GB2468678A - A drill with a sacrificial drill head - Google Patents

A drill with a sacrificial drill head Download PDF

Info

Publication number
GB2468678A
GB2468678A GB0904593A GB0904593A GB2468678A GB 2468678 A GB2468678 A GB 2468678A GB 0904593 A GB0904593 A GB 0904593A GB 0904593 A GB0904593 A GB 0904593A GB 2468678 A GB2468678 A GB 2468678A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
mandrel
drill
drill head
ground
male
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB0904593A
Other versions
GB0904593D0 (en
Inventor
Roger Alfred Bullivant
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
ROXBURY PATENTS Ltd
Original Assignee
ROXBURY PATENTS Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by ROXBURY PATENTS Ltd filed Critical ROXBURY PATENTS Ltd
Priority to GB0904593A priority Critical patent/GB2468678A/en
Publication of GB0904593D0 publication Critical patent/GB0904593D0/en
Publication of GB2468678A publication Critical patent/GB2468678A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B10/00—Drill bits
    • E21B10/62—Drill bits characterised by parts, e.g. cutting elements, which are detachable or adjustable
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24T—GEOTHERMAL COLLECTORS; GEOTHERMAL SYSTEMS
    • F24T10/00—Geothermal collectors
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B10/00—Drill bits
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B10/00—Drill bits
    • E21B10/42—Rotary drag type drill bits with teeth, blades or like cutting elements, e.g. fork-type bits, fish tail bits
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B7/00—Special methods or apparatus for drilling
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B7/00—Special methods or apparatus for drilling
    • E21B7/20—Driving or forcing casings or pipes into boreholes, e.g. sinking; Simultaneously drilling and casing boreholes
    • F24J3/08—
    • F24J3/083—
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24T—GEOTHERMAL COLLECTORS; GEOTHERMAL SYSTEMS
    • F24T10/00—Geothermal collectors
    • F24T10/10—Geothermal collectors with circulation of working fluids through underground channels, the working fluids not coming into direct contact with the ground
    • F24T10/13—Geothermal collectors with circulation of working fluids through underground channels, the working fluids not coming into direct contact with the ground using tube assemblies suitable for insertion into boreholes in the ground, e.g. geothermal probes
    • F24T10/15—Geothermal collectors with circulation of working fluids through underground channels, the working fluids not coming into direct contact with the ground using tube assemblies suitable for insertion into boreholes in the ground, e.g. geothermal probes using bent tubes; using tubes assembled with connectors or with return headers
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24T—GEOTHERMAL COLLECTORS; GEOTHERMAL SYSTEMS
    • F24T10/00—Geothermal collectors
    • F24T2010/50—Component parts, details or accessories
    • F24T2010/53—Methods for installation
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E10/00—Energy generation through renewable energy sources
    • Y02E10/10—Geothermal energy

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
  • Geology (AREA)
  • General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Sustainable Energy (AREA)
  • Sustainable Development (AREA)
  • Earth Drilling (AREA)

Abstract

A drill for possible use in installing a geothermal heat exchange loop includes a mandrel 12 which can drive a drill head 10. The drill head 10 is releasably connected to the mandrel and can be left in the ground as the mandrel 12 is removed.

