Patents Assigned to Jo-Ann Nicol
  • Patent number: 5490571
    Abstract: This invention concerns an accessory, to be inserted in a drill string behind a drill bit, to provide separation of the liquid and air components of a flushing medium. The accessory comprises an inner housing (36) within an outer housing (34). A liquid/gas medium enters through opening (50) onto spiral raceway (48). Holes are provided at intervals along spiral (42). Liquid in the medium is centrifuged by the spiral (42) and projected into the chamber between inner and outer housings (36,34). The expelled liquid (52) falls to the base (70) of the housing (34) where it passes through apertures (38) into the drill bore. Once the medium has traversed the spiral (42) essentially only gas remains to pass through the opening (62) to the drill bit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1996
    Assignees: Christopher Richard Carrall, David Thomas Hanns, Jo-Ann Nicol
    Inventors: David T. Hanns, Christopher R. Carrall