US2215928A - Drilling apparatus - Google Patents

Description

J. W. HORNBRQ OK Sept. 24, 1940'.

DRILLING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 19, 1936 6 Shgets-Shept 1 .zwl-lae/vafioox 6& y g

ATTORNEYS.

IN VEN TOR.

S fl, 24, 1940;; J. HQRNBROOK DRILLING APPARATUS I Filed Deh. 19, 1936' e sheets-sheet? INVENTOR. J14! Ham/Mock ATT RNEYS.

6 Sheets-Sheet 3 H! I I DRILLING APPARATUS J. w. HORNBROOK Filed Dec. 19, 1936 Sept. 24, 1940. J.w- R O 2,215,928

DRILLING APPARATUS.

Filed Dec. 19, 1956 I 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 JWHoR/vmooK,

INVENTOR. I

, Patented Sept. 24, 1

UNITED {STATES PATENT oFr cE fiscisim (crass-19) a This invention relates to rotary'drilling apparatus for core drilling, water or oil well drilling and the like, and relates partic ularly to machines in which such apparatus is assembled as a complete unit for mounting on motor trucks or other vehicles and which may be transported from place to place without disassembling the principal elements of the machines. p

Included in the elements of a machine in accordance with this invention, are a derrick, by

means of which drill pipe, casing or drilling tools may be suspended, run into or withdrawn from the'well, and a hydraulic lift for feeding the drillpipe into the well. Such elements are well known and ,commonly used in portable machines of the class to which this invention belongs, but in the types of machines heretofore used there are certain disadvantages in the arrangement of these elements which reduce the over-all efliciency of 20 the machine. For example, in most machines in use heretofore, while the den'ick, which, is generally .about thirty feet in height, may be.piv-

otally mounted on a frame so that it can be laid back in a horizontal position on the transporting,

vehicle when the machine is to be moved, the hydraulic lift is generally fixed in a vertical positionand as a result, its length or height must be limited to such as will permit the entire machine to pass beneath under-passes, bridge structures and the like when the machine is to be moved from one location to another. By so limiting the height, 1. e. the'length of the hydraulic device, the stroke of the hydraulic pistons which feed the drill pipe must be correspondingly limited in length and in machinesof this type, the

stroke of the hydraulic pistons is,seldom more than three or four feet. This becomes a distinct disadvantage when it is noted that the drill pipe used in such machines is generally provided by' 40 pipe factories in ten or twenty foot lengths. with a ten foot length of drill pipe, for example, such machines-require from two to three strokes of the hydraulic pistons to feed a full joint of drill ing. can be continued for another stroke of the 50 hydraulic pistons. This operation must be repeated as many times as' is necessary to feed a i single joint of drill pipe into the well and thereby greatly increases the drilling time foranywell drilled.

5; in a hydraulic 1m having a stroke equal to the pipe, whereby the drill pipe may be disconnected length of a joint of drill, pip is used, then, in machines heretofore constructed, the lift must be of such length that in order to transport the device on a truck or other vehicle, it must be-dis-- assembled from'the other portions of the ma- 3 chine thereby causing considerable loss of time in dis-assembling and re-assembling the machine when the machine is to be moved from one location to another.

Therefore, a principal object of this invention 6 is to provide a fully portable rotary drilling machine having a hydraulic lift whichis capable of feeding a full length of drill pipe in a continuous operation and which may be transported with the balance of the machine without dis-assembly 3 therefrom. g Y This object is fulfilled in this invention by mounting the derrick and the hydraulic lift'onpivots supported independently of each other on the assembly frame, thereby permitting both the derrick and the hydraulic lift to be laid back in a substantially horizontal position over the transporting vehicle without requiring dis-assembly of either of these elements from the other portions, of the drilling machine. I

.In rotary drilling machines heretofore used, ro-

' tation of the drillpipe is effected by using a plane surfaced member, generally square in cross section, and known as the kelly, at the top of the drilling string. The kelly co-acts with a suitably so shaped opening in the rotary table to rotate the entire drilling string. To permit free rotation of the drilling string, the top of the kelly is connected by a swivel to the pipe supplying drilling'iluid' to the interior of the drillingv string. With this arrangement, in order to add new joints of pipe to the drilling string, the pipe must be withdrawn above the rotary table so that it' may be gripped I by suitable jaws while the kelly is disconnected and a new joint of pipe added. This is a cumbere some and time-consuming arrangement and it is a further object ofthis invention to provide an improved form of chuck for connecting the pipe directly to the swivel of the drilling fluid supply from" the swivel and new joints added thereto without having to lift'the entire string oif the bottom of the well, thereby reducing considerably the amount of time necessary for adding Joints of pipe tp the drilling string and reducingthehazard of dropping the pipe back into the well while attempting to add new joints of pipe to the string.