Description

Drill Apraratus The present invention relates to drill apparatus, such as drill apparatus for drilling into the ground.
In one aspect of the invention, there is provided apparatus comprising: a drill head rotatable to drill into the ground; and a mandrel operable to drive the drill head; the drill head and mandrel comprising cooperating portions through which the drill head is drivingly engageable by the mandrel, and which are disengageable by withdrawal of the mandrel, to leave the drill head in the ground.
The mandrel may comprise a passage through which an article can be introduced into the ground as the mandrel is withdrawn. The mandrel may be tubular.
The cooperating portions may comprise male and female tortions which mate to engage the mandrel and the drill head. The male and female portions may mate by relative movement along the rotation axis of the mandrel. There may be a releasable lock arrangement operable to provide a locked condition preventing disengagement by relative axial movement. The male and female portions, after mating, may be movable relative to one another to a locked condition preventing disengagement by relative axial movement. The male and female portions may be relatively rotatable about the rotation axis to enter the locked condition. The lock arrangement may comprise a slot formed in one of the male and female portions, and a tooth provided on the other of the male and female portions to enter the slot for conveying drive from the mandrel to the drill head. The slot may have an entry section and a lock recess into which the tooth is movable from the entry section to prevent disengagement by movement parallel to the entry section.
In another aspect, the invention provides a method comprising: engaging the drill head and mandrel of apparatus according to any of the definitions set out above; driving the drill head by means of the mandrel, to drill into the ground; and wherein the mandrel comprises a passage, and wherein an article is introduced into the ground, through the passage, as the mandrel is withdrawn.
The article may comprise a geothermal heat exchanger.
Examples of the present invention will now be described in more detail, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the drill head and the end of the mandrel of an
example embodiment;
Fig. 2 is a section of the mandrel of Fig. I at the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an axial section of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a view of part of the head of Fig. 1 at the viewing line 4-4 of Fig. 1; and Figs. 5 and 6 are diagrams of one example method of use of the apparatus of Figs. 1 to 4.
Figure 1 illustrates apparatus comprising a drill head 10 rotatable to drill into the ground and a mandrel 12 operable to drive the drill head 10. The drill head 10 and mandrel 12 comprise cooperating portions 14, 16 through which the drill head 10 is drivingly engageable by the mandrel 12, and which are disengageable by withdrawal of the mandrel 12, to leave the drill head 10 in the ground, as will be described. The drill head 10 and mandrel 12 are shown in the disengaged condition in Figure 1.
In more detail, the mandrel 12 is a long pipe, which may be formed in sections (not shown). The mandrel 12 can be rotated about a rotation axis 18, to serve as a drive string from the surface of the ground, down into the hole being drilled.
Only the lower end of the mandrel 12 is illustrated in figure 1. A tooth 20 is provided at the lower end of the mandrel 12, within the cooperating portion 16.
The tooth 20 is in the form of an elongate fin projecting from the outer surface of the mandrel 12 and aligned parallel with the axis 18.
The drill head 10 is illustrated in simplified form in Fig. 1. The cooperating portion 14 is in the form of a short length of pipe which has an internal diameter appropriate to receive the mandrel 12 in a close fit, so that the lower end of the mandrel 12, and the cooperating portion 14 serve as male and female portions which mate to engage the mandrel 12 and the drill head 10. A slot 22 is formed in the wall of the cooperating portion 14 to accommodate the tooth 20 when the mandrel 12 is mated with the drill head 10. The slot 22 has an entry section 24 which is parallel with the axis 18. The slot 22 also has a lock recess 26. The dimension of the recess 26, parallel with the axis 18, is sufficient to accommodate the tooth 20.
Accordingly, when the mandrel 12 and drill head 10 are aligned to present the tooth 20 to the slot 22, the mandrel 12 can be mated with the drill head 10 by relative movement along the rotation axis 18. This introduces the tooth 20 into the entry section 24 of the slot 22. When the tooth 20 has fully penetrated the entry section 24, to lie alongside the lock recess 26, the mandrel 12 and drill head 10 can then be turned relative to one another, around the axis 18, to place them in a locked condition by moving the tooth 20 into the lock recess 26. Once the tooth 20 has entered the lock recess 26, relative axial movement of the drill head 10 and mandrel 12 is prevented, thereby preventing the drill head 10 being disengaged from the mandrel 12 unless preceded by relative rotation around the axis 18, to remove the tooth 20 from the lock recess 26. Consequently, the tooth 20, the slot 22 and the lock recess 26 together form a releasable lock arrangement which provides a Jocked condition of the drill head 10 and mandrel 12, preventing disengagement by relative axial movement.
When the drill head 10 and mandrel 12 are engaged, with the tooth 20 in the lock recess 26, the mandrel 12 can be turned around the axis 18 to drive the drill head 10 by the engagement of the tooth 20 with the walls of the lock recess 26.
It is preferred that the lock recess 26 is positioned so that the rotation of the mandrel 12, during driliing, presses the tooth 20 into the lock recess 26.
The drill head 10 is illustrated in more detail in figs 3 and 4. The cooperating portion 14 of the drill head 10 is a short length of pipe, as noted above. The internal wall 28 has a diameter which allows the mandrel 12 to be received until the mandrel 12 bears on a step 30. The cooperating portion 14 may be reinforced, by external rings 31.
Beyond the step 30, a further tubular extension 32 carries a domed platen 34 on which cutting teeth 36 are mounted. The cutting teeth 36 are used to engage the ground to create a drilling action when the drill head 10 is rotated by drive conveyed through the mandrel 12. There are flush apertures 38 in the platen 34.
These are in communication with the interior void 40 of the drill head 10 and are thus in communication with the pipe void of the mandrel 12, allowing flushing medium to be introduced through the mandrel 12, drill head 10 and apertures 38, for example to provide lubrication around the teeth 36, during cutting.
The form of the slot 22 can be.seen clearly in Fig. 3, including the entry section 24 and the lock recess 26.
Fig. 4 is an end view of the drill head 10, looking into the cooperating portion 14.
The mouth of the slot 22 is clearly visible. The extremity of the lock recess 26 is also indicated by a broken line at 42. A cut-away 44 is formed in the rings 31 to provide clearance for the tooth 20 when entering the slot 22. The requirement for the cut-away 44, and the dimension of it if present, will be set by the dimensions of the tooth 20, particularly the radial extent.
The apparatus described above can be used in the following manner, described with particular reference to Figs 5 and 6. The first step requires engaging the drill head 10 and mandrel 12 of the apparatus. This inVolves introducing the cooperating portion 16 of the mandrel 12 into the cooperating portion 14 of the drill head 10, which introduces the tooth 20 into the slot 22. When the mandrel 12 has penetrated the drill head 10 sufficiently to engage the step 30, relative rotation of the drill head 10 and mandrel 12 around the axis 18 locks them together by introducing the slot 22 into the lock recess 26. Drive is then applied to the mandrel 12 to rotate it about the axis 18, thereby driving the drill head 10 by means of the mandrel 12, to drill into the ground. This stage of the method is illustrated in Fig. 5. As drilling continues, additional sections of mandrel 12 may be attached at the surface, as required.
During drilling, relatively little friction is encountered between the mandrel 12 and * the surrounding ground, by virtue of the larger radius of the platen 34 as compared with the rest of the drill head 10, or the mandrel 12, as can be seen * from Fig. 3. Flushing or lubricating medium can be pumped down the mandrel 12 and out through the flush apertures 38. Further during drilling, the rotation direction of the mandrel 12 is such as to tend to force the tooth 20 into the lock recess 26, thereby retaining the locked condition of the drill head 10 and mandrel 12.
When the drill head 10 has been drilled down to the required depth, the mandrel 12 can be turned slightly in the reverse direction, freeing the tooth 20 from the lock recess 26 and allowing the mandrel 12 to be withdrawn, leaving the drill head 10 at the bottom of the hole which has been drilled (see Fig. 6).
While the mandrel 12 is being withdrawn, the internal void 46 of the mandrel 12, which is a pipe, forms a passage through which an article 48 can be introduced into the ground, as the mandrel is withdrawn. For exampie, Fig. 6 illustrates an elongate article 48 being introduced into the ground, through the void 46, as the mandrel 12 is withdrawing (as indicated by the arrow 50). The elongate article 48 may be a geothermal heat exchanger or part thereof, such as heat exchange pipes, tubes etc. Accordingly, the apparatus and method just described provide a simple and convenient manner of forming a deep drilled bore in the gound, and introducing components of a geothermal heat exchanger.
Many variations and modifications can be made to be apparatus and methods described above, without departing from the scope of the present invention. In particular, many different arrangements for interfitting the drill head 10 and mandrel 12 can be devised, and other arrangements are possible for locking them together, during use. The mandrel 12 has been described as fitting inside the drill head 10, but this arrangement could be reversed. The tooth 20 has been described as projecting out from the mandrel but could project inwardly from the drill head, or, if the drill head fits within the mandrel, the tooth 20 could project outwardly from the drill head or inwardly from the mandrel. Additional teeth 20 could be provided at other positions around the axis 18, with corresponding additional slots also being provided.
Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims (15)

