Maurer Engineering Gmbh

Lawrence Wayne Matson, Jr

Jeddy D Nixon

Jeddy Darr Nixon, Jr

Larry Joseph Remont

A seal is disclosed for use in high ambient temperatures. The seal includes a plurality of V-shaped seal rings having opposite convex and concave sides that are stacked or rested in the annular space provided between a shaft and a housing through which the shaft extends. Each seal ring includes an annular body of self-lubricating, low-friction graphite, which is a very good conductor of heat. The outer and inner edges of the annular body of graphite are moved into sealing engagement with the shaft and housing when the annular body is subjected to a differential pressure. A ring of spring metal that is V-shaped in cross-section is embedded in the annular body of graphite to support the annular body of low-friction material and hold it in position to form a seal between the shaft and the housing against the differential pressure exerted across the seal. One edge of the ring of spring metal engages the housing to provide a frictional force that resists relative movement between the seal ring and the housing and also to conduct heat from the seal directly through the spring metal into the housing in which the seal is located.

Shaft seal assembly and seal ring therefor

A turbo drill which is connected to a string of drill pipe as a rotating shaft for driving a drill bit which may be a rotary bit or a high speed solid head diamond bit. The turbine section has rotor and stator blades which are crescent shaped in cross section with each blade having an exit angle of 14.degree.- 23.degree. from maximum turbine efficiency. The bearing shaft is provided with chevron rotary seals positioned below the rotary bearings carrying both radial and vertical thrust. Fluid lubricant fills the space from the rotary seals to a predetermined level above the bearings. A piston seals the lubricant chamber and is pressurized by drilling fluid (i.e., mud) flowing through the tool. A layer of lubricant fluid overlies the first piston and has a second piston covering said fluid and transmitting pressure from the drilling fluid to the lubricant fluid surrounding the bearings. A plug member in the bearing shaft is positioned to be dislodged at the low lubricant position of the first piston to provide a temporary obstruction to the flow of drilling fluid to give an indication, at the well surface, of loss of lubricant in the turbo drill. An optional feature provides for increasing the pressure drop of drilling fluid in the turbo drill to cause the vertical thrust to be carried on the bottom vertical thrust bearings, after the top vertical thrust bearings are worn, and thus extend the drilling life substantially. A further optional feature is a locking ring arrangement which prevents separation of threaded connections in the drill housing during use.

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League City, TX, United States of America

Lawrence Wayne Matson, Jr