US2254641A - Earth-boring apparatus and motor therefor - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 2, 1941. v(11-: B ANNISTER 2 4 41 EARTH-BORING APPARATUS AND MOTOR THEREFOR I Fild Dec. 13, 1959 3 Sheets-Shieet l vru zaiqi INVENTOR ATTORNEY '3 Sheets-Sheet 2' vSept. 2, 1941. c. E. BANNISTER EARTH-BORING APPARATUS AND MOTOR THEREFOR Fiied Dec. 13, 1939 INVENTOR 40 ,QM ATTORNEY Sept 2, 1941.

c. E. BANNISTER EARTH-BORING APPARATUS AND MOTOR THEREFOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec.

H I Hlll Patented Sept. 2,1941

"PATENT OFFICE- EARTH-BORING APPARATUS AND MOTOR THEREFOR Clyde E. Bannister, Bartlesville, Okla.

Application December 13, 1939, Serial No. 308,978

23 Claims.

This invention relates primarily to assemblies that are inclusive of an oscillating motor and it is of especial value in earth-boring equipment.

Some features disclosed in the present application are described and broadly claimed in my pat-- ent Reissue No. 19,397, granted December 18, I

1934, as .a reissue of my original Patent No. 1,965,563, granted July 10, 1934.

- The chief objects of the present invention are to provide an oscillating motor having some .or all of the advantages of (1) adaptability for use with a grit-bearing motive fluid, such as the re,- circulated drilling fluid used in the drilling of oil wells, without excessively rapid wear of the motor parts by the gritty fluid; v(2) large amplitude of oscillation for a tool, such as a drill bit, driven by the motor; (3) avoidance of dead-center stoppage of the. fluid-driven shalt-impeller; (4) hydraulically operated valves, with elimination of valve springs; (5) permissibly large port areas; (6) provision for the use of a large diameter driven shaft in a motor of moderate over-all diameter: (7) provision for the use of large bearings; (8) employment of a pilot valve for hydraulic operation of the main motor valve; (9) avoidance of load on the pilot valve bearing; and (10) the employment of a slip-in liner for-the motor casing, for ready replacement of the lining in case of wear.

f the accompanying drawings;

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, with parts sectioned and broken away, of a preferred embodiment of my invention as applied to non-vertical earth boring.

-Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are side elevations of valve parts that are shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. is a longitudinalaxial section of the casing of the motor with motor parts therein shown in elevation. v

Fig. 6 is a section on line 6-6 of Fig. 1'. Flg. 7 is a section on line 'lof Fig. 5. Fig. 8 is a section on line 8-! of Fig. 5. Fig. 9 is a section on line 8-9 of Fig. 5. Fig. is a section on line ll-ill of Fig. 1.

Fig. 11- is an axial section on line ll--ll 0 1'18. 10.

Fig. 12 is a side elevation. with parts sectioned and broken away, of a modified type of assembly embodying certain-"features of my invention and adapted for the drilling of wells.

Fig. 13 is a similar view of another embodiment adapted for well drilling.

Referring to the drawings, the apparatus of Figs. 1 to 11 comprises a cylindrical motor casing ertia barrel l2 adaptedto-sustain by its inertia the reaction of the shaft-oscillating motor. The inertia barrel has secured within it, as by means of cap-screws l3, IS, a segmented lead weight M adapted, by reason of gravity, to resist rotation of the assembly as a whole and thus maintain it in proper working position in non-vertical drilling.

Screw threaded at I5 upon the rear end of the inertia barrel i2 is an inertia-barrel extension in the form of a cylindrical end-closure member i8 formed at its closed rear. end with a fluid-inlet neck II to which is coupled a-hose I8 for supplying fluid to the motor through the space in the 15 inertia barrel 12 that, is not occupied by the weight it.

, The assembly comp ses a bit'iQ secured upon the rforward end of 'a hollow, oscillating motor shaft which, near the bit, is journaled in the motor casing ill by means of a radial-and-thrust bearing 2i and also is j'ournaled at 22 in a bulkhead member 23, secured in the motor casing ill by means such as the cap screw 24, and the shaft also is journaled at 25 in a bulk-head-and-fluidabutment member 28 (Figs. 1 and 6) which is secured in the motor casing In as by means such as the cap screw 21.

Slidably fitting within the motor casing I0 and abutted by shoulders formed on the members 23 and 28 is a removable cylindrical casing-liner 28 of'which the inner face (see'the lower part of Fig. 1) has a sealing fit against an oscillating shaft-impeller 28 which is shown in Fig. -7 as being integral with the motor shaft 20.

