Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
A8144393CA 1
WRENCH FOR USE WITH MAKING AND BREAKING A DRILL STRING
TECHNICAL FIELD
100011 The present disclosure generally relates to an apparatus
for use in
drilling with a drill string that is made up of many sections of thin-walled
drill pipe. In
particular, the present disclosure relates to a wrench that is mountable on a
drill
assembly.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Earth drilling processes use a drill string to cut a
borehole into the
ground. The drill string generally includes multiple sections of drill pipe
that are
connected together with a drill bit connected at the working end of the drill
string. One
example of earth drilling, which is different from those used in the oil-and-
gas industry,
is exploration drilling. During exploration drilling a small diameter, sample
of core
rock is extracted from the earth to analyze one or more of structure,
petrology, and
mineralogy. In some examples of exploration earth drilling, the sample of core
rock is
obtained using a drill string that includes a hollow bit with numerous
diamonds
embedded in a soft metallic matrix at the end of a tubular, rotating drill-
pipe, which
cuts the rock and forms the sample of core rock in the center of the drill
pipe. Once a
predetermined length of core has been cut, the sample of core rock can be
extracted
from within the drill pipe.
[0003] Boreholes drilled with exploration diamond-bit drill strings can
range
from about 3.2 feet to about 9,842.5 feet in depth (one foot is equivalent to
about 0.3
meters). Reaching a target depth generally involves assembling segments of
drill pipe
to form a longer drill string. Each end of a drill pipe includes threads that
can be
connected to the threaded ends of another drill pipe to make up a portion of
the drill
string. When making the drill string, the connection between drill pipes is
formed by
applying a high torque, which can also seal the joint between the two drill
pipes to
contain high-pressure fluids. Similar high torques are required to disconnect
two drill
pipes when breaking the drill string.
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[0004] Typical drill pipe used in exploration diamond-bit
drilling have an outer
diameter of about 2.25 inches to about 5.5 inches (one inch is equivalent to
about 2.54
centimeters) and a wall thickness between about 0.1 inches to about 0.35
inches.
100051 Another example of exploration drilling is reverse-
circulation drilling,
which uses a drill string that is made up of threaded, dual-walled drill pipes
with a
downhole hammer to produce samples of rock cuttings. The outer diameter of
dual-
wall drill pipes used in reverse-circulation drilling is typically between
about 2 inches
and about 6 inches with a wall thickness between about 0.15 inches to about
0.75
inches.
[0006] Connecting and disconnecting the tightly connected drill pipes
without
distorting the thin walls is a challenge. Many existing drill pipe wrenches
involve
manual steps, such as manually connecting and disconnecting the threaded
connections
by a hand-held wrench or maneuvering the wrench to a specific location along
the drill
pipe. These manual steps are inefficient and require that the operator be in
close
physical proximity to the rotating drill head assembly and the drill bore,
which may
pose a safety hazard. Further, known wrenches for use during such earth
drilling can
have a large physical footprint, cannot easily accommodate variable diameters
of the
drill pipes, and cannot develop a sufficient gripping force that is required
to apply the
required high-torque for making and breaking the drill string.
SUMMARY
[0007] Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a wrench
for loosening
and tightening threaded drill-string component connections when making and
breaking
a drill string.
[0008] Some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a
wrench for
loosening or tightening a threaded joint of two drill-string components. The
wrench
comprises a jaw assembly and four actuators. The jaw assembly comprises a pair
of
opposing jaws configured to engage therebetween an outer surface of a first
drill-string
component. A first actuator is configured to actuate the pair of opposing jaws
between
an engaged position and a disengaged position. A second actuator is configured
to
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pivot the jaw assembly and further configured for applying a torque to the
outer surface
of the first drill-string component when engaged therewith. The third actuator
is
configured to extend and retract the jaw assembly in a first plane. The first
plane is
substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the drill-string
component when
engageable with the jaw assembly. The fourth actuator is configured for
actuating the
wrench in a second plane substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of
the drill-string
component when engageable with the jaw assembly.
