System and method for damping vibration in a drill string
AssigneeAPS Technologies
InventorsMark Ellsworth Wassell, William Evans Turner, Daniel E. Burgess, Carl Allison Perry
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system for damping vibration in a drill string can include a valve assembly having a supply of a fluid, a first member, and a second member capable of moving in relation to first member in response to vibration of the drill bit. The first and second members define a first and a second chamber for holding the fluid. Fluid can flow between the first and second chambers in response to the movement of the second member in relation to the first member. The valve assembly can also include a coil or a valve for varying a resistance of the fluid to flow between the first and second chambers.
Claims26
A valve assembly for damping vibration of a drill bit during underground drilling operations, comprising:
- a first member capable of being mechanically coupled to the drill bit so that the first member is subjected to vibration from the drill bit;
- a supply of magnetorheological fluid;
- a second member capable of being mechanically coupled to a source of drilling torque, the second member being mechanically coupled to the first member so that the second member can translate in relation to the first member along a longitudinal centerline of the valve assembly and the first and second members rotate in response to the drilling torque, the first and second members defining a first and a second chamber for holding the magnetorheological fluid, the first and second chambers being in fluid communication;
- and
- a coil proximate to one the first and the second members so that the magnetorheological fluid can be subjected to a magnetic field generated by the coil.
A valve assembly for damping vibration of a drill bit, comprising:
- a first member capable of being mechanically coupled to the drill bit so that the first member is subjected to vibration from the drill bit;
- a supply of magnetorheological fluid;
- a second member mechanically coupled to the first member so that the second member can translate in relation to the first member along a longitudinal centerline of the valve assembly, the first and second members defining a first and a second chamber for holding the magnetorheological fluid, the first and second chambers being in fluid communication;
- a coil proximate to one the first and the second members so that the magnetorheological fluid can be subjected to a magnetic field generated by the coil;
- and
- a controller electrically coupled to the coil for controlling the strength of the magnetic field in response to at least one operating parameter of the drill bit, wherein the valve assembly can exert a viscous damping force on the drill bit as a function of a flow resistance of the magnetorheological fluid, and the controller calculates a desired damping force and directs electrical current to the coil to achieve the desired damping force.
A method for damping vibration of a drill bit, comprising:
- providing a valve assembly capable of exerting a damping force on the drill bit;
- and
- automatically varying the damping force in response to a displacement of the drill bit as determined by measuring a displacement of a second member of the valve assembly in relation to a first member of the valve assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.