Wire-line Core Drilling Tool Multi-point Hinged Clamp
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wire-line core drilling tools face issues with elastic clamp sticking during core barrel blockage, unreliable in-place reporting and core blockage alarms, single-action mechanism failures due to bearing damage, and difficulties in core discharge due to complex drilling conditions, leading to reduced drilling efficiency and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a multi-point hinged elastic clamp positioning mechanism, an integrally formed in-place reporting and core blockage alarm mechanism, a single-action mechanism with PDC and TC bearings, and a core barrel check valve mechanism with a steel ball and liftable valve base, along with a convenient core-breaking mechanism using an annular retaining ring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the elastic clamp positioning mechanism adopts a single-point hinged mode, then the structure is simple, but the elastic clamp frequently sticks when the core barrel is blocked and cannot be recovered
Solution Approach 1:
The single-point hinged elastic clamp is divided into multiple hinged segments (first elastic clamp and second elastic clamp) that can independently move and recover. This segmentation allows each clamp to overcome sticking issues independently, improving overall recovery reliability while maintaining structural simplicity through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic clamp positioning mechanism transitions from a static single-point hinge to a dynamic multi-point hinged system with independent movement capabilities. The clamps can dynamically adjust their positions and recover independently when blocked, enhancing reliability without significantly increasing complexity.
2Reliability
If the in-place reporting mechanism and core blockage alarm mechanism are set independently, then each mechanism can be optimized separately, but the number of components increases and the alarm prompt becomes unreliable
Solution Approach 1:
The in-place reporting mechanism and core blockage alarm mechanism are merged into a single integrated mechanism. This consolidation reduces the number of components, simplifies the overall structure, and improves alarm reliability by eliminating potential failure points in independent mechanisms while maintaining the optimized functions of both reporting and alarming.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated mechanism performs multiple functions (in-place reporting and core blockage alarm) through a single unified design. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for separate mechanisms, reducing component count and improving reliability while maintaining the specialized capabilities of both original mechanisms.
3Device complexity
If the steel ball and fixed valve base cooperate with small internal taper, then the assembly is compact, but the steel ball attaches to the fixed ball base during core exiting, creating negative pressure and increasing core exiting difficulty
Solution Approach 1:
The internal taper parameter of the valve base is increased from a small taper to a larger taper angle. This parameter change prevents the steel ball from attaching to the fixed ball base during core exiting, eliminates negative pressure buildup, and facilitates smoother core discharge while maintaining compact assembly dimensions through optimized geometric parameters.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve base incorporates a spherical steel ball with optimized curvature and positioning features. The spherical design with increased internal taper allows the steel ball to move freely during core exiting without attaching to the fixed ball base, while the curved geometry maintains compact assembly while improving core discharge performance.
4Strength
If the outer diameter of the drill rod is enlarged to increase strength, then the drill rod strength improves, but the drilling pressure increases and the thrust ball bearing is prone to damage under large load and alternating stress
Solution Approach 1:
A thrust bearing support structure is introduced as an intermediary component between the enlarged drill rod and the thrust ball bearing. This intermediary support structure distributes the large drilling loads and alternating stresses more effectively, protecting the thrust ball bearing from direct exposure to extreme forces while maintaining the enhanced strength benefits of the enlarged drill rod diameter.
Solution Approach 2:
The thrust bearing support structure provides beforehand cushioning by pre-positioning support elements that absorb and distribute large loads and alternating stresses before they reach the thrust ball bearing. This protective cushioning mechanism allows the use of enlarged drill rod for increased strength while preventing bearing damage through advance load management.
5Productivity
If the clamp spring tightly clamps the core and moves up to break the core, then core breaking is effective, but the end portion of the core barrel wears and fails due to friction
Solution Approach 1:
The core breaking function is extracted from the main drilling mechanism and implemented through a separate, dedicated core breaking mechanism with a breakable core barrel section. This extracted mechanism allows effective core breaking through controlled clamping and breaking actions while protecting the main core barrel end portion from wear and friction damage by isolating the high-stress breaking function in a dedicated component.
Solution Approach 2:
The core barrel is segmented into a breakable section and a protective main body. The breakable section can be tightly clamped and broken to fragment cores effectively, while the main body end portion remains protected from wear and friction damage. This segmentation allows the core breaking function to be performed without compromising the strength and integrity of the main core barrel structure.
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
This enhances the reliability of the drilling tool, improves core recovery quality, reduces core loss, and optimizes drilling efficiency while simplifying core discharge, thereby saving exploration costs.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic clamp positioning mechanism, wherein the elastic clamp positioning mechanism adopts a multi-point hinged mode
Implementation Method 2
a single-action mechanism with PDC and TC bearings
Data Source
AI summary
A wire-line core drilling tool includes an outer barrel assembly and an inner barrel assembly. The inner barrel assembly is provided with an elastic clamp positioning mechanism, an in-place reporting and core blockage alarm mechanism, a single-action mechanism, a core barrel check valve mechanism, a core barrel and a core-breaking mechanism. The elastic clamp positioning mechanism adopts a multi-point hinged mode. The in-place reporting and core blockage alarm mechanism is integrally formed. The single-action mechanism adopts a cooperating structure of an upper polycrystalline diamond compact (PDC) bearing, a lower PDC bearing and a tungsten carbide (TC) bearing arranged in the middle. The outer barrel assembly is provided with an elastic clamp retaining head, an elastic clamp chamber, an upper reamer, an outer barrel, a lower reamer and a drill bit. A ring base is arranged, and a centralizing ring is arranged.