Apparatus for drilling through holes using a drilling system

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for drilling holes by means of a drilling system (1) with a drill drive (2), a drill head (3) driven by the drill drive (2), and a connecting element (4) with which the drill drive (2) can be connected to a drill string (4). A flushing fluid can be introduced into a flushing channel (5) of the connecting element (4) and this flushing fluid can be guided through the entire device in order to convey the drilling material released by the drill head (3) to the surface via a borehole. The invention is characterized in that a converter (6) is arranged between the connecting element (4) and the drill drive (2), which converter can be driven by the flushing fluid and which actuates the drill drive (1) by means of a fluid system separate from the flushing fluid.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a device for carrying out bores by means of a drilling system according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

[0002] State-of-the-art drilling systems, such as pneumatic or water-hydraulic drilling systems, are used to drill holes in rock formations. Over time, drilling systems have proven advantageous in which a pressurized fluid stream is introduced into a drill rod to operate a drill drive at the end of the drill rod. At the same time, the borehole or borehole is filled with the same fluid, which is also used as a flushing fluid. The flushing fluid combines with the loosened drilling material to form a drilling fluid suspension, which is then pumped back to the surface under the pressure of the fluid or with the aid of pumps.

[0003] However, such drilling systems are only suitable to a limited extent for drilling at greater depths and are no longer cost-effective. This applies, for example, to deep drilling in rocky formations at depths of over 500 meters. One problem is that the removal of the rock material dislodged by the drilling system is technically and energetically complex and therefore no longer cost-effective.

[0004] Secondly, if the drive fluid for the drill drive is used simultaneously as a flushing fluid to remove the loosened rock material, the entire drilling system is subjected to increased wear, as the loosened material is brought back to the surface under the pressure of the flushing fluid and comes into direct contact with the drill drive, causing permanent damage. This reduces the service life of such hammer drill systems. Furthermore, replacing the hammer drill system at the end of the drill rod at depths of several thousand meters is a considerable time-consuming process, during which drilling cannot be continued.

[0005] It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a device for carrying out bores by means of a drilling system according to the preamble of patent claim 1, in which on the one hand the service life of the hammer drill system is increased and on the other hand the flushing fluid indirectly serves as a drive for the hammer drill system and can thus continue to fulfil its other tasks.

[0006] This object is achieved by a device for carrying out bores by means of a drilling system having all the features of patent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention can be found in the subclaims.

[0007] The device according to the invention for carrying out drilling by means of a drilling system comprises the following: a drilling drive, a drill head driven by the drill drive, a connecting element with which the drill drive can be connected to a drill string, wherein a flushing fluid can be introduced into a flushing channel of the connecting element and wherein this flushing fluid can be passed through the entire device in order to convey the drilling material released by the drill head to the surface via a borehole.

[0008] The device according to the invention is characterized in that a converter is arranged between the connecting element and the drill drive, which converter can be driven by the flushing liquid and which actuates the drill drive by means of a fluid system separate from the flushing liquid.

[0009] The design according to the invention provides a device for drilling holes using a drilling system in which, on the one hand, the drill drive is only indirectly driven by the drilling fluid, since the drill drive is directly driven by the fluid system of the converter, which is completely separate from the drilling fluid. As a result, no parts of the loosened drilling material can enter the fluid system driving the drill drive, so that wear on the drilling system, in particular on the drill drive, is independent of the drilling fluid or drilling slurry carrying the loosened drilling material. The loosened drilling material therefore has only a very minor influence on the service life or wear of the drilling system, since there is no direct contact between the drilling fluid or drilling slurry suspension and the drill drive.Only at the moving parts at the end of the borehole does the drilling fluid or drilling slurry come into contact with the drill head.

