Drill pipe connector

Abstract

This invention relates to a drill pipe connector having a sleeve-shaped connector receiving portion, a journal-shaped connector element axially insertable into the connector receiving portion for forming a torsional-resistant connection, and at least one locking bolt oriented transversely to the axial engagement direction and extending from the connector receiving portion into a locking gap on the connector element in a locked engagement position. According to the invention, the locking bolt is supported on the sleeve-shaped connector receiving portion by means of a gravity-dependent adjusting mechanism that allows radial displacement between an unlocked position and a locked position. The adjusting mechanism has at least one movable adjusting element movable between a lower push-in position and an upper retracted position, wherein in the lower push-in position the locking bolt is pushed into the locked position, and in the upper retracted position the locking bolt is pulled back from the locked receiving portion to the unlocked position, and the adjusting element is held in the lower push-in position by gravity.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a drill pipe connector according to the present disclosure, the drill pipe connector having a sleeve-shaped connector receiving portion, a journal-shaped connector element that can be axially inserted into the connector receiving portion for forming a torsional connection, and at least one locking bolt oriented transversely to the axial engagement direction and extending from the connector receiving portion into a locking gap on the connector element in a locked engagement position. Background Technology

[0002] Such drill pipe couplings are known, for example, from DE 3 642 387 A1, in which the operating ring on the drill pipe slides downwards due to its gravity and the locking bolt is fixed in its locked position. Here, all locking elements should be held in their locked positions by the single operating ring, so that the locking state becomes unreliable when the operating ring is locked, for example, due to contamination or misalignment.

[0003] Another type of drill pipe connector is known, for example, from DE 10 2011 109 001 A1. This type of drill pipe connector is also often referred to as a so-called Kellybox. Axial locking in the inserted engagement position is achieved by the introduction of a laterally oriented locking bolt into the connector receiving portion and the connector element, thereby realizing a form-locking connection.

[0004] However, known drill pipe couplings require manual operation not only during locking but also during unlocking. This manual operation is inherently time-consuming. Furthermore, for drill pipe elements that can be several meters long and are typically vertically oriented, the coupling assembly is several meters above the ground. Therefore, climbing aids or even derricks are required for operation, which is also expensive. Moreover, working at a significant height above the ground and within the immediate vicinity of the drill pipe is problematic for occupational safety reasons and should therefore be reduced to the minimum necessary. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The objective of this invention is to describe a drill pipe connector that is particularly easy to operate.

[0006] According to the present invention, the task is accomplished by the drill pipe connector of the present invention. Preferred embodiments of the present invention are described in this disclosure.

[0007] The drill pipe connector according to the invention is characterized in that the locking bolt is supported on the sleeve-shaped connector receiving portion by means of a gravity-dependent adjustment mechanism in a manner that allows it to radially shift between an unlocked position and a locked position. The adjustment mechanism has at least one movable adjustment element that is movable between a lower push-in position and an upper retracted position, wherein in the lower push-in position the locking bolt is pushed into the locked position, and in the upper retracted position the locking bolt is pulled back from the locked receiving portion to the unlocked position, and the adjustment element is held in the lower push-in position by gravity.

[0008] The basic concept of this invention lies in providing at least a semi-automatic drill pipe connector, wherein a locking bolt on the external connector receiving portion is movable between an unlocked position and a locked position via a gravity-dependent adjustment mechanism. The adjustment mechanism has at least one movable adjustment element that is pulled downwards by gravity, wherein the locking bolt is pushed into a pushed-in position and held therein by the adjustment mechanism.

[0009] To unlock, all that is required is for at least one external adjusting element to move against gravity to the upper retracted position, whereby the locking bolt is pulled back from the locked position to the unlocked position via the adjusting mechanism. To relock, simply remove the holding force that keeps the at least one adjusting element in the upper retracted position. Upon release of this holding force, the adjusting element moves back to the lower push-in position, whereby the locking bolt is pushed back to the unlocked position.

[0010] Preferably, a drill pipe having a connector receiving portion or connector element can be axially engaged in a simple manner with the corresponding connector element or connector receiving portion of another drill pipe element, wherein the locking bolt is briefly pushed out by the adjusting element against gravity by an axial pushing force until the locking bolt is pushed back into the locked position by the gravity-dependent adjusting mechanism to lock the two drill pipe elements. The connector element and locking bolt can be beveled at their free ends for this purpose.

