March 20, 1956
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`‘w. J. BIELSTEIN
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`2,738,956
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`ROTARY ‘ PERCUSSION DRILLING DEVICE
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`Filed May 23, 1952
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`INVENTOR.
`Walfer J. Bielsfein,
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`Flotek
`Exhibit 1006
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`*nited _ States Patent
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`. 2,738,956 ‘
`Patented Mar. 20, 1956
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`2,738,956
`ROTARY PERCUSSION DRILLING DEVICE
`Walter J. Bielstein, Corpus Christi, Tex., .assignor, ‘by
`mesne assignments, to Esso Research and Engineering
`Company, Elizabeth, N. .J., a corporation of Delaware
`Application May 23, 1952, Serial No. 289,531 .
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`5 Claims. ((31.255-3)
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`Fig. 7 is a view in section taken
`of Fig. l;
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`Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view of a modi?ed embodi
`ment of Fig. 1;
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`Fig. 9 is a view looking ,down onjthe synchronizing
`plate shown in Fig. '8;
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`Fig. 10 is a top view of the valve housing unit of Fig.
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`along the line 7—7
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`and
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`Fig. 11 is a top view of the rotatable valve unit shown
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`in Fig. 8.
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`In the several views of the drawing identical numerals
`will be employed to designate identicallparts.
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`Referring now to the drawing numeral .11 designates a
`tubular member which is provided at an intermediate
`15
`point with an inwardly projecting shoulder 12 and at a
`' point adjacent a lower end with an inwardly projecting
`key 13.
`Arranged adjacent the lower end of the tubular mem
`ber 11 is an anvil 14 provided with a recess 15in which
`is a packing or sealing means 16. Threadedly'attached
`to the anvil 14 by mating threads 17 is a drill sub 18
`which, in turn, is threadedly attached by mating threads
`18a to a drill bit 19. The drilling sub 18 is provided with
`a keyway 20 in which the key 13 is slidably arranged.
`Arranged above the anvil 14‘ in tubular member 11 is a
`hammer 21 provided with a central passageway 22. The
`hammer 21 is provided‘ with an outwardly projecting
`shoulder 23 which serves as an ‘upper retainer for a heli
`cal coil spring 24, the'bottom end'of which rests on the
`inwardly projecting shoulder '12 which acts as the lower’
`spring retainer. Arranged in the upper .end of the tubular
`member 11 is a sleeve 25 in which is slidably arranged a
`valve piston 26 the lower end of which is attached to the
`upper end of the hammer 21. vRotatably mounted within
`the valve piston 26 on shaft 27 is a valve element 28 which
`is provided with a plurality of ports or passageways 29.
`Therotatable shaft 27 is designed to rotate freely in bear
`ings 3t} and 31. Downward travel of the piston 26 is
`limited by the downward travel of the hammer 21. It
`will be noted that the rotatable valve element 28 is pro- ‘
`vided with transversely inclined or slanting surfaces 33 -,
`' whereby the rotatable valve element 28 is rotated as will
`be described.
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`It will be seen that the valve piston 26 is provided with '
`ports 34 through which drilling ?uid may pass and that
`the anvil 14, the’ sub 18 and the drill bit 19 de?ne a
`passageway 35 which connects to passageway 22 for
`passage of drilling ?uid downwardly from the drill stem
`to which the member 11 is adapted to be attached at an
`upper end thereof by means, not shown.
`While in the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 7 the’apparatus
`is illustrated as being attached to a drill bit 19 through
`the drill sub 18, it is to be understood that I may attach
`the drill bit 19 directly to the anvil 14 and'that the sub
`18 may be considered an integral part of the drill bit 19.
`Referring'now to Figs. 8 to 10, a different valve and
`rotatable means therefor will be-described. Referring
`now to Fig. 8, a valve piston 50 is slidably arranged by
`way of keys and keyways within a sleeve 51 which, in
`turn, is ?xed in the tubular member 11. The valve piston
`50 is attached to the hammerwith its lower end in con
`tact with the upper end of the hammer 21 as in the em
`bodiment of ‘Figs. 1 to 7:
`Arranged within the valve.
