US1766326A - Drill stem - Google Patents

Description

a June 24, 1930. BQZEMAN ET AL 1,766,326

DRILL STEM Filed April '7, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 24, 1930. J. F. BOZEMAN ET AL 1,766,326

DRILL STEM Filed April 7, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ma a 61m new A tatented dune 24 i, lldfii? l JOHN F. soznraerr, or wnsr LAKE, LOUISIANA, AND J'AUDON D. COLE, or HEBRON- VILLE, 'rn

DRILL STEM Application filed April '2, 1928. Serial No. 268,192.

This invention relates to new and useful designate similar parts in each of the Figimprovements in a drill stem. ures, the numerals 1 and 2 designate the re- One object of the invention is to provide an spective upper and lower sections, as a whole, improved type of drill stern through which of the drill stem. These sections have a lim- 5 the drill bit may be rotated, with only a porited lengthwise movement relative to each tion of the weight of the entire stem on the other, for a purpose and in a manner to be bit, at the bottom of the bore. hereinafter stated.

Another object of the invention is to pro- The upper section of the stem embodies the vide a drill stem, formed oftwo sections, the string of pipe, as 3, having the separable weight of the lower one of which is normally coupling 4 connected to the lower end there- 60 carried by the bit, in drilling, said stem being of, and whose lower end is reduced and, equipped with a novel type of valve whereby threaded into the upper end of the tubular the flow of fluid downwardly through the joint'5. The lower end of this joint has a stem, from the pump, is stopped when the tubular gland 6, threaded therein whose upupper section of the stem is lowered, and beper end supports the packing 7, and said 5 fore its weight is imposed on the section bepacking is held in place by the ring nut 8 heath. vwhich abuts the upper end thereof, thereby Thisretarding of the flow of fluid will reforming a stuffing box through which the upact on the pump and thereby the operator per end of the lower section 2, of the stem telewill be notified of the relative positions of scopes. This section 2 comprises a string of the two sections, before the upper section is pipe to the lower end of which the drill bit lowered suiiicient-ly to impose its weight on 18 is attached. the section beneath, and/ the bit. The bit will The upper, or telescopingend of the lower thus never be subjected to the entire weight section 2 has an enlarged head which is 25 of the stem, and liability of crushing the bit clutched for rotation with the upper section or twisting off the stem thus is avoided. 1 by means of the vertical ribs 10, of the head A further feature of the invention is to 9, which fit into corresponding grooves 11, provide a sectional drill stem so constructed in the joint 5 and the re1ative movement of that the upper section may be used as a jar or the sections is limited by the ring nut 8 and 30 hammer against the lower section to dislodge the coupling 12 of the lower section 2. The

said lower section in case it becomes stuck in stem is of tubular construction throughout the bore. to permit the flow of flushing fluid down- With the above and other objects in view wardly through it to the drill bit. This this invention has particular relation to cerfluid is forced down through the stem by I 5 tain novel features of construction, opermeans of a pump 20 at the ground surface. ation, and arrangement of parts, an example The upper end of the head 9 has an upwardly of which is given in this specification and ilflared valve seat 13 screwed therein, for a lustrated in the accompanying drawings, purpose to be hereinafter explained. wherein The coupling 4 has an internal annular 40 Figures 1 and 2 show vertical sectional shoulder 14, on which is seated a coil spring views of the upper and lower parts, or sec- 15. There is a valve stem 16, whose upper tions, respectively, of the drill stem. end carries a spider 16 which rests on said Figure 3 shows' a cross sectional view taken spring and said stem depends through said on the line 3-3 of Figure 1. spring and its lower end carries a downward- 45 Figure 4 shows a cross sectional view, takly tapering valve 17 normally spaced above on on the line 4-4 of Figure 2, and, and adapted to seat within and close said seat. Figure 5 shows a side elevation of a com- In drilling it is usually not advisable to plete stem, as in operation in a well bore. permit the entire weight of the stem to rest on Referring now more particularly to the the bit, atthe bottom of the bore, as in such 50 drawings, wherein like numerals of reference case the bit may be crushed, or may require CII too severe torsion on the stem, to drive it, cousin "he stem to twist off.

The stem is consequently usually suspended from the rotary 19, with only the weight of the lower section 2 on the bit.

in drilling, the stem is gradually let down as the work progresses but it is not desirable, in lowering the stem, to permit the upper section of the stem to be lowered far enough to rest its weight on the lower section. As the upper section 1 moves downwardly relative to the lower section the valve 17 will approach the seat 13, and when the said seat is partially restricted, by said valve, the pressure above the valve will build up thus causing the valve to overcome the resistance of the spring 15 and suddenly seat and close the passageway through the seat 13, before the weight of the upper section of the stem has been assumed by the lower section. This will block the flow of the lhiid down through the stem and stall the pump and thus indicate, to the driller that the upper section should not be lowered further. The upper section then should be slightly elevated to lift the valve clear of said seat so as to again permit circulation and drilling ma Y then proceed.

In case the lower section of the stem becomes stuck in the bore, the upper section may then be dropped, successively, against the coupling 12 until the stuck stem is jarred loose.

Whatwe claim is 1. A drill stem comprising two sections connected by a slip joint and having a fluid course therethrough, a seat in one section, a yieldably mounted means carried by the other section adapted to be actuated by fluid pressure to close said seat and block said fluid course when said sect-ions are relatively moved in one direction and to unblock the same when relatively moved in the other direction.

2. i drill stern including two telescoping sections having a limited lengthwise movement relative to each other, means for interlocking said sections against relative rotation, a projection carried by one section and disposed to form an abutment for the other sectiom said stern having a fluid course therethrough, and a vieldably mounted valve attached to one section and arranged to he actuated by the tiuid flowing through said course and dapted to block said fluid course when said sections are relatively moved, in one direction, and operable by said section to which said valve is attached to unblock the same when said sections are relatively moved in the other direction.

In combination: a string of rotary drill pipe comprising: an upper and a lower section; means for supporting said upper section; a device secured at the lower end of said lower section. said device supporting the weight of said lower section; means for atcaching said upper and lower sections together, said means being so arranged that said upper and lower sections will rotate together and may have relative axial movement; valve means suspended from the upper section and operable by fluid pressure for obstruclin g a flow of fluid through said string of drill pipe when said upper section is lowered and a yieldable support, sustaining said valve means.

i. In combination: a string of rotary drill pipe comprising an upper and a lower section; means adapted to support said upper section; a cutting tool secured to the lower end of said lower section and adapted to support said lower section; means for slidably connecting said upper and lower sections toether; means for creating a flow of fluid through said drill pipe; an inside shoulder in the upper section, valve means for obstructing said flow when said upper section is supported by said cutting tool and a coil spring supported on said shoulder and sup porting said valve means.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification.

JOHN F. BOZEMAN. JAUDON D. COLE.

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