Kelly speed bushing

Claim 2

A bushing device for coaction with the rotary of a drilling apparatus having a kelly, said bushing device comprising, a. a housing spaced about the kelly and adapted to be received and rotated by the rotary, b. an anchor ring gear Within the housing and having an extended portion for attachment to the drilling apparatus, and c. means within the housing coacting with the anchor ring gear and housing for transmitting rotary motion from the housing to the kelly at a speed different than the speed of the rotary.

Claim 3

The bushing device of claim 1 wherein, more particularly, the means (c) comprises, a first stage plurality of planet gears each rotatably journaled in the housing and meshing with and within the anchor ring gear, and a first sun gear within and meshing with the planet gears.

Claim 4

The bushing device of claim 2 including additionally, a second stage plurality of planet gears each rotatably journaled to the first sun gear and meshing with the anchor ring gear, a second sun gear within and meshing with the second stage plurality of planet gears, and a kelly drive bushing member within and in engagement with the second sun gear.

Claim 5

The bushing device of claim 3 including at least a further stage of a plurality of planet gears and a sun gear between the second sun gear and the kelly drive bushing member wherein said kelly drive bushing member is within and in engagement with the last stage sun gear.

Claim 6

The bushing device of claim 1 including, additionally, means engaged with the extended portion of the anchor ring gear for securably attaching said anchor ring gear to the drilling apparatus but releasable upon development of substantial torque between the housing and the kelly.

Claim 7

The bushing device of claim 5 wherein more particularly the means engaged with the extended portion of the anchor ring gear comprises, a. an outwardly projecting ring member connected about the extension of the anchor ring gear, and b. pressure-responsive, releasable brake means engageable with the ring member for normally holding the ring member against rotation.

Claim 8

The bushing device of claim 1 wherein the housing, a. includes a downwardly extending portion forming an outwardly toothed sun gear between the anchor ring gear, b. and the kelly and wherein, more particularly, the means, c. comprises, a first stage plurality of planet gears each in meshing engagement between and with the sun gear and the anchor ring gear.

Claim 9

The bushing device of claim 7 including, additionally, a second sun gear to which is rotatably journaled each of the planet gears of the first stage plurality of planet gears, a second stage plurality of planet gears each in meshing engagement between and with the anchor ring gear and the second sun gear, a sleeve member to which is rotatably journaled each of the planet gears of the second stage plurality of planet gears, and a kelly drive bushing member within and in engagement with the sleeve member.

Claim 10

The bushing device of claim 8 including at least a further stage of a plurality of planet gears and a sun gear between the second sun gear and the sleeve member wherein said sleeve member is within and in rotatable engagement with the last stage plurality of planet gears and engages the kelly drive bushing member.

Claim 11

A bushing device for coaction with the rotary table of a drilling apparatus having a kelly, said bushing device comprising, a. a housing spaced about the kelly and adapted to be received and rotated by the rotary table, b. an anchor ring gear within and adjacent the housing such that the housing is rotatable about the anchor ring gear, the anchor ring gear having an annular portion extending downwardly through the rotary table for attachment to the structure of the drilling apparatus, and c. means between the anchor ring gear and the kelly for transmitting rotary motion from the housing to the kelly at a speed greater than the speed of the rotary table.

Claim 12

A bushing device for coaction with the rotary table of a drilling apparatus having a kelly, said bushing device comprising, a. a housing spaced about the kelly and adapted to be received and rotated by the rotary table, b. an anchor ring gear within and adjacent the housing such that the housing is rotatable about the anchor ring gear, the anchor ring gear having an annular portion extending downwardly through the rotary table for attachment to the structure of the drilling apparatus, and c. means between the anchor ring gear and the kelly for transmitting rotary motion from the housing to the kelly at a speed greater than the speed of the rotary table.

Claim 13

The device of claim 10 wherein more particularly the means (c) comprises, a. a first stage plurality of planet gears each rotatably journaled to the upper portion of the housing within the anchor ring gear and meshing with the anchor ring gear, b. a first sun gear spaced concentrically within the first stage plurality of planet gears and meshing with the planet gears, said first sun gear having an outwardly extending lowermost projection, c. a second stage plurality of planet gears each rotatably journaled in the outwardly extending lowermost projection of the first sun gear and meshing with the anchor ring gear, d. a second sun gear spaced concentrically within and meshing with the second stage plurality of planet gears and having an upwardly extending outer bearing surface portion rotatably supporting the first sun gear, the inwardly facing side of which portion is splined axially, and e. a kelly drive bushing member axially splined outwardly and concentrically engaged within the splines of the second sun gear.

