US3807514A - Drilling apparatus - Google Patents

Drilling apparatus Download PDF

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US3807514A
US3807514A US00279587A US27958772A US3807514A US 3807514 A US3807514 A US 3807514A US 00279587 A US00279587 A US 00279587A US 27958772 A US27958772 A US 27958772A US 3807514 A US3807514 A US 3807514A
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passage
sample
air
mud
assembly
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J Murrell
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    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B21/00—Methods or apparatus for flushing boreholes, e.g. by use of exhaust air from motor
    • E21B21/12—Methods or apparatus for flushing boreholes, e.g. by use of exhaust air from motor using drilling pipes with plural fluid passages, e.g. closed circulation systems
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B21/00—Methods or apparatus for flushing boreholes, e.g. by use of exhaust air from motor
    • E21B21/16—Methods or apparatus for flushing boreholes, e.g. by use of exhaust air from motor using gaseous fluids
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B3/00—Rotary drilling
    • E21B3/02—Surface drives for rotary drilling
    • E21B3/04—Rotary tables

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT A sample drilling apparatus comprising an above ground unit and a drilling tube assembly which in operation is rotated about its longitudinal axis and ad- Cl 1 vanced axially into the ground to be sampled by said l l5 above' ground unit, said drilling tube assembly com- [51] Int.
  • the invention has been devised to provide a sample drilling apparatus for use in sandy areas and other soft formation areas, which will provide contamination-free samples. Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter become apparent.
  • sample drilling apparatus comprising an above ground unit and a drilling tube assembly which in operation is rotated about its longitudinal axis and advanced axially into the ground to be sampled by said above ground unit, said drilling tube assembly comprising a stem and a cutting head connected thereto at its lowermost end, said drilling tube assembly having a delivery passage therethrough for up-flow of sample dislodged by the cutting head and an air supply passage communicating with saiddelivery passage through an air transfer assembly located adjacent the lowermost end of said drilling tube assembly, and a mud supply passage communicating with the wall of the drilled hole, for supplying-mud to the wall of the drilled hole, said delivery passage having an above ground sample outlet and said air supply passage and said mud supply passage respectively communicating with an above ground air inlet assembly, through which air may be forced into said air supply passage through said air transfer assembly to pass up said delivery passage with said sample, and an above ground mud inlet assembly communicating with said mud supply passage.
  • the mud is supplied by forcing it down through the drilling tube assembly, suitably in a passage between concentric tubes, delivery means being provided, above the cutting head, from said passage to communicate with the wall of the drilled hole.
  • the said mud passage within the drilling assembly is suitably sealed from the air supply passage, the latter being located concentrically inwardly of the mud passage.
  • the above ground unit for rotating the drilling assembly includes drive means to rotate the drilling assembly and inlet assemblies for mud and air to supply the said mud to the mud passage within the rotating drilling assembly and air to the air passage within the rotating drilling assembly and an outlet passage from the delivery passage within the drilling assembly to enable the drilled and cut sample to be collected.
  • FIG. 1 is a partly schematic and sectional view of the above ground unit and the upper portion of the drilling tube assembly, according to one embodiment of the invention
  • FIG. 2 is a partly schematic part sectional view of the drilling tube assembly and the cutting head according to one embodiment of the invention
  • FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of cutting head illustrated in FIG. 2;
  • FIG. 4 is a part sectional view of an alternate above ground unit and inlet assemblies for air and mud inlets into the drilling tube assembly;
  • FIG. 5 illustrates an alternate drilling tube assembly for use with the drillinghead and inlet assemblies illustrated in FIG. 4; and I FIG. 6 illustrates in cross-section a suitable sand bit for use with the drilling tube assembly illustrated in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5.
  • sample drilling apparatus 10 comprising a drilling tube assembly 1 1 adapted to be rotated and advanced into the ground to be sampled by an above ground unit 12.
  • the above ground unit 12 has an output shaft 13 which is, in operation, rotated by a hydraulic motor 14 driving through a two speed gearbox 15, contained within a main frame assembly 23.
  • the normally vertical output shaft assembly 13' comprises an inner torque transmitting tube 16 which is disposed concentrically within and secured to an intermediate tube 17 and an outer tube 18.
  • the top ends 21 of the concentric tubes of the drive spindle assembly 13 engage sealably and rotatably, by a glandular type connection as illustrated, with downwardly projecting concentrically disposed dividing walls 22 fixed rigidly to the main frame 23. These dividing walls 22 form therebetween an air inlet chamber 24, which remains stationary when the output shaft 13 rotates and which communicates with the air passage 20, and a mud inlet chamber 25 which communicates with the mud passage 19.