The bulk-head-and fluid-abutment member 26 is formed with an axially long, transversely seg-v mental portion 26 adapted to sustain'the reaction of pressure fluid forced between it and the shaft-impeller 29 and the hollow shaft 22, at longitudinally spaced apart positions, is formed with two fluid-inlet ports 30, 3| closely adjacent and at opposite sides of the shaft-impeller 29, and with two fluid-outlet ports 32, 33, closely adjacent and at opposite sides of the shaft-impeller 29.

For putting the said inlet-portsand thus also the chambers at the two sides of the shaft-impeller 28, in communication with the pressure-1 fluid-chamber in the inertia barrel l2, and for putting the outlet ports in communication withv the fluid-discharge passage, which is through the forward end of the hollow motor shaft 20 and through the bit l9, a hollow, oscillatory slide valve member 34 rotatably fits within the hollow motor I0 which isscrew-threaded at H to a heavy inshaft 20 and is formed with a supply port 35 adapted to be brought into registry with the shafts port 30, as in Fig. 1 or Fig. '7, and with a supply port 36 adapted to be brought into registry with the shafts port 3|. 7

Internally the valve member 34 is provided, at a position forward of the ports 36, 36, with a transverse partition or bulk-head 31 (Fig. l) and forward of the partition 31 the valve member 34 is formed, at a circumferential position half-way between those of the ports 36, 36, with an exhaust port 38 adaptedto be brought into registry with the shafts outlet port 33 when the valve's supply port 36 is broughtinto registry with the shafts inlet port 30, and to be in registry with the shafts outlet port 32 when the valve's supply port 36 is in registry with the shaft's inlet port 3|.

Rearwardly the motor shaft projects a little beyond the bulk-head-and-fluid-abutment member 26 and upon its projecting end portion is secured by means such as the set-screw 39 a cupshaped pressure-chamber member 40 provided with a threaded end-closure member ill.

The valve member 34 extends with a sealing fit through the end closure member 4| and a bulkhead member 42 which is secured in the motor casing ill by means such as the cap-screw 43 and within the pressure-chamber member 40 the valve port 46, as in Fig. 8, and pressure fluid passing member 34-is formed with annular shoulders 6'6,

45 abutting respectively the end of the motor shaft 20 and the closure member 4| to hold the valve member in position axially.

In that region also the valve member 34 isv formed with fluid-inlet ports 46, 41 opening on opposite sides of a valve impeller 48 formed integrally with the valve and internally the cupshaped pressure-chamber member 40 is provided with a fluid-abutment 49 to sustain the reaction of fluid-actuating the valve-impeller 48, the fluid-abutment 49.being, through the pressurechamber member 40, rigid with the motor shaft 20.

The valve-impeller 46, integral with the valve 34, is free to rotate with relation to the motor shaft only through the small are permitted by stops 56, 6| (Fig.8) mounted on the forward end wall of the pressure-chamber member 40.

For supplying pressure fluid alternately to the fluid chambers on the respective sides of the valve impeller (Fig. 8) ahollow pilot-valve member 62 (Figs. 4, 8 and 9) comprises a stop-lug head portion 53 and a cylindrical valve portion 64 which is formed with a port 66 adapted to be brought into registry with the port 46, as in Fig. 8, when the stop-lug head portion 63 of the member 62. in one direction of rotation, is stoppedby a stoppin 66 mounted upon the bulk-head 42; and with a port 61 adapted to be brought into registry with the port 41 when the portion 63 of the member 62 is stopped, in the opposite direction of rotation, by the stop-pin 66.

The cup-shaped pressure-chamber member,"

, is formed at appropriate positions with vent ports 66, 69 and for opening and closing them at proper times avvalve sleeve 63 is mounted upon the member 46 and formed with vent ports 6|, 62

and'with shoulders such as the shoulder 63 (Fig.

5) "adapted to strike a stop-pin 64 projecting from the bulk-head '26, at proper times.

