Patent Application
20230098010
The present invention relates to a tool used to ream holes in earth drilling, so as to enlarge the size and/or to smoothen sides of a previously drilled hole.
A reaming tool or reamer is a type of rotary drilling tool, usually cylindrical, that is used to clean and/or enlarge the size of a previously drilled hole in a process called reaming. Furthermore, the reaming process also smoothens the interior surface of the borehole for a subsequent use. The application of such a reaming tool extends from metal works, such as in a milling machine or drill press, to earth drilling, such as tunnel boring and oil rigging. Very often, drilled holes do not have smooth surfaces due to irregularities caused during the drilling process. Besides, if the borehole is not used immediately, chemical and physical interactions with the surrounding environment cause more distortion in the hole profile, making the borehole more difficult to be operated later on. Therefore, reaming is performed immediately or some time after drilling a hole, prior to operating it.
Conventional reaming tools were mechanically cumbersome and not versatile in application. The field of the technology has seen various improvements in tools for reaming holes, such as prior art U.S. Pat. No. 9,080,384 B2, which discloses an apparatus for cutting a wellbore includes a motor having a stator and a rotor. The rotor has an output shaft connected to a cutting structure. The stator and rotor are spaced radially outwardly of the axis of rotation of the rotor such that at least one of the stator and the rotor had an access bore extending through the motor to adjacent the cutting structure. A further object can pass therethrough, without obstruction. The further object comprises a further cutting. A flow diverter is disposed in the motor proximate a connection between the motor and a wellbore tubular, and has a first fluid outlet in fluid communication with a power section of the motor, and a second fluid outlet in fluid communication with the access bore. The flow diverter is coupled to the stator such that axial loading created by fluid pressure is substantially transferred to the stator. However, the apparatus is difficult to use, being expensive and difficult to replace, being limited in application, and being slow.
U.S. Patent Application 20180148980 A1 discloses a reaming tool that is easier to use while achieving its functional capabilities, less expensive and more versatile than many of the prior art. including a channel body having a fluid channel disposed therethrough. The channel body includes a dynamic sleeve that allows the channel body to rotatably couple. The channel body includes a static sleeve, a dynamic sleeve, a static mandrel, and a radial bearing. The reaming tool includes a drive chamber fixedly coupled to the channel body and including a fluid conduit system. The fluid conduit system is shaped to impart rotational force on the drive chamber when fluid is forced therethrough. The drive chamber includes a post enclosed by stacked drive discs. The fluid conduit system includes an array of curved conduits. The reaming tool includes a stabilized housing fixedly coupled about the drive chambers. The disadvantage of this reaming tool is that its rotation is not fast enough and its torque not high enough for boreholes having significantly hard surfaces and many obstructing structures or blockages.
The present invention is an improved reaming tool designed to solve the aforementioned problems for being easy to use and replace, being inexpensive and versatile in application, yet being fast with high rotational power.
The present invention features a reaming tool, comprising a channel body having a tubular wall and comprising a dynamic sleeve and a fluid channel across the centre of the channel body. There are two or more tubular, drive chambers stacked one after another, with a first drive chamber having an open end in fluid connection with the fluid channel and another closed end in stacking connection with one or more subsequent drive chamber having two closed ends, wherein outer walls of the drive chambers are surrounded in a fixedly engagement by a torsional housing having separate segments allowing fluid flow in each segment. Each drive chamber has one or more inlet upstream for fluid entry and one or more discharge hole downstream for fluid discharge.
A stabilized housing has an inner wall fixedly coupled around the torsional housing and one end of the stabilized housing rotatably coupled with the dynamic sleeve of the channel body, and another end of the stabilized housing is a reamer head having one or more fluid outlet.
The tool is characterized in that the discharge hole of the drive chamber is in fluid connection with the inlet of the subsequent drive chamber by the segment of the torsional housing to form a fluid conduit system in such a way that fluid passed from the fluid channel enters the first drive chamber and flows through the fluid conduit system connecting each subsequent drive chamber to impart rotational force on the drive chambers, the torsional housing and the stabilized housing, when the fluid is forced therethrough before exiting through the fluid outlet.
