US2545035A - Rotary well drilling bit - Google Patents

Rotary well drilling bit Download PDF

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US2545035A
US2545035A US779593A US77959347A US2545035A US 2545035 A US2545035 A US 2545035A US 779593 A US779593 A US 779593A US 77959347 A US77959347 A US 77959347A US 2545035 A US2545035 A US 2545035A
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cutters
mandrel
drill
drilling
bit
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Archer W Kammerer
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    • EFIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21EARTH DRILLING; MINING
    • E21BEARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B10/00Drill bits
    • E21B10/26Drill bits with leading portion, i.e. drill bits with a pilot cutter; Drill bits for enlarging the borehole, e.g. reamers
    • E21B10/32Drill bits with leading portion, i.e. drill bits with a pilot cutter; Drill bits for enlarging the borehole, e.g. reamers with expansible cutting tools
    • E21B10/34Drill bits with leading portion, i.e. drill bits with a pilot cutter; Drill bits for enlarging the borehole, e.g. reamers with expansible cutting tools of roller-cutter type

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  • This invention pertains to drill bits, and more particularly to rotary bits of the expansible type for drilling or reaming holes below wellcasin'gs greater in diameter than the inside diameter of the casing through which the bit iscapable of passing.
  • the cutter elements remain in their expanded positions during elevation of the string of'drill pipe to which the tool is secured. Elevation of the drill string is required in addinganother' section of drill pipe to it to enable the bit to continue drilling'ahead to greater depths.
  • a kel-ly or grief stem is gradually lowered through the rotary table at the topof the well bore to substantially its fullest extent in drilling the hole, after which it is necessary to elevate the-drill string and unscrew the kelly for the purpose of attaching another section of drill pipe tothe drill string; whereupon the drill string is again lowered in the well bore and the kelly secured to-the top of the added drill pipe section.
  • Still a further object of the invention is to pre-' vent the expansible cutter means from expanding to their fullest extent under certain operative conditions encountered in a well bore.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide an expansible rotary drill bit, whose cutters are normally expanded outwardly to their fullestextent, but whose degree of expansion can be limited in order to hold the cutters to an effective reaming diameter which is slightly less than the normal well bore diameter which such cutters produce during the drilling or reaming operation.i
  • a further object of theinvention is to provide an expansible well drilling bit, in which the eifec tive drilling or reaming diameter of the cutters is controlled'by the drilling weight imposed upon the drill string attached to the bit.
  • Fig. l is a side elevation. of one form. of drill bit embodying the invention.
  • Fig. 2 is'a longitudinal section through the drill bit on an enlargedscale, with parts shown in retracted position for lowering through the well bore.
  • Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, with the parts shown in their fully expanded position as the resuflt of imposing downward drilling weight on the bi
  • Fig. 4 is a view similar to Figs. 2 and 3, illustrating the parts in a partially expanded position, as a result of removing drilling weight from the bit.
  • Fig. 5 is a cross-section taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.
  • Fig. 6 is a partial longitudinal section taken along the line (5-4 on Fig. 3. v
  • Fig. '7 is a cross-section taken along line I-'I on Fig. 2.
  • the rotary drill bit A is attached to a string of drill pipes B, by means of which it is lowered through a well casing C in a well bore to a point below the casing shoe D at which enlargement of the bore hole is to commence.
  • the drill bit preferably has a pilot bit II] at its lower end for centering the bit-in hole that already may have been drilled, or for drilling the central portion of new hole in the absence of pre-existing hole.
  • the main portion of the bit is capable of enlarging the bore hole by produce ing and operating on a formation hereinafter described.
  • the upper end of the bit consists o fa driving mandrel II whose upper phi-I2 *is"threaddly connected to a sub I3 forming the lower end qi gagement of an external shoulder I6 on the kelly.
  • the body I has atplurality of expansible parts mounted on it, comprising opposedcutter sup-' porting members I9; 19 disposed within a trans verse slot I5b through the body'and pivotally carried between bifurcated body aims'20, 20, de fining the slot, on pivot or hinge pins 2i, 2 I suiti ably secured to the arms, as,5y'use of welding material '22.
  • Each cutter supportin member consists of a depending leg 23 having a bearing supporting pin 24 inclined inwardly and downwardly, and on which aside cutter 25 islrotatiably mounted.
  • Qlilach cutter supporting member I9 also includes an upwardly extending arm 30 against which an elastic expander 3I bears.
  • This expander in the form of a compressed coil spring, is received with iiiia retainer pocket 32 i the body I5 andexertsf its force against the "arm 30, tending to swing'it inwardly and thus urge the cutter"25, ojn th'other side of the fulcrum pin 2
  • Theextent of this outward movement is limited by engagementfjof stoplshoulders 33,,"33 on opposite sides of the cuttersupporting members IS with cooperable body stop shoulders 34, 34.
  • the tubular member 35 is connected in swivel fashion'to the Kelly M to "permit relative rotary movement therebetwieri However, the lillyaiid tubular member are secured together for longitudinal movement in both directions. This is accomplished by providing a shoulder 39 on the tubular member received within the lower socket MI) in the kelly and abutting a companion shoulder I40 in the kelly at the upper end of the socket.
  • the tubular member 35 has an upper portion 35a extending from the shoulder 39 freely through the central bore IAcL of the l relly, withthe upper terminus, of the upper memberf35g received within an enlarged recess I do in the kelly or mandrel pin I2, where a nut 35b is threaded on the terminal portion and bears against the base Hf of the upper pin recess Me.
