Method and apparatus for forming a borehole
View Patent ↗A jetting nozzle for forming boreholes or for cleaning out other tubular formations has a vibration-inducing mechanism that maximizing penetration rates and expands the diameter of the boreholes. The vibration-inducing mechanism can be an internal turbine responsive to the flow of pressurized jetting fluid through the nozzle. The nozzle has forward openings defining a voraxial spray pattern for the forward-directed jetting portion of the fluid exiting the nozzle. The nozzle can also have a pointed end that is adapted to penetrate the formation. The vibration also reduces friction between the fluid supply hose and the borehole being jetted through the formation by the nozzle. A system for forming boreholes with the jetting nozzle and a method of forming boreholes is also disclosed.
1. A nozzle for use at the leading end of a fluid supply hose, wherein the nozzle is supplied with fluid from the fluid supply hose to form a path through a material, the nozzle comprising:
a housing comprising multiple forward-facing jet openings, the housing defining a fluid flow path from the hose to the jet openings; and
a vibration-inducing mechanism mounted within the housing in the fluid flow path and configured for vibrating the housing radially in response to a flow of fluid in the fluid flow path;
wherein the vibration-inducing mechanism comprises a turbine rotatably mounted in the housing, and wherein the turbine comprises:
a longitudinal axis;
a turbine rotor;
a turbine body operatively connected to the rotor; and
a shiftable weight mounted in the turbine body, wherein the shiftable weight is mounted for movement relative to the turbine body as the turbine rotates.
2. The nozzle of claim 1 , wherein the
shiftable weight has mass distributed unequally about the longitudinal axis of the turbine.
3. The nozzle of claim 1 , wherein the turbine body is asymmetric.
4. The nozzle of claim 1 , wherein the turbine body has an exterior flat surface.
5. The nozzle of claim 1 , wherein the turbine body comprises a cavity, and the shiftable weight is movably mounted in the cavity.
6. The nozzle of claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises an exterior mechanical cutting surface.
7. The nozzle of claim 6 , wherein the exterior mechanical cutting surface is formed on a portion of an exterior side surface of the nozzle that has a diameter at least as great as any other exterior surface of the nozzle.
8. The nozzle of claim 7 , wherein the exterior of the nozzle is substantially cylindrical.
9. The nozzle of claim 1 , and further comprising a removable stop plate in the housing between the hose and the turbine and mounting the turbine in the housing, the stop plate comprising a pathway therethrough in fluid communication with the turbine and the hose.
10. The nozzle of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the forward-facing jet openings is oriented voraxially relative to a center axis of the housing and is adapted to create a voraxial flow pattern forward of the jet openings.
11. The nozzle of claim 10 and further comprising a pointed tip on a forward end of the housing adapted to penetrate the distal end of the borehole.
12. The nozzle of claim 11 , wherein the pointed tip is generally conically-shaped.
13. The nozzle of claim 1 and further comprising a pointed tip on a forward end of the housing configured to penetrate the distal end of the borehole.
14. The nozzle of claim 13 , wherein the pointed tip is generally conically-shaped.
15. The nozzle of claim 1 wherein the housing further comprises multiple rearward-facing thrust openings defining a fluid flow path from the hose to the thrust openings to pull the hose forwardly through the path.
16. An apparatus for drilling a borehole in a formation, the apparatus comprising:
a fluid supply hose; and
the nozzle of claim 1 connected to a leading end of the hose and supplied with fluid from the hose to form a borehole through the formation and, optionally, to pull the hose forwardly through the path.