  1. CLAIMS1. Drill apparatus comprising: a drill head rotatable to drill into the ground; and a mandrel operable to drive the drill head; the drill head and mandrel comprising cooperating portions through which the drill head is drivingly engageable by the mandrel, and which are disengageable by withdrawal of the mandrel, to leave the drill head in the ground.
  2. 2. Drill apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the mandrel comprises a passage through which an article can be introduced into the ground as the mandrel is withdrawn.
  3. 3. Drill apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the mandrel is tubular.
  4. 4. Drill apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the cooperating portions comprise male and female portions which mate to engage the mandrel and the drill head.
  5. 5. Drill apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the male and female portions mate by relative movement along the rotation axis of the mandrel.
  6. 6. Drill apparatus according to claim 5, wherein there is a releasable lock arrangement operable to provide a locked condition preventing disengagement by relative axial movement.
  7. 7. Drill apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the male and female portions, after mating, are movable relative to one another to a locked condition preventing disengagement by relative axial movement.
  8. 8. Drill apparatus according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the male and female portions are relatively rotatable about the rotation axis to enter the locked condition.
  9. 9. Drill apparatus according to any of claims 6 to 8, wherein the lock arrangement comprises a slot formed in one of the male and female portions, and a tooth provided on the other of the male and female portions to enter the slot for conveying drive from the mandrel to the drill head.
  10. 10. Drill apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the slot has an entry section and a lock recess into which the tooth is movable from the entry section to prevent disengagement by movement parallel to the entry section.
  11. 11. A method comprising: engaging the drill head and mandrel of apparatus according to any of the definitions set out above; driving the drill head by means of the mandrel, to drill into the ground; and wherein the mandrel comprises a passage, and wherein an article is introduced into the ground, through the passage, as the mandrel is withdrawn.
  12. 12. A method according to claim 11, wherein the article comprises a geothermal heat exchanger.
  13. 13. Drill apparatus substantially as described above, with reference to the accompanying drawings.
  14. 14. A method substantially as described above, with reference to the accompanying drawings.
  15. 15. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter disclosed herein, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.
GB0904593A 2009-03-18 2009-03-18 A drill with a sacrificial drill head Withdrawn GB2468678A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0904593A GB2468678A (en) 2009-03-18 2009-03-18 A drill with a sacrificial drill head