  • the mandrel II is normally held inits upper positionlwith respecttoithe main body I5 of the bit and the-supporting member's I9 by a' helical retractor spring 38 encircling the tubular meme-- ber.35, with its. upper endiengaging'the mandrel shoulder 39 and itsilower endengaging a spring seat. 40 atthelowenend of .the hexagonarb'ody' socket @511, thespring seatrserving as an upper bearing guide for the tubular'mandrel member 35 and-the sides-47c of the lock portion 41 of the mandrel slidably.
  • Circulating -fluicl can pass downwardly through the string of drill pi-pe.-D-and through the tubu lanmandrel I I ior ejection from its lower discharge nozzle 3".
  • ic-ont i the cutters 25, to cleanse them of cuttings and -flush the latter from the drilling area to the top of thewell bore.
  • this circulating fluid is also available to unlatch the cutter supporting members I9 in the event it is desired to hold them positively iii-retracted position.
  • the positive lock may; be provided by securing a hook 42 to the inner portion of eachcuttersupporting member IS and inserting the ends; of these hooks in holes 44 in a strip 45 extending across the nozzle 35c.
  • the cutting tool A after being lowered'in retracted position to-the point :at which-the-reaming operationis to begin, may bereleased "for-operation by starting the pumps-at the surface of the well bore, which will force 'fiuid down thrcrugh the drill stringB and mandrel II, impinging upon the latch strip 45 and blowing or forcing it *oif the hook ends 43, permitting-the springs 3I' to shift the supporting arms 30 inwardlyand the cutters 25 outwardly against-the formation.
  • the tool A is mounted on-thelower end ofthe drill string B, withjits parts held in retracted position by the latch strip'45, as shown in Fig. 2.
  • the compressed retractor spring 38 holds the mandrel II and its kelly in ari upward position with respect to the body I 5, as "determined byfengagement of the kelly shoulder I6 with the body retainer ring I1;
  • the lock por'--" tion 41 is elevated above the lugs 31 on the cutter supporting members l9, being received within the inner recesses 36 in the supporting members, which permit the latter to be held inwardly against the action of the expander springs 3
  • the tool is lowered through the well casing C, and upon reaching the position of the wellbore below the casing shoe D at which the drilling operation is to begin, the pumps are started at the surface of the well bore and fluid impinged on the latch-strip 45, forcing it hydraulically off the ends 43 of hooks 42 and releasing the cutter supporting members l9 for outward expansion under the influence of the spring 3
  • the drill string B is then rotated to rotate the main bit body'l5 through the splined kelly and body connection
  • Drilling is continued by rotating the drill bit and imposing .the proper drilling weight on the cutters, to cause removal of the formationmaterial andreaming of the hole in a downward direction to the desired extent of length.
  • all that need be done is elevate the drill string B, which moves the-side cutters 25 above the formation shoulder E and permits the retractor spring38 to pressdownfit faces of the cutter supporting members l9, which will ride the inner walls of the casing and pre vent the cutter teeth from hanging up in the casing coup-ling spaces while, thetool is being lowered therein.
  • These pads 46 can be provided in addition to the hooks 42 and latch strip 45, or in place of the latter.
  • the tool can be lowered through open hole below the casing shoe D to as far a distance as desired before the reaming operation commences. If the latch is not provided, downward movement of the drill string B is stopped when the bit passes out of the shoe D, and the drill pipe B and bitA rotated to allow the cutters 25 to pro-' Jerusalem the formation shoulder E under the in-' fluence of the compressed expanded springs 3L". Drilling in a downward direction can then proceed as aforementioned, with the drill string B and mandrel I lowered against the action of the retractor spring 38 to'position the lock portion 4! opposite the lug31 and prevent inward movement of the cutters until the drilling weight is re moved from the drilling tool.
  • the cutter supporting members It outwardly t0 their fullest extent, as determined by abutting wardly on the body l5 and "move it, together with the cutter supporting members l9 down wardly with respect to mandrel repositions the mandrel lock portion 41 opposite the supporting member recesses 36 and above their lugs 31, because of the engagement. between the pin recess shoulder l4 and tubular This action of the cooperable shoulders 33, 34. Consequently, upon elevation of the drill string B and attached drill bit A, for the purpose of removing the kelly at the top of the well bore and adding another section of pipe, the springs 3
  • the cutters Upon relowering of the tool, after the added drill pipe section has been appropriately assembled on the drill string, and the grief stem (not shown) attached thereto, the cutters would tend to engage ribs or other projections or restrictions in the well bore, and would prevent the tool from beinglowered into re-engagement with the; formation shoulder previously produced by the bit. It would be necesat the top of the well bore, in order to re-ream the well bore and remove the projections and restrictions, no matter how slightly they might extend into the hole.