  • the innermost concentric wall 22 continues upwards to form an outlet passage 26 onto which a length of flexible tube can be fixed to direct the cuttings to the sampling station.
  • the output shaft 13 connects to the drilling tube assembly 11 by means of a quick-action threaded connection which interconnects the inner torque tubes 16 of the drive spindle assembly 13 and the drilling tube assembly.
  • a quick-action threaded connection which interconnects the inner torque tubes 16 of the drive spindle assembly 13 and the drilling tube assembly.
  • the tubes and passages in the drilling tube assembly 11 are similar to those of the output shaft 13 they will be referred to in the following description with names and numerals denoted above for the output shaft.
  • the drilling tube assembly 1 1 is made up of the required number of individual drilling tube lengths, connected end to end by quick-action screw threads to form a drilling tube assembly of the required length. I
  • a cutting heat 27 is connected to the drilling tube at the lowermost end 28 of the drilling tube assembly 11 by means of a quick-action screw thread connection 29, shown clearly in FIG. 3.
  • the cutting head 27 comprises a body portion 30 having a sample flow throat 31 which extends from cutting tips 32 at the lowermost end thereof, to the drilling tube assembly 13. This sample flow throat 31 communicates with the interior of the torque tube 16 which forms the deliverypassage for upflow of sample dislodged by the cutting head 27.
  • Air supplied to the air passage 20 of the drilling tube assembly 11 is fed into air transfer passages 33 in the cutting head and is directed therefrom, up-
  • the cutting head 27 is provided with mud outlets 34 located towards the top of, and above a shoulder 35 in the cutting head 27.
  • the viscosity of the mud and the volume pumped into the hold is regulated to an amount which will fill up the gap between the drilling tube 13 and the side wall.
  • Mud as herein referred to is chemical mud used as a sealant in drilling operations.
  • FIG. 4 there is shown an alternate form of sample drilling apparatus a comprising a two-speed above ground unit 120 having a quick-action threaded output shaft 40 which is adapted to engage with an air inlet assembly 41.
  • the air inlet assembly 41 is provided with a fixed air inlet 42 which is fixed rigidly to the above ground unit, and the drill stem rotates relative to said air inlet assembly.
  • a mud inlet assembly 43 engages threadedly with and below the first connector means 41 and it is provided with a fixed mud inlet 44 connected to the above ground unit.
  • the lower tapered portion of the second connector means 43 is threaded to enable standard lengths of drill stem 11a to be connected thereto.
  • the air inlet assembly 41 is provided with an internal annular arrangement air inlet passages 45 which communicate with a circumferential groove 46 provided in the outer cylindrical face 47 of the central connector means of assembly 41.
  • a fixed air inlet housing 48 is located sealably around the face 47 to form an air inlet chamber 49 so that air supplied to the fixed housing 48 will be directed into the air passages 45.
  • This assembly provides for a glandular type seal (not shown) in each of the internal recesses 48a and 48b in the structure fixed housing 48.
  • An extension of the air passages 45 is formed in the mud inlet assembly 43 and is adapted, when the inlet assemblies 41 and 43 and the drilling stem assembly are operatively connected, to transfer air from the first inlet means to the annular passage 20a formed between the inner torque tube 16a and the intermediate tube 17a of the drilling tube assembly.
  • the mud inlet assembly 43 is provided with a fixed mud inlet 44 whichcommunieates with an mud passages 50 disposed annularly around the outside of the air passage 45.
  • the mud passages '50 have outlets at their lower ends which communicates with the mud inlet passage 19a formed between the intermediate tube 17a and the outer tube 18a.
  • the cutting heat 27a is connected to the lowermost end of the drilling tube assembly by means of a quickaction screw connection assembly 29a'which is fixed to the cutting bit 52 by outer housing 53 which incorpoof the bit 52.
  • This flange directs the air upwards and inwards into the interior 55 of the cutting head.
  • the arrangement provides a relatively large mouth 57 for the introduction of mined sample and a reduced throat 58 for efficient air blast elevation of the sample up the inner or torque tube 16a of the drill stern assembly.
  • the sample outlet is ejected at a station above the drilling head assembly 10a.
  • the sealing and stabilizing mud is ejected into the strata above the cutting head 27a.
  • the upper end 59 of the cutting head is provided with a recess 60 which terminates the mud passage 19a.
  • An outlet is provided from this recess 60 to the drilled strata.
  • Drilling apparatus asdescribed andillustrated will therefore be found very effective in achieving the ob jects for which the invention has been devised, and the invention is to be understood to embrace all variations and modifications within its scope and ambit, as defined by the appended claims.