Claim 14

The device of claim 10, including, additionally, means engaged with the downwardly extending portion of the anchor ring gear for securably attaching said anchor ring gear to the drilling apparatus structure but releasable upon development of substantial torque between the housing and the kelly.

Claim 15

The device of claim 12, wherein, more particularly, the means engaged with the downwardly extending portion of the anchor ring gear comprises, a first ring member engaging about the lower periphery of the downwardly extending portion of the anchor ring gear, said first ring member being secured against rotation relative to the anchor ring gear, a second ring member engaging about the first ring member, said second ring member being securely attachable to the drilling apparatus structure, and brake means between the first ring member and the second ring member for normally engaging the first ring member against rotation relative to the second ring member but releasable to permit rotation of the first ring member upon development of substantial torque between the housing and the kelly.

Claim 16

The device of claim 12 wherein, more particularly, the means engaged with the downwardly extending portion of the anchor ring gear comprises, a first ring member engaging about the lower periphery of the downwardly extending portion of the anchor ring gear and having an outward annular projection, said first ring member being secured against rotation relative to the anchor ring gear, a second ring member engaging about the first ring member and having an inwardly facing annular groove to receive the annular projection of the first ring member, brake means between the projection of the first ring member and the groove of the second ring member for normally engaging the first ring member against rotation relative to the second ring member but releasable to permit rotation of the first ring member upon development of substantial torque between the housing and the kelly, and hydraulically actuated means securing the second ring member to the drilling apparatus structure for sensing development of substantial torque between the housing and the kelly.

Claim 17

The device of claim 14 wherein, more particularly, the hydraulically actuated means comprises, a third ring member rotatably mounted about the second ring member and secured to the drilling apparatus structure, a cylinder member pivotally secured to the third ring member, a piston member pivotally secured to the second ring member for slidable engagement within the cylinder member, means secured to the third ring member for preventing disengagement of the piston member from the cylinder member, and pressurized hydraulic fluid communicating with the interior of the cylinder member and piston member.

Claim 18

A bushing device for coaction with the rotary table of a drilling apparatus having a kelly passing axially through the rotary table, said bushing device comprising, a. a housing spaced about the kelly and adapted to be received and rotated by the rotary table, b. an anchor ring gear within and adjacent the housing such that the housing is rotatable abOut the anchor ring gear, the anchor ring gear having an annular portion extending downwardly through the rotary table between the rotary table and the kelly for attachment to the structure of the drilling apparatus, c. means between the anchor ring gear and the kelly for transmitting rotary motion from the housing to the kelly at a speed greater than the speed of the rotary table, said means including, i. a first stage plurality of planet gears each rotatably journaled to the upper portion of the housing, within the anchor ring gear and meshing with the anchor ring gear, ii. a first sun gear spaced concentrically within the first stage plurality of planet gears and meshing with the planet gears, said first sun gear having an outwardly extending lowermost projection, iii. a second stage plurality of planet gears each rotatably journaled in the outwardly extending lowermost projection of the first sun gear and meshing with the anchor ring gear, iv. a second sun gear spaced concentrically within and meshing with the second stage plurality of planet gears and having an upwardly extending outer bearing surface portion rotatably supporting the first sun gear, the inwardly facing side of which portion is splined axially, and v. a kelly drive bushing member axially splined outwardly and concentrically engaged within the splines of the second sun gear, and d. means engaged with the downwardly extending portion of the anchor ring gear for securably attaching said anchor ring gear to the drilling apparatus structure but being releasable upon development of substantial torque between the housing and the kelly, said means including i. a first ring gear engaging about the lower periphery of the downwardly extending portion of the anchor ring gear, said first ring member being secured against rotation relative to the anchor ring gear, ii. a second ring member engaging about the first ring member, said second ring member being securely attachable to the drilling apparatus structure, and iii. holddown means between the first ring member and the second ring member for normally engaging the first ring member against rotation relative to the second ring member but releasable to permit rotation of the first ring member upon development of substantial torque between the housing and the kelly.

