageway communicating said longitudinal passageway with said annulus; wherein said flow dividing means includes a junction between said longitudinal passageway and said transverse passageway; and a transverse opening disposed in said housing and communicating said longitudinal passageway with an exterior of said housing; and a nozzle received in said transverse opening and having said transverse passageway disposed therethrough with a first end communicated with said longitudinal passageway and a second end oriented to eject fluid therefrom into said annulus.

Claim 22

A drilling apparatus, comprising: a rotatable drill string means, having a drill bit attached to a lower end thereof, for boring a well borehole by rotating an upper end of said drill string means; flow dividing means for dividing a downward flow of drilling fluid in said drill string means, at a first elevation above said drill bit, into a first stream and a second stream; means for directing said second stream of fluid downward, through a portion of said drill string means below said first elevation, to said drill bit, then out at least one orifice of said drill bit, and then upward through an annulus between said drill string means and said well borehole; means for directing said first stream of fluid into said annulus, at a second elevation above said drill bit, with a velocity component tangential to said annulus, and thereby imparting a swirling motion in only one direction about said drill string means to said upward flowing second stream of drilling fluid; a cylindrical housing having a longitudinal passageway disposed therethrough; wherein said means for directing said second stream of fluid includes a lower portion of said longitudinal passageway located below said flowing dividing means; wherein said means for directing said first stream of fluid includes a transverse passageway communicating said longitudinal passageway with said annulus; wherein said flow dividing means includes a junction between said longitudinal passageway and said transverse passageway; and a transverse opening disposed in said housing and communicating said longitudinal passageway with an exterior of said housing; and a nozzle received in said transverse opening and having said transverse passageway disposed therethrough with a first end communicated with said longitudinal passageway and a second end oriented to eject fluid therefrom into said annulus.

Claim 23

The drilling apparatus of claim 19, wherein: said nozzle is constructed from a ceramic material; and said drilling apparatus further comprises nozzle holder means, attached to said housing, for holding said ceramic nozzle in place in said transverse opening of said housing.

Claim 24

The drilling apparatus of claim 20, wherein: said nozzle holder means and said nozzle are so arranged and constructed that said nozzle holder means supports said nozzle against all thrust forces exerted on said nozzle by fluid passing therethrough to thereby prevent any tensile loading of said ceramic nozzle.

Claim 25

The drilling apparatus of claim 19, wherein: said housing includes a recessed surface disposed in an outer cylindrical surface thereof; said transverse opening is a radial bore communicating said longitudinal passageway with said recessed surface; and said nozzle includes a cylindrical nozzle body having a first end received in said radial bore and a second end extending past said recessed surface, said first end of said transverse passageway being disposed in said first end of said nozzle body and said second end of said transverse passageway being disposed in a portion of said nozzle body extending past said recessed surface.

Claim 26

The drilling apparatus of claim 22, further comprising: annular seal means disposed between said cylindrical nozzle body and said radial bore for sealing therebetween.

Claim 27

The drilling apparatus of claim 22, further comprising: nozzle holder means having a cylindrical recess disposed therein within which is received said second end of said nozzle body, said nozzle holder means being attached to said housing and having an opening therein communicating said second end of said transverse passageway with said outer cylindrical surface of said housing.

Claim 28

The drilling apparatus of claims 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 or 24, wherein: said means for directing said first stream of fluid into said annulus and thereby imparting a swirling motion to said second stream of fluid is further characterized as a means for imparting a sufficient swirling motion about said drill string means to said upward flowing second stream of drilling fluid to create a vortex in said second stream extending downward to said drill bit.

Claim 29

The drilling apparatus of claims 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 or 24, wherein: said means for directing said first stream of fluid into said annulus and thereby imparting a swirling motion to said second stream of fluid is further characterized as a means for imparting a sufficient swirling motion to said upward flowing second stream of drilling fluid to thereby decrease a fluid pressure in said borehole at an interface between said drill bit and an underground formation being drilled by said drill bit to thereby increase a penetration rate of said drill bit as compared to rates achievable in the absence of said swirling motion of said upward flowing second stream of drilling fluid.

