US2472749A - Well reaming tool - Google Patents

Description

June 7,1949. F, L KE- 2,472,749-

7 WELL REAMING TOOL Filed A rii 10, 1945 2 sheets sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

MAL/4M JAKE,

A TTOQ/VE).

June '7, 1949. w. F. LAKE 2,472,749

WELL REAMING TOOL Filed April 10, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mz'L/M 14 1/4/65,

BY e-WM ATTOQ/VEX IN V EN TOR.

Patented June 7, 1949 ES PATENT OFFICE WELL REAMING TOOL William F; Lake, Los:An'geles,-.Galif.

Application April 10, 1945, Serial No; 587509 8- Claims. 1

This invention: relates 1 to well 1 tools. and deals more particularly with azto'ol adapted'fto be incorporated inxa drilling3stringaand.above a drilling bit for reaming, a wel-lbeing drilled bythe bit; Specifically, the; inventioncontemplates the provision of atool Whichrmay be placed between a drill. bit anditsdrill'collar. tofunction asa reamer, and is adaptedlto-be turned-end ior end and placed in a drillingstringat a suitable point suchas betweenthe drlllcollar and the drill pipe to. function asa stabilizer. for.thedrillingrstring.

An object of' this inventionlis. to provide a tool of the indicated type which is of simple, inexpen sive' construction; and which is highly efficient for the purpose intended;

Another object of the invention is to provide a well reaming tool incorporating means for easily and quicklyreplacing worn parts.

Another object of the invention is to provide a well rea-ming tool in-which theelements which may wear and require-replacement are formed as separate'sections for easya-nd'quick removable connection with the body of the tool whereby-said lgody'can be continued in-useiOr along-period of The various objects -'and"features of my invention will be fully-understood'from the= following detailed description ofa typical preferred form and application. of the: invention, throughout which description: reference ismade to the accompanying. drawingsainswhich;

Fig. 1 is an elevationalview of the lower end portion of a'drilling string'in which apreferred embodiment of well reaming, tool is. incorporated to function as a-wellihole vreamer;

Fig. 2 15a similar View showingthe' well ream-- ing tool incorporated in a drilling string to function as a stabilizer.- for said-drilling, string.

Figs. 3, 4, .5 and. 6 are enlarged cross-sectional views taken on the lines.3--3-, 4-4.5-5 and 6-6; respectively of. Fig. ,1.

Figs. rand 8'arei fragmentary longitudinal sec.- tional views taken substantially asindicated by lines 1-'I"and"8-- B respectively,lon Fig. 1.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary elevational view of means-carried by the tool body for taking the wear'ofthe cutters;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view=of a reaming element or section employed'inthe invention.

Fig. 11 is a'p'erspective-view of an element-provided for holding a reaming element in' place on the tool body.

The embodimentof the invention illustrated in the drawings-involves two spaced sets-of reamingimeansi Although-this tooliis describedf in the- 2. following specification, I wish it to be understood that I may construct tools incorporating theinvention with-onlyone setof reaming means or with more than two sets of such means as circumstances may'require. Thetool which is illustrated has sectional-reaming elements, each of which has t'wo rea'min'g blades or cutters. I may vary the number'of'said blades or cutters and further may varytlie'number of sections comprising thereaming means. Further, I may omit auxiliary cutters whichI show in the drawings'ior the purposecf breaking up fragments of earth or rock which may accumulateat the tool; I may provide thementibned reamingblades with cutting edges that give these-parts the desired action; and I maymake such other variations within the concepts of the invention which I may deem=to be desirable for the purpose of providing an :efficient tool ior the purpose indicated.

The invention, as embodied inthe' form shown in the drawings; may: comprise generally, a tool shank or body reaming means B carried-by the tool. bo'dy-;;means" C: for replaceably or detachablyxholding saidLfeaming" means B in positionon the tool body; means D transmitting torque orthrust from the means '3 to the body; and: various other: elements and parts which will be latendescribed'.v

InrFi'g; 1 which shows: the toolin position to function asareamergit isipositioned in the drilling string between a rock 'bitLRI and a drill collar E. InlE'ig: 2' whichshowsthe tool-in position t0'fl1nCti0l'l!.3;S a stabilizer, it is-positioned betweenadrill collar E, ..whicli' carries a bit R at its I lower; end; and a subl S; which is carried on the lower end. or asdrilling string. as by the lowermost standtofrdrilli piperP. In the latter application. the tool is 1 turned: end for end with respect to'itsdispositioniin Fig; 13 Itis apparent that I mayplace the :tooliat any desired'point in the drillinglstring.ibet'ween any of'the drill pipes P of said string.

