US778951A

US778951A - Well-drilling appliance.

Info

Publication number: US778951A
Application number: US20324004A
Authority: US
Inventors: John H Compton
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1904-04-15
Filing date: 1904-04-15
Publication date: 1905-01-03
Anticipated expiration: 1922-01-03

Description

TINTTED STATES Patented January 3, 1905.

PATENT OEEIcE.

JOHN H. COMPTON, OF MALDEN, MASSACHUSETTS.

WELL-DRILLING APPLIANCEK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent NO. 778,951, dated January 3, 1905. Application filed April 15, 1904. Serial No. 203,240.

To wl whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN H. COMPTON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Malden, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Well-Drilling Appliances, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the art of drilling oil, gas, and Artesian wells and the like, and is intended to provide an appliance for this purpose which will not only serve as a drilling-stem, but will also contain within itself structural elements and arrangements whereby it may be used for jarring purposes in case the bit or spud becomes stuck, thus avoiding the necessity for employing auxiliary tools for jarring, as has been the practice heretofore. To this end I provide a drilling-stem composed of two main parts movable longitudinally with respect to each other and formed with opposed shoulders Vor `abutments which are normally held in engagement by means of one or more springs. One of the parts of the stem is adapted to carry a bit, spud, or other drilling-tool at its lower end, and the other part is adapted for attachment to the cable commonly used for operating drilling-stems or to the jointed rods such as are sometimes employed in the place of such a cable, and the construction and arrangement is such that in the normal operation of drilling thestem rises and falls and delivers its blow as one piece, while in case the bit or spud becomes stuck the tension of the cable on its upward movement causes a relative longitudinal movement of the parts of the stem, which is followed by the engagement of the shoulders above referred to and the production of the jarring effect for releasing the bit or spud. My preferred construction provides for jarring either upward or downward and not only makes it unnecessary to employ separate jars, but also lessens the resistance which has to be overcome in jarring a bound bit loose, and in addition has certain other advantages which will hereinafter appear.

A drilling appliance embodying my invention in its preferred form is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figures l, 2, 3,'and 4, taken collectively,

show the complete appliance, the outer member being represented, mainly, in central longitudinal section and the inner member in side elevation. By reason of the length of the appliance it is represented in sections in' these iigures, and it is to be understood that the upper end of Fig. 2 is a continuation of the lower end of Fig. 1, the upper end of Fig. 3 is a continuation of the lower end of Fig. 2, and the upper end of Fig. 4 is a continuation of the lower end of Fig. 3, the upper end of Fig. 1 and the lower end of Fig. L showing, respectively, the upper and lower ends of the complete appliance. Fig. 5 is aside elevation showing the interior of a portion of the outer member of the appliance near its upper end,- and Fig. 6 is a view similar to a portion of Fig. 2, but showing the parts in a different relative position. Figs. 7 8, 9, 10, and l1 are cross-sections taken, respectively, on the lines a a. b b, c c, ci d, and e e. Fig. l2 is a side elevation of a portion of the inner member of the appliance shown at right angles with respect to its position in the other figures of the drawings.

The two main portions or members of my appliance are represented by the

numerals

2 and 3 in the drawings, and one of these members, as 2, preferably contains the other member, as shown. Theinner member 3is capable of a longitudinal sliding' movement within the member 2, and said members are provided, respectively, with shoulders which by their engagement limit such sliding movement. By preference I provide a plurality of such shoulders in order to distribute the shock occasioned by drilling and jarring. The inwardly-extending shoulders on the outer member 2 are shown at 4 and 5 and are preferably annular, the walls of the outer member 2 being made of greater thickness beneath said shoulders than elsewhere, as shown in Fig. 9, so that they are better adapted to withstand the strains and shocks to which they are exposed. The outwardly-extending shoulders on the inner member 3 are represented at 6 and 7 and are also annular, being formed by providing the inner member 3 with enlarged portions 8, which are fitted to slide within the outer member in the spaces between the pairs of shoulders 4c, and

