Self-stabilizing drilling tool
OwnerRalph J. Farrisinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fixed blade assembly rigidly mounted adjacent the oppositely disposed ends of a 7 feet 4 inches of drill pipe with a spinner assembly mounted for rotation and linear movement therebetween. The spinner assembly, randomly rotating and assisting the fixed blade assemblies to center a drill stem in a vertical hole, is stopped by intersecting the side of a drill hole when the drill string starts to deviate from the vertical, and acts as a prize against the side of the drill hole to pry the lower end of the drill string back to vertical and return to random rotation. A jaw-lock assembly is provided between the spinner assembly and the lower fixed blade assembly for wash-over operation should the drill, tool or drill stem stick.
Claims1
A self-stabilizing drilling tool, having a tool body and fixed blade assemblies vertically spaced apart and rigidly secured to said tool body, for connecting in a vertically rotational drill string lubricated with pressure drill mud when drilling a vertical well bore, comprising in combination:
- a. a hub mounted for rotation and vertical linear movement on said tool body and intermediate said fixed blade assemblies vertically spaced apart;
- and
- b. a plurality of diagonal blades, parallelly positioned to define a single vertical row thereof, fixed to and projecting radially from said hub for vertically lifting and randomly rotating said hub on said tool body, by means of said pressure mud, with said single row of parallel diagonal blades just clearing sides defining said vertical well bore, whereby any deviation from vertical by said drill string engages said row of diagonal blades with a near side of said well bore and pry said drill string back to vertical.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.