US3756316A

US3756316A - Bore hole plug

Info

Publication number: US3756316A
Application number: US00278712A
Authority: US
Inventors: F Ruth
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1972-08-08
Filing date: 1972-08-08
Publication date: 1973-09-04
Anticipated expiration: 1990-09-04

Abstract

A bore hole plug comprising an elongated piston like member tapering inwardly towards one end, means located adjacent the other end of the piston like member to form sealing contact with the inside surface of a tubular member such as a drill stem through which the plug is adapted to pass, a series of wedging members located around the tapered end of said piston like member, retaining means holding the ends of said wedging members adjacent the tapered end of the plug, close thereto and spring means adapted to urge the end of said wedging members remote from the tapered end of the piston like member outwardly away from the said piston like member.

Description

United States Patent 11 1 Van Ruth 1 Sept. 4, 1973 BORE HOLE PLUG 2,330,659 9/1943 Anderson 166/132 2,808,890 10/1957 Clark et 166/192 [76] Invent: Frank Ruth 235 2,963,092 12/1960 Anderson et al. 166/135 x Kalgoorlie, Australia [22] Filed: Aug. 8, 1972 Primary Examiner-David H. Brown L' t L' t 1 pp No: 278,712 Attorney in on & in on [57] ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl 166/132, 166/135, 166/136, A bore hole p g comprising an elongated piston like 166/202 7 member ta erin inwardl towards one end, means 10- 51 I 1 c1 E2": 33 126 p g y 1 Ill .1 cated adjacent the other end of the pi i member Field of Search 153, 135, to form sealing Contact with the i i Surface f a 202 bular member such as a drill stem through which the plug is adapted to pass, a series of wedging members [56] References cued located around the tapered end of said piston like U T STATES PATENTS member, retaining means holding the ends of said 1,457,148 5/1923 Crabbe 166/135 Wedging members adjacent the tapered end of the plug, 1,507,983 9/1924 Anderson... 166/ 192 close thereto and spring means adapted to urge the end 1,512,621 0/192 Ma lt 166/192 X of said wedging members remote from the tapered end a f il-t- 1 of the piston like member outwardly away from the said rig er 1,842,033 1/1932- Lewis 166/135 p'ston member 1,904,275 4/1933 Davis 166/135 X 2 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures BORE HOLE PLUG This invention relates to an improved bore hole plug. The object of the invention is to provide a bore hole plug which is relatively simple in construction and which can be passed through'a drill stem and located in the desired position in the bore hole.

In one form the invention resides in a bore hole plug comprising an elongated piston like member tapering inwardly towards one end, means located adjacent the other end of the piston like member to form sealing contact with the inside surface of a tubular member such as a drill stem through which the plug is adapted to pass, a series of wedging members locatedaround the tapered end of the said piston like member, retaining means holding the ends of said wedging members adjacent the tapered end of the plug close thereto, and spring means adapted to urge the end of the said wedging members remote from the tapered end of the piston like member outwardly away from said piston like member.

The invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of one specific embodiment thereof shown in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the plug in the position in which it passes through a drill stem or like tubular locating member; and

FIG. 2 is a side elevation with the wedging members held apart by springs.

In the embodiment shown in the drawings the elongated piston like member 11 is formed from steel but it may be formed from any other suitablematerial and is of such a diameter that it will pass easily through a drill stem. The upper end of the member 11 is provided with a ring 12 formed or rubber or other suitable material, the outer periphery of which is provided with a flange adapted to bear against and seal on the inside surface of the drill-stem. A series of wedging members 13 formed from wood, metal or any other suitable material are positioned around the lower end of the member l l. The outer faces of the lower end of the wedging members 13 are slightly rebated so that they will fit into a dish like retaining member 14 fitted to the lower end of the member 11. A spring 15 is located between each pair of the wedging members so that the spring tends to force the wedging members apart.

In use the plug in the position shown in FIG. 1 is inserted into the upper end of a drill stem located within the hole to be plugged. The drill stem prevents the wedging members from moving apart. Hydraulic fluid under pressure is fed into the upper end of the drill stem and this forces the plug downwardly through the drill stem. When the wedging members are clear of the drill stem, they spring apart until they bear against and grip the wall of the bore hole. Further downward movement of the plug forces the tapered portion of the member l 1 between the lower ends of the wedging members to force them into closer engagement with the wall of the hole. The build up of pressure in the hydraulic system will indicate to the operator on the surface that the plug has reached the desired position and has been firmly fixed in position. The drill stem can be withdrawn and the desired operations carried out in the bore hole.

Whilst the invention has been described with particular reference to a bore hole plug it may also be used in reverse as a rock or anchor bolt in mining operations. It may also be used as a packer assembly in the cementing or pressure grouting of holes in oil and mineral drilling operations.

I claim:

1. A bore hole plug comprising an elongated piston like member tapering inwardly towards one end, means located adjacent the other end of the piston like member for form sealing contact with the inside surface of a tubular member such as a drill stem through which the plug is adapted to pass, a series of wedging members located around the tapered end of said piston like member, retaining means holding the ends of said wedging members adjacent the tapered end of the plug,

close thereto, and spring means adapted to urge the end of said wedging members remote from the tapered end of the piston like member outwardly away from the said piston like member.

2. A bore hole plug as claimed in claim 1 wherein the sealing means comprises a ring formed of rubber orother suitable material, the outer periphery of which is provided with an outwardly projecting flange.

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Claims

1. A bore hole plug comprising an elongated piston like member tapering inwardly towards one end, means located adjacent the other end of the piston like member for form sealing contact with the inside surface of a tubular member such as a drill stem through which the plug is adapted to pass, a series of wedging members located around the tapered end of said piston like member, retaining means holding the ends of said wedging members adjacent the tapered end of the plug, close thereto, and spring means adapted to urge the end of said wedging members remote from the tapered end of the piston like member outwardly away from the said piston like member.