Claim 19

A bushing device for coaction with the rotary table of a drilling apparatus having a kelly passing axially through the rotary table, said bushing device comprising, a. a housing spaced about the kelly and adapted to be received and rotated by the rotary table, b. an anchor ring gear within and adjacent the housing such that the housing is rotatable abOut the anchor ring gear, the anchor ring gear having an annular portion extending downwardly through the rotary table between the rotary table and the kelly for attachment to the structure of the drilling apparatus, c. means between the anchor ring gear and the kelly for transmitting rotary motion from the housing to the kelly at a speed greater than the speed of the rotary table, said means including, i. a first stage plurality of planet gears each rotatably journaled to the upper portion of the housing, within the anchor ring gear and meshing with the anchor ring gear, ii. a first sun gear spaced concentrically within the first stage plurality of planet gears and meshing with the planet gears, said first sun gear having an outwardly extending lowermost projection, iii. a second stage plurality of planet gears each rotatably journaled in the outwardly extending lowermost projection of the first sun gear and meshing with the anchor ring gear, iv. a second sun gear spaced concentrically within and meshing with the second stage plurality of planet gears and having an upwardly extending outer bearing surface portion rotatably supporting the first sun gear, the inwardly facing side of which portion is splined axially, and v. a kelly drive bushing member axially splined outwardly and concentrically engaged within the splines of the second sun gear, and d. means engaged with the downwardly extending portion of the anchor ring gear for securably attaching said anchor ring gear to the drilling apparatus structure but being releasable upon development of substantial torque between the housing and the kelly, said means including i. a first ring gear engaging about the lower periphery of the downwardly extending portion of the anchor ring gear, said first ring member being secured against rotation relative to the anchor ring gear, ii. a second ring member engaging about the first ring member, said second ring member being securely attachable to the drilling apparatus structure, and iii. holddown means between the first ring member and the second ring member for normally engaging the first ring member against rotation relative to the second ring member but releasable to permit rotation of the first ring member upon development of substantial torque between the housing and the kelly.

Claim 20

A bushing device for coaction with the rotary of a drilling apparatus having a kelly, said bushing device comprising, a. a housing engageable about the kelly, b. an anchor ring gear concentrically positioned within the housing and about which the housing may be rotated, said anchor ring gear having an extension from the housing for attachment to the drilling apparatus, and c. means within the housing coacting with the anchor ring gear and housing for transmitting rotary motion from the rotary to the housing at a speed slower than the speed of the rotary.

Claim 21

A bushing device for coaction with the rotary of a drilling apparatus having a kelly, said bushing device comprising, a. a housing engageable about the kelly, b. an anchor ring gear concentrically positioned within the housing and about which the housing may be rotated, said anchor ring gear having an extension from the housing for attachment to the drilling apparatus, and c. means within the housing coacting with the anchor ring gear and housing for transmitting rotary motion from the rotary to the housing at a speed slower than the speed of the rotary.

Claim 22

The bushing device of claim 17 wherein more particularly, the means (c) comprises, a plurality of planet gears each rotatably journaled in the housing and meshing with and within the anchor ring gear, and a sun gear within and meshing with the planet gears, said sun gear having a downwardly extending portion engageable with the rotary table to be rotated thereby.

Claim 23

The bushing device of claim 17 wherein, more particularly, the means (c) comprises, a second stage plurality of planet gears each rotatably journaled in the housing and meshing with and within the anchor ring gear, a second sun gear within and meshing with the second stage plurality of planet gears, a first stage plurality of planet gears each rotatably journaled to the second sun gear and meshing with the anchor ring gear, and a first sun gear within and meshing with the first stage plurality of planet gears, said first sun gear having a downwardly extending portion engageable with the rotary table to be rotated thereby.

Claim 26

The method of claim 20 wherein, more particularly, the drill string is rotated at a speed greater than the speed of the rotary table.

Claim 27

The method of claim 20 wherein, more particularly, the drill string is rotated at a speed slower than the speed of the rotary table.

Claim 30

The method of claim 23 wherein, more particularly, the drill string is rotated at a speed greater than the speed of the rotary table.

Claim 31

The method of claim 25 wherein, more particularly, the drill string is rotated at a speed slower than the speed of the rotary table.