The fit of the valve34 withinthe motor shaft 26, the'flt of thepilot valve 62 in-the valve-34,

and the fltof the valve-sleeve 66 upon the member 46. are such that all ofthese parts just men-V tioned rotate together, by reason of their frictional engagement, except as they are oscillated with relation. to one another by the stops dethe stop 5| to the stop 66, Fig. 8, the valve member 34 has carried with it in its rotation, by reason of the frictional fit, the pilot valve 62, and then both of them, by reason of the frictional fits, rotate with the motor shaft until near the end of its counterclockwise movement, at which time contact of the stop-lug 63 with the pin 66 and contact of oneof the shoulders 63iFig. 5) with the pin 64 reverses the valve setting of the pilot valve 62 and valve sleeve 66, with the result that the main valve 34 is likewise reversed as to port registries, by the forcing of the valve-impeller 46 clockwise as viewed in Fig. 8, into contact with the stop pin 6|. the valve 34 again frictionally carrying withit, clockwise, the pilot valve 62.

The cycle as just described is then repeated continuously so long as motive fluid is forced into the assembly.

As the reversal of registries of inlet ports and the reversal of registries oi outlet-ports controlling the movement of the valve-impeller 46 are boring operation proceeds and thus keep a suitable pressure upon the bit I9, a pair of respectively right-hand and left-hand hollow worms 65. 66, adapted to act against the earth-formation under the assembly, are slidably joumaled at their rear ends in brackets such as the bracket 61 projecting from the member i6 and at their forward ends are formed with cup-shaped spring housings such as the housing 63.

Extending through the housing and slidably,

but non-rotatabl'y, fitting in the adjacent end portion of the hollow worm is a push bar 66 having secured thereon a spring-seating collar 16,

between which and the spring-seating internal shoulder of the housing 68 is interposed a compression spring 1| For closing the housing 63 against the entrance of dirt. and permissibly for pre-loading the spring 1|, a cup-shaped'closure member 12 is screw threaded onto the spring- ,;housing 66 and isformed with an internal endiiange 13 slidably fitting the push bar 66 and gdaptd-to engagethe spring-seating collar 16 qgpr q di st s n tits forward end'each of the push bars 36 is iournaled in a bracket such as the bracket-14 projecting from the motor casing l3 and the bracket acting between the and the push bar are provided with respective thrust bearing members I5, I8 for transmitting to the motor assembly and the bit, through the compression springs 1|, the force of the reaction of the worms 85, 88 against the earth formation.

For driving the right-hand and left-hand worms 85, 88 in opposite directions, in one half of each oscillatory cycle of the motor-shaft and bit, and in suitably short rotative movements, each push bar 89 has secured upon its forward end a bevel gear, 11, 18, which are meshed with respective bevel'pinions 19, 88 secured upon respective short shafts 8|, 82 which are disposed radial-and-thrust bearing 9I being interposed between the member 89 and the motor shaft 28 and a radial-and-thrust bearing 92 being interposed between the cover plate 98 and the motor shaft 28.

Fixedly secured upon the motor shaft 28, by

means of a key 93, and set screw 94, within the enclosure thus provided, is a pawl-carrier 95 (Figs. 10 and 11) carrying spring-backed pawls 98, 98 coacting with ratchet teeth 91 formed on,

an interior annular face of the member 89.

The space in which the pawl carrier is mounted can be permanently packed with grease.

It will be manifest that with this construction each r'otative movement of the motor shaft in one direction will effect the desirably short ro- 1 tative movement of the worms 85, 88, in opposite directions for substantial balance of therotative forces against the earth formation, and that as For sucking water upward through the bit, I9, and forcing it to the top of the well through the hose I88, an oscillatory pump assembly is associated with the lower portion of the-motor shaft 28, this pump assembly comprising a fluidabutment I81 mounted in the motor casing I8 between the bulk-head I 88 and a lower bulk-head I88, a pumping impeller I89 secured upon the motor shaft, and intake and outlet valves H8, III mounted in and communicating with passages extending through the bulk-heads I88 and I88 resepectively.

The motor casing I8 is provided with a'still lower bulk-head II2 adapted to serve as one of the races for, and to keep fluid from,.a radialand-thrust bearing assembly II3, which can be grease-packed, the course of the pumped water being upward through. the bit and through the lower end portion of the motor shaft, then through an opening H4, in the shaft into the space between the bulk-heads 2, I88, and from there through the intake valve .I I8.

Mounted in the fluid-abutment, 28*, .of the motor, and "in the bulk-heads '23 and I88, and communicating with the outlet valve III of the pump, is a pipe II5 which leads to the fluiddischarge hose I 88.

This assembly of Fig. 12, in which fluid is sucked through the bit, insures a clean hole at all times and avoids repeated cutting of the material. I

In the assembly shown in Fig. l3,a motor casing II8 has secured within it an inertia member I I1 which is formed with a central fluid passage I I8 which communicates at its upper end with a fluid conduit II9, which may be either a hose or a pipe and which is adapted to be connected, at the top of the ground, with the delivery pipe of a pump or, alternatively, with a fluid-conduit leading to a core-receiving settling tank.

