CA2091529C - Directional drilling apparatus - Google Patents

Directional drilling apparatus Download PDF

Info

Publication number
CA2091529C
CA2091529C CA002091529A CA2091529A CA2091529C CA 2091529 C CA2091529 C CA 2091529C CA 002091529 A CA002091529 A CA 002091529A CA 2091529 A CA2091529 A CA 2091529A CA 2091529 C CA2091529 C CA 2091529C
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
cylinder
drilling apparatus
drill string
directional drilling
motor
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
CA002091529A
Other languages
French (fr)
Other versions
CA2091529A1 (en
Inventor
J. Richard England
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
TULSA TRENCHLESS Inc
Original Assignee
TULSA TRENCHLESS Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by TULSA TRENCHLESS Inc filed Critical TULSA TRENCHLESS Inc
Priority to CA002091529A priority Critical patent/CA2091529C/en
Priority to US08/045,183 priority patent/US5388653A/en
Publication of CA2091529A1 publication Critical patent/CA2091529A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA2091529C publication Critical patent/CA2091529C/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • EFIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21EARTH DRILLING; MINING
    • E21BEARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B7/00Special methods or apparatus for drilling
    • E21B7/04Directional drilling
    • E21B7/046Directional drilling horizontal drilling
    • EFIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21EARTH DRILLING; MINING
    • E21BEARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B19/00Handling rods, casings, tubes or the like outside the borehole, e.g. in the derrick; Apparatus for feeding the rods or cables
    • E21B19/08Apparatus for feeding the rods or cables; Apparatus for increasing or decreasing the pressure on the drilling tool; Apparatus for counterbalancing the weight of the rods
    • E21B19/086Apparatus for feeding the rods or cables; Apparatus for increasing or decreasing the pressure on the drilling tool; Apparatus for counterbalancing the weight of the rods with a fluid-actuated cylinder

Abstract

A drilling apparatus for directional drilling. A freely moveable connecting plate is seated in a seating provided for in a drill string motor support. The plate connects a drill string motor and a cylinder drive so that any mechanical stress transmitted by a drill string connected to the motor is substantially damped by the moveable plate. The result is that the drill string remains relatively true running to accurately bore while additionally preventing mechanical stress from damaging the cylinder, drill string motor or support therefor.