Claim 30

A drilling apparatus comprising: a cylindrical housing having an upper end adapted to be connected to a drill string and a lower end adapted to be connected to a drill bit; a longitudinal passageway disposed through said housing; and a transverse passageway means, disposed in said housing with a first end communicated with said longitudinal passageway and a second end communicated with an outer surface of said housing, for taking a portion of drilling fluid from said longitudinal passageway and for ejecting said portion of drilling fluid from said second end of said transverse passageway means with a non-radial velocity component in a plane normal to a longitudinal axis of said housing, said transverse passageway means including: an annular cavity disposed in said housing around said longitudinal passageway; a supply passage means for communicating said longitudinal passageway with said annular cavity, said supply passage means being oriented at a junction with said annular cavity so that said first stream of fluid flowing from said supply passage means into said annular cavity has a velocity component tangential to said annular cavity; and an ejection passage means for communicating said annular cavity with said outer surface of said housing.

Claim 31

A drilling apparatus comprising: a cylindrical housing having an upper end adapted to be connected to a drill string and a lower end adapted to be connected to a drill bit; a longitudinal passageway disposed through said housing; and a transverse passageway means, disposed in said housing with a first end communicated with said longitudinal passageway and a second end communicated with an outer surface of said housing, for taking a portion of drilling fluid from said longitudinal passageway and for ejecting said portion of drilling fluid from said second end of said transverse passageway means with a non-radial velocity component in a plane normal to a longitudinal axis of said housing, said transverse passageway means including: an annular cavity disposed in said housing around said longitudinal passageway; a supply passage means for communicating said longitudinal passageway with said annular cavity, said supply passage means being oriented at a junction with said annular cavity so that said first stream of fluid flowing from said supply passage means into said annular cavity has a velocity component tangential to said annular cavity; and an ejection passage means for communicating said annular cavity with said outer surface of said housing.

Claim 32

The drilling apparatus of claim 27, wherein: said supply passage means communicates said longitudinal passageway with a lower potion of said annular cavity; and said ejection passage means communicates an upper portion of said annular cavity said said outer surface of said housing.

Claim 33

The drilling apparatus of claim 28, further comprising: spiral guide means, located in said annular cavity, for defining a shape of said annular cavity in an upward spiral.

Claim 34

The drilling apparatus of claim 29, wherein: said supply passage means is further characterized as being so oriented that said tangential velocity component of said first stream of fluid flowing therefrom is in a clockwise direction as viewed from above; and said spiral guide means is further characterized as being a left-hand spiral.

Claim 35

The drilling apparatus of claim 30, wherein: said supply passage means is further characterized as being so oriented that said tangential velocity component of said first stream of fluid flowing therefrom is in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed from above; and said spiral guide means is further characterized as being a right-hand spiral.

Claim 36

The drilling apparatus of claim 27, wherein: said annular cavity is further characterized as having an upwardly decreasing cross-sectional area.

Claim 37

The drilling apparatus of claim 27, wherein: said ejection passage means includes a circumferential opening disposed in said outer surface of said housing.

Claim 38

The drilling apparatus of claim 27, wherein: said supply passage means is further characterized as being so oriented at its junction with said annular cavity that the velocity of said first stream fluid flowing from said intermediate passage means into said cavity is substantially entirely tangential to said annular cavity.

Claim 39

A drilling apparatus comprising: a cylindrical housing having an upper end adapted to be connected to a drill string and a lower end adapted to be connected to a drill bit; an open cavity disposed in an outer cylindrical surface of said housing; a longitudinal passageway disposed through said housing; and a transverse passageway means, disposed in said housing with a first end communicated with said longitudinal passageway and a second end communicated with said open cavity, for taking a portion of drilling fluid from said longitudinal passageway and for ejecting said portion of drilling fluid from said second end of said transverse pasageway means with a non-radial velocity component in a plane normal to a longitudinal axis of said housing, said open cavity having a cross-sectional area perpendicular to a central axis of said second end of said transverse passageway means substantially greater than a cross-sectional area of said second end of said transverse passageway means perpendicular to said central axis thereof.

