US2016067A

US2016067A - Well drilling apparatus

Info

Publication number: US2016067A
Application number: US702512A
Authority: US
Inventors: Clyde E Bannister
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1933-12-15
Filing date: 1933-12-15
Publication date: 1935-10-01
Anticipated expiration: 1952-10-01

Description

Oct. 1, 1935. BANNISTER 2,016,067

WELL DRILLING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 15, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 J? 1/2 7 o 1/6 A? 1 [UH 1/? I 4 0 JfiL/E' r2727 [/yae .FBEHHZETEE Oct. 1, 1935. c. E. BANNISTER WELL DRILLING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 15, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 1, c BANN|$TER 2,016,067

WELL DRILLI NG APPARATUS Filed Dec. 15, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 jW f 7 1 Q) 6 I 1% I w i//% 9 2 n p a I I H K 7 I! 1 F 7 Q U I q) l |i| H4 nu 57 u I," I 2/ Oct. 1, 1935.

C. E. BANNISTER 2,016,067

WELL DRILLING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 15, 1933 5 Shets-Sheet 4 Oct. 1, 1935. c. E. BANNISTER WELL DRILLING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 15, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 JUL/5272271? IIIIII I' Patented Dot. 1, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 17 Claims.

This invention relates to well drilling apparatus and especially to apparatus of the progressing motor type adapted for the rapid and accurate drilling of deep wells such as are usually re- 5 quired in the production of petroleum.

The chief objects of the present invention are to provide improvements upon the apparatus of my copending patent applications Serial No. 271,923, filed April 21, 1928, Serial No. 697,883, filed November 14, 1933, Serial No. 698,140, filed November 15, 1933, Serial No..534,322, filed May 1, 1931, Serial No, 534,832, filed May 4, 1931, Serial No. 537,617, filed May 15, 1931, Serial No. 586,428, filed January 13, 1932, and Serial No.

a 673,798, filed June 1, 1933.

position of a well in the process of being drilled,

the below-ground parts 01' the apparatus being shown, in elevation, in drilling position in the well.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section of portions oi. the apparatus the general position of which in the assembly is indicated in Fig. 2 by the marking Fig. 3.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section of portions of the apparatus the general position of which in the assembly is indicated in Fig. 2 by the marking Fig. 4.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section on the oil-set line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section on lineS-G of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a horizontal section on line 'l-l of Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 is a horizontal section on line 8-8 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 9 is a horizontal section on line 9-9 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 10 is a horizontal section on line I0l0 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 11 is a horizontal section on line ll--l| of Fig. 3.

Fig. 12 is a vertical section of parts of the apparatus the general position of which in the assembly is indicated in Fig. 2 by the marking Fig. 12, and the relationship of which may be readily understood by considering Fig. 12 in connection with Figs. 2 and 14.

Fig. 13 is an elevation, with parts sectioned and broken away, of certain portions of the apparatus.

Fig. 14 is an elevation, with parts sectioned and broken away, of other portions 0! the apparatus.

Fig. 15 is a horizontal section on line l5-l5 of Fig. 14.

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary elevation of parts of the apparatus as viewed from the right or left of Fig. 13.

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary elevation of parts of a fluid-conducting hose, a cable-clamping device mounted thereon and a pair of supporting cables engaged by the latter, as employed in the preferred embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 18 is a horizontal section on line l8l8 of Fig. 17.

This preferred embodiment of my invention in general comprises a bit-driving motor of the oscillating type provided with an inertia member for sustaining the reaction force of the motor, an oscillating bit provided with teeth adapted to rock slightly as the bit is oscillated so as to present one set of cutting edges in a chisel-like cutting action in one direction of rotation of the bit and a difierent set of cutting edges in a chisel-like cutting action in the opposite direction of rotation of the bit, a flexible hose for conducting motive fluid from the top of the ground to the motor, cables clamped to the hose at spaced-apart positions for supporting the hose and on occasion the motor and bit assembly, devices on top of the ground for letting oif the hose and cables into the well, a swivel connection between the hose-and-cable assembly and themotor-and-bit assembly, and a sliding, lost-motion connection between the cables and the motorand-bit assembly to provide a jar for loosening the latter in case of its becoming stuck in the hole, as in the case of a cave-in.

