US1517586A - Underreamer - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 2, 1924.

E. J. ROE

UNDERREAMER Filed Feb. 12

1924 2 Sheets-Sheet l Patented Dec. 2, 1924.

UNITED STATES rEMIlll'lflT J. ROE, 0F AUGUSTA, KANSAS.

UNDERREAMER.

Application filed February 12, 1924. Serial No. 692,407.

To all wzo/m t may concern.'

Be it known that EMMETT J. Ron, citizen of the United States, residing at Augusta,

' in the county of Butler and State of Kansas,

has invented certain new and useful Improvements in Underreamers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to well drilling tools and more particularly to improvements in under-reamers adapted to be inserted into wells for enlarging or reaming the well hole below the end of the casing, to permit lowering of the casing as the work progresses.

1n practice, it is not uncommon for the bits of under-reamers to break and drop to the bottom of the well, and before operations can be resumed the broken part must be removed or destroyed and it is an object of my invention to provide means which will prevent these broken parts from dropping into the well and delaying operations.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for tightly fitting the reamer bits in their sockets when in operative or cutting position.

A further object of the invention is to provide sockets for the reamer bits having their lower portions dropped to lie on a different plane from the upper portions, so the bits may be readily expanded or contracted.

A further object of the invention is to provide an expansion spring for moving the bits from a contracted to an expanded position and means for holding said spring com.- prfssed while the reamer is lowered in the we l.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the above-mentioned character which is simple and durable in construction, reliable and efficient in operation and inexpensive to manufacture.

@ther obiects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

1n the accompanying ldrawings forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1, is a perspective view of the reamer inserted in the casing,

Figure 2, is a longitudinal section of the same,

Figure 3, is a front elevation of the reamer with the upper portion broken away showing the trip mechanism for holding the spring compressed,

Figure 4, is a front elevation of the lower part of the reamer with the bits removed,

Figure 5, is a side View of the same in longitudinal section,

Figure 6, is a side view of the bit,

Figure 7, is a front elevation of the bit, and,

Figure 8, is a detail view of the trip mechanism with the parts in separate relation.

Referring to the drawing, wherein for thc purpose of illustration I have shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 5 designates a tubular casing adapted to be inserted in the well hole for lining the sides. The reamer-bod 6 is shown inserted in the casing, having its lower end 8 shaped to form a wedge 9. The lower end 8 instead of being uniformly tapered for its full length, extends down straight for approximately one-half its length and is then gradually tapered to thc end. Oppositesides of the lower end 8 are formed with longitudinal grooves or sockets 10 to support the reaming bits. The lower ends of the grooves are closed by the cross piece 11 joined to the apex of the wedge 9, forming pockets at the bottom of the grooves to catch any broken parts of the bits that might fall.

The surface of the grooves 10 extends downwardly on a level plane to the point 14 and from this point to the point 15 it is tapered on a slight incline. At the point 15 there is an abrupt drop in the surface, as at 16, placing the lower end 15 of the groove on a lower plane than the upper end. The sides of the grooves are undercut forming guide ways 12 and flanges 13 for guiding the movement of the reaming bits. The flanges follow the contour of the lower end 8, s'o at the point 16, the guidevways are deeper, so there is sutlicient play between the bits and sockets to facilitate the passing of. the bits from the top to the bottom of the grooves. The flanges 13 below the drop 16 are cut away forming recesses 40 to provide an opening to permit removal of the reaming bits. The ends of the flanges at the upper end of the recesses 40 are inclined downwardly and the ends of the flanges at the lower ends of the recesses are, inclined upwardly, so that by lifting the upper end of the bits they may be readily removed.

The reaming bits 17 are adapted to travel in the grooves 10 having longitudinal recesses 17' in their sides forming upper and lower flanges 18 and 19, respectively. The recesses 17 at the upper end of the bits are flared so as to taper the ends of the flanges. The flanges 19 slide in the ways l2, the latter having their upper ends slight-- ly tapered, as at 18', to effect a tightfit between the grooves and the reaming bits when the bits are in expanded or operative position, as more cle-arly shown in Fig. 5. The upper ends of the reaming bits terminate in oblique faces 19 adapted to fit the oblique faces of the abutments 20 formed at the upper ends of the grooves 10. When in expanded position the outer face of the bits will project beyond the body of the reamer sufficiently to bear against the in terior of the hole. To conform with the curvature of the hole the outer surface of the bits is curved transversely and is wider at its lower or cutting edge 21. Each of the bits is provided above its cutting edge with a slot 22 to receive the end of the cross bar 23 and a recess 24 is formed at each side of the slot to receive the heads of the pins 25 fitted in the ends4 of the cross bar. Thus, it is seen that by reason of this construction the bits are connected together so as to have free lateral movement on the cross bar. The cross bar passes through the longitudinal slot 25 which intersects the central bore 27 of the body 6 and is connected to the lower end of the plunger rod 26 slidably mounted within the bore. The upper portion 26 of the bore 27 is enlarged to receive the expansible coil spring 28 mounted on the rod 26 and having one end seated on the shoulder 29 and the opposite end bearing against the circular head 30.