  • Sample drilling apparatus comprising an above ground unit and a drilling tube assembly which in oper ation is rotated about its longitudinal axis and advanced axially into the ground to be sampled by said above ground unit, said drilling tube assembly comprising a stem and a cutting head connected thereto at its lowermost end, said drilling tube assembly having a delivery passage therethrough for up-flow of sample dislodged by the cutting head and an air supply passage communicating with said delivery passage throughan air transfer assembly located adjacent the lowermost end of said drilling tube assembly, and a mud supply passage communicating with the wall of the drilled hole, for supplying mud to the wall of the drilledhole, said delivery passage having an above ground sample outlet and said air supply passage and said mud supply passage respectively communicating with an above ground air inlet assembly, through which air may be forced into said air supply passage, through said air transfer assembly to pass up said delivery passage with said sample,
  • sample drilling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said stem is adapted'to be lengthened by adding extra stem lengths and each stem length is connectable to the adjacent stem length in such manner that the said passages are formed continuously through said stem.
  • each said stem length comprises three spaced apart concentric tubes, an outer tube, an intermediate tube and an inner tube, said tubes being adapted to engage with corresponding tubes in adjacent stern lengths to form three concentric continuous passages, an innermost passage enclosed by the inner tube, an intermediate passage between the inner tube and the intermediate tube, and an outer passage between the outer tube and the intermediate tube, said three passages comprising said delivery passage, said air supply passage and said mud supply passage.
  • said output shaft comprises three spaced apart concentric tubes which form upper extensions of said inner tube, said intermediate tube, and said outer tube respectively, and wherein there is provided a glandular type air connector assembly on said above ground unit, which connects sealably to the upper end of the air supply passage in said rotary output shaft and wherein there is provided a glandular type mud connector assembly on said above ground unit which connects sealintermediate annular passage which forms a continuous extension of said air inlet passage, and an upper mud supply passage which communicates with said mud supply passage, there being provided a glandular-type mud connection between a fixed mud inlet and said upper mud supply passage in said rotary output shaft.
  • Sample drilling apparatus wherein said cutting head is substantially tubular and has a central sample flow throat therethrough which communicates with said delivery passage.
  • sample drilling apparatus according to claim 1 1, wherein said cutting head has an air transfer passage which communicates with said air supply passage in said stem and said sample flow throat, said air transfer passage providing said air transfer assembly.
  • Sample drilling apparatus in operation, directs air upwards and inwards from said air supply passage into said sample flow throat.
  • sample drilling apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said air transfer passage has a continuous annular opening around said sample flow' throat.
  • sample drilling apparatus according to claim 15 wherein said sample flow throat is frustro-conical shaped and opens out towards the base of the cutting head.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Geology (AREA)
  • Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
  • Earth Drilling (AREA)
  • Sampling And Sample Adjustment (AREA)

Abstract

A sample drilling apparatus comprising an above ground unit and a drilling tube assembly which in operation is rotated about its longitudinal axis and advanced axially into the ground to be sampled by said above ground unit, said drilling tube assembly comprising a stem and a cutting head connected thereto at its lowermost end, said drilling tube assembly having a delivery passage therethrough for up-flow of sample dislodged by the cutting head and an air supply passage communicating with said delivery passage through an air transfer assembly located adjacent the lowermost end of said drilling tube assembly, and a mud supply passage communicating with the wall of the drilled hole, for supplying mud to the wall of the drilled hole, said delivery passage having an above ground sample outlet and said air supply passage and said mud supply passage respectively communicating with an above ground air inlet assembly, through which air may be forced into said air supply passage, through said air transfer assembly to pass up said delivery passage with said sample, and an above ground mud inlet assembly communicating with said mud supply passage.

Description

[ Apr. 30, 1974 DRILLING APPARATUS Inventor: James Dehoney Murrell, 41 Padstow Rd., 8 Mile Plains, Brisbane, Australia Filed: Aug. 10, 1972 Appl. No.: 279,587
Primary Examiner--David H. Brown Attorney, Agent, or FirmAllison C. Collard [57] ABSTRACT A sample drilling apparatus comprising an above ground unit and a drilling tube assembly which in operation is rotated about its longitudinal axis and ad- Cl 1 vanced axially into the ground to be sampled by said l l5 above' ground unit, said drilling tube assembly com- [51] Int. Cl E2lb 3/02, E2lb 21/02 rising a stem and a cutting head connected thereto at Field Of 'd 2, its lowermost end, said drilling tube assembly having a delivery passage therethrough for up-flow of sample dislodged by the cutting head and an air supply pas- [56] References Cited sage communicating with said delivery passage UNITED STATES PATENTS through an air transfer assembly located adjacent the 1,862,260 6/1932 Edmunds 175 215 X loweYmQst end of said drilling l ,Sembly, and a 2,234,454 3/1941 Richter... 175 215 mud Supply P s Communicating Wlth the wallof 2,419,738 4/1947 s i h 175/215 X the drilled hole, for supplying mud to 'the 'wall of the 2,494,803 I/ 1950 Frost et al.. 175/215 X drilled hole, said delivery passage having an above 2,657,016 1953 G a l 175/215 ground sample outlet and said air supply passage and 3 5 8/1958 Failingm 175/215 X said mud supply passage respectively communicating 3953-330 9/1962 Arthur 175/195 with an above ground air inlet assembly, through 3 g E which air may be forced into said air supply passage, 3l55l79 11/1964 rs? 175,215 through said air transfer assembly to pass up said de- 3'208'538 9/1965 pitchermn": X livery passage with said sample, and an above ground 3:208539 9/1965 175/69 X mud inlet assembly communicating with said mud sup- 3,323,604 6/1967 Henderson. 175/215 x p y P s 3,601,206 8/1971 Grantom 175/215 I 3,664,441 5/1972 Carey 175 215 16 Claims 6 Drawmg Flgures P5 3 r'P/ J DRILLING APPARATUS This invention relates to improvements in and relating to drilling apparatus and it has more particular reference to sample drilling apparatus for use in sampling sand or other soft formations.
The invention has been devised to provide a sample drilling apparatus for use in sandy areas and other soft formation areas, which will provide contamination-free samples. Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter become apparent.
With the foregoing and other objects in view this invention resides broadly in sample drilling apparatus comprising an above ground unit and a drilling tube assembly which in operation is rotated about its longitudinal axis and advanced axially into the ground to be sampled by said above ground unit, said drilling tube assembly comprising a stem and a cutting head connected thereto at its lowermost end, said drilling tube assembly having a delivery passage therethrough for up-flow of sample dislodged by the cutting head and an air supply passage communicating with saiddelivery passage through an air transfer assembly located adjacent the lowermost end of said drilling tube assembly, and a mud supply passage communicating with the wall of the drilled hole, for supplying-mud to the wall of the drilled hole, said delivery passage having an above ground sample outlet and said air supply passage and said mud supply passage respectively communicating with an above ground air inlet assembly, through which air may be forced into said air supply passage through said air transfer assembly to pass up said delivery passage with said sample, and an above ground mud inlet assembly communicating with said mud supply passage.
According to one feature of the invention the mud is supplied by forcing it down through the drilling tube assembly, suitably in a passage between concentric tubes, delivery means being provided, above the cutting head, from said passage to communicate with the wall of the drilled hole. The said mud passage within the drilling assembly is suitably sealed from the air supply passage, the latter being located concentrically inwardly of the mud passage.
According to another feature of the invention the above ground unit for rotating the drilling assembly includes drive means to rotate the drilling assembly and inlet assemblies for mud and air to supply the said mud to the mud passage within the rotating drilling assembly and air to the air passage within the rotating drilling assembly and an outlet passage from the delivery passage within the drilling assembly to enable the drilled and cut sample to be collected.
In order that the invention may be more readily understood and put'into practical effect, reference will now be made'to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention wherein:
FIG. 1 is a partly schematic and sectional view of the above ground unit and the upper portion of the drilling tube assembly, according to one embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 2 is a partly schematic part sectional view of the drilling tube assembly and the cutting head according to one embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of cutting head illustrated in FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a part sectional view of an alternate above ground unit and inlet assemblies for air and mud inlets into the drilling tube assembly;
FIG. 5 illustrates an alternate drilling tube assembly for use with the drillinghead and inlet assemblies illustrated in FIG. 4; and I FIG. 6 illustrates in cross-section a suitable sand bit for use with the drilling tube assembly illustrated in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5.