`piston 50 is a rotatable valve element 52 which is pro
`vided with a plurality of ports '53. The rotatable valve
`member 52 is attached by key 54' to a shaft 54 which is ,
`mounted in the piston 50 on bearings 55 and 56. The
`shaft 54 has a helical vane 57 attached to the upper end
`thereof on which is mounted a spider synchronizing plate
`58 which, in turn, is arranged ‘in the tubular member 11
`and particularly in the keyway '59 through spherical or
`.ball keys .60. Twisted bar or vane‘57 ‘has a ‘protruding
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`The present invention is directed toa device for drill
`ing wells in earth formations. .More particularly, the
`invention is directed to apparatus‘ for drilling a well in
`which a jar is transmitted to. a drill bit. In its more
`speci?c aspects, the invention vis-directed to a drilling de
`vice in which a well as drilled in an earth formation
`by rotating a drill bit while simultaneously causing jars
`or vibrations on a drill bit.
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`The present invention may be described brie?y as a
`device for drilling awell which comprises, in combination,
`a tubular member adapted to be attached‘at its upper
`end to a hollow drill stem in which an anvil‘ is slidably
`arranged in the tubular member at a lower end thereof.
`A drill bit which may be a‘rock bit or one of the ?shtail
`types is connected to the anvil and projects outwardly
`from the lower end of the tubular member“ A hammer
`is arranged longitudinally within the tubular member
`above the anvil for downward movement thereagainst.
`Spring means are arranged in the tubular member to bias
`the hammer in an upward direction. Above the hammer
`in the tubular member is a rotatable valve means which
`is slidably arranged in the tubularmember in contact
`with an upper end of the hammer. V4 The 'valve means is
`provided with at least one port for passage‘ of drilling
`?uid through the tubular member and the hammer and
`thence through the anvil and the drill'bit; The valve is
`provided with means for rotating same whereby the
`valve is opened and closed to interrupt ‘the ?owof drill
`ing ?uid through the apparatus of ‘the present invention
`to create a water hammer which causes the hammer to
`hit the anvil and transmit a jar to the drill bit.
`The means for rotating the valve member may be built
`into the valve itself and may include slanting or ‘trans.
`versely inclined surfaces on a rotatable element of the
`valve. This rotatable element is provided with passage
`ways which are alternately ‘opened and closed to cause
`interruptionof the ?ow of the‘ drilling ?uid. . '1
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`The means for rotating theyalve member may also
`include a rotatable shaft attached to the rotatable valve '
`means carrying a helical vane on which a .slidable plate
`is mounted on the vane and ‘in the tubularmember. .By
`properly positioning the plate mounted on, the vane‘, it is
`possible‘to open and'close the rotatable valve means.
`The present invention will .be, further?understoodvby
`reference to the drawing in which
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`Fig. 1 is a sectional view of an embodiment of my in
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`vention;
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`Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail viewof the valve element
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`of Fig. l;
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`Fig; 3 is a view looking down on the valve .unit shown
`in Fig. 2;
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`Fig. 4 is a top view of the rotatable valve element
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`shown in Fig. 2;
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`Fig. 5 is a front view of the valve element shown in
`Fig. 4;
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`Fig. 6 is a view insection taken along the lines 6-6
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`of Fig. 4;'
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`Flotek
`Exhibit 1006
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`

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`pin 57a which limits the down travel of bar 57 as it is
`pulled through synchronizing ‘ plate 58 by downward
`movement of valve piston 50.