In order to hold the spring compressed and the bits in contracted position while being lowered into the well, the head 30 of the plunger rod 26 is provided with oppositely extending vpins 31 having beveled edges and adapted to travel in grooves 32 formed within the bore 27. These pins are seated in the V-shaped recesses 32 formed in the edge of the trips or plates 33 slidably mounted in the slots 34 extending through the body of the reamer at a point where the head of the plunger rod will be when the spring is compressed. The trips 33 are provided with elongated slots 35 through which pins 36 pass, holding the trips in place but permitting free movement thereof. Thus, it is seen that by reason of this construction when the trips enter the casing they will be held against outward movement by contactl with the interior surface, until the trips have passed the lower end of the casing whenthey will release the plunger rod permitting the expansible spring to lift the plunger rod, drawing the reaming bits into operative position.

In order that the reamer may be conrests@ 99 @he usuel string of drilling tools the upper end of the bore 27 is tapered and screw threaded, 'as at 37, to receive the tapered end 38 of the pipe union 39 which connects the 'reamer to the string of tools.

In use, to insert the under-reamer into thel well the reamer bits are drawn to the lower end of the grooves or sockets to contracted position and the trips pressed inwardly so as to seat the pins projecting from the head of the plunger rod in the recesses, thus holding the expansible spring under compression. The trips are held against outward movement by contact with the interior of the casing, until they pass the lower end of the casing when the trips rclease the spring which lifts the plunger rod and draws the bits to the upper end of the grooves to expanded or operative position. To withdraw the tool it is pullcu upward and the ends of the casing will con- 7 tact with the upper ends of the bits moving them downward to the lower end of the grooves, in which position they are held lby contact with the interior of the casing.- If

in operation the bits should break, instead "i of the broken parts dropping to the bot'tom oi. the well, they will follow the course of the groove and be deposited in theloiver ends or pockets of the grooves. To remove the bits, they are disconnected from the cross bar, and the upper ends lifted so as to pass through the recesses in the flanges of the guide ways.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that certain changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my inventiomwhat I claim is 1. In an under-reamer, the combination of a reamer bo dy having grooves at its lower end, said grooves having their lower portions on vertical planes nearer the axis of the body than the upper portions the lower end of said body adjacent the lower portion of said grooves being tapered, and reaming bits slidably mounted within said grooves.

2. In an under-reamer, the combination of a reamer body having grooves forming sockets, the bottom ofl said grooves having an abrupt drop approximately midway their length, placing the lower and upper.

portions of the grooves on vertical planes at different distances from the axis of the body, and reaming bits slidably mounted in the said grooves.

3. In an underreamer, the combination of a reamer body having grooves formino sockets, the upper and lower portions o said grooves being disposedH on vertical llt) planes at different distances from the axis of the body, guide-ways along the sides of said grooves tapering inwardly towards their lower end, and reaming bits slidably mounted in said guide-ways.

4. In an under-reamer, the combination of a reamer body having a wedge shaped end, said end having longitudinal grooves, the upper and lower portions of the surfaces of said grooves being on vertical planes at different distances from the axis of the body, guide-ways at the sides of said grooves tapering inwardly at their lower ends, reaming bits having flanges slidably mounted in said guide-ways, and yielding means for moving said bits to the upper end of said grooves.

5. In an under-reamer, the combination of' a reamer body having sockets, said sockets having guide flanges flared at one end, and reamer bits slidably mounted in said sockets having correspondingly shaped grooves to receive said guide flanges.

6. In an under-reamer, the combination of a reamer body having sockets, guide flanges at the sides of said sockets having a flared end, and reamer bits slidably mounted in said sockets having grooves in their sides flared at one end to receive the flared end of said flanges.

7. In an under-reamer, the combination of a reamer body having sockets closed at both ends, guide ways at the sides of said sockets having openings, said guide ways being relatively wider adjacent said openings, and reaner bits slidably mounted in said sockets having flanges to fit said guide ways.

8. In an under-reamer, the combination of a reamer body having sockets closed at both ends, guide ways along the sides of said sockets having elongated open recesses spaced from both ends of said sockets and reamer bits having longitudinal flanges slidably mounted in said sockets and guide wavs.

