Drill pipe protection rings and method of using the same

Details Drill pipe protection rings and method of using the same Drill pipe protection rings and method of using the same

1999-07-28

2001-01-23

Bagnell, David (Department: 3672)

Boring or penetrating the earth

With tool shaft detail

Shaft carried guide or protector

C175S325100, C175S320000, C166S242100

Reexamination Certificate

active

06176328

ABSTRACT:

TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates in general to drill pipe and in particular to drill pipe protection rings.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
During drilling, sections of drill pipe are secured together at their tool joints. The tool joints are the threaded connector portions of each section of pipe and have enlarged outer diameters at their connector portions. Certain types of high strength drill pipe, such as S-135 classification drill pipe, have one or more milled slots surrounding the outer diameter. The slots are circumferential, concave grooves which merely designate the material of the drill pipe and do not serve any other function. The slots have a variety of sizes, but are approximately ⅜ inch deep and ½ inch wide. Each slot has relatively sharp upper and lower corner edges and a curved base.
In one type of drilling, the drill pipe passes through a drilling head located at the drilling rig. The drilling head has a rotatable section that grips and seals around the drill pipe. When run through the drilling head, the sharp edges of the slots can severely damage the gripping and sealing members located inside the drilling head. Thus, an apparatus and/or method for reducing damage to the drilling head is needed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Drill pipe protection rings for filling the external slots in drill pipe are disclosed. The rings are formed from resilient elastomeric materials. In cross-section, each ring has slightly convex inner and outer surfaces, and a series of circumferentially spaced-apart, hemispherical bumps located along its inner surface.
One ring is mounted within each slot on each drill pipe section. The rings stretch slightly while being installed, but form a tight fit once they are properly seated. When installed, the outer surfaces of the rings will protrude slightly outward from or beyond the slots. The hemispherical bumps help align and center the rings within the slots. Without the rings, the sharp edges of the slots on the drill pipes would cause severe damage as they passed through the drill head. However, with the rings the outer surfaces the slots are substantially filled to prevent their edges from cutting or gouging the elastomers.


REFERENCES:
patent: 2722462 (1955-11-01), Tschirley
patent: 2886291 (1959-05-01), Frisby
patent: 3787993 (1974-01-01), Lyon
patent: 4618828 (1986-10-01), Raynal
patent: 5152642 (1992-10-01), Pitts et al.
patent: 5535837 (1996-07-01), Carlin
patent: 5819851 (1998-10-01), Dallas
Petroleum Engineer, vol. 52, No. 3, Mar. 1980 “Recommended Practice for Mill Slot and Groove Method of Drill String Identification”.

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