5, and those portions of the inner membery which are located between the enlargements 8 are of such size as to slide within the thickened portions of the walls of the outer member. As thus constructed it willb`e observed that upward movements of the inner member within the outer member will be limited by the engagement of the shoulders 6 with the shoulders 5 and that downward movements of the inner member will be limited by the engagement of the

shoulders

7 and 4, these parts being so constructed that the engagement of all the shoulders at the limit of movement in either direction is simultaneous and the extent of movement being determined ,by the difference in length between the enlarged portionsSand the distance between the

shoulders

4 and 5, between lwhich they slide. The two

members

2 and 3 are normally held in contracted position, or, in other words, with each shoulder in engagement with the opposed shoulder 6 by means of one or more springs 9, and preferably several such springs are employed.4

These springs each bear at one end on one of the enlarged portions 8 and at the other end on one of the inwardly extending ledges formed on the interior of the shell and are of such strength or are normally compressed to such an extent that they will support the weight of the member which they carry, with the bit attached, when the other member is suspended vertically and will thus keep the

shoulders

5 and 6 in normal engagement, as above stated.

In order to provide for the assembling of the parts, the inner member 3 is preferably composed of a number of similar sections joined end to end, five sections being shown in the drawings. rIhe outer member '2, on the other hand, is made continuous throughout its length, but is divided lengthwise into twosemicylindrical parts or halves, which may be .separated to permit the insertion of theinternal parts. The exterior of the appliance thus forms a cylindrical shell of uniform diameter throughout its length. The two halves of the outer member or shell may be secured together by any suitable means, such asa number of metal strips 10, dovetailed into corresponding recesses 1l, cut in the exterior of the shell 2, and extending across the meeting edges ses of the two halves of the shell, being secured at their ends to said halves, respectively, as shown.

12 12 represent dowel-pins set into the meeting walls of the two halves of the shell at a suitable number of points in order to strengthen the connection and prevent any sliding or longitudinal play of the parts. The two halves of the shell are accurately fitted together at their meeting edges, so as to provide a tight closure for the inner member 3 and the other contained parts. At its upper end each half of the 4outer member is made solid for a short portion of its length, and said member termi- 'nates in a pin 13, adapted for attachment to the usual substitute 14, to which the ropesocket is secured in use, as usual. ends of said solid portions form an abutment adapted to engage the upper end of the inner member simultaneously with the engagement of the pairs of

shoulders

5 and 6, as shown in Fig. 1, and the substitute 14 serves also to reinforce the metal strips 10, which hold these solid portions together.

The uppermost section of the inner member 3 is provided at its upper end with one of the enlarged 'portions 8 above described and terminates at its lower end in a similar enlargement, in which is formed a socket 15 for the reception of a pin 16, formed on the upper end ofthe next section of the inner member, this pin and socket being threaded and screwed together. One of the springs 9 surrounds the upper portion of this section, and the construction at-the lower end of this section is the same as the construction of the first section. The third, fourth, and fifth sections are constructed precisely like the second section, except that the fifth or lowermost section extends through the lower end of the shell and carries at its lower end a core-head 17, provided with the usual socket. 18 to receive the bit or spud andhaving substantially the same external diameter as the shell or outer member 2, thus providing a pair of shoulders adapted to abut at the lower end of said outer section simultaneously with the engagement of the

shoulders

5 and 6. In order to prevent the unscrewing of the parts by the accidental turning of the sections of the inner member with respect to each other, I prefer to provide each of said sections witha pair of oppositely-disposed ribs 19, fitted to slide in corresponding grooves 20, formed in the thickened walls of the outer member, as shown in Figs. 7 and 1l.

It will be observed that since the space between the inner and outer members and between the

shoulders

4 and 7 in Fig. 2, for example, forms practically a closed chamber any relative movement of the inner and outer members from the position shown in said figure would tend to compress the air in said space, and in order to distribute and equalize such variations in air-pressure as may be thus produced I prefer to form in each of the enlarged portions 8 of the inner member a spiral groove 21, running from end to end of the circumference thereof, whereby communication between the inclosed spaces within the shell is afforded. Near the upper end of the device I provide also a screw-plug 22, which normally closes an opening 23, leading into the interior of the shell, so that by removing said plug oil can be introduced into the interior of the device for lubricating purposes, its flow from one end of the device to the other being provided for by the spiral grooves 21.

