US3590931A

US3590931A - Lifting device for percussion drilling cuttings

Info

Publication number: US3590931A
Application number: US789542A
Authority: US
Inventors: Allen E Bardwell
Original assignee: WALTHAM IND CORP
Current assignee: WALTHAM IND CORP
Priority date: 1969-01-07
Filing date: 1969-01-07
Publication date: 1971-07-06
Anticipated expiration: 1988-07-06
Also published as: NL7009059A; FR2096881A1; DE2028808A1; GB1260821A

Abstract

A lifting device for cuttings made in cable tool drilling comprising an elongated body having a central portion of ''''H'''' cross section including a central web and a cavity opening outwardly from each side, staggered integral lifting fins being disposed along the two opposed walls of the cavities and adjacent said web, each fin having a flat cuttings supporting surface and tapering downwardly to merge with the wall, and attaching means at each end for operative insertion of the device in a drilling string.

Description

United States Patent [72] Inventor Allen E. Bat-dwell Princeton, NJ. [21] Appl. No. 789,542 [22] Filed Jan. 7,1969 {45] Patented July 6, I971 [73] Assignee Waltlum Industries Corporation New York, N.Y.

[54] LIFTING DEVICE FOR PERCUSSION DRILLING CUTTINGS 11 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl..... 175/324 [51] lnt.Cl E2lc 15/00 [50] Field of Search 175/308, 320, 323, 324,414

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,095,062 4/1914 Young 175/414 1,801,968 4/1931 Montgomery 175/323 UX 2,566,913 9/1951 Watson 175/323 X FOREIGN PATENTS 206,517 5/1908 Germany 1. 175/320 Primary Examiner-Ernest R. Purser Attorney-Rogers, Ezell, Eilers and Robbins ABSTRACT: A lifting device for cuttings made in cable tool drilling comprising an elongated body having a central portion of "H" .cross section including a central web and a cavity opening outwardly from each side, staggered integral lifting fins being disposed along the two opposed walls. of the cavities and adjacent said web, each fin having a flat cuttings supporting surface and tapering downwardly to merge with the wall, and attaching means at each end for operative insertion of the device in a drilling string.

' .931 PATENTEU JUL BIS?! 3. 590

A u Z2 2 1 LlFTING DEVICE FOR PERCUSSION DRILLING CUTTINGS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l. Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to the art of cable tool drilling, and more particularly to a novel device for insertion in a cable tool drilling string for cooperating with water or other fluid in lifting cuttings towards the ground surface.

2. Description of the Prior Art Cable tool drilling is an old art. Through the years many efforts have been made to supply effective means for lifting cuttings towards the ground surface in an efficient economical manner. Much time is lost in removing cuttings, required to permit satisfactory drilling to proceed. There has long existed the need for a device which will effectively, economically and satisfactorily aid in lifting cuttings towards the ground surface.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In brief, in a preferred embodiment, the present novel cuttings lifting device comprises an elongated body having a central portion of H cross section including a central web and a cavity opening outwardly from each side thereof. Staggered cuttings lifting fins are formed integral with the two opposed sides of each cavity, or are secured therein, which are adjacent the web. Each fin includes a horizontal platform or a pocket adapted to physically support cuttings in the lifting stroke of the drill which converges downwardly to merge with the cavity wall. At the upper end of the body is a threaded boss for removably securing the device to the next higher unit or element of the drill string, and at the lower end a threaded well for receiving a drill bit. I

An object of the present invention is to provide a novel cuttings lifting device which fulfills the need long existing in the industry for an effective, economical and satisfactory structure for assisting in lifting cuttings in cable tool drilling, and the like, towards the ground surface.

Other objects are to provide a novel cuttings lifting device which is constructed to create high turbulence with each stroke of the cable drilling tool to keep the cuttings mixed with the slurry and out from under the drill bit so the drill bit can keep cutting fresh rock with each stroke, which is of sturdy H" beam design stabilizing the bit and tools in the drilling hole to help prevent slanted holes, which is constructed to provide tool string weight without loss of mixing area, and which otherwise fulfills the objects and advantages sought therefor.

