Abstract: An elongated body, capable of serving as a length of drill string, has two major portions with each portion providing an end for connection to the drill string with drilling fluid channels extending from end to end. One portion extends into the other and is hinged therein for deflection of the center lines of opposite ends. A piston in the body responds to drilling fluid flow to actuate the deflection of a few degrees. A turret carried by the body has a cam and groove relationship with the structure carried by the piston such that it turns one increment each time the piston makes a round trip of axial excursions. On alternate round trips of excursions, the piston is stopped short of the movement needed to deflect the body and instead holds the body straight until the fluid flow is reduced to begin another piston excursion. An internal valve is operated by the piston to cause a pressure rise in the drilling fluid stream when the piston moves enough to deflect the body.

Abstract: A modified jaw type shaft coupling has two opposed members arranged to allow limited flexure about a point that is the geometric center of mating spherical surfaces, a concave surface on one member and a mating convex surface on the other member. One member is attached to each shaft to be rotationally and axially coupled. The jaws on one coupling member have lugs that extend radially inward to axially entrap a larger flange attached to the other coupling member. The flange has notches to allow the flange to axially traverse the lugs. The flange is then rotated relative to the lugs to allow the flange to oppose the lugs. The flange is secured to the other coupling member after the coupling members are axially moved together to allow the jaws to interdigitate to provide rotational coupling. The convex and concave surfaces cooperate to accept axial compressive loads and the flange and lugs prevent axial separation.

Abstract: The sub, usable as a length element of a drill string which may include a drilling motor body, comprises three generally tubular members. Two members, each having means to attach to a continuing drill string, have threaded boxes positioned in opposition. A third member is a double ended threaded, shoulderless, pin threadedly extending into the boxes with box faces in contact when the sub is assembled. One box, and the mating pin end, have threads coarser than the finer threads in the other box and on it's mating pin end. Axial position adjustment of the pin causes the abutting box faces to change rotational relationship, thus changing the rotational relationship of axially spaced drill string elements separated by the sub. If the sub is to be used to deflect the drill string centerline, the double ended pin and the threaded boxes have a centerline tilted a small angle from the centerline of the first two members. In one configuration the assembly has, preferably, both end centerlines on one line.

Abstract: A drill string deflection tool is arranged to function as a segment of drill string. An upper and a lower portion telescope together to form a mid-section with limited telescoping movement and limited angular deflection of the axes of the opposite ends. Axial load compresses the tool and a cam and fulcrum arrangement deflects the tool when it is axially compressed. The tool extends axially when pulled in tension and the axis becomes straight. Drilling fluid pressure acts on rams in the tool to lock it in whatever state exists when pressure is applied. The locking mechanism acts upon the drilling fluid channel to cause a pressure drop, detectable at the surface, that indicates the state of the tool downhole.

Abstract: A drilling tool having a body that functions as a length of drill string and telescopes to shorten the body each time column load is applied by way of applied bit load. The telescoping action causes a cam turret in the body to change position to cause one of two possible conditions to exist while drilling. In one condition the body centerline is held straight while drilling. In the second condition the lower portion of the body is laterally deflected for changing the course of the well bore while drilling proceeds. Optional features cause a mud pressure signal to be generated, for detection at the surface, when selected elements in the apparatus are in preselected positions.

Abstract: A body and driveshaft extension for down hole drilling motors to allow the down hole assembly to operate as part of a drill string responsive to selected manipulations of the drilling fluid flow rate, carried out at the earth surface, to assume either a straight hole drilling configuration or a directional drilling configuration by choice of the driller.In the directional drilling configuration, the drill head driving output shaft rotates about a centerline deflected from the motor general centerline. The point of deflection is between the drilling motor and the drill head.

Abstract: An improved powered pipe tong has a frame with a generally central opening and a drive ring with pipe gripping dies arranged for rotation in the opening, about an axis. A fluid powered motor and associated gearing powers the drive ring in either direction about the axis. The dies are closed on pipe to be rotated by energy supplied by a fluid powered ram mounted in the frame and actuated to extend into the drive ring to force pipe gripping dies into gripping contact with pipe. Once the dies are forced into gripping contact with the pipe they are locked in position and the fluid powered ram is withdrawn into the frame to allow the drive ring to rotate with gripped pipe. The lock that holds the dies in closed gripping position while the drive ring rotates can be released in any position of rotating parts. The drive ring is then rotated into position for the ram to again apply force to drive ring mounted parts.

Abstract: A hydraulic drill string jar is powered and actuated by drilling fluid pressure controlled from the earth surface. By selective manipulation of drilling fluid flow, the jar can be conditioned to operate in drilling mode to avoid activation of the jars while normal drilling and fluid flow activities take place. By different fluid flow manipulations, the jar is conditioned to operate in the jarring mode. In the jarring mode, the jars will axially shock the drill string each time the flow rate is reduced below a preselected amount and then increased to a higher preselected amount.

Abstract: A length of drill string, or a sub, functions as a body to which an encircling sleeve is rotationally and axially secured. The sleeve is arranged to permit some radial movement on the body and is spring biased in one radial directiion. A radial projection of some axial length extends from the sleeve in the biased direction to engage the well bore wall. During drill string rotation, the projection engages a near side wall more forcefully than other parts of the well bore periphery. The forceful engagement between projection and wall deranges the tendency for a curved drill string centerline to lie in a stationary plane when the drill bit has a tendency to depart from an original course while drilling. The bias allows the sleeve to be pushed toward a more centralized position on the body but the fluid damping inherent by changing clearances between sleeve and body, while the tool is immersed in drilling fluid, retards the centralizing movement.

Abstract: A body, functioning as a length of drill string, has an eccentric roller mounted for rotation around the body. The roller and body have cooperating cam surfaces that cause the roller to reciprocate axially when the body rotates relative to the roller. In use, the extended radius of the eccentric roller engages the near side of the well bore walland tends to become stationary relative to earth. The forced axial motion of the retarded roller induces some peripheral motion at each turn of the drill string. The eccentric roller turns freely with the drill string when the extended radius is adjacent the far side of the well bore wall. The extended radius of the roller tends to spend most of the drilling time between the drill string and the near side, or low side, of the well bore to aid in well bore deviation control.

Abstract: A power tong has two powered rings mounted on the tong frame for independent rotation, one ring, a reel carrier, carries a plurality of spring rewind line storage reels. Independent lines extend from each reel and each line is anchored to the second powered ring. An open gap, or throat, extends to the tong center to receive pipe when the lines are all recovered into the reels. The reel carrier ring is rotated to wrap the lines in a spiral pattern around pipe. The second ring is driven to pull the lines and the reel carrier ring is braked to apply tailing tension to the lines but does then turn in sympathy with the second ring to turn pipe. To recover the lines, the second ring is stopped and the reel carrier ring is driven in the direction to allow lines to return to the reels as they unwrap from the pipe.

Abstract: A hole opener for use on drill strings in well bore enlargement operations featuring a bore follower extension and a stabilized cutter with poly crystalline diamond compact cutter elements arrayed in a plurality of cutting spiral patterns. Fluid jets are directed toward the cutter arrays and also directed to sweep the opener cut formation in groove regions between the cutter arrays. A hard metal chip covering is on the follower extension to open pilot hole bridges, assisted by a nose jet. Blade form vortex barriers are situated at the confluence of the cutter cleaning and formation sweeping fluid jets. The follower extension is tapered to increase the upward velocity of fluid rising past the extension.