US1819532A - Lubricating mechanism for deep well drills - Google Patents

Description

Aug, 18, `1931. F. L. to. wADswoRl-H 1,819,532

LUBRICATING MCHANISM Fon DEEP wsLL DRILLS Filed Aug. 19, 1922*4 was.

Patented Aug. 18, 1931 rnnmr, o. WADSWOBTH, or Plinius-Buiten PENNSYLVANIA werarlre rrreneursuroa WELL nmfLLs Appiicaeon mea August 19, 41:12a serraifNp. 5.82860.

My invention relates to lubricating mechanism of the generic character described in my copending application Ser. No.1582046 filed August 15th, 1922, and the present application is, in part, a continuation .of this earlier one. The general object of the improveniente herein set forth is the provision of a simple and reliable lubricating mechanism for deep `well .boring tools or other ap-V paratus whichmust he operated at great distances below the surface .of the ground, or at other inaccessible points; and one of the main features 0f this improved mechanism is the utilization of the Iweight of the drill stem, or driving shaft, .to effect the .forced flow of the lubricant frem a suitable work.- ing chamber, .to all of the bearing or wearing surfacesof the tool or other apparatus kwhen the latter is in operation.

provenients is the provision of `an auxiliary or reserve reservoir of lubricant .which is not subjected to the weight of the drill stem parte; and the provision -of means whereby successive amounts 4of lubricating material may be transferred from the said reserve reservoir to the working chamber-without interrupting; the normal operative AInovements of the drill head partsfand .then forced from l said working chamber to the desired points under a controllable and predetermined pressure `component of' the total drill stein weight.

A Ifurther object of these improvements is to provide a combinationofelastic and h ydraulic pressure forces for balancing and counteracting the major portion of the drillV stem or driving` shaftweight; and to provide means for readily varying the magnitude of these balancing forces, as this weight increases 0r diminishes, so as to obtain .2L preadjusted residual gravity pressure fol' effecting the forced discharge of. lubricating material from the working chamber. Y

Another .object .of my present invention is the provision*` of an improved form of drill stem whose working weight-when immersed in a drill hole that is lilled with water or other flushing liquid-will be substantially less than that of an ordinary tubular drill stem of A more Specific purpose .of the present im-` the same power transmitting capacity thereby reducing the necessary balancing forces for supporting or counteractingthe lniajor portion of the drill stem pressure on 'the lubricant inthe working chamber, andy also sensibly diminishing the strain on Vthev suspension cables when the drill stem assembly is being lifted from, orlowered into, the nbore hole.

Still another purpose of that part ofiny i nl vention which has to dowiththe provision of' an improvedV drill stem, is the provision' of a double-walledetwo-conduit driving shaft member whichlcan be used to carry a stream of `flushing liquid to the bottom of thebore hole, and also concurrently, or independently, used to convey either lubricant, or compressed air, or other iluidffrom the surface ofthe ground to lchambers in the drill head t here' yby permitting, in some cases, of longer continued or more effective operations thanvare possible with deep well apparatus of the usual construction, l Y Y v l Other objects land advantages, and niditional features, of'my rresniiimrvements will be made apparent,to thoseslrilled in thei art,'by the following more detailed ,del soription of certain illustrative embodiments tiereof, ywhich are shown in the accompanyine drawings; ,in which:

Fig. l is a side elevation of a portion of a drill 4head andr drill: stem construction which exemplifies this invention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal section, on the plane 2 2 of Fig. l, of the lower part ,of the first figure; Figg is a cross section on the plane 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. el is a longitudinal section on the same plane as Fig. 2, ofthe upper part of Fig. 1; and Fig. 5 is a sectional view, simi-V 8 is provided with three correspondingly spaced slots; and the two members are held in relatively reciprocable, but nonrotatable, relation by three keys, 7, that are fitted tightly into the said slots and slide freely in the said grooves. The upper end of the sleeve 6 is threaded to receive a ring 10 that serves the joint purpose of closing the upper ends of the keyways -thereby limiting the longitudinal separation of the members 6 and 8-and of supporting a suitable packing ring and gland for the slidablyA engaged members. The head 4 is also provided with a tubular eX- tension 12 which communicates at its lower end with an opening 13 that leads to the cutters onthe said head, and which is engaged at its upper extremity, by a bearing 14 in the hollow screw sleeve 15. This sleeve is rotatably connected to the plunger cap 9 by means of the tube 17 and the shoulderedcollar 18; and its threaded periphery is engaged by a piston 16 that lits closely in the plunger member 8. vA powerful coil spring 19, which is capable of supporting a substantial part of the drill steinweight, is interposed between the adjustable piston 16 and a plate 20 that rests on the upper face of the ldrill head 4. ,A second coil spring 21 is also interposed between the packing ring gland for the bearing 14 and a similar .packinggland 22 for the. central opening in the plate 20.

