Abstract: Sonic energy in a cycloidal or quadrature action pattern is generated in a drill stem by means of a sonic oscillator employing an eccentrically weighted rotor. The stem is coupled to the drill bit by means of a rocker-type joint thereby forming a pivot fulcrum for limited motion of the bit both vertically and laterally in a nutating path. The rocker action develops a powerful longitudinal vibratory force at the cutter teeth for more effective drilling action. The rocker joint in one embodiment is formed by horizontal and vertical shoulders formed in the top end of the bit assembly by virtue of an undercut portion formed in such assembly in which the lower edge of the drilling jacket is received with the bottom edge of such jacket opposite the horizontal shoulder and the inner surfaces of the jacket opposite the vertical shoulder. In another embodiment, suitable for use where precise control of drilling direction is required, limited rocking motion is provided by means of a special fulcrum guidance structure.

Abstract: A drive shaft is rotatably mounted in a housing having a predetermined mass. This drive shaft has an eccentric portion at the output end thereof, this eccentric portion forming a crank arm. A drill bit is mounted on suitable bearings on the output end of the shaft adjacent to the eccentric crank arm portion. The drive shaft is rotatably driven causing the crank arm to generate sonic energy which is limited in amplitude by the crank throw reacting against the inductive inertia of the housing mass. The sonic energy thus generated causes the drill bit to orbit around at a sonic frequency to effect drilling action so as to produce a bore hole having a somewhat oversize diameter limited however in accordance with the housing's mass reactance and the throw of the crank arm.

Abstract: A column of elastic material such as steel is lowered into an oil well by means of a derrick to a position such that the end portion thereof is within a liner to be removed. An acoustic coupling surface such as a plurality of annular piston-like members made of a resilient material such as a suitable rubber or plastic are fitted onto a portion of the column which extends into the interior of the lining, these annular members being spaced from each other along the column. An annulus of liquid is maintained in the spaces formed between successive annular members. High level sonic energy is applied to the column from the surface and transmitted along the column to the liner and liquid through the acoustic coupling means. Such energy is also fed to the liquid annuli and then to the liquid environment between the liner and the surrounding formation. The application of sonic energy both to the liner along with the liquid environment of the liner operates to effectively loosen the liner and its environment.

Abstract: The location of a section of drill pipe which has become stuck in a well some distance from the surface is first determined. The drill string above this location is unfastened from the drill string and removed from the well. A mechanical oscillator is connected to the bottom of the re-installed drill string through a sonic isolator section of drill pipe designed to minimize transfer of sonic energy to the sections of drill string above the oscillator. The oscillator is connected to the down hole stuck drill pipe section for transferring sonic energy thereto. A mud turbine is connected to the oscillator, this turbine being rotatably driven by a mud stream fed from the surface. The turbine rotates the oscillator to generate sonic energy typically in a torsional or quadrature mode of oscillation, this sonic energy being transferred to the stuck section of drill pipe to effect its freeing from the walls of the well.

Abstract: A granular medium such as gravel is emplaced in the bottom of a well. A well liner is attached to the end of a drill pipe and lowered to the bed of gravel. The drill pipe is then driven at a sonic frequency which may be a resonant frequency of vibration of the vibrating system including the pipe and the liner. A packing seal is provided between the outer wall of the drill pipe and the inner wall of the well casing to prevent the gravel from rising up the casing. The liner is sonically driven so that it penetrates into the gravel medium, the gravel being trapped beneath the seal. The gravel is fluidized by the sonic energy and packed uniformly around the liner to provide a filter for the well effluent. Further, the fluidized granular medium may be highly pressurized by the sonic energy plus the system weight so that it operates to fracture the surrounding formation to engender greater flow from the well.

Abstract: Journal bearings are employed to rotatably support the roller cones of a drill bit for drilling wells or the like. Enough clearance is provided at the journal bearing between the bearing pin and the roller cone to accommodate a thick film of fluid lubricant. The bearing is sonically driven, preferably by means of a resonant vibration system, in a torsional vibration mode, the torsional energy being developed in an elastic column which receives such energy from an orbiting mass oscillator. The roller cone is also mechanically rotated by virtue of conventional rotary motion of the drilling string.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming an annulus around the outer wall of a well casing to provide a good impervious seal around such casing which is particularly useful where the casing is installed in a porous earthen formation. A first batch of cement is fed down to the bottom of an oil well casing and out the bottom thereof so that it rises up along the wall of the casing to form an annulus between the casing and the earthen formation in which it is installed. While the cement is being fed and thereafter, the casing is continually vibrated with sonic energy preferably at a frequency which sets up resonant standing wave vibration of the casing. When a layer of the cement has risen to a predetermined level, the feeding of the cement is interrupted but the sonic energization of the well casing continued.