[0011] According to the present invention, the desired adjusting force acting on the at least one adjusting element is achieved by arranging a load weight on the at least one adjusting element. The load weight is thus positioned on the adjusting element in a releasable manner. By correspondingly increasing or decreasing the load weight, the desired adjusting force can be predetermined.

[0012] According to another embodiment of the invention, a particularly reliable connection is achieved by providing multiple locking bolts, which are preferably evenly distributed around the periphery of the sleeve-shaped connector receiving portion. In particular, two to four locking bolts can be arranged around the periphery of the connector receiving portion.

[0013] In principle, the locking gap can be configured as a blind hole or through hole in the coupling element. According to a variation of the invention, it is particularly advantageous that the locking gap is configured as an annular groove extending along the periphery of the journal-shaped coupling element. This design of the locking gap on the outer surface of the coupling element enables automatic engagement. The cross-sectional profile of the groove corresponds to a portion of the outer peripheral profile of the locking bolt. Preferably, the groove has a semi-circular cross-section.

[0014] In principle, to unlock, the movable adjusting element of the adjusting mechanism can be pushed upward by hand or a hand-operated tool, causing the locking bolt to be pulled back. According to an improvement of the invention, preferably, an unlocking mechanism is arranged on the adjusting mechanism, by which at least one adjusting element can be moved to an upper retracted position. The unlocking mechanism can be operated by energy. In particular, the unlocking mechanism can be provided on a drilling drive, which in principle already has an energy supply mechanism. The unlocking mechanism can be operated electrically, hydraulically, or pneumatically.

[0015] According to an improved embodiment of the invention, the unlocking mechanism is operable using a lever. In a simple case, the unlocking mechanism can be a simple hook-like element or other receiving part, or a simple handle, for such mechanical operation.

[0016] A particular advantage here is that the unlocking mechanism has an annular element to which one or more adjusting elements are hinged. The annular element here can circumferentially surround the engagement receiving portion, thereby allowing the unlocking mechanism to be operated from each circumferential position, for example, when operated with a lever.

[0017] According to one embodiment of the invention, for particularly good torque transmission, it is preferred that the connector receiving portion and the connector element have a polygonal cross-sectional shape, especially a square cross-section. However, triangular or other polygonal cross-sections are also possible, which allow torque transmission between the connector receiving portion and the connector element. The corresponding mating areas of the connector receiving portion and the connector element are configured as a clearance fit.

[0018] Furthermore, the present invention includes a drill pipe assembly having the drill pipe connector described above. Preferably, the drill pipe connector is arranged between two drill pipe elements. The drill pipe elements can be configured with a feed helix, a stirring element, or be purely cylindrical without any elements on their outer surfaces.

[0019] Furthermore, according to the present invention, a drill rod assembly is provided having such a drill rod connector, wherein the drill rod connector is disposed between a drill rod element and a drilling tool or a drilling drive device. Generally, for a drill rod assembly, the journal-shaped connector element is preferably arranged in the upper part, while the sleeve-shaped connector receiving part is arranged in the lower part relative to the corresponding connector element. As a drilling tool, a spiral drill, a box drill, a pressure drill, or other rotary-driven drilling tools can be provided.

[0020] Another advantageous design of the invention is achieved by detachably arranging the connector receiving portion and / or the connector element on the drill pipe element, drilling tool, or drilling drive. The connector receiving portion and / or connector element can thus be configured as an adapter between the drill pipe connector according to the invention and conventional connector elements, such as kerfed drill pipe boxes or Kellysteckglied drill pipe connectors. This also allows for easy retrofitting of existing components. Attached Figure Description

[0021] The invention will now be further explained with the aid of preferred embodiments, which are schematically illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

[0022] Figure 1 An exploded view of a schematic partial cross-section of the drill pipe connector according to the invention is shown;

[0023] Figure 2 It shows Figure 1 The diagram shows the drill pipe connector before it is inserted; and

[0024] Figure 3 A partial cross-sectional view is shown regarding a possible adjustment mechanism for a drill pipe connector according to the invention. Detailed Implementation

[0025] according to Figure 1The drill pipe connector 10 according to the invention has a journal-shaped connector element 20, which is mounted on a drill pipe element 2, which is only partially shown. The connector element 20 can, in principle, be fixedly welded to the drill pipe element 2 or even integrally constructed thereon. The illustrated embodiment shows a possible mounting configuration, wherein the drill pipe element 2 has a connection section 3. The connection section 3 can be a conventional drill pipe connection (Kellyverbindung) with a square area.