, Another object of this invention is an improved torn: of drill headfiised in conjunction with the 5;,

aforementioned chuck which permits the use of ill a hollow kelly, that is, a kelly which is not connected to the drilling string but which forms a sleeve through which the drilling string passes freely, thereby providing advantages which will appear from the detailed description to follow.

Other objects and advantages of this new invention will be apparent from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which diagrammatically illustrate one form of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an assembly of the machine showing the derrick, hydraulic lift and other equipment in normal drilling position in full lines and, in dotted lines, the position of the derrick and hydraulic lift when in position to be transported fromplace to place.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the hydraulic lift and rotary table in extended or drilling position within the derrick in full lines and in the retracted position in dotted lines.

Fig. 3 is a section alongthe line A-A of Fig. 2 showing means for retracting the rotary table and hydraulic lift. V

Fig. .4 is an end elevation of the machine in drilling position,-showing the hydraulic lift and its attached parts in the position assumed at the end of the stroke of the lift.

Fig. 5 is a detail showing-the hydraulic lift at the beginning of its stroke. 1

Fig. 6 is a detail showing the hydraulic lift at the end of its stroke with the parts of the chuck separated.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the drill head and chuck.

Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation taken along line BB of Fig. 'l.

Fig. 9 is a section through the chuck taken along llne'C--C of Fig. 8. I

Fig. 10 is a section through the chuck taken along line D-D of Fig. 8.

Fig. 11 is asectional elevation of table. I r v a a Fig. 12-is a section along line E-E of Fig. 10.

Figs. 13, 14; and 15 are details of another modithe rotary fication of the chuck and drill head in accordance with this invention.

Referring to the drawings, particularly to Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, the numeral l5 designates a truck or other vehicle on which the drilling machine is mounted. A power plantand itsattendant mechanisms for operating the diflerent parts of the drilling machine, shown in dotted outlines, are mounted on the truck. The power plant I6 and its attendant mechanisms are constructed of" a frame, 28 which is'mou'nted on the main truck frame 30. The derrick I1 is thus pivotally supported on the main truck frame 36 and when laid. back in transporting position, shown in dotted outlines in Fig. 1, rests on a support 32 which extends upwardlyfrom frame 30.

A hydraulic lift mechanism consists of a pair of hydraulic cylinders 33 and 34 attached lon-" gitudinally to a pair of beams 35 and 36 respecof piston rods 38 and 39 emerge vertically from the upperends of cylinders 33 and respectively and are fastened at their upper ends to a yoke 40.

A pair of lift rods 4| and 42 arefirmly connected to yoke 40 between cylinders 33 and. 34 and depend vertically downward from yoke-40. The

with hangers 4| and 42 prevent drill head 45 from twisting. This entire hydraulic 'lift mechanism is pivotally mounted on a cross bar 56 which is journalled in bearing plates 5| and 52 attached to beams 35 and 36, respectively. A pair of vertical braces 53 and 54 support the assembly from.

a corresponding pair of horizontal frame members 55 and 56 which are connected together by a cross member 51. Members 55, 56 and 51 constitute an auxiliary frame for supporting the hydraulic lift assembly. This frame is slidably mounted on another;! frame formed by a pair of members 59 and 6|! underlying members 55 and V 56 and acting as rails or runners therefor and a cross member 6| tying members 59 and 60 to-.

gether. Members 53, 60 and 6| are connected to and form a part of frame 29. It will thus be seen that the hydraulic lift mechanism is pivotally supported on a frame which is slidable on a portion of frame 29. Also since the hydraulic lift mechanism and the derrick are pivotally supported on the frame 29 independently of each other, both may be laid back on 1 lower ends of lift rods 4| and 42 are firmly attheir independent pivots in a horizontal position without interfering with eac other and without being'dis-assembled from t e balance of the machine. A support 62 extending upward from frame 29 acts as a rest for the hydraulic lift mechanism when it is in the horizontal position.