Referring to the drawings, the bit (Figs. 4 and 7) comprises a metal body "I formed with radial arms H, I I each having in its lower face a radial, cylindrical recess l2, open along its lower side, adapted to receive, by relative radial movement, a cylindrical head l3 formed on the upper margin of a bit blade I4. so that the bit blade may have limited pivotal movement about the axis of the head [3, radially disposed with relation to the bit body, such pivotal movement being limited by faces of the bit body such as that shown at IS in Fig. 4.

Each blade has a portion l6 projecting inwardly beyond the head l3 and under the middle portion of the bit body to a position close to the axis of the bit, so that all of the bottom of the hole will be out except a central core sufficiently small to be progressively broken out by such erratic lateral movement of the oscillating bit as occurs during its descent.

For retaining each blade in its recess while permitting it to rock as the bit oscillates, each head I3 is formed with a transverse slot II in its upper face and a retaining screw it is threaded through the' overlying portion of the bit-head arm and projects, with clearance, into the slot H. The arrangement is such that the blade can be readily mounted or removed and yet the rocking movement of the blade is very positively and strongly limited by the faces such as the faces I5, and strength and resistance to wear are provided in the pivotal mounting of the blade.

Each blade is formed at its lower side with staggered sets of teeth, l9, l9, alternate teeth facing in opposite directions, one set being adapted to function in the manner of a chisel in the rotation of the bit in one direction and the other set being adapted to function in the manner of a chisel in the rotation of the bit in the opposite direction. Ineach direction of rotation of the bit the teeth that are notcuttingridebackward over the respective surfaces which they have just cut, the rocking of the bit to its new position permitting the alternate teeth nevertheless to cut to a lower depth, so that the teeth of each set are sharpened in their return movement occurring between their'cutting move ments.

The body III of the bit is keyed upon the lower end portion of a hollow vertical shaft or spindle 20 by means of a tapered key 20, the shaft being open at its lower end for discharging. the drilling fluid into the space between the bit blades to wash the cuttings to the top of the well.

The spindle 20 is rotatably mounted in the lower section 2| of a motor casing but restrained against longitudinal movement therein by means of a pair of ball-thrust-

bearings

22 and 23, the casing member being interiorly formed with a downwardly-facing annular shoulder 24 and provided with a screw-threaded annular end-plug 25 between which are clamped several devices including, adjacent the shoulder 24, an annular oil-retaining gasket 26 having an annular lip sealing against the spindle 20,

clamping rings

21, 28 for the gasket 26, a gasket 29 sealing against the clamping ring 28 and against the motor-casing member 2|, then the ball thrustbearing 22 having its upper race seated against the clamping ring 28 and its lower race seated against an annular flange 30 formed on the spindle 20, then a spacer and bearing sleeve 3| bearing at its upper end against the flange 30, then the roller thrust-bearing 23, of which the upper race seats against the spacer sleeve 3| and the lower race seats against the upper one, 32, of a pair of

clamping rings

32, 33 between which is mounted an oil-retaining gasket 34 having an annular lip sealing against the spindle 20, the lower clamping ring 33 being secured to the upper ring 32 by

screws

35, 35 and seating against the annular plug 25. Interposed between the spacer and bearing sleeve 3| and an outer bearing sleeve 36 fltted in the motor-casing member 2| is a set of

bearing rollers

31, 31 for sustaining lateral forces between the spindle and the casing.