The tool body A: is formed. with an elongated cylindrical shank; (52: in which is provided a through axial passage: I 63 Thepassage is providedfor' passing: drillingfluid-to the drilling bit R in=the.usual manner; One endFof the-shank is provided 'with'athreaded pin H for connection with or 'en'gagementfiin a threadedbox Iii-in the drill collarfEcr a' like element. The other end of the shank: is? provided with athreadbox l9 to receive" either: the pim 20- of the drill bit It or the pin' 21: of thewsub S.

As previously stated; the present tool has two is provided with two recesses or seats 22 for said reaming means, said seats being arranged on the shank in longitudinally spaced relation. Each seat 22 is defined by the cylindrical outer wall of the shank I5 and by a pair of longitudinally spaced radial flange-like enlargements E3 of said shank. Each of said flange-like enlargements may be a segmental integrally formed portion of the shank. In this case, two such flange portions are shown on opposite sides of the shank and between said portions, arcuate spaces with bottoms 24 occur. The seats 22 and the bottoms 24 may be continuous with each other and with the outer cylindrical surface of the shank 5. The longitudinally spaced pairs or enlargements 23 form interrupted circumferential flanges on said shank.

The interrupted flanges 23 are arranged on the body in longitudinally spaced pairs with a seat 22 between each pair. Since the two spaced related pairs are alike, the following description of one pair will serve to describe the other also.

Each interrupted flange 23 is provided with a wall 25 in a plane transverse of the longitudinal axis of the body. The walls 25 of the flanges define or limit the longitudinal extent of the seat 22 and are best seen in Fig. 9. Each interrupted flange 23 has longitudinal end walls 26 which define the circumferential extent of the spaces opposite the bottoms 26. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, these walls 23 are undercut adjacent the bottom to provide each interrupted flange 23 with a lip 21 and a groove 28. One interrupted flange 23 is formed with diametrically opposed longitudinal slots or grooves 29 for reasons later described. The spaced interrupted flanges 23 are each also formed with circumferential groove 30 in the peripheral walls thereof for reasons later apparent.

From the above it can be seen that the tool shank comprises a simple integral cylindrical bar which can be easily machined in typical machine tools without the need for special tooling. The shank can be turned in a lathe to the diameters of the shank l5, seats 22 and interrupted flanges 23, and the grooves 30 formed with a simple cut. The spaces 24 and the grooves 30 can then be formed in the flanges 23 by a milling or other simple machining operation.

The reaming means 13 are carried by the body A in the seats 22 provided in or on said body and each is carried by a pair of flanges 23. The two reaming means shown are alike and, consequently, one will be described.

Each reaming means B comprises essentially, a pair of circumferentially curved and longitudinally straight metal elements 3| arranged in pairs in the seat 22. In general it may be said that each element 3| is in the form of a section or segment that is arcuate and substantially semi-circular or semi-cylindrical. The elements 3| are similar to each other and together completely encircle the tool shank as best seen in Fig. 6. Each element which is shown in detail in Fig. 10 comprises a semi-cylindrical body or base 32 having one ear 33 at one side or end of said body and a pair of ears 34 on the other side or end. The ears 34 are longitudinally spaced to receive between them the ear 33 of a mating element 3|. Each reamer element or segment has a middle portion 35 with upper and lower ends which projects upwardly and downwardly over the bottoms 24 or between the ends of the interrupted flanges 23. The side por one of the latter having one ear and the other,

two.

Each element 3| may be provided with one or more reaming cutters 40. Said cutters may be integrally formed with the elements 3|, in which case said elements may be made of sultable durable, tough and long-wearing metal, or they may be welded to said elements as can be understood. Each cutter is shown in the form of a wedge-shaped tooth having its base 4| adjacent and joined to the body 32 of the element 3| and its cutting edge 43 at the outer free end of the tooth. Each cutter tooth is tangentially arranged with respect to the element body 32, and is also angularly disposed or pitched with respect to the length of said body. The teeth 46 are shown as arranged radially in opposed pairs so that the tool will center in the hole being formed, the forces on the opposed teeth reacting against each other. Assuming normal clockwise rotation of the drilling string and, consequently of the present reaming tool, the described arrangement of the cutting teeth 40 will present the leading or cuttin edges 43 of said teeth to the wall W of a well hole for a reaming or shaving cut into said wall. The diametral distance across opposed teeth 40 may be somewhat larger than the diameter of the well hole which is drilled by the bit R. Fig. 1 shows this arrangement.