Referring now to the drawings and in particular to FIGS. 1 to 3, there is shown sample drilling apparatus 10 comprising a drilling tube assembly 1 1 adapted to be rotated and advanced into the ground to be sampled by an above ground unit 12. In this embodiment, the above ground unit 12 has an output shaft 13 which is, in operation, rotated by a hydraulic motor 14 driving through a two speed gearbox 15, contained within a main frame assembly 23. The normally vertical output shaft assembly 13' comprises an inner torque transmitting tube 16 which is disposed concentrically within and secured to an intermediate tube 17 and an outer tube 18. The outer passage 19 between the outer tube 18 and the intermediate tube 17, forms the mud passage 19 through which mud is supplied to the drilled hole, and the passage 20 between the intermediate tube 17 and the torque tube 16 forms the air passage 20 into which air is supplied under pressure. The top ends 21 of the concentric tubes of the drive spindle assembly 13 engage sealably and rotatably, by a glandular type connection as illustrated, with downwardly projecting concentrically disposed dividing walls 22 fixed rigidly to the main frame 23. These dividing walls 22 form therebetween an air inlet chamber 24, which remains stationary when the output shaft 13 rotates and which communicates with the air passage 20, and a mud inlet chamber 25 which communicates with the mud passage 19. The innermost concentric wall 22 continues upwards to form an outlet passage 26 onto which a length of flexible tube can be fixed to direct the cuttings to the sampling station.
The output shaft 13 connects to the drilling tube assembly 11 by means of a quick-action threaded connection which interconnects the inner torque tubes 16 of the drive spindle assembly 13 and the drilling tube assembly. As the tubes and passages in the drilling tube assembly 11 are similar to those of the output shaft 13 they will be referred to in the following description with names and numerals denoted above for the output shaft. As is normal practice, the drilling tube assembly 1 1 is made up of the required number of individual drilling tube lengths, connected end to end by quick-action screw threads to form a drilling tube assembly of the required length. I
A cutting heat 27 is connected to the drilling tube at the lowermost end 28 of the drilling tube assembly 11 by means of a quick-action screw thread connection 29, shown clearly in FIG. 3. As illustrated, the cutting head 27 comprises a body portion 30 having a sample flow throat 31 which extends from cutting tips 32 at the lowermost end thereof, to the drilling tube assembly 13. This sample flow throat 31 communicates with the interior of the torque tube 16 which forms the deliverypassage for upflow of sample dislodged by the cutting head 27. Air supplied to the air passage 20 of the drilling tube assembly 11 is fed into air transfer passages 33 in the cutting head and is directed therefrom, up-
tube 16 to force cuttings dislodged by the cutting head 27 up through the inner tube 16 to the surface where'- upon it is directed to a sampling station, through the outlet passage 26.
In order to ensure that the mud forced down the mud passage 19 does not contaminate the sample, the cutting head 27 is provided with mud outlets 34 located towards the top of, and above a shoulder 35 in the cutting head 27. The viscosity of the mud and the volume pumped into the hold is regulated to an amount which will fill up the gap between the drilling tube 13 and the side wall. Mud as herein referred to is chemical mud used as a sealant in drilling operations.
Thus, in operation, as the cutting head 27 is forced down through the strata to be sampled, air is fed into the air passage 20 to force the cuttings up through the inner tube 16, and mud is pumped down through the mud passage 19 into the gap between the drilling tube assembly 11 and the side walls of the hole cut by the cutting head 27. It will thus be seen from the drawings and the description that the mud does not find its way into the underside of the cutting head and thus into the sample cuttings.
In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, FIG. and FIG. 6 there is shown an alternate form of sample drilling apparatus a comprising a two-speed above ground unit 120 having a quick-action threaded output shaft 40 which is adapted to engage with an air inlet assembly 41. The air inlet assembly 41 is provided with a fixed air inlet 42 which is fixed rigidly to the above ground unit, and the drill stem rotates relative to said air inlet assembly. A mud inlet assembly 43 engages threadedly with and below the first connector means 41 and it is provided with a fixed mud inlet 44 connected to the above ground unit. The lower tapered portion of the second connector means 43 is threaded to enable standard lengths of drill stem 11a to be connected thereto.
As can be seen from the drawings, the air inlet assembly 41 is provided with an internal annular arrangement air inlet passages 45 which communicate with a circumferential groove 46 provided in the outer cylindrical face 47 of the central connector means of assembly 41. A fixed air inlet housing 48 is located sealably around the face 47 to form an air inlet chamber 49 so that air supplied to the fixed housing 48 will be directed into the air passages 45. This assembly provides for a glandular type seal (not shown) in each of the internal recesses 48a and 48b in the structure fixed housing 48. An extension of the air passages 45 is formed in the mud inlet assembly 43 and is adapted, when the inlet assemblies 41 and 43 and the drilling stem assembly are operatively connected, to transfer air from the first inlet means to the annular passage 20a formed between the inner torque tube 16a and the intermediate tube 17a of the drilling tube assembly.
Similarly, the mud inlet assembly 43 is provided with a fixed mud inlet 44 whichcommunieates with an mud passages 50 disposed annularly around the outside of the air passage 45. The mud passages '50 have outlets at their lower ends which communicates with the mud inlet passage 19a formed between the intermediate tube 17a and the outer tube 18a.
