Fluid control assemblies, and core barrel and overshot assemblies comprising same

Abstract

Fluid control assemblies including at least one ring. The fluid control assemblies are used within core barrel assemblies to: provide an indication that a core barrel assembly has reached a drilling position and is latched to a drill string; serve as a mechanical shut-off valve that restricts the flow of drilling fluid within a core barrel assembly; and/or serve as a grease seal at the connection between an inner tube cap and an inner tube that receives a core sample.

1 . A fluid control assembly having a longitudinal axis, comprising:
 at least one ring, each ring having inner surfaces that cooperate to define an inner diameter of the ring and outer surfaces that cooperate to define an outer diameter of the ring, wherein the ring is configured for axial and radial compression and expansion relative to the longitudinal axis;   a bushing having an inner surface that defines an inlet, an outlet, a central bore extending between the inlet and the outlet, and at least one slot positioned in communication with the central bore at a location between the inlet and the outlet, wherein the at least one slot of the bushing is configured to receive the at least one ring, wherein the at least one slot is configured to retain the at least one ring during axial and radial compression and expansion of the at least one ring.   
     
     
         2 . The fluid control assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the inlet of the bushing defines a first inner diameter of the bushing, and wherein the first inner diameter of the bushing is greater than the inner diameter of the at least one ring. 
     
     
         3 . The fluid control assembly of  claim 2 , wherein at least a portion of the inner surface of the bushing between the inlet and the at least one slot of the bushing is inwardly tapered relative to the longitudinal axis of the fluid control assembly. 
     
     
         4 . The fluid control assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the inner surface of the bushing defines a recess proximate the at least one slot of the bushing, the recess being positioned between the at least one slot and the outlet of the bushing relative to the longitudinal axis of the fluid control assembly. 
     
     
         5 . The fluid control assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the recess is configured to receive at least a portion of a piston. 
     
     
         6 . The fluid control assembly of  claim 3 , wherein at least a portion of the inner surface of the bushing between the at least one slot and the outlet of the bushing is outwardly tapered relative to the longitudinal axis of the fluid control assembly. 
     
     
         7 . The fluid control assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the tapered portion of the inner surface between the at least one slot and the outlet of the bushing is configured to receive at least a portion of a valve member, wherein the valve member is selected from the group consisting of a ball element and a valve piston. 
     
     
         8 . The fluid control assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one ring is configured to circumferentially surround the longitudinal axis of the fluid control assembly when the at least one ring is positioned within the at least one slot of the bushing. 
     
     
         9 . The fluid control assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one slot of the bushing comprises a single slot that circumferentially surrounds the central bore of the bushing. 
     
     
         10 . The fluid control assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the outer surface of the bushing has a first portion positioned proximate the inlet of the bushing and a second portion positioned proximate the outlet of the bushing, wherein the first portion of the outer surface of the bushing projects outwardly from the second portion of the bushing relative to the longitudinal axis of the fluid control assembly such that the first portion of the outer surface defines opposed first and second shoulder surfaces extending substantially perpendicularly relative to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         11 . The fluid control assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the first portion of the outer surface of the bushing defines a circumferential groove positioned between the first and second shoulder surfaces relative to the longitudinal axis of the bushing. 
     
     
         12 - 23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . A core barrel assembly having a longitudinal axis, comprising:
 an upper latch body;   a lower latch body that cooperates with the upper latch body to define an inner channel, the lower latch body comprising a core sample tube cap and a valve body, the valve body having an outer surface and being operatively received within the core sample tube cap;   a core sample tube operatively coupled to the core sample tube cap of the lower latch body and positioned in selective fluid communication with the inner channel of the lower latch body; and   a fluid control assembly comprising at least one ring, each ring having inner surfaces that cooperate to define an inner diameter of the ring and outer surfaces that cooperate to define an outer diameter of the ring, wherein the ring is configured for axial and radial compression and expansion relative to the longitudinal axis,   wherein the inner surfaces of the at least one ring of the fluid control assembly are positioned in circumferential engagement with the outer surface of the valve body of the lower latch body, and   wherein the fluid control assembly is configured to permit axial movement of the core sample tube relative to the lower latch body.   
     
     
         25 . The core barrel assembly of  claim 24 , wherein the fluid control assembly is configured to control the flow of grease within the lower core barrel subassembly. 
     
     
         26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . A core barrel assembly comprising:
 fluid control assembly having a longitudinal axis and comprising:
 at least one ring, each ring having inner surfaces that cooperate to define an inner diameter of the ring and outer surfaces that cooperate to define an outer diameter of the ring, wherein the ring is configured for axial and radial compression and expansion relative to the longitudinal axis; and 
 a bushing having an inner surface that defines an inlet, an outlet, a central bore extending between the inlet and the outlet, and at least one slot positioned in communication with the central bore at a location between the inlet and the outlet, wherein the at least one slot of the bushing is configured to receive the at least one ring, wherein the at least one slot is configured to retain the at least one ring during axial and radial compression and expansion of the at least one ring, 
   wherein the fluid control assembly is configured to control the flow of fluid through at least a portion of the core barrel assembly.   
     
     
         28 . The core barrel assembly of  claim 27 , wherein the inlet of the bushing defines a first inner diameter of the bushing, and wherein the first inner diameter of the bushing is greater than the inner diameter of the at least one ring. 
     
     
         29 . The core barrel assembly of  claim 28 , wherein at least a portion of the inner surface of the bushing between the inlet and the at least one slot of the bushing is inwardly tapered relative to the longitudinal axis of the fluid control assembly. 
     
     
         30 . The core barrel assembly of  claim 28 , wherein the inner surface of the bushing defines a recess proximate the at least one slot of the bushing, the recess being positioned between the at least one slot and the outlet of the bushing relative to the longitudinal axis of the fluid control assembly. 
     
     
         31 . The core barrel assembly of  claim 30 , wherein the recess is configured to receive at least a portion of a piston. 
     
     
         32 . The core barrel assembly of  claim 30 , wherein at least a portion of the inner surface of the bushing between the at least one slot and the outlet of the bushing is outwardly tapered relative to the longitudinal axis of the fluid control assembly, wherein the tapered portion of the inner surface between the at least one slot and the outlet of the bushing is configured to receive at least a portion of a valve member, and wherein the valve member is selected from the group consisting of a ball element and a valve piston. 
     
     
         33 . The fluid control assembly of  claim 29 , wherein the at least one ring is configured to circumferentially surround the longitudinal axis of the fluid control assembly when the at least one ring is positioned within the at least one slot of the bushing.