System and method for forming a bore in a workpiece
AssigneeBaker Hughes Incorporated
InventorsJoern Steppan, Christian Marten, Christoph Wangenheim, Rocco Eisseler, Sr.
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of forming a bore through a workpiece with a drill by monitoring drill orientation and bore position; and adjusting drill path as necessary. Adjusted the drill path includes selectively applying an axial impulse to the drill when the drill is in a designated azimuthal orientation. Drill orientation and bore position are monitored with an acoustic transmitter and receiver disposed adjacent an outer surface of the workpiece. The acoustic transmitter and receiver are moved at the same rate at which the drill axially progress through the workpiece, so that they are aligned with the bottom of the bore.
Claims18
A method of controlling a rotating drill in a bore in a workpiece comprising:
- a. contacting a drill head of the drill with the workpiece to form a bore in the workpiece;
- b. monitoring an azimuthal orientation of the drill head in the workpiece by measuring a signal from the drill head in the bore with an acoustic sensor that is disposed adjacent an outer surface of the workpiece and that is set radially back from the bore;
- and
- c. adjusting an operating parameter of the drill based on the step of monitoring the azimuthal orientation.
A method of controlling a drill in a workpiece comprising:
- a. rotating the drill in a bore in the workpiece and deepening the bore;
- b. monitoring an azimuthal orientation of a portion of the drill in the workpiece;
- c. estimating a projected path of the bore in the workpiece by estimating a radial distance between the bore and an outer surface of the workpiece;
- and
- d. adjusting a direction of the drill through the workpiece based on steps (b) and (c) by applying a force onto the drill.
A method of forming a bore in a workpiece comprising:
- eroding material from the workpiece with an applied electrical current to form a pilot bore in the workpiece that is substantially coaxial with a desired bore;
- enlarging the pilot bore with a drill to form a bore in the workpiece that has a diameter and axis substantially the same as the desired bore;
- monitoring an azimuthal orientation of a portion of the drill proximate a bottom of the bore;
- estimating a projected path of the bore in the workpiece;
- and
- adjusting a direction of the drill through the workpiece by applying an axial force onto the drill and that is based on the steps of monitoring the azimuthal orientation and estimating the projected path of the bore.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.