Slidability of the auxiliary frame supporting the lift mechanism on frame 29 permits this mechanism to be retracted toward the back of the derrick, I! to the position shown' in dotted outline in Fig. 2, which facilitates laying back of both the derrick; and the lift mechanism as well as providing other advantages to be later described,

A rotary table 63 is mounted on the auxiliary sliding frame andis centered between cylinders 33 and 34 by means of a plate 64 attached to the ends of members 55 and 56. Centering table 63 thus brings it in line with and beneath drill head 45. Sincerotary table 63 is attached to the auxiliary sliding frame on which the hydraulic lift -mechanism is mounted, it is advanced or retracted with the corresponding movement of the lift mechanism. Its relative retracted position is shown in dotted outline in Fig. 2. Rotary table 63 consists of well known elements comprising a rotary bushing'65 having a square opening 66 to receive a kelly 18 and driven by means of a 'ge'ar 61, and pinion 68 which is connected to a drive shaft 69 having the usual universal joints I0 and splined connection l l driven from the power plant 16.

The hydraulic lift mechanism and rotary table 63 may be retracted or advanced withinthe confines of derrick i1 by any well known means.

' scribedl Fig. 3 illustrates very generally a hydraulic means for effecting this movement. A hydraulic piston I2 is attached at one end to plate 84 of the auxiliary sliding frame on which these mechanisms are mounted. Piston I2 is slidably engaged in a. cylinder I3 anchored to cross member 8| of the frame 29. Hydraulic fluid connections I4 and 15 into cylinder 19 permit introduction of hydraulic fluid underf'pfiisure to either side of piston I2, depending upon the direction of movement de:

sired. Other' mechanical means such as a screw,

gear and pinion, ratchet and pawl or similar devices may be used for this purpose instead of the hydraulic mechanism described. The latter -.is

utilized in the particular machine herein described because a supply-of hydraulic fluid and a pump therefor is already available in connection with the hydraulic lift mechanism previously de- Within drill head 45 is'mounted a bushing I8. having a bore 11 therethrough which is generally square in cross section to slidably receive kelly 18 which is usually square in cross section. .Kelly '18 has a hollow circular bore of sufllcient diameter to permit free passage therethrough of drill pipe used by the machine. Bushing I5 is mounted between rollerbearings 'I9-and 88 suitably housed 7 ln' drill head 45, which permits free rotation of bushing IS in drill head 45. A shoulder 8I .formed' in bore 11 pfbvides a seat for a circular flange 82 which is attached to the upper end of kelly I8.

Flange 82 has a circular opening in the center thereof to permit passage of drill pipe therethrough. Kelly I8 may thus be slidablyinsertedin bore 11 of-bushing I8, but is prevented from pass ing entirely therethrough by coaction of flange 32 and shoulder 8!. The upper end .of bushing 38 forms an internally threaded collar 83, the inner bore of which is circular and of somewhat larger diameter than flange 82. An annular plate 34 surrounds collar 83 and is bolted to the upper surface of drill head 85 enclosing bearing 89 and locking bushing 16 within drill head 45. A chuck consisting of a hollow circularbox'85; has a male member 86 depending from its lower side 8511 and externally threaded to engage the threads of collar 83 The inner bore of male member 88 is of sumcient diameter to permitfkelly18 and flange 82 to pass ther'ethrough so that flange 82 may be received on shoulder 8L. An annular jaw frame 81 is inserted within the bore of member 36 and is keyed against rotary movement therein .by means of keys 81a (Figs: 8 and 10). Frame 81 rests on flange 92 and extends upward in. member 88 to a point just below the lower surfaceof box 85. An annular ring 88 within frame SIsupports a pair of toothed jaws 89= which are adjustable horizontally by means .of set screws 88 which are inserted through the walls' ofmale member 88 andjawframe 81. The central opening in annular ring 88 is of suiflcient diameter to permit drill pipe 9i to pass .freely therethrough. Jaws 89, since they are adjustable, may be advanced by means of set screws 98 until they grip the outside oi pipe, 9| or maybe retracted out of engagement with'the drill .pipe- Box 85 is closed at thetop with a plate 98' having. a central slot 94 of elongated keyI-hole shape best shown in Fig. 'Iand adapted to permit insertion therethroughq' into box 85 of a rectangular chuck block 95havinfg a bore 95 extending therethrough and threaded internally at its lower end to engage the male threads of the upper end of V drill pipe 9I and threaded at its upper end to .engage the threaded male member 91 of a swivel the drilling operation.

