Abstract: Apparatus for pressurized cleaning of well flow conductors. The apparatus has a non-rotating inner mandrel, an adapter to connect the inner mandrel to a work string, a rotating housing on the exterior of the inner mandrel, and a nozzle body attached to the housing. An alternative embodiment of the invention allows cleaning tools to be attached to a modified nozzle body and rotated therewith. Fluid pressure flowing through the inner mandrel will cause the housing to rotate relative to the inner mandrel. Rotation is used to direct fluid jets in the nozzle body towards different portions of the interior of the flow conductor. Rotation of a cleaning tool can also be used for combined mechanical and hydraulic drilling to remove deposits from within a well flow conductor.

Abstract: A cutting arrangement which includes a cutting roller whereby a spray liquid supply is controlled by a forces acting on the cutting roller. The cutting roller includes a nozzle holder which functions to inhibit or block the flow of the spray liquid and, when the roller cutter or cutting blade is in operation, a deflecting spring element causes the nozzle holder to tilt thereby releasing a spray liquid to the spraying nozzle.

Abstract: A drilling tool including cutting teeth carried by rollers or conically-shaped wheels, with an irrigation arrangement being provided for delivering at least one irrigation fluid jet through a calibrated orifice. A center of the fluid jet at an outlet of the orifice is disposed at a distance from a plane perpendicular to an axis of the tool passing through an apex of the teeth of the drilling tool as viewed from a working face of the drilling tool. A magnitude of the tool diameter, height of the teeth, and distance are determined in accordance with the following relationships:d>1.8 H and0.125D<d<0.185 Dwhere:d=a distance between a center of the outlet orifice of a plane perpidencular to the tool axis and passing through tips of the teeth nearest to the working face of the drilling tool;H=a height of the teeth of the drilling tool; andD=a diameter of the drilling tool.

Abstract: A nozzle retention system for a drill bit which includes a nozzle member which is retained by means of a keyway in the bit body. The bit body can include a partially cylindrical bore, truncated by opposing walls to form a lower contact surface within the bit body. The nozzle will be conformed to pass through the bore in a first orientation, and to be retained in the bore and against such contact surface when the nozzle is rotated to the second orientation.

Abstract: A drill bit has a cylindrical main body, a formation cutting face at the lower end of the body, and means by which the upper end of the bit can be connected into a drill string. A drilling fluid flow passageway extends axially through the main body and provides flow of drilling fluid to the drilling face. The passageway contains flow restrictions for balancing the flow of drilling fluid onto the bit face. The restrictors contain diffusing stages for reducing the velocity of the drilling fluid. Flow isolating paths are formed on the bit face to prevent diversion or channeling of fluid flow on the bit face.

Abstract: An abrasive swivel assembly for providing a rotating, particle-laden fluid stream and, ultimately, a rotating particle-laden fluid jet is disclosed herein. This assembly includes a tubular arrangement for providing a particle-free stream of fluid, means for rotating a section of the tubular arrangement, and means for introducing solid particles into the particle-free fluid stream at a point along the rotating tubular section, whereby to produce a particle-laden fluid stream. This last-mentioned stream can then be used in combination with a cooperating nozzle arrangement for providing a rotating particle-laden fluid jet. In an actual working embodiment, the fluid stream is of sufficiently high pressure so that the abrasive jet can be used as a cutting jet.

Abstract: Hydraulic drilling apparatus and method suitable for use in a variety of applications including the drilling of deep holes for oil and gas wells and the drilling of vertical, horizontal or slanted holes, drilling through both consolidated and unconsolidated formations, and cutting and removing core samples. The drill head produces a whirling mass of pressurized cutting fluid, and this whirling fluid is applied to a discharge nozzle to produce a high velocity cutting jet. In one embodiment, the fluid is discharged from a central nozzle as a thin wall conical cutting jet, and a plurality of axially directed jets are spaced about the central nozzle for removing material within the circular groove cut by the conical jet. The conical jet can be used without the axially directed jets to cut core samples. In a second embodiment, the discharge nozzle comprises an oblique bore in a rotor which is driven at a relatively slow speed (e.g. 5-50 rpm) by the whirling fluid in the drill head.

Abstract: The head is carried by two flexible continuous drill pipes which surround each other and which are flexible enough to be uncoiled from a reel but which are still rigid enough almost not to get twisted in the ground on themselves or relative to each other during the operation of the head. The head is directed in the ground by means of fluid which is pumped through one of the pipes and wherewith the head is repelled relative to the wall of the already formed portion of the hole. One of the pipes connects to one or more directable spray nozzles on the front end of the head, the other one connects to one or more sidewise-issueing openings wherein preferably a directable spray nozzle is mounted.