`The tubular member 11 in this embodiment of my
`invention de?nes inwardly projecting shoulders 61 and
`62 above and below the plate 58. Bearing against the
`plate 58 and tending to urge same in an upward direc
`tion is a coil spring 63, the lower end of which rests on
`the inwardly projecting shoulder 61. Bearing against
`the plate 58 and tending to urge it downwardly is a sec
`ond coil spring 64, the upper end of which is retained by
`inwardly projecting shoulder 62.
`The apparatus of the present invention operates in the
`following manner with respect to Figs. 1 to 7. Assum
`ing drilling operations to be proceeding and that the
`tubular member 11 is attached to a rotating hollow drill
`stern and drilling ?uid is being circulated downwardly
`through the drill stem of the apparatus of the present in
`vention, the ?ow of drilling ?uid against the slanting sur~
`faces or transversely inclined surfaces 33 causes the ro
`tatable valve member 28 to rotate. By rotation of the
`valve element 28 the ports 34 of the piston member 26
`are alternately opened and closed. In the closed position
`the How of drilling ?uid is at least partially interrupted
`by virtue of restricting the ?ow which causes a force to
`be exerted downwardly on the rotary valve piston 26
`which, in turn, exerts a force on the hammer 21 which
`causes it to strike against the anvil 14 and creates a jar
`on the bit 19. By virtue of the rapid ?ow of the drilling
`fluid down through the drill stem and the tubular mem
`ber 11 and by virtue of the rotation of the rotatable
`element 28 a water hammer effect is created which re
`sults in substantially the entire force of the drilling ?uid
`being imposed against the rotary valve piston 26 which,
`in turn, imposes its force on the hammer which causes
`rapid striking of blows against the anvil 14. Upward
`travel of the hammer 21 results when ports 34 in the
`piston 26 begin opening. The action of the spring 24 plus
`rebound of the hammer 21 from the anvil 14 throws the
`hammer 21 upwardly. By the percussion effect created
`by the striking of hammer 21 against the anvil 14 the
`bit 19 is caused to penetrate the earth formations more
`readily than heretofore since besides a rotary cutting ef
`feet a crushing of the formation in contact with the cut
`ting edges of the‘bit is effected.
`The apparatus of Figs. 8 to 10 operates in a somewhat
`similar manner which will be described as follows:
`Drilling ?uid is being pumped down through the tubu‘
`lar member 11 which is attached by means not shown
`to a hollow drill stemjwhich causes the piston valve mem
`ber 50 to be pushed downwardly. This results in the
`rotation of the shaft 54 and the helical vane 57 to an
`open position on‘a 90° turn which synchronizes the ro
`tatable member 52 with the ports 65 of the piston valve
`member 50. Opening of the ports 65 and rebound of '
`the hammer 21 allows the spring 24 to push the valve
`piston 50 up to the starting position which again results
`in the closing of the valve by the rotatable member 52
`being in position to restrict the ?ow through the passage
`ways 65 resulting in the sequence of operations being
`repeated. Overtravel of the hammer 21 is provided for
`by mounting the spider synchronizing plate 58 in a key
`way 59 and spring loading‘the plate 58 in both directions
`to resist upward and downward forces. With respect to
`Figures 8, 9, l0 and 11, the helical vane 57, being of a
`shape other than round so that rotation in the slot in the
`plate 58 is impossible, is ?xed to the rotatable valve ele
`ment 52 by the shaft 54. The vane 57 extends through
`the slot in the plate 58, the slot being of the same shape
`as the cross-sectional shape of the vane 57 but somewhat
`larger. The plate 58 is slidably mounted on the tubular
`member 11 by the spheres 60 in the keyways 59. As
`pressure is applied to the drill stem, the piston 50 is
`forced downwardly and as the helical section of the vane
`57 passes through the plate 58 rotation of the valve 52
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`2,738,956
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`is effected in a clockwise direction and toward full open
`position. The amount or degree of rotation will be gov
`crned by the amount of the helical section on the vane
`57 passing through the slot in the plate 58 and the amount
`or degree of pitch in the helical section. The desired
`amount of rotation will depend on the number of open
`ings and the area of openings in the piston 50. The
`velocity ports 53 in the member 52 are designed to sus
`tain circulation while the valve 52 is in the closed posi
`tion and to allow the apparatus to be started. After the
`piston 59 has travelled downwardly, the hammer 21 has
`struck the anvil 14 and the valve 52 is rotated to the open
`position. The reaction of the hammer face and the re
`action of the spring 24 combine to move the hammer 21
`upwardly which causes left-hand rotation of the valve 52
`as the vane 57 passes through the slot in the plate 58.