  • Themandrel projections 60 areso arrangedw lasato occupy-:a'cp'ositiomin substantial alignment with the iarmi projections GI when the mandrel I I and its :kel'lyiil Aiarein their uppermost position "With respect” to izthe Body] 5' of the tool, ⁇ whereinthe locklportion 41' of the mandrel is disposed above' the lugsia'l-"on' thecutter supporting member's-L9 and within the recesses 36 in thelatter,:whichi allowsi'retracei tion of the cutter supporting fmembers: I9 from their fully extended posit'ion'sf f: r However, upon downward movement eof 'the tool mandrel II to position its loch portioh' fi'l opposite the outer supporting inember' lu'gs 31, in order to
  • the mandrel cam projections 60 are opposite the cutter arm projections- 6L.- Following removal of the latch strip li in the manner'above indicated,- or if no latch strip is provided] passage of the tool from the casing shoe-ll the springs- 31 urge the supporting arms 3flfinwardlyand the cutters 25 outwardly, the drill bitbein'g remaw produce a formation shoulder whosemaximumdianieter, at that time, islimitedby engagement of' the arm projections BI with the lmandrel pain projections Ell.
  • The'various' cam projections 60, SI are of such an extent as to allowthe "cutters to expand outwardhr to almost their full extent. Following theformation of the shoi lder downward weight may beimpose'd onthe drilling string B,'which will shift the lock portionfi? ur the mandrel I'I between the lugs 31 'on'th cutter supporting members I9 and alsofmovethemam drel cam projections 6! belowthearm projec tions 6 I. Rotation may now proceed ⁇ with the springs 3I capable of moving the cutter-arms 30 inwardlyto a greater extent; because the arm 'p'r'o' jections 6! can no longer engage the mandrel can!
  • Drillingor reaming-can continue with down weight imposed on the drilling string Band 'thei'nandrel I l'attached'theretato hold the Flock portion oft-the mandrel in-lts. locking; position :With'rffi? spect to the cutter supporting members I9.
  • the partiallyf're-i tracted' cutters will note this fact during the downward passage of the bit A by hanging upon the inward protuberances, thus advising the op-' erator at the top of the well bore that/there are restrictions in the well bore reducing its diameter below a prescribed minimum, and that liners or other casing strings to be subsequently lowered in-the -wel1'b'o're would-be incapable of pa'ssing' therethrough. The operator then would re-ream the well bore, in order to remove the ribs or other inward projections.
  • a drill bit which permits the tool to be moved downwardly into engagement with the formation shoulder, without the necessity for removing minor restrictions in the well bore, but which still operates to prevent such downward movement in the event of major restrictions being present in the well bore.
  • the drill bit operates as a gage by indicating whether the well bore has been enlarged beyond the diameter determined by the intermediate expanded position of th cutters 25, determined by engagement between the arm and the mandrel projection 61, 60. If the tool hangs up in the well bore during its lowering toward the formation shoulder E, the operator is advised of the necessity of re-reaming the hole for the purpose of removing the restrictions projecting thereinto.
  • a rotary well drilling bit including a main body, cutter means pivotally mounted on said body and having an upwardly extending arm and a depending leg, spring means bearing against said body and arm for moving said arm inwardly and said leg outwardly, a lock device movable downwardly within said body into engagement with said leg for preventing inward movement of said leg from its outward position, and cam means on said lock device engageable with said arm when said lock device is disposed in an upward position within said body for preventing outward movement of said leg by said spring means to its fullest extent.
  • a rotary well drilling bit including a main body, cutter means pivotally mounted on said body and having an upwardly extending arm and a depending leg, spring means bearing against said body and arm for moving said arm inwardly and said leg outwardly, a mandrel adapted to be connected directly to a tubular drill string, said mandrel being slidably splined to said body and movable downwardly within said body into engagement with said leg for preventing inward movement of said leg from its outward position, and cam means on said mandrel engageable with said arm when said mandrel is disposed in an upward position within said body for preventing outward movement of said leg by said spring means to its fullest extent.

Description

A. W. KAMMERER ROTARY WELL DRILLING BIT M rch 13, 1951 2,545,035
Filed Oct. 13, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR. ire/2 W. [amaze/w" BY Z I.
4770i/Viy March 13, 1951 Filed Oct. 13, 1947 A. W. KAMMERER ROTARY WELL DRILLING BIT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lid i /i E i9 f);
!i-/ w a 4/ i 40-% r 4/ 1/ 7 I! 7 4 9 1v z 4 ;7 J 1 t Z! I i i INVENTOR.
4min Wham/12 477' EWEY Patented Mar. 13, 1951 UNITED "STATES PATENT OFFICE Archer W. Kammerer, Fullerton, Calif. Application October 13, 1947; Serial No. 779,593
This invention pertains to drill bits, and more particularly to rotary bits of the expansible type for drilling or reaming holes below wellcasin'gs greater in diameter than the inside diameter of the casing through which the bit iscapable of passing.
This invention is a continuation-in-part of my applications for Rotary Drill Bits,'Serial No. 597,744, filed June 6," 1945, now Patent No. 2,466,991, and- "Expansible'R,otary Drill Bits, Serial No. 686,806, filed July 29, 1946.
In certain types of expansible drill bits, or under-reamers, for drilling a hole of a greater diameter than the inside'diameter of the casing through whichthe bit is moved, the cutter elements remain in their expanded positions during elevation of the string of'drill pipe to which the tool is secured. Elevation of the drill string is required in addinganother' section of drill pipe to it to enable the bit to continue drilling'ahead to greater depths. Generally, a kel-ly or grief stem is gradually lowered through the rotary table at the topof the well bore to substantially its fullest extent in drilling the hole, after which it is necessary to elevate the-drill string and unscrew the kelly for the purpose of attaching another section of drill pipe tothe drill string; whereupon the drill string is again lowered in the well bore and the kelly secured to-the top of the added drill pipe section.