[0009] Some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a
wrench for
loosening or tightening a threaded joint of two drill-string components. The
wrench
comprises a jaw assembly, at least three actuators and a frame plate with a
track. The
jaw assembly comprises a pair of opposing jaws configured to engage
therebetween an
outer surface of a first drill-string component. A first actuator is
configured to actuate
the pair of opposing jaws between an engaged position and a disengaged
position. A
second actuator is configured to pivot the jaw assembly and further configured
for
applying a torque to the outer surface of the first drill-string component
when engaged
therewith. The third actuator is configured to extend and retract the jaw
assembly in a
first plane. The first plane is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal
axis of the
drill-string component when engageable with the jaw assembly. The frame plate
defines the track which is configured to guide movement of a bushing connected
to an
end of the third actuator. The track comprises a first portion and a second
portion. The
first portion is configured to position the jaw assembly in alignment with an
engageable
drill-string component. The second portion is configured to guide the bushing
for
establishing alignment between a center position of the jaw assembly and the
longitudinal axis of the engageable drill-string component when the second
actuator
pivots the jaw assembly.
100101 Some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a
wrench for
loosening or tightening a threaded joint of two drill-string components. The
wrench
comprises a jaw assembly, at least three actuators and at least one jaw
insert. The jaw
assembly comprises a pair of opposing jaws configured to engage therebetween
an
outer surface of a first drill-string component. A first actuator is
configured to actuate
the pair of opposing jaws between an engaged position and a disengaged
position. A
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second actuator is configured to pivot the jaw assembly and further configured
for
applying a torque to the outer surface of the first drill-string component
when engaged
therewith. The third actuator is configured to extend and retract the jaw
assembly in a
first plane. The first plane is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal
axis of the
drill-string component when engageable with the jaw assembly. The at least one
jaw
insert configurable to engage with an outer surface of a first drill-string
component with
an outer diameter between about 2.25 inches and about 5.5 inches.
100111 Some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a
drilling system
that comprises a drill head assembly, at least one drill slide, a foot clamp,
and a wrench.
The wrench comprises a jaw assembly and four actuators. The jaw assembly
comprises
a pair of opposing jaws configured to engage therebetween an outer surface of
a first
drill-string component. A first actuator is configured to actuate the pair of
opposing
jaws between an engaged position and a disengaged position. A second actuator
is
configured to pivot the jaw assembly and further configured for applying a
torque to the
outer surface of the first drill-string component when engaged therewith. The
third
actuator is configured to extend and retract the jaw assembly in a first
plane. The first
plane is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the drill-
string component
when engageable with the jaw assembly. The fourth actuator is configured for
actuating the wrench in a second plane substantially parallel to the
longitudinal axis of
the drill-string component when engageable with the jaw assembly.
100121 Some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a
drilling system
that comprises a drill head assembly, at least one drill slide, a foot clamp,
and a wrench.
The wrench comprises a jaw assembly, at least three actuators and a frame
plate with a
track. The jaw assembly comprises a pair of opposing jaws configured to engage
therebetween an outer surface of a first drill-string component. A first
actuator is
configured to actuate the pair of opposing jaws between an engaged position
and a
disengaged position. A second actuator is configured to pivot the jaw assembly
and
further configured for applying a torque to the outer surface of the first
drill-string
component when engaged therewith. The third actuator is configured to extend
and
retract the jaw assembly in a first plane. The first plane is substantially
perpendicular
to a longitudinal axis of the drill-string component when engageable with the
jaw
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assembly. The frame plate defines the track which is configured to guide
movement of
a bushing connected to an end of the third actuator. The track comprises a
first portion
and a second portion. The first portion is configured to position the jaw
assembly in
alignment with an engageable drill-string component. The second portion is
configured
to guide the bushing for establishing alignment between a center position of
the jaw
assembly and the longitudinal axis of the engageable drill-string component
when the
second actuator pivots the jaw assembly.
