US2033527A

US2033527A - Pneumatic well drill

Info

Publication number: US2033527A
Application number: US741563A
Authority: US
Inventors: Roy E Kitching
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1934-08-27
Filing date: 1934-08-27
Publication date: 1936-03-10
Anticipated expiration: 1953-03-10

Description

March 10, 1936. R, E. KITCHING PNEUMATIC WELL DRILL Filed Aug. 27, 1934 In an Patented Mar. 10, 1936 UNI-TE s'rArs r at This invention relates to pneumatic tools and particularly pertains to tools of the type in which fluid pressure actuated mechanism is operated while submerged in liquid; the invention more specifically appertaining to pneumatically operated well drills in which a liquid or mud is circulated through the well bore during drilling operations.

An object of the invention is to provide a well drill of the above character embodying a shank fitted with a compressed air operated cutting tool and which is designed to be carried on a revoluble tubular stem through which circulating liquid or mud is delivered to the well bore, in which means are provided whereby the liquid or mud may be conveyed from the stem and discharged adjacent the cutting tool on the shank apart from the air operated mechanism in' the shank; a particular object being to provide a construction whereby the liquid or mud may be conveyed exteriorly of the drill shank substantially throughout the length thereof, so as to obviate the necessity of forming the shank with bores or ducts for conveying the liquid or mud,

thereby simplifying the construction of the drill and effecting a great economy in its manufacture.

Another object is to provide a drill embodying the above features in which the liquid conveying element is so formed as to serve as a reinforcement of the drill shank, and also act as a shield to protect the drill shank during operation of the drill.

Another object isto provide construction where-- by a free flow of the liquid or mud from the stem along the shank to the cutting tool will be insured, and whereby clogging of the liquid passages will be practically obviated.

Another object is to provide a pneumatic drill with a water jacket whereby liquid may be caused to flow over the external surface of the drill shank in such manner as to effect a cooling action thereon.

A further object is to provide a simple and effective method offorming a drill shank with a hereinafter described and claimed, and illustrated by wayof example, in the accompanying drawing; it being understood, however that the invention as herein set forth is not to be limited to the exact construction shown, as the construetion may be subject to various changes and modifications to meet varying conditions and accordingly the following specification of the invention is to be considered in its broadest sense and to 5 include equivalents coming within the meaning of the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. l is a View of the drill as seen in side elevation:

Fig. 2 is a detail in cross section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1:

Fig. 3 is a view of the drill in longitudinal section with parts shown in elevation as seen on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2: 15

Fig. 4 is a detail in longitudinal section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2:

Fig. 5 is a detail in cross section taken on line 5'5 of Fig. 3:

Fig. 6 is a detail in cross section taken on line 6Ii of Fig. 3:

Fig. 7 is a detail in section taken on the line 7-1 of Fig. 3: I

Fig. 8 is a. view in section as seen on the line 8-B of Fig. 3:

Fig. 9 is a section and end view of the drill as seen from the lower end thereof on the line 99 of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawing more specifically, A indicates generally the shank of a pneumatic well drill which is here shown as comprising a series of interconnected sections including an upper end section it], a lower end section I I, and united intermediate sections I2, I3, It, and I5 connecting the end sections IE] and H. The upper end section II) is connected to the intermediate section I2 by a screw-threaded joint It, the sections I2 and I3, I3 and I4, I4 and I5, I5 and II are interconnected by telescoped joints, as shown in Fig. 3.

The lower end section II carries a cutting tool or bit I1 which is demountablyattached to a stem I8 reciprocally supported in the end section II and extending through a seal I9 carried on the latter, the upper end portion of the stem I8 being provided with a collar 20 located in a recess 2| formed in theend section II against which and the bottom of the recess 2| is interposed a spring 22 which acts to normally maintain the cutting tool or bit H in a retracted position. The upper end of the stem I8 is squared as indicated at 23 and passes through a guideway 24 formed in the intermediate section I5 whereby the stem I8 is held against rotation on its axis.