Abstract: A liquid impervious covering such as a plastic membrane or a concrete flooring is installed over an extensive substantially level area of ground and mined metal ore heaped onto this covering to form a mound. A leachant liquid solution is poured onto the ore and permitted to thoroughly penetrate the ore material. This end result is achieved either by forming a crater on the top of the ore material which is filled with the leachant solution which is allowed to ooze through the ore material, or by feeding the solution from sprinklers located around the mound until the ore material is thoroughly wetted. When the ore material has been wetted with the leachant, sonic energy is applied to the ore material by means of a sonically excited elastic pipe or bar member which is lowered into the mound by means of a crane and sonically driven by means of an orbiting mass oscillator.

Abstract: Vibrational isolation is provided from the sonic energy employed to drive a piling or the like into the ground for the suspension and support system for the equipment, and for the power drive source for driving the sonic oscillators employed. A separate isolation system is provided for the support structure and for the power drive, each of these separate systems being optimized for the particular situation at hand. Thus, in providing vibrational isolation for the suspension and support mechanism, heavy large springs may be employed, capable of handling high loads, and having a relatively low spring rate to attain the desired isolation. On the other hand, the isolation system for the power drive employs relatively soft springs which effectively isolate the power drive from the vibrational excursions of the oscillator so as to avoid undue stress on the power drive, which might result in misalignment thereof, and damage to components of the power drive.

Abstract: In forming a cement annulus around a well casing to provide an impervious seal around such casing, sonic energy is applied from a sonic oscillator to the casing and transmitted down the casing to the work area. To improve the coupling of sonic energy through the casing to the work area, the oscillator is coupled to the casing wall below the cement inlet by means of a clamp and link coupler so as to minimize the dissipation of sonic energy in the cement inlet. Further, the cement is fed to this inlet by means of a flexible hose coupling to isolate the inlet coupling and associated hardware from the sonic energy.

Abstract: An annular treatment chamber is formed by a gap between inner and outer inertial ("inductively reactive") members. At least one of these members, typically the inner one, is vibratorily driven cycloidally in an orbital path, which is typically circular or elliptical, at a frequency of the order of 50-500 cycles per second. The granular material to be comminuted may constitute material suspended in a liquid or may be in particle form. This material is continually fed into the annular gap and exited therefrom after comminution has been accomplished. While in the annular gap, the material is driven circumferentially around the annular chamber with a high shear force while being subjected to radial vibratory forces developed therein.

Abstract: A clamping jaw device is used to couple sonic energy generated by an orbiting mass oscillator to a pipe string for transmission down the string to a downhole work area. The clamping jaw device includes a pair of similar clamping jaws, each forming a half section of a hollow cylinder. The jaw device has a head portion, a main body portion, a neck portion joining the head portion to the main body portion and indented from the head portion and a flange at the bottom end of the main body portion. The pipe string is retained between the jaws by means of a jaw lock member which comprises a flat ring slidably mounted on the main body portion and adjustably positionable therealong, the lock member being seated against the flange at the bottom end of the main body portion to hold the jaws in a closed clamping position against the pipe string.

Abstract: Sonic energy in a cycloidal or quadrature vibration action pattern is generated in a main vibratory drill assembly by means of a sonic oscillator employing an eccentrically weighted rotor. The sonic energy is transmitted down the drill assembly to the drill bit to cause precession of the bit around the bottom of the drill bore in a cycloidal fashion. The drill assembly is coupled to the drill bit through a spherical ball and socket bearing which enables universal rotation of the bit so that it is not constrained along any particular axis. Thus, the bit is free to tip and to rotate on the sonic drill assembly in an orbiting cycloidal fashion in response to the energy transmitted thereto.

Abstract: A unit, which generates sonic energy for use in the leaching or extraction of minerals from ore, is mounted in a tank which contains the leaching solution and the ore. The unit has a housing in which a solid bar is supported by means of a rod which fits into a bored out bottom portion of the bar which is along the longitudinal axis thereof, as well as a plurality of resilient lateral spoke members which protrude inwardly from the housing and abut against the bar. An orbiting mass oscillator is mounted on the bar on the top end thereof and is rotatably driven to effect resonant standing wave vibration of the bar in a quadrature nutating vibration mode. The oscillator is positioned above the leaching solution and the ore so that it is free therefrom, the rod member used to support the bar and the resilient lateral support members being abutted against the bar at nodes of the standing wave vibration pattern established in the bar to minimize energy losses into the housing.