The annular space between the sleeve and plunger, 6 and 8,-and the tube 12which is closed at the topl by the sleeve and piston 15-16 and at the bottom by the plate 20-constitutes a lubricant chamber, which is in com'- munication with the space above the piston 16 through a spring closed valve 25, andwith the s pace below the plate 20 through a port 26 that is controlled by the fpackless compressed air valve 27 The flexible metal belows or sylphon of this fluid pressure control valve is connected with a lateral opening that contains an ordinary Schrader tire valve 28 through which the said bellows can be charged to any desired pressure. The annular space 29 between the recessed lower face of the plate 20 and the top of the drill head 4 is in communication with the bearings of the drill head cutter bits through a duct or ducts 23.

In the use of this apparatus the position of the piston 16 is adjusted-by applying a suitable wrench to the Octagon headed Vcollar 18-until the initial tension of the coil spring 19 is suiiicient to support a very substantial part of the weight of the drill stem at the desired depth of operation. The upper and lower chambers-on the two sides of this piston 16-are then l'illed with lubricant through the openings 24 in the plunger cap 9 (preferably by inverting the tool and pumping in the material through a suitable connection that is attached to the end of the cap) and the lower drill stem section is next inserted and screwed down vuntil it meets the end of the collar 18 and seals olf the openings 24 from the central passage of the tube 17. The air pressure in the bellows of the control valve 27 is then adjusted until it is just insuiiicient to keep the port 26 closed against the action of the residual or unbalanced gravity pressure on the parts, 8- 15, 16, when the full operating length of drill stem is in place and the drill head has been lowered into contact with the bottom of the bore hole. Under such circumstances the weight of the drill stein-plunger assembly 11-9-8-15-16-17 etc. will be supported in part on the elastic members 19 and 21 and in part by the aggregate or accumulated hydraulic pressure on the lower exposed faces of the parts 8-15 and 16 ,-this latter force being equal to the area of the said faces multiplied by the unit surface pressure on the head of the valve 27. v vSince this head is very small as compared with the total end area ofthe parts 8-15 and 16; and since it is also considerably smaller than the spring bellows on which it is mounted; it will require only a relatively small air pressure in the said` bellows to resist a gravity pressure of several thousand pounds on the plunger heads; and it would be possible to suiciently restrain the downward movement of the said heads relatively to the driving sleeve 6-and correspondingly control the discharge of lubricant through the passages 26 and 23by the use of the fluid pressure valve 27 alone.-

But I prefer to employ the coil springs 19 and 21, as supplemental or complemental to the air spring control element 27, because the supporting tension of the aforesaid coil springs increases as the drilling operation proceeds and the members 6 and 8 gradually approach .each other-thereby eectin a closure of the valve 27 a ainst the diminisglied unbalanced weight of t e drill stem before the key 7 engage with the lower ends'of the grooves -and also because of the action of thesesprings in immediately restoring the said members to their initial-fully separated position when the drill stem is lifted a slight distance. This expansion movement of the partially emptied lubricant reservoir causes the valve 25 tov open and admit a fresh supply of unguent from the upper reserve chamber;v and when the drill stein is again lowered the residual gravity pressure that remains unbalanced by the expanded springs 19 and 21 overcomes the hydraulic resistance to the How of liquid through the air spr-ing valve 27 and reestablishes the temporarily interrupted flow of the lubricant to the cutter bearings. With this construction it is, therefore, possible to continue the drilling operations-'with an occasional momentary lifting of the drill stem parts-until the large supply. of lubricant above the piston 16 has been exhausted; and this long continued operain Figs. 1 and 4. This structure comprises twoconcentric pipes 30 and 31 of substantially differentdiameters, each of which preferablyV consistsY of uniform lengths of Vcold drawn tubing thatare integrally connected at their ends by special maleand female couplings 32 and 33. Each male coupling 32 is provided with an outer threaded portion that engages one end of an outer tube length 31 and an inner threaded portion that engages the adjacent end of an inner tube length V30, and the latter is also preferably brazed or spot welded to the coupling at its exposed end junction therewith; i. e., at 34E. Each female coupling 33 is provided with an outer threaded porton to engage an end of another outer tube unit 31, and with an inner eoned seat 35 which is adapted to engage a eoned nut 36 that is screwed down on the contigu-v ous end vof the corresponding inner tube length 30 and is then preferably braZed or welded thereto-as at 37. In assembling the unit sections of this dual tube structure, the adjacent ends of a pair of outer and inner pipe lengths are first screwed into the corresponding threaded portions of amale coupling 32,-the outer pipe being screwed home until its extremity is jammed against the head of the coupling, as shown in Figs. 2 and f1. A female coupling 33 is next slipped over the opposite projecting end of the inner pipe length 30-the central bore of this coupling being large .enough to loosely engage'the unthreaded portion of the inner pipe-and screwed down onto the contiguous endfof the outer pipe 31 until this end is also jammed against the shouldered head of the member 33. The coupling nut 36 is then screwed on to the unconnected extremity of theI inner tube 30 until its coned surface is tightly engaged with the seat 35 ofthe female coupling 33'.' Asfallof. the engaging parts are provided with the usual right hand threads, each successivestep in the. assembling operation tends to further tighten all of the oints previously made; and the final engagement of the coupling nut 36 with the coned seat 35 locks all of the assembled elements of each dual tube section into a substantially integral or unitary torquefresisting member, (against right hand rotation), since any tendency of one of these elements to rotate in a clockwise direction, with reference to the others, must result in forcing the coupled parts int-o an ever increasing pressureV contact. The purpose of the auxiliary welded or brazed connections 34 and .37 is tovlock the parts against being unscrewed by a reverse or left hand rotation, and thus produce a unit section of stem that is adapted to equally well resist either right or left yhand driving torques.

