Norton Christensen, Inc.

Spiral Drilling Systems, Inc.

Lawrence Frear

Craig R Hyland

John S Davis

An improved universal ball joint especially adapted to be used in the transmission of high torque, as in oil field use, includes a driving and driven shaft. One of the shafts, which may be the driving shaft includes a spherical ball received in a housing provided in the other shaft, which may be the driven shaft. The opposed surfaces of the ball and housing include axially extending grooves of essentially the same depth and length forming therebetween a plurality of chambers. Each chamber receives a pin which is tapered at each end and which forms the driving connection between the shafts. The shafts and the ball may include a bore for flow of fluid through the assembly, the ball being sealed in the ball chamber by seals to provide a sealed ball chamber which may be filled with lubricant, the ball being seated on a bearing and retained in the chamber by a retainer member which prevents relative axial movement between the shafts. Various forms are described including arrangements for flexible drill strings, reamer/stabilizer combination, mill tool combination and an arrangement for use in converting eccentric rotation to concentric rotation for use in a downhole motor.

Universal ball joint

A rotary drag drill bit is seen wherein cutter bodies are rotatively connected to a main body structure at a fully offset position. The fully offset position is defined by a rotational axis of each cutter body, a longitudinal axis of the drill bit and end support points or positions of the cutter bodies. The rotational axes of the cutter bodies are perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the drill bit. The end supports of the cutter body are each equal distance from any point on the longitudinal axis of the drill bit. The cutter bodies of essentially ellipsoidal configuration, being slightly thicker at a mid-portion thereof. Cutting elements are connected to flutes projecting above an outer surface of each cutter body. In a primary rotational direction of the drill string and drill bit, the rows abrade the bottom and side walls of a well bore as the cutter body attacks the earth formation as the drill bit is rotated. The impingement of the cutting elements of the cutter body on the earth formation imparts a secondary rotation to the cutter bodies, which secondary rotation is induced by the primary rotation. The secondary rotation allows the rows of cutting elements to engage the side wall of the bore and gauge the hole as well as abrading away material from the bottom of the well bore. A roller bearing assembly is provided for the cutter body to permit the secondary rotation, while a thrust bearing assembly assists the primary abrasive action imparted by the primary rotational movement of the rotary drill bit. A lubrication system is included in the main body structure of the drill bit wherein both the roller bearing assembly and thrust bearing assembly are lubricated.

Growing community of inventors

Sandy, UT, United States of America

Lawrence Frear