Fluid control assemblies, and core barrel and overshot assemblies comprising same
AssigneeLongyear TM, Inc.
InventorsChristopher L. Drenth, Jeff Hogan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Fluid control assemblies including at least one ring. The fluid control assemblies are used within core barrel assemblies to: provide an indication that a core barrel assembly has reached a drilling position and is latched to a drill string; serve as a mechanical shut-off valve that restricts the flow of drilling fluid within a core barrel assembly; and/or serve as a grease seal at the connection between an inner tube cap and an inner tube that receives a core sample.
Claims22
A fluid control assembly having a longitudinal axis, comprising:
- at least one ring, each ring having inner surfaces that cooperate to define an inner diameter of the ring and outer surfaces that cooperate to define an outer diameter of the ring, wherein the ring is configured for axial and radial compression and expansion relative to the longitudinal axis;
- a bushing having an inner surface that defines an inlet, an outlet, a central bore extending between the inlet and the outlet, and at least one slot positioned in communication with the central bore at a location between the inlet and the outlet, wherein the at least one slot of the bushing is configured to receive the at least one ring, wherein the at least one slot is configured to retain the at least one ring during axial and radial compression and expansion of the at least one ring.
12-23. (canceled)
A core barrel assembly having a longitudinal axis, comprising:
- an upper latch body;
- a lower latch body that cooperates with the upper latch body to define an inner channel, the lower latch body comprising a core sample tube cap and a valve body, the valve body having an outer surface and being operatively received within the core sample tube cap;
- a core sample tube operatively coupled to the core sample tube cap of the lower latch body and positioned in selective fluid communication with the inner channel of the lower latch body;
- and
- a fluid control assembly comprising at least one ring, each ring having inner surfaces that cooperate to define an inner diameter of the ring and outer surfaces that cooperate to define an outer diameter of the ring, wherein the ring is configured for axial and radial compression and expansion relative to the longitudinal axis,
- wherein the inner surfaces of the at least one ring of the fluid control assembly are positioned in circumferential engagement with the outer surface of the valve body of the lower latch body, and
- wherein the fluid control assembly is configured to permit axial movement of the core sample tube relative to the lower latch body.
(canceled)
A core barrel assembly comprising:
- fluid control assembly having a longitudinal axis and comprising:
- at least one ring, each ring having inner surfaces that cooperate to define an inner diameter of the ring and outer surfaces that cooperate to define an outer diameter of the ring, wherein the ring is configured for axial and radial compression and expansion relative to the longitudinal axis;
- and
- a bushing having an inner surface that defines an inlet, an outlet, a central bore extending between the inlet and the outlet, and at least one slot positioned in communication with the central bore at a location between the inlet and the outlet, wherein the at least one slot of the bushing is configured to receive the at least one ring, wherein the at least one slot is configured to retain the at least one ring during axial and radial compression and expansion of the at least one ring,
- wherein the fluid control assembly is configured to control the flow of fluid through at least a portion of the core barrel assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.