BRIEF DESCRlPTlON OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a cuttings lifting device looking into one elongated cavity, incorporating the principles of the present invention, a drill bit in broken lines being shown attached to the lower end;

FIG. 2 is a transverse, enlarged cross-sectional view taken on substantially the line 2-2 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a further enlarged transverse cross-sectional view taken on substantially the line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawing more particularly by reference numerals, indicates generally a cuttings lifting device incorporating the teachings of the present invention. The device 10 includes an elongated body 12 having the central portion of l-l" cross section including a central web 14 and outwardly facing shallow cavities 16. Within each cavity 16 and integral with the opposed defining walls thereof are spaced staggered lifting fins 18, each of which has a substantially flat lifting surface 20 and tapered sides 22. At-the upper end of the body 12 is an attachment portion 24 having a reduced threaded extremity 25. At the lower end of the body 12 is an attachment portion 28 having a threaded well 30 for receiving a drill bit 32.

It will be appreciated from'the foregoing that the lifting fins 18, which may be secured in the cavity rather than be formed integral with the body 12, create high turbulence in the slurry with each'of the 5060 strokes per minute as the cable tool is lifted and dropped in drilling. The fins [8 keep the cuttings mixed with the slurry and out from under the drill bit so that the drill bit keeps cutting fresh rock with each stroke. On the upstroke of the drilling tool and the lifting device, the flat portions 20 of the lifting fins 18 act like lifting platforms to physically move the cuttings upwardly. On the downstroke, the slurry rushing up through the center of the water course pulls the cuttings off the platforms and leaves them at the height of the stroke. The fins 18 may take other configurations having lifting surfaces. Thus, it is manifest that the objectives of the invention have been achieved.

It is manifest that there has been provided a cuttings lifting device which fulfills the objects and advantages sought therefor.

It is to be understood that the foregoing description and the accompanying drawing have been given by way of illustration and example. It is also to be understood that changes in form of the elements, rearrangement of parts, and substitution of equivalent elements, which will be obvious to those skilled in the art, are contemplated as within the scope of the present invention which is limited only by the claims which follow.

I claim:

1. A device for lifting percussion drilling cuttings adapted for mounting in a percussion drilling string for reciprocating gravity drop and cable lift action comprising an elongated body, said body including a central portion having at least an elongated axial cavity therein, said cavity comprising an effective water course, cuttings lifting means in such cavity, and means for operatively mounting said device in a percussion drilling string.

2. The device of claim 1 in which said central portion has an elongated central web and an outwardly facing cavity at each side of said web.

3. The device of claim 2 in which cuttings lifting means are in each cavity.

4. The device of claim 3 in which said elongated body includes opposed axially extending walls, and said cuttings lifting means includes staggered fins on said opposed walls, each fin having a surface for physically lifting cuttings.

5. The device of claim 4 in which said fins and cavities cooperate in agitating slurry in percussion drilling to lift cuttings on the upstroke and float cuttings from the fins on the downstroke.

6. The device of claim 4 in which said fins are of decreasing cross section from the lifting surfaces towards the drill bit when said device is in a drilling string to minimize turbulence of the drilling fluid thereby in the drilling stroke.

7. The device of claim 1 in which said cuttings lifting means includes lifting fins, said fins being spaced axially in said cavity, each fin including a lifting surface.

8. The device of claim 7 in which said fins are of decreasing cross section from the lifting surfaces towards the drill bit when said device is in a drilling string to minimize turbulence of the drilling fluid thereby in the drilling stroke.

9. A device for lifting percussion drilling cuttings adapted for mounting in a percussion drilling string for reciprocating gravity drop and cable lift action comprising an elongated body, said body including a central portion having at least an elongated axial cavity therein, said cavity comprising an effective water course, cuttings lifting means in such cavity, and means for operatively mounting said device in a percussion drilling string, said elongated body including opposed axially extending walls, and said cuttings lifting means including staggered fins on said opposed walls, each fin having a surface for physically lifting cuttings.

10. The device of claim 9 in which said fins and cavities cooperate in agitating slurry in percussion drilling to lift cuttings on the upstroke and float cuttings from the fins on the downstroke.

11. The device of claim 9 in which said fins are of decreasing cross section from the lifting surfaces towards the drill bit

Claims

3. The device of claim 2 in which cuttings lifting means are in each cavity.

11. The device of claim 9 in which said fins are of decreasing cross section from the lifting surfaces towards the drill bit when said device is in a drilling string to minimize turbulence of the drilling fluid thereby in the drilling stroke.