sition only, and when rotated counterclockwise within box 85 through an angle 0190', engages stops I08 andbecomes locked between the overhanging edges II of plate 98 and floor plate 85a of box 85. Movement of chuck block 95 in the reverse or clock-wise direction is prevented by'a l5 spring latch I82 mounted in the side of box 85. A ball III4is attached to swivel 98 for engagement with a hook I05 at Sne endof a hoist, line m, which passes over a sheave II" at the top of derrick I I to a hoisting drum I88 operated by the power .plant I5.

Chuck box 85 and chuck block 95 form the novel chuck which is one of the features of this invention. Used this new chuck permits rapid engagement of the ,rotating elements of the machine with the drill pipe and avoids the necessity for continuous handling of the'cumbersome. kelly when adding new joints ofv drill pipe to the drilling string.- I

Power plant I8 includes among its elements and mechanisms, shafts, pulleys, belts, etc., for driv-- ing the rotary table, pumps for drilling fluid and hydraulic fluid and for operating the hoisting drum I88. As noted above. all of these mechanisrns and their arrangement are well knownin the art and do not of themselves form a part of this invention. 1 Kelly I8, as noted above, is not directly connected to the drill pipe and acts simply as a sleeve connection from the rotary table to the drill head whereby the rotary motion of bushing 55 in rotary table 53 is imparted to rotary bushing I9 in drill-head 45. Kelly I8 is readily insertablethrough the aforementioned bushings and can easily be withdrawn therefrom when the machine is not in use.

The drilling machine, the parts of which are described above, is operated in the following manner: The machine, with derrick I 'I and the' hydraulic lift mechanisfnin the horizontal position shown in dotted outlines in Fig- 1, is transported by truck I5 to the location of the well to be drilled and the derrick and hydraulic mechanismlelevated over the well location. Blocks I99 are placed on the ground under derrick feet 11a which are adjusted until the derrick is setflrmly and levelled. This setting up operation, due to 'the,improvements provided by. this invention, can I usually be accomplishedin from five to ten min.--

utes. Hydraulic cylinders 38 and 94 and drill head 45,'all now in vertical position, together with rotary table 88 are advanced to the proper drilling position near the front of derrick I1 by suitable operation'of hydraulic pistonlz. Pump connecq tions for supplying hydraulic fluid to cylinders 88, 84 and I8 and. for supplying drilling fluldto pipe 99 are permanent connections and are,therefore,' continually ready for instant Swivel 98 with head 45 by meansof'line I 96. Chuck block 95, also permanently connected to swivel 98,'is corinected toa joint of drill pipe 9|. Jaw frame 81 is then slipped over pipe 9| followed by kelly I8. Kelly 18 and pipe 9| are then inserted through slot'94 in plate 98,- thence through bore 11 in ro- .its connected pipe 99 is suspended over the drill in Fig. 5. As drill head 45 is raised, it slides over kelly I8 and pipe 9i until kelly I8 is seated in rotary bushing ,l6,when flange 82 comes to rest upon shoulder 8|. At this time frame .81 enters member 88 and is seated therein by means of keys 81a, jaws 89 being at this time. in their retracted position so 'as not to contact pipe 9|. The stroke of pistons 38 and 38 is about fifteen inches longer than the ten foot length of the joint of drill pipe 8|. This allows drill head 45tc travel upward the full length of the joint of pipe 8| and come in contact with chuck block 95 which is then in" serted in slot 84 into box 85 where it is turned counter-clockwise through an angle of 90 and held against stops- I by means of latch I02.

7 The overhanging edges IOI of plate 83 hold chuck block 95, which is now turned crosswise of slot 84, from coming out of box 85. At this point the lower end of pipe 9| will protrude below rotary table53 whereupon a drilling bit is attached thereto and'the machine is in readiness to begin drilling. Bushing 55 in rotary table 53 is rotated by means of the means of the mechanical connections to the power plant I6, as described above, and will, in turn rotate kelly 18 which will impart this motion to bushing 16 in drill head 45. Since rotary bushing I is rigidly connected to box, 85 in which'is locked chuck block 95 and pipe 9|, the rotary motion is thus imparted to pipe 9| which turns the drill bit producing the drilling operation.

