# US 8,770,319 B2 · Pump-in seal > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,770,319 B2 - Document ID: US8770319B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/893,234 - Filed: 2010-09-29 - Published: 2011-04-07 - Granted: 2014-07-08 - Earliest claimed: 2009-10-01 - Assignees: Longyear TM, Inc. - Applicants: Christopher L. Drenth; George Iondov; George Ibrahim - Inventors: Christopher L. Drenth; George Iondov; George Ibrahim - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8770319B2 ## CPC - E21B 25/02: the core receiver being insertable into, or removable from, the borehole without withdrawing the drilling pipe - E21B 23/08: Introducing or running tools by fluid pressure, e.g. through-the-flow-line tool systems - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## Abstract An assembly may be disposed within a drill string. The assembly may be moved within and along the drill string using hydraulic pressure. A core sample may be collected within the assembly, and the assembly may be retrieved to obtain the core sample. The assembly may include a seal that may be configured to form a seal with different inner diameters of a variable-diameter drill rod of the drill string. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus comprising: a variable-diameter drill rod comprising: a first portion having a first, larger inner diameter; and a second portion having a second, smaller inner diameter; and a first seal disposed within the variable-diameter drill rod, the first seal comprising: a central core; and a lip spaced apart from the central core, the lip comprising: a projection configured to form a seal with the larger and smaller inner diameters of the variable-diameter drill rod, wherein the projection of the first seal is configured to, when forming a seal with the larger inner diameter of the variable-diameter drill rod, be disposed in an expanded configuration in which the projection is radially-extended and axially-retracted; wherein the projection of the first seal is configured to, when forming a seal with the smaller inner diameter of the variable-diameter drill rod, be disposed in a compressed configuration in which the projection is radially-retracted and axially-extended; and wherein the first seal further comprises means for biasing the projection from the compressed configuration towards the expanded configuration. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising: an inner tube assembly comprising: a head assembly; and the first seal; wherein the central core of the first seal includes a passageway receiving at least a portion of the head assembly. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the projection of the first seal has a hollow interior portion. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The apparatus as in claim 3, wherein the projection of the first seal has a rounded profile. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The apparatus as in claim 4, wherein the projection of the first seal has an annular configuration. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the first seal further comprises: a first unitary, one-piece structure that includes the central core and the lip; and a second unitary, one-piece structure that includes an annular extension, the annular extension being configured to exert an axial force against the lip of the first unitary, one-piece structure to bias the projection from the compressed configuration towards the expanded configuration. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the first seal further comprises: a first unitary, one-piece structure that includes the central core and the lip; and a second unitary, one-piece structure configured to, in response to pressurized fluid being pumped into a drill string that includes the variable-diameter drill rod, exert an axial force against the lip of the first unitary, one-piece structure to bias the projection from the compressed configuration towards the expanded configuration. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The apparatus as in claim 7, wherein the first unitary, one-piece structure is constructed from a first material having a first elasticity; and wherein the second unitary, one-piece structure is constructed from a second material having an elasticity different from the first elasticity. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the first seal further comprises: a unitary, one-piece structure that includes the central core, the lip, and an annular extension, wherein the annular extension of the unitary, one-piece structure extends rearward and axially from the projection of the lip. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the first seal further comprises: a first unitary, one-piece structure that includes the lip and an annular extension, wherein the annular extension of the first unitary, one-piece structure extends rearward and axially from the projection of the lip; and a second unitary, one-piece structure that includes the central core. ### Claim 11 A method comprising: disposing an inner tube assembly within a drill string, the drill string including a variable-diameter drill rod, the inner tube assembly including: a head assembly; and a first seal including: a central core including a passageway receiving at least a portion of the head assembly; and a lip spaced apart from the central core, the lip including a projection configured to form a seal with different inner diameters of the variable-diameter drill rod; using hydraulic pressure to move the inner tube assembly from a first position within the drill string to a second position within the drill string; wherein, when the inner tube assembly is at the first position within the drill string, the projection of the first seal forms a seal with a larger inner diameter of the variable-diameter drill rod and is disposed in an expanded configuration in which the projection is radially-extended and axially-retracted; wherein, when the inner tube assembly is at the second position within the drill string, the projection of the first seal forms a seal with a smaller inner diameter of the variable-diameter drill rod and is disposed in a compressed configuration in which the projection is radially-retracted and axially-extended; and wherein the first seal further comprises means for biasing the projection from the compressed configuration towards the expanded configuration. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method as in claim 11, wherein the first seal further comprises: a first unitary, one-piece structure that includes the central core and the lip; and a second unitary, one-piece structure configured to, in response to the hydraulic pressure, exert an axial force against the lip of the first unitary, one-piece structure to bias the projection from the compressed configuration towards the expanded configuration. ### Claim 13 A method for use in a drilling process, the method comprising: disposing a first seal within a drill string, the drill string including a variable-diameter drill rod, the first seal including: a first seal including a projection configured to form a seal with different inner diameters of the variable-diameter drill rod; and using hydraulic pressure to move the first seal from a first position within the drill string to a second position within the drill string, wherein, when the first seal is at the first position within the drill string, the projection of the first seal forms a seal with a larger inner diameter of the variable-diameter drill rod and is disposed in an expanded configuration in which the projection is radially-extended and axially-retracted, wherein, when the first seal is at the second position within the drill string, the projection of the first seal forms a seal with a smaller inner diameter of the variable-diameter drill rod and is disposed in a compressed configuration in which the projection is radially-retracted and axially-extended, and wherein the first seal further comprises means for biasing the projection from the compressed configuration towards the expanded configuration. ### Claim 14 A seal for a head assembly of a core barrel assembly, the seal comprising: a first unitary, one-piece structure comprising: a central core; and a lip spaced apart from the central core, the lip comprising: a projection configured to form a seal with different inner diameters of a variable-diameter drill rod; and a second unitary, one-piece structure that includes an annular extension, wherein the second unitary, one-piece structure is configured to, in response to pressurized fluid being pumped into a drill string that includes the variable-diameter drill rod, exert an axial force against the lip of the first unitary, one-piece structure. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The seal as in claim 14, wherein the annular extension is configured to exert an axial force against the lip of the first unitary, one-piece structure to bias the projection from a compressed configuration in which the projection is radially-refracted and axially-extended towards an expanded configuration in which the projection is radially-extended and axially-retracted. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The seal as in claim 14, wherein the second unitary, one-piece structure is configured to, in response to pressurized fluid being pumped into a drill string that includes the variable-diameter drill rod, exert an axial force against the lip of the first unitary, one-piece structure to bias the projection from, a compressed configuration in which the projection is radially-retracted and axially-extended towards an expanded configuration in which the projection is radially-extended and axially-retracted. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The seal as in claim 16, wherein the first unitary, one-piece structure is constructed from a first material having a first elasticity; and wherein the second unitary, one-piece structure is constructed from a second material having an elasticity different from the first elasticity. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The seal as in claim 14, further comprising means for biasing the projection from a compressed configuration towards an expanded configuration.