US2246711A - Cutting tool - Google Patents

Description

Patented June 24, 1941 OFFICE A CUTTING TOOL George J. Barrett and fiosthene l1" hicha;

Houston Tex.

Amman Nmmber use, stun wt. twists (El. l

21 Cl 11 to t.

This invention relates to a cutting tool and has particular relation to that type of cutting tool specially designed for cutting through a casino or pipe set in a well bore and for completely relnovlnu a section of said casing or pipe.

lit is another object of the invention to provide a cutting tool of the character described having a plurality of series of knives or cutters arranged to he brought into cutting relation with the pipe to he removed in succession so that when the lrnives of one series become worn out the knives oi another series may be applied to the work and the cutting operation thus continued without substantial interruption until the section to be cut out has been removed.

It is another object of the invention to provide novel means for retracting the knives of one series when it is desired to bring the knives of another series into action.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in a cutting tool, novel means for bringing the cutters into action.

The invention herein disclosed constitutes certain improvements over that type 0! Cutting tool disclosed in ounce-pending application, Serial No. 208,362, filed May 1'7, 1938, which matured into Patent No. 2,199,020,dated April 30, 1940.

With the above and other objects in view the invention has particular relation to certain novel features 01- construction,'operation and arrangement or parts, examples of which are given in this specification and illustrated in the accompartying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 shows a fragmentary. side elevation of the cutting tool, partly in section, showing the cutting knives retracted.

l icure 2 shows a vertical, sectional view showlnw the tool in action.

l luure 3 shows a vertical, sectional view showint: the tool in position to retract a worn set oi.

hnlvcs and to luring the next succeeding set into action.

l lc'ure t shows a cross-scctional view taken on the line t--t ot Floors l.

ll iuure 5 shows a fragmentary, plan view at a series ol cutters.

hlwuro t; shows a crws-sectionul view taken on the line t t ot l 'lcure l.

ll luurc l shows a vertical, sectional View oil onothcr emhodlnient ot the invention showing the ltnlves in inactive position.

l itfure t shows a similar view otsaid embodilncnt showinu the lives in active position, and

Figure l) shows a cross-sectional view taken on the line t of Figure 8.

' Referring now more particularly to the drawings wherein lilre numerals ol reference dealshate the same parts in each at the figures, the numeral l designates a tubular operating st such as a drill stein which extends to the ground surface and to the lower end of which the tubular coupling 2 is connected. Within the lower end of the drill stem there is a cylinder 8 whose lower end has an external, annular flange l which is threaded into the box at the upper end of said coupling and which is clamped in said box by means of the threaded pin on the lower end of the drill stem l whereby the cylinder is anchored securely in place. There is a mandrel 5 whose upper end is formedwith a plunger I head'has the radial blade slots ll extended therethrough whose lower sides decline outwardly. The cutter blades I! work through said slots. The heads have the external lugs it which bear against the rear sides or the blades or cutters to reinforce them during operation as more clearly shown in Figure 6.

As more clearly shown in Figure 5 the inner ends or the respective blades or cutters are widened and inwardly beveled so as to ht closely togather when the cutters are retracted. The cutters or a series are normally held retracted by means ot an elastic hand Ill, term a tie, which passes through the eyes it oithe cutters. The series or cutters have the vertically oiled central hearincs it to receive the snide rod d and expander l as shown in 1 "es l, 2 and 3.

Each headhas a removuhle wear rin as t driven therein and termed oi suitable wear reslstins material positioned to support the or ends or the cutters when the cutters are no the position. The hladcs or cutters have the transverse pins ti us ore accurately shown in Figures l and c to limit their outward movement. The hlades or each series will he normally sup-- ported by the correspondinu wear ring and maintained in radial, horlsonl, position hy means of the corresponding tie it.

The tool may be assembled as shown in Figure 1 and let down into the casing to be cut. However, before lowering the tool it is preferable to cut out a short section of the casing by another type of cutting tool, for example, such as that shown in our copending application above referred to. When the tool has been lowered into the position shown in Figure 1, fluid under pressure may be exerted by a pump at the ground surface against the upper end of the plunger 6, forcing the mandrel 5 and expander i. downwardly until the external annular shoulder 22 on V the mandrel, formed by the reduction of the lower end thereof, engages the inner end of the gradually cut away the upper end of the lower section of casing until the cutters have become dulled or completely worn away. The weight of the operating stem I on the cutters may be regulated as desired to give the desired result.