`Upward travel continues until the energy in spring 24
`and in the hammer face is spent. At this point, the
`valve 52 is either in a closed or near closed position and
`the ?uid pressure and velocity causes the piston 50 to
`reverse its direction of travel. A series of blows is thus
`transmitted through the piston 50 to the hammer 21 and
`against the anvil 14 and, in turn, to bit 19 allowing the
`formation to be pierced more readily than heretofore.
`It is to be understood in the description taken with
`the several ?gures of the drawing that the ?ow of drilling
`fluid is never entirely cut off but is only interrupted but
`this interruption is su?icient to cause a hammer effect to
`be transmitted against the drill bit as has been described.
`The nature and objects of the present invention hav
`ing been completely described and illustrated, what I
`wish to claim as new and useful and to secure by Letters
`Patent is:
`l. A device for drilling wells which comprises, in
`combination, a tubular member adapted to be attached
`at its upper end to a hollow drill stem, a tubular anvil
`slidably arranged in said tubular member at the lower
`end thereof, a drill bit connected to said anvil projecting
`outwardly from the lower end of said tubular member,
`a hammer arranged longitudinally within said member
`for downward movement against said anvil and having
`a passage therethrough, means normally biasing said
`hammer upwardly, a rotatable valve means comprising a
`piston member slidably arranged in said tubular member
`and attached to the upper end of said hammer and pro
`vided with at least one port for passage of drilling ?uid
`through said valve and hammer, a rotatable shaft attached
`to said rotatable valve means carrying a helical vane, a
`plate provided with at least one passageway slidably
`mounted on said vane and in said tubular member, and
`?rst and second biasing means bearing against said plate
`normally urging same in an upward and downward direc
`tion, interruption of ?ow of drilling ?uid through said
`rotatable valve means causing said piston member to
`overcome said ?rst mentioned biasing means to cause said
`hammer to strike said anvil and transmit a jar to said
`drill bit.
`2. A device for drilling wells which comprises, in com
`bination, a tubular member provided with an inwardly
`projecting shoulder adapted to be attached at its upper
`end to a hollow drill stem, an anvil slidably arranged
`in said tubular member at the lower end thereof, a drill
`bit connected to said anvil projecting outwardly from the
`lower end of said tubular member, a hammer arranged
`longitudinally within said member for downward move
`ment against said anvil provided with an outwardly pro
`jecting shoulder spaced vertically from said inwardlly
`projecting shoulder and having a passage therethrough,
`spring means embracing said hammer and arranged be
`tween said shoulders normally biasing said hammer up
`wardly, a rotatable valve means comprising a piston mem
`ber slidably arranged in said tubular member and attached
`to the upper end of said hammer provided with at least
`one port for passage of drilling ?uid through said valve
`and hammer, a shaft attached to said rotatable valve
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`Flotek
`Exhibit 1006
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`

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`2,738,956
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`10
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`15
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`means carrying a helical vane, a plate provided with
`at least one passageway slidably mounted on said vane
`and in said tubular member, and ?rst and second biasing
`means bearing against said plate normally urging same in
`an upward and downward direction, interruption of ?ow
`of drilling fluid through said rotatable valve means causing
`said piston member to overcome said spring means to
`cause said hammer to strike said anvil and transmit a
`jar to said drill bit.