At its upper end the hollow spindle 20 is forked to provide a pair of upwardly extending arms 38, 38 (Figs. 4 and 6) which extend in the manner of jaw-clutch members into recesses formed in the hub of a crank member 39 which is secured on the lower end of a motor shaft 40 by means of keys 4|, 4|, so that oscillation of the motor shaft 40 will cause oscillation of the bit. The forked shape of the upper end portion of the spindle 20 provides flow spaces, as is clearly shown in Fig. 4, for the entrance of the downwardly-flowing drilling fluid into the spindle at its upper end.

soft-rubber 43 to provide a sliding seal between 5 thevane and the walls of the chamber in which it operates and to provide water-lubricated rubber bearings for the shaft, the rubber-covered portions of the shaft just above and just below the vane being journaled between a valve-hous- 1o ing 44 and a pair of filler-blocks 45, 46 secured thereto by screws 41, 41, the valve-housing and the filler-blocks together constituting an assembly fitting within the upper member 43 of the motor casing, and the rubber cover on the 15 journal portions of the shaft being externally formed with vertical grooves such as the grooves 49. 49 (Fig. 11) for effective lubrication of the rubber bearings by the drilling fluid. The valvehousing and filler block assembly is held in posi- 20 tion in the motor-casing member 43 by interfltting shoulders formed on the valve housing and the casing member as at 53, 50 (Fig. 3) and by set screws such as the screws 5|, 5|, extending through the wall of the casing member and 25 threaded into the filler-

blocks

45, 43.

For conducting the motive fluid, which is also the drilling fluid, into the space 52 on one side of the vane 42 (Fig. 11) and then into the space 53 on the other side of it, the valve-housing 44 is 30 formed with a pair of inlet ports 54, 55 (Figs. 11 and 5) leading from a single vertical passage 53 formed in the main body portion 44' of the valvehousing, and for discharging the motive fluid from the lowpressure side of the vane the valve- 35 housing 44 is similarly formed with a pair of outlet ports 51, 53 (Fig. 5) leading to a single vertical passage 59 formed in the main body portion 44' of the valve-housing, these several ports and passages being deflned in part by a cover- 40 plate portion 44" of the valve-housing which fits againstthe main body portion 44- and is secured thereto by a screw 33 extending through the cover-plate member 44'' and threaded into a pivot stud 6| formed on the member 44 (Figs. '3 45 and 5).

For causing motive fluid to flow to one side of the vane 42 through the inlet port 55 and permit discharge of fluid from its other side through the outlet port 58, and alternately to cause inlet 50 flow through the port 54 and outlet flow through the port 51, a two-armed valve 32 is mounted upon the pivot stud I by means of a ball bearing 63, the valve being adapted at one limit of its pivotal movement to close the

inlet port

54 and 55 the outlet port 51, with the inlet port 55 and the outlet port 53 open, as shown in Pig. 5, and at the other limit of its movement to reverse this condition, the adjacent walls of the =4 56 and 59, surrounding the ports, serving as stops 60 for the valve arms, and adapted to be sealed against by a rubber coating 54 on and completely covering the valve, the rubber layer serving also to cushion the impact of the valve against its seats. The rubber-covered hub of the 65 valve fits within a complemental recess formed in the valve-housing members and thus the valve defines in part the flow channels for the motive fluid.

In order-that the differential pressures upon 7 the two arms of the valve may exert a net force for impelling the valve toward and holding it against the valve'seats to which it is nearest at the moment, the upper arm of the valve is longer than the lower arm. 7t

To start the valve from one pair of valve-seats toward the other pair of valve seats a knockerarm and jet member 65 (Figs. 3, and 9) is secured upon the motor shaft 46 and formed with a pair of

fluid passages

66, 61 leading from its top face and having discharge or

jet openings

68, 69 on respective vertical faces I6, ll formed on the member, below which faces respectively the member is formed with projecting lugs l2, 13

adapted, in the oscillation of the shaft 46, alternately to contact the upper end portion of the valve 62 and unseat it, motive fluid issuing from the adjacent jet opening meanwhile exerting a force for impelling the valve toward the other pair of valve seats, the

passages

66 and 61 being so positioned that only the one adjacent the valve is in registry with one of a pair of ports 14, 15 (Fig. 8) formed in a partition member I6 (Figs. 3 and 8) which is mounted in the motor-casing member 48 above the knocker-arm and jet mem-, ber 65 and secured in place therein by screws such as the screw 11. A rubber gasket member 16 is mounted upon the upper face of the knocker-arm and jet member 65 and formed with a peripheral lip 19 (Figs. 3 and 9) adapted to seal against the inner face of the motor casing while permitting relative rotation of the two, and with apertures registered respectively with the

passages

66, 61 of the member 65.

