US 2019/0169973 A1Published application

Downhole Clutch Joint for Multi-Directionally Rotating Downhole Drilling Assembly

OwnerGary Smithinventor

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Abstract

Embodiments of a downhole drilling assembly generally include rotatable upper and lower drilling assemblies, and a drill bit, wherein an upper drilling assembly contains a mud motor adapted for clockwise stator rotation and counter-clockwise rotor rotation, whereby a lower drilling assembly is rotatable in the opposite direction of the upper drilling assembly or maintainable in a non-rotating state. The apparatus further includes sensors for continuously transmitting information relating thereto to the surface. Embodiments of a downhole clutch joint generally include a box end sub, a pin end sub, and a ratchet sleeve system containing a clutch joint mechanism, wherein the downhole clutch joint prevents rotation of a downhole drilling assembly in an undesired direction. Method embodiments generally include continuously measuring physical properties and/or drilling parameters, continuously transmitting information relating thereto, and controlling lower drilling assembly rotation in a non-rotating state or in the opposite direction of an upper drilling assembly.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A clutch joint assembly comprising:

a first component;
a second component;
a ratchet sleeve assembly;
and
a biasing member;
wherein:
said ratchet sleeve assembly comprises:
a substantially tubular first ratchet sleeve comprising a plurality of saw teeth proximate a first end thereof;
and
a substantially tubular second ratchet sleeve comprising a plurality of saw teeth proximate an end thereof;
said first ratchet sleeve is positioned around, and engaged with, a portion of said first component;
said second ratchet sleeve is positioned within, and engaged with, a portion of said second component;
said first ratchet sleeve saw teeth are disposed in engaging abutment with said second ratchet sleeve saw teeth;
said first ratchet sleeve is positioned longitudinally between said biasing member and said second ratchet sleeve;
said biasing member biases said first ratchet sleeve against said second ratchet sleeve;
upon rotation of said first component in a first direction, said first ratchet sleeve saw teeth engage said second ratchet sleeve saw teeth to induce rotation of said second ratchet sleeve, and thereby said second component, in said first direction;
and
upon rotation of said first component in a second direction, said first ratchet sleeve saw teeth slidingly disengage from said second ratchet sleeve saw teeth and said second component substantially ceases rotation.

15 more elements

A clutch joint assembly comprising:

a box end sub;
a pin end sub;
a ratchet sleeve assembly;
and
a biasing member;
wherein:
said ratchet sleeve assembly comprises:
a substantially tubular first ratchet sleeve comprising a plurality of saw teeth proximate a first end thereof;
and
a substantially tubular second ratchet sleeve comprising a plurality of saw teeth proximate an end thereof;
said first ratchet sleeve is positioned around, and engaged with, a portion of said box end sub;
said second ratchet sleeve is positioned within, and engaged with, a portion of said pin end sub;
said first ratchet sleeve saw teeth are disposed in engaging abutment with said second ratchet sleeve saw teeth;
said first ratchet sleeve is positioned longitudinally between said biasing member and said second ratchet sleeve;
said biasing member biases said first ratchet sleeve against said second ratchet sleeve;
upon rotation of said box end sub in a first direction, said first ratchet sleeve saw teeth engage said second ratchet sleeve saw teeth to induce rotation of said second ratchet sleeve, and thereby said pin end sub, in said first direction;
and
upon rotation of said box end sub in a second direction, said first ratchet sleeve saw teeth slidingly disengage from said second ratchet sleeve saw teeth and said pin end sub substantially ceases rotation.

15 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 16/271,563Filed 8 Feb 2019
Priority: 27 May 2014
Published: 6 Jun 2019
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification15 codes

E21B 44/005
Automatic control systems specially adapted for drilling operations, i.e. self-operating systems which function to carry out or modify a…
E21B 4/006
Drives for drilling, used in the borehole: mechanical motion converting means, e.g. reduction gearings
E21B 4/16
Drives for drilling, used in the borehole: plural down-hole drives, e.g. for combined percussion and rotary drilling ; Drives for multi-bit…
E21B 7/04
Special methods or apparatus for drilling: directional drilling

Family

Application62/003,435Us provisional application · filed 27 May 2014
Application14/721,644Continuation · filed 26 May 2015
Application15/293,800Continuation · filed 14 Oct 2016
Application15/685,545Continuation in part · filed 24 Aug 2017
Application16/271,563Continuation in part
Application15/685,545Continuation
US 10,358,903 B2Related patent
US 2017/0030183 A1Published application
US 2018/0003025 A1Published application
US 9,506,335 B1Related patent
US 9,771,787 B2Related patent
US 2019/0169973 A1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

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