Reverse Circulation DTH Hammer Fluid Flow System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing reverse circulation DTH hammers face challenges in reducing manufacturing costs and ensuring a sturdier piston to operate at higher pressures without risk of catastrophic failure, while maintaining efficient energy transfer to rock.
Innovation Solution
A pressurized fluid flow system with a cylindrical outer casing, a centrally-bored piston, and a control tube, featuring an internal chamber connected to the source of pressurized fluid and a discharge chamber for efficient fluid supply and discharge, eliminating the need for conduits in the piston, thus strengthening the piston and reducing manufacturing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conduits are incorporated into the piston for fluid supply and discharge, then fluid control functionality is achieved, but the piston structure becomes weaker and manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the fluid control function from the piston by providing separate supply and discharge chambers formed in the outer casing. The piston no longer contains conduits for fluid supply and discharge; instead, these functions are performed by dedicated chambers and ports in the outer casing, thereby strengthening the piston structure while maintaining fluid control capability
Solution Approach 2:
The invention segments the fluid control system into distinct components: supply chambers formed in the outer casing, discharge chambers formed in the outer casing, and separate port systems. This segmentation allows the piston to focus on its primary function of fluid separation while the outer casing handles fluid supply and discharge operations
2Ease of operation
If complex fluid control mechanisms are used in the piston, then precise fluid management is achieved, but manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts complex fluid control mechanisms from the piston and relocates them to the outer casing. The supply and discharge chambers are formed directly in the outer casing with integrated ports, eliminating the need for complex internal piston modifications and reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining precise fluid management
Solution Approach 2:
The outer casing is designed to perform multiple functions: it serves as the structural housing, contains the supply and discharge chambers, provides fluid ports, and supports the piston. This multi-functionality consolidates what would otherwise require separate components, simplifying manufacturing while maintaining operational precision
3Adaptability or versatility
If the piston contains internal passages for fluid flow, then fluid distribution is achieved, but the piston becomes more vulnerable to catastrophic failure
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes internal passages from the piston entirely. Fluid distribution is achieved through separate supply and discharge chambers formed in the outer casing with dedicated ports, eliminating the risk of catastrophic piston failure due to passage defects while maintaining effective fluid distribution to the work chambers
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces intermediate structures (supply chambers and discharge chambers in the outer casing) that mediate between the fluid source and the piston. These intermediate chambers handle fluid distribution functions, allowing the piston to remain structurally simple and reliable while still achieving precise fluid control
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 system achieves efficient filling of work chambers, reduces passive volumes, and enhances energy transfer to rock, enabling operation at higher pressures with reduced manufacturing costs and improved drilling capacity.
Implementation Method 1
a piston that effects a reciprocating movement due to the change in pressure of the pressurized fluid contained in two main work chambers, a front chamber and a rear chamber
Implementation Method 2
pressurized fluid is supplied to the hammer producing the reciprocating movement of the piston
Implementation Method 3
the piston acts in itself as a valve, as well as an impact element... with each impact of the piston on the drill bit
Implementation Method 4
An extension of said sampling tube is provided along the center of the hammer, from the drill bit to the rear sub, forming a continuous central passage along the center of the hammer for enabling to recover the rock cuttings and soil samples and convey these to the ground surface
Implementation Method 5
all the pressurized fluid is discharged through the hammer directly to the bottom of the hole for cleaning purposes
Data Source
AI summary
A pressurized fluid flow system for a reverse circulation down-the-hole hammer includes a cylinder and a cylindrical control tube that are respectively coaxially disposed in between the outer casing and the piston of the hammer and in between the piston and the sample tube. Two chambers help to respectively supply and discharge pressurized fluid into and out of the front and rear chambers that exert work on the piston: an internal chamber, defined by a central recess in the inner surfaces of the piston and permanently connected to the source of pressurized fluid, and a discharge chamber, defined by one or more recesses in the inner surface of the outer casing and permanently communicated with the bottom of the hole. A hammer provided with this system has one or more end discharge ports connected to respective longitudinal discharge channels formed on the outer surface of the outer casing.