Vibrational heads and assemblies and uses thereof

Abstract

A vibrational head for vibrational drilling utilising a tunable hydraulic supply to each end of a shuttle in a housing from which the vibrational output is taken. Valving is by a rotary valve system into and out of the chamber. The system with a drive in/drive out capability enables easy restart and effective operation.

1 . Vibrational apparatus capable of providing a vibrational output, said apparatus comprising or including 
 a shuttle having first and second ends,    a first complementary structure associating with the first end of said shuttle, and    a second complementary structure associating with the second end of said shuttle,    wherein there is a drive or drives to move the shuttle alternately in each shuttling direction so that, in one direction, the shuttle moves away from the first complementary structure and, in the other direction, the shuttle moves away from the second complementary structure,    and wherein the output of the vibration is from one or other, or both, of said complementary structures and not directly from the shuttle itself.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said first and second complementary structures are fixed relative to each other insofar as distance is concerned.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein there is a separate positive drive for the shuttle in each of the two directions.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein at least one drive is selected from a direct mechanical drive through pivot links, a magnetic drive, a hydraulic drive, a pneumatic drive and a combustive drive.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the separate positive drives relies on fluid pressure.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the drive type for the shuttle in each of its directions is the same.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the shuttling is without solid to solid impact.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein said shuttle co-acts at least at one end with its complementary structure so as to provide a cushioning affect by squeezing a fluid.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein said cushioning affect is at both ends.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the vibrational output is from one of the complementary structures.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein there is reliance upon the provision of an externally pressurised fluid as the sole means of empowerment of shuttle movement by being timingly introduced so as to pressurise alternately chambers each defined between a complementary structure and said shuttle.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein 
 said first complementary structure coacts with the shuttle to define a first pressurisable chamber,    said a second complementary structure to coact with the shuttle to define a second pressurisable chamber,    there is a first valving arrangement to control fluid flow into and out of the first pressurisable chamber,    a second valving arrangement to control fluid flow into and out of the second pressurisable chamber,    at least one supply of pressurisable fluid, or adaption(s) therefor, to the shuttle whereby each of the first and second valving arrangements can allow or not allow fluid entry to the respective chamber, and    at least one outtake of fluid, or adaption(s) therefor, whereby each of the first and second valving arrangements can allow or disallow fluid egress from its respective chamber;    wherein the valving arrangements and shuttle movement relative to the complementary member(s) is such that as the first valving arrangement allows fluid entry to the first chamber thereby to expand both the first chamber and volume of fluid therein, the second valving arrangement allows fluid egress from the second chamber thereby to allow both compression of both the second chamber and the volume of fluid therein, and so forth in an alternating shuttle moving manner.    
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the valving arrangement in each instance involves a rotary valve member having ports to open or close a fixed port or fixed ports to the chamber,  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein each valving arrangement includes a different or the same rotary valve member which includes an axial passageway to allow fluid outtake or supply.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein each valving arrangement includes a rotary valving member, such rotary valving members being operated on a common rotational axis and out of phase one with the other.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the timing provided by the valving arrangements can allow some overlap of supply or exhaust flows between the respective chambers.  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein each valving arrangement is driven independently of the fluid supply and fluid outtake  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein it is possible to regulate amplitude of movement of the shuttle independently of the frequency of shuttling by having a control of the valving arrangements that is independent of at least one of pressure and volume of supply to and outtake of fluid from the valving arrangements.  
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein each valving arrangement is proximate to its chamber thereby to optimise to a small distance between valving by the valving arrangement and the action of fluid being introduced into the proximate chamber.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus  claim 12  wherein the fluid supply or outtake involves an accumulator.  
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 12  when supported by a frame relative to which the vibrational apparatus has at least in part some freedom to move.  
   
   
       22 . The apparatus of  claim 21  wherein the vibrational apparatus is linked to a frame by articulating or other linkages to allow some movement of each complementary structure relative to the frame.  
   
   
       23 . The apparatus of  claim 21  wherein the vibrational apparatus is supported at least in part by gas bags in a frame.  
   
   
       24 . The apparatus of  claim 1  when is supported from a frame capable of being manipulated directly or indirectly to control the disposition of the sonic head.  
   
   
       25 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the drive is, or drives are, or the or any motor thereof, at least to some extent and at least in part, is substantially isolated from the vibration(s) of the head, (e.g. standoff mounts being provided therefor, belt drives, etc.).  
   
   
       26 . The apparatus of  claim 12  when carried directly or indirectly by a frame which directly or indirectly has mounted at least part of an endless drive assembly for the valving arrangement(s) and/or a fluid motor for use in driving the valving arrangement(s).  
   
