US2435934A - Signalling clinograph - Google Patents

Description

in general.

Patented Feb. l0,- 1948 UNITD s'mlms PATEN T OFFICE I SIGNALLING CLINOGRAPH Fred M. Varney and Justin A.

Los Angeles, Calif.

Varney,

Application January 29, 1940, Serial No. 316,198v

Our invention relates to the art of ascertaining and indicating deviations rfrom vertical of a well borev and-is applicableto well surveying devices Since it is. contemplated that the present invention will find immediate arplication in devices that may be incorporated 'in a.

stringv o f drill pipe to serve as a deviation-wamingmeans for the convenience of a driller, the

presentLj-disclosurewill be confined to embodiments'o'isuch character, but it is to be understoodgthat our invention is not to be restricted to v Juny narrow classof well surveying apparatus.

t `'Ilie unfavorable consequences, diillculties. and l"problems attributable tov changes in direction in well bores are` well known Crookedness in bore holes" results in mechanical'dilculties, including breaking of drill pipe, dimculties in drilling, dilculties in running casing, and difficulties in l'subsequent' pumping. It is not uncