Braking devices for drilling operations, and systems and methods of using same
View Patent ↗A brake device for engaging an inner surface of a drill string within a borehole. The brake device has a driving member that defines a plurality of wedge surfaces, a brake retainer that receives at least a portion of the driving member, and a plurality of braking elements positioned in contact with at least a portion of the outer surface of the driving member. The brake retainer has a biasing member that is operatively coupled to the driving member. The biasing member of the brake retainer biases the driving member in a proximal direction relative to the longitudinal axis of the drill string to position the wedge surfaces in contact with corresponding braking elements, and the wedge surfaces drive the braking elements radially outwardly to engage the inner surface of the drill string. The brake device is not coupled to an inner tube assembly.
1. A brake device for engaging an inner surface of a drill string within a borehole, the brake device being configured for axial movement relative to a longitudinal axis of the drill string, the brake device comprising:
a driving member having an outer surface that defines a plurality of wedge surfaces;
a brake retainer having an inner surface that defines a central bore that receives at least a portion of the driving member, wherein the brake retainer defines a plurality of radial openings positioned in communication with the central bore, and wherein the brake retainer comprises a biasing member that is operatively coupled to the driving member;
a plurality of braking elements positioned in contact with at least a portion of the outer surface of the driving member; and
a mid-body portion, the mid-body portion having an inner surface that defines a central bore and a proximal seat positioned within the central bore, wherein the brake retainer has a distal end that is at least partially received within the central bore of the mid-body portion and that abuts the proximal seat of the mid-body portion,
wherein the biasing member of the brake retainer is configured to bias the driving member in a proximal direction relative to the longitudinal axis of the drill string to position the plurality of wedge surfaces of the driving member in contact with corresponding braking elements of the plurality of braking elements, and wherein the plurality of wedge surfaces of the driving member are configured to drive the plurality of braking elements radially outwardly into corresponding radial openings of the brake retainer to engage the inner surface of the drill string,
wherein the brake retainer defines a proximal end of the brake device, wherein the brake device has a threaded connector that defines a distal end that is axially opposed to the proximal end of the brake device, wherein the brake device defines a shoulder surface proximate the threaded connector, wherein the shoulder surface is configured to engage a landing ring at a distal end of the drill string, and
wherein the brake device is not coupled to an inner tube assembly.
2. The brake device of claim 1 , wherein the wedge surfaces of the driving member are configured to wedge the plurality of braking elements against the inner surface of the drill string when the brake device is moved in a proximal direction relative to the drill string, and wherein upon wedging of the plurality of braking elements against the inner surface of the drill string, the brake device is axially locked relative to the longitudinal axis of the drill string.
3. The brake device of claim 2 , wherein the wedge surfaces of the driving member do not wedge the plurality of braking elements against the inner surface of the drill string when the brake device is moved in a distal direction relative to the drill string.
4. The brake device of claim 1 , further comprising at least one selected instrument that is secured to the threaded connector of the brake device.
5. The brake device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one selected instrument comprises a device that is configured to measure at least one characteristic of the drill string.
6. The brake device of claim 5 , wherein the at least one selected instrument comprises an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a vibration sensor, a gravity sensor, a magnetic field sensor, an inclinometer, a direction-measuring sensor, a camera, or combinations thereof.
7. The brake device of claim 5 , wherein the at least one characteristic of the drill string comprises a direction of the borehole, a dip angle of the borehole, pressure within the drill string, a pressure change within the drill string, gravitational field strength, an angular measurement (azimuth) relative to a reference point within the drill string, or combinations thereof.
8. The brake device of claim 1 , wherein the inner surface of the brake retainer defines a seat within the central bore of the brake retainer, and wherein the biasing member has a distal end that abuts the seat within the central bore of the brake retainer.
9. The brake device of claim 8 , further comprising a landing indicator valve positioned between the threaded connector and the mid-body portion relative to the longitudinal axis of the drill string, wherein the landing indicator valve is positioned in fluid communication with the central bore of the mid-body portion.
10. The brake device of claim 9 , wherein the landing indicator valve comprises a ball at least partially received within a ring, wherein the ball is configured for passage through the ring upon landing of braking device on a landing ring positioned at a distal portion of the drill string.
11. The brake device of claim 10 , wherein the threaded connector has an exterior threaded portion and an interior threaded portion, wherein the brake device further comprises:
a distal body portion positioned in engagement with the interior threaded portion of the threaded connector, wherein the distal body portion defines a central bore that extends proximally relative to the threaded connector;
an elongate spindle having a proximal portion received within the central bore of the mid-body portion, a distal portion received within the central bore of the distal body portion, and a flange portion positioned between the proximal and distal portions relative to the longitudinal axis of the drill string, wherein the flange portion engages the mid-body portion, and wherein the elongate spindle defines a central bore positioned in communication with the central bores of the distal body portion and the mid-body portion.
12. The brake device of claim 11 , further comprising at least one sealing element that circumferentially surrounds a portion of the elongate spindle positioned between the distal body portion and the flange portion of the elongate spindle relative to the longitudinal axis of the drill string.
13. The brake device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of braking elements comprises a plurality of rollers.
14. The brake device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of braking elements comprises a plurality of balls.
15. The brake device of claim 1 , wherein the brake device is configured to form a fluid-tight seal with the inner surface of the drill string.