Thesuccessive independent engagement of the parts 31-33, and 36-30-35 permits of a`relativeself adjust-ment of the inner and outer 'pip'esections, 30-31, with respect to strains tend to further tighten the joints between the assembled elements 30-31-32-33 and thereby assist in maintaining the rigid unitary character of the double tube driving shaft sections as substantially integral torque resisting members. v

Each length of finished drillstem-as thus assembled-is provided at one e-nd with a male coupling. The thread union between the coupling elements 32 and 33 and the pipe or stem sections 31 is the same as that of the ordinary sleeve coupling for astandard single tube drill stem. Lengths of my improved double tube structure can therefore be used interchangeably with lengths of the ordinary single tube drill stem, and either form of connection can be coupled at willto the same plunger head 9.

Then the couplingmembers 32 and 33 are screwed together the beveled end of the male coupling 32 engages with the eoned extremity of the locking nut 36 in the female coupling 33, and-thus seals the joints of the inner tube lengths 30 to form a continuous fluid tight conduit of uniform diameter, through which flushing liquid may be conducted to the upper end of the plunger member 2 (or 8a).

The lower end of the double tube drill stem is secured to the plunger cap 9 by means of a male coupling `unit whose lower beveled end engages with the coned extremity of the collarlS; and the inner tube conduit 30 is thus put in sealed communication with the tube connections 17-12 (or 17a-12) which lead to the passage-way 13 in the drill'head 4.

Each of the coupling units 32 and 33 is also preferably provided with a row of apertures, 38, 38, that' open into the annular chambers between the inner and outer tubes 30 and 31; and when these units are secured together, in the manner just described, the successive chambers are in free communication with each other through the apertures 38 and the spaces surrounding the locking nuts 36. The lower end of the continuous passage way, which is thus formed, opens into the annular space between the plunger cap 9 and thehead 18 of the tube v17 (or 17a) and is thereforel in direct communication with the openings 24 at the top of the upper lubricant chamber. The use of only one or two of my improved double tube sections at the lower end of the drill stem will thus permit of increasing the ilo AVIt

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capacity of the reserve lubricant reservoir to any desired degree; and if the entire length of kdrill stemis made up of such sections the lubricating material can be supplied asnecessary to the plunger reservoir (through the continuous conduit between the tubes 30 and 3l) without withdrawing the tool from the bore hole, or otherwise interrupting the continuity of the drilling 'operationsexcept for an occasional. lifting of the drill stem for the purpose of passing fresh supplies of unguent to the lower pressure feed chamber of the device.` l The use' of the semi-floating drill stem feature of my present invention makes it possible,.in fact, to dispense entirely with the relatively reciprocating driving sleeve and plunger elements of the hereinbefore described organizations; and to feed lubricant directly to the cutter bearings, from the surface of the ground, through the outer annular conduit in the double tube drill'stem. But this functional adaptation o f the last considered portion of Amy improved rotary drill construction is not herein speciiically illusi trated, as separately claimed.