Claim 40

A drilling apparatus comprising: a cylindrical housing having an upper end adapted to be connected to a drill string and a lower end adapted to be connected to a drill bit; an open cavity disposed in an outer cylindrical surface of said housing; a longitudinal passageway disposed through said housing; and a transverse passageway means, disposed in said housing with a first end communicated with said longitudinal passageway and a second end communicated with said open cavity, for taking a portion of drilling fluid from said longitudinal passageway and for ejecting said portion of drilling fluid from said second end of said transverse pasageway means with a non-radial velocity component in a plane normal to a longitudinal axis of said housing, said open cavity having a cross-sectional area perpendicular to a central axis of said second end of said transverse passageway means substantially greater than a cross-sectional area of said second end of said transverse passageway means perpendicular to said central axis thereof.

Claim 41

The drilling apparatus of claim 35, further comprising: a transverse opening disposed in said housing and communicating said longitudinal passageway with said open cavity; and a nozzle received in said transverse opening and having said transverse passageway means disposed therethrough.

Claim 42

The drilling apparatus of claim 35, wherein: said open cavity is further characterized as being a means for allowing said portion of drilling fluid to be ejected directly into an annulus surrounding said cylindrical housing without any substantial impingement upon any structure connected to said housing.

Claim 43

A drilling apparatus comprising: a cylindrical housing having an upper end adapted to be connected to a drill string and a lower end adapted to be connected to a drill bit; an open cavity disposed in an outer cylindrical surface of said housing; a longitudinal passageway disposed through said housing; a transverse passageway means, disposed in said housing with a first end communicated with said longitudinal passageway and a second end communicated with said open cavity, for taking a portion of drilling fluid from said longitudinal passageway and for ejecting said portion of drilling fluid from said second end of said transverse pasageway means with a non-radial velocity component in a plane normal to a longitudinal axis of said housing; a transverse opening disposed in said housing and communicating said longitudinal passageway with said open cavity; a nozzle received in said transverse opening and having said transverse passageway means disposed therethrough; and wherein said nozzle includes an inlet and a restricted outlet, an inner diameter of said restricted outlet being smaller than an inner diameter of said inlet.

Claim 44

A drilling apparatus comprising: a cylindrical housing having an upper end adapted to be connected to a drill string and a lower end adapted to be connected to a drill bit; an open cavity disposed in an outer cylindrical surface of said housing; a longitudinal passageway disposed through said housing; a transverse passageway means, disposed in said housing with a first end communicated with said longitudinal passageway and a second end communicated with said open cavity, for taking a portion of drilling fluid from said longitudinal passageway and for ejecting said portion of drilling fluid from said second end of said transverse pasageway means with a non-radial velocity component in a plane normal to a longitudinal axis of said housing; a transverse opening disposed in said housing and communicating said longitudinal passageway with said open cavity; a nozzle received in said transverse opening and having said transverse passageway means disposed therethrough; and wherein said nozzle includes an inlet and a restricted outlet, an inner diameter of said restricted outlet being smaller than an inner diameter of said inlet.

Claim 45

The drilling apparatus of claim 38, wherein: said transverse passageway means is a non-linear transverse passageway means having a central axis of said nozzle inlet non-parallel to a central axis of said nozzle outlet.

Claim 46

The drilling apparatus of claim 38, wherein: said open cavity and said nozzle outlet are so arranged and constructed that said portion of drilling fluid is ejected from said restricted outlet of said nozzle directly through said open cavity into an annulus surrounding said cylindrical housing without any substantial impingement upon any structure connected to said housing.

