Downhole drilling subassembly and method for same
First Claim
1. A downhole drilling subassembly for use with a pressurized fluid carrying drill string extending from a well head and having a portion down a bore hole, comprising a first tubular housing, means carried by the first tubular housing adapted to couple the first tubular housing to the portion of the drill string in the bore hole, a second tubular housing carried by the first tubular housing, each of the housings having a generally circular cross-section and extending along a longitudinal axis, the second tubular housing being longitudinally movable relative to the first tubular housing between a first longitudinal position at least partially retracted within the first tubular housing and a second longitudinal position at least partially extended from the first tubular housing, means carried by the first and second tubular housings and responsive to moving the second tubular housing from its first longitudinal position to its second longitudinal position for rotating the first and second tubular housings with respect to one another in the bore hole between first and second relative angular positions, the rotating means including a recess provided in one of the tubular housings and formed with a sidewall extending diagonal to the longitudinal axis and a pin carried by the other of the tubular housings and having a portion for travel in the recess whereby the pin engages the sidewall as the second tubular housing moves to its second longitudinal position, and a first inclined surface carried by the first tubular housing and a second inclined surface carried by the second tubular housing whereby the inclined surfaces engage during movement of the second tubular housing from its second longitudinal position to its first longitudinal position for rotating the first and second tubular housings with respect to one another in the bore hole between second and third relative angular positions.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A downhole drilling subassembly for use with a pressurized fluid carrying drill string extending from a well head and having a portion down a bore hole. A first tubular housing is provided which is adapted to couple to the portion of the drill string in the bore hole. A second tubular housing is carried by the first tubular housing. Each of the housings has a generally circular cross-section and extends along a longitudinal axis. The second tubular housing is longitudinally movable relative to the first tubular housing between a first position at least partially retracted within the first tubular housing and a second position at least partially extended from the first tubular housing. An assembly responsive to moving the second tubular housing from its first position to its second position is carried by the first and second tubular housings for rotating the first and second tubular housings with respect to one another in the bore hole between first and second relative angular positions. The assembly includes a recess provided in one of the tubular housings and formed with a sidewall extending diagonal to the longitudinal axis and a pin carried by the other of the tubular housings and having a portion for travel in the recess.
58 Citations
17 Claims
- 1. A downhole drilling subassembly for use with a pressurized fluid carrying drill string extending from a well head and having a portion down a bore hole, comprising a first tubular housing, means carried by the first tubular housing adapted to couple the first tubular housing to the portion of the drill string in the bore hole, a second tubular housing carried by the first tubular housing, each of the housings having a generally circular cross-section and extending along a longitudinal axis, the second tubular housing being longitudinally movable relative to the first tubular housing between a first longitudinal position at least partially retracted within the first tubular housing and a second longitudinal position at least partially extended from the first tubular housing, means carried by the first and second tubular housings and responsive to moving the second tubular housing from its first longitudinal position to its second longitudinal position for rotating the first and second tubular housings with respect to one another in the bore hole between first and second relative angular positions, the rotating means including a recess provided in one of the tubular housings and formed with a sidewall extending diagonal to the longitudinal axis and a pin carried by the other of the tubular housings and having a portion for travel in the recess whereby the pin engages the sidewall as the second tubular housing moves to its second longitudinal position, and a first inclined surface carried by the first tubular housing and a second inclined surface carried by the second tubular housing whereby the inclined surfaces engage during movement of the second tubular housing from its second longitudinal position to its first longitudinal position for rotating the first and second tubular housings with respect to one another in the bore hole between second and third relative angular positions.
- 6. A downhole drilling subassembly for use with a pressurized fluid carrying drill string extending from a well head and having a portion down a bore hole, comprising a first tubular housing, means carried by the first tubular housing adapted to couple the first tubular housing to the portion of the drill string in the bore hole, a second tubular housing carried by the first tubular housing, each of the housings having a generally circular cross-section and extending along a longitudinal axis, the second tubular housing being longitudinally movable relative to the first tubular housing between a first longitudinal position at least partially retracted within the first tubular housing and a second longitudinal position at least partially extended from the first tubular housing, and means carried by the first and second tubular housings and responsive to moving the second tubular housing from its second longitudinal position to its first longitudinal position for rotating the first and second tubular housings with respect to one another in the bore hole between first and second relative angular positions, the rotating means including a first inclined surface carried by the first tubular housing and a second inclined surface carried by the second tubular housing whereby the inclined surfaces engage as the second tubular housing moves to its first longitudinal position.
- 8. A downhole drilling subassembly for use with a pressurized fluid carrying drill string extending from a well head and having a portion down a bore hole, comprising a first tubular housing, means carried by the first tubular housing adapted to couple the first tubular housing to the portion of the drill string in the bore hole, a second tubular housing carried by the first tubular housing, each of the housings having a generally circular cross-section and extending along a longitudinal axis, the second tubular housing being longitudinally movable relative to the first tubular housing between a first longitudinal position at least partially retracted within the first tubular housing and a second longitudinal position at least partially extended from the first tubular housing, a spring member carried by the first tubular housing exerting a compressive force when the second tubular housing is in the first longitudinal position and means carried by the first and second tubular housings and responsive to moving the second tubular housing from its first longitudinal position to its second longitudinal position and then back to its first longitudinal position for changing the compressive force exerted by the spring member when the second tubular housing is in the first longitudinal position.
- 15. A method for changing the angle of a downhole adjustable bend subassembly mounted to a drill string which extends from a well head down to the bottom of a bore hole and has upper and lower sections comprising the steps of selecting a subassembly with an upper housing coupled to the upper section of the drill string at an oblique angle and a lower housing coupled to the lower section of the drill string at an oblique angle and raising the drill string off of the bottom of the bore hole to cause the lower housing to extend downwardly relative to the upper housing and thus rotate with respect to the upper housing so as to change the angle of the subassembly.
Specification