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0904593A GB2468678A (en) 2009-03-18 2009-03-18 A drill with a sacrificial drill head

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB0904593D0 GB0904593D0 (en) 2009-04-29
GB2468678A true GB2468678A (en) 2010-09-22

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Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN102486083A (en) * 2010-12-06 2012-06-06 淮南矿业(集团)有限责任公司 Well drilling corrector
CN106042051A (en) * 2016-06-16 2016-10-26 铜陵锋帆彩色印务有限公司 Manually-operated puncher

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2354023A (en) * 1999-09-10 2001-03-14 Kvaerner Cementation Found Ltd Displacement hole forming tool
GB2443954A (en) * 2006-11-16 2008-05-21 Tracto Technik Geothermal probe with drill head.
WO2009103149A1 (en) * 2008-02-22 2009-08-27 Roussy Raymond J A method and system for installing geothermal heat exchangers, energy piles, concrete piles, micropiles, and anchors using a sonic drill and a removable or retrievable drill bit

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2354023A (en) * 1999-09-10 2001-03-14 Kvaerner Cementation Found Ltd Displacement hole forming tool
GB2443954A (en) * 2006-11-16 2008-05-21 Tracto Technik Geothermal probe with drill head.
WO2009103149A1 (en) * 2008-02-22 2009-08-27 Roussy Raymond J A method and system for installing geothermal heat exchangers, energy piles, concrete piles, micropiles, and anchors using a sonic drill and a removable or retrievable drill bit

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN102486083A (en) * 2010-12-06 2012-06-06 淮南矿业(集团)有限责任公司 Well drilling corrector
CN102486083B (en) * 2010-12-06 2014-10-22 淮南矿业(集团)有限责任公司 Well drilling corrector
CN106042051A (en) * 2016-06-16 2016-10-26 铜陵锋帆彩色印务有限公司 Manually-operated puncher

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB0904593D0 (en) 2009-04-29

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Free format text: REGISTERED BETWEEN 20111215 AND 20111221

WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)