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US-12618295-B1 - Drilling head assembly with spring loaded latching system

US12618295B1US 12618295 B1US12618295 B1US 12618295B1US-12618295-B1

Abstract

An assembly for a drilling operation. The assembly includes a retractor case comprising a sidewall and retractor pin slot disposed within the sidewall, wherein the sidewall defines a retractor interior space. The assembly includes a body comprising a body sidewall and body pin slot disposed within the body sidewall, wherein the body sidewall defines a body interior space, and wherein the body interior space is configured to receive the retractor case. The assembly includes a first latch ear coupled to the retractor case, a second latch ear coupled to the retractor case, and a compression spring disposed in between the first latch ear and the second latch ear. The latch ear assembly is such that a mechanical equilibrium for the compression spring causes at least a portion of the first latch ear and at least a portion of the second latch ear to extend outward relative to the body sidewall.

Inventors

  • Joshua Grant Turner

Assignees

  • Joshua Grant Turner

Dates

Publication Date
20260505
Application Date
20250204

Claims (20)

  1. 1 . An assembly for performing a drilling operation in a substrate, the assembly comprising: a retractor case comprising a retractor sidewall and a retractor pin slot disposed within the retractor sidewall, wherein the retractor sidewall defines a retractor interior space; a body comprising a body sidewall and a body pin slot disposed within the body sidewall, wherein the body sidewall defines a body interior space, and wherein the body interior space is configured to receive the retractor case; a first latch ear coupled to the retractor case; a second latch ear coupled to the retractor case; and a compression spring disposed in between the first latch ear and the second latch ear; wherein a mechanical equilibrium for the compression spring causes at least a portion of the first latch ear and at least a portion of the second latch ear to extend outward relative to the body sidewall.
  2. 2 . The drill assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first latch ear comprises a first latch arm comprising an interior side and an exterior side, wherein the interior side is located nearer the body interior space than the exterior side; wherein the second latch ear comprises a second latch arm comprising an interior side and an exterior side, wherein the interior side is located nearer the body interior space than the exterior side; and wherein the mechanical equilibrium for the compression spring causes the interior side of the first latch arm to be oriented parallel to a longitudinal axis of the drill assembly within a tolerance of ten percent; and wherein the mechanical equilibrium for the compression spring causes the interior side of the second latch arm to be oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis of the drill assembly within a tolerance of ten percent.
  3. 3 . The drill assembly of claim 1 , further comprising: a first latch ear pivot point, wherein the first latch ear pivot point couples the first latch ear to the retractor case such that the first latch ear is rotatable about the first latch ear pivot point; and a second latch ear pivot point, wherein the second latch ear pivot point couples the second latch ear to the retractor case such that the second latch ear is rotatable about the second latch ear pivot point.
  4. 4 . The drill assembly of claim 1 , wherein the assembly comprises an uphole end and a downhole end that is located opposite to the uphole end; wherein the downhole end is located deeper in the substrate when at least a portion of the drill assembly is disposed within the substrate to perform the drilling operation; and wherein the latch ear is located nearer to the uphole end than the downhole end.
  5. 5 . The drill assembly of claim 1 , wherein each of the first latch ear and the second latch ear comprises: a latch arm; a latch pivot head attached to the latch arm; a latch pivot hole disposed through the latch pivot head; and a latch ear radial extension attached to the latch arm, wherein the latch ear radial extension extends substantially radially outward relative to the latch arm.
  6. 6 . The drill assembly of claim 5 , wherein a latch angle formed in between an interior side of the latch arm and an exterior side of the latch is from about 10 degrees to about 30 degrees.
  7. 7 . The drill assembly of claim 5 , wherein the latch ear radial extension is located at a latch uphole end of the latch ear, wherein the latch uphole end corresponds with a uphole end of the drill assembly.
  8. 8 . The drill assembly of claim 5 , wherein the retractor case is configured to engage with a tube to lift the drill assembly upward out of a hole formed in the substrate; and wherein the latch ear radial extension interfaces with an interior surface of the tube when the drill assembly is installed within the tube.
  9. 9 . The drill assembly of claim 5 , wherein the retractor case further comprises: a first latch holding slot disposed within the retractor sidewall, wherein the first latch holding slot is configured to receive a portion of the first latch ear; a second latch holding slot disposed within the retractor sidewall, wherein the second latch holding slot is configured to receive a portion of the second latch ear; and a first retractor pivot hole pair each disposed within the retractor sidewall; a second retractor pivot hole pair each disposed within the retractor sidewall; wherein a first latch pivot hole of the first latch ear aligns with the first retractor pivot hole pair; wherein a second latch pivot hole of the second latch ear aligns with the second retractor pivot hole pair; wherein a first latch axis of rotation is formed at the aligned first latch pivot hole and first retractor pivot hole pair such that the first latch ear rotates about the first latch axis of rotation; and wherein a second latch axis of rotation is formed at the aligned second latch pivot hole and second retractor pivot hole pair such that the second latch ear rotates about the second latch axis of rotation.
  10. 10 . The drill assembly of claim 1 , wherein a compressive force of the compression spring is optimized such that the compression spring permits each of the first latch ear and the second latch ear to retract inward toward the body interior space when each of the first latch ear and the second latch ear press against an interior surface of a tube when the drill assembly is disposed within the tube for performing the drilling operation.
  11. 11 . The drill assembly of claim 1 , wherein the retractor case further comprises a latch holding slot disposed within the retractor sidewall; wherein the latch holding slot comprises a bent geometry comprising a first angle; wherein a latch arm of one or more of the first latch ear or the second latch ear also comprises the first angle within a 10-percent tolerance threshold.
  12. 12 . The drill assembly of claim 11 , wherein the first angle of the latch arm of one or more of the first latch ear of the second latch ear is configured to interface with the first angle of the latch holding slot.
  13. 13 . The drill assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a spring detent configured to maintain the latch ear in a retracted position, wherein the spring detent comprises: a ball; and a compression spring spanning across the body interior space.