[0026] The journal-shaped connector element 20 has a cylindrical front section 22 and a sleeve-shaped rear section 26. The connecting section 3 of the drill pipe element 2 can be suitably and torsionally inserted into the sleeve-shaped rear section 26 of the connector element 20 and axially fixed therein by a laterally oriented bolt.

[0027] An annular groove 25, serving as a locking gap 24, is cut along the outer periphery of the journal-shaped front section 22 of the connector element 20. The groove 25 has, for example, a semi-circular shape in cross-section. Furthermore, a tapered head 23 with a downwardly decreasing diameter is constructed at the free end of the front section 22.

[0028] In the illustrated embodiment, the sleeve-shaped connector receiving portion 30 is mounted on a drilling tool 7. The drilling tool 7 has a base 8, schematically shown, on which a sleeve-shaped connecting region 9 is disposed centered relative to the longitudinal axis on its upper side. The drilling tool 7 can be, for example, a drill barrel having a corresponding cutting mechanism for removing bottom material. In principle, the sleeve-shaped connector receiving portion 30 can also be fixedly mounted on the drilling tool 7, for example, by welding.

[0029] The connector receiving portion 30 has a peripheral sleeve 32 with a central stepped receiving hole 33, which preferably has a quadrilateral cross-section corresponding to the outer contour of the journal-shaped connector element 20. The lower side of the peripheral sleeve 32 is closed by a plate-shaped bottom 34, on which a journal-shaped connecting element 36 extends downward. The connecting element 36 is preferably configured the same as the connecting section 3 on the drill rod element 2, so that the connector receiving portion 30 can also be used as an add-on for existing drill rod connections in a simple manner. The journal-shaped connecting element 36, preferably configured as a quadrangular structure, can be suitably inserted axially into the sleeve-shaped connecting area 9 on the drilling tool 7. The connecting element 36 can be axially fixed in the connecting area 9 by corresponding laterally oriented bolts, thereby forming a torsion-resistant and axially fixed connection between the drilling tool 7 and the connector receiving portion 30.

[0030] An adjustment mechanism 40 is arranged on the connector receiving portion 30. In the illustrated embodiment, this adjustment mechanism has two lever-shaped adjustment elements 42, each supported rotatably in a channel on the peripheral sleeve 32 of the connector receiving portion 30 via a rotating shaft 43. In the illustrated embodiment, a locking bolt 50 is integrally formed with the rod-shaped adjustment element 42 at its free end extending inward into the receiving hole 33. The adjustment element 42 is pressed downward into a pushed-in position by a load 44 on its outer end, in which the locking bolt 50 is radially pressed inward into the receiving hole 33 or pushed into a locked position.

[0031] A gap 62 for the unlocking mechanism 60 is constructed on the load weight 44. A lever can be inserted into the gap 62, allowing the load weight 44 and the adjusting element 42 to move upwards to the retracted position. Here, the locking bolt 50 is pushed radially outwards to the unlocked position, where it is no longer engaged in the locking gap 24 of the axially inserted coupling element 20. In this unlocked position, the coupling element can then be pulled out of the coupling receiving portion 30.

[0032] exist Figure 2 The diagram again schematically illustrates how the connector element 20, mounted on the drill rod element 2, can be axially inserted into the sleeve-shaped connector receiving portion 30 on the drilling tool 7 along the direction of the indicated arrow. During this axial insertion, the two locking bolts 50, under the influence of a predetermined axial force, are pushed radially outward from the indicated locked position to their unlocked position against the gravitational force of the adjusting mechanism 40. Upon reaching the axial end position of the journal-shaped connector element 20, the locking bolts 50 are radially returned to their locked position by the gravitational force of the adjusting mechanism 40, wherein the locking bolts 50 extend into the locking gap 24 on the connector element 20. In this locked position, the connector element 20 is now received in the sleeve-shaped connector receiving portion 30 in an axially fixed manner.

[0033] An alternative design scheme for the adjustment mechanism 40 is illustrated in... Figure 3 As shown in the diagram, the locking bolt 50 is radially supported in a suitable channel 35 within the wall of the sleeve-shaped connector receiving portion 30. In the locked position shown, the connector bolt 50 extends inward into the receiving hole 33.