The inertia member III is formed also with a fluid passage I28 which communicates at its upper end with a fluid conduit I2I, which may the worms 85 and 88 are thus caused to move forward with relation to the earth-formation with which they are engaged the compression springs ("I I) will becompressed and, through the spring-seating collars 18, push' bars 89,, thrust bearings 16-15 and brackets 14, will urge the motor-and-bit assembly'forward and maintain a substantially steady pressure upon the; bit.

The assembly shown in Fig. 12 is adapted for with a fluid-conduit leading to the slush pit orsettling basin.

vertical drilling and comprisesa shaft-oscillat- I ing motor operating upon the same principles as that abovedescribed, but a cable 98 is provided for suspending the assembly and a fluid-intake hose and fluid discharge hose I88 are provided for 'passing pure or gritless motive fluid through the motor for avoidance of the wear The motor shaft, 28, has secured therein, be- Q low the lower end of the valve, 84, a partition I83 and the discharge of the motive fluid from the motor is through an opening l84 .in a side of themotor shaft and an opening I85 in a side of the motor casing, I8, bulk-heads 23 and I88 being provided in the casing respectively above and below these openings.

At its lower end the fluid passage I28 communicates with a radially narrow, transversely arcuate passage I22 which is deflned by a part of the motor casing H8 and a shell-like member r23 secured thereto as by welding, and the lower end of the passage I22 is open and is positioned near the bit, I24, for flow,of flushing fluid and cuttings, from the bit, upward through the passages I22 and I28 and through the conduit I2I to the top of the ground.

In this embodiment the motor shaft, I25, and the valve, I28, therein, are of larger diameters,

in relation to the over-all diameter of the assembly, than are the corresponding members in Fig. l or Fig. 12, and the partition, I21, in the valve 1 I28, is centrally apertured and has rotatably mounted therein and sealed thereto by means 0 a sealing ring I28 acorebarrel I29.

The lower end of the core-barrel is flxedly secured in the bit I28, which in this embodiment as assembled in Fig. 13 is a bit of the core-taking type and is formed with apertures I38, I38 for a circumferential series of flap-valve members such as the members I3I, I3I, hinged as at I32, I32, the series of flap-valve members being adapted to prevent such free flow of motive fluid through the core-barrel I29 as to reduce excessively the fluid-pressure for actuating the motor, the motive fluid being compelled, by the flap valve members, to pass through the annular space surrounding the core barrel and thus to the valves, valve impeller and shaft impeller of the motor.

In the operation of this embodiment illustrated in Fig. 13, the fluid which drives the motor also serves as the flushing fluid and after passing downward through the conduit H9 and the passage II8 to the motor and then through the motor and through the passages I30 in the bit, passes upwardly to the top of the well through the passages I22 and I20 and the conduit I2I, while the well, outside of the apparatus, stands full of. non-circulating and preferably weighted fluid, which lessens the amount of caving of the wall of the well, especially when it is noncirculating, as in this arrangement, so that there is no washing away of .the wall.

As the passages through which such upward flow occurs are of less cross-sectional -area than the well-space surrounding the conduits H9 and HI, the upward velocity is greater than if the upward flow were through the said well space, and this high velocity is advantageous in avoiding sluggish removal of the cuttings from the vicinity of the bit and waste of time and of power in repeated cutting of dislodged particles.

As the bit I2 is oscillated by the motor and drills the well deeper a core is automatically taken in the core-barrel I29, and is usually well broken up by lateral movements or vibrations of the oscillating bit, so that the fragments can be forced to the top of well through the passage I I8 and the conduit 3, by reversing the fluid circulation, the two conduits H9 and I2I being packed off at the top of well so that the fluid,

pumped downward through the conduit I2l, will The return flowlof the-reversed circulation,

pilot-valve for controlling the action 'of said for free passage of core fragments ii'pward through the conduit, and yet without such clearance as to permit an excessive amount of fluid to pass the core fragments.

To avoid taking so long a core that it would emerge from the upper end of the core-barrel and block the passage H8 against adequate downward flow of the motive fluid, one of the conduits H9 or Hi can be suitably marked at a determinate elevation above ground at the beginning of each core-taking operation and the coretaking operation stopped and the fluid circulation reversed, for pumping out the core, before the assembly has descended 'a distance equal to the length of the core-barrel.

