US2266383A

US2266383A - Well bore deflecting tool

Info

Publication number: US2266383A
Application number: US312025A
Authority: US
Inventors: Harry J Quintrell
Original assignee: Lane Wells Co
Current assignee: Lane Wells Co
Priority date: 1940-01-02
Filing date: 1940-01-02
Publication date: 1941-12-16
Anticipated expiration: 1958-12-16

Description

acter which is an'imporvement on the Lewis .Patent 2,016,042 issued October 1, 1935;

I tudinal sectional view taken through 2-2 of Fig- Patented Dec. 16, 1941 PATENT OFFICE I WELL BORE DEFLECTING TOOL um .I. Quinta-ell, San Gabriel, can, allignor to Company, Loo

Lane-Wells w s I corporation of Delaware Application January 2, i940, Serial No. 312,025 3 Claims. '(Cl. ass-1.6)

My invention relates to wellbore deflecting tools: more specifically, to'that type .Of deflecting tool commonly referred to as. a "knuckle joint." Among the objects of my invention are: First, to provide a deflecting tool of .this char- Second, .to provide a deflecting tool of the knuckle joint type wherein the knuckle joint is protected from the cutting action of the mud or circulation medium which is pumped downward- 1y through the drill string in the course of oper- I ating the knuckle joint;

Third, to provide a special sealing" means for the ball and socket connection of a knuckle joint 'type deflecting tool in which the pressure of thlzecirculation fluid holds the sealing means in P i Fourth, to provide a sealing means of this character for knuckle jointsin which practically no loss of fluid or pressure occurs at the knuckle joint, so that the full volume of circulation fluid at full pressure maybe discharged through the deflection tool bit in order to facilitate its operation; and

Fifth, to provide, on the whole, a novelly constructed knuckle joint type deflecting tool having a sealing means in which the .life of the knuckle joint is materially increased.

With the-above and other objects in view, as may appear hereinafter, reference is directed to the accompanying drawing, in which:

' Figure 1 is an elevational view of a knuckle joint embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary, longiure 1. showing particularly the sealing means; and a 1 Figure 3- is an end view of the ball cap forming the upper end of the knuckle joint with the other parts removed so as to expose the sealing means, said sealing means being shown fragmentarily.

The knuckle joint type deflection tool to which my invention pertains comprises a ball cap member l, the upper end of which is provided with suitable means for attachment to a drillin string. The lower portion is externallythreaded. to receive a ball bowl 2. The end of the ball.

cap and theball bowl define a spherical seat for a ball member 3. j

The ball member is provided on its diametrically oppositesides with sockets 4, into which extend pins 8 carrying rollers 6. The pins I are welded or otherwise secured'in the ball bowl 2 so that rotation of the can stem is transmitted to 5 the ball a, the ball being capableof a limited.

amount of universal movement. The lower end of the ball bowl has a tapered opening I through 1 which a stem 3 extending from the ball 3 passes.

. The stem 8 has mounted thereon a suitable camcollar 8, a spring "I, tending to urge the cam collar toward the. ball bowl, and adjustable locking rings H. The lower end ofthe stem is suitably attached to a reamer l2, and the reamer I2 is attached through a stem I3 to a pilot bit it.

The ball cap I and ball 3 have registering passages l5 and I6, respectively, the end of passage li being flared, as indiactedby II, to insure full opening when the ball 3 is in an angular position. Passage It extends through the ball 3 "to' discharge ports in the bit ll.

So far, the construction described is conventlonal. My invention relates particularl to a sealing meansbetween'the ball-cap I an the ball member 3. Formed in the end of the ball cap its an annular groove 2| surrounding the passage IS. The groove 2l confronts the ball member and receives-an annular sealing ring 22. The annular sealing ring 22 isshaped at its while the inner side or end of the ring is provided with an annular V-shaped groove 23. The inner end of the channel 2| communicates with the circulation bore I! through a plurality of equalizer passages 24.

Hie sea'ling'ring functions as follows: During operation of the knuckle joint, circulation fluid (commonly referred to as mud) is forced under high pressure downwardly through the circulation passages I! and It so as to pass out through openings in the pilot bit 14. The pressure of this fluid is exerted by'reason of the passages 24 upon the back 'or inner end of the ring 22 as to urge it into contact with the ball member 3.

40 Thus, the greater the pressure the mor the ring is forced into contact with the ball member.

The contact pressure of the sealing ring is thus automatically maintained higher than the pressure that might be exerted by the drilling fluid tending to pass between the ball cap I and the ball member 3, thereby preventing any loss of drilling fluid from the connection between the ball cap and ball member, and eliminating the attendant erosion and cutting away of the parts. In actual practice, the sealing ring more than doubles the life of the knuckle joint in which it is incorporated.

Various changes andalternate arrangements may be made withinthe .scope of. the appended claims, in which it is my intention to claim all outer side to conform to the ball member 3,

novelty inherent in the invention as broadly as the prior art permits.

I claim;

1. in a knuckle joint deflecting tool: a ba1l and socket member capable of limited relative movement, and having registering circulation passages therethrough; one of said members having an annular channel formed therein around its circulation passage and confronting the other of said members, said channel being in close proximity to said circulation passage but embracing, for all positions of the knuckle joint, the confronting end of the'circulation passage in the other of said members; connecting passages from said channel to said circulation passages; a resilient sealing means fitting said channel and urged by the pressure of fluid in said circulation passages and connecting passages against said other member; and torque-transmitting means connecting said members at the outer sides of said joints with respect to said sealing means, whereby deleterious matter passing in said circulation passages is prevented from circulation from said passages around said torquetransmitting means.

2. In a means for sealing a hollow flexible Joint against the escape of fluid passing through said joint: a ball and socket member capable of limited relative movement, and having registering circulation passages therethrough; one of said members having an annular channel formed therein around its circulation passage and confronting the other of said members; said channel being in close proximity to said circulation aaeasaa passages but embracing, for all positions 01 t1 2 knuckle joint, the confronting end of the circu lation passage in the other of said members; connecting passages from said channel to said circulation passages; a resilient sealing means fitting said channel and urged by the pressure of fluid in said circulation passages and connecting passages against said other member; and torque-transmittin means connecting said members at the outer sides of said joints with respect to said sealing means, whereby deleterious matter passing in said circulation passages is prevented from circulation from said passages around said torque-transmitting means.

3. In a knuckle joint deflecting tool: a ball and socket member capable of limited relative movement, and having registering circulation passages therethrough; one of said members having an annular channel formed therein around its circulation passage and connecting passages from said channel to said circulation passage, said channel confronting the other of said members; and an annular resilient ring fitting said channel, one side of said ring being shaped applied through said connecting passages to said channel.

HARRY J. QUIN'I'RELL.