The cutting heat 27a is connected to the lowermost end of the drilling tube assembly by means of a quickaction screw connection assembly 29a'which is fixed to the cutting bit 52 by outer housing 53 which incorpoof the bit 52. This flange directs the air upwards and inwards into the interior 55 of the cutting head. As is clear from FIG. 6, the arrangement provides a relatively large mouth 57 for the introduction of mined sample and a reduced throat 58 for efficient air blast elevation of the sample up the inner or torque tube 16a of the drill stern assembly. The sample outlet is ejected at a station above the drilling head assembly 10a.
In this embodiment the sealing and stabilizing mud is ejected into the strata above the cutting head 27a. To this end, the upper end 59 of the cutting head is provided with a recess 60 which terminates the mud passage 19a. An outlet is provided from this recess 60 to the drilled strata.
Drilling apparatus asdescribed andillustrated will therefore be found very effective in achieving the ob jects for which the invention has been devised, and the invention is to be understood to embrace all variations and modifications within its scope and ambit, as defined by the appended claims.
What is claimed is:
1. Sample drilling apparatus comprising an above ground unit and a drilling tube assembly which in oper ation is rotated about its longitudinal axis and advanced axially into the ground to be sampled by said above ground unit, said drilling tube assembly comprising a stem and a cutting head connected thereto at its lowermost end, said drilling tube assembly having a delivery passage therethrough for up-flow of sample dislodged by the cutting head and an air supply passage communicating with said delivery passage throughan air transfer assembly located adjacent the lowermost end of said drilling tube assembly, and a mud supply passage communicating with the wall of the drilled hole, for supplying mud to the wall of the drilledhole, said delivery passage having an above ground sample outlet and said air supply passage and said mud supply passage respectively communicating with an above ground air inlet assembly, through which air may be forced into said air supply passage, through said air transfer assembly to pass up said delivery passage with said sample,
and an above ground mud inlet assembly communicating with said mud supply passage.
2. Sample drilling apparatus according -to claim 1, wherein said mud passage communicates with the side wall of the drilled hole adjacent the connection between said stem and said cutting head.
3. Sample drilling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said stem is adapted'to be lengthened by adding extra stem lengths and each stem length is connectable to the adjacent stem length in such manner that the said passages are formed continuously through said stem.
4. Sample drilling apparatus according to claim 3, wherein each said stem length comprises three spaced apart concentric tubes, an outer tube, an intermediate tube and an inner tube, said tubes being adapted to engage with corresponding tubes in adjacent stern lengths to form three concentric continuous passages, an innermost passage enclosed by the inner tube, an intermediate passage between the inner tube and the intermediate tube, and an outer passage between the outer tube and the intermediate tube, said three passages comprising said delivery passage, said air supply passage and said mud supply passage.
5. Sample drilling apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said innermost passageforms said delivery passage, said intermediate passage forms said air supply passage and said outer passage forms said mud supply passage.
6. Sample drilling apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said above ground unit has a rotary output shaft which connects to said drilling tube assembly for selectively rotating said drilling tube assembly, and said above ground unit is reciprocable in a direction along the axis of its output shaft for selectively advancing or withdrawing said drilling tube assembly into and/or from the ground.
7. Sample drilling apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said rotary output shaft is tubular and connects to said inner tube to form an upper extension thereof, and said above ground sample outlet has a connector assembly fixed to said above ground unit and connected sealably with the upper end of said rotary output shaft by means of a glandular type fitting.
8. Sample drilling apparatus according to claim 7-, wherein said output shaft comprises three spaced apart concentric tubes which form upper extensions of said inner tube, said intermediate tube, and said outer tube respectively, and wherein there is provided a glandular type air connector assembly on said above ground unit, which connects sealably to the upper end of the air supply passage in said rotary output shaft and wherein there is provided a glandular type mud connector assembly on said above ground unit which connects sealintermediate annular passage which forms a continuous extension of said air inlet passage, and an upper mud supply passage which communicates with said mud supply passage, there being provided a glandular-type mud connection between a fixed mud inlet and said upper mud supply passage in said rotary output shaft.
11. Sample drilling apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said cutting head is substantially tubular and has a central sample flow throat therethrough which communicates with said delivery passage.
12. Sample drilling apparatus according to claim 1 1, wherein said cutting head has an air transfer passage which communicates with said air supply passage in said stem and said sample flow throat, said air transfer passage providing said air transfer assembly.
13. Sample drilling apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said air transfer passage, in operation, directs air upwards and inwards from said air supply passage into said sample flow throat.
