Drilex Systems, Inc.

Grant Oil Tool Company

James T Watts

Eric G Dodd

A drilling head with an upper body assembly removably clamped onto a stationary spool via a bayonet-type coupler clamp rotated into clamped and unclamped positions by a remote controlled hydraulic motor connected to the clamp by a ring and pinion gear. The upper body assembly has a kelly bushing, a corrugated drive bushing rotatable with the kelly bushing, a drive ring rotatable with the drive bushing a bearing assembly surrounding the drive ring, and an elastomeric stripper connected to the drive ring for rotation therewith. The stripper is adapted for sealing engagement with a rotating kelly drive which slides down through the drilling head. Quick connect/disconnect lubrication fittings on the clamp and upper body assembly are releasably mated upon rotation of the clamp to the clamped position to provide lubrication from a single lubrication line to both the bearing assembly and seals via passageways formed in the outer body of the upper body assembly.

Drilling head with bayonet coupling

This invention discloses a seal assembly for use in high and/or low pressure applications which allow for selective bleeding in a given direction of fluid flow. The seal assembly includes a resilient seal ring, a split spacer ring, and a split back-up ring, all interacting in a manner such that when subjected to pressure from one direction, the resilient seal ring pivots about the spacer ring, permitting bleeding of fluid across the seal. When subjected to pressure from the opposite direction, the resilient seal ring is forced against the split back-up ring, thereby forming a tight seal, preventing leakage.

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Fullerton, CA, United States of America

James T Watts