In Fig. 2, where the tool is inverted, the cutting teeth edges 43, because of their tangential arrangement, bear on the well hole wall rather than cut into it. The engagement is in the nature of a wiping action. When used in the latter manner, the diametral distance across opposed teeth may be made to approximate the diameter of the hole being drilled by the bit R.

The ears 33 and 34 of each element 3| are drilled as at 44 so that, upon assembly of a pair of elements on the shank l5, with the ear 33 of each element between the ears 34 of the other i element, a pin 45 can be introduced endwise into the drill holes 44 to connect the elements. It is for this purpose that I have provided the grooves 29 above-mentioned. Fig. 8 best shows this arrangement wherein the pin 45 is inserted througn one of the grooves 29 and its end engaged by the wall 25 of the flange 23 which is opposite to the flange in which said grooves 29 are formed.

The means C, in addition to the pins 45, may comprise means such as clamp shoes 46, which are in effect extensions of the upper and lower portions of the reaming elements, for holding the reaming elements 3| in place on the tool shank. A detail of one of such shoes is shown in Fig. 11.

Each shoe comprises an arcuately curved body 41, which, when positioned on the shank l5 rests on a bottom 24. The shoes 46 extend between and in effect form continuations of the interrupted flanges 23. However, since these amaze shoes engage the wider middleportion 35 of the reamer elements 31,?thty are made commensurately narrower than theyvidth ofjthe flanges 23. The endsor edges .48 ,of ,each shoe 4'6 .are each provided with longitudinal lips {14.9 designed to engage in respective grooves .23, in the.-.flanges 23 as hereinbeforeadescribed. vaBy .means of this structure, each .shoe 46 .may be ,placed against the shank 15 .above -or below a .flangev23, .as :the case may be, and slid longitudinally of the-tool into holding engagement with a reamer element 3 l The inter-locked, lips :21 and 49-.of;the flanges 23 and the shoes Jiii, .respeotivel-y, =will; girevent outward displacementof :the shoes and,.-therefore, f the reaming element. The: mentioned .rreamer holding action of the shoes .afforded :through the inter-locked engagement nf .the :edgesiSB of said reaming elements and lips :z-ll'lon redgeszof shoes 45. Fig. 3,-shows the first-described interlock and Fig. '7, the latter.

Various means may be provided :for retaining the above assembly in working condition by fixing the shoes 4'5 in place between the-ends of the flanges. As shown, I prefer to use means such as snap rings -5l. It is for this purpose that I provide 'the grooves .in the tflanges as before described and also provide similargrooves 52 in the-shoes 4B toform continuationsof saidgrooyes 30. .Byplacing the wsnaprings zit-in the grooves relationship is shown in Fig. 8 wherein the ring 5! has overstanding engagement with said pin to restrict its movement in a direction to leave the drill holes 44 of the elements 3|.

From the above it will be seen that the torque thrusts imparted to the shank body I5 by the elements 3|, and which are caused by the reactive forces on the reaming teeth 40, are taken by said body through the end walls 26 of the interrupted flanges 23. In the application of the tool shown in Fig. 1, one end wall 26 of each flange 23 will take said thrust; and in the application of Fig. 2, the other end of the flange will take said thrust. To prolong the useful life of the shank I5, the means D may be provided.

Said means D may comprise a wear plate which is held in place by screws 56 against each end wall 26 of each flange 23 as best seen in Figs. 5 and 9. For this purpose the upper and lower extensions of the middle portion 35 of each element 3| are made somewhat narrower than the bottoms 24 so that said upper and lower extensions may fit between the wear plates 55. It may be seen that the edge faces 51 of said extensions bear on the wear plates and impart thrust thereto.

A desirable addition to my tool may be provided for the purpose of drilling into and breaking up such pieces of earth and rock which may accumulate in the hole at the tool. I provide for tween the bottom and top flanges 23 ofllnper and lower reaming means ,B. The particles brokenor-ldrilled up by the cutters 59 ,canfthen be flushed out of the hole by thefluid .commonly .used vfor removing thefldrillings .of the bit.

Iintend to construct the partscomprisin -the tool so ,that they are inter-changeable .for. uick and easy replacement when 'c-WOP-Il or. broken. Since ,the :drilling string is withdrawnfromithe well from time to time so that the drill bit loan be repaired, such interchange'of partszommy tool can be accomplished at the same time.

