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US 5,022,472 AGranted
Hydraulic clamp for rotary drilling head
AssigneeMASX Energy Services Group, Inc.
InventorsThomas F. Bailey, John E. Campbell
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A rotary drilling head having an upper body incorporating a kelly bushing removably clamped onto a stationary spool. The clamp assembly is hydraulically controlled to permit remote operation and access to the drive bearings and stripper rubbers within the drilling head. Secondary manual means for unclamping the assembly are also provided. The hydraulic clamp includes an annular piston movably disposed within a cylinder and acting upon bearing members to lock and unlock the clamp assembly. Hydraulic pressure is utilized to move the piston within the cylinder. A spring biases the piston towards the locked position to prevent inadvertent unclamping.
Claims22
A rotary drilling head comprising:
- a spool body;
- and
- an upper drive assembly mounted to said spool body, said drive assembly including drive means adapted for rotation within said spool body, a bearing assembly disposed between said drive means and said spool body, a drive bushing matingly received within said drive means and adapted to receive a kelly drive member and hydraulically operated clamp means for selectively locking said drive bushing against axial displacement within said drive means, said clamp means being remotely controlled to selectively clamp said drive bushing within said drive means;
- said clamp means including an annular cylinder formed in said upper drive assembly and a hydraulically displaced piston ring slidably received within said annular cylinder, said piston selectively cooperating with at least one locking ball retractably engageable with said drive bushing to prevent axial displacement of said drive bushing within said upper drive assembly, said piston slidably displaceable between an unlocked position and a locked position.
1 more element
A rotary drilling head comprising:
- a spool body mounted to an upper end of a well casing, said spool body having an outlet port for diverting drilling fluid through said drilling head;
- an upper drive assembly mounted to said spool body, said drive assembly including a kelly drive means rotatable within said spool body, a bearing assembly disposed between said drive means and said spool body, a kelly drive bushing removably received within said drive means and adapted to receive a kelly drive member, and a elastomeric stripper detachably secured to the lower end of said bushing;
- and
- clamp means for selectively locking said drive bushing against axial displacement within said drive means while allowing said drive means to rotate within said spool body, said clamp means being hydraulically remotely controlled to selectively move said clamp means between a locked position and an unlocked position wherein said drive bushing and stripper may be removed from said upper drive assembly;
- said clamp means including an annular cylinder formed in said upper drive assembly, a hydraulically controlled piston ring slidably received within said annular cylinder, and at least one locking ball in selective engagement by said piston, said at least one locking ball retractably engageable with said drive bushing to prevent axial displacement of said drive bushing within said upper drive assembly.
2 more elements
A rotary drilling head comprising:
- a spool body mounted to an upper end of a well casing, said spool body having an outlet port for diverting drilling fluid through said drilling head;
- an upper drive assembly mounted within said spool body, said drive assembly including kelly drive means rotatable within said spool body, a bearing assembly disposed between said drive means and said spool body, a kelly drive bushing removably received within said drive means and adapted to receive a kelly drive member;
- clamp means for selectively locking said drive bushing against axial displacement within said drive means, said clamp means being hydraulically remotely controlled to selectively move said clamp means between a locked position and an unlocked position wherein said drive bushing and stripper may be removed from said drive assembly;
- said clamp means including an annular cylinder formed in said upper drive assembly, a hydraulically controlled piston slidably received within said cylinder concentric with said drive bushing and at least one locking ball in selective engagement by said piston, said at least one locking ball retractably engageable with said drive bushing upon moving said piston to a locked position to prevent axial displacement of said drive bushing within said upper drive assembly.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.