The foregoing explanation of various applications of the present invention-asfillustrat-ed by two alternative Vforms of rotary drill vconstruction-will make it apparent to engineers, and others familiar with the general' subject toV which this invention appertazins, that the characteristic features of my improvements may be utilized in various types of deep'well apparatus, or analogous structures, in which certain inaccessible bearing or wearing surfaces must be supplied with a suitableI lubricant under considerable pressure; and it will also be obvious to such skilled workers that numerousV 4structural changes may be made in my gravity actuated lubricating mechanism, or in my improved double tube driving stem or shaft-in order to best adapt these improvements to varying conditions of use-without altering the functional character, or the result attaining characteristics, of suchstructurally modified embodiments Aof the present invention. The

only limitations which I seek to impose on the scope of' this disclosure arethose indicated in the accompanying claims: f- 7 l. A driving shaft or stem for deep well drills and analogous apparatus, comprising la series o'f tubesk of substantially different diameters disposed one within the other, multiple part coupling units secured t0 the continguous ends of said tubes and having fluid circulatingy passages formed therein, said coupling units comprising means for radially and longitudinallyL uniting said tubes to form a substantially integral torque resisting member. fn 2L A double walled drivingstem for deep well apparatus which comprises a series of tubes of substantially different diameter disposed onewithin the other, and a series of perforated 'coupling units securedJ to threaded ends of the saidtubes and adapted to radially unite said tubes into a substantially integral torque resistinginember having two continuous and" independent passage ways therethrough, substantially as described( S. A driving stem for deep well rotary drillsl which consists of two tubular membersy of'substantially different diameter dis-y posed one within the other, a male coupling adapted tor radially unite adjacent ends of these tubes in a tangentially rigid torque resisting member, a female coupling engaging t-he said male coupling, and a locking nut cooperatively engaged with the said female coupling and with the continguousextremity Y of one of the' said tubes.l

4. A 'driving stem for deep well rotary drills lwhich. consists of two tubes of substantially different diameters arranged one c l Vdriven head operatively connected to the lower Vend of the said shaft, a passage way extending through said Vhead and incommunication with yone of the said-shaft conduits, a lubricant ,reservoir in the driven member, and means for establishing communication between said reservoir and the other Vof said conduits inthe driving shaft.

6. A rotary boring tool 'which comprisesV i the combination'of a drill head, a double tube 'drill' stemV slida-bly but non-rotatably connected thereto, avlubricant reservoir in saidheadand means forestablishing intermittent communication between said reservoir and a longitudinal passage way in said drill'st'enfi.` A y 7 A rotary boring tool which comprises thefcombination ofv a drill head, a plunger member slidably but non-rotatably coupled thereto, a lubricant reservoir of variable volume between the relatively movable head and'plunger members, a second reservoir within the plunger, and means for establishing communication between-said reservoirs when the head and plunger members are separated and theirstmentioned reservoir is expanded. Y I

8.'A'rotary`boring tool which comprissi ardrill head, a drill stem member adapted to move longitudinally of the said head, means for holding the relatively movable membersin non-rotatable relation, a-reservoir of variable volume ybetween 'the' said movable parts, a spring adapted tohold said e izo yhas exceeded a predetermined value. t

parts in expanded position, a second reservoir of fixed volume, and means for opening communication between the variable and fixed volume reservoirs when the former is expanded by the said spring.

9. In a rotary boring tool the combination of a drill head, a drill stem for rotating said head, means intermediate said head and said stemfor permitting a limited longitudinal movement of the two parts, a reservoir of variable volume between the relatively movrotatably coupling said head to said stem, a

lubricant reservoir of variable volume bounded by said relatively slidable parts, ducts leading from said reservoir to the bearings of said boring bits, and an adjustable spring closed valve controlling the passage of material through said ducts.

11. In a rotary drilling tool for deep wells the combination of a drill head, a drill stem assembly 'adapted to move longitudinally with respect to said head, means for holding these relatively movable parts in non-rotatable relation, a reservoir of variable volume between said parts, means within said reservoir for substantially balancing the weight of the drill stem assembly, a second reservoir of fixed volume carried by said assembly, and means for establishing an intermittent communication between said reservoirs when the tool is in'operation.

l2. In a rotary boring tool the combination of a drill head, a double walled drill stem slidably but non-rotatably coupled thereto, a lubricant reservoir of variable volume disposed between theselrelatively slidable parts, a yielding resistance member adapted to transmit a substantial part of the drillv stem weight to the drill head, means for varying the restraint action of the said resistance member on the approachmovements V`of the said drill head and drill stem and thereby controlling the discharge of lubri cantl fromthe saidreservoir, a means for in troducing a fresh supply of lubricant to the said reservoir when the said restraint action 13. In a rotary boring tool the combination of a. drill head, a driving sleeve secured thereto, a hollow plunger' longitudinally movable with respect to said sleeve, means for transmitting rotary movement from the said plunger tothe driving-sleeve-drill-head members, a lubricant reservoir disposed between these relatively movable parts, a spring closed valve disposed in an outlet from said reservoir, and a second valve controlling communication between said reservoir and the interior of the hollow plunger.