Abstract: There is claimed a method for isolating intake beds in drill holes (wells), wherein a cement slurry is pumped into a drill pipe string from a well mouth and flash setting and thickening of the cement slurry is ensured once it has left the drill pipe string and a separated phase of lower density is directed to the well mouth via an annular space of the well above a lost circulation zone. A device for carrying same into effect is also claimed.

Abstract: A drag type bit is equipped with nozzles for creating high velocity mud jets discharging into waterways in front of the wings of the bit, which nozzles are oriented such that each jet successively strikes the borehole bottom and front face of a wing at a small angle.

Abstract: A manipulative device capable of remote operation has a nozzle head having one or more nozzles adapted to eject a fluid stream having a component at right angles to the axis of the nozzle head. There is a flexible elongate hose for connecting the nozzle head to a source of remote operation, such as a joystick arrangement. Also valves capable of operation by tendons parallel to the flexible elongate hose enables spatial positioning of the nozzle head by remote differential operation of the tendons. The device may be used in various applications for example borehole mining, paint spraying etc.

Abstract: A compressed air nozzle for accelerating the flow of air from a compressor to supersonic speed has an axial passage which comprises a converging portion and a diverging portion interconnected by an elongated throat. The nozzle is useful in tools for dislodging earth for excavation.

Abstract: Apparatus for pressurized cleaning of flow conductors. The apparatus has a first mandrel and a second mandrel telescoped therein. A cleaning tool can be attached to the second mandrel. Changes in fluid pressure flowing through the mandrels will cause the second mandrel to rotate relative to the first mandrel. Rotation is used to direct fluid jets in the cleaning tool towards different portions of the interior of the flow conductor. Rotation of the cleaning tool can also be used for hydraulic drilling of deposits within the flow conductor.

Abstract: A submerged jet injection nozzle includes a nozzle exit disposed downstream of an orifice section and greater in diameter than the orifice section. The occurrence of cavitation due to a fluid injection is positively promoted so that the crushing effect of the cavitation is utilized fully and the decay in the energy of the injected fluid is reduced thereby increasing the work done by the submerged fluid injection.

Abstract: A nozzle for a drill bit comprises a nozzle body and a ring for securing the nozzle body in a threaded cavity of the drill bit. The nozzle body includes a fluid passage of the orientable type. The ring comprises an externally threaded sleeve and a cap bonded to a front end thereof. The cap and nozzle body are formed of harder materials than the threaded sleeve. The cap contains dove-tail shaped slots for receiving complementarily shaped projections on a tool to enable the ring to be rotated relative to the nozzle body. By threading the ring into the cavity, the nozzle body can be secured in the cavity with its fluid passage oriented in the desired final orientation.

Abstract: Apparatus for removing structural concrete comprises an elongated hood having an inner generally non-accessible zone, an outer zone accessible for performing maintenance functions and an elongated slot between the zones. A reciprocal feed carriage is guidably mounted within the hood in the inner zone and mounts a seal support housing within the outer zone. Portions of the housing extend through the slot into the inner zone and are pivotally mounted upon the carriage. A rotating shaft and seal assembly is mounted upon the seal support housing in the outer zone, including a body having a water inlet adapted for connection to a source of water under pressure. An elongated tubular shaft and nozzle assembly is axially connected to the rotatable seal and shaft assembly and extends from the seal support housing through the slot into the inner zone of the hood, through the carriage and into the bottom of the hood for directing water under pressure against the structural concrete.

Abstract: An improved nozzle retention system in an earth boring bit of the rolling cutter type using a pliable coating bonded to a nozzle retention snap ring in a manner to permit normal seating of the snap ring by bonding the coating only to the inner periphery and portion of a lower surface of the snap ring. The coating material disclosed is elastomeric, including nitrile rubber.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for installing underground utilities using an offset head fluid jet drilling and reaming apparatus. The drill is maneuverable and provides means for remote sensing of orientation and depth. Embodiments are illustrated with single and multiple jet cutting orifices.

Abstract: Hydraulic drilling apparatus and method suitable for use in a variety of applications including the drilling of deep holes for oil and gas wells and the drilling of vertical, horizontal or slanted holes, drilling through both consolidated and unconsolidated formations, and cutting and removing core samples. The drill head produces a whirling mass of pressurized cutting fluid, and this whirling fluid is applied to a discharge nozzle to produce a high velocity cutting jet. The cutting action is enhanced by abrasive material in the drilling fluid. The direction of the borehole is controlled by controlling the discharge of the drilling fluid either in side jets directed radially from the distal end portion of the drill string which carries the drill head or in a plurality of forwardly directed cutting jets.

Abstract: A rotary drill bit (10) has a nozzle assembly (24) positioned within a nozzle bore (22). Nozzle assembly (24) has a nozzle member (34) with a port (40) deviated from the longitudinal axis of the nozzle member (34). A retaining nut (54) is threaded within the threaded bore (22) while the nozzle member (34) is held against rotation thereby to maintain the port (40) in a predetermined rotational position upon final installation.