As thus constructed the operation of my The lower IOO device is as follows: In the ordinary operation of drilling the outer member or shell 2 is oscillated vertically by the cable, temperscrew, and walking-beam or other appliances commonly employed for this purpose, and as the inner member 3 is normally held by the springs 9 at the upward limit of its movement with respect to the shell 2 the entire stem rises and falls as one solid piece and delivers a blow as suoli, the shock of the blow being taken up by the

engaging shoulders

5 and 6 collectively, so far as the

parts

2 and 3 are concerned. In case a bit becomes stuck, however, the upward movement of the cable will evidently raise the outer member 2 only, compressing the springs 9, the inner member being held immovable bythe stuck bit. The result is that the outer member is lifted until the shoulders 4 strike the reciprocal `shoulders 7, and thus produce an upward jar, the force of the blow thus delivered being determined by the tension' on the cable and the speed of the evolutions of the walking-beam or kindred appliance. If it be desired to effect a downward jar, the strain on the cable is lessened by means of the temper-screw or kindred appliance to such an extent that the maximum lift applied by the cable to the outer member 2 cannot sufliciently compress the springs 9 to permit the

shoulders

4 and 7 to engage each other, with the result that the downward movement of the outer member induced by its own weight and by the pressure of the springs 9 will cause the shoulders 5 to strike violently against the shoulders 6, and thus produce the desired downward blow. It will be understood that the engaging surfaces on the inner and outer members, at the upper end of the former and the lower end of the latter, operate simultaneously with and in the same manner as the pairs of

shoulders

5 and 6 in drilling and in jarring downward. A light or heavy blow may be delivered rapidly or slowly by shortening or lengthening the cable or by taking up or letting out the temper-screw and regulating the speed of the vertical oscillations.

It will be observed that when my appliance is used in jarring it is only the weight and inertia of the inner member plus that of the bit or spud attached and the binding resistance which has to be overcome and that the momentum of the heavy outer member and connected parts is available for overcoming this inertia, whereas in the use of jarring devices as heretofore employed the weight and inertia of the entire drilling stem and bit and of the lower half of the jars has had to be overcome as well as the binding resistance. This is an important feature of my invention,

' because the violence of the shock is therebyV greatly diminished and the durability and life of the apparatus is correspondingly increased. p

So far as I am aware, I am the first to pro- Ivide a drilling appliance which normally strikes as a solid stem but is also capable of operation as a jarring apparatus, and therefore I consider that the construction herein described may be widely varied without departing from my invention. My construction may also be made use of in jars as such for jarring either upward or downward, or both, as will be evident.

l claim asmy invention- 1. A drilling appliance comprising a suspended member and a tool-carrying member movable longitudinally with respect to each other and provided with opposed surfaces arranged to limit the relative upward movement of the tool-carrying member, and means normally holding said surfaces in engagement with each other.

2. A drilling appliance comprising a suspended member and a tool-carrying member movable longitudinally with respect to each other and provided with opposed surfaces arranged to limit said relative movement in either direction, and means normally holding the tool-carrying member at the limit of its relative upward movement.

3. A drilling appliance comprising a suspended member and a tool-carrying member movable longitudinally with respect to each other and provided with a plurality of'opposed surfaces cooperating in pairs to limit the relative upward movement of the toolcarrying member, and means normally hold- -ing said opposed surfaces in engagement with each other.

4. A drilling appliance comprising a suspended member and a tool-carrying member movable longitudinally with respect to each other and provided with a plurality of opposed surfaces coperating in pairs to limit said relative movement in either direction, and means normally holding the tool-carrying member at the limit of its relative-upwardmovement.

5. A drilling appliance comprising a suspended member and a tool-carrying member movable longitudinally one within the other and provided with opposed surfaces arranged to limit the relative upward movement of the tool-carrying member,and one or more springs located between the inner and outer members and normally holding said opposed surfaces in engagement with each other,

6. A drilling appliance comprising a suspended member and a tool-carrying member movable longitudinally one within the other and provided with opposed surfaces arranged to limit the relative movement of said members in either direction, and one or more springs located between the inner and outer members and normally holding the tool-carrying member at the limit of its relative upward movement.

7. A drilling appliance comprising a suspended member and a tool-carrying member IOO IIO

movable longitudinally one within the other and provided with a plurality of opposed surfaces cooperating in pairs to limit the relative upward movement of the tool-carrying member, and a plurality of springs contained within the outer member and normally holding said opposed surfaces in engagement with each other.