For additionally impelling the valve from one of its port-closing positions past dead-center to its other port-closing position a telescopic spring post assembly comprising an inner post 86, an outer leeve BI and two helical compression springs 8P, 8| of opposite pitch thereon is interposed between the lower end of the lower arm of the valve 62 (Figs. 3, 4 and 5) and the crank member 39, with ball and socket connections at its ends, the arrangement being such that while the valve is at one side of dead-center the rotation of the shaft 46 and crank member 39 thereon will move the lower end of the spring assembly past a position of alignment with the lower arm of the valve and thus compress the springs and bring them to a position such that, upon the valve being unseated by the knocker arm and the jet, the springs will impel the valve past dead-center to its other port-closing position, the result being a very rapid reversal of the valve conditions a d correspondingly rapid oscillation of the shaft 46 and the bit thereon with relation to the motor casing members 2| and 48.

To cause the oscillation of the bit to have a very large amplitude as compared with that of the motor casing members, which sustain the reaction force of the motive fluid, the upper motor casing member 48 has torsion-resisting as well as fluid connection with an inertia member 99 above it, through a coupling member 83 (Figs. 3 and 12), a pipe 89, an annular end-plug 64 in the top of the latter (Fig. 12), a pipe 85 screwed onto and extending upward from the end-plug (Figs. 12 and 14), a rubber sleeve or bushing 86 surrounding and vulcanized to the pipe 85. a metal sleeve or pipe 81 surrounding and vulcanized to the rubber bushing, and a coupling member 88 screwed into the upper end of the pipe 81 and onto the lower end of the inertia member 96. The inertia member 96 comprises a pipe or body portion having rigidly secured thereon a plurality of heavy vertical rim-members 9|, 9|, the assembly being of such weight as to sustain, by reason of its inertia, the reaction force of the motive fluid with very small amplitude of oscillation in the inertia member, and the rib members being so spaced apart as to aflord adequate flow spaces for the motive fluid, which is also the drilling fluid, ascending on the outside of the apparatus for washing the cuttings to the top of the well. A series of the inertia units 5 may be employed, if desired, rigidly coupled together as shown in Fig. 2.

The arrangement of the telescoped pipes 85, 81 with the rubber bushing mounted between and vulcanized to them is such that the rubber bushing cushions the rapidly reversing forces transmitted from the motor casing to the inertia member.

The upper end portion of the motor-shaft 46 (Fig. 3) is provided with a radial ball-bearing 92 and a thrust ball-bearing 93 and for maintaining a lubricant in these bearings at the same pressure as that of the adjacent motive fluid, on the pressure side of the motor, a lip-type packing gasket 94 is secured to the motor shaft 46 and has sliding and sealing contact with the partition member 16 below the bearing 92 and a lubricant-container 95 is screwed onto the upper portion of the partition member, thus surrounding the bearing 93, and is provided in its upper portion with a piston 96 adapted to be urged downward against lubricant by motive fluid entering the container through

apertures

91, 91 formed in the upper endwall of the latter.

From the interior of the lubricant container 95 a lubricant passage 98 extending through several members of the assembly is adapted to conduct lubricant to the ball bearing 63 of the valve 62 and a continuation 99 of said passage is adapted to deliver lubricant to the

bearings

22, 31 and 23 (Fig. 4).