As the bit drills down, pipe 9i is fed into the resulting hole by controlled withdrawal of fluid from cylinders 33 and 34 until about ten feet, length of one joint of drill pipe, is drilled. At this point "drill head 45 will be about fifteen inches above rotary table 53. Drilling is stopped, latch I02 released and chuck block 85 turned clockwise until it registers with slot 84. Drill head 45 is then lowered an additional distance by a corresponding movement of pistons 38 and. 89 which permits chuck block 95 and pipe 9I to protrude above box 85. Pipe !II can now be grasped by pipe tongs or gripped firmly by advancing jaws 89 by turning set screws 80 and held while chuck block 85 is unscrewed from the'end of pipe 9I. Chuck block 95 is then attached to another joint of drill pipe which is then raised into the derrick by means of line I08 and connected to the protruding end .of the first joint of drill pipe. The tongs are removed or jaws 89 released from the drill pipe and drill,head-45 is again raised by means of pistons 88 and 38 and slides up over the new joint of pipe until box 85 again receives chuck block 85 which is' quickly locked into place and drilling resumed. The operation described for adding the second joint'of drill pipe is repeated until a well of required depth has been drilled. It will be noted that after the first joint of drill pipe has been utilized, thereafter, the kelly 18 and frame 81 no longer appear in the operation and the operation of adding new joints of drill pipe to the drilling string is accomplished with afew Y operations which can be very quickly performed.

The advantages of the above described machine should now be'apparent. Independently pivoting the derrick and hydraulic lift mechanism allows both to be transported without disassembiy from the machine and allows these members to beplaced in position for drilling in a minimum amount of time, five to ten minutes as noted above. This arrangement also permits use of a hydraulic lift having a stroke sufficiently long to feed a full joint of drill pipe without interruption, which is a very important time saving feature. By the use of the described drill head and chuck, very fast time can be made in adding joints of drill pipe to the drilling string. Chuck block 85 can be disconnected from box 85, a new joint of pipe connected and box 85 re-connected to chuck block 95 in less than one minute, which permits of very fast drilling and provides important economies over other methods in the cost of drilling I wells.

The apparatus described also facilitates withdrawal of the drill pipe from the well with important savings in' time and other advantages. In withdrawing pipe, the combined power of the hydraulic lift and of the power plant applied through drum I08 to line I05 may be used. For example, with drill head 45 in the down position and with chuck block 95 locked in box 85, raising of pistons 38 and 39, assisted if necessary by-pull on line I06, will lift the entire string of pipe from \the well for a distance equal to the stroke of pistons 38 and 39. The pipe can be held in this position with line I06 while chuck block 95 is unlocked and drill head 45 run back down to the next lower joint of drill pipe which is then grip- I ped firmly by advancing jaws 89. The first joint of pipe is then unscrewed from the next lower one and swung out of the derrick by means of line I05 and then disconnected from chuck block 85 which is then reconnected to the top of the next lower joint of pipe, now held by jaws 89. Drill head 45 is then raised sufliciently to receive chuck block 85 again and the lifting operation repeated. Power plant I 8, operating through drum I08 and line I08 may be used alone for withdrawing pipe. In this casejaws 89 may be used to hold the pipe between pulls applied by line I05 or the entire hydraulic lift mechanism and rotary table 63 may be retracted 'to the position shown in dotted outline in Fig. 2 and thus not interfere with the operation of line I06.

To reduce the load on the springs of the transporting vehicle when the drilling machine is in operation, jacks IIO, shown in dotted outline in Fig. 4, may be'placed under members 59 and 50 and raised so that the weight of the drilling apparatus is transferred from the vehicle springs to the jacks which rest on the ground.

The drilling-m achine as described-above is particularly adapted tothe use of standard ten foot joints of drill pipe, asv the stroke of pistons 38 and as is approximately 11 feet 3 inches and the over-all height of the derrick 31 feet 6 inches.