14. Sample drilling apparatus according to claim 13,
wherein there are provided a plurality of said air transfer passages spaced around said sample supply throat.
15. Sample drilling apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said air transfer passage has a continuous annular opening around said sample flow' throat.
16. Sample drilling apparatus according to claim 15 wherein said sample flow throat is frustro-conical shaped and opens out towards the base of the cutting head.

Claims (16)

1. Sample drilling apparatus comprising an above ground unit and a drilling tube assembly which in operation is rotated about its longitudinal axis and advanced axially into the ground to be sampled by said above ground unit, said drilling tube assembly comprising a stem and a cutting head connected thereto at its lowermost end, said drilling tube assembly having a delivery passage therethrough for up-flow of sample dislodged by the cutting head and an air supply passage communicating with said delivery passage through an air transfer assembly located adjacent the lowermost end of said drilling tube assembly, and a mud supply passage communicating with the wall of the drilled hole, for supplying mud to the wall of the drilled hole, said delivery passage having an above ground sample outlet and said air supply passage and said mud supply passage respectively communicating with an above ground air inlet assembly, through which air may be forced into said air supply passage, through said air transfer assembly to pass up said delivery passage with said sample, and an above ground mud inlet assembly communicating with said mud supply passage.
2. Sample drilling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said mud passage communicates with the side wall of the drilled hole adjacent the connection between said stem and said cutting head.
3. Sample drilling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said stem is adapted to be lengthened by adding extra stem lengths and each stem length is connectable to the adjacent stem length in such manner that the said passages are formed continuously through said stem.
4. Sample drilling apparatus according to claim 3, wherein each said stem length comprises three spaced apart concentric tubes, an outer tube, an intermediate tube and an inner tube, said tubes being adapted to engage with corresponding tubes in adjacent stem lengths to form three concentric continuous passages, an innermost passage enclosed by the inner tube, an intermediate passage between the inner tube and the intermediate tube, and an outer passage between the outer tube and the intermediate tube, said three passages comprising said delivery passage, said air supply passage and said mud supply passage.
5. Sample drilling apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said innermost passage forms said delIvery passage, said intermediate passage forms said air supply passage and said outer passage forms said mud supply passage.
6. Sample drilling apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said above ground unit has a rotary output shaft which connects to said drilling tube assembly for selectively rotating said drilling tube assembly, and said above ground unit is reciprocable in a direction along the axis of its output shaft for selectively advancing or withdrawing said drilling tube assembly into and/or from the ground.
7. Sample drilling apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said rotary output shaft is tubular and connects to said inner tube to form an upper extension thereof, and said above ground sample outlet has a connector assembly fixed to said above ground unit and connected sealably with the upper end of said rotary output shaft by means of a glandular type fitting.
8. Sample drilling apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said output shaft comprises three spaced apart concentric tubes which form upper extensions of said inner tube, said intermediate tube, and said outer tube respectively, and wherein there is provided a glandular type air connector assembly on said above ground unit, which connects sealably to the upper end of the air supply passage in said rotary output shaft and wherein there is provided a glandular type mud connector assembly on said above ground unit which connects sealably to said mud supply passage in said rotary output shaft.
9. Sample drilling apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said above ground air inlet assembly is adapted to be connected between said output shaft and said drilling tube assembly and comprises a housing having a central through-passage which forms a continuous extension of said delivery passage and an outer annular passage which communicates with said air inlet passage, there being provided a glandular-type air connection between a fixed air inlet and said outer passage in said rotary output shaft.
10. Sample drilling apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said above ground mud inlet assembly is adapted to be connected between said air inlet assembly and said drilling tube assembly and comprises a housing having a central through passage which forms a continuous extension of said delivery passage and an intermediate annular passage which forms a continuous extension of said air inlet passage, and an upper mud supply passage which communicates with said mud supply passage, there being provided a glandular-type mud connection between a fixed mud inlet and said upper mud supply passage in said rotary output shaft.
11. Sample drilling apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said cutting head is substantially tubular and has a central sample flow throat therethrough which communicates with said delivery passage.
12. Sample drilling apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said cutting head has an air transfer passage which communicates with said air supply passage in said stem and said sample flow throat, said air transfer passage providing said air transfer assembly.
13. Sample drilling apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said air transfer passage, in operation, directs air upwards and inwards from said air supply passage into said sample flow throat.
14. Sample drilling apparatus according to claim 13, wherein there are provided a plurality of said air transfer passages spaced around said sample supply throat.
15. Sample drilling apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said air transfer passage has a continuous annular opening around said sample flow throat.