To provide an air-dome effect to cushion the motive fluid and thus avoid excessively high torsional strains upon the motor shaft, especially in case of resistance or sticking of the bit causing the inertia assembly to acquire a large amplitude of oscillation, a relatively small pipe I66 (Fig. 12) is mounted within the pipe 89, its upper end being screwed into the end-plug 84, these members thus providing an annular chamber between the two pipes which is closed at its upper end aga nst the escape of air or gas, while the motive fluid, flowing downward through the inner pipe I66, is free to rise in the annular space and thus to bear against entrapped air or gas therein. In order that a suificiently large body of cushioning gas may be maintained in the annular space in spite of the very high pressure of the motive fluid, for a desirably low modulus of cushioning resilience and a desirably long range of cushioning flow, a screen ml is interposed between the outer pipe 89 and the lower end of the inner pipe I 66, as a floor for the annular space, and a chemical substance i62, such as calcium carbide, adapted to liberate gas in the presence of Water, is placed 5 within the annular space, upon the screen. The chemical may be temporarily enclosed in a watersoluble envelope, if it be found desirable, to delay the evolution of the gas until the high drilling pressure has been developed in the fluid, as by the starting of the pump or the submersion of the device in a deep well. Excess gas merely escapes into the motive fluid and ascends therein through the inner pipe I66 or is carried thereby through the motor. Alternatively, metallic sodium or the material commercially known as Hydrone, which is a mixture of metallic sodium and lead, may be used instead of the calcium carbide, or other means may be employed for liberating additional gas in the device after it has been submerged.

The upper end of the inertia member or series of inertia members is coupled to one member I03 of a swivel, which is provided with a ball-bearing I04 (Fig. 15), the other member I05 of the swivel being mounted upon the lower end of a fluid-conducting and jar-guide pipe I 06 which at its upper end is connected to a flexible hose I01 through which fluid is supplied to the motor, and is provided adjacent the hose witha stop-collar I08. Slidably mounted onthe pipe I06 is a heavy jar member I09 in which are anchored the lower ends of a pair of cables I I0, I I0 which are provided for lowering the assembly into and lifting it out of the well and for lowering the jar member I09 upon its guide-pipe I06 and then suddenly raising it into violent contact with the stop-collar I08 for loosening the assembly in case it becomes stuck in the hole. The jar member I09 and its guide pipe I00 are formed with respective ports I09 and I05 adapted to register with each other and with a port I06 in a slide-valve collar I06", mounted on the pipe I06, to permit escape of motive fluid into the well when the jar member is in contact with the collar I08, and a helical compression spring I08 is interposed between the jar member and the collar to hold the two apart, with the apertures out of registry, except when a lifting force greater than the weight of the motor and bit assembly, is applied to the jar member through the cables.

For releasably fastening the flexible hose I0I to the cables I I0 at intervals as they are lowered into the hole, to cause the cables to sustain the weight of the hose, the hose is provided at each of several positions with an embracing collar such as the collar III (Fig. 18), which may be a part of a hose coupling, and with a hinged clamp II2 mountedupon the collar III, between annular shoulders formed on thev latter, or permissibly upon the hose itself, and secured by a pin such as the pin I I3 (Fig. 18) Mounted upon the clamp II2 are a pair of clamping levers H4, H4 fulcrumed at H5, H5, one end portion of each lever and the adjacent portion of the clamp II2 being formed to grip one of the cables with contact throughout substantial arcs of its circumference, and for moving the levers to and from their clamping positions a wedge member I I0 is retained on the face of the clamp II2 by a screw I I1 mounted in a vertical slot H8 in the wedge member, the latter being formed with faces H9, H9 adapted to compel the levers to clamp the cables as the wedge is relatively raised, by acting against the inner faces of the levers, and other faces I20, I20 adapted toengage the end faces I2 I, I2I of the levers to lock the levers and the wedge frictionally against displacement as the levers reach their clamping positions. The wedge is formed with a lug 6* for raising and lowering it with relation to the clamp members.