  14. 14 . The drill assembly of claim 1 , wherein the body interior space comprises a fluid chamber, and wherein the assembly further comprises: a fluid retention piston disposed within the fluid chamber, wherein the fluid retention piston comprises a fluid port enabling a fluid to pass through the fluid retention piston; and a valve assembly disposed within the fluid retention piston.
  15. 15 . The drill assembly of claim 14 , wherein the valve assembly comprises: a valve bushing comprising a sidewall that defines a bushing interior space; a valve ball; and a valve spring; wherein the valve assembly is in a closed configuration when the valve ball is at least partially disposed within the bushing interior space and prevent fluid from flowing through the bushing interior space.
  16. 16 . The drill assembly of claim 14 , wherein the fluid retention piston comprises a slotted spring pin.
  17. 17 . The drill assembly of claim 14 , wherein the latch ear comprises two latch ears that are located on opposite sides of the body sidewall such that the two latch ears are diametrically opposed to one another; and wherein the fluid retention piston is disposed in between the two latch ears.
  18. 18 . The drill assembly of claim 17 , wherein the fluid retention piston is disposed in between the two latch ears such that the fluid retention piston serves as a stopper to prevent the two latch ears from rotating in toward the body interior space past a maximum retraction rotation configuration.
  19. 19 . The drill assembly of claim 1 , wherein the assembly comprises two latch ears; wherein each of the two latch ears is coupled to the body and extends outward relative to the body sidewall; and wherein the two latch ears are positioned on the body sidewall that the two latch ears are diametrically opposed to one another.
  20. 20 . The drill assembly of claim 1 , wherein the latch ear comprises a latching surface; wherein, in response to the latch ear being disposed in the extended position, the latching surface of the latch ear forms an interference fit with an interior surface of a tube when the drill assembly is disposed within the tube for performing the drilling operation; and wherein, in response to the latch ear being disposed in the retracted position, the latching surface of the latch ear is radially narrow sufficient to avoid contacting the interior surface of the tube when the drill assembly is disposed within the tube.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The disclosure relates generally to assemblies for use in a drilling operation. BACKGROUND The disclosure relates generally to a head assembly for a drilling operation. The head assembly is a portion of the equipment needed to execute a drilling operation, and works in concert with a drill bit below, a core barrel above the drill bit, a head assembly above the core barrel, and an overshot that is introduced into the hole created by the drill bit. The overshot latches onto the head assembly, which in turn couples with the core barrel to lift the drilled earth from the formation out of the hole. Conventional, known wireline drilling operations include head assemblies that can perform their intended tasks, albeit with some inefficiencies and losses that have been considered unavoidable and accepted. The head assembly and some of its subcomponents experience a harsh environment in the newly drilled hole and are subject to wear due to friction, fracture, and deformation due to stress. Drilling operations with the conventional head assemblies also consume fluid, including water and/or drilling mud. Consuming less of these fluids translates directly to a more efficient drill, and therefore a more profitable endeavor. Thus, there are problems with conventional head assemblies that remain in need of a solution. The features and advantages of the disclosure will be set forth in the description, which follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by the practice of the disclosure without undue experimentation. The features and advantages of the disclosure may be realized and obtained by means of the instruments and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like, which has been included in the specification is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the disclosure as it existed before the priority date of each claim of this disclosure. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Non-limiting and non-exhaustive implementations of the disclosure are described with reference to the following figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views unless otherwise specified. Advantages of the disclosure will become better understood with regard to the following description and accompanying drawings where: FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional illustration of a system for performing a drilling operation; FIG. 2A is a straight-on side view of an assembly for performing a drilling operation; FIG. 2B is a straight-on side view of an assembly for performing a drilling operation, wherein the drill assembly is rotated ninety degrees relative to the view illustrated in FIG. 2A; FIG. 3A is a wireframe straight-on side view of an assembly for performing a drilling operation; FIG. 3B is a wireframe straight-on side view of an assembly for performing a drilling operation, wherein the drill assembly is rotated ninety degrees relative to the view illustrated in FIG. 3A; FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side view of an assembly for performing a drilling operation; FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view illustrating components of a latch assembly and check valve assembly for an assembly for performing a drilling operation; FIG. 6A is a straight-on exploded view of an assembly for performing a drilling operation; FIG. 6B is a straight-on exploded view of an assembly for performing a drilling operation, wherein the drill assembly is rotated ninety degrees relative to the view illustrated in FIG. 6A; FIG. 7 is a wireframe straight-on side view of components of a latch assembly and check valve assembly of an assembly for performing a drilling operation; FIG. 8 is a straight-on side view of components of a latch assembly of an assembly for performing a drilling operation; FIG. 9A is a cross-sectional side view of components of a latch assembly and check valve assembly of an assembly for performing a drilling operation, wherein the latch assembly is in the unlatched configuration; FIG. 9B is a cross-sectional side view of components of a latch assembly and check valve assembly of an assembly for performing a drilling operation, wherein the latch assembly is in the latched configuration; FIG. 10 is a schematic illustration of a latch ear to be utilized as a component of a latch assembly of an assembly for performing a drilling operation; FIG. 11 is a schematic illustration of an expansion block to be utilized as a component of a latch assembly of an assembly for performing a drilling operation; FIG. 12A is a schematic illustration depicting interactions between a latch ear and an expansion block of a latch assembly of an assembly for performing a drilling operation, wherein the latch ear is in an unlatched configuration; FIG. 12B is a schematic illustration depicting interactio