Abstract: An earth boring bit with an improved extended jet nozzle constructed with a tube having only one curved entrance near the head of the bit and a straight region adjacent the exit of the nozzle, with the curved region being smoothly convergent without substantial disruption or deflective surfaces from a maximum cross sectional area adjacent the head to a minimum cross sectional area in the straight region. The velocity of the fluid flowing through the tube increases gradually from a minimum adjacent the head to a maximum at the exit, with the ratio of minimum to maximum being substantially three to one.

Abstract: A nozzle assembly for enlarging an inground passageway produced by, for example, a boring device is disclosed herein. The nozzle assembly is comprised of a longitudinally extending nozzle body defining an interior cavity adapted to receive fluid under pressure from an external source and at least one arrangement of outwardly facing adjacent stepped surfaces which provide longitudinally spaced cutting jets directed normal to the movement of the boring device and nozzle assembly as the latter moves through a previously provided passageway in order to progressively enlarge the passageway.

Abstract: The method and apparatus for removing structural concrete from a road bed includes a vehicle having a frame on wheels movable along a road bed and mounting a pivotal hood having a lowered use position adjacent the road bed and a raised position. A pressure water manifold upon the frame is connected to a source of pressurized water up to 25,000 p.s.i. A feed carriage is reciprocally mounted within the hood and supports a rotating seal and shaft assembly having a body with a water inlet connected to the manifold and a power rotated tubular shaft journaled upon the body receiving pressure water for delivery to a depending nozzle block connected to and depending from the shaft.

Abstract: A rotary drill bit comprises a bit body carrying a plurality of cutting elements and a main conduit for conducting drilling fluid. A plurality of nozzle bodies is rotatably seated in bores of the bit body. Each nozzle body includes a plurality of passages extending therethrough for conducting drilling fluid in such manner that the exiting fluid causes the nozzle body to rotate about its longitudinal axis. The exiting fluid is thus distributed in a wider pattern.

Abstract: In a percussive tool in which a very high pressure and preferably cavitating water jet is directed through an opening in the working surface of the tool, the jet is formed by a nozzle positioned in a cavity behind the opening and decoupled from the tool by a bearing layer of water from the jet. A supply pipe extends rearwardly of the nozzle without contacting the tool, and is supported externally of the tool, on a machine which operates the tool, by a support which allows the fluid bearing to center the nozzle within the cavity while restraining movement of the nozzle axially of the tool.

Abstract: A rotary drill bit comprises a bit body having a leading face and a gauge region, a number of blades on the leading face of the bit body, and a number of cutting elements mounted along each blade. A passage in the bit body supplies drilling fluid to nozzles in the leading face of the bit body for cooling and cleaning the cutting elements. Each nozzle is so oriented, and the surface of the bit body in the region in front of each blade is so shaped, as to promote a vortex flow of drilling fluid around said region, with part of the periphery of the vortex extending across the cutting elements on the blade, so that fluid in the periphery of the vortex passes across the cutting elements mounted on each blade before escaping through an exit channel in the gauge region.

Abstract: A rotating diamond bit has a cutting face that includes a plurality of cutters and nozzles affixed thereto in spaced relationship respective to one another. A passageway extends through the bit body for flow of fluid through the bit connection to each of the nozzles. Each nozzle has an outlet orifice arranged to direct a lateral flow therefrom which impinges on the cutting face of each of the diamond compacts. The nozzles and compacts are arranged in groups, with there being a plurality of cutters and at least one nozzle in each group. The lateral flow from the nozzles diverges in a fan-like pattern to impinge directly onto the cutting face of each of the plurality of cutters.

Abstract: A rotatable end deflector for an abrasive water jet drill is provided. The end deflector includes two wear resistant plates which direct portions of the water jet in opposite forward directions. Preferably, the abrasive water jet drill includes a source of high pressure water and a high pressure water outlet from which a stream of water is expelled. A venturi device is provided adjacent the water outlet for creating a vacuum. A feed device feeds an abrasive particular material to the venturi device so that the abrasive material is entrained in the stream of water. Thereafter, the stream of water is collimated in a rotating tube which produces a rotating cylindrical water jet which is then deflected before it impinges on the rock to drill the rock. The abrasive material is preferably sand and the tube including the deflector is easily replaceable.

