Directional boring head with deflection shoe and method of boring

• US 5,490,569 A
• Filed: 03/22/1994
• Issued: 02/13/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Charles Machine Works Incorporated The
• Original Assignee: Charles Machine Works Incorporated The
• Inventors: Brotherton, Jimmy L., Layne, Roger R., Sewell, Cody L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bagnell, David J.
• Application Number:
  US08/215,649
• Time in Patent Office: 693 Days
• Field of Search: 175/45, 175/61, 175/62, 175/73, 175/74, 175/76, 175/256
• US Class Current: 175/61
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 7/002 Drilling with diversely driven shafts extending into the borehole ⁠ E21B7/001 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 7/062 the tool shaft rotating inside a non-rotating guide travelling with the shaft E21B7/067 and E21B7/068 take precedence

Abstract

A boring apparatus (10) is disclosed which includes a casing (16) mounting a drill bit (42) and a deflection shoe (22). The cutting circle of the drill bit is offset from the centerline axis (18) of the casing (16). At least a portion of the deflection shoe (22) lies outside the cutting circle of the drill bit so that the deflection shoe causes the boring apparatus to deflect as the borehole is drilled. Rotation of the casing 16 a predetermined distance will cause the boring apparatus to change the direction of deflection. A continuous rotation of the casing will permit the boring apparatus to bore straight ahead. The drill stem (32, 68, 74) rotating the drill bit can be mounted concentric with the centerline axis of the casing and offset therefrom, at an angle relative to the centerline axis and can be sufficiently flexible to be curved to accommodate the signal beacon housing.

Claims

1. An apparatus for boring a hole with a directional control from the surface comprising:

a body having an elongate axis and a front end;

a drill bit mounted at the front end of the body for rotary motion about a drill bit axis, the drill bit axis being constantly noncoincident with the elongate axis of the body at the front end;

a casing rigidly secured to the body and extending to the surface to selectively rotate the body independent of the drill bit to position the deflection Shoe to deflect the apparatus within the bore;

a deflection shoe mounted on a first side of the body;

rotating structure to rotate the drill bit continuously to bore the hole, the rotating structure extending to the surface.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the drill bit axis is parallel the elongate axis of the body.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the drill bit axis is offset from the elongate axis.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the drill bit axis is at an angle relative to the elongate axis of the body.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the apparatus includes a drill bit rotating shaft rotatably mounted within the body.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the drill bit rotating shaft is flexible.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the drill bit is a three cone rotary (roller) bit.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the drill bit is a drag bit for boring various soil and rock formations.

9. An apparatus for boring a hole with a directional control comprising:

a body having an elongate axis and a front end;

a drill bit mounted at the front end of the body for rotary motion about a drill bit axis;

a deflection shoe mounted on a first side of the body;

rotating structure to rotate the drill bit continuously to bore the hole;

deflection control structure to selectively rotate the body independent of the drill bit to position the deflection shoe to deflect the apparatus within the bore;

a drill bit rotating shaft rotatably mounted within the body;

the drill bit rotating shaft being mounted within the body at an angle relative to the elongate axis of the body.

10. An apparatus for boring a hole with a directional control comprising:

a body having an elongate axis and a front end;

a drill bit mounted at the front end of the body for rotary motion about a drill bit axis;

a deflection shoe mounted on a first side of the body;

rotating structure to rotate the drill bit continuously to bore the hole;

deflection control structure to selectively rotate the body independent of the drill bit to position the deflection shoe to deflect the apparatus within the bore;

a signal beacon being mounted in the body.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the signal beacon is mounted on the first side of the body to assist the deflection shoe.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the signal beacon is mounted on the side of the body opposite to the first side.

13. An apparatus for boring a hole with a directional control comprising:

a body having an elongate axis and a front end;

a drill bit mounted at the front end of the body for rotary motion about a drill bit axis;

a deflection shoe mounted on a first side of the body;

rotating structure to rotate the drill bit continuously to bore the hole;

deflection control structure to selectively rotate the body independent of the drill bit to position the deflection shoe to deflect the apparatus within the bore;

the deflection control structure being mounted within the body and including a first dog fixed on the body and a second dog mounted on the rotating structure for rotating the drill bit, the rotating structure being movable along its axis from a first position with the dogs disengaged to a second position engaging the dogs to rotate the body to position the deflection shoe to deflect the apparatus within the bore.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising structure to rotate the body independent of the drill bit.

15. An apparatus for boring a hole with a directional control comprising:

a body having an elongate axis and a front end;

a drill bit mounted at the front end of the body for rotary motion about a drill bit axis;

a deflection shoe mounted on a first side of the body;

rotating structure to rotate the drill bit continuously to bore the hole;

deflection control structure to selectively rotate the body independent of the drill bit to position the deflection shoe to deflect the apparatus within the bore;

the deflection shoe being bolted to the body.

16. An apparatus for boring a hole with a directional control comprising:

a body having an elongate axis and a front end;

a drill bit mounted at the front end of the body for rotary motion about a drill bit axis;

a deflection shoe mounted on a first side of the body;

rotating structure to rotate the drill bit continuously to bore the hole;

deflection control structure to selectively rotate the body independent of the drill bit to position the deflection shoe to deflect the apparatus within the bore;

the deflection control structure being mounted externally of the body and including a first dog fixed to the drill bit and a second dog mounted on the body and forming the deflection shoe, the drill bit being movable along its axis from a first position with the dogs disengaged to a second position engaging the dogs to rotate the body with the drill string to position the deflection shoe to deflect the apparatus within the bore.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 further comprising structure to rotate the body independent of the drill bit.