[0010] Secondly, the use of the converter means that the drilling system's drive is only indirectly driven by the drilling fluid. The direct drive is provided by the converter's fluid system, which is driven directly by the drilling fluid. This not only decouples the drilling system's drive from the drilling fluid, but also provides an energy advantage, as a constant flow of drilling fluid can now generate an intermittent movement of the fluid system in the converter, which can then be used to drive the drilling system. This allows the drilling system to efficiently loosen rock at the bottom of the borehole, while the flow of drilling fluid transports the loosened drilling material away from the end of the borehole or the bottom of the bore.The flushing fluid is introduced through the drill rod into the device according to the invention and guided to the end of the borehole or the borehole bottom, where it collects the loosened material, which is then brought back to the surface between the drill rod and the borehole.

[0011] A variety of drives can be used as drilling drives. Examples include the following: a hammer drill system with a percussion mechanism, a bottom-hole motor in conjunction with a hydraulic pump, a turbine in conjunction with a hydraulic pump, a pneumatic or hydraulic drive, and a hydraulic converter system that directly generates oil-hydraulic energy without first generating a rotating motion.

[0012] According to a first advantageous embodiment of the invention, the fluid system of the converter is designed as a hydraulic system. Such hydraulic systems have already proven their worth in many technical fields, and the use of such systems under the extreme conditions encountered during drilling has also shown that the use of such a hydraulic system in the converter can ensure continuous operation of the device or drilling system according to the invention.

[0013] According to a further embodiment of the invention, it has proven advantageous for the connecting element, the converter, the drill drive, and the drill head to be expanded to allow the passage of drilling fluid. These elements can all be arranged in a single housing, which can be placed at the end of the drill rod. The diameter of this housing is larger than that of the drill rod, allowing it to be guided into the resulting borehole.

[0014] In principle, it is of course also conceivable that the aforementioned elements are all arranged in a separate housing, wherein these housings can be combined to form the device according to the invention together with the aforementioned elements.

[0015] According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the converter comprises a stator and a rotor, wherein the stator is accommodated in the rotor and the rotor has at least one flushing channel for the drilling fluid. When the drilling fluid is passed through the at least one flushing channel, the rotor is set in rotation relative to the stator. By using such a converter, the energy introduced into the device by means of the flushing fluid can be used to drive the converter via the fluid system, which is separate from the flushing fluid. The converter decouples the drive of the drilling drive from the flushing fluid.

[0016] Advantageously, the fluid system that actuates the drill drive is arranged inside the stator so that direct contact of the fluid system of the converter with the flushing fluid is excluded.

[0017] To drive the drilling drive, the stator has at least one piston that can be moved back and forth by the flushing fluid, by means of which the fluid system that actuates the drilling drive can be driven.

[0018] According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, two separate fluid chambers are arranged in the piston, each having an inlet valve and an outlet valve. The outlet valve of each fluid chamber is fluidly connected to the inlet valve of the other fluid chamber via connecting channels. This ensures a continuous flow of the converter's fluid system, thus providing continuous drive for the drill drive.

[0019] The fluid flow in the connecting channels between the outlet and inlet valves of the fluid chambers of the drill drive therefore drives the drill drive, whereby the drill head can then be actuated by the drill drive.

[0020] It has proven advantageous for the drill head to be designed as a chisel with a chisel head. This embodiment of the invention makes it possible to transfer the reciprocating movement transmitted to a percussion piston of the drill drive by means of the fluid system to the chisel and finally to the chisel head. This allows the chisel head to be moved back and forth at the end of the borehole at a frequency determined by the fluid system. During its movement at the end of the borehole or the borehole floor, it loosens drilling material from the rock, which is then brought to the surface between the drill rod and the borehole wall by means of the drilling fluid in the form of a drilling fluid suspension.

[0021] For this purpose, the bit head is provided with one or more flushing channels through which the flushing fluid is guided to the bottom of the drill hole or the end of the borehole, so that it directly absorbs the drilling material by forming the drilling fluid suspension, which is then brought to the surface between the drill rod and the borehole.

