Connection for well bore drilling tools

Abstract

A drilling tool connection includes a male pin, a female box connector, and a locking pin. The male pin includes a hexagonal outer perimeter, at least a portion of the pin having a cylindrical bore along a longitudinal axis of the pin, where the pin has a transverse slot formed transverse to the longitudinal axis of the pin. The box connector element includes a circular outer perimeter, where at least a portion of the box connector element has a hexagonal aperture aligned with a longitudinal axis of the box. The box connector element has at least one transverse bore formed in the box transverse to the longitudinal axis of the box, and the hexagonal aperture of the box is adapted to receive the hexagonal portion of the male pin. The locking pin is insertable through an aperture defined by the slot of the pin and the bore of the box.

1 . A drilling tool connection, comprising:
 a male pin connector element disposed on a first downhole drilling device, the male pin connector element comprising a substantially hexagonal outer perimeter, at least a portion of the pin having a substantially cylindrical bore along a longitudinal axis of the pin, the pin having at least one transverse slot formed transverse to the longitudinal axis of the pin;   a female box connector element disposed on a second downhole drilling device comprising a substantially circular outer perimeter at least a portion of the box having a substantially hexagonal aperture aligned with a longitudinal axis of the box, the box having at least one transverse bore formed in the box transverse to the longitudinal axis of the box, the substantially hexagonal aperture of the female box adapted to receive the substantial hexagonal portions of the male pin; and   a locking pin insertable through an aperture defined by the at least one transverse slot of the pin and the at least one transverse bore of the box upon alignment of the transverse slot with the transverse bore.   
   
   
       2 . The drilling tool connection of  claim 1 , wherein the substantially cylindrical longitudinal aperture is adapted to direct drilling fluid through the second downhole drilling device. 
   
   
       3 . The drilling tool connection of  claim 1 , wherein the locking pin is substantially cylindrical. 
   
   
       4 . The drilling tool connection of  claim 1  further comprising an end cap configured to fasten to the locking pin and substantially prevent the locking pin from being removed from the aperture defined by the transverse slot and the transverse bore. 
   
   
       5 . The drilling tool connection of  claim 1 , further comprising an end cap configured to fasten to the aperture formed by the transverse slot and the transverse bore by a threaded connection. 
   
   
       6 . The drilling tool connection of  claim 1 , wherein the aperture defined by the transverse slot and the transverse bore is substantially cylindrical. 
   
   
       7 . The drilling tool connection of  claim 1  further comprising a first box seal disposed within a box seal groove, the box seal groove formed in an interior surface of the box defining the substantially hexagonal aperture. 
   
   
       8 . The drilling tool connection of  claim 1 , wherein the locking pin is a first locking pin, the drilling tool connection further comprising:
 a second transverse slot formed proximal to the distal end of the pin transverse to the longitudinal axis of the pin;   a second transverse bore formed in the box transverse to the longitudinal axis of the box; and   a second locking pin insertable through a second aperture defined by the second transverse slot and the second transverse bore upon alignment of the second transverse slot with the second transverse bore.   
   
   
       9 . The drilling, tool connection of  claim 1 , wherein the first downhole drilling device is selected from the group consisting of:
 a downhole drilling motor;   a stabilizer;   a universal joint assembly;   a drill bit;   a drill collar;   a drill pipe; or a bearing mandrel.   
   
   
       10 . The drilling tool connection of  claim 1 , wherein the second downhole drilling device is selected form the group consisting of:
 a downhole drilling motor;   a stabilizer;   a universal joint assembly;   a drill bit; or   a bearing mandrel.   
   
   
       11 . The drilling tool connection of  claim 1 , wherein the box further comprises a shoulder formed in the box at a distal end of the substantially hexagonal aperture and the pin further comprises a substantially planar surface formed at the distal end of the pin and configured to transmit thrust to the shoulder substantially parallel to the longitudinal axes of the pin and the box. 
   
   
       12 . A well bore tool coupling device, comprising:
 a male pin disposed on a first downhole drilling device, the male pin comprising a pin perimeter of a first geometric shape, at least a portion of the pin having a substantially cylindrical bore along a longitudinal axis of the pin, the pin having at least one transverse slot formed in the pin perimeter transverse to the longitudinal axis of the pin;   a female box connector element disposed on a second downhole drilling device comprising at least a portion of the box having a box aperture of a second geometric shape aligned with a longitudinal axis of the box, said box aperture adapted to receive the first geometric shape portion of the male pin, the box having at least one transverse bore formed in the box transverse to the longitudinal axis of the box; and   a locking pin insertable into an aperture defined by the at least one transverse slot of the pin and the at least one transverse bore of the box upon alignment of the transverse slot with the transverse bore.   
   
   
       13 . The well bore tool coupling device of  claim 12 , wherein the first and second geometric shapes selected from the group consisting of:
 a hexagon;   an octagon;   a nonagon; or   a decagon.   
   
   
       14 . The well bore tool coupling device of  claim 12 , wherein the longitudinal aperture is adapted to direct drilling fluid through the second downhole drilling device. 
   
   
       15 . The well bore tool coupling device of  claim 12  further comprising an end cap configured to fasten to the locking pin and substantially prevent the locking pin from being removed from the aperture defined by the transverse slot and the transverse bore. 
   
   
       16 . The well bore tool coupling device of  claim 12 , further comprising an end cap configured to fasten to the aperture formed by the transverse slot and transverse bore by a threaded connection. 
   
   
       17 . The well bore tool coupling device of  claim 12 , wherein the aperture defined by the transverse slot and the transverse bore is substantially cylindrical. 
   
   
       18 . The well bore tool coupling device of  claim 12  further comprising a first box seal disposed within a box seal groove, the box seal groove formed in an interior surface of the box defining the box aperture. 
   
   
       19 . The well bore tool coupling device of  claim 12 , wherein the locking pin is a first locking pin, the well bore tool coupling device further comprising:
 a second transverse slot formed at the distal end of the pin transverse to the longitudinal axis of the pin;   a second transverse bore formed in the box transverse to the longitudinal axis of the box; and   a second locking pin insertable through a second aperture defined by the second transverse slot and the second transverse bore upon alignment of the second transverse slot with the second transverse bore.   
   
   
       20 . The well bore tool coupling device of  claim 12 , wherein the female box connector element further comprises a shoulder formed in the box at a distal end of the aperture of the second geometric shape and the pin further comprises a substantially planar surface formed at the distal end of the pin and configured to transmit thrust to the shoulder substantially parallel to the longitudinal axes of the pin and the box connector element. 
   
   
       21 . The well bore tool coupling device of  claim 12 , wherein the female box connector element further comprises a ledge proximate to a distal end of the box connector element.