   
       27 . Apparatus for generating a vibrational output, said apparatus comprising or including 
 a shuttle,    a first complementary member to coact with the shuttle to define a first pressurisable chamber,    a second complementary member to coact with the shuttle to define a second pressurisable chamber,    a first valving arrangement to control fluid flow into and out of the first pressurisable chamber,    a second valving arrangement to control fluid flow into and out of the second pressurisable chamber,    one or more supply of pressurisable fluid, or adaption(s) therefor, to the shuttle whereby each of the first and second valving arrangements can allow or not allow fluid entry to the respective chamber,    one or more outtake of fluid, or adaption(s) therefor, whereby each of the first and second valving arrangements can allow or disallow fluid egress from the respective chamber;    wherein the valving arrangements and shuttle movement relative to the complementary member(s) is such that as the first valving arrangement allows fluid entry to the first chamber thereby to expand both the first chamber and volume of fluid therein, the second valving arrangement allows fluid egress from the second chamber thereby to allow both compression of both the second chamber and the volume of fluid therein, and so forth in an alternating shuttle moving manner,    and wherein at least one valving arrangement involves a rotary valve member.    
   
   
       28 . The apparatus of  claim 27  wherein at least one complementary member is or provides a piston for a shuttle provided cylinder.  
   
   
       29 . The apparatus of  claim 27  wherein it is possible to regulate amplitude of movement of the shuttle independently of the frequency of shuttling by having a control of the valving arrangement that is independent of the pressure and/or volume of supply to and/or outtake of fluid from the valving arrangement, 
 wherein the valving arrangement is proximate to the chamber thereby to optimise to a minimal distance between valving by the valving arrangement and the action of fluid being introduced into the proximate chamber.    
   
   
       30 . The apparatus of  claim 27  wherein it is possible to regulate amplitude of movement of the shuttle independently of the frequency of shuttling by having a control of the valving arrangement that is independent of the pressure and/or volume of supply to and/or outtake of fluid from the valving arrangement, 
 wherein the outtake of fluid from a chamber is not used to power the movement of the shuttle.    
   
   
       31 . The apparatus of  claim 27  wherein it is possible to regulate amplitude of movement of the shuttle independently of the frequency of shuttling by having a control of the valving arrangement that is independent of the pressure and/or volume of supply to and/or outtake of fluid from the valving arrangement, 
 wherein the outtakes of fluid is (are) to substantially ambient pressures prior to, if desired, such fluid being made available (e.g. by pumping) for a return to the vibrational head.    
   
   
       32 . The apparatus of  claim 27  wherein it is possible to regulate amplitude of movement of the shuttle independently of the frequency of shuttling by having a control of the valving arrangement that is independent of the pressure and/or volume of supply to and/or outtake of fluid from the valving arrangement, 
 wherein the fluid is primarily a liquid but may include some entrained gas (e.g. air) so as to confer some cushioning effect in the chamber.    
   
   
       33 . The apparatus of  claim 27  wherein the output is (directly or indirectly) from one or other (or both) complementary member(s) rather than the shuttle.  
   
   
       34 . The apparatus of  claim 27  wherein there is no drill rod nor rod extension through the shuttle or vibrational head (thereby to enable, if desired, multiple vibrational heads to be used in delivering power to a drill string or other means to be subjected to vibration).  
   
   
       35 . The apparatus of  claim 27  wherein the first and second complementary members are or include pistons provided with circumferential or peripheral grooves that each may or may not carrying a piston rings or seal.  
   
   
       36 . The apparatus of  claim 27  wherein the valving arrangement in each instance involves a rotary valve member having ports to open or close a fixed port or fixed ports to the chamber.  
   
   
       37 . The apparatus of  claim 27  wherein each (or a common) valving arrangement includes a rotary valve member which includes an axial passageway to allow fluid outtake or supply.  
   
   
       38 . The apparatus of  claim 27  wherein each valving arrangement includes a rotary valving member, such rotary valving members being operated on a common rotational axis and out of phase one with the other.  
   
   
       39 . The apparatus of  claim 27  wherein each valving arrangement is driven independently of the fluid supply and fluid outtake.  
   
   
       40 . The apparatus of  claim 33  wherein the shuttle can be caused to move even if there is no initial movement of one or other or both of said first and second complementary means (e.g. as is the case if attached to a bound drill string).  
   
   
       41 . The apparatus of  claim 27  wherein the vibrational head, irrespective of whether or not its operation is tuned to provide resonance in a body or device (such as a drill string) directly or indirectly attached to one or other, or both, of the complementary means, can be operated with a jack hammer effect.  
   
   
       42 . The apparatus of  claim 27  wherein the fluid supply and/or outtake involves an accumulator,  
   
   
       43 . The apparatus of  claim 27  wherein the vibrational head is supported by a frame relative to which the vibrational head has at least in part some degree(s) of freedom to move,  
   
   
       44 . The apparatus of  claim 43  wherein the vibrational head is linked to the frame by articulating or other linkages to allow some movement of a complementary means relative to the frame.  
   
   
       45 . The apparatus of  claim 43  wherein the vibrational head is supported by a frame and is buffered so as not to pass unnecessary shock into the frame reliant at least in part on gas bag support from the frame.  
   
   
       46 . The apparatus of  claim 43  when supported from the frame is capable of being manipulated directly or indirectly to control the disposition of the sonic head.  
   
   
       47 . The apparatus of  claim 27  wherein the apparatus is a vibrational head a drive is, or drives to both valving arrangements are, or the or any motor thereof, at least to some extent and at least in part is substantially isolated from the vibration(s) of the vibrational head.  
   
   
       48 . The apparatus of  claim 27  wherein the apparatus as a vibrational head is carried directly or indirectly by a frame which directly or indirectly has mounted at least part of an endless drive assembly for the valving arrangement(s) and/or a fluid motor for use in driving the valving arrangement(s).  
   
   
       49 . A vibrational head assembly suitable for generating an output (e.g. suitable for direct or indirect vibrational input into a structure (e.g. a drill string), or other medium capable of transmitting/absorbing the vibrational input, said assembly having 
 a frame, and    a vibrational head carrying, carried by, substantially locating and/or substantially being located by the frame,    wherein the vibrational head has at least some freedom(s) to move relative to the frame, and/or vice versa,    and wherein the vibrational head has a shuttle and two components each component with the shuttle defining one of two variable volume chambers, the shuttle being moveable relative to each component under the action of a fluid under pressure being supplied into one variable volume chamber and being released from the other variable volume chamber, and vice versa,    and wherein the vibrational output is not or is not to be directly or indirectly from the frame nor the shuttle,    and wherein it is adapted so that if driving a drill string with the vibrational output each cycle provides a drive in and a drive out of the drill bit carried by the drill string.    
   
   
       50 . A vibrational head assembly for generating an output (e.g. for direct or indirect vibrational input into a drill string), said assembly having 
 a frame,    as a vibrational head carrying, carried by and/or substantially locating the frame,    wherein the vibrational head has (preferably at least within bounds) at least some freedom(s) to move relative to the frame, and/or vice versa,    and wherein at least some of the mass (“the shuttle”) of the vibrational head (inclusive of at least some of said fluid) under the action of valves and a pressurised fluid supply or pressurised fluid supplies for opposing variable volume chambers defined in part in each case by the shuttle, in use, is able to shuttle with respect to two other masses of the vibration head each of which defines in part a said chamber,    and wherein it is from at least one of these other masses from which there is to be the vibrational output.    
   
   
       51 . Vibrational apparatus comprising or including 
 a piston,    a chamber assembly defining a chamber in which the piston is adapted to shuttle rectilinearly between stroke limits, said chamber having a chamber end region at and/or beyond each stroke limit of the piston, there being an inlet port into and an outlet port out of each chamber end region,    a fluid supply assembly associated with said chamber assembly capable of supplying a pressurised fluid or any pressurised fluid it may receive in use to the inlet ports of the chamber,    a fluid collection assembly associated with said chamber assembly to collect fluid from the outlet ports (and preferably capable of supplying that collected fluid for reuse via a said source of pressurised fluid),    a first rotary valve capable of an out of phase allowing or disallowing of fluid movement from the fluid supply assembly into each said inlet port by opening or closing same,    a second rotary valve capable of an out of phase disallowing or allowing of fluid movement from the chamber out of each said outlet port by closing or opening same,    a first drive to rotate the first rotary valve,    a second drive to rotate the second rotary valve, and    a timing link between the first and second drives such that, for each chamber end region, an inlet port will generally be open when its associated outlet port is closed, and vice versa, and such that, each state of the opening and closing of each end chamber end region is generally out of phase with the condition of the other,    wherein in use, there is or will be a vibrational output via the first assembly, the second assembly and/or an output member of or carried by the piston as a consequence of rapid piston shuttling within the chamber.    
   
   
       52 . In combination or assembly, (I) a rotatable drill string and (II) apparatus of  claim 1  when adapted or adapted to allow vibrational drilling.  
   
   
       53 . The pile driving, boring and/or drilling involving the use of vibrational apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 .  
   
   
       54 . A method for generating vibrations comprising the steps of 
 providing a vibrational head having a housing from which a vibrational output is to be taken directly or indirectly, and    reciprocating a shuttle within the housing by a drive operably acting on the shuttle to vibrate the housing.    
   
   
       55 . A method for drilling by using a vibrational head connectable to a rotatable drill string, the vibrational shuttle having a housing that includes, a shuttle and a drive, operably acting on the the shuttle, comprising the steps of: 
 reciprocating the shuttle within the housing under the action of a drive, and    outputting a vibrational output into the drill string directly from or indirectly from the housing rather than the shuttle.    
   
   
       56 . The method as claimed in  claim 55  further comprising the steps of: 
 engaging the drill string having a down hole lead assembly to the vibrational head, the engagement not being carried by the shuttle,    vibrating and rotating the drill string and its down hole assembly to advance drilling progress,    detaching the drill string from the vibrational head,    adding to the top of the drill string thereby to extend the drill string,    engaging the extended drill string to the vibrational head, the re-engagement not being carried by the shuttle; and    vibrating and rotating the extended drill string and its down hole assembly to further advance drilling progress.