In-the drilling or enlarging of'a bore hole, ribs or small restrictions normally-project from the wall of the formation. -'I he extent of inward projection of-such restrictive elements is not very great and is usuallyinsufficient to require rereaming. of the hole, since the desired size of liner or casing to be placed in the enlarged hole can readily pass the minor restrictions without catching or hanging up. However, such small restrictions are still slightly less than the effective diameter of the expanded cutters on the bit, and during the lowering of the drill string to the lowermost point to which the hole has been reamed or enlarged, following the addition of the aforementioned drill pipe section, the cutters might catch or hang upon such restrictions and prevent the tool from being lowered to its desired extent prior to attachment of the kelly to the upper end of the added drill pipe section. As a result, it is necessary to again elevate the drill string, remove the added drill pipejsection, reattach the kelly and-re-ream the hole, to remove the-minor ribs or restrictions, all of which is a time consuming and costly operation, to be avoided if at all possible. v
2 Claims. (Cl. 255-76) z Accordingly, it is an'obj'ect of the present invention to provide a drill bit whose expanded cutters can bemoved past ribs or small restrictions in the well bore without catching or hanging up, allowing the drill string to be readily lowered, with the added drill pipe section thereon, to the lowermost reaming point in the well bore.
Still a further object of the invention is to pre-' vent the expansible cutter means from expanding to their fullest extent under certain operative conditions encountered in a well bore.
Another object of the invention is to provide an expansible rotary drill bit, whose cutters are normally expanded outwardly to their fullestextent, but whose degree of expansion can be limited in order to hold the cutters to an effective reaming diameter which is slightly less than the normal well bore diameter which such cutters produce during the drilling or reaming operation.i
A further object of theinvention is to provide an expansible well drilling bit, in which the eifec tive drilling or reaming diameter of the cutters is controlled'by the drilling weight imposed upon the drill string attached to the bit.
The invention has other objects which will become apparent from a consideration of the embodiment shown in the drawings accompanying and constituting part of the present specification. This formwill now be described in detail to illustrate the general principles of the invention, but it is to be understood that such detailed description is not to be taken in a limited sense, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.
Referring to the drawings:
Fig. l is a side elevation. of one form. of drill bit embodying the invention.
Fig. 2 is'a longitudinal section through the drill bit on an enlargedscale, with parts shown in retracted position for lowering through the well bore.
Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, with the parts shown in their fully expanded position as the resuflt of imposing downward drilling weight on the bi Fig. 4 is a view similar to Figs. 2 and 3, illustrating the parts in a partially expanded position, as a result of removing drilling weight from the bit.
Fig. 5 is a cross-section taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.
Fig. 6 is a partial longitudinal section taken along the line (5-4 on Fig. 3. v
Fig. '7 is a cross-section taken along line I-'I on Fig. 2.
As shown in the drawings, the rotary drill bit A is attached to a string of drill pipes B, by means of which it is lowered through a well casing C in a well bore to a point below the casing shoe D at which enlargement of the bore hole is to commence.- The drill bit preferably has a pilot bit II] at its lower end for centering the bit-in hole that already may have been drilled, or for drilling the central portion of new hole in the absence of pre-existing hole. The main portion of the bit is capable of enlarging the bore hole by produce ing and operating on a formation hereinafter described.
The upper end of the bit consists o fa driving mandrel II whose upper phi-I2 *is"threaddly connected to a sub I3 forming the lower end qi gagement of an external shoulder I6 on the kelly.
with a retainer ring I1 at-the upper end of the body, suitably secured thereto, as byuse of welding-material I8. i I, i
The body I has atplurality of expansible parts mounted on it, comprising opposedcutter sup-' porting members I9; 19 disposed within a trans verse slot I5b through the body'and pivotally carried between bifurcated body aims'20, 20, de fining the slot, on pivot or hinge pins 2i, 2 I suiti ably secured to the arms, as,5y'use of welding material '22. Each cutter supportin member consists of a depending leg 23 having a bearing supporting pin 24 inclined inwardly and downwardly, and on which aside cutter 25 islrotatiably mounted. Antiefriction 'frol ler' and, ball bearing elements 26, 21,- are preferably placed between each cutter 25 and bearing pin 24, the roller bear ing 26 transmitting radial thrustsfan'd theball bearings 21' both radialand axial thrusts. Qlilach cutter supporting member I9 also includes an upwardly extending arm 30 against which an elastic expander 3I bears. This expander, in the form of a compressed coil spring, is received with iiiia retainer pocket 32 i the body I5 andexertsf its force against the "arm 30, tending to swing'it inwardly and thus urge the cutter"25, ojn th'other side of the fulcrum pin 2|, in an outward direc tion. .Theextent of this outward movement is limited by engagementfjof stoplshoulders 33,,"33 on opposite sides of the cuttersupporting members IS with cooperable body stop shoulders 34, 34.