100131 Some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a
drilling system
that comprises a drill head assembly, at least one drill slide, a foot clamp,
and a wrench.
The wrench comprises a jaw assembly, at least three actuators and at least one
jaw
insert. The jaw assembly comprises a pair of opposing jaws configured to
engage
therebetween an outer surface of a first drill-string component. A first
actuator is
configured to actuate the pair of opposing jaws between an engaged position
and a
disengaged position. A second actuator is configured to pivot the jaw assembly
and
further configured for applying a torque to the outer surface of the first
drill-string
component when engaged therewith. The third actuator is configured to extend
and
retract the jaw assembly in a first plane. The first plane is substantially
perpendicular
to a longitudinal axis of the drill-string component when engageable with the
jaw
assembly. The at least one jaw insert configurable to engage with an outer
surface of a
first drill-string component with an outer diameter between about 2.25 inches
and about
5.5 inches.
[00141 Without being bound by any particular theory, the
embodiments of the
present disclosure relate to a portable wrench for use with an exploratory
drill assembly
that can effectively engage with thin walls of a drill string to loosen or
tighten the
threaded components of drill pipe while minimizing or avoiding damaging drill
pipe.
The embodiments of the present disclosure also provide a wrench that can make
or
break threaded joints at different locations along the drill string and that
can
accommodate a range of drill pipe diameters. The embodiments of the present
disclosure may also improve operator safety in exploratory drilling operations
by
removing the need for an operator to be physically close to the drill head
assembly
during making and breaking of the drill string and the connections thereof
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] These and other features of the present disclosure will
become more
apparent in the following detailed description in which reference is made to
the
appended drawings. The appended drawings illustrate one or more embodiments of
the present disclosure by way of example only and are not to be construed as
limiting
the scope of the present disclosure.
[0016] FIG. I shows a wrench according to embodiments of the
present
disclosure, wherein FIG. lA is a top plan view of the wrench in an operational
position;
FIG. 1B is a top plan view of the wrench in an operational position with a
frame plate
and a jaw plate removed; and FIG. 1C is a side elevation view of the wrench.
100171 FIG. 2 shows a jaw assembly and jaw frame for use with the wrench of
FIG. 1, wherein FIG. 2A is a top plan view of a pair of opposed jaws; and,
FIG. 2B
shows the opposed jaws of FIG. 2B with a jaw frame plate removed.
[0018] FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the wrench of FIG. 1,
wherein select
components have been removed to show the connectivity of the second actuator.
[0019] FIG. 4 is an isometric view of the wrench of FIG. 1.
[0020] FIG. 5 is two top plan views of the wrench of FIG. 1,
wherein in FIG.
5A the wrench is shown in a home position; and, FIG. 5B show the wrench in a
fully
extended operational position.
100211 FIG. 6 is a top plan view of a wrench according to
embodiments of the
present disclosure, wherein FIG. 6A shows a first arrangement of jaw inserts;
FIG. 6B
shows a second arrangement of jaw inserts; and, FIG. 6C shows a further
arrangement
of jaw inserts.
[0022] FIG. 7 shows one embodiment of a drilling assembly that
includes a
wrench, according to embodiments of the present disclosure, that is mounted
and for
use on an exploration drilling apparatus, wherein FIG. 7A shows a lower
isometric
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view of the drilling system; and, FIG. 7B is a magnified, upper isometric view
of the
wrench engaged with a segment of drill pipe.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
100231 Definitions
100241 Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used
herein
have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the
art to
which this disclosure pertains.
100251 In the present disclosure, all terms referred to in
singular form are meant
to encompass plural forms of the same. Likewise, all terms referred to in
plural form
are meant to encompass singular forms of the same.
100261 As used herein, the term "about" refers to an
approximately +/-10%
variation from a given value. It is to be understood that such a variation is
always
included in any given value provided herein, whether or not it is specifically
referred to.
100271 As used herein, the term "break joint" or "breaking a
joint" refer to
unthreading or loosening a threaded joint between two segments of drill pipe
for
disassembling a drill string.