16. Sample drilling apparatus according to claim 15 wherein said sample flow throat is frustro-conical shaped and opens out towards the base of the cutting head.
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Cited By (15)

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US3871486A (en) * 1973-08-29 1975-03-18 Bakerdrill Inc Continuous coring system and apparatus
US3920090A (en) * 1975-02-26 1975-11-18 Dresser Ind Control method and apparatus for pressure, vacuum or pressure-vacuum circulation in drilling system
US3981371A (en) * 1975-06-06 1976-09-21 Jamie Malcolm Wallis Core sampling drill
US4100981A (en) * 1977-02-04 1978-07-18 Chaffin John D Earth boring apparatus for geological drilling and coring
US4171187A (en) * 1977-07-28 1979-10-16 Walker-Neer Manufacturing Co., Inc. Air injection sub
US4304309A (en) * 1979-02-16 1981-12-08 Dome Petroleum Limited Surface drilling apparatus
EP0124290A2 (en) * 1983-03-31 1984-11-07 British Industrial Sand Limited Drilling apparatus
US4711310A (en) * 1985-01-04 1987-12-08 Luen Lam M Rotary head
US4940098A (en) * 1989-05-26 1990-07-10 Moss Daniel H Reverse circulation drill rod
US5302052A (en) * 1993-04-16 1994-04-12 Groundtech, Inc. Underground work chamber assembly and method for the construction thereof
US6499239B1 (en) * 1997-11-17 2002-12-31 De Groot Nijkerk Machinefabriek Bv Method for extracting and grading sand
US20040154805A1 (en) * 2002-11-22 2004-08-12 Baker Hughes Incorporated Novel wellbore fluid circulation system and method
WO2009039667A1 (en) * 2007-09-28 2009-04-02 Labelle Stephane Systems for exploiting the thermal energy at the bottom of the ocean
US20100300720A1 (en) * 2001-07-23 2010-12-02 Ruhrpumpen Gmbh Drive device for a boring bar
EP3406841A4 (en) * 2016-01-20 2019-09-25 Mitsubishi Materials Corporation Excavation tool and excavation method

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US3871486A (en) * 1973-08-29 1975-03-18 Bakerdrill Inc Continuous coring system and apparatus
US3941196A (en) * 1973-08-29 1976-03-02 Bakerdrill, Inc. Percussive air hammer and core bit apparatus
US3920090A (en) * 1975-02-26 1975-11-18 Dresser Ind Control method and apparatus for pressure, vacuum or pressure-vacuum circulation in drilling system
US3981371A (en) * 1975-06-06 1976-09-21 Jamie Malcolm Wallis Core sampling drill
US4100981A (en) * 1977-02-04 1978-07-18 Chaffin John D Earth boring apparatus for geological drilling and coring
US4171187A (en) * 1977-07-28 1979-10-16 Walker-Neer Manufacturing Co., Inc. Air injection sub
US4304309A (en) * 1979-02-16 1981-12-08 Dome Petroleum Limited Surface drilling apparatus
EP0124290A2 (en) * 1983-03-31 1984-11-07 British Industrial Sand Limited Drilling apparatus
EP0124290A3 (en) * 1983-03-31 1985-06-12 British Industrial Sand Limited Drilling apparatus
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US4940098A (en) * 1989-05-26 1990-07-10 Moss Daniel H Reverse circulation drill rod
US5302052A (en) * 1993-04-16 1994-04-12 Groundtech, Inc. Underground work chamber assembly and method for the construction thereof
US6499239B1 (en) * 1997-11-17 2002-12-31 De Groot Nijkerk Machinefabriek Bv Method for extracting and grading sand
US20100300720A1 (en) * 2001-07-23 2010-12-02 Ruhrpumpen Gmbh Drive device for a boring bar
US8439127B2 (en) * 2001-07-23 2013-05-14 Ruhrpumpen Gmbh Drive device for a boring bar
US20040154805A1 (en) * 2002-11-22 2004-08-12 Baker Hughes Incorporated Novel wellbore fluid circulation system and method
US7055627B2 (en) 2002-11-22 2006-06-06 Baker Hughes Incorporated Wellbore fluid circulation system and method
WO2009039667A1 (en) * 2007-09-28 2009-04-02 Labelle Stephane Systems for exploiting the thermal energy at the bottom of the ocean
US20100275596A1 (en) * 2007-09-28 2010-11-04 Labelle Stephane System for exploiting the thermal energy at the bottom of the ocean
EP3406841A4 (en) * 2016-01-20 2019-09-25 Mitsubishi Materials Corporation Excavation tool and excavation method

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