After the cutters 25 have been expandedioute wardly by the expanded springs 3| "to then'iaximum extent, they can be locked in this. position by a, tubular member 35 of the mandrel II, which ispiloted in the kelly I4, andis provided withfa locking portion 4! movable from'an upper posie. tionin transverse alignment with inner supportingimember recesses 36, permitting retraction of the cutters, to a lower position opposite lugs' 31 formed on and projecting inwardly fr'onitlie' supporting member legs23, preventing retraetionof thecutters. l
The tubular member 35 is connected in swivel fashion'to the Kelly M to "permit relative rotary movement therebetwerii However, the lillyaiid tubular member are secured together for longitudinal movement in both directions. This is accomplished by providing a shoulder 39 on the tubular member received within the lower socket MI) in the kelly and abutting a companion shoulder I40 in the kelly at the upper end of the socket. The tubular member 35 has an upper portion 35a extending from the shoulder 39 freely through the central bore IAcL of the l relly, withthe upper terminus, of the upper memberf35g received within an enlarged recess I do in the kelly or mandrel pin I2, where a nut 35b is threaded on the terminal portion and bears against the base Hf of the upper pin recess Me.
L Ihe arrangemcnt between the tubular member 35 and kelly I4 i such that downward movement is transmittedirom-the kelly to the tubular membe through the abutting shoulders I40, 39 while upward movement is transmitted to the tubular memberthroughengagement of the recess shoulder'HI lfiwithithe nut 351).. iHowevrerj. the nut 351) does notserve to clamp.the tubular member 35 to the kelly. I4,-bu,t allows'relative rotary movemerit thereb'etween. I1; The mandrel II is normally held inits upper positionlwith respecttoithe main body I5 of the bit and the-supporting member's I9 by a' helical retractor spring 38 encircling the tubular meme-- ber.35, with its. upper endiengaging'the mandrel shoulder 39 and itsilower endengaging a spring seat. 40 atthelowenend of .the hexagonarb'ody' socket @511, thespring seatrserving as an upper bearing guide for the tubular'mandrel member 35 and-the sides-47c of the lock portion 41 of the mandrel slidably. engaging thewalls I50 of the body slot I5b tov furtherguide the mandrel and limit its-rotation relative to the body, confining it to an-extent determined byworking clearance provided between the lock portion 41- of; the mandrel and-the-walls lfic-of the slot.
Circulating -fluicl can pass downwardly through the string of drill pi-pe.-D-and through the tubu lanmandrel I I ior ejection from its lower discharge nozzle 3". ic-ont i the cutters 25, to cleanse them of cuttings and -flush the latter from the drilling area to the top of thewell bore. -As explamed hereinafter,- this circulating fluid is also available to unlatch the cutter supporting members I9 in the event it is desired to hold them positively iii-retracted position.-
The positive lock may; be provided by securing a hook 42 to the inner portion of eachcuttersupporting member IS and inserting the ends; of these hooks in holes 44 in a strip 45 extending across the nozzle 35c. The cutting tool A, after being lowered'in retracted position to-the point :at which-the-reaming operationis to begin, may bereleased "for-operation by starting the pumps-at the surface of the well bore, which will force 'fiuid down thrcrugh the drill stringB and mandrel II, impinging upon the latch strip 45 and blowing or forcing it *oif the hook ends 43, permitting-the springs 3I' to shift the supporting arms 30 inwardlyand the cutters 25 outwardly against-the formation. g
In the operation of the device, the tool A is mounted on-thelower end ofthe drill string B, withjits parts held in retracted position by the latch strip'45, as shown in Fig. 2. In-this posi tion of operation; the compressed retractor spring 38 holds the mandrel II and its kelly in ari upward position with respect to the body I 5, as "determined byfengagement of the kelly shoulder I6 with the body retainer ring I1; When the mandrel is so pbsitioned, its lock por'--" tion 41 is elevated above the lugs 31 on the cutter supporting members l9, being received within the inner recesses 36 in the supporting members, which permit the latter to be held inwardly against the action of the expander springs 3|. The tool is lowered through the well casing C, and upon reaching the position of the wellbore below the casing shoe D at which the drilling operation is to begin, the pumps are started at the surface of the well bore and fluid impinged on the latch-strip 45, forcing it hydraulically off the ends 43 of hooks 42 and releasing the cutter supporting members l9 for outward expansion under the influence of the spring 3|.
. The drill string B is then rotated to rotate the main bit body'l5 through the splined kelly and body connection |4a, l5a, the expander springs 3| forcing the arms inwardly and the cutters 25 outwardly against the formation. Rotation is continued without mot-ing the drill string longitudinally until the side cutters 25 enlarge the diameter of the-hole to the maximum extent; as determined by the eventual abutting of the supporting member stop shoulders 33 with the companion stop body shoulders 34. Thereafter, the drill string is .lowered, causing the" formation shoulder E, produced in the well bore by the cutters 25 under the action. of the expander springs 3|.and rotation ofthe drill bit,"v to support the cutter members 25. .IS and body' l5 and prevent their downward movement.
Since the body |5 cannot move downwardly, drilling weight imposed on the drilling string B shifts its connected mandrel downwardly within the body |5 against the action of the retractor spring 38, until the lower end 48 of the kelly |4 engages the spring seat and guide 40. This downward movement also shifts the tubular member 35 downwardly, because of the abutting between the kelly and tubular member shoulders I40, 39, to position the mandrel or tubular member lock portion 41 opposite and in alignment with the lugs 31 on the inner portions of the cutting supporting members l9, providing a positive lock by preventing inward movement of the cutters. So long as down Weight is imposed on the drill string B and the cutters -25 rest on the formation shoulder E, the cutters are prevented from moving inwardly by engagement of their lugs 31 with the mandrel lock portion 41. It is also to be noted that further outward movement of the cutters beyond the predetermined maximum reaming diameter is prevented by contact between the supporting member shoulders 33 and the body shoulders 34, through which the drilling weight is transmitted to the roller cutters 25, thus relieving the hinge pins 2| of this load.