100281 As used herein, the term "drill assembly" refers
collectively to the
components of a drilling rig that drills boreholes in the ground by rotating
and
advancing (or retreating) a drill string. A drill assembly includes a drill
head assembly,
one or more drill slides, one or more drill slide rails, and feed cylinders or
motors.
100291 As used herein, the term "drill pipe" refers to a hollow
tubular member
comprising threaded ends for connecting more than one drill pipe to form part
of a drill
string. Drill pipes are typically about 2 feet to about 10 feet in length and
are generally
comprised of steel.
100301 As used herein, the term "drill string" refers to multiple segments
of
drill-string components that that are threaded together. The drill-string
components
include drill pipe, with a drill bit at one that is configured to rotate and
extract a sample
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of core rock from a target location. The drill-string components may also
include other
portions of the drill string, such as the connections made between the drill
motor and
the drill sub, and the drill sub and the rest of the drill string.
[0031] As used herein, the terms "make joint" or "making a joint"
refer to
threading together or tightening a threaded joint between two segments of
drill-string
components for making a drill string.
[0032] Embodiments of the present disclosure will now be
described with
reference to FIG. 1 through FIG. 7, which show embodiments of a wrench for
loosening or tightening a threaded joint of a drill-string component. The
embodiments
of the present disclosure that relate to a wrench may be used in exploration
drilling
operations, such as diamond-bit drilling operations and reverse circulation
drilling
operations, for extracting a sample of core rock.
[0033] FIG. 1 shows a top plan view of one embodiment of a wrench
100 in an
operational position. The wrench 100 comprises a jaw assembly 102 that has a
pair of
opposing jaws 102A, 102B. The opposing jaws 102A, 102B are configured to
engage
an outer surface of a component of a drill string, for example a segment of
thin-walled
drill pipe 212A (see FIG. 7). In some embodiments, the wrench 100 further
comprises
a first actuator 104, a second actuator 106, a third actuator 108, and a
fourth actuator
110. As described further below, each actuator 104, 106, 108 and 110 is
configured to
move a portion of the wrench 100 relative to other portions of the wrench 100
and
within one or more planes.
[0034] The wrench 100 further comprises a frame plate 112A that
is configured
for supporting the jaw assembly 102. In some embodiments, the frame plate 112A
is a
pair of frame plates 112A, 112B each configured to define a cavity
therebetween to
receive and support the jaw assembly 102 therein. In some embodiments, one or
both
of the plates in the pair of frame plates 112A, 112B may have a substantially
L-shape.
In other embodiments, one or both of the plates in the pair of frame plates
112A, 112B
may comprise a substantially rectangular shape or any other suitable shape.
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100351 In some embodiments, the pair of opposing jaws 102A, 102B
may
comprise at least one jaw insert 114 configurable to engage with the outer
surface of
the thin-walled drill pipe. In some embodiments, the at least one jaw insert
114 is
configured to engage with a drill-string component having an outer diameter
between
about 2.25 inches and about 5.5 inches. In some embodiments, the pair of
opposing
jaws 102A, 102B comprise the at least one jaw insert 114 in an arrangement
that
permits the addition or removal of one or more jaw inserts 114 so that the
opposing
jaws 102A, 102B can be configured to engage the outer surface of different
drill pipe
with different outer diameters.
[0036] In some embodiments, the jaw assembly 102 further comprises a jaw
frame plate 116A. In some embodiments, the jaw frame plate is a pair of jaw
frame
plates 116A, 116B configured to provide a cavity to receive the pair of
opposing jaws
102A, 102B.
[0037] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the wrench
100 may
further comprise a mounting member 118 configured to mount the wrench on the
drill
assembly.
[0038] FIG. 2 shows a top plan view of the jaw assembly 102 when
in an
operational position. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the jaw
frame
plate 116A may be adjacent to the frame plate 112A. In some embodiments, the
jaw
frame plate 116A may be substantially within the cavity provided by the pair
of frame
plates 112A, 112B.