When the upper series of cutters have been worn out, the pump may be stopped and the cutting tool may be elevated into the position shown in Figure 3, the outer ends of said cutters engaging against the lower end of the upper section of the casing. Upon such engagement the irmer ends of the cutters will be moved upwardly and outwardly, the ties l1 yielding to permit this. until said tie comes into contact with and is severed by the blade 24 on the inner side of the head 8 whereupon the outer ends of the cutters will drop into inactive position so as not to engage against and hang on the inside wall of the casing during the subsequent operation of the tool. This elevation of the tool will carry the next succeeding series of cutters beneath opposite the cut away portion of the casing and the pump may be again started forcing the mandrel 5 and expander I iurther downwardly and expanding this next succeeding series of cutters into position to operate on the upper end of the lower section of casing and the tool may then be lowered until said cutters are in contact with said upper end and then rotated and the cutting operation proceeded with as before until said cutters are dulled or worn away and the tool may be elevated as before and the next succeeding series of cutters brought 'into action as hereinabove explained until the cut is completed. Only three series of cutters are shown in the present illustration although any number of series desired may be employed.

It is stated above that the initial cut through the casing should be made by another type of cutting tool before lowering the type of tool herein disclosed into the casing to proceed with the work. It is not absolutely necessary that said initial cut be made before lowering the present type of tool into the casing. If it is desired the present type of tool may be lowered to the point where the cut is to be made. When it has reached the desired point where the cut is to be made, fluid under pressure may be applied to the plunger 6 and the upper series of cutters expanded into contact with the inside of the cas ng and the tool rotated until the casing has been severed, whereupon the plunger 6 and mandrel 5 will move on down to fully expand the upper series of cutters into the position shown in Figure 2 and the cutting operation may then be proceeded with and the series of cutters beneath may be brought into action. successively from above downwardly as the cutters of the preceding series are dulled or worn away.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 7 to 9 there is an assembly of tubular cutter heads 25, 26, 21, detachably secured together and the upper one of which is detachably secured to the coupling 2. These cutter heads have the radial slots 28 whose lower sides decline outwardly and pivotally mounted in these slots are the cutters 29 having the inward extensions 30 which project inwardly beyond the pivots. Arranged axially within the head assembly there is the mandrel 3i whose lower end is supported on a coil spring 32 which is inclosed within the lower head 2'! and which is supported on the plug 33 which is screwed into the lower end of the head 27. The lower end of thehead 21 has the vertical channels 36 leading downwardly therethrough for the passage of an operating fluid, such as water, downwardly into the casing to maintain circulation during the cutting operation.

Secured within the upper end of the head 26 there is a cylinder 35. The mandrel 3! has the upper, intermediate, and lower heads 36, 31 and 38 arranged to engage above the inner extensions 30 as shown in Figures 7 and 8. When the cutters are in retracted position as shown in Figure '7, the head 36 will engage against and close the lower end of the cylinder 35. Before lowering this type of cutter into the well, a section of the casing should be cut away, as illustrated in Figure 7, by another type of tool, such, for example, as that disclosed in our co-pending application above referred to. The cutter may then be lowered into the well into the position shown in Figure 7 with the cutters opposite the cutout portion of the casing. Fluid under pressure, may then be forced by a pump at the ground surface down through the drill stem and cylinder 35 thus forcing the mandrel 3! downwardly and expanding the cutters into the position shown in Figure 8. The drill stem may then be let down until the lower series of cutters are in contact with the upper end of the lower section of the casing and the tool may be rotated thus cutting away said lower section and this operation may continue until the operative portions of the lower series of cutters are entirely worn away thus allowing said cutters to enter the casing and the tool may then be lowered into the position shown in Figure 8 until the next succeeding series of cutters above engage the upper end of the lower section of easing. In Figure 8 this series of cutters is shown in action with the cutters partially worn away. When the operative ends of these cutmrs are completely worn away the tool may be further lowered until the upper series of cutters come into contact with the casing and the work proceeded with as before until all of the series of cutters are worn away or the cut completed whereupon on elevation of the tool the spring 32 will operate to elevate the mandrel 3i and retract the cutters into the position shown in Figure 7 and the tool may then be withdrawn from the well.