Drilling is continued by rotating the drill bit and imposing .the proper drilling weight on the cutters, to cause removal of the formationmaterial andreaming of the hole in a downward direction to the desired extent of length. When the drill bit is to be retracted and removed to the top of the well bore, all that need be done" is elevate the drill string B, which moves the-side cutters 25 above the formation shoulder E and permits the retractor spring38 to pressdownfit faces of the cutter supporting members l9, which will ride the inner walls of the casing and pre vent the cutter teeth from hanging up in the casing coup-ling spaces while, thetool is being lowered therein. These pads 46 can be provided in addition to the hooks 42 and latch strip 45, or in place of the latter. When the latching device is used, the tool can be lowered through open hole below the casing shoe D to as far a distance as desired before the reaming operation commences. If the latch is not provided, downward movement of the drill string B is stopped when the bit passes out of the shoe D, and the drill pipe B and bitA rotated to allow the cutters 25 to pro-' duce the formation shoulder E under the in-' fluence of the compressed expanded springs 3L". Drilling in a downward direction can then proceed as aforementioned, with the drill string B and mandrel I lowered against the action of the retractor spring 38 to'position the lock portion 4! opposite the lug31 and prevent inward movement of the cutters until the drilling weight is re moved from the drilling tool.
As indicated above, elevation of the drilling tool A to move its cutters 25 above the formation shoulder E relieves the cutters of the drilling weight normally imposed by the drill string B and allows the retractor spring 38 to shift the body I5 downwardly with respect to the mandrell I and move the lock portion "41 of the-latter into the cutter recesses 35, allowing the cutters 25 to be moved inwardly against the action of the expander springs 3|. However, the expander springs 3| normally tend to move the cutters outwardly to their fullest extent. It is desired to limit the extent of such outward expansion under certain conditions of operation of the tool, for certain reasons, including those mentioned above in connection with the addition of additional pipe to the string B as the drilling proceeds.
the cutter supporting members It outwardly t0 their fullest extent, as determined by abutting wardly on the body l5 and "move it, together with the cutter supporting members l9 down wardly with respect to mandrel repositions the mandrel lock portion 41 opposite the supporting member recesses 36 and above their lugs 31, because of the engagement. between the pin recess shoulder l4 and tubular This action of the cooperable shoulders 33, 34. Consequently, upon elevation of the drill string B and attached drill bit A, for the purpose of removing the kelly at the top of the well bore and adding another section of pipe, the springs 3| tend to maintain the cutters 25 in their fully outwardly expanded position. Upon relowering of the tool, after the added drill pipe section has been appropriately assembled on the drill string, and the grief stem (not shown) attached thereto, the cutters would tend to engage ribs or other projections or restrictions in the well bore, and would prevent the tool from beinglowered into re-engagement with the; formation shoulder previously produced by the bit. It would be necesat the top of the well bore, in order to re-ream the well bore and remove the proiections and restrictions, no matter how slightly they might extend into the hole.
If such restrictions or projections are relativemat nee 1y; minor in; extentaftheir removal isrnotrzcssene tialy' asiaipractical, consideration; zrnccordinglyz; v
theipresent inventionvproposes'to .ayoicl the necessity for re-reamingsuch minorzrestrictions -the tool being so arranged as-.-.to .passi downwardly through :thewvell boreiand re-engage-the cutters 25with:the=iormation shoulder .1; In furtherance of the above objection ethe tubular mandrel 35 is provided. with camiprojection 60 on its externalsurface .disposediope posite companion inwardlydirected projections 6| at thesupper endsof the Vcutter supporting arms 30, in order that thee-projections-cancoe' enga'ge and limit the extentiof outward. expane sion of the cutters 25 underthe infiuencec'ofcthe. compressed springs 3 I. Themandrel projections 60 areso arrangedw lasato occupy-:a'cp'ositiomin substantial alignment with the iarmi projections GI when the mandrel I I and its :kel'lyiil Aiarein their uppermost position "With respect" to izthe Body] 5' of the tool,\whereinthe locklportion 41' of the mandrel is disposed above' the lugsia'l-"on' thecutter supporting member's-L9 and within the recesses 36 in thelatter,:whichi allowsi'retracei tion of the cutter supporting fmembers: I9 from their fully extended posit'ion'sf f: r However, upon downward movement eof 'the tool mandrel II to position its loch portioh' fi'l opposite the outer supporting inember' lu'gs 31, in order to hold the cutter members :25' outwardly to'their fullest extent, the mandrel cam projections 60 are disposed. below the "corresponding projections BI on the cutter' supportingarms; as indicated in Fig. 3, toallow the springsviil to" shift the' arms '30 inwardly to theiiwfullest extenuiand the cutters 25 outwardly to their :full reamingdiameter, as determined 'byabutting between the cutter supporting member -andbody shoule ders 33 34 7;; The purposes and functions of the cam proj'ections 60, BI will be understood from the description of the operation: of the :perspective par-ts; As indicated above, the tool A is ru'n' -in the well bore with the parts in the-position illustrated in Fig. 2, with the lock portion 47 disposed-= above the cutter-supporting member IU gSQL- I-n-this position, the mandrel cam projections 60 are opposite the cutter arm projections- 6L.- Following removal of the latch strip li in the manner'above indicated,- or if no latch strip is provided] passage of the tool from the casing shoe-ll the springs- 31 urge the supporting arms 3flfinwardlyand the cutters 25 outwardly, the drill bitbein'g remaw produce a formation shoulder whosemaximumdianieter, at that time, islimitedby engagement of' the arm projections BI with the lmandrel pain projections Ell. The'various' cam projections 60, SI are of such an extent as to allowthe "cutters to expand outwardhr to almost their full extent. Following theformation of the shoi lder downward weight may beimpose'd onthe drilling string B,'which will shift the lock portionfi? ur the mandrel I'I between the lugs 31 'on'th cutter supporting members I9 and alsofmovethemam drel cam projections 6!! belowthearm projec tions 6 I. Rotation may now proceed} with the springs 3I capable of moving the cutter-arms 30 inwardlyto a greater extent; because the arm 'p'r'o' jections 6! can no longer engage the mandrel can! projections '60, the cutter's' -being' moved outwardly to their maximum extent; asdetermined by abutting of the shoulders '33; 34. Drillingor reaming-can continue with down weight imposed on the drilling string Band 'thei'nandrel I l'attached'theretato hold the Flock portion oft-the mandrel in-lts. locking; position :With'rffi? spect to the cutter supporting members I9.