Preferably, the coupling between the drive chamber and the torsional housing further comprises a drive disc having a discharge conduit that mates with the discharge hole for fluid connection between the drive chamber and a corresponding segment of the torsional housing. Preferably, the discharge conduit is a curved conduit for creating a rotational fluid jet when the fluid exits the drive chambers. More preferably, the drive disc is in place for each drive chamber and is stacked according to the number of holes in the curved surface of the drive chamber, and locked in place with the drive chamber. The drive disc and the drive chamber act as to jet fluid against the bladed segments/impellers (310) within the internal diameter of the torsional housing.
The rotational speed, torque and power increases in positive correlation with the number of drive chambers.
Further, the dynamic sleeve comprises a bearing pack positioned radially to form a rotational connection between the dynamic sleeve and the stabilized housing.
Further, the torsional housing is segmented circumferentially and lengthwise.
Preferable, an outer wall of the stabilized housing further comprises one or more reaming extension for reaming a surface.
Preferably, the reamer head is curved or torpedo-shaped, and is attached to the stabilized housing in a rotatable connection. Alternatively, the reamer head is attached to the stabilized housing in a non-rotatable connection.
Preferably, the attachment between the reamer head and the stabilized housing is a removable attachment.
Further, the channel body further comprises a static sleeve that is functionally coupled to the dynamic sleeve. There is a static housing functionally coupled to the static sleeve, and a second sleeve in fluid connection with the static housing and functionally coupled to the static sleeve. There is a static mandrel in fluid connection with the second sleeve and functionally coupled to an interior of the static sleeve.
The fluid conduit system comprises multiple inlets, discharge holes and discharge conduits in fluid connection with multiple segments of the torsional housing in connection with two or more drive chambers.
Preferably, a last drive chamber is functionally coupled to a radial bearing and is positioned between the last drive chamber and the fluid outlet.
The present invention consists of features and a combination of parts hereinafter fully described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it being understood that various changes in the details may be made without departing from the scope of the invention or sacrificing any of the advantages of the present invention.
The novel features believed characteristic of the embodiments of the present application are set forth in the appended claims. However, the embodiments themselves, as well as a preferred mode of use, and further objectives and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
While the system and method of use of the present application is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the description herein of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the invention to the particular embodiment disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present application as defined by the appended claims.
Illustrative embodiments of the system and method of use of the present application are provided below. It will of course be appreciated that in the development of any actual embodiment, numerous implementation-specific decisions will be made to achieve the developer's specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints, which will vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it will be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time-consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking for those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure.
The system and method of use will be understood, both as to its structure and operation, from the accompanying drawings, taken in conjunction with the accompanying description. Several embodiments of the system are presented herein. It should be understood that various components, parts, and features of the different embodiments may be combined together and/or interchanged with one another, all of which are within the scope of the present application, even though not all variations and particular embodiments are shown in the drawings. It should also be understood that the mixing and matching of features, elements, and/or functions between various embodiments is expressly contemplated herein so that one of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate from this disclosure that the features, elements, and/or functions of one embodiment may be incorporated into another embodiment as appropriate, unless described otherwise.
The preferred embodiment herein described is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. It is chosen and described to explain the principles of the invention and its application and practical use to enable others skilled in the art to follow its teachings.
The general principles of the present invention relate to a tool for reaming drilled holes or tunnels using a rotational force created by forcing a fluid, such as water, through the tool. More specifically, the reaming tool is a hydraulically powered reaming tool that is structurally modified to provide increased rotational force using the same volumetric rate of fluid as compared with the previous invention.
Channel Body (100)
The channel body (100) has a polygonal (preferably tubular) wall and is coupled to one end of the stabilized housing (400) by a dynamic sleeve (110) in such a way that the stabilized housing (400) is in rotational connection with the channel body (100) such that they are connected, but allows for rotation of the stabilized housing (400) on a rotational axis aligned with a long axis of the tool. The interior of the channel body (100), across its center, is a fluid channel (120) that allows a drilling fluid to pass through and enter the interior of the stabilized housing (400). As such, the fluid may flow from a back end of the reaming tool to exit a front end of the tool.
