Borehole Survey Tool Vibration Damping in Percussive Drilling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current borehole survey methods for percussive drilling lack effective protection for survey tools against vibrations and efficient energy harvesting during drilling, leading to inaccurate data collection and limited operational efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A borehole survey assembly with a borehole survey tool embedded in a central flushing channel, utilizing damping means such as conical springs and a piezoelectric device to protect sensors and harvest energy, ensuring accurate data collection and efficient operation during percussive drilling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the borehole survey tool is placed in the central flushing channel without protection, then the tool is exposed to strong vibrations during percussive drilling, but this would damage the sensor means and reduce measurement precision

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection of survey toolVSAvoidborehole data accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies beforehand cushioning by installing damping means (spring elements or rubber buffers) between the borehole survey tool and the drill rod before drilling begins. These damping elements are pre-positioned to absorb and reduce vibrations during percussive drilling, protecting the sensor means from damage while maintaining measurement precision. The damping means acts as a protective buffer that is already in place before the harmful vibrations occur.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

2Reliability

If the borehole survey tool is suspended in the central flushing channel with damping means, then vibration protection is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevibration protectionVSAvoidsurvey tool assembly structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs flexible damping elements (spring means or rubber buffers) that act as flexible protective components between the rigid drill rod and the survey tool. These flexible elements absorb vibrations while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure. The damping means are integrated into the existing drill rod-survey tool assembly without requiring complex additional mechanisms, thus providing vibration protection with minimal increase in device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Temperature

If flushing fluid flows past the borehole survey tool in the central flushing channel, then cooling and cleaning functions are provided, but the sensor means may be affected by fluid pressure and flow

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurvey tool coolingVSAvoidsensor measurement accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary anti-action by using damping means to counteract the harmful effects of flushing fluid flow on the sensor means before the fluid can directly impact the sensors. The damping elements (springs or rubber buffers) create a protective interface that reduces the transmission of fluid pressure and flow-induced vibrations to the sensor means, thereby maintaining measurement precision while still allowing the flushing fluid to perform its cooling and cleaning functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution provides reliable protection against vibrations and efficient energy harvesting, enabling precise borehole data collection and enhanced operational efficiency by suspending the survey tool within the flushing channel and using damping means to maintain sensor integrity and power the survey tool during drilling.

Implementation Method 1

suspending the borehole survey tool in the central flushing channel of the drill tool between damping means. Such damping means comprises preferably, but not necessarily at least one of the following: spring means, such as conical springs, made of a wire or the like having a thickness between 0.5 and 3.0 mm, hydraulic damping means and pneumatic damping means

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVibration damping: Damping

Implementation Method 2

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPiezoelectric effect: Piezoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentUS10370954B2Method for surveying drill holes, drilling arrangement, and borehole survey assembly

Publication Date: 2019.08.06 ROBIT OYJ

AI summary

A method is disclosed for surveying drill holes with a drilling arrangement and borehole survey assembly. The method can include providing a drill tool having at least one drill rod and a drill bit assembly, and providing a borehole survey tool having a sensor) for measuring a borehole. In the method a drill tool having a central flushing channel for conducting flushing fluid to the drill bit assembly is used, and the borehole survey tool is arranged in the central flushing channel so that flushing fluid can flow in the central flushing channel past the borehole survey tool.