However, longer joints of drill pipe may be used with equal facility by making the stroke of the pistons correspondingly longer. The pistons may be single stroke pistons of any length necessary to feed longer joints'of pipe or may be made '1 ten underway in the above described manner using a ten foot joint oi pipe for the initial operation. Then, at the end of a stroke oi pistons 88 pipe, the other'end of which is then connected to the-end of the first joint of drill pipe protruding above box 85. Drill head 45 is now raised to its top position bythe normal stroke of pistons 38 and 39, which will leave protruding above drill head 45 about ten feet of the twenty foot joint of pipe, to .the top of which 'chuckblock 95 is attached. Jaws 89 are then advanced by'set screws 90 until the pipe is tightly gripped thereby and drilling begun. Jaws 89 supplant the normal function of chuck box 85 and chuck .block 95 in imparting the rotary motion of bushing I5 to the pipe. .Drilling is continued throughout one stroke of, the pistons 38 and 39 or about ten feet. Jaws 89 are then retracted releasing the drill pipe and drill head 45 can thenbe raised again a distance equal to the stroke of the pistons 38 and 39 which will now bring box' 85 into position to receive chuck block 95 which is then locked therein in the usual manner and drilling can now be continued through another stroke of pistons 38 and 39 which will complete the feeding of the full twenty jfoot'joint of drill pipe into the well.

When the stroke of the hydraulic pistons 88 and 39 is of a length designed to'run a full Joint of drill pipe in one stroke, the gripping device, comprising jaw frame 81, jaws 89 and set screws 90, is not required, as the torque on drill pipe 9| for drilling is applied through chuck block 95 I when locked in box 85, and pipe tongs or similar devices may be utilized for gripping the pipe when disconnecting or adding new joints of pipe. Figs. 13, 14 and 15 illustrate a modified form of chuck and drill head in which kelly 18 is connected directly to box 85 forming a unit therewith. Box 85 is disconnected irom drill head 45,

'- and laws 89 are altered in form, as shown in Fig.

- movement of pistons 38 and 39, is applied through,

, 01. table 53.

jaws 8,5 to kelly i8, which being new directly connected to box 85 will transmit this thrust through box 85 and chuck block 95 to the drill pipe. In this modification, as well as in that earlier: described, kelly '59 may be readily withdrawn from rotary bushing '55 in drill head '45 and from bushing 65 in rotary table 83.

By separating drill head 45 from-the chuck, as illustrated in Figs. '13, i4 and 15, drill head 45 may be located above rotary table 63, as shown, or may even be located below table 88 if such arrangement is found to be advantageous. In the lattercase', however, the stroke of the hydraulic pistons must, necessarily be shortened to'such a lengthas will reciprocate drill head 45 between the level of, the mouth of the well and the bottom In this case, however, the advantages of the novel chuck arrangement will still be preserved. I i H From the above detailed description, it will be evident that this invention provides a fully as '7 sembled rotary drilling machine which is entirely portable and which provides large savings .in

, drilling time and thereby reduces materially the cost of drilling wells. r, l v While the particular apparatus described is mounted entirely on a irameor skid and operated from the ground level and may 'then be loaded on avehicle for transportation from place to place.

Num'erousmodifications and alterations of size, form. and arrangements may be made within the scope of the invention as claimed below. a

I What I claimand desire to secure by Letters Patentisrg 1. A drilling appar'atus-comprisinga drill stem having a threaded'portion, a chuck block in threaded engagement withthe threaded portion of the drill stem, a sleeve surrounding the drill stem and having abox portion in' which'the block is detachably mounted, latching means operativelys'ecuring the block to the box to cause the block to rotate with the box, a swivel support for said'sleeve, means for raising and lowering said support and means for rotatingsaid .said sleeve, means for raising and lowering said support and means fog rotating said sleeve, said sleeve being slidably connected to said rotating means. r

3. In drilling apparatus, a rotatable sleeve having a box portion, a-drill stem extending into the sleeve, a block detachably secured to the drill stern and removably, connected to the box and means for securing the block to the box whereby the block will rotate with the box.

