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US 8,770,320 B2Granted
Core lifter
AssigneeLongyear TM, Inc.
InventorsChristopher L. Drenth, Hongyan Zhang
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A core lifter may be used in a drilling system. An exterior surface of the core lifter may include a plurality of longitudinally-oriented recesses. The core lifter may include a raised contact feature that may extend inwardly away from a gripping surface of the core lifter. The core lifter may include a flared skirt configured to limit movement of the core lifter relative to a core lifter case. The core lifter may be formed via stamping a sheet of material.
Claims24
A core lifter for use in a drilling system, the core lifter having a central axis, the core lifter comprising:
- a tubular body comprising an exterior surface and an interior surface, the tubular body defining an elongate slot extending radially between the exterior surface and the interior surface and extending longitudinally relative to the central axis of the core lifter;
- a plurality of longitudinally-oriented recesses formed in the exterior surface of the tubular body of the core lifter, the plurality of longitudinally-oriented recesses extending radially inwardly relative to the central axis, wherein the plurality of longitudinally-oriented recesses do not extend radially through the tubular body between the exterior surface and the interior surface;
- and
- a plurality of tapered recesses formed in the interior surface of the tubular body of the core lifter, the plurality of tapered recesses extending radially outwardly and being tapered relative to the central axis, wherein the plurality of tapered recesses do not extend radially through the tubular body between the exterior surface and the interior surface,
- wherein the core lifter has a length, and wherein the plurality of longitudinally-oriented recesses formed in the exterior surface of the tubular body of the core lifter extend along at least 50 percent of the length of the core lifter relative to the central axis of the core lifter.
2 more elements
A core lifter for use in a drilling system, the core lifter having a central axis and comprising:
- a tubular body comprising an exterior surface and an interior surface, the interior surface comprising a gripping surface configured to grip a core sample;
- a raised contact feature that extends inwardly away from the gripping surface;
- a plurality of longitudinally-oriented recesses formed in the exterior surface of the tubular body of the core lifter, the plurality of longitudinally-oriented recesses extending radially inwardly relative to the central axis, wherein the plurality of longitudinally-oriented recesses do not extend radially through the tubular body between the exterior surface and the interior surface;
- and
- a plurality of tapered recesses formed in the interior surface of the tubular body of the core lifter, the plurality of tapered recesses extending radially outwardly and being tapered relative to the central axis, wherein the plurality of tapered recesses do not extend radially through the tubular body between the exterior surface and the interior surface.
2 more elements
A drilling system for collecting a core sample from a borehole, comprising:
- a drill string;
- an inner tube assembly configured for receipt within the drill string, the inner tube assembly comprising:
- a core lifter, comprising:
- a tubular body having an exterior surface and an interior surface;
- a gripping surface defined by the interior surface of the tubular body of the core lifter, the gripping surface being configured to grip a core sample;
- and
- a raised contact feature that extends inwardly away from the gripping surface,
- a plurality of longitudinally-oriented recesses formed in the exterior surface of the tubular body of the core lifter, the plurality of longitudinally-oriented recesses extending radially inwardly relative to the central axis, wherein the plurality of longitudinally-oriented recesses do not extend radially through the tubular body between the exterior surface and the interior surface;
- and
- a plurality of tapered recesses formed in the interior surface of the tubular body of the core lifter, the plurality of tapered recesses extending radially outwardly and being tapered relative to the central axis, wherein the plurality of tapered recesses do not extend radially through the tubular body between the exterior surface and the interior surface;
- and
- one or more slots;
- and
- a core lifter case configured to receive the core lifter, the core lifter case having a tapered inner wall, the tapered inner wall defining a shoulder configured for engagement with the core lifter,
- wherein, when portions of the core sample are passing through the core lifter, the one or more slots are configured to facilitate resilient compression of the raised contact feature of the core lifter.
12 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.