`3. A device for drilling wells which comprises. in
`combination, a tubular member adapted to be attached
`at its upper end to a hollow drill stem, an anvil slidably
`arranged in said tubular member and connected at the
`lower end thereof to a sub, a drill bit connected to said
`sub and projecting outwardly from the lower end of
`said tubular member, a hammer arranged longitudinally
`within said member for downward movement against said
`anvil and having a passage therethrough, spring means
`normally biasing said hammer upwardly, a rotatable valve
`means comprising a piston member slidably arranged in
`said tubular member attached to the upper end of said
`hammer and provided with at least one port for passage
`of drilling ?uid through said valve and hammer, a shaft
`attached to said rotatable valve means carrying a helical
`vane, and a plate provided with at least one passageway
`slidably mounted on said vane and in said tubular mem
`her, said tubular member being provided with a key on
`a lower end thereof slidably arranged in a keyway on said
`sub, interruption of ?ow of drilling ?uid through said
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`rotatable valve means causing said piston member to
`overcome said spring means to cause said hammer tov
`strike said anvil and transmit a jar to said drill bit.
`4. A device for drilling wells which comprises, in com
`bination, a tubularmember adapted to be attached at
`its upper end to a hollow drill stem, an anvil slidably
`arranged in said tubular member at the lower end thereof,
`a drill bit connected to said anvil projecting outwardly
`from the lower end of said tubular member, a hammer
`arranged longitudinally within said member for down
`ward movement against said anvil and having a passage
`therethrough, means normally biasing said hammer up
`wardly, a rotatable valve means comprising a piston
`member slidably arranged in said tubular member at
`tached to the upper end of said hammer provided with
`at least one port for passage of drilling fluid through
`said valve and hammer, a shaft attached to said rotatable
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`valve means carrying a helical vane, and a plate provided
`with at least one passageway slidably mounted on said
`vane and in said tubular member for rotating said valve
`means whereby ?ow of drilling ?uid through said tubular
`member is interrupted and a jar is transmitted to said
`drill bit by said piston member overcoming said biasing
`means to cause said hammer to strike said anvil.
`5. A device for drilling wells which comprises, in com
`bination, a tubular member provided with an inwardly
`projecting shoulder at an intermediate point adapted to
`be attached at its upper end to a hollow drill stem and
`having a key on a lower end thereof, an anvil slidably
`arranged in said tubular member at a lower end thereof,
`a drill bit connected to said anvil projecting outwardly
`from the lower end of said tubular member provided
`with a keyway in which said key is slidably arranged, a
`hammer arranged longitudinally within said member for
`downward movement against said anvil having a passage
`therethrough and having an outwardly projecting shoulder
`spaced vertically from said inwardly projecting shoulder,
`a spring embracing said hammer and arranged between
`said shoulders normally biasing said hammer upwardly,
`a rotatable valve means comprising a piston member slid
`ably arranged in said tubular member attached to the
`upper end of said hammer and provided with at least one
`port for passage of drilling ?uid through said valve and
`hammer, a shaft attached to said rotatable valve means
`carrying a helical vane, a plate provided with at least
`one passageway slidably mounted on said vane and in
`said tubular member, and ?rst and second biasing means
`bearing against said plate normally urging same in an up
`ward and downward direction, interruption of ?ow of
`drilling fluid through said rotatable valve means causing
`said piston member to overcome said spring to cause said
`hammer to strike said anvil and transmit a jar to said
`drill bit.
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`References Cited in the ?le of this patent
`UNITED STATES PATENTS
`Harrison _____________ __ Dec. 25, 1877
`Pruszkowski __________ __ June 3, 1902
`Bardeen _____________ __ Mar. 16, 1915
`Bassinger ____________ __ Feb. 12, 1952
`Bergen ______________ __ Aug. 26, 1952
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`198,610
`701,391
`1,132,063
`2,584,978
`2,608,184
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`Flotek
`Exhibit 1006