In a preferred embodiment (as illustrated in
In another preferred embodiment (as illustrated in
Drive Chamber (200)
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, two or more cylindrical (preferably tubular) drive chambers (200) are stacked one after another within the interior of the reaming tool. A first drive chamber (200′) has an open end in fluid connection with the fluid channel (120) through the static mandrel (160) and another closed end in stacking connection with one or more subsequent drive chamber (200″) having two closed ends. Each of the drive chambers (200) has one or more inlets (210) upstream for fluid entry into the drive chamber (200) and one or more discharge holes (220) at the side (curved surface) downstream for fluid discharge out of the drive chamber (200). Preferably, for subsequent drive chambers, the inlet (210) disposed at the side (curved surface) of the tubular drive chamber (200). More preferably, there are multiple inlets (210) and discharge holes (220), in even or odd numbers (one, two, four, six or more), that may be positioned in pairs at opposite sides to one another or as single holes along the length of the drive chamber but uniformly offset from each other radially around the circumference of the drive chamber (200). This configuration enables a balanced rotational force to be created when the fluid is forced to flow in and out of the drive chamber (200), through drive discs (230) to impact the torsional housing (300), as described below.
Torsional Housing (300)
Outer walls (exterior) of the drive chambers (200) are surrounded in a fixedly engagement by a torsional housing (300), also known as impeller sleeve. In a preferred embodiment, the torsional housing (300) comprises separate bladed segments (310) in the form of impellers allowing fluid flow in each segment. The torsional housing (300) is segmented circumferentially (illustrated in
Stabilized Housing (400)
The stabilized housing (400) has an inner wall that is fixedly coupled around outer wall of the torsional housing (300). While back end of the stabilized housing (400) is in rotatable connection with the dynamic sleeve (110), the other end (front end) of the stabilized housing (400) is attached to a reamer head (410) having one or more fluid outlet (411) so that fluid flowing through the reaming tool may exit through the fluid outlet (411). There is a radial bearing (430) functionally coupled to the last drive chamber and positioned between the last drive chamber and the fluid outlet (411) such that the fluid from the last drive chamber is channelled towards the reamer head (410) and exits through the fluid outlet (411). The attachment between the reamer head (410) and the stabilized housing (400) is a removable attachment, such as by way of screw and thread, friction fit, male and female configuration, clip, or the likes. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the reamer head (410) is curved or torpedo-shaped, and is attached to the stabilized housing (400) in a rotatable connection. In an alternative embodiment, the reamer head (410) is attached to the stabilized housing (400) in a non-rotatable connection.
The outer wall (exterior) of the stabilized housing (400) further comprises a reaming extension (420) that is shaped for reaming a surface in a drilled hole that comes into contact with the rotating stabilized housing (400). In a preferred embodiment, the reaming extension (420) has a rough outer surface, such as having protrusions, for scraping or smoothening the interior of a drilled hole (illustrated in
Operation
In operation, the back end of the reaming tool is coupled to an end of a string and dropped down a drill hole. When fluid is pumped through the string, the fluid enters the reaming tool from back end of the channel body (100). The fluid is passed from the fluid channel (120), then enters the first drive chamber (200′) and flows through the drive discs (230) and subsequently the fluid conduit system connecting each subsequent drive chamber (200″). As illustrated in
According to a preferred embodiment as illustrated in
The particular embodiments disclosed above are illustrative only, as the embodiments may be modified and practiced in different but equivalent manners apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings herein. It is therefore evident that the particular embodiments disclosed above may be altered or modified, and all such variations are considered within the scope and spirit of the application. Accordingly, the protection sought herein is as set forth in the description. Although the present embodiments are shown above, they are not limited to just these embodiments, but are amenable to various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PI2021005706 | Sep 2021 | MY | national |
