Using a rotating inner member to drive a tool in a hollow outer member
AssigneeThe Charles Machine Works, Inc.
InventorsRichard Felix Sharp, Matthew L. Dock
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A rotating inner member is used to drive a downhole tool housed within the hollow outer member of a dual-member drill string. The downhole tool preferably will be adapted to receive rotational energy from the inner member. In a preferred embodiment, the downhole tool is an electric generator connected to a downhole electric device. In another preferred embodiment the downhole tool is a mechanical transmission that uses the rotational energy from the inner member to drive a non-electric tool, such as a downhole hammer. This invention will increase the consistency and efficiency of downhole energy production.
Claims46
A horizontal directional drilling machine comprising:
- a rotary drive system;
- a drill string operatively connected to the rotary drive system;
- wherein the drill string comprises a plurality of dual-member pipe sections, each dual-member pipe section comprising a hollow outer member and an inner member positioned longitudinally therein, wherein the outer member is connectable with the outer members of adjacent pipe sections, wherein the inner member is connectable with the inner members of adjacent pipe sections, and wherein the interconnected inner members are independently rotatable of the interconnected outer members;
- and
- at least one downhole tool supported within at least one of the dual-member pipe sections so that rotation of the interconnected inner members will drive operation of the downhole tool.
A pipe section assembly for use in a drill string, wherein the drill string comprises a plurality of dual-member pipe sections, each dual-member pipe section comprising a hollow outer member and an inner member positioned longitudinally therein, wherein the outer member is connectable with other outer members of adjacent pipe sections, and wherein the inner member is connectable with the inner members of adjacent pipe sections, wherein the interconnected inner members are rotatable independently of the interconnected outer members, the pipe section assembly comprising:
- an elongate, hollow outer member interconnectable with the outer member of at least one of the dual-member pipe sections in the drill string;
- an elongate, inner member arranged longitudinally within the outer member and being interconnectable with the inner member of at least one of the dual-member pipe sections in the drill string and rotatable independently of the outer member;
- and
- a downhole tool supported within the outer member and operatively connectable with the inner member so that rotation of the interconnected inner members drives operation of the downhole tool.
A method for generating power using a horizontal directional drilling machine including a rotary drive system attached to a drill string comprising a plurality of connectable pipe sections, each pipe section having an inner member disposed longitudinally within a hollow outer member, each outer member being connectable to another one of the outer members comprising the plurality of pipe sections and each inner member being connectable to another one of the inner members comprising the plurality of pipe sections, and wherein the plurality of inner members are rotatable independently of the outer members, the method comprising:
- rotating the interconnected inner members;
- and
- converting rotation of the inner member of at least one of the plurality of pipe sections into an output power within the pipe section.
A power-generating apparatus comprising:
- a hollow outer member;
- a bi-directionally rotatable inner member positioned within the outer member;
- wherein the inner member is rotatable independently of the outer member;
- and
- a power generator supported within the outer member and operatively connectable to the inner member for converting rotational energy from the inner member into electric power.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.