4. In drilling apparatus, a drill stem, a sleeve surrounding said stem and having a box provided with a key-hole slot, a block detachably connected to the drill stem and adapted to be inserted in'said slot in connecting the block to the box and means for securing theblock against rotation relatively. to the box. I

5. In drilling apparatus, a rotatable sleeve hav ing a box portion, a hollow drill stem extending into the sleeve, a block detachably secured to the drill stem and removably connected to the box,

conveying fluid to the hollow drill stem and a.

swivel coupling operatively connecting the conduit-tothedrillstem. y Y

'6. In' drilling apparatus, a rotatable sleeve having a box portion, a hollow drill stemextending into said sleeve, 9. block detachably secured to the drill stem and removably connectedto' the box, means ,for securing the block to the box whereby the block willrotate with the box, a passageway throughsaid block in communication with the 7. Aidrilling apparatus comprising an upwardly anddownwardly movable rotatable sleeve having abox portion, a drill stem extending through the sleeve'and having a block which is insertable into and removable from the box portion, means for latching-the block-to the box portion when the block occupies the box portion and clamping 'means for securing the sleeve to the drill stem.

8. A drilling apparatus comprising an upwardly and downwardly movable rotatable sleevehaving a box portion, a drill stem extending through the sleeve, ablock detachably connected to said drill stem and insertable into and removable from said box portion, means for latching the block to the box portion thereby securing the sleeve to the drill stem and auxiliary clamping means for securing the sleeve to the drill stem.

rounding said drill stem, a chuck box attached to the upper end of said sleeve and rotatable-therewith. a block detachably attached to the upper end of said drill stem and adapted to be removably engaged in said chuck box, means for locking said block to said chuck box for rotation therewith and means for rotating said sleeve. i

11. In apparatus of the class described, a drill stem, means for feeding the drill stem into a well, said means including a drill head, a swivel mounted in the drill head and through which the drill stem passes, a sleeve surrounding said drill stem and connected to said swivel, a chuck fixedly attached to said swivel and comprising a box surrounding said drill. stem, 9. chuck block detachably secured to the drill stem and adapted to be locked in said box, means for locking said chuck block to said box andmeans for rotating said sleeve.

12. A drilling apparatus comprising a tubular drill stem, a block detachably connected to said stem, a drill head, an upwardly. and downwardly movable sleeve-surrounding said stem and having a swivel connection with said drillhead, a

box rigidly united with said sleeve and containing said block, means for latching the block to the box for causing the'block to rotate with said sleeve, a conduit for conveying fluid to the drill stem, means including a swivel connection opera-. tively connecting the conduit to said block and means for rotating said "sleeve, the sleeve being movable upwardly and downwardly relatively to the rotating means.

13. In a rotary drilling device for rotating a drill string composed of pipe sections secured together, the combination of a'kelly surrounding a portion of said drill string and having a bore through which the pipe sections may pass, a swivel adapted to support said kelly, and means to support said drill string from said swivel independently of said kelly.

14. In a rotary drilling device for rotating a drill string composed of pipe sections secured together, the combination of a kelly surrounding a portion of said drill string and having a bore through which the pipe sections may pass, a swivel adapted to support said kelly, means to :support said drill string from said swivel independently of said kelly, and cooperating means associated with the kelly and swivel to automatically eflect a driving engagement therebetween upon predetermined movement of the kelly relative to the swivel.

15. In a rotary drilling device the combination of a drive element having a longitudinal bore, a

driven element extending through said bore, a

swivel adapted to support said elements independently, and meansincluding a member carried on the swivel to form a rotary drive connection between the two elements, said connection being effected automatically upon relative sequential longitudinal and rotary movement of the two elements.

16. In a rotary drilling device for rotating a drill string, the combination of a kelly, a swivel adapted to support said kelly and drill string independently, said swivel having an intermediate drive member associated therewith adapted.

to transmit rotary motion from said kelly to said drill string. a

17. In a well drilling device a tubular rotary shaft angular in cross section and adapted to be driven by a rotary table, a drill rod within said shaft, J-slots in the walls of said shaft, and

- meanson said drill stem for engaging said J-slots to impart rotation to said drill stem.

18. In a rotary drilling device, the combination ofa drive element having a longitudinal bore,

a driven element extending through said-bore, a swivel adapted to support said elements independently, means including a member carried on the swivel to form a rotary drive connection between the two elements, said connection being eflected automatically upon relative sequential longitudinal and. rotary movement of the two elements, and means acting automatically to lock JOHN w; nonmmoox.

said elements against disengagement when the .drive connection is completed.

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