[0022] To prevent flushing fluid or drilling fluid suspension from entering the drill drive, a further concept of the invention provides for a sealing system to be arranged between the drill head and the drill drive, with a static sealing system being arranged between a sleeve guiding the bit and the drill drive, and a dynamic sealing system being arranged between the bit and the sleeve. This ensures that no flushing fluid or drilling fluid suspension can penetrate into the interior of the drill drive, thereby extending the service life of the drill drive and thus increasing its service life, thus maximizing the effective drilling time.

[0023] According to the invention, the service life of the device according to the invention is thus independent of the seal between the bit and the drill drive, since neither the flushing fluid nor the drilling fluid suspension comes into contact with the drill drive.

[0024] Further objects, advantages, features, and possible applications of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of an exemplary embodiment with reference to the drawing. All described and / or illustrated features, individually or in any meaningful combination, constitute the subject matter of the present invention, regardless of their summary in the claims or their interrelationship.

[0025] They show: Figure 1: a schematic representation of a device according to the invention in a sectional view, Figure 2: an embodiment of a transducer of a device according to the invention in a sectional view, Figure 3: an embodiment of a drill head of a device according to the invention in a sectional view and Figures 4 to 13: sectional views of various states of a fluid system of a transducer of a device according to the invention.

[0026] In theFigure 1 An embodiment of a device according to the invention for drilling holes using a drilling system 1 is shown. The drilling system 1 has a connecting element 4, with the aid of which the drilling system 1 can be arranged at the end of a drill rod 23 facing the drill bottom. A flushing channel 5 extends from the drill rod 23 into the connecting element 4, with the aid of which flushing fluid can be guided through the drilling system 1 to the end of the borehole or the drill bottom. The flushing fluid passes through a converter 6. The converter 6, which drives a drill drive 2, is operated by the flushing fluid.

[0027] The drill drive 2 is designed as a hammer drill with a percussion mechanism in the form of a percussion piston 24. A drill head 3 is arranged downstream of the drill drive 2, which in this case has a chisel 17 with a chisel head 18. The flushing fluid can also be passed through the drill head 3. For this purpose, the drill head 3 has a flushing channel 19 in the chisel head 18 at the end, through which the flushing fluid can be directed to the drill bottom.

[0028] The converter 6 has a Figure 1 The device has a fluid system (not shown) that is decoupled from the flushing fluid. The flushing fluid drives the converter 6, with the fluid system of the converter 6 driving the drill drive 2. In the present case, the drill drive 2 is designed as a hammer drill. However, other drill drives 2, such as an inner pipe cutter or other hydraulically driven systems, are also conceivable for use in the device according to the invention.

[0029] The drill head 3, which in this case is designed with a chisel 17 with a chisel head 18, also has a sleeve 22 in which the chisel 17 is guided. For connection to the drill drive 2, which in this case is designed as a hammer drill, the sleeve 22 of the drill head 3 has a static sealing system 20 with, if necessary, multiple seals, which prevents flushing fluid or drilling fluid suspension from penetrating the drill drive. At the other end, the sleeve 22 has a further sealing system 21, possibly consisting of multiple seals, which is dynamically designed, since the chisel 18 moves back and forth within the sleeve 22 there. The sealing system 21 is arranged circumferentially around the chisel 18 between the chisel 18 and the sleeve 22. This sealing system 21 also prevents flushing fluid or drilling fluid suspension from penetrating the drill head 3 and subsequently into the drill drive 2.

[0030] In the Figure 3 The design of this drill head 3, with a chisel 17 having a chisel head 18 and guided in a sleeve 22, is shown in more detail. The two sealing systems 20 and 21, which are equipped with multiple seals, are also clearly visible. Furthermore, the flushing channel 19 in the chisel head 18 is clearly visible. This flushing channel is fed with flushing fluid through a flushing channel 25 arranged in the drill head 3.