[00391 In some embodiments, each of the pair of opposing jaws
102A, 102B
may be supported and pivotally connected to the jaw frame plate 116A, a second
jaw
frame plate 116B or the pair of jaw frame plates 116A, 116B by at least one
pin 120,
120' (see FIG. 2). The skilled person will appreciate that the at least one
pin 120, 120'
may be a fastener other than a pin, for example, a dowel, rivet, or any other
suitable
fastener.
100401 The first actuator 104 has a first end 104' and a second
end 104". In
some embodiments, the first end 104' is pivotally connected to a first end
102A' of the
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jaw 102A by a first pin 122 and the second end 104" is pivotally connected to
a first
end 102B' of the jaw 102B by a second pin 122'. In some embodiments, the first
actuator 104 may be configured for actuating the pair of opposing jaws between
an
engaged position and a disengaged position. As used herein, the term "engaged
position" refers to a position wherein the pair of opposing jaws 102A, 102B
have
moved towards each other, about their respective pins 120, 120' in order to
grip or
clamp the outer surface of a drill pipe. As used herein, the terms "grip" and
"clamp"
are used to refer to contacting the outer surface of the drill-string
component in a
manner that maintains the contact while the wrench applies a torque thereto,
as
described further below. As used herein, the term "disengaged position" refers
to a
position wherein the pair of opposing jaws 102A, 102B have moved away from
each
other so that they are not engaged with the outer surface of the drill-string
component.
In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the first actuator 104 may be a
linear
actuator or any other type of actuator that is suitable for moving the
opposing jaw
102A, 102B between the engaged position and the disengaged position.
100411 Referring to FIG. 3, the second actuator 106 has a first
end 106' and a
second end 106". In some embodiments, the second actuator 106 may be pivotally
connected to the frame plate 112A, a second frame plate 112B or the pair of
frame
plates 112A, 112B at the first end 106' by at least one optional spacer 124
and a pin
125. In some embodiments, the second actuator 106 may be pivotally connected
at the
second end 106" to the first jaw frame plate 116A, the second jaw frame plate
116B or
the pair of jaw frame plates 116A, 116B by one or both of an optional spacer
126 and a
pin 127. Non-limiting examples of the pins 125 and 127 of the present
disclosure
include a cylindrical pin, a rod, and a dowel. As used herein, the term
"spacer" refers to
an optional component that is configured to separate two parts of the wrench
100. The
spacers 125 and 126 may be cylindrical, spherical, or any suitable shape. In
some
embodiments, the spacer 124 is configured to receive the pin 125 therein and
the spacer
126 is configured to receive the pin 127 therein.
[0042] In some embodiments, the second actuator 106 may be
configured to
pivot the jaw assembly 102 between a first position and second position for
applying a
torque to an outer surface of a drill-string component when engaged therewith.
Torque
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can be measured in the units of pound-foot (1b-ft), wherein one pound-foot is
the torque
created by one pound of force acting at a perpendicular distance of one foot
from a
pivot point. One pound-foot is the equivalent of about 1.34482 Newton meters.
In
some embodiments, the torque is applied in a first direction and at such an
amplitude
that is sufficient to loosen the threaded joints of the drill-string component
when the
pair of opposing jaws 102A, 102B are engaged with the outer surface of the
drill-string
component without damaging the thin-walls of the drill-string component. In
some
embodiments, the torque is applied in a second direction and of such an
amplitude that
is sufficient to tighten the threaded joints of the drill-string component
when the pair of
opposing jaws 102A, 102B are engaged with the outer surface of the drill-
string
component. In some embodiments, extending the second actuator 106 can provide
a
torque in the first direct of between about 1 lb-ft and about 6200 lb-ft. In
some
embodiments, retracting the second actuator 106 provides a torque in the
second
direction between about 1 and about 3,400 lb-ft.