After the core has been taken and pumped out as described, the circulation in the motordriving direction is re-established and the cycle of operation as described is repeated.

If desired, the assembly can be quickly pulled out of the hole, in case the conduits H9 and HI are of reelable' hose, and a full-section drill bit can be substituted for the core-taking bit before drilling is resumed after the core-taking, but in some localities it is desirable to take cores at all depths, or at least at all depths below a certain level, in which case the substitution of bits is not resorted to.

In'all of these embodiments some or all of the advantages set out in the above statement of objects are obtained. e r

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

I claim: a

1. A motorcomprising a casing, a fluid-abutment member therein, a hollow shaft to be oscillated, a shaft impeller rigid with said shaft, a valve member within said hollow shaft, the shaft and the valve member being formed with registrable ports, fluid-actuated means for controlling the movements of the said valve, and a fluid-actuated means.

2. Amotor comprising a casing, a fluid-abutment member therein, a hollow shaft to be oscillated, a shaft impeller rigid with said'shaft, a

valve'member within said hollow shaft, theshaft through the conduit M9, for washing out the core taken by the core-barrel, can be eflected by closing conduit I2I at the'top of the-well and pumping fluid down through the well-space sur rounding the conduits, the fluid being pumped through a packer at the top of the well, but the downward washing of the wall of the well which is incident to that procedure is undesirable.

In Figs. 14 and 15 isXshown a suitable packer, which preferably is of the dual or gas lock" type, for the passage of hose clamps or pipe couplings and tool joints" into the hole without interruption of the drilling operation, one gate-valve packer III-being located Just above 'the ground level and the other,one, I34, Just above thederrick floor I35, the packers being opened one at a time for the passage of'the hose clamps .or

be continuously is sufficiently and the valve member being formed with regis- "tr'able ports, fluid-actuated means for controlling the movements of the said valve, a pilotvalve for controlling theaction of said fluidactuated means, and stop means for controlling '.the action ofv the pilot valve.

.73. A, motor comprising a fluid-actuated impeller member, valve means controlling the ad- /4.1A motor comprising an oscillatory hollow "shaft, a'shaft-impeller rigid therewith; a valve member fitted in the hollow shaft, "avalve impeller rigid with said valve me'mberyandmeans for applying pressure fluid alternately to weepposite sides of said valve impeller.

5. A motor comprising an oscillatory hollo shaft, a shaft-impeller rigid therewith, a valve member fitted in the hollow' shaft, a valve impeller rigid with said valve member, and a pilotcycles of the shaft oscillations.

valve assembly for applying pressure fluid alternately to the opposite sides of said valve impeller.

6. A motor comprising an oscillatory hollow shaft, a shaft-impeller rigid therewith, a valve member fitted in the hollow shaft, a valve impeller rigid with said valve member, and a pilotvalve assembly for applying pressure fluid alternately to the opposite sides of said valve impeller, said pilot-valve assembly comprising a pilot-valve member fitted within the aforesaid valve mem-- her and adapted to be frictionally driven therei of the shaft-oscillating type, a bit mounted upon the shaft of said motor, and means actuated by the motor and acting against the adjacent earth formation for urgingth'e bit forward.

9. Earth-boring apparatus comprising a motor of the shaft-oscillating type, a bit mounted upon motor and acting against the adjacent earth formation for urging the bit forward, and resilient force-transmitting means interposed operatively between the said means and the bit.

10. Earth-boring apparatus comprising a motor of the shaft-oscillating type, a bit mounted upon the shaft of said motor, and means actuated by the motor and acting against the adjacent earth formation for urging the bit forward, said means comprising a form adapted to react against the adJacent earth formation, and means for rotating the'worm in alternate half- 11. Earth-boring apparatus comprising a motor of the shaft-oscillating type, a bit mounted upon the shaft of said motor, and means actuated by the motor and acting against the adjacent earth formation for urging the bit forward, said means comprising a worm. adapted to react against the. adjacent earth formation, and

, positely pitched worms concentric with the motor shaft. 1

' 14. Earth-boring apparatus comprising a motor of theshaft-oscillating type, a bit mounted upon the shaft oi said motor, inertia means for sustaining the reaction of said motor, and means terposed between the motor shaft and the earthactuated by said motor and acting against the adjacent earth formation for urging the bit forward, the last said means comprising earthengaging means and one-way drive means so inengaging means as to drive the latter intermittently but in the same direction, in alternate half-cycles of the oscillation of the motor shaft.

