Hughes Tool Company LLC

W-N Apache Corporation

Lee Roy Hodge

John Mark Crowell

Richard A Rogers

A centering spinner for centering and spinning down hole tubulars having a range of diameters. The centering spinner includes a frame capable of admitting a down hole tubular therein and a plurality of roller assemblies pivotally coupled to the frame to converge upon and center the down hole tubular. According to a further feature, adjacent rollers of the roller assemblies of the centering spinner are axially displaced with respect to a down hole tubular retained therein.

Centering spinning for down hole tubulars

A stabilizer for attachment to a drill string in shaft drilling has an improved bearing. The stabilizer has an inner hub that is rigidly secured to the drill string above the bit. An outer hub encircles the inner hub. The outer hub has a centralizing device that extends laterally outward for frictionally engaging the walls of the shaft if the drill string wanders off-center. The bearing between the inner and outer hubs includes a plurality of rollers rotatably mounted to one of the hubs and in rolling contact with the other of the hubs to allow rotation of the hubs with respect to each other. In the preferred embodiment, the hub opposite the one containing the rollers has frusto-conical rings that are engaged in rolling contact by the rollers.

Bearing for a shaft cutter stabilizer

An improved means for making up and breaking out sections of drill pipe is disclosed herein. The make-up and breakout system is adapted for drill rigs having powered rotaries and powered carriages for moving the rotary up and down the mast. A wrench is mounted to the carriage for gripping the first section of the pipe. Slips are mounted at the work table for gripping the second section of pipe to support the string of pipe and prevent its rotation. The wrench is powered independently of the rotary, and the wrench and rotary can also rotate a certain amount with respect to each other while the wrench is gripping the first section of pipe. The independent power of rotation allows the wrench to breakout the first section from the second section. It also allows the rotary to breakout the first section from the rotary while the wrench restrains the first section from rotation.

Independently powered breakout apparatus and method for a sectional

An improved shaft drill break-out system is disclosed that utilizes three separate out-put torques for the power swivel used to break-out, make-up and rotate the drill stem and attached drill bit for earth boring. When removing drill stem from the hole, the power swivel is tightened to the upper end of the drill stem with the largest torque. Thus, when the upper section of drill stem is lifted for breaking the bottom connection from the next lower section of drill stem, it is assured that this bottom connection will be broken since when going in the hole this connection was made-up with the intermediate torque. The lowest torque is used for drilling. As a consequence, sufficient torque for break-out is assured with proper selection of each of the three torques. Additionally disclosed are break-out arms and a slip assembly adapted for selected engagement with vertical slots in the drill stem to facilitate make-up and break-out.

Shaft drill break-out system

A system for use in the make-up or break-out of drill stem members of earth boring machines having a hydraulically operated power swivel to rotate the drill stem and hydraulic cylinders to raise and lower the swivel. A first, variable volume pump supplies fluid to the hydraulic cylinder through a four-way valve. A servo pump controller, connected with this valve and operable by variable resistors, establishes the linear make-up and break-out speeds for the power swivel. A second, variable volume and reversible pump supplies fluid to the power swivel means. A second servo pump controller, connected with the second pump and operable by variable resistors, establishes selected linear rotational travel speeds for the power swivel. Make-up torque is controlled by an electrical solenoid activated pressure compensator connected with the second pump, and linear speed is similarly controlled.

Growing community of inventors

Houston, TX, United States of America

Lee Roy Hodge