Percussion Earth Bit with Dynamic Overstrike Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing earth bits face challenges in increasing drilling rates while minimizing damage from overstrike forces, particularly when using percussion hammers, as they tend to suffer from reduced efficiency and increased wear.
Innovation Solution
A percussion assisted rotary earth bit system that incorporates a hammer assembly with a piston and flow control tube, allowing for adjustable overstrike force application through fluid pressure, enabling efficient penetration rate control and reduced stress on the earth bit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a percussion hammer is used to apply overstrike force to the earth bit, then the drilling rate is increased, but the damage to the earth bit from overstrike force increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the overstrike force applied to the earth bit by controlling fluid pressure to the hammer assembly. The hammer assembly can be activated or deactivated, and the force magnitude can be varied, allowing optimization between drilling rate and earth bit protection based on real-time conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The overstrike force parameters (magnitude, frequency, duration) are changed by adjusting fluid pressure and flow control to the hammer assembly. This allows the system to optimize drilling performance while staying within safe force limits to prevent earth bit damage
2Productivity
If overstrike force is applied to increase penetration rate, then drilling efficiency is improved, but the stress on the earth bit increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates monitoring of earth bit conditions and drilling parameters, using this feedback to adjust hammer assembly operation. This ensures that overstrike force is applied within safe limits while maintaining optimal penetration rate
Solution Approach 2:
The hammer assembly operation is made dynamic and adjustable rather than fixed, allowing real-time optimization of the balance between penetration rate and earth bit stress based on operational conditions
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 enhances drilling efficiency by optimizing the overstrike force application, thereby increasing drilling rates while minimizing earth bit damage and maintaining operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
A piston and flow control tube are provided in the hammer assembly. The piston is repeatably moveable between engaged and disengaged positions in response to a fluid flow through the hammer assembly.
Implementation Method 2
The piston is repeatably moveable between engaged and disengaged positions in response to a fluid flow through the hammer assembly.
Data Source
AI summary
A hammer assembly is actuated to drive an earth bit through a formation. The hammer assembly includes a piston, and a flow control tube which extends through the piston. The flow control tube includes drive and return guide ports. The piston is repeatably moveable relative to the drive and return guide ports in response to a fluid flow through the flow control tube. In this way, the hammer assembly is actuated.