Percussion Drilling Assembly With Annular Locking Member
AssigneeSmith International, Inc.
InventorAlan J. Marshall
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A percussion drilling assembly for boring into the earth. In an embodiment, the assembly comprises a tubular case having a central axis and a lower end. In addition, the assembly comprises a driver sub having an upper end threadingly engaged with the lower end of the case. Further, the assembly comprises a annular locking member disposed about the driver sub. The annular locking member engages the case and the driver sub and restricts the rotation of the driver sub relative to the case about the central axis.
Claims22
A percussion drilling assembly for boring into the earth, the percussion drilling assembly coupled to the lower end of a drill string and comprising:
- a tubular case having a central axis and a lower end;
- a driver sub having an upper end threadingly engaged with the lower end of the case;
- and
- a annular locking member disposed about the driver sub, wherein the annular locking member engages the case and the driver sub, and restricts the rotation of the driver sub relative to the case about the central axis.
A method for drilling an earthen borehole, comprising:
- (a) disposing a percussion drilling assembly downhole on a drillstring, wherein the percussion drilling assembly comprises:
- a tubular case having a central axis and coupled to the drillstring;
- a driver sub having an upper end threadingly coupled to a lower end of the case;
- and
- a hammer bit slidingly received by the driver sub;
- (b) restricting the rotation of the driver sub relative to the case with a annular locking member disposed about the driver sub at the lower end of the case.
A method of manufacturing a percussion drilling assembly comprising:
- (a) providing a tubular case having a central axis and a lower end with an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the inner surface of the lower end includes internal threads and the outer surface of the lower end includes a groove;
- (b) providing a driver sub having a central axis, an outer surface, and an upper end, wherein the outer surface of the upper end includes external threads and the outer surface axially below the outer includes a groove;
- (c) providing a annular locking member including an annular body, an inner finger extending radially inward from the body, and a first outer finger extending radially outward from the body;
- (d) positioning the annular locking member about the driver sub;
- and
- (e) threading the upper end of the driver sub to the lower end of the case.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.