The drawings and description are illustrative merely while the broad principle of the invention will be defined by the appended claims.

radial cutters thereon, a continuous elastic'band What we claim is:

1. A cutting tool adapted to cut byrotation and shaped to enter a pipe in a well and comprising a plurality of longitudinally spaced cutting means, each of said cutting means having an effective cutting diameter greater than the diameter of the pipe being cut and means to bring said cutting means successively into cutting relation with the end of a well pipe beneath whereby said pipe will be cut away from above downwardly as the tool is fed downwardly.

, 2. A cutting tool adapted to cut byv rotation and shaped to enter a pipe in a well and comprising cutting means spaced apart vertically and means effective to successively engage and actuate the cutting means outwardly into cutting position relative to the upper end of the well pipe to operate on said end in succession as the tool is fed downwardly.

3. A cutting tool shaped to enter a pipe in a well and comprising cutting means spaced apart vertically and movable outwardly into cutting position relative to the upper end of a lower cut off section of the well pipe, means for actuating the cutting means, in succession, from above downwardly, into cutting relation with said upper end.

4. A cutting tool adapted to cut by rotation and shaped to enter a pipe in a well and comprising a head assembly, a plurality of cutting means thereon movable inwardly into inactive position and outwardly into active position and means eifective to successively actuate the cutting means outwardly into active, or cutting; position relative to the upper end or the well pipe to operate on said end in succession as the tool is fed downwardly.

5. A cutting tool adapted to cut by rotation and shaped to enter apipe in a well and comprising a head assembly, a plurality of cutting means thereon movable inwardly into inactive position and outwardly into active position and means effective to successively actuate the cutting means outwardly into active, or cutting, position relative to the upper end of the well pipe to operate'on said end in succession as the tool is fed downwardly and an operating string for manipulating the tool.

6. A cutting tool adapted to cut by rotation and shaped to enter a pipe in a well and comprising a head, a plurality of cutters spaced apart vertically thereon and movable inwardly into inactive position and outwardly into active position intocutting relation with the upper end of a section of pipe beneath, means for actuating the cutters into active position, successively, from above downwardly said section will be completely removed by the cutters in succession as the tool is moved downwardly.

7. A cutting tool adapted to cut by rotation and shaped to enter a pipe in a well and comprising a head, a plurality of cutters spaced apart vertically thereon and movable inwardly into inactive position and outwardly into active position into cutting relation with the upper end of a section or pipe beneath, means for actuating the cutters into active position, successively, from above downwardly whereby said upper end of said section will be completely removed by the cutters in succession as the tool is moved downwardly, said ing retractable to inactive position by the lower end of the section of well pipe above, upon upward movement of the tool.

8. in a pipe cutting tool a head, a series of whereby said upper end oiv cutters, when in active position, be-v connecting the cutters or the series and normally maintaining them in inactive position and means for moving the cutters of the series outwardly into active position.

9. In a pipe cutting tool a head, a series of radial cutters thereon, an elastic tie member connecting the cutters of the series and normally maintaining them ininactive position and means operable against the inner ends of the cutters of the series and arranged to be operated by an operating fluid under pressure and effective to move the cutters outwardly into active position, said cutters, when in active position, being retractable by the lower end of the section of the well pipe above, upon upward movement of the tool and means in the tool for severing the tie member upon such retraction of the cutters.

10. A cutting tool adapted to cut by rotation and shaped to enter a pipe in a well and comprising a head assembly, cutting means thereon spaced apart vertically and each having an effective cutter diameter greater than the diameter of the well pipe, and means arranged to be operated by fluid under pressure and effective to bring said cutting means successively into cutting relation with the end of a well pipe beneath whereby said. pipe will be cut away from above downwardly as the tool is fed downwardly.