[0031] In the Figure 2An exemplary embodiment of a converter 6 of a device according to the invention for drilling holes by means of a drilling system is now shown. The converter 6 consists of a rotor 8 in which a stator 7 is arranged. The rotor 8 has a flushing channel 9 which is curved, in particular spiral-shaped, on the inner wall of the rotor 8. The flushing channel 9 is fed by flushing channels 5.1 and 5.2, which are supplied with flushing fluid through the flushing channel 5 of the connecting element 4. Since the rotor 8 is arranged rotatably around the stator 7, the rotor 8 rotates around the stator 7 as soon as flushing fluid is guided through the flushing channels 5.1, 5.2 and 9. This drives piston systems within the stator 7, which have fluid systems with the aid of which the drill drive 2 following the converter 6 can be driven. In the exemplary embodiment of the Figure 2The converter has 6 such piston systems. The piston systems are described below using the Figures 4 to 13 This example describes a piston system, where the piston systems are all identically designed. The piston systems can be arranged offset from one another at an angle. However, it is also conceivable that they are not arranged radially offset from one another.

[0032] Each piston system has a piston 10 that can be moved back and forth within the piston system or the stator 7. Two separate fluid chambers 11, 12 are arranged in the piston 10, each of which has an inlet valve 13 or 14 and an outlet valve 15 or 16.

[0033] In the representation according to the Figure 4The fluid chamber 11 is completely filled, while the fluid chamber 12 is essentially empty. The piston 10 has reached its maximum extension in one direction. Both the inlet valve 13 of the fluid chamber 11 and the inlet valve 14 of the fluid chamber 12 are closed in this position. Likewise, the outlet valve 15 of the fluid chamber 11 and the outlet valve 16 of the fluid chamber 12 are closed in this position. Hydraulic oil, which can be used under extreme conditions, is a suitable fluid for such fluid systems.

[0034] In the position according to Figure 4 The flushing channel 9 is located within the rotor 8 in a position in which the flushing liquid cannot move the piston. If the rotor 8 continues to rotate clockwise, the flushing channel 9 reaches a position as shown in Figure 5Now, flushing fluid can exit the flushing channel 9 and move the piston 10 from its extreme position according to the Figure 4 In the illustration of the Figure 5 Both inlet valves 13 and 14 as well as both outlet valves 15 and 16 are still closed. If the rotor 8 now rotates further clockwise, the outlet valve 15 of the fluid chamber 11 and the inlet valve 14 of the fluid chamber 12 are opened. The fluid in the fluid chamber 11 can now exit the fluid chamber 11 via the outlet valve 15 and enter the fluid chamber 12 via a connecting line through the inlet valve 14.

[0035] The drilling drive of the device according to the invention is driven by the flow of fluid between the outlet valve 15 of the fluid chamber 11 and the inlet valve 14 of the fluid chamber 12. The flushing fluid emerging from the flushing channel 9 now further displaces the piston 10 until it has reached its other extreme position, as shown in Figure 7. The fluid chamber 12 is now filled to its maximum with fluid, while the fluid chamber 11 has its minimum filling. In this position, the outlet valve 15 of the fluid chamber 11 and the inlet valve 14 of the fluid chamber 12 are still open. If the rotor 8 now rotates further clockwise, the outlet valve 15 of the fluid chamber 11 and the inlet valve 14 of the fluid chamber 12 are closed, as shown in Figure 8All valves 13, 14, 15 and 16 remain in this closed position until the flushing channel 9 reaches the opposite side of the piston. An intermediate position is shown in Figure 9 shown in which all valves 13, 14, 15 and 16 are closed.