Description

DIRECTIONAL DRILLING APPARATUS
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a directional drilling arrangement and more particularly, the invention relates to an improved support arrangement employed for directional drilling.
$ACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In general overview, guided earth boring is required to bore long holes for reception of gas lines, electrical conduits, communication conduits, etc.
In a conventional manner, a series of drill pipes, which collectively form a drill string when interconnected, are joined to a motor for rotating the same. At an opposite end, a bit, reamer or percussion device is connected to permit the drilling.
Clearly, the greater the horizontal distance becomes, the greater the number of drill pipes associated with the drill string. With greater length, coupled with the fact that enormous forces are involved at the drilling bit, there is a high degree of kinking and flexing in the drill string. The result is that the forces from this motion is translated to the drill string motor and the support thereof.
The effect of the irregular motion of the drill string is most pronounced at the drill face. The drill bit is incapable of drilling a substantially horizontal bore and further, the dimension of the bore enlarges due to the lack of control at the drilling face.
The prior art has set forth a host of patents which relate to apparatuses to effect horizontal drilling, typical of which is U.S. Patent No. 4,953,638. The patent teaches an apparatus including a channel bearing frame for receiving a wheeled drill string motor. There is no provision for any lateral or elevational tolerance when the motor is carried by the carriage.
Accordingly, this reference would not appear to be adapted for dampening the forces experienced at the interface of the motor and carriage. Further, this reference does not provide any multiple sleeved cylinder means as the primary drive of the drill string motor along the carriage thereof.
A further earth boring apparatus which is known in the art is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,858,704. Similar to U.S.
Patent NO. 4,953,638, this specification provides a drill rig moveably mounted on a track assembly. There is no discussion or contemplation of any arrangement for damping stress received at the drill motor rig from the drill string. In this reference, it would appear that the apparatus would not be well suited to actuate boring since the same does not even provide a drill string support on the drill rig carriage. Further, although the patentees have disclosed the possibility of employing fluid cylinder means as the drive source for the rig, there has been no provision for addressing the problem of cylinder sag inherent when the rig advances along the track.
A further arrangement broadly related to the subject matter of the present invention is taught in U.S. Patent No. 5,133,418.
The arrangement disclosed lacks a support for the drill string motor capable of accommodating lateral and/or elevational movement thereof. Accordingly, any stress of this variety would be, since the motor is rigidly connected to the frame, absorbed by the drill string. This may result in inaccurate boring as indicated herein previously and could also result in forces being transmitted to the connection between the drill string motor and the drive therefor. In the case where the drive may be a cylinder, this could result in cylinder damage.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One object of the present invention is to provide an improved apparatus for directional drilling.
A further object of the present invention is provide a directional drilling apparatus, comprising: a frame; a drill string motor means having a drill string connected thereto;
cylinder means for advancing and retracting the drill string motor means longitudinally along the frame: a motor mounting means for supporting the drill string motor means; the mounting means including a seat; and a freely moveable connecting member seated in the seat for connecting the drill string motor means and the cylinder means and moveable in response to motion transmitted by the drill rod.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a drilling apparatus having a frame, a drill string motor moveably mounted on the frame for longitudinal movement therealong, the motor, including at least one drill rod and a bit and cylinder means for moving the drill string motor, the improvement comprising: a motor mounting means for supporting the drill string motor, the mounting means including a seat; and a freely moveable connecting member seated in the seat for connecting the drill string motor and the cylinder means and moveable in response to motion transmitted by the drill rod.
Having thus generally described this invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, illustrating preferred embodiments.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a side view of an embodiment of the overall apparatus;
Figure 2 is a plan view of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a sectional view along line 2-2 of Figure 2;
Figure 4 is a top plan view of Figure 3 with parts removed;
Figure 5 is a side elevational view of an embodiment of the connecting member and a collar for use therewith; and Figure 6 is a side view illustrating, in one embodiment, the positioning of the connecting member and collar in use.
Referring now to the drawings, Figure 1 shows the overall apparatus 10. A frame 12 is provided with spaced apart side walls 14 and 16, end walls 18 and 20, bottom wall 22 and open top 24. Adjustable frame supports 26 and 28 are connected adjacent a respective end wall 18 and 20 for adjusting the inclination and/or height of frame 12.
Frame 12 includes a multiple sleeve cylinder 30, shown more clearly in Figure 2. The cylinder 30 serves as the primary drive for driving drill string motor 32 connected therewith along the frame 12. The drill string motor 32 provides a support 34 for supporting the motor 32 and extends between side walls 14 and 16 for contact on the top surface thereof (discussed in greater detail hereinafter). The drill string motor 32 provides a coupling 36 for connecting a drill rod 38 thereto. A drill string guide member 40, positioned adjacent the front end wall 18, slidably receives the drill rod 38.
Figures 3 and 4 more clearly illustrate the relationship between the drill string motor 32, frame 12 and cylinder 30 with elements removed for clarity.
s ... .. ; ~ F . ".
. .: : : ,v . , ~ . .,. ;: J. ,. '. v .. .::' , .;
:~
...
' .

' . '.- . ' . :, ;, ,:~: ... . :. . . . ~ . .. . i..:;. . '.. : .' .
~ : . i% ..