9. In an under-reamer, the combination of a reamer body having sockets closed at both ends, the bottom of said sockets having an abrupt drop approximately midway its length guide ways at the sides of said sockets having recesses below said abrupt drop, and reamer bits slidably mounted in said sockets having flanges fitting said guide ways.

`10. In an under-reamer, the combination of a reamer body having sockets closed at both ends, reamer bits slidably mounted in said sockets having flanges, and guide ways at the side of said sockets to receive the anges of the reamer bits having recesses, the ends of the flanges at said recesses being tapered to facilitate removal and insertion of said reamer bits.

11. In an undenreamer, the combination of a reamer body having grooves forming sockets, the bottom of said sockets having an abrupt drop placing the lower portion on a vertical plane nearer the axis of the body than the upper portion, guide ways at the sides of said sockets tapering inwardly towards the lower portion and reamer bits slidably mounted in said sockets.

12. In an under-reamer, the combination of a reamer body having sockets, the base of said sockets having its upper and lower portions in vertical planes at different distances from the axis of said body, and reamer bits mounted in said sockets.

13. In an underereamer, the combination of.' a reamer body having opposed sockets, the base of said sockets having their lower end on vertical planes nearer to the axis of said body than the upper end, reamer bits slidable in said sockets and means for contracting said bits when moved to the lower end of said sockets.

14e. In an under-reamer, the combination of a reamer body having sockets, said sockets having the upper portion of their surface off-set from the lower portion and connected by a downwardly and inwardly inclined shoulder, and reamer bits slidable in said sockets. said shoulders being adapted to exiand said bits when the latter are moved to the uppcrend of said sockets. 15. In an under-reamer, the combination of a, reamer body having sockets, said sockets having a downwardly and inwardly inclined shoulder formed intermediate their length, and reamer bits slidable in said sockets, said shoulders being adapted to` expand said bits when the latter are moved to the upper end of said sockets.

16.` In an under-reamer, the combination of a reamer body having sockets, the base of said sockets having its upper and lower portions on vertical planes at different distances from the axis of said body, reamer bits mounted in said sockets, and means for moving said bits to expanded position.

17. In an under-reamer, the combination of a reamer body having sockets, said sockets having guide flanges flared at one end, reamer bits slidably mounted in said sockets having correspondingly shaped grooves to receive said guide flanges and automatic means for moving said bits towards the flared end of said guide flanges for effecting a tight llt between said flanges and grooves.

18. In an under-reamer, the combination of a reamer body having sockets, the sides of said sockets having flared flanges and wedge shaped grooves, and reamer bits slidably mounted in said sockets having correspondingly shaped grooves and flanges to t said flanges and grooves of said sockets.

19. In an under-reamer, the combination of a reamer body having sockets, said sockets having the surface of their lower portions on a plane nearer to the aXis of the body than the surface of the upper portions, said upper and lower portions being connected together by a downwardly and inwardly inclined shoulder and reamer bits slidably mounted in said sockets, said shoulder being adapted for expanding said bits when the latter are moved to the upper end of said sockets.

20. In an under-reamer, the combination of a reamer body having a bore, reami'ng bits slidably mounted in said body, spring controlled means mounted in said bore and having connection with said reaming bits, grooves formed in said bore extending longitudinally thereof, means carried by said spring controlled means movable in said grooves and trips mountedpin said body adapted to engage said second mentioned means to hold said spring controlled means compressed.

2l. In an under-reamer, the combination of a reamer body having a bore, reaming bits slidably mounted in said body, a spring controlled plunger mounted in said bore having connection with said reamer bits. an enlarged head formed on the upper end of said plunger, grooves formed in said bore extending longitudinally thereof pins projecting laterally from said head movable in said grooves and trips slidably mounted in slots in the body having recesses adapted to receive said pins to hold said plunger compressed.

22. In an under-reamer, the combination of a reamer body having a reduced end, the surfaces of the upper and lower portions of the reduced end being disposed on vertical planes at dierent distances from the axis of said body, guide ribs formed at the sides of the surfaces ot' the upper and lower portions. said ribs converging inwardly towards the lower portion, reaming bits having means slidably engaging said guide ribs, and means for moving the reaming bits from one portion of the end to the other portion.

23. In an under-reamer, the combination of a body having a reduced end, the surfaces ol the upper and lower portions of the end being disposed on planes at different distances from the axis of said body, said upper and lower portions being connected by a downwardly and inwardly inclined shoulder, guide ribs formed at the sides of the surfaces of the upper and lower portions, said ribs converging inwardly towards the lower portion, roaming bits having means slidably engaging said guide ribs and means for moving said bits from one portion of the end te the other portion.

In testimony whereot` I affix my signature.

EMMETT J. ROE.

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