Mounted in' a bore 25 formed in the intermediate section II .is a reciprocal hammer 28 arranged to impact on the upper end of the stem l8 when in operation. The hammer 26 is here shown as carried on a piston rod 21, the upper end portion of which passes through a packing gland 28 and is connected to a piston 29 arranged in a cylinder 30 carried in the intermediate shank section i3. The upper end of the cylinder 30 is formed in the section |2 of the shank in which is mounted a conventional valve 3| for controlling the intake and exhaust of air under pressure to and from the cylinder 38 on opposite sides of the piston 29 as is common in pneumatic tool operating mechanism.

The section l2 and the walls of the cylinder 30 are formed with the usual ports and passages for eifecting the intake and exhaust of air under pressure not necessary to be here shown but which includes an intake passage 32 leading from the upper end portion oi the section l2 centrally thereof and communicating through a port 33 with the valve 3|, and also including an exhaust passage 34 leading from a chamber 35 in the upper end of the section l2 and communicating with the valve 3|.

An intake pipe 36 leading from any suitable source of fluid pressure supply such as a reservoir of compressed air is connected to the intake passage 32 and connecting with the chamber 35 is an exhaust pipe 31 which encircles the intake pipe 36 and leads to any suitable point of discharge.

The upper end portion of the end section i0 is .adapted to be connected to a tubular stem 38 on which the drill is carried and through which the intake and

exhaust pipes

36 and 31 extend.

The tubular stem 38 serves as a means for effecting rotation of the drill and for this purpose is revolved in any suitable manner as is common in oil-well drilling operations. The stem 38 also serves as a means for conveying a circulating liquid or mud into the well bore which is eifected by connecting the upper end oi the stem 38 to a source 0! liquid or mud supply under pressure in the usual manner.

An important feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a means for conveying liquid or mud from the stem 38 downwardly along the drill shank A and effecting its discharge adiacent the lower end of the latter and contiguous the cutting tool or bit IT. This means is here shown as embodying a tubular metallic shell 40 which encircles or encompasses the shank A and extends substantially throughout the length of the latter. The shell 46 is spaced from the outer periphery of the shank A to provide a space 4| constituting a passage through which liquid or mud may flow from the upper to the lower end portion of the drill shank exteriorly of the latter. The shell 40 may be ailixed relative to the shank A in any desired manner but is here shown as secured thereto at its ends through the medium of

collars

42 and 43 formed on the upper and lower end sections l0 and II respectively of the shank, which collars have telescoped engagement with the ends of the shell 48 and hold the latter in spaced concentric relation to the shank A.

As a means for affording a communication between the interior of the stem 38 and the space 4| interiorly of the shell 40 the end section ill of the shank is formed with a series of passages 5| which lead downwardly from the upper end of the shank and open to the sides of the latter into the space 4| as particularly shown in Fig. 3.

As a means for permitting discharge of the liquid or mud from the passage 4| the section II is formed with a series of passages 52; these passages being here shown as fitted with nozzles 53 inclined downwardlyand inwardly towards opposite sides of the cutting tool l1 whereby on discharge of liquid or mud through the section I a series of jets thereof will be directed against the cutting tool in such fashion as to effect a cleaning action thereon during operation.

By thus encompassing the shank A with the shell 40 ample space is provided for the passage of the usual circulating liquid or mud without the necessity of forming the shank proper with ducts or bores for this purpose. Furthermore, the shell 40 serves as a reenforcement to strengthen the shank and also affords a protection thereto.

As a means collectively holding the shell 40 and the several shank sections together in a fashion which will permit of their ready assemblage and disassemblage, a series of tie rods 54 are employed, which rods extend longitudinally of the space 4| and have their end portions passed through the end sections l6 and II and fitted with nuts 55 screwed thereon. The intermediate shank sections |2, |3, H, and I5 are formed with radial webs 56 having longitudinal channels 51 in which the tie rods 54 seat as shown in Fig. 7 which webs serve as guides to facilitate assemblage of the several shank sections in their proper relative positions as also serve in co-operation with the tie rods to form partitions or walls separating the space 4| into a series of passages as shown in Figs. 6 and 7 whereby accumulation and packing of solids in the space 4| during operation is prevented.