11. A cutting tool adapted to cut by rotation enter a pipe in a well and com- 12. A cutting tool adapted to cut by rotation and shaped to enter a pipe in a well and comprising a head'assembly, a plurality of cutting means thereon movable inwardly into inactive position and outwardly into active position and means arranged to be operated by fluid under pressure and including means to successively engage with the cutting means to actuate the cutting means outwardly into active, or cutting, po-

sition, relative to the upper end of the well pipe to operate on said endin'succession as the tool is ted 'downwardly, said cutters, when in active position, being mounted to be released from the actuating means and retractable to inactive position by the lower end of the section of the well pipe above upon upward movement of the tool. 13. A cutting tool adapted to cut by rotation and shaped to enter a pipe in a well and comprising a plurality of longitudinally spaced cutting means, each of said cutting means having an effective cutting diameter greater than the diameter of the pipe being cut, and means operatively connected with the cutting means and effective to bring said cutting means successively into cutting relation with the end ot a well pipe beneath whereby said pipe will be cut away from above downwardly as the tool is fed downwardly.

14. A cutting tool adapted to cut by rotation and shaped to enter a pipe in a well and comprising a plurality of longitudinally spaced cutters, means effective to actuate a predetermined number of cutters independently of the other cutters into active' or cutting pipe.

15. A cutting tool adapted to cut by rotation assembly, a plurality of cutting movable inwardly into inactive position relative to the well and shaped to enter a pipe in-a well and comprising a plurality of cutters spaced longitudinally apart on the tool, means for actuating the cutters into active or cutting position, said cutters being arranged to limit movement of the actuating means whereby a predetermined number of cutters are actuated simultaneously, said cutters being mounted to release the actuating means by the lower end of the section of the well pipe above upon upward movement of the tool.

16. A cutting'tool adapted to cut by rotation and shaped to enter a pipe in a well and comprising a plurality of cutters spaced longitudinally apart on the tool, means for actuating the cutters into active or cutting position, said cutters being arranged to limit movement of the actuating means whereby a predetermined number of cutters are actuated simultaneously, said out-- ters being mounted to release the actuating means to allow more cutters to be actuated by the actuating means and be retracted to inactive position by the lower end of the section of the well pipe above upon upward movement of the tool.

17. A cutting tool adapted to cut by rotation and shaped to enter a pipe in a well and comprising a cutter support, cutters spaced apart vertically on the support and movable into active and inactive positions, each cutter being of a length to extend out radially to the outside of the pipe to be cut when said cutter is in active position to completely remove a section of the pipe upon rotation of the tool and means for bringing the cutters into active position successively whereby a cutter will continue the work of the preceding cutter upon the lowering and rotation of the .tool.

18'. A cutting tool adapted to cut by rotation and shaped to enter a pipe in a. well and comprising a cutter support, cutters spaced apart vertically on the support and movable into active and inactive positions, each cutter being oi a length to extend out radially to the outside of the pipe to be cut when the cutter is in active position so as to completely remove a section of the pipe upon rotation of the tool and means for iii br nging the cutters into active position whereby a cutter will continue the work of the preceding cutter upon the lowering and rotation of the tool.

19. A cutting tool adapted to cut by rotation and shaped to enter a pipe in a well and comprising a cutter support, series of cutters spaced apart vertically on the support and movable into active and inactive positions, the cutters of each series being of a length to extend out radially to the outside of the pipe to be cut when the cutters of the series are in active position so as to completely remove a section of the pipe upon rotation of the tool and means for bringing the respective series of cutters into active position successively whereby a series of cutters will continue the work oi the preceding series upon the lowering and rotation of the tool.

20. A cutting tool adapted to cut by rotation and shaped to enter a .pipe in a well and comprising a cutter support, series of cutters spaced apart vertically on the support and movable into active and inactive positions, the cutters of each series being of a length to extend out radially to the outside of the pipe to be cut when the cutters of the series are in active position so as to completely remove a section of the pipe upon rotation of the tool and hydraulically operable means for bringing the respective series of cutters into active position whereby a series of cutters will continue the work of the preceding series upon the lowering and rotation of the tool.

21. A cutting tool adapted to cut by rotation and shaped to enter a pipe in a well and coinprising a cutter support, series of cutters spaced apart vertically on the support and movable into active and inactive positions, the cutters of each series being of a length to extend out radially to the outside 01 the pipe to be cut when the cutters of said series are in active position so as to completely remove a section of pipe upon rotation of the tool and means for bringing the series 01' cutters into active position whereby a series of cutters will continue the work of the preceding series upon the lowering and rotation of the tool.

GEORGE J. BARRETT. SOS'I'HENE ROBICHAUX.

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