[0034] At the radially outer end of the locking bolt 50, the locking bolt is connected to a Z-shaped lever-like adjusting element 42 via a connecting pin 52. The adjusting element 42 is supported on the coupling receiving portion 30 in a manner that allows it to rotate about a rotation axis 43. Furthermore, the adjusting element 42 is provided with a groove-shaped elongated hole 46 into which the connecting pin 52 of the locking bolt 50 extends.

[0035] Due to its own weight, the adjusting element 42 is pressed downwards. Figure 3 In the position shown, the locking bolt 50 is radially inwardly pushed forward into the receiving hole 33 via the connecting pin 52. The adjusting element 42 can be rotated upwards about the rotation axis 43 via a handle-like unlocking mechanism 60 on its free end. Thus, the locking bolt 50 moves radially outwards to its unlocked position due to the connection created by the elongated hole 46 and the connecting pin 52. Once the upward force on the adjusting element 42 is released, the adjusting element can return to its downward movement due to its own weight, wherein the locking bolt 50 is pushed back into the locked position.

[0036] The adjustment mechanism 40 can, in principle, be configured in every other suitable manner in which sufficient gravity is applied to the vertical orientation of the drill pipe coupling 10, by which the locking bolt 50 is pushed radially inward to the locked position and held there.

Claims

1. Drill pipe connector, which has - Sleeve-shaped connector receiving part (30); - A journal-shaped connector element (20) that can be axially inserted into the connector receiving portion (30) to form a torsional-resistant connection; and - At least one locking bolt (50), which is oriented transversely to the axial engagement direction and extends from the connector receiving portion (30) into the locking gap (24) on the connector element (20) in the locked engagement position. -in, The locking bolt (50) is supported on the sleeve-shaped connector receiving portion (30) by means of a gravity-dependent adjustment mechanism (40) in a manner that allows it to shift radially between the unlocked and locked positions. -The adjusting mechanism (40) has at least one movable adjusting element (42) that is movable between a lower push-in position and an upper retracted position, wherein in the lower push-in position the locking bolt (50) is pushed into the locked position, and in the upper retracted position the locking bolt (50) is pulled back from the locking gap (24) to the unlocked position, and -The adjusting element (42) is held in the lower pushed-in position by gravity. Its features are, - A load weight (44) is arranged in a releasable manner on the outer end of each of the at least one of the adjustment elements (42). -The desired adjustment force can be predetermined by the corresponding increase or decrease of the load weight (44).

2. The drill pipe connector according to claim 1, Its features are, Multiple locking bolts (50) are provided, which are distributed around the periphery of the sleeve-shaped connector receiving portion (30).

3. The drill pipe connector according to claim 2, Its features are, Multiple locking bolts (50) are provided, which are evenly distributed around the periphery of the sleeve-shaped connector receiving portion (30).

4. The drill pipe connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, Its features are, The locking gap (24) is configured as an annular groove (25) that extends along the periphery of the journal-shaped coupling element (20).

5. The drill pipe connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, Its features are, An unlocking mechanism (60) is arranged on the adjusting mechanism (40), and at least one of the adjusting elements (42) can be moved to the retracted position of the upper part by means of the unlocking mechanism.

6. The drill pipe connector according to claim 5, Its features are, The unlocking mechanism (60) can be operated with a joystick.

7. The drill pipe connector according to claim 5, Its features are, The unlocking mechanism (60) has an annular element, and one or more adjusting elements (42) are hinged to the annular element.

8. The drill pipe connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, Its features are, The connector receiving portion (30) and the connector element (20) have a polygonal cross-sectional shape.

9. The drill pipe connector according to claim 8, Its features are, The connector receiving portion (30) and the connector element (20) have a square cross-section.

10. A drill pipe assembly having a drill pipe connector (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, Its features are, The drill pipe connector (10) is disposed between the two drill pipe elements (2).

11. A drill pipe assembly having a drill pipe connector (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, Its features are, The drill pipe connector (10) is disposed between the drill pipe element (2) and the drilling tool (7) or drilling drive device.

12. The drill pipe assembly according to claim 10 or 11, Its features are, The connector receiving portion (30) and / or the connector element (20) are releasably mounted on the drill rod element (2), the drilling tool (7), or the drilling drive.

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