As a means for protecting the seal I9, nozzles 53 and nuts 54 against injury, a guard cap 58 is secured to the lower section by a threaded ring 59 and which cap is formed with openings 60 disposed opposite the discharge ends of the nozzles 53. The cap is preferably formed in halves as shown in Fig. 9 to permit it being put in place and removed without necessitating detachment of the bit H.

In the operation of the invention the drill shank A with its attached shell 46 and the cutting tool I! thereon, is secured to the tubular drill stem 38 with the air intake pipe 36 and the air exhaust pipe 31 connected in place and extending through the drill, stem. to their respective points of termination. The drill stem is lowered into the well and rotated in the usual manner common in rotary well-drilling operations and during rotation thereof the cutting tool I1 is reciprocated by the action of compressed air on the piston 29 and hammer 26 through the medium of the air-controlled mechanism as is common in pneumatic tool operations. A suitable liquid or mud is forced into the well bore under pressure through the tubular stem 38 by means oi. the usual pump; the liquid or mud being delivered from the stem 38 through the passages 5| into the space or passage 4| around the drill shank and thence delivered from the lower end oi the shank through the passages 52 and nozzles 53 into the well bore from whence it flows and is circulatedin the usual manner. The incoming liquid or mud in passing down the passage 4| in contact with substantially the entire outer periphery of the drill shank will act to absorb and carry away a portion of the heat generated by the operation of the hammer and the compressed air operated mechanism thus eifecting a cooling action on the drill therethrough, nozzles arranged to direct liquid I claim: 1. In a pneumatic well drill, a shank having end sections, a tubular liquid conveying stem carrying said shank, a shell encompassing said shank and having telescoped engagement with the end sections thereof, there being a space between said shell and shank opening adjacent one end of said shank, passages in one end portion of said shank affording communication between theinteriors of said stem and shell, and tie rods in said space interconnecting said end sections and detachably holding said shell in place. 2. In a pneumatic well drill, a shank havin end sections and embodying a plurality of telescopically interconnected intermediate sections, a shell encompassing said shank and telescopically connected at its ends to the end sections of said shank, and tie rods interconnecting the end sections of said shank.

3. In a pneumatic well drill, a shank having end sections embodying a plurality of intermediate sections telescoped together, a shell encircling said shank, and connections leading between said shell and shank connecting the end sections of said shank for securing said sections and shell against disengagement.

4. In a pneumatic well drill, a shank having end sections and embodying a plurality of interconnected intermediate sections, webs on said intermediate section, a shell encircling said shank, a telescoped connection between said shell and each end section of said shank, and tie rods connecting the end sections of the shank tor securing said sections and shell against disengagement, said tie rods engaging said webs.

5. In a pneumatic well drill, a shank, a cutting tool carried on one end of said shank, a collar encircling saidshank adjacent the end thereof carrying said tool having liquid discharge passages inwardly from said passages toward the opposite sides of said tool, a shell encircling said shank connected at one end to said collar, there being a space between saidshell and shank extending substantially throughout the length of the latter communicating with said passages, and means for directing a stream of liquid into the upper portion of said space.

6. In a pneumatic well drill of the class described, a shank, a cutting tool carried on the lower end 01.- said shank, a collar on the upper end portion of said shank, a shell encircling said shank forming a liquid conduit extending substantially throughout the length of said shank exteriorly thereof, said shell encircling said collar and connected thereto, a collar on the lower end portion 01' said shank encircled by the lower end portion of said shell and to which said shell is connected, said last named collar being formed with inclined passages, and nozzles leading from said passages, opening toward the sides of said cutting tool. A

'1. In a pneumatic well drill oi the class described, a shank having end sections and embodying a plurality of telescopically interconnected intermediate sections, webs extending longitudinally of said intermediate sections, a shell encircling said shank in spaced relation thereto and telescopically engaging said end sections and abutting endwise thereagainst, and tie-rods seating on said webs and extending longitudinally thereof for collectively securing said shank sections and shell together, said tie rods abutting the inner periphery of said shell and co-acting with said webs to divide the space between said shank and shell into a plurality of longitudinally extending passages.

ROY E. KITCHING.