For letting the cables into and withdrawing them from the well a derrick I22 with a crown block I23 and winch assembly I24 (Fig. 1) are provided at the top of the well, and for likewise manipulating the hose a guide wheel I25, a large vertical axis reel or turn-table I26 and a driving motor I21 therefor are provided, the hose on the reel having fluid swivel connection through the hub thereof with a pipe I28 leading from pressure-fluid supplying means I29, so that the reel may be rotated and the hose let off into the hole without interruption of the fluid supply.

A bar I30 (Fig. 1) is mounted, in a pair of standards rising from the derrick floor, in position to engage the lug III; of the clamping device for automatically actuating the levers I I4 to grip the cables as they and the hose are lowered into the well and for automatically releasing the cables from the hose as they are drawn from the well. 5

The apparatus is well adapted for the attainment of the above-stated objects, being highly effective for rapid drilling, and disadvantages of the old system, such as the necessity of frequently making up and breaking down the long lines of 10 drill pipe, are avoided.

It is found that a more eflective sealing of the valve is obtained when the valve is coated with rubber and its seats are not than is obtained when the cushioning and sealing rubber is placed 15 upon the valve seats alone or upon the valve seats and also upon the valve, and the more effective sealing of the valve as described results in an impact or water-hammer effect, especially in case the bit sticks or develops such resistance as 20 to cause the inertia member to have a large amplitude of oscillation, and this makes it important that the apparatus be provided with cushioning means such as the air-dome structure 89, I00 (Fig. 12) and the rubber cushioning mem- 25 her (Figs. 12 and 14), and it makes desirable also the effective jet mechanism above described for assisting in the unseating and impelling of the valve in spite of the high net torque so imposed upon the valve as to resist its movement 30 from its seat by reason of the greater length of its upper arm as compared with its lower arm and by reason of the effectiveness of its seal against the valve seats.

The throbbing of the hose resulting from the 35 water-impact effect of the sudden and complete sealing of the valve also makes important the provision of strong and secure means, such as the wedge-clamp here shown, for fastening the hose to the cables at intervals. 40

Various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim: t p

1. Well drilling apparatus comprising a flexible 45 conduit adapted to be lowered in the hole, letoff means and fluid-supply means for said conduit at the top of the ground, flexible suspension means adapted to be lowered in the hole, let-off means therefor at the top of the ground, quick- 50 detachable means for fastening the conduit to the suspension means at intervals, an oscillating bit, a fluid motor interposed operatively between the conduit and the bit and adapted to receive motive fluid from the conduit and to discharge 65 it in the vicinity of the hit, an inertia member for sustaining the reaction force of the motor, a mechanical torque-cushioning member interposed operatively between the motor and the inertia member, and a pneumatic cushioning 00 member for the motive fluid closely adjacent and on the high pressure side of the motor, the motor comprising a rubber-covered two-armed valve and means for directing a current of the motive fluid against one side and then the other of the 66 valve for assisting in moving it from one portclosing position to another.

2. Well drilling apparatus comprising a flexible conduit adapted to be lowered in the hole, letoff means and fluid-supply means for said con- 7 the suspension means at intervals, an oscillating bit, a fluid motor interposed operatively between the conduit and the bit and adapted to receive motive fluid from the conduit and to discharge it in the vicinity of the bit, an inertia member for sustaining the reaction force of the motor, a mechanical torque-cushioning member interposed operatively between the motor and the inertia member, and a pneumatic cushioning member for the motive fluid closely adjacent and on the high pressure side of the motor.

3. A fluid-actuated oscillating motor, the motor comprising an oscillating piston member, means for supplying motive fluid thereto, and a twoarmed valve and a rubber covering thereon for controlling the passage of motive fluid to the two sides of the piston member alternately.

4. A fluid-actuated oscillating motor, the motor comprising an oscillating piston member, a twoarmed valve for controlling the flow of motive fluid to the opposite sides thereof in alternation, oscillating jet means for impelling the valve toward one and then toward the other of its port-closing positions, and an apertured partition member in the fluid-supplying means for controlling the action of the jet means.

5. Well drilling apparatus comprising a fluidactuated oscillating motor, suspension and fluid supplying means therefor adapted to be let into the well from the top of the ground, an oscillating bit associated therewith, means for sustaining the reaction force of the motor, and mechanical cushioning means interposed operatively between the last said means and the motor.