[0043] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, extending the second
actuator 106 when the pair of opposing jaws 102A, 102B is engaged with the
drill pipe
212A loosens the threaded joint of the drill pipe 212A and retracting the
second
actuator 106 when the pair of opposing jaws 102A, 102B is engaged with the
drill pipe
212A tightens the threaded joint of the drill pipe 212A, or vice versa.
[0044] As shown in FIG. 4, the third actuator 108 has a first end 108' and
a
second end 108". In some embodiments, the second end 108" is connected to the
first
jaw frame plate 116A by a bushing 132. In some embodiments, the bushing 132
may
comprise a shaft 133. The skilled person will appreciate that the bushing 132
may be
replaced by a lug or any other suitable bearing. In some embodiments, the
third
actuator 108 is connected to the frame plate 112A by a bracket 134. The
skilled person
will appreciate that bracket 134 may be replaced by any suitable means for
securing the
third actuator 108 to the frame plate 112A.
[0045] The third actuator 108 may be configured to extend and
retract the jaw
assembly 102 in a first plane. The first plane is substantially perpendicular
to a
longitudinal axis of the drill assembly, which is substantially parallel to a
longitudinal
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axis of a drill-string component that is positioned within the drill assembly
to be
engaged by the jaw assembly 102 (see line X in FIG. 7) when the wrench is
mounted
on the drill assembly. The first plane is also substantially perpendicular to
the
longitudinal axis of the drill-string component when engaged within the jaw
assembly
102.
100461 In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the third
actuator 108 is
a pair of actuators 108, 109. In some embodiments wherein the third actuator
108 is a
pair of actuators 108, 109, the third actuator 109 is connected to the second
jaw frame
plate 116B by a second bushing 132'. In some embodiments, the shaft 133 may be
configured to connect both the third actuator 108 and the additional third
actuator 109
to the jaw frame 116 or a second shaft 133' may be used to connect the
additional third
actuator 109 to the second jaw frame plate 116B. In some embodiments the
additional
third actuator may be connected to the second frame plate 112B by a second
bracket
134'. The skilled person will appreciate that bracket 134' may be replaced by
any
suitable means for connecting the additional third actuator 109 to the frame
plate 112B.
100471 FIG. 5 depicts embodiments of the wrench 100 of the
present disclosure
in a home position (FIG. 5A) and an extended position (FIG. 5B). The home
position
refers to when the jaw assembly 102 is in the disengaged position and it is
retracted
away from a position where the outer surface of a pipe component can be
engaged. For
example, the home position may be achieved by the first actuator 104, the
second
actuator 106, and the third actuators 108 (and optionally 109) all being
retracted.
However, in other embodiments, the home position may be achieved by a
combination
of retracting or extending the actuators 104, 106, 108.
100481 In some embodiments of the present disclosure, one or both
of the frame
plate 112A and the second frame plate 112B define a track 113 that is
configured to
guide the movement of the bushing 132 (and optional second bushing 132') that
is
connected to the second end 108" of the third actuator 108. The track 113 may
comprise a first portion 113A that extends in a first direction and second
portion 113B
that extends in a second and different direction (see FIG. 5). The track 113
may also be
referred to as a slot, groove, channel, or raised guide member. In some
embodiments of
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the present disclosure, the first portion 113A is configured to position the
pair of
opposing jaws 102A, 102B into alignment with the drill-string component that
is
desired to be engaged when the third actuator 108 extends and retracts the jaw
assembly 102. The second portion 113B is configured to guide the bushing 132
to
establish and maintain alignment between a center position of the jaw assembly
102
and the longitudinal axis of the engageable drill-string component when the
second
actuator 106 pivots the jaw assembly 102.
100491 Referring back to FIG. 3, the fourth actuator 110 has a
first end 110' and
a second end 110". In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the first
end 110' is
connected to the mounting member 118 by a ball joint 136 and a shoulder bolt
137. In
some embodiments, the first end 110' is connected to the mounting member 118
by a
ball joint and shoulder bolt 136, the shoulder bolt 137, and a spacer member
138. In
some embodiments the second end 110" may be connected to the mounting member
118 by a shoulder bolt 140 and spacer unit 141. The skilled person will
appreciate that
the first end 110', the second end 110", or both may be connected to the
mounting
member 118 by any suitable connecting means.