M 15. The combination of a fluid-actuated shaftoscillating motor adapted to be lowered into an earth-boring, means for so lowering it, means for conducting motive fluid to the motor for actuatingJt while it is in the hole, a bit associated with and driven by the motor, the motor having .its discharge orifice opening into the hole in the vicinity of the 'bit, and a pump associated with the motor and driven thereby for impelling a flow of the-spent motive fluid past the bit.

16. The combination of a fluid-actuated shaftoscillating motor adapted to be loweredinto an earth-boring, means for so lowering'it, means for conducting motive fluid to the motor for actuating it while it is in the hole, and a pump assothe shaft of said motor, means actuated by the v ciated with the motor and driven thereby,.the motor and the pump being of the oscillating type and comprising respective oscillating piston members spaced-apart lengthwise of and mount ed upon the same shaft. I

17. Earth-boring apparatus comprising a fluid actuated motor adapted to be advanced in a .boring, a bit associated therewith and driventhereby, means for controlling its advance in the boring, a conduit for conducting motive fluid to the motor and a second conduit for conducting the motive fluid from the motor, a pump driven by the motor, the motor, pump, bit and conduits being so constructed and arranged that the motive fluid is constrained to flow through a part of the boring external to the motor in the vicinity of the bit and is forced through'the second mentioned conduit by the pump. a

18. Earth-boring apparatus comprising a fluid actuated motor adapted to be advanced in a boring, a bit associated therewith and driven thereby, means for controlling its advance in means for rotating the worm in alternate halfcycles of the shaft oscillations, and resilient force-transmitting means interposed operatively 53 between the worm and the bit.

12. Earth-boring apparatus, comprising a motor of the shaft-oscillating type, a bit mounted upon the shaft of said motor, and means actuated by the motor and acting against the .adiacent earth formation for urging the bit forward, said means comprising a worm adaptedto react against the adjacent earth formation. means for rotating the worm in alternate halfcycles of the shaft oscillations, and resilient force-transmitting means and a worm-andworm-gear drive interposed operativelybetween the worm and the bit.

13. Earth-boring apparatus comprising a motor, a bit mounted upon the shaft of said motor, a pair of oppositely pitched worms adapted to act against the adjacent earth formation for urging the bit forward, and means actuated by the motor for driving said worms in opposite 19. Apparatus for taking a core and elevating it to. the top of an earth-boring, said apparatus comprising a core-taking bit, a bit-oscillating motor for driving the same, means for forcing a fluid downward in the boring as a conduit, a conduit mounted "in the boring for conductin fluid to the top of the same, the core space of the bit being in communication with the last mentioned conduit.

20. Earth-boring apparatus comprising a fluidactuated motor having an axial passage through the same, a conduit for supplying actuating fluid to the motor from the top of the boring, accredirections, said means comprising a pair of optaking coaxial W h Said p flnd driven by said motor, a core-barrel associated with said bit and extending into said axial passage, and means for compelling a flow of fluid upward through said core barrel passage, and conduit passage to wash the core upward from said corebarrel to the top of the boring. 1

21. Earth-boring apparatus comprising a fluidactuated motor having an axial passage through the same, a conduit for supplying actuating fluid to the motor-from the top of the boring, a poretaking bit coaxial with said passage and driven by said motor, a core-barrel associated with said bit and extending into said axial passage, and valve means mounted on said core barrel for preventing excessive downward flow of fluid therethrough but permitting upward passage of fluid and of the core from the core-barrel, the parts being constructed and arranged for washing of the core from the core barrel and through said passage and conduit to the top or the boring.

22. Earth-boring apparatus comprising, as parts of a fluid actuated motor, a hollow motor shaft, a hollow valve member movably fltted therein, a core-taking bit mounted on said motor shaft, and a core-barrel associated with said bit and extending at least into the hollow valve member, the motor comprising an oscillating piston and the valve member being so constructed and arranged as to supply actuating fluid to 0pposite sides of the piston alternately.

23. Earth-boring apparatus comprising a coretaking bit, a core-barrel associated therewith, a fluid actuated motor of the shaft oscillating type for driving said bit, a conduit for conductin motive fluid to said motor, parts or said motor defining a fluid passage from said conduit to the upper end of said core barrel and a branch 0011-, duit to the working parts or the motor, and means for compelling fluid to flow in a reversed direction through the core-barrel, the said passage and the said conduit for washing core material through the same;

CLYDE E. BANNISTER.

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