# US 2009/0260882 A1 · Braking devices and methods for use in drilling operations > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2009/0260882 A1 - Document ID: US20090260882A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/427,586 - Filed: 2009-04-21 - Published: 2009-10-22 - Earliest claimed: 2008-04-22 - Assignees: Longyear TM, Inc. - Inventors: Christopher L. Drenth - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20090260882A1 ## CPC - E21B 23/01: for anchoring the tools or the like (E21B23/02 - E21B23/06 take precedence; anchoring of drives in the borehole E21B4/18) - E21B 25/02: the core receiver being insertable into, or removable from, the borehole without withdrawing the drilling pipe - E21B 40/001: {in the borehole (anchoring tools in the borehole E21B23/01)} - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## Abstract A braking device for drilling operations in a borehole includes a brake retainer having a plurality of brake connector openings defined therein, a body member having a tapered surface having a first diameter and a second diameter, the second diameter being larger than the first diameter, at least one brake element positioned at least partially between the brake retainer and the body member and in communication with the tapered surface and at least one of the brake connector openings, and a bias member configured to exert a biasing force on the body member to move the body member toward the brake retainer to move the brake element from contact with the first diameter of the tapered surface toward contact with the second diameter. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A braking device for drilling operations in a borehole, comprising: a brake retainer having a plurality of brake connector openings defined therein; a body member having a tapered surface having a first diameter and a second diameter, the second diameter being larger than the first diameter; at least one brake element positioned at least partially between the brake retainer and the body member and in communication with the tapered surface and at least one of the brake connector openings; and a bias member configured to exert a biasing force on the body member to move the body member toward the brake retainer to move the brake element from contact with the first diameter of the tapered surface toward contact with the second diameter. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The braking device of claim 1, wherein the brake connector openings are generally circular openings. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The braking device of claim 2, further comprising a plurality of brake elements, the brake elements being generally spherical brake elements. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The braking device of claim 1, wherein the tapered surface of the body member is a conical tapered surface. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The braking device of claim 1, wherein the body member comprises a proximal member. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The braking device of claim 5, further comprising a distal member operatively associated with the brake retainer. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The braking device of claim 6, further comprising a retrieval member operatively associated with the distal member. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The braking device of claim 7, further comprising sleeve positioned between the distal member and the brake retainer, the sleeve having a plurality of axially oriented channels defined therein. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The braking device of claim 1, wherein the first diameter is located proximally of the second diameter. ### Claim 10 A braking device for drilling operations in a borehole, comprising: a first member configured to be coupled to a drill string; a brake retainer coupled to the first member, the brake retainer including a plurality of brake connector openings defined therein; a second member operatively associated with the brake retainer, the second member having a conically tapered surface in communication with the brake connector openings, the conically tapered surface having a first diameter positioned toward the first member and a second diameter opposite the first member, the second diameter being larger than the first diameter; and a plurality of brake elements positioned in a plurality of the brake connector openings between the brake retainer and in contact with the contact surface, wherein relative movement of the second member relative to the brake retainer moves the brake elements between engagement with the first diameter of the conically tapered surface and the second diameter of the conically tapered surface. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The device of claim 10, further comprising a biasing member configured to exert a biasing force to draw the second member and the brake retainer together. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The device of claim 10, wherein the second member is further configured to have a drilling tool coupled thereto. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The device of claim 10, further comprising a retrieval feature coupled to the first member. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The device of claim 13, wherein the retrieval feature includes a spearhead assembly. ### Claim 15 (canceled) ### Claim 16 (canceled) ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The device of claim 10, further comprising a sleeve member configured to manually disengage the braking device. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The device of claim 10, further comprising a retaining member configured to hold the brake element adjacent the inner member and the retaining member is coupled to the retrieval mechanism and configured to disengage the braking device when a force is applied to the retrieval mechanism to remove the drilling assembly from the borehole. ### Claim 19 A method of braking a drilling tool in a borehole, comprising: providing a drilling tool; connecting the tool to a braking device containing a brake element that is situated adjacent an inner member with an outer surface, and wherein the diameter of that outer surface increases in a first direction; and inserting the tool into a borehole so that first direction is oriented towards the mouth of the borehole. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, further comprising engaging the braking device to resist unintended motion of the tool out of the borehole. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, wherein the braking device engages automatically when a force is applied to the tool in a direction towards the mouth of the borehole. ### Claim 22 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, further comprising removing the tool from the borehole using a wireline system. ### Claim 23 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein the introducing the tool into the borehole includes disengaging the braking device prior to placing the tool into the borehole. ### Claim 24 A drilling tool containing a brake device, the brake device comprising: a first portion for connection to a drilling tool; an upper portion for connection to a retrieval mechanism; and a middle portion containing an inner member with an outer surface that increases in the distal direction towards the bottom of the borehole and a brake element for limiting motion of the drilling tool in the borehole by compression between the inner member and an inside surface of the borehole or a still string situated in the borehole. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The tool of claim 24, wherein the outer surface of the inner member comprises a substantially conical shape and the brake element comprises a plurality of substantially spherical shape.