100501 In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the
mounting member
118 is configured to mount the wrench 100 to a drill slide assembly 204 of the
drill
assembly 202. In some embodiments, the mounting member 118 comprises a track
142
configured to receive a sliding member 144. In some embodiments, the sliding
member 144 is operatively couples to one or both of the frame plate 112A and
the
second frame plate 112B. In some embodiments the sliding member 144 may
comprise
a T-shape. In some embodiments, the fourth actuator 110 is configured to
actuate the
wrench 100 in a second plane. The second plane is substantially perpendicular
to the
first plane and substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of a drill-
string component
that is positioned within the drill assembly to be engaged by the jaw assembly
102 (see
line X in FIG. 7) when the wrench is mounted on the drill assembly. In some
embodiments, extending the fourth actuator 110 moves the sliding member 144
along
the track 142. Movement in the second plane can position the wrench 100 at a
desired
location along the longitudinal axis of the drill-string component when it is
positioned
to be engaged by or when it is engaged by the jaw assembly 102. At least one
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advantage of the fourth actuator 110 is that the making or breaking of the
drill string is
not limited to a single location on the drill-string component, for example
the drill pipe
212A, and the wrench 100 can be moved to any desired position along the
longitudinal
axis of the drill-string component.
10051] As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the actuators
104, 106,
108 and 110 can be linear actuators that are configured to move the applicable
components of the wrench 100 as described above. In some embodiments of the
present disclosure, the linear actuator may be any one of a hydraulically-
powered
cylinder, a pneumatically-powered cylinder, an electrically-powered cylinder.
The
actuators 104, 106, 108 and 110 may be of the same type of actuator but not
necessarily. Furthermore, each actuator 104, 106, 108 and 110 is controlled by
a
controller circuit (not shown) that is, in turn, controlled by an operator
using a user
interface.
[0052] FIG. 6 shows embodiments of the wrench 100 comprising the
at least
one jaw insert 114, or not. FIG. 6A depicts an embodiment wherein the at least
one
jaw insert is absent. FIG. 6B and 6C depict non-limiting embodiments wherein
the pair
of opposing jaws 112A, 112B comprise the at least one jaw insert114 on each
jaw. At
least one advantage of the jaw inserts 114 is that the jaw assembly 102 can be
configured to engage with drill-string components of different outer diameters
because
jaw inserts 114 can be of different sizes to accommodate engaging different
drill-string
components that have different outer diameters without having to make further
substantial adjustments in the components of the wrench 100. The at least one
interchangeable jaw insert 114 may be serrated, or not. In some embodiments,
each of
the interchangeable jaw insert 114 may be releasably secured to an inner
surface of the
pair of opposing jaws 102A, 102B by a retainer pin. The skilled person will
appreciate
that other suitable connectors to releasably secure the at least one
interchangeable jaw
insert 114, for example a threaded screw or nut and bolt, may be used.
[0053] FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of a drilling system 200 of the
present
disclosure wherein the wrench 100 is mounted to the drill slide assembly 204
by the
mounting member 118. In some embodiments, feed cylinders 208 of the drill
assembly
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202 actuate the drill slide assembly 204 relative to the slide rails 206 and
the wrench
100 moves with the drill slide assembly 204. In some embodiments, feed motors
of the
drill assembly 202 actuate the movement of the drill slide assembly 204.
[0054] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the drill
assembly is an
exploratory drill assembly, such as a diamond bit or reverse circulation
exploratory drill
assembly. In some embodiments, the drill pipe 212A has a wall thickness
between
about 0.1 inches and about 0.35 inches. In some embodiments, the drill pipe
212A has
a wall thickness between about 0.15 inches and about 0.25 inches.
