Lockable core barrel head for drilling system and survey instrument assembly provided with a connection link for arrangement in a drilling system

Abstract

Core barrel head for connection to a core barrel for collecting core samples, and for connection to a latch assembly, to mount a drill assembly in a bore hole, with a sleeve for carrying the inner tube. A controllable locking device is arranged inside the core barrel head for locking the sleeve in a fixed rotational position relatively to the attached latch assembly, to allow measurement of the inclination and the orientation of the core. The invention also includes a survey instrument assembly provided with a connection link for connection to a spearhead, drill pipe, latch assembly, core barrel head or other drilling or geotechnical equipment.

1 . Core barrel head ( 20 ) for connection to a core barrel for collecting core samples, and for connection to a latch assembly ( 14 ), with a sleeve ( 27 ) for carrying an inner tube, characterized in that a controllable locking device ( 38 ,  39 ;  60 ) is arranged inside the core barrel head ( 20 ) for locking the sleeve ( 27 ) in a fixed rotational position relatively to the latch assembly ( 14 ), to allow measurement of the rotational orientation of the core samples. 
     
     
         2 . Core barrel head according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the locking device is provided with at least one movable locking pad ( 38 ,  39 ), to engage the inner wall of the sleeve ( 27 ). 
     
     
         3 . Core barrel head according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the locking device comprises a locking element ( 60 ), which is movable relatively to a radial and/or axial face, to provide locking between the sleeve ( 45 ) and a spindle ( 22 ,  56 ) carried by the latch assembly ( 14 ). 
     
     
         4 . Core barrel head according to  claim 2 , characterized in that engagement/disengagement of the locking device ( 38 ,  39 ) is operated mechanically by the latch unit ( 14 ). 
     
     
         5 . Core barrel head according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the engagement/disengagement of the locking element ( 60 ) is hydraulically operated. 
     
     
         6 . Core barrel head according to  claim 1 , characterized in that a survey instrument assembly ( 12 ) is attached at the upper side of the latch assembly ( 14 ). 
     
     
         7 . Survey instrument assembly ( 12 ) containing circuits and units needed for logging the position of a drilling assembly, including the inclination and the rotational orientation of core samples or other geotechnical instruments, which survey instrument assembly at a lower end is provide with a connection means and at an upper end is provided with means ( 11 ) for connection to a wire line or other suitable means for operating a drilling assembly, characterized in that the survey instrument assembly ( 12 ) is provided with a connection link ( 70 ) at a lower end of the survey instrument assembly ( 12 ), which connection link ( 70 ) includes a body ( 71 ) which at an upper end thereof is provided with connection means ( 72 ) for connection to the survey instrument assembly ( 12 ) and at a lower end thereof is provided with connection means ( 74 ,  77 ) for connection to a spearhead ( 11 ), drill pipe, latch assembly ( 14 ), core barrel head ( 20 ) or other drilling or geotechnical equipment. 
     
     
         8 . Survey instrument assembly according to  claim 7 , characterized in that connection means ( 72 ) for connection to the survey instrument assembly ( 12 ) is a protruding element provided with threads ( 73 ) adapted to a threaded hole provided at a lower end of the survey instrument assembly ( 12 ). 
     
     
         9 . Survey instrument assembly according to  claim 7 , characterized in that the connection means ( 74 ) at the lower end of the body ( 102 ) for connection to a spearhead ( 11 ) is a claw arranged for accommodating and retaining the spearhead ( 11 ), and for locking axial and rotational movement of this. 
     
     
         10 . Survey instrument assembly according to  claim 9 , characterized in that the claw includes two claw arms ( 75 ), which arms ( 75 ) are movable about two parallel axes ( 76 ) being offset from a central axis of the body ( 71 ). 
     
     
         11 . Survey instrument assembly according to  claim 10 , characterized in that the claw arms ( 76 ) are spring-biased and designed for retaining the spearhead ( 11 ), and for locking axial and rotational movement of this. 
     
     
         12 . Survey instrument assembly according to  claim 9 , characterized in that the claw includes one claw arm ( 76 ) and that the body ( 71 ) is adapted for together with the claw arm ( 76 ) to accommodate and secure retain the spearhead ( 11 ), and for locking axial and rotational movement of this. 
     
     
         13 . Survey instrument assembly according to  claim 7 , characterized in that the body ( 71 ) is a solid body and the connection means ( 77 ) at the lower end are adapted to connection means of a drill pipe, latch assembly ( 14 ), core barrel ( 20 ) or other drilling or geotechnical equipment for connection thereto. 
     
     
         14 . Survey instrument assembly according to  claim 13 , characterized in that the connection means ( 77 ) at the lower end of the solid body ( 71 ) is a radial hole via which a drill pipe, latch assembly ( 14 ), core barrel ( 20 ) or other drilling or geotechnical equipment can be connected by insertion of a pin.