~~

n . . . '' ! S~
. "'C

~ ... f . . ,~, > r a. .~ ., .'. S :.'., , .
The support 34 provides guides 40 and 42 for guided sliding contact with flange 43 and 45 of frame 12, respectively. The stability of the support 34 is enhanced by the provision of bolted clamping members 46 and 47.
The clamping members 46 and 47 cooperate with guides 40 and 42 and support 34 to secure the arrangement into abutting contact with flanges 43 and 45.
Beneath support 34 there is provided a seat 56 configured to receive a connecting member 60 as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4. The seat 56 is recessed within support 34 relative to a top surface thereof and includes a plurality of spaced apart walls 58. A narrow opening 59 is provided in the base of seat 56.
This is illustrated in top plan view in Figure 4 and sectionally in Figure 3. Opening 59 permits connection of member 60 with cylinder 30.
The connecting member 60 is seated in seat 56. Member 60 connects, via fasteners 61, the drill string motor 32 and the cylinder 3o and comprises a plate for positioning within seat 56.
The seat is structured such that member 60 is spaced inwardly of the seat 56, and more particularly walls 58, as illustrated by numeral 64 in Figure 4.
As is illustrated in the drawings, member 60, although spaced from the motor and inwardly of seat 56, is retained within support 34. The spacings indicated permit free movement of member 60 transversely and longitudinally relative to the longitudinal direction and thus permits movement of cylinder 30 and motor 32.
In addition, the member is pivotally moveable relative to ~~,~~~.~~~
a vertical axis to a limited degree within seat 56. Limited elevational or vertical movement relative to the frame 12 is also available. The latter is possible due to the provision of the narrow opening 59 in seat 56, the former permitting connection to cylinder 30 and by virtue of the fact that member 60 is recessed from a top surface of member 34 for seating in seat 56.
The size of the opening 59 will, of course, be of a lesser dimension than the dimension of the connecting member 60.
The arrangement indicated has been found to be particularly effective in preventing irregular motion of the drill string as well as substantially reducing the stress at the drill string motor 32 and hence the cylinder 30. By providing the free moveable plate with the same, effectively dampens motion translated from the drill string during a drilling procedure.
In order to further enhance the effectiveness of the present invention, a cylinder collar 72 may be included for surrounding cylinder 30 (not shown) and connected to plate 60 via bolts 74.
This is illustrated in Figure 5. The collar 72, as shown in the example, may comprise two semi-circular sections 76 and 79 connected by fasteners 80. The provision oP the collar 72 adds support to the cylinder to substantially alleviate sag therein as the motor 32 is advanced along frame 12. In addition to the inclusion of collar 72, the cylinder 30 may be prestressed to impart additional strength as readily appreciated by those skilled in the art. This procedure, in combination with collar 72, prevents sag in cylinder 30.
It will be readily appreciated that when alternate forms of drive means other than a multiple sleeved cylinder are employed, the collar 72 may be absent and plate 60 suitably connected to the alternate drive source. Various forms for the drive include, for example, screw arrangements, rack and pinion systems, chain drive and other related mechanical arrangements capable of and suitable for driving the drill string motor along the frame.
Although embodiments of the invention have been described above, it is not limited thereto and it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous modifications form part of the present invention insofar as they do not depart from the spirit, nature and scope of the claimed and described invention.

Claims (16)

1. A directional drilling apparatus, comprising:
a frame;
a drill string motor means having a drill string connected thereto;
cylinder means for advancing and retracting said drill string motor means longitudinally along said frame;
a motor mounting means for supporting said drill string motor means;
said mounting means including a seat; and a freely moveable connecting member seated in said seat for connecting said drill string motor means and said cylinder means and moveable in response to motion transmitted by said drill rod.
2. The directional drilling apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said cylinder means is a multiple sleeved cylinder extending within said frame.
3. The directional drilling apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein said cylinder is prestressed in longitudinal direction.
4. The directional drilling apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein said connecting member includes a cylinder retaining member for preventing sag in said cylinder as said motor means is advanced on said frame.
5. The directional drilling apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said connecting member is seated in said seat at least for limited transverse movement therein relative to said longitudinal movement.
6. The directional drilling apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said connecting member is adapted for limited vertical movement in said seat relative to said frame.
7. The directional drilling apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said connecting member comprises a plate.
8. In a drilling apparatus having a frame, a drill string motor moveably mounted on said frame for longitudinal movement therealong, said motor, including at least one drill rod and a bit and cylinder means for moving said drill string motor, the improvement comprising:
a motor mounting means for supporting said drill string motor, said mounting means including a seat; and a freely moveable connecting member seated in said seat for connecting said drill string motor and said cylinder means and moveable in response to motion transmitted by said drill rod.
9. The directional drilling apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein said cylinder means is a multiple sleeved cylinder extending within said frame.
10. The directional drilling apparatus as set forth in claim 9, wherein said cylinder is prestressed in a longitudinal direction.
11. The directional drilling apparatus as set forth in claim 9, wherein said connecting member includes a cylinder retaining member for, preventing sag in said cylinder as said motor means is advanced on said frame.
12. The directional drilling apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein said connecting member is adapted for limited transverse movement therein relative to said longitudinal movement.
13. The directional drilling apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein said connecting member is adapted for limited vertical movement relative to said seat.
14. The directional drilling apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein said connecting member is adapted for limited longitudinal movement within said seat relative thereto.
15. The directional drilling apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein said connecting member is adapted for limited pivotal movement within said seat relative to a vertical axis thereof.
16. The directional drilling apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein said connecting member comprises a plate.
CA002091529A 1993-03-11 1993-03-11 Directional drilling apparatus Expired - Lifetime CA2091529C (en)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA002091529A CA2091529C (en) 1993-03-11 1993-03-11 Directional drilling apparatus
US08/045,183 US5388653A (en) 1993-03-11 1993-04-13 Directional drilling apparatus

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA002091529A CA2091529C (en) 1993-03-11 1993-03-11 Directional drilling apparatus

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2091529A1 CA2091529A1 (en) 1994-09-12
CA2091529C true CA2091529C (en) 2000-04-25

Family

ID=4151287

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA002091529A Expired - Lifetime CA2091529C (en) 1993-03-11 1993-03-11 Directional drilling apparatus

Country Status (2)

Country Link
US (1) US5388653A (en)
CA (1) CA2091529C (en)

Families Citing this family (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5803189A (en) * 1996-08-21 1998-09-08 Geldner; Robert L. Directional boring machine
US5941320A (en) * 1997-06-24 1999-08-24 Vermeer Manufacturing Company Directional boring machine
DE19738171A1 (en) * 1997-09-01 1999-03-04 Delmag Maschinenfabrik Boring machine with driving slide on guide column
CN102979458B (en) * 2012-12-13 2015-03-04 中国水利水电第十四工程局有限公司 Rock wall beam oblique surface smooth blasting punching guiding and positioning device
CN107255100A (en) * 2017-06-30 2017-10-17 无锡威奥液压机电设备有限公司 A kind of hydraulic cylinder for horizontal orientation pushing
CN107842312B (en) * 2017-11-21 2019-08-06 绍兴韵足针纺织有限公司 A kind of underground slotting constructing device

Family Cites Families (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CA703371A (en) * 1965-02-09 Pierre E. A. Stenuick Drilling and similar machines
US3282357A (en) * 1965-05-12 1966-11-01 John R Bunn Hydraulic derrick assembly
SU840334A1 (en) * 1979-09-12 1981-06-23 Центральное Проектное Конструкторско-Технологическое Бюро Feed device
SU1102934A1 (en) * 1982-12-23 1984-07-15 Коммунарский горно-металлургический институт Feed mechanism for drilling machine
SU1137197A1 (en) * 1983-04-21 1985-01-30 Коммунарский горно-металлургический институт Feed mechanism
US4694913A (en) * 1986-05-16 1987-09-22 Gas Research Institute Guided earth boring tool
US4953638A (en) * 1988-06-27 1990-09-04 The Charles Machine Works, Inc. Method of and apparatus for drilling a horizontal controlled borehole in the earth
US5133418A (en) * 1991-01-28 1992-07-28 Lag Steering Systems Directional drilling system with eccentric mounted motor and biaxial sensor and method

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CA2091529A1 (en) 1994-09-12
US5388653A (en) 1995-02-14

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
NO179052C (en) Apparatus for centering a pipe part under a top drill for a drill
CA2038721A1 (en) Apparatus for supporting a direct drive drilling unit in a position offset from the centerline of a well
US4589503A (en) Top drive drilling apparatus with improved wrench assembly
CA2091529C (en) Directional drilling apparatus
GB2318601A (en) Puller-thruster downhole tool
SU1389690A3 (en) Method and apparatus for positioning drilling jig relative to drilling surface of wells drilled in tunnel walls
US3721305A (en) Support means for mast mounted drill
US3833070A (en) Resilient drill string guide and seal
US2242722A (en) Adjustable support for rotaries
KR102520063B1 (en) The Jig for Drilling holes in the shape steel
US5778988A (en) Drilling apparatus
EP0886033A3 (en) Apparatus for handling drill rods
US1644026A (en) Centralizer for drill steels
JPS62288290A (en) Apparatus for mounting and supporting shaft part of drillingmachine
CN113482652B (en) Drill bit positioning device for continuous drilling and grooving, drilling machine and continuous drilling method
RU2124108C1 (en) Drilling rig
CN215468296U (en) Fixed tool for drilling machine
EP0162001A1 (en) Top drive well drilling apparatus with improved wrench assembly
SU1553665A1 (en) Mobile hole-drilling unit
CN213573896U (en) Three-wheel drilling machine for electric power construction
SU1331990A1 (en) Drilling installation
SU1339031A1 (en) Machine for drilling the building structures
CA3209207A1 (en) Percussion drilling apparatus and method (with channels)
CN116752900A (en) High-stability chassis for core drilling machine
JPH07301084A (en) Rod system of rock drill

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
EEER Examination request
MKEX Expiry

Effective date: 20130311