Claim 47

A drilling apparatus comprising: a cylindrical housing having an upper end adapted to be connected to a drill string and a lower end adapted to be connected to a drill bit; an open cavity disposed in an outer cylindrical surface of said housing; a longitudinal passageway disposed through said housing; a transverse passageway means, disposed in said housing with a first end communicated with said longitudinal passageway and a second end communicated with said open cavity, for taking a portion of drilling fluid from said longitudinal passageway and for ejecting said portion of drilling fluid from said second end of said transverse pasageway means with a non-radial velocity component in a plane normal to a longitudinal axis of said housing; a transverse opening disposed in said housing and communicating said longitudinal passageway with said open cavity; a nozzle received in said transverse opening and having said transverse passageway means disposed therethrough; and wherein said open cavity is partially defined by a flat surface intersecting said transverse opening.

Claim 48

A drilling apparatus comprising: a cylindrical housing having an upper end adapted to be connected to a drill string and a lower end adapted to be connected to a drill bit; an open cavity disposed in an outer cylindrical surface of said housing; a longitudinal passageway disposed through said housing; a transverse passageway means, disposed in said housing with a first end communicated with said longitudinal passageway and a second end communicated with said open cavity, for taking a portion of drilling fluid from said longitudinal passageway and for ejecting said portion of drilling fluid from said second end of said transverse pasageway means with a non-radial velocity component in a plane normal to a longitudinal axis of said housing; a transverse opening disposed in said housing and communicating said longitudinal passageway with said open cavity; a nozzle received in said transverse opening and having said transverse passageway means disposed therethrough; and wherein said open cavity is partially defined by a flat surface intersecting said transverse opening.

Claim 49

A drilling apparatus comprising: a cylindrical housing having an upper end adapted to be connected to a drill string and a lower end adapted to be connected to a drill bit; an open cavity disposed in an outer cylindrical surface of said housing; a longitudinal passageway disposed through said housing; a transverse passageway means, disposed in said housing with a first end communicated with said longitudinal passageway and a second end communicated with said open cavity, for taking a portion of drilling fluid from said longitudinal passageway and for ejecting said portion of drilling fluid from said second end of said transverse pasageway means with a non-radial velocity component in a plane normal to a longitudinal axis of said housing; a transverse opening disposed in said housing and communicating said longitudinal passageway with said open cavity; a nozzle received in said transverse opening and having said transverse passageway means disposed therethrough; and annular resilient seal means between said nozzle and said transverse opening.

Claim 50

A drilling apparatus comprising: a cylindrical housing having an upper end adapted to be connected to a drill string and a lower end adapted to be connected to a drill bit; an open cavity disposed in an outer cylindrical surface of said housing; a longitudinal passageway disposed through said housing; a transverse passageway means, disposed in said housing with a first end communicated with said longitudinal passageway and a second end communicated with said open cavity, for taking a portion of drilling fluid from said longitudinal passageway and for ejecting said portion of drilling fluid from said second end of said transverse pasageway means with a non-radial velocity component in a plane normal to a longitudinal axis of said housing; a transverse opening disposed in said housing and communicating said longitudinal passageway with said open cavity; a nozzle received in said transverse opening and having said transverse passageway means disposed therethrough; and annular resilient seal means between said nozzle and said transverse opening.

Claim 51

The drilling apparatus of claim 42, wherein: said seal means includes an elastomeric O-ring received in an annular sealing groove disposed in said transverse opening.

Claim 52

A drilling apparatus comprising: a cylindrical housing having an upper end adapted to be connected to a drill string and a lower end adapted to be connected to a drill bit; an open cavity disposed in an outer cylindrical surface of said housing; a longitudinal passageway disposed through said housing; a transverse passageway means, disposed in said housing with a first end communicated with said longitudinal passageway and a second end communicated with said open cavity, for taking a portion of drilling fluid from said longitudinal passageway and for ejecting said portion of drilling fluid from said second end of said transverse pasageway means with a non-radial velocity component in a plane normal to a longitudinal axis of said housing; a transverse opening disposed in said housing and communicating said longitudinal passageway with said open cavity; a nozzle received in said transverse opening and having said transverse passageway means disposed therethrough; wherein said nozzle is constructed from a ceramic material; and wherein said drilling apparatus further comprises nozzle holder means, attached to said housing, for holding said ceramic nozzle in place in said transverse opening of said housing.