Upon elevation of the :drill stringB to-remove the kelly at the top of. the well bore-and add another .drill :pipe section thereto; the drilling weight s removed. from the cutters 25, and they are. elevated above. the formation shoulder E' by severalfeet. Usually, they extent of elevation-"is approximately the same as the length ofthe-kelly or drill pipesection. ;Such elevation andremoval ofthe drilling'weightallows the retractor spring 38 to shift the body I5 of the tooldownwardly with respect to the mandrel II and. moves the lock portion 41 of the :tool above the lugs :3'Lfonithe cuttersupporting members I9; At the sametime, thecam projetionsfiflonthe mandrel re eng'age the arm projections 61 and shift the arms out; wardly against the; action .of the expansibl springs 3I,-moving the cutters 25 inwardlyuto'a slight extent: As an example; if the desiredihole diameter Vis to be 7%", the engagement tom the cutter arm projections BI with the mandrel projections' 60 will limit the outward expansionof the cutter arms to 7 I 1"":
The mandrel cam projections '60 have an"'in= clined upper face and the arm cam projections have corresponding inclined lower faces, allowing the'iormer projections to 'rideu'p the-latter pro jections until the mandrel 'I I has" been 'el'evated with respect to theb'Qdy' -IS to the'm'a'ximumex tent determined by abutting between the kell'y flange 'i 6 and body r'ihg 'll. "Thetpa'rts iremai'r'iiin this position," with the cam projectiohsfiil;fii'Fih substantial alignment with one another andals'o engaged withon'e ia'no'the'r," as"illustrated Fig:
4', 'lllitil th cutters 25 re' engage th formatimi shoulder 7E. Full outward expansion of the cut ters can then'occur', sinceengagement of th'e cut ters with the shoulder E'allows downwardly 'irn posed weight on" the drill string 13' and riiandreir :1 to relocate: the lock' portion A'I'of the'mandrel'ir'i alignment with the cutter supporting lugs iil and the cam projection'sfil) oh the inandrel- 'below the corresponding arm projectionsfiifpermitting the springs "3I to 'shift the arms'30 inwardly antfithe cutters 25' outwardly to their full reaming whe ter 1 i a f As has been noted above, the projections'fifljfl are in alignment Withachbther and the cutters 25 are 'moved' Slightly inwarm rmm enga ement with the wan Ofth wen 'boi-e' upon elevation-6f the drill string B and'tool'A; as'forthe'pu'rpos'oi adding another drill pipe section to the upper-end of the drill string; Duri'n -the downward move ment of the drill string prior to securingthekelly thereto, ribs or projections extending slightly into the reamed well-bore will not cause the-tool to hang up in the well bore, since the efiective-di"-' ameter of the tool is then slightly less than the actual reaming'diameter (see Fig. 4). As hire sult, the entire drilling string need merely be lowered, the kelly attached to the uppermost portion of. the added drill pip section, and. drilling continues upon rec-engagement of the cutters 25 with the formation shoulder E.; "ri
If, however, the ribs or projections extend'imwardly to a materiahextent, the partiallyf're-i tracted' cutters will note this fact during the downward passage of the bit A by hanging upon the inward protuberances, thus advising the op-' erator at the top of the well bore that/there are restrictions in the well bore reducing its diameter below a prescribed minimum, and that liners or other casing strings to be subsequently lowered in-the -wel1'b'o're would-be incapable of pa'ssing' therethrough. The operator then would re-ream the well bore, in order to remove the ribs or other inward projections.