8. A drilling appliance comprising a suspended member and a tool-carrying member movable longitudinally one within the other and provided with a plurality of opposed surfaces cooperating in pairs to limit the relative movement oi' said members in either direction, and a plurality of springs located within the outer member and normally holding the tool-carrying member at the limit of its relative upward movement.

9. A drilling appliance comprising a suspended member and a tool-carrying member movable longitudinally one within the other, the outer member being provided with inwardly-eXtending annular ledges and the inner member being provided with annular enlargements arranged to slide longitudinally between said ledges, and one or more springs located between the inner and outer members and normally holding the tool-carrying member at the limit of its relative upward movement.

10. A drilling appliance comprising a suspended member and a tool-carrying member movable longitudinally one within the other and provided with opposed surfaces arranged to limit said relative movement by their engagement, the outer-member being longitudinally divided to form a two-part shell and the inner member being composed of a series of sections united end to end, and one or more springs contained within said outer member and normally holding' the tool-carrying member at the limit of its relative upward movement` 11. A drilling appliance comprising a suspended member and a tool-carrying memberl movable longitudinally one within the other, the outer member being longitudinallyY divided to form a two-part shell and having inwardlyprojecting annular ledges, and the inner member being composed of a number of sections united end to end and provided with annular enlargements arranged to slide respectively between a pair of adjacent ledges, and a plurality of springs located within the outer mem-l ber and normally holding the tool-carrying member at the limit of its relative upward movement.

12. A drilling appliance comprising a suspended member and a tool-carrying member movable longitudinally one within the other and provided with opposed surfaces arranged to limit said relative movement by their engagement, the outer member being longitudinally divided to form a two-part shell and 'massi the inner member being composed of a series of sections united end to end, one or more springs contained within said outer member and normally holding the tool-carrying member at the limit of its relative upward movement, and means for preventing relative rotational movement of the sections of said inner member.

13. A drilling appliance comprising a suspended member and a tool-carrying member movable longitudinally one within the other and provided with opposed surfaces arranged to limit said relative movement by their engagement, the outer member being longitudinally divided to form a two-part shell and the inner member being composed of a Series of sections united end to end, and one or more springs contained within said outer member and normally holding the tool-carrying member at the limit of its relative upward movement, one of said members being longitudinally grooved and the other member being provided with ribs arranged to slide in said grooves.

14. A drilling appliance comprising a suspended member and a tool-carrying member movable longitudinally one within the other, the outer member being provided with inwardly-extending annular ledges and the inner member being provided with enlarged portions iitted to slide between said ledges, and one or more springs contained within said outer member and normally holding the toolcarrying member at the limit of its relative upward movement, said enlarged portions being provided with passages alfording communication between the separately-inclosed spaces within said shell.

15. A drilling appliance comprising a suspended member and a tool-carrying member movable longitudinally one within the other, the outer member being provided with inwardly-extending annular ledges and the inner member being provided with annular enlargements arranged to slide between said ledges, and one or more springs contained within said outer member and normally holding the tool-carrying member at the limit of its relative upward movement, the inner member being provided with spiral air and oil passages, for the purpose set forth.

16. A drilling appliance comprising a suspended member and a tool-'carrying member movable longitudinally one within the other and provided with opposed surfaces arranged to limit such relative movement by their engagement, theouter member being longitudinally divided to form a two-part shell and the inner member being composed of a series of sections united end to end, and one or more springs contained within said outer member and supporting the tool-carrying member.l

17. A drilling appliance comprising a suspended member and a tool-carrying member IOO IIO

movable longitudinally one Within the other, l outer member and supporting the tool-carry- IO the outer member being longitudinally diing member.

vided to form a two-part shell and having in- In testimony whereofl I have hereunto sub- Wardly projecting annular ledges, and theJ scribed my name this 29th day of March, 1904. inner member being composed of a number of sections united end to end and provided With JOHN H' COMPTON' annular enlargements arranged to slide re- Witnesses: spectively between a pair of adjacent ledges, E. D. CHADWICK,

and a plurality of springs located Within the J osnPH T. BRENNAN.