Abstract: An improved earth boring bit of the type having diamond cutting elements and a fluid passageway to direct drilling fluid toward a borehole bottom during drilling, a metal nozzle with a cylindrical, threaded exterior and a noncircular throat having a minimum cross sectional dimension to receive a mating wrench and a length to resist damage from the torque required to make-up and break-out the nozzle for threads in the body of the bit.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing by a power metallurgy process a rotary drill bit including a bit body having an external surface on which are mounted a plurality of preform cutting elements, and an inner passage for supplying drilling fluid to at least one nozzle located in a socket at the external surface of the bit. The method includes the steps of forming a hollow mould for moulding the bit body, packing the mould with powdered material, such as tungsten carbide powder, and infiltrating the material with a metal alloy in a furnace to form a matrix. Before packing the mould with the powdered material, there is positioned in the interior surface of the mould at least one former which projects into the interior of the mould space at the desired location for a nozzle socket, the former having an external screw thread whereby the matrix material packed around the former becomes shaped with a corresponding internal screw thread.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for crushing the earth under the ground by boring a hole; inserting a drill head having radially directed water jet thereon down the hole to the desired stratum; rotatingly moving the drill head upwardly while jetting water radially to form a cylindrical crushed area; lowering the drill head to the original depth; extending a water jet extender arm radially to a projecting position; again rotatingly moving the drill head upwardly while jetting water from the nozzles on the radial outward portions of the extender arm to radially enlarge the cylindrical crushed area, the rotation of the extender arm also stirring the already crushed area; returning the extender arm to an original waiting position; and lifting the drill head out of the hole.

Abstract: A three cone rock bit is disclosed having at least a pair of mini-extended nozzles extending from a dome portion of the bit. Two 120.degree. leg segments contain extended nozzles, a third 120.degree. segment is nozzleless. The mini-extended nozzles convert hydraulic pressure to kinetic fluid flow energy with a minimum of flow disturbance, thereby delivering a concentrated flow of fluid against the floor of the formation and across the cutting face of the bit, sweeping detritus past the nozzleless 120.degree. leg segment and up the borehole. A centerjet mini-extended nozzle may additionally be positioned in the rock bit dome to further enhance borehole penetration.

Abstract: A drill bit having a nozzle for drilling fluid to pass out of the drill bit and into the bore hole is disclosed. In one embodiment two diagonal passages through the nozzle impart angular momentum to the drilling fluid. In another embodiment, four diagonal passages through the nozzle impart angular momentum. In still another embodiment, a central bore hole through the nozzle has helical grooves along its internal orifice wall to impart angular momentum. The angular momentum causes the drilling fluid exiting from the interior of the drill bit to flow downward into the bore hole in a divergent vortex that sweeps the cuttings away from the cutting surfaces of the drill bit.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for drilling a pilot bore hole (B) along an underground arcuate path (P) between two surface locations (O, E). The pilot bore hole (B) is drilled in one direction with a drill string (10) having a leading pipe section (10A) of a reduced diameter to provide increased flexibility. Upon completion of the pilot bore hole (B), a reamer (48) connected to a product conduit (46) is connected to the drill string (10). Drill string (10) pulls the reamer (48) and product conduit (46) along the pilot bore hole (B) in an opposite direction for enlarging the bore hole (B) to receive the product conduit (46). A spud bit (34) has a flat or blunt leading end portion (34A) with a discharge opening (34D) therein to discharge high velocity drilling fluid into the formation at a location offset from the longitudinal axis of the drill string (10) to assist in guiding the drill string (10). An in-hole hydraulic motor (70) is provided in an embodiment (FIG.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for installing underground utilities using an offset head fluid jet drilling and reaming apparatus. The drill is maneuverable and provides means for remote sensing of orientation and depth. Embodiments are illustrated with single and multiple jet cutting orifices.

Abstract: A vibratory earth penetrator employing a high pressure air distributor and an oscillating mechanism has the ability to dig down to underground utilities and contact those utilities without damaging them. The invention includes a hollow elongated tube having a plurality of air lances at the bottom end thereof. The air is preferably distributed to the air lances by an air distributor in a criss-cross sequence. An oscillating eccentric weight is synchronized with the air distributor to enhance the digging effect of the device. The penetrator is supported by a boom which includes an automatic tension device for providing sufficient upward force to keep the penetrator in the vertical attitude while allowing the weight of the penetrator to provide enough force to permit the device to dig into the ground. Since the digging action is accompanied by very little downward force, it is possible to contact underground utilities without hurting them.

Abstract: A nozzle assembly comprising a tubular sleeve, a nozzle and a nozzle body. The nozzle and nozzle body are held in an assembled relation with their bores aligned by the tubular sleeve which encircles them. The sleeve provides a seal between the nozzle assembly and the body into which the nozzzle assembly is mounted, and also provides a seal between the nozzle and nozzle body. During use, when under working pressure, the tubular sleeve tends to flow and move both downstream and radially, forming seals between the nozzle assembly and the body into which it is mounted; and between the nozzle and nozzle body, which seals tend to increase in effectiveness as the working pressure increases. In another form, the set screw has a chamfer which engages a corresponding circular corner of said body, preventing downstream flow of the sleeve therebetween.