Abstract: A preferred embodiment of a system for rotating and guiding a drill bit in an underground bore includes a drilling motor and a drive shaft coupled to drilling motor so that drill bit can be rotated by the drilling motor. The system further includes a guidance module having an actuating arm movable between an extended position wherein the actuating arm can contact a surface of the bore and thereby exert a force on the housing of the guidance module, and a retracted position.

Abstract: A preferred embodiment of a system for rotating and guiding a drill bit in an underground bore includes a drilling motor and a drive shaft coupled to drilling motor so that drill bit can be rotated by the drilling motor. The system further includes a guidance module having an actuating arm movable between an extended position wherein the actuating arm can contact a surface of the bore and thereby exert a force on the housing of the guidance module, and a retracted position.

Abstract: A preferred embodiment of a system for rotating and guiding a drill bit in an underground bore includes a drilling motor and a drive shaft coupled to drilling motor so that drill bit can be rotated by the drilling motor. The system further includes a guidance module having an actuating arm movable between an extended position wherein the actuating arm can contact a surface of the bore and thereby exert a force on the housing of the guidance module, and a retracted position.

Abstract: A vibration monitoring system operates down-hole in the bottom hole assembly above the drill bit. This system includes four spaced accelerometers which measure and differentiate between lateral, longitudinal and torsional drillstring vibrations. Three of the four accelerometers are in a cooperative spaced arrangement and measure tangential acceleration forces on the outer diameter of the drillstring for determining and measuring both lateral and torsional vibrations. The fourth accelerometer measures longitudinal vibration. Two embodiments are disclosed for arranging the three accelerometers which measure lateral and torsional vibration. In a first embodiment, the accelerometers are equi-spaced 120 degrees apart from one another. In a second embodiment, the three accelerometers are spaced 30 degrees apart from one another within a 60 degree arc. In both embodiments, all four accelerometers are positioned within the annular wall of a drill collar segment.

Abstract: A vibration isolator and shock absorber system which provides excellent protection to sensors against the deleterious effects of shock and vibration even under severe drilling conditions is presented. The vibration isolator and shock absorber system is enclosed within an outer cage and an inner yoke. The cage is attached to the drill collar which takes the full impact of the shock and vibration due to drilling. The yoke supports the sensor. Conical disc springs (e.g. Belleville springs) or the like are stacked between the yoke and the cage; and are supported by pairs of upper and lower support rings. These rings fit together to compress the springs and to allow for axial displacement as well as providing damping. The pairs of support rings are supported, in turn, between upper and lower elastomeric isolator rings. The upper elastomeric isolator ring is keyed to the yoke and the cage. Fluid is allowed to move through the system via orifices in both the elastomeric isolators and the pairs of support rings.

Abstract: The Assembly has a submerged root, turbine-wheel-blading configuration, and utilizes circumferentially oriented, buried, friction damping wires, and continuous, overlapping, tip shrouds to minimize vibratory response. The wires, in the presence of blade vibration, simultaneously rub on both the blades and surfaces of a recess in the wheel in which the blade roots are fixed. The continuous tip shrouding provides additional damping through shroud-to-shroud interface rubbing. The assembly has a stack of identical blades, obviating any need for relatively weak locking blades or pieces. The method defines the steps of forming a peripheral recess in a wheel, in which to secure root ends of blades, and setting the damping wires (or wire) therein prior to installing the blade root ends, and uniformly spacing-apart the blades after securing the same to the wheel.

Abstract: The Assembly has a submerged root, turbine-wheel-blading configuration, and utilizes circumferentially oriented, buried, friction damping wires, and continuous, overlapping, tip shrouds to minimize vibratory response. The wires, in the presence of blade vibration, simultaneously rub on both the blades and surfaces of a recess in the wheel in which the blade roots are fixed. The continuous tip shrouding provides additional damping through shroud-to-shroud interface rubbing. The assembly has a stack of identical blades, obviating any need for relatively weak locking blades or pieces. The method defines the steps of forming a peripheral recess in a wheel, in which to secure root ends of blades, and setting the damping wires (or wire) therein prior to installing the blade root ends, and uniformly spacing-apart the blades after securing the same to the wheel.

Abstract: The assembly has a submerged root, turbine-wheel-blading configuration, and utilizes circumferentially oriented, buried, friction damping wires, and continuous, overlapping, tip shrouds to minimize vibratory response. The wires, in the presence of blade vibration, simultaneously rub on both the blades and surfaces of a recess in the wheel in which the blade roots are fixed. The continuous tip shrouding provides additional damping through shroud-to-shroud interface rubbing. The assembly has a stack of identical blades, obviating any need for relatively weak locking blades or pieces. The method defines the steps of forming a peripheral recess in a wheel, in which to secure root ends of blades, and setting the damping wires (or wire) therein prior to installing the blade root ends, and uniformly spacing-apart the blades after securing the same to the wheel.