6. Well drilling apparatus comprising a fluidactuated oscillating motor, suspension and fluidsupplying means therefor adapted to be let into the well from the top of the ground, an oscillating bit associated therewith, means for sustaining the reaction force of the motor, and a torsional rubber cushion interposed operatively between the last said means and the motor.

7. Well drilling apparatus comprising a fluidactuated oscillating motor, suspension and fluidsupplying means therefor adapted to be let into the well from the top of the ground, an oscillating bit associated therewith, means for sustaining the reaction force of the motor, and a pneumatic cushion for the motive fluid adjacent to and on the high-pressure side of the motor.

8. Well drilling apparatus comprising a fluidactuated oscillating motor, suspension and fluidsupplying means therefor adapted to be let into the well from the top of the ground, an oscillating bit associated therewith, means for sustaining the reaction force of the motor, a pneumatic cushion for the motive fluid adjacent to and on the highpressure side of the motor and means for increasing the amount of gas in the pneumatic cushioning means after it has been submerged.

9. Well drilling apparatus comprising a fluidactuated oscillating motor, suspension and fluidsupplying means therefor adapted to be let into the well from the top of the ground, an oscillating bit associated therewith, means for sustaining the reaction force of the motor, a pneumatic cushion for the motive fluid adjacent to and on the high-pressure side of the motor and chemical means for increasing the amount of gas in the pneumatic cushioning means after it has been submerged.

10. Well drilling apparatus comprising a fluidactuated oscillating motor, fluid-supplying means therefor comprising a flexible and appreciably distensible hose, an oscillating bit associated therewith, cable means for sustaining the weight of portions of the hose, and means for fastening the cable means to the hose at intervals, the said fastening means comprising a lever for clamping the cable means and mechanical-advantage means for actuating the lever.

11. Well drilling apparatus comprising a fluidactuated oscillating motor, fluid-supplying means therefor comprising a flexible and appreciably distensible hose, an oscillating bit associated therewith, cable means for sustaining the weight of portions of the hose, and means for fastening the cable means to the hose at intervals, the said fastening means comprising a lever for clamping the cable means and wedge means for actuating the lever.

12. The combination of a fluid-actuated motor, fluid-supplying means therefor, a lubricant container having communication with a bearing of the motor, and a body of lubricant in said container and under pressure of the motive fluid on the high pressure side of the motor.

13. Well drilling apparatus comprising a boring machine, a fluid conducting hose attached thereto, a supporting cable for said machine, clamping devices carried by the hose at intervals, means to feed the hose with the clamping devices thereon into close association with the cable, and means stationarily mounted in the path of the clamping devices for automatically actuating the clamping devices as the hose and cable are fed past the same.

14. Well drilling apparatus comprising a bit, a pressure fluid motor of the progressing type therefor, means for supplying motive fluid thereto, a jar member associated with said motor, and means adapted to become operative as an incident of the actuation of the jar member for conducting motive fluid into the hole from the fluidsupplying means at substantially the pressure existing therein at the high-pressure side of the motor.

15. Apparatus as defined in claim 14 in which the jar member is slidably mounted on a guide member constituting a part of the fluid-supplying means and the jar member and the guide member are formed with registerable discharge apertures for the motive fluid.

16. Apparatus as defined in claim 14 in which the jar member is slidably mounted on a guide member constituting a part of the fluid-supplying means and the jar member and the guide member are formed with registerable discharge apertures for the motive fluid and a spring is interposed operatively between the two said members and adapted to hold them with their apertures out of registry except when sufficient force is applied to the jar member to overcome the force of the spring.

1'7. Well drilling apparatus comprising a boring machine, a fluid conducting hose attached thereto and comprising rigid hose couplings, flexible supporting means for said machine, and means mounted upon the rigid hose couplings for securing them to the flexible supporting means.

' CLYDE E. BANNISTER.