14. In a rotary boring tool the combination of a drill head, a double tube drill stem provided with two independent passage ways therethrough, a plunger member interposed .between said head and stem members and t stem, an aperture in the drill head, and a hollow member leading from said aperture to a bearing in said plunger and adapted to afford continuous communication between said aperture and the other of said drill stem passage ways.

15..'I`he hereinbefore described mode of feeding lubricant to the bearings of deep well drills which consists in confining a mass of unguent in immediate proximity to said bearings, subjecting said mass to a part of the weight of the drill stem, intermittently relieving said mass from such gravity pressure, and automatically replenishing the supply of confined material from a reserve volume of lubricant during such intervals of reduced pressure.

16. The hereinbefore described method of operating deep well drills and analogous apparatus which consists in. confining a massof lubricant in immediate proximity to the drill head, subjecting this mass of lubricant to apart of the weight of the drill stem to head cutters, transferring a remaining part of this lweight to the said cutters to thereby maintain them in proper working engagement with the bottom of the bore hole, intermittently relieving the drill stem pressure on the lubricant without removing such pressure from the drill head, and replenishing the supply of confined unguent during the i'ntervalsof reduced pressure thereon.

17. The herein described method of feeding lubricant to the bearings of a rotary boring drill, which consists in confining a mass of unguent within said drilladjacent said bearings, subjecting said mass to the pressure of said drill stem, controlling the flow of unguent from said mass to the bearings of the drill so as to maintain said mass under a determined'l fluid pressure less than the pressure corresponding to the force applied by said drill stem, and intermittently relieving said mass of the weight of said drill stem whi le replenishing the supply of unguent.

18. In combination in astem for deep well drills and the like, a coupling comprising a part provided with means for securing inner and outer tube sections in fixed radial relation, and with a clamping surface, a part removably secured thereto and provided with means for engaging an outer tube section, and with a clamping surface, inner and outer tube sections secured to said first-mentioned part, an outer tube section secured to said last-mentioned part, an inner tube section, surrounded by said last mentioned section, and extending through said last mentioned part, a nut secured to said last mentioned inner tube section and engaged by said clamping surfaces on said parts.

19. A stem for deep well drills or the like, consisting of two tubes of substantially different diameters arranged one within the other, a two-part coupling, one part engaging adjacent ends of said tubes, the other part secured to the opposed extremity of another tube, and a conical lock nut secured to the extremity of another tube and co-operatively engaged by surfaces formed on both parts of said coupling.

20. In a rotary boring tool, the combination of a. drill head, a drill stem slidably but non-rotatably connected thereto, a member secured to said stem and forming, with a cavity in said head, a lubricant chamber, lubricant delivery ducts formed in said head and adjustable means between said chamber and said duct for controlling the delivery of lubricant from said chamber to said ducts and for maintaining a weight-supporting luid pressure within said chamber.

2l. In a rotary boring tool, the combination of a drill head member, a stem member telescoping therewith and movable longitudinally thereof, resilient means enclosed within both of said members and tending to move them apart, means for limiting` the longitudinal movement and for holding said members against relative rotary movement and means for adjusting the initial tension of said resilient means.

22. In combination in a deep well drilling tool, a drilling head, a drill stem member engaging said head and movable longitudinally thereof and cooperating therewith to en-` close a lubricant chamber having a port leading to inaccessible bearings, a valve controlling said port and means controlling said valve responsive to the pressure within said chamber.

23. A rotary boring tool which includes the combination of a drill head, adouble tube drill stem slidably but non-rotatably connected thereto, a lubricant reservoir in said head, a longitudinal passageway in said drill stem, and an adjustable bellows valve for establishing intermittent connection between said reservoir and said passageway.

24. A rotary boring tool which includes the combination of a drill head, a double tube drill stem slidably but non-rotatably connected thereto, a lubricant reservoir in said head and a longitudinal passageway in said drill stem, a valve for establishing intermit-`

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