16. The brake device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of braking elements comprises a plurality of opposed sets of braking elements, and wherein the plurality of wedge surfaces are axially tapered relative to the longitudinal axis of the drill string.
17. The brake device of claim 1 , wherein the driving member comprises a single component that defines the plurality of wedge surfaces.
18. The brake device of claim 1 , wherein the driving member comprises a plurality of driving components, and wherein each driving component of the plurality of driving components defines at least one wedge surface of the plurality of wedge surfaces.
19. A drilling system comprising:
a drill string having an inner surface and a longitudinal axis;
an inner tube assembly; and
a brake device configured to engage the inner surface of the drill string within a drill hole, the brake device being configured for axial movement relative to the longitudinal axis of the drill string, the brake device comprising:
a driving member having an outer surface that defines a plurality of wedge surfaces;
a brake retainer having an inner surface that defines a central bore that receives at least a portion of the driving member, wherein the brake retainer defines a plurality of radial openings positioned in communication with the central bore, and wherein the brake retainer comprises a biasing member that is operatively coupled to the driving member;
a plurality of braking elements positioned in contact with at least a portion of the outer surface of the driving member; and
a mid-body portion, the mid-body portion having an inner surface that defines a central bore and a proximal seat positioned within the central bore, wherein the brake retainer has a distal end that is at least partially received within the central bore of the mid-body portion and that abuts the proximal seat of the mid-body portion,
wherein the biasing member of the brake retainer is configured to bias the driving member in a proximal direction relative to the longitudinal axis of the drill string to position the plurality of wedge surfaces of the driving member in contact with corresponding braking elements of the plurality of braking elements, and wherein the plurality of wedge surfaces of the driving member are configured to drive the plurality of braking elements radially outwardly into corresponding radial openings of the brake retainer to engage the inner surface of the drill string,
wherein the brake retainer defines a proximal end of the brake device, wherein the brake device has a threaded connector that defines a distal end that is axially opposed to the proximal end of the brake device, wherein the brake device defines a shoulder surface proximate the threaded connector, wherein the shoulder surface is configured to engage a landing ring at a distal end of the drill string, and
wherein the brake device is not coupled to the inner tube assembly.
20. The drilling system of claim 19 , wherein the wedge surfaces of the driving member of the brake device are configured to wedge the plurality of braking elements against the inner surface of the drill string when the brake device is moved in a proximal direction relative to the drill string, and wherein upon wedging of the plurality of braking elements against the inner surface of the drill string, the brake device is axially locked relative to the longitudinal axis of the drill string.
21. The drilling system of claim 20 , wherein the wedge surfaces of the driving member of the brake device do not wedge the plurality of braking elements against the inner surface of the drill string when the brake device is moved in a distal direction relative to the drill string.
22. The drilling system of claim 19 , wherein the brake device further comprises at least one selected instrument secured to the threaded connector of the brake device.
23. A drilling method comprising:
arranging a drill string within a borehole, the drill string having an inner surface and a longitudinal axis;
advancing an inner tube assembly within a drill string; and
advancing a brake device within the drill string, the brake device comprising:
a driving member having an outer surface that defines a plurality of wedge surfaces;
a brake retainer having an inner surface that defines a central bore that receives at least a portion of the driving member, wherein the brake retainer defines a plurality of radial openings positioned in communication with the central bore, and wherein the brake retainer comprises a biasing member that is operatively coupled to the driving member;
a plurality of braking elements positioned in contact with at least a portion of the outer surface of the driving member; and
a mid-body portion, the mid-body portion having an inner surface that defines a central bore and a proximal seat positioned within the central bore, wherein the brake retainer has a distal end that is at least partially received within the central bore of the mid-body portion and that abuts the proximal seat of the mid-body portion,
wherein the biasing member of the brake retainer biases the driving member in a proximal direction relative to the longitudinal axis of the drill string to position the plurality of wedge surfaces of the driving member in contact with corresponding braking elements of the plurality of braking elements, and wherein the plurality of wedge surfaces of the driving member drives the plurality of braking elements radially outwardly into corresponding radial openings of the brake retainer to engage the inner surface of the drill string,
wherein the brake retainer defines a proximal end of the brake device, wherein the brake device has a threaded connector that defines a distal end that is axially opposed to the proximal end of the brake device, wherein the brake device defines a shoulder surface proximate the threaded connector, wherein the shoulder surface engages a landing ring at a distal end of the drill string, and
wherein the brake device is not coupled to the inner tube assembly.
24. The drilling method of claim 23 , further comprising:
moving the brake device in a proximal direction relative to the drill string,
wherein upon moving the brake device in the proximal direction, the wedge surfaces of the driving member of the brake device wedge the plurality of braking elements against the inner surface of the drill string, and
wherein upon wedging of the plurality of braking elements against the inner surface of the drill string, the brake device is axially locked relative to the longitudinal axis of the drill string.
25. The drilling method of claim 23 , further comprising:
moving the brake device in a distal direction relative to the drill string,
wherein upon moving the brake device in the distal direction, the wedge surfaces of the driving member of the brake device do not wedge the plurality of braking elements against the inner surface of the drill string.
26. The drilling method of claim 23 , wherein the drilling method further comprises:
securing a selected instrument to the threaded connector of the brake device; and
using the selected instrument to measure at least one selected characteristic of the borehole.