Fluid Pulse Apparatus

Abstract

A fluid pulse apparatus for down hole drilling having a turbine assembly actuated by a flow of drilling fluid. The apparatus has a narrowed fluid flow section that cooperates with a piston that moves between an open a fluid flow restricting position. The apparatus has a turbine assembly that rotates in response to a flow of drilling fluid. The turbine apparatus has upper and lower cam followers that cooperate with fixed cam surface such that rotation of the turbine assembly and cam action between the cam followers and the fixed cam surface causes the turbine assembly to reciprocate axially. The piston is fixed to either of the upper or the lower turbine surface such that as the turbine assembly reciprocates axially, the piston moves between the open and the flow restricting positions to create a pulsed fluid flow.

1 . A fluid pulse apparatus for down hole drilling, comprising;
 a housing defining a fluid flow passage for a flow of drilling fluid from an upstream end towards a downstream end;
 a turbine assembly within the fluid flow passage, the turbine assembly having an upstream annular cam follower and a downstream annular cam follower, 
   at least one turbine sleeve that is operatively connected to the upstream annular cam follower and the downstream annular cam follower and is actuated by the flow of drilling fluid so as to cause rotation of the turbine assembly and   a piston fixed to the upstream turbine surface;
 the fluid flow passage has a narrowed fluid flow passage upstream of the turbine assembly such that the piston is receivable within the narrowed fluid flow passage; 
 at least one upstream cam surface fixed to the housing for cooperation with the upstream annular cam follower and at least one downstream cam surface fixed to the housing for cooperation with the downstream annular cam follower; 
 such that when the turbine assembly is caused to rotate, there is a cam action between the upstream cam follower(s) and the upstream annular cam surface and between the downstream cam follower(s) and the downstream annular cam surface that causes the turbine assembly to reciprocate axially within the fluid flow passage such that the piston moves axially between a flow restricting position within the narrowed fluid flow passage and an open position to effect periodic restriction of the flow of drilling fluid through the fluid flow passage. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein there is a single turbine member that is an Archimedes screw. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the upstream and downstream cam surface can be changed with another cam surface profile. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claims 1 , wherein the turbine assembly includes a turbine sleeve and outer edges of the at least one turbine blade member(s) are fixed to the turbine sleeve. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , to wherein, a symmetrical cam force is applied to the upstream annular cam surface by the at least one upstream follower and a symmetrical cam force is applied to the downstream annular cam surface by at least one downstream follower. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the narrowed fluid flow passage includes a plate with an orifice. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the narrowed fluid flow passage includes a plate with an orifice that has an extended opening over a portion of the fluid flow passage wall. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claims 6 , wherein the plate is adapted so that it can be removed and replaced with a plate with an orifice of a different size. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the piston is adapted for replacement with a piston of different dimensions. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the piston has a tapered head. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the piston has a tapered head across itself so that fluid is directed to exit to the side of the piston. 
     
     
         12 . A fluid pulse drilling tool for downhole drilling comprising the fluid pulse apparatus of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         13 . An assembly for delivering a percussive effect in a down hole drill string; the assembly including the fluid pulse apparatus of  claim 1  and a fluid actuated pressure pulse response device that is actuated in response to the fluid pulse generated by the fluid pulse apparatus. 
     
     
         14 . The assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the fluid actuated pressure pulse responsive device is located upstream of the fluid pulse apparatus. 
     
     
         15 . The assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the fluid actuated pressure pulse responsive device is located downstream of the fluid pulse apparatus. 
     
     
         16 . A method of drilling comprising operatively connecting the fluid pulse apparatus of  claims 1  to a drill string and operating said drill string in a down hole mode. 
     
     
         17 . A method of drilling comprising operatively connecting the assembly of  claim 13  to a drill string and operating said drill string in a down hole mode. 
     
     
         18 . A fluid pulse apparatus adapted to be connected to a pipe line, the apparatus comprising;
 a housing defining a fluid flow passage for a flow of fluid from an upstream end towards a downstream end;   a turbine assembly within the fluid flow passage, the turbine assembly having an upstream annular cam follower and a downstream annular cam follower;   at least one turbine member that is operatively connected to the upstream annular cam follower and the downstream annular cam follower and that is actuated by a flow of drilling fluid in the fluid flow passage so as to cause rotation turbine assembly;   a piston fixed to the upstream turbine surface or the downstream turbine surface;   the fluid flow passage has a narrowed fluid flow passage section located upstream of the turbine assembly when the piston is fixed to the upstream turbine surface such that the piston is receivable within the narrowed fluid flow passage or the narrowed fluid flow passage is located downstream of the turbine assembly when the piston is fixed to the downstream turbine surface such that the piston is receivable within the narrowed fluid flow passage;   at least one upstream cam surface fixed to the housing for cooperation with the upstream annular cam follower and at least one downstream cam surface fixed to the housing for cooperation with the downstream annular cam follower;   such that when the turbine assembly is caused to rotate, there is a cam action between the upstream follower(s) and the upstream annular cam surface and between the downstream cam follower(s) and the downstream annular cam surface that causes the turbine assembly to reciprocate axially within the fluid flow passage such that the piston moves between a flow restricting position within the narrowed fluid flow passage and an open position to effect periodic flow restriction of the flow of fluid through the fluid flow.   
     
     
         19 . The assembly of  claim 13 , wherein a piston is tapered across itself so as to provide a restrictive fluid flow passage on one side of the piston and an unrestricted flow passage on the opposite side of the piston;
 the fluid flow passage has an extension of the opening of the fluid flow passage within its wall;   the piston fluid flow passage and the fluid extension opening of the fluid flow passage are aligned so that a closed position is achieved when the cam follower is in the high point position of the cam;   wherein as the cam follower rotates around to the low point position of the cam, the piston fluid flow passage will rotate 180° and axially be lifted so that the piston fluid passage and the fluid flow passage opening are completely mis-aligned; and   the piston rotates around an additional 180° enabling the piston to return to the aligned open position.