Abstract: The precombustion chamber of a diesel engine is modified to incorporate an acoustical attenuator therein. Since the precombustion chamber is of fixed dimensions (not changed by piston movement), the acoustic nature and modification response are very powerful, to a surprising degree. In one embodiment of this invention, the attenuator is formed by a body of attenuative material, such as sintered metal or porous ceramic, which is placed around the lower portions of the chamber in the vicinity of the connecting passages to the main combustion chamber. In another embodiment, the attenuation is achieved by means of attenuator pockets which are spaced around the precombustion chamber with communication between these passages and the chamber being provided by means of suitable orifices, these pockets having an acoustic response such as to attenuate detonation waves.

Abstract: A well casing to be installed in the ground is resonantly driven at a sonic frequency by means of an orbiting mass oscillator. A wedging probe member is optionally attached to the end of the casing and is driven by the vibratory energy to facilitate the penetration of the earthen material ahead of the casing. A closure wall is fitted to the bottom of the casing, this closure wall having jet nozzles formed therein. While the casing member and probe member are being vibratorily driven by the sonic energy, pulsating jets of water are emitted through the jet nozzles to aid in the cutting of the earthen formation along with the sonic vibratory energy, the sonic energy markedly enhancing the hydraulic jet action by virtue of the pulsating force it imposes on the hydraulic jets.

Abstract: A device for fracturing earthen material includes an elongated stem member having a wedging tool attached to the distal end thereof and a sonic oscillator coupled to the top end thereof. The wedging tool has rib means formed on the outer portions thereof, these rib means in one embodiment being spaced around the circumference of the tool at approximately 90.degree. intervals. The stem is lowered into a well to be serviced to stimulate the flow of fluid (generally oil) therefrom. With the tool ribs wedged against the sides of the well, sonic energy is coupled from the sonic oscillator into the stem. This energy may be at a frequency such as to cause resonant elastic vibration of the stem. The tool is fabricated of a hard elastic material, such as steel. The sonic energy is coupled from the wedging ribs of the tool to the earthen formation surrounding the well in a non-isotropic manner, i.e., along particular lines.

Abstract: Sonic energy in a cycloidal or quadrature wave action pattern is generated in a drill stem by means of a sonic oscillator employing an eccentrically weighted rotor. The sonic energy is transmitted down the drill stem to the drill bit to cause precession of the bit around the bottom of the drill bore in a cycloidal fashion. This causes highly effective cutting action of both the bottom and the immediately adjacent side walls of the bottom portion of the bore by virtue of the cycloidal precessing action. In one embodiment of the invention, the drill stem is attached directly to the drill bit such that a nutating type action occurs. In other embodiment of the invention, the drill stem is coupled to the drill bit through an appropriate bearing, which may be a sleeve bearing or a roller bearing, which permits separate rotation of the bit on the drill stem in an orbiting cycloidal fashion.

Abstract: A sonic damper unit which is placed directly above a drill collar string to damp out unwanted complex wave vibrations of the string both longitudinal and lateral in vibration mode. The damper unit comprises a tubular section which is filled with small pieces of material trapped therein which may comprise pellets of metal, pebbles, ceramic, etc. A longitudinal channel may be formed within the tubular damper unit for transporting mud therethrough and to be mixed into the trapped pellets or the like. The damper unit is preferably located in a low impedance region of the standing wave pattern formed in the string some distance from the bit, e.g. the top of the drill collar string. The pellets are capable of motion in a random pattern and thus effectively respond to the frequency content of complex vibrational wave modes both lateral and longitudinal and effectively damp out any such unwanted vibrational energy which may appear in the drill collar string.

Abstract: A method for forming an annulus around the outer wall of a well casing to provide a good impervious seal around such casing. A wiper of a flexible soft material which mates with the inner bore of the casing is first placed in the casing at the top thereof. Cement is pumped into the casing on top of the wiper, forcing it down to the bottom of the casing, the wiper carrying mud and other foreign material with it and out of the casing. Sonic energy at a relatively low frequency (typically 15-200 Hz) is applied to the casing. A second wiper which mates with the inner walls of the casing is installed therein, this second wiper being of a rigid, relatively inflexible material.