[0036] In position 10, the flushing channel 9 of the rotor 8 has now reached a position in which the flushing fluid can again drive the piston 10. Now, the inlet valve 13 of the fluid chamber 11 and the outlet valve 16 of the fluid chamber 12 are opened. The flushing fluid now moves the piston 10 from its extreme position according to the Figure 10again in the other direction, whereby the fluid chamber 12 empties, while the fluid chamber 11 fills. The fluid passes through a connecting channel between the outlet valve 16 of the fluid chamber 12 and the inlet valve 13 of the fluid chamber 11 from the fluid chamber 12 into the fluid chamber 11. The piston 10 is now displaced by the flushing fluid back into its other extreme position, as shown in Figure 12 This position of the piston 10 corresponds to that of the piston 10 in the Figure 4As soon as the piston 10 has reached this extreme position and the fluid chamber 11 is maximally filled with fluid, both the inlet valve 12 of the fluid chamber 11 and the outlet valve 16 of the fluid chamber 12 are closed. One cycle of the piston 10 is now completed, and a new cycle can begin. The movement of the fluid within the connecting channels between the individual valves 13, 14, 15, and 16 drives the drill drive 2. The rotation of the rotor 8 around the stator 12 ensures continuous drive of the drill drive, particularly when multiple piston systems are arranged within the stator 7. However, one piston system is sufficient to drive the drill drive. List of reference symbols

[0037] 1Drilling system 2Drill drive 3Drill head 4Connecting element 5Flushing channel 6Converter 7Stator 8Rotor 9Flushing channel 10Piston 11Fluid chamber 12Fluid chamber 13Inlet valve 14Inlet valve 15Exhaust valve 16Exhaust valve 17Chisel 18Chisel head 19Flushing channel 20Sealing system 21Sealing system 22Sleeve 23Drill rod 24Percussion mechanism 25Flushing channel

Claims

1. Device for drilling by means of a drilling system (1) with a drill drive (2), a drill head (3) driven by the drill drive (2), a connecting element (4) with which the drill drive (2) can be connected to a drill string (4), wherein a flushing fluid can be introduced into a flushing channel (5) of the connecting element (4) and wherein this flushing fluid can be guided through the entire device in order to bring the drilling material released by the drill head (3) to the surface via a borehole, characterized in that a converter (6) is arranged between the connecting element (4) and the drill drive (2), which converter can be driven by the flushing liquid and which actuates the drill drive (1) by means of a fluid system separate from the flushing liquid.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the fluid system is designed as a hydraulic system.

3. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in thatthe connecting element (4), the converter (5), the drilling drive (3) and the drilling head (3) are designed to conduct flushing fluid.

4. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the converter (6) has a stator (7) and a rotor (8), wherein the stator (7) is accommodated in the rotor (8) and the rotor (8) has at least one flushing channel (9) for the drilling fluid, wherein when the drilling fluid is passed through the at least one flushing channel (9), the rotor (8) is set in rotation relative to the stator (7).

5. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the stator (7) has the fluid system that can actuate the drill drive (2).

6. Device according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the stator has at least one piston (10) which can be moved back and forth by the flushing liquid and by means of which the fluid system which can actuate the drilling drive (1) can be driven.

7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in thatin the piston (10) two separate fluid chambers (11, 12) are arranged, each having an inlet valve (13, 14) and an outlet valve (15, 16), wherein the outlet valve (15, 16) of the respective fluid chamber (15, 16) is fluidically connected to the inlet valve (13, 14) of the other fluid chamber (16, 15) by means of connecting channels.

8. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that The drilling drive (2) and the drilling head (3) can be actuated via a fluid flow in the connecting channels between the outlet and inlet valves (13, 14, 15, 16).

9. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drill head (3) is designed as a chisel (17) with a chisel head (18).

10. Device according to claim 9, characterized in that the chisel head (18) has a flushing channel (19).

11. Device according to claim 10, characterized in thata sealing system (20, 21) is arranged between the drill head (3) and the drill drive (2), wherein a static sealing system (20) is arranged between a sleeve (22) guiding the chisel (17) and the drill drive (2) and a dynamic sealing system (21) is arranged between the chisel (17) and the sleeve (22).

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