It is, accordingly, apparent that a drill bit has been provided which permits the tool to be moved downwardly into engagement with the formation shoulder, without the necessity for removing minor restrictions in the well bore, but which still operates to prevent such downward movement in the event of major restrictions being present in the well bore. In this sense, the drill bit operates as a gage by indicating whether the well bore has been enlarged beyond the diameter determined by the intermediate expanded position of th cutters 25, determined by engagement between the arm and the mandrel projection 61, 60. If the tool hangs up in the well bore during its lowering toward the formation shoulder E, the operator is advised of the necessity of re-reaming the hole for the purpose of removing the restrictions projecting thereinto. Thus, costly rig time is not consumed in reaming the hole to remove minor restrictions or projections, which cannot adversely afiect or prevent subsequent operations in the well bore, passage of the tool into engagement with the formation shoulder E being I accomplished readily without the necessity for their removal. However, major restrictions must still be removed, and should be removed, since they would otherwise prevent lowering of the liner or casing string, or the performance of subsequent operations in the well bore.
Certain aspects of the disclosure'herein are described and claimed in my applications for Expansible Rotary Drill Bit and Method of Assembling and Disassembling the Same, Serial No. 779,592, filed October 13, 1947; and Well Boring Apparatus, Serial No. 779,591, filed October 13, 1947.
Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:
1. A rotary well drilling bit, including a main body, cutter means pivotally mounted on said body and having an upwardly extending arm and a depending leg, spring means bearing against said body and arm for moving said arm inwardly and said leg outwardly, a lock device movable downwardly within said body into engagement with said leg for preventing inward movement of said leg from its outward position, and cam means on said lock device engageable with said arm when said lock device is disposed in an upward position within said body for preventing outward movement of said leg by said spring means to its fullest extent.
2. A rotary well drilling bit, including a main body, cutter means pivotally mounted on said body and having an upwardly extending arm and a depending leg, spring means bearing against said body and arm for moving said arm inwardly and said leg outwardly, a mandrel adapted to be connected directly to a tubular drill string, said mandrel being slidably splined to said body and movable downwardly within said body into engagement with said leg for preventing inward movement of said leg from its outward position, and cam means on said mandrel engageable with said arm when said mandrel is disposed in an upward position within said body for preventing outward movement of said leg by said spring means to its fullest extent.
ARCHER W. KAIVLMERER.
REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:
UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 449,613 Cameron Mar. 31, 1891 465,103 Wegner Dec. 15, 1891 789,929 North May 16, 1905 1,006,446 Delmore Oct. 17, 1911 1,031,628 Delmore July 2, 1912 1,133,481 Lego Mar. 30, 1915 1,179,284 Cox Apr. 11, 1916 1,183,630 Bryson May 16, 1916 1,369,959 Booker 1 Mar. 1, 1921 1,372,894 Minton Mar. 29, 1921 1,414,704 Newkirk May 2, 1922 1,678,075 Phipps July 24, 1928
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Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2799478A (en) * 1954-08-25 1957-07-16 Jr Archer W Kammerer Rotary expansible drill bits
US2809016A (en) * 1955-05-26 1957-10-08 Jr Archer W Kammerer Expansible rotary drill bits
US2832568A (en) * 1955-05-26 1958-04-29 Jr Archer W Kammerer Rotary expansible drill bits

Citations (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US449613A (en) * 1891-03-31 Ments
US465103A (en) * 1891-12-15 Combined drill
US789929A (en) * 1902-02-18 1905-05-16 Edward North Latch for underreamers or the like.
US1006446A (en) * 1910-09-28 1911-10-17 Joseph M Delmore Underreamer.
US1031628A (en) * 1911-08-01 1912-07-02 Joseph M Delmore Underreamer.
US1133481A (en) * 1914-05-21 1915-03-30 James C Lego Underreamer.
US1179284A (en) * 1913-03-13 1916-04-11 Joseph Abraham Drill for oil-wells.
US1183630A (en) * 1915-06-29 1916-05-16 Charles R Bryson Underreamer.
US1369959A (en) * 1920-06-28 1921-03-01 Booker Paul John Underreamer
US1372894A (en) * 1920-04-05 1921-03-29 William E Minton Well-drill bit
US1414704A (en) * 1921-05-26 1922-05-02 Edgar H Newkirk Underreamer
US1678075A (en) * 1928-07-24 Expansible rotary ttnderreamer

Patent Citations (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US449613A (en) * 1891-03-31 Ments
US465103A (en) * 1891-12-15 Combined drill
US1678075A (en) * 1928-07-24 Expansible rotary ttnderreamer
US789929A (en) * 1902-02-18 1905-05-16 Edward North Latch for underreamers or the like.
US1006446A (en) * 1910-09-28 1911-10-17 Joseph M Delmore Underreamer.
US1031628A (en) * 1911-08-01 1912-07-02 Joseph M Delmore Underreamer.
US1179284A (en) * 1913-03-13 1916-04-11 Joseph Abraham Drill for oil-wells.
US1133481A (en) * 1914-05-21 1915-03-30 James C Lego Underreamer.
US1183630A (en) * 1915-06-29 1916-05-16 Charles R Bryson Underreamer.
US1372894A (en) * 1920-04-05 1921-03-29 William E Minton Well-drill bit
US1369959A (en) * 1920-06-28 1921-03-01 Booker Paul John Underreamer
US1414704A (en) * 1921-05-26 1922-05-02 Edgar H Newkirk Underreamer

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2799478A (en) * 1954-08-25 1957-07-16 Jr Archer W Kammerer Rotary expansible drill bits
US2809016A (en) * 1955-05-26 1957-10-08 Jr Archer W Kammerer Expansible rotary drill bits
US2832568A (en) * 1955-05-26 1958-04-29 Jr Archer W Kammerer Rotary expansible drill bits

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