[0055] Some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to an
operation for
breaking threaded components of the drill string. In the operation, the third
actuators
208 on the drill assembly are actuated to raise the threaded component of the
drill string
above the ground. In some embodiments, the threaded joint may be raised about
6
inches to about 8 inches above a foot clamp 210 (shown in FIG. 7A). In some
embodiments, the threaded joint may be raised greater than 8 inches above the
foot
clamp 210. The foot clamp 210 engages with a bottom drill pipe 212' to hold it
stationary and the third actuator 108 extends the center of the pair of
opposing jaws
102A, 102B around the drill pipe 212A. When the pair of opposing jaws 102A,
102B
is centered about the drill pipe 212A, the third actuator 108 enters a float
position to
self-center the wrench 100 as the first actuator 104 extends to engage the
pair of
opposing jaws 102A, 102B with the drill pipe 212A. As used herein, the term
"float
position" refers to an unconstrained position. As used herein, the term "self-
center"
refers to achieving a neutral centered position with respect to the drill pipe
212A. The
fourth actuator 110 takes the float position and the wrench 100 moves away
from the
foot clamp 210 in a substantially vertical plane as the threaded joint of the
drill pipe
212A is separated. The second actuator 106 extends to unthread the upper drill
pipe pin
out of the lower, stationary drill box. As used herein, the term "rod pin"
refers to an
external thread, also referred to as the male thread or connector. As used
herein, the
term "stationary drill box" refers to a receptacle that receives and holds the
rod pin, also
referred to as the female thread or connector. When the second actuator 106
reaches
the end of its stroke, the fourth actuator 110 locks to substantially prevent
the wrench
100 from moving in the second plane. The first actuator 104 will then retract
to actuate
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the pair of opposing jaws 102A, 102B from the engaged position to the
disengaged
position, releasing the drill pipe 212. After the second actuator 106 is fully
retracted,
the third actuator 108 will retract the wrench 100 to the home position.
10056] Other embodiments of the present disclosure relate to an
operation for
making threaded components of a drill string where a stationary drill pipe
segment is
positioned in the foot clamp 210. The upper drill pipe 212A is threaded
downward
using the drill motor until joint shoulders of the drill pipe 212A and a
second drill pipe
come into contact. The fourth actuator 110 is then used to locate the wrench
100 on the
upper drill pipe 212. The third actuator 108 extends the jaw assembly 102 to a
position
where the pair of opposing jaws 102A, 102B are centered on the drill pipe
212A. Once
centred, the third actuator 108 takes the float position for unrestricted
extension and
retraction of the jaw assembly 102. The second actuator 106 then extends to
pivot the
wrench 100 around the drill pipe 212A. When the second actuator 106 has
reached the
end of its stroke, the first actuator 104 extends to engage the pair of
opposing jaws
102A, 102B with the outer surface of the drill pipe 212A. The fourth actuator
110
moves into the float position and the wrench 100 will move downwardly with the
drill
pipe 212 as the threaded joint is tightened. The second actuator 106 can then
retract to
tighten the threaded joint. Once a target torque is reached, the second
actuator 106
ceases motion and the fourth actuator 110 enters a holding state. As used
herein, the
term "holding state" refers to a substantially stationary position. The first
actuator 104
extends to open the pair of opposing jaws 102A, 102B, the second actuator 106
retracts,
and the third actuator engages to return the wrench 100 to the home position.
10057] In some instances, the wrench 100 is used to make or break
a joint
between the drill motor and the drill sub. In these instances, the operation
will be
reversed from the drill pipe make joint and break joint described herein to
account for
the direction of the threads on the drill motor. In some embodiments, making
and
breaking a joint between the drill motor and the drill sub comprises rotating
the bottom
threaded joint rather.
[0058] The foregoing discussion includes descriptions of making
and breaking
threaded connections between two sections of drill pipe and between the drill
motor
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and the drill sub. However, the skilled person will appreciate that other
drill-string
components can be threadably connected or disconnected from the drill string
by the
embodiments of the present disclosure without damaging the thin-walls of such
drill-
string components.
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