18. An apparatus for boring a hole with directional control from the surface, comprising:

a casing having an elongate axis and a forward end, the casing mounting a forward bearing therein and a rearward bearing therein proximate the forward end, the casing extending to the surface;

a drill stem mounted within the forward and rearward bearings of the casing for rotation relative to the casing, the bearings preventing movement of the drill stem relative the casing along the elongate axis, a portion of the drill stem extending outward from the casing at the forward end thereof;

a drill bit mounted on said portion of said drill stem for rotary motion about a drill bit axis, the drill bit having a cutting circle;

a deflection shoe mounted on a first side of the casing, at least a portion of the deflection shoe extending outside the cutting circle of the drill bit.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the drill bit axis is parallel the elongate axis of the body.

20. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the drill bit is a three cone rotary bit.

21. An apparatus for boring a hole with directional control, comprising:

a casing having an elongate axis and a forward end, the casing mounting a forward bearing therein and a rearward bearing therein;

a drill stem mounted within the forward and rearward bearings of the casing for rotation relative to the casing, a portion of the drill stem extending outward from the casing at the forward end thereof;

a drill bit mounted on said portion of said drill stem for rotary motion about a drill bit axis, the drill bit having a cutting circle;

a deflection shoe mounted on a first side of the casing, at least a portion of the deflection shoe extending outside the cutting circle of the drill bit;

the drill bit axis being offset from the elongate axis.

22. An apparatus for boring a hole with directional control, comprising:

a casing having an elongate axis and a forward end the casing mounting a forward bearing therein and a rearward bearing therein;

a drill stem mounted within the forward and rearward bearings of the casing for rotation relative to the casing, a portion of the drill stem extending outward from the casing at the forward end thereof;

a drill bit mounted on said portion of said drill stem for rotary motion about a drill bit axis, the drill bit having a cutting circle;

a deflection shoe mounted on a first side of the casing, at least a portion of the deflection shoe extending outside the cutting circle of the drill bit;

the drill bit axis being at an angle relative to the elongate axis of the body.

23. An apparatus for boring a hole with directional control, comprising:

a casing having an elongate axis and a forward end, the casing mounting a forward bearing therein and a rearward bearing therein;

a drill stem mounted within the forward and rearward bearings of the casing for rotation relative to the casing, a portion of the drill stem extending outward from the casing at the forward end thereof;

a drill bit mounted on said portion of said drill stem for rotary motion about a drill bit axis, the drill bit having a cutting circle;

a deflection shoe mounted on a first side of the casing, at least a portion of the deflection shoe extending outside the cutting circle of the drill bit;

the drill stem being flexible.

24. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the drill stem is mounted within the body at an angle relative to the elongate axis of the body.

25. An apparatus for boring a hole with directional control, comprising:

a casing having an elongate axis and a forward end, the casing mounting a forward bearing therein and a rearward bearing therein;

a drill stem mounted within the forward and rearward bearings of the casing for rotation relative to the casing, a portion of the drill stem extending outward from the casing at the forward end thereof;

a drill bit mounted on said portion of said drill stem for rotary motion about a drill bit axis, the drill bit having a cutting circle;

a deflection shoe mounted on a first side of the casing, at least a portion of the deflection shoe extending outside the cutting circle of the drill bit;

a signal beacon being mounted in the body.

26. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein the signal beacon is mounted on the first side of the body to assist the deflection shoe with at least a portion of the signal beacon extending outside the cutting circle of the drilling bit.

27. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein the signal beacon is mounted on the side of the body opposite the first side.

28. An apparatus for boring a hole with directional control, comprising:

a casing having an elongate axis and a forward end, the casing mounting a forward bearing therein and a rearward bearing therein;

a drill stem mounted within the forward and rearward bearings of the casing for rotation relative to the casing, a portion of the drill stem extending outward from the casing at the forward end thereof;

a drill bit mounted on said portion of said drill stem for rotary motion about a drill bit axis, the drill bit having a cutting circle;

a deflection shoe mounted on a first side of the casing, at least a portion of the deflection shoe extending outside the cutting circle of the drill bit;

a direction change mechanism, said direction change mechanism including a first dog fixed in the casing and an element for rotating the drill stem but moving along the centerline axis of the housing relative to the drill stem, a rotating dog mounted on said element, the element being movable along the centerline axis of the housing from a first position with the dogs disengaged to a second position engaging the dogs to rotate the casing.

29. An apparatus for boring a hole with directional control, comprising:

a casing having an elongate axis and a forward end, the casing mounting a forward beating therein and a rearward beating therein;

a drill stem mounted within the forward and rearward beatings of the casing for rotation relative to the casing, a portion of the drill stem extending outward from the casing at the forward end thereof;

a drill bit mounted on said portion of said drill stem for rotary motion about a drill bit axis, the drill bit having a cutting circle;

a deflection shoe mounted on a first side of the casing, at least a portion of the deflection shoe extending outside the cutting circle of the drill bit;

the deflection shoe being bolted to the casing.

30. A method for boring a hole with directional control from the surface, comprising the steps of:

simultaneously rotating a casing extending into the hole from the surface and a drill stem extending into the hole from the surface while thrusting the casing and drill stem forward in the hole, the casing having a forward end and the drill stem being mounted to the casing for rotation relative thereto at the forward end, a drill bit being mounted on the drill stem at the forward end;

stopping the rotation of the casing while continuing rotation of the drill stem to form a curved hole, the casing having a deflection shoe thereon at the forward end to deflect the hole.

31. The method of claim 30 further comprising the step of mounting the drill stem within the casing so that the axis of rotation of the drill bit is constantly noncoincident with the axis of rotation of the casing at the forward end.