Having described only a typicalpreierred form and application of my invention I -do .-not-,wish to bellimited or restricted to thezspecific (details herein .set forth, .but wish .-.to reserve .to .my-self any modifications :OI' variations that may-appear to. those skilled in the .art or fall .withinzthescope of thefollowing claims.

.Having described my invention, {I claim:

1. A well reaming tool including an elongate cylindrical body, longitudinally-spaced flanges fixed on the exterior of the body each having circumferentially spaced opposed shoulders extending longitudinally of said body, there being circumferentially faced lips at the shoulders spaced from the exterior of the bloody forming grooves extending lengthwise of the body,.-the:;.exteriorof the body between the flanges -forming.-;a seat, a reaming element carried'on'said seat and between said flanges, and shoesat-the flangesi-ene gaging the reaming element retaining it on the seat and having oppositely projecting lips engaged in said grooves, and like removable annular retainers around the body at the flanges holding the shoes against axial movement.

2. A well reaming tool including an elongate cylindrical body, longitudinally spaced fixed flanges on the exterior of the body, the exterior of the body between the flanges forming a seat, segmental reaming elements enngaged on said seat and having end extensions, means releasably connecting the elements together forming a continuous annular assembly around the body, and means encircling the body and the end extensions of said elements holding said elements in place on the body.

3. A well reaming tool including an elongate cylindrical body, longitudinally spaced flanges on the exterior of the body, the exterior of the body between the flanges forming a seat, a reaming element engaged on said seat and between said flanges, said element including a base conforming to the seat and at least one outwardly projecting reaming tooth on the base, retaining shoes engaging the end portions of said reaming element, and annular releasable retainers surrounding the body and extending over the shoes retaining them in engagement with the reaming element.

4. A well reaming tool including an elongate cylindrical body, at least one pair of longitudinally spaced interrupted flanges on said body to provide a seat between the flanges and spaces between the interrupted portions of said flanges, sectional reaming elements disposed on said seat and releasably connected together around the body and having end extensions disposed in the mentioned spaces, and annular retainers engaging both the interrupted flanges and said end extensions holding said reaming elements removably on said body.

5. A well reaming tool including an elongate cylindrical body, at leastone pair of longitudinally spaced interrupted flanges on said body to provide a seat between the flanges and spaces between the interrupted portions of said flanges, sectional reaming elements disposed on said seat and having extensions disposed in the mentioned spaces, each sectional element including a semicylindrical member and at least one reaming tooth on said member, and means engaging both the interrupted flanges and said element extensions releasably holding said reaming elements on said body.

6. A well reaming tool comprising an elongated cylindrical body, at least one pair of longitudinally spaced interrupted flanges on said body to provide a seat between the flanges and spaces between the interrupted portions of said flanges, sectional reaming elements disposed in said seat and having extensions disposed in the mentioned sppaces, longitudinally disposed keys separably connecting the reaming elements, and annular retainers for the keys and engaging both the interrupted flanges and said element extensions holding said reaming elements removably on said body.

7. A well reaming tool comprising an elongate cylindrical body, at least one pair of longitudinally spaced interrupted flanges on said body to provide a seat between the flanges and spaces between the interrupted portions of said flanges, sectional reaming elements disposed in said seat and having extensions disposed in the mentioned spaces, each sectional element comprising a 8 semi-cylindrical member and at least one reaming tooth on said latter member, means for separably connecting the reaming elements, and means engaging both the interrupted flanges and said element extensions for holding said reaming elements removably on said body.

8. A well reaming tool including an elongate cylindrical body, at least one pair of longitudinally spaced interrupted flanges on said body to provide a seat between the flanges and spaces between the interrupted portions of said flanges, sectional reaming elements disposed on said seat and having end extensions disposed in the mentioned spaces, said interrupted flanges and the end extensions of the reaming elements having registering peripheral grooves, and rings engaged in said grooves holding the reaming elements in operating position.

' WILLIAM F. LAKE.

REFERENCES CITED The following referenlces are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,355,793 Bernay Oct. 12, 1920 1,701,427 Shields Feb. 5, 1929 1,909,994 Wright May 23, 1933 2,168,0 7 Hammer Aug. 1, 1939 2,210,824 Walker Aug. 6, 1940 2,212,067 Hoffoss Aug. 20, 1940

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