Claim 53

A drilling apparatus comprising: a cylindrical housing having an upper end adapted to be connected to a drill string and a lower end adapted to be connected to a drill bit; an open cavity disposed in an outer cylindrical surface of said housing; a longitudinal passageway disposed through said housing; a transverse passageway means, disposed in said housing with a first end communicated with said longitudinal passageway and a second end communicated with said open cavity, for taking a portion of drilling fluid from said longitudinal passageway and for ejecting said portion of drilling fluid from said second end of said transverse pasageway means with a non-radial velocity component in a plane normal to a longitudinal axis of said housing; a transverse opening disposed in said housing and communicating said longitudinal passageway with said open cavity; a nozzle received in said transverse opening and having said transverse passageway means disposed therethrough; wherein said nozzle is constructed from a ceramic material; and wherein said drilling apparatus further comprises nozzle holder means, attached to said housing, for holding said ceramic nozzle in place in said transverse opening of said housing.

Claim 54

The drilling apparatus of claim 44, wherein: said nozzle holder means and said nozzle are so arranged and constructed that said nozzle holder means supports said nozzle against all thrust forces exerted on said nozzle by fluid passing therethrough to thereby prevent any tensile loading of said ceramic nozzle.

Claim 55

A drilling apparatus comprising: a cylindrical housing having an upper end adapted to be connected to a drill string and a lower end adapted to be connected to a drill bit; an open cavity disposed in an outer cylindrical surface of said housing; a longitudinal passageway disposed through said housing; a transverse passageway means, disposed in said housing with a first end communicated with said longitudinal passageway and a second end communicated with said open cavity, for taking a portion of drilling fluid from said longitudinal passageway and for ejecting said portion of drilling fluid from said second end of said transverse pasageway means with a non-radial velocity component in a plane normal to a longitudinal axis of said housing; a transverse opening disposed in said housing and communicating said longitudinal passageway with said open cavity; a nozzle received in said transverse opening and having said transverse passageway means disposed therethrough; wherein said housing includes a recessed surface disposed in said outer cylindrical surface thereof; wherein said transverse opening is a radial bore communicating said longitudinal passageway with said recess surface; and wherein said nozzle includes a cylindrical nozzle body having a first end received in said radial bore and a second end extending past said recessed surface into said open cavity, said first end of said transverse passageway means being disposed in said first end of said nozzle body and said second end of said transverse passageway means being disposed in a portion of said nozzle body extending past said recessed surface.

Claim 56

A drilling apparatus comprising: a cylindrical housing having an upper end adapted to be connected to a drill string and a lower end adapted to be connected to a drill bit; an open cavity disposed in an outer cylindrical surface of said housing; a longitudinal passageway disposed through said housing; a transverse passageway means, disposed in said housing with a first end communicated with said longitudinal passageway and a second end communicated with said open cavity, for taking a portion of drilling fluid from said longitudinal passageway and for ejecting said portion of drilling fluid from said second end of said transverse pasageway means with a non-radial velocity component in a plane normal to a longitudinal axis of said housing; a transverse opening disposed in said housing and communicating said longitudinal passageway with said open cavity; a nozzle received in said transverse opening and having said transverse passageway means disposed therethrough; wherein said housing includes a recessed surface disposed in said outer cylindrical surface thereof; wherein said transverse opening is a radial bore communicating said longitudinal passageway with said recess surface; and wherein said nozzle includes a cylindrical nozzle body having a first end received in said radial bore and a second end extending past said recessed surface into said open cavity, said first end of said transverse passageway means being disposed in said first end of said nozzle body and said second end of said transverse passageway means being disposed in a portion of said nozzle body extending past said recessed surface.

Claim 57

The drilling apparatus of claim 46, further comprising: nozzle holder means having a cylindrical recess disposed therein within which is received said second end of said nozzle body, said nozzle holder means being attached to said housing and having an opening therein communicating said second end of said transverse passageway means with said open cavity.