Connector assembly for a drilling apparatus

Abstract

A connector assembly ( 10 ) for use with a drilling apparatus, comprises an input connector unit ( 12 ) which is connectable to a drill motor, an output connector unit ( 14 ) which is connectable to a drill pipe string and a number of shock absorption elements ( 16 ). The input and output connector units ( 14 ), ( 16 ) include top and bottom carrier plates ( 26 ) and ( 31 ), respectively. The shock absorption elements ( 16 ) are arranged adjacent one another between the carrier plates providing for absorption of both axial and rotational shock forces transmitted between the drill motor and the drill string. The connector assembly includes elongate link elements ( 70 ) extending between the top and bottom carrier plates which prevent separation of the carrier plates beyond a predetermined separation spacing limit.

1 . A connector assembly for use with a drilling apparatus, the connector assembly comprising:
 an input connector unit including a top carrier plate and an input shaft which is connected to the top carrier plate, the input shaft having an open upper end and an open lower end and an internal passage extending between the upper and lower ends, the upper end having a connector formation which is connectable to a power output of a drill motor of the drilling apparatus;   an output connector unit including a bottom carrier plate and an output shaft which is connected to the bottom carrier plate, the output shaft having an open upper end and an open lower end and an internal passage extending between the upper and lower ends, the lower end having a connector formation which is connectable to a drill pipe segment of a drill pipe;   at least one resiliently deformable shock absorption element which is mounted between the top and bottom carrier plates so as to absorb axial shocks transmitted between the drill motor and the drill pipe; and   the input and output shafts defining a common longitudinal axis, with the internal passages of the input and output shafts being in flow communication with one another and an internal passage of the drill pipe.   
     
     
         2 . The connector assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the top carrier plate defines a central aperture within which the input shaft is received. 
     
     
         3 . The connector assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the bottom carrier plate defines a central aperture within which the output shaft is received. 
     
     
         4 . The connector assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a lower end region of the input shaft of the input connector unit projects beyond an underside of the top carrier plate. 
     
     
         5 . The connector assembly as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein an upper end region of the output shaft of the output connector unit projects beyond an upper side of the bottom carrier plate. 
     
     
         6 . The connector assembly as claimed in  claim 5 , further comprising a sealing member located between the lower end of the input shaft and the upper end of the output shaft, the sealing member defining a central passage which is aligned with the internal passages of the input and output shaft thereby to form a sealed common central internal passage extending through the connector assembly. 
     
     
         7 . The connector assembly as claimed in any one of  claim 1 , further comprising a number of shock absorption elements which are arranged adjacent one another between the top and bottom carrier plates. 
     
     
         8 . The connector assembly as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein each shock absorption element comprises a shock absorption body having a central core member of a resiliently deformable shock absorption material, an upper rigid plate and a lower rigid plate fixedly located at upper and lower ends, respectively, of the core member. 
     
     
         9 . The connector assembly as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein each shock absorption element includes at least two upper locating pins which extend upwardly from an upper side of the upper rigid plate and at least two lower locating pins which extend downwardly from a lower side of the lower rigid plate, the locating pins extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the connector assembly. 
     
     
         10 . The connector assembly as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the central core member of each shock absorption element is of rubber, while the upper and lower rigid plates of each shock absorption element are of steel. 
     
     
         11 . The connector assembly as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the top and bottom carrier plates define locating holes within which the upper and lower locating pins, respectively, are slidably received. 
     
     
         12 . The connector assembly as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the upper and lower locating pins have stop elements near free ends thereof at external sides of the top and bottom carrier plates, the stop elements resisting separation of the top and bottom carrier plates beyond a predetermined separation spacing limit. 
     
     
         13 . The connector assembly as claimed in  claim 12 , further comprising a number of elongate link elements which extend between and which are connected near opposite ends thereof to the top and bottom carrier plates, respectively. 
     
     
         14 . The connector assembly as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the top and bottom carrier plates have mounting formations for mounting the link elements, disposed near peripheral edges of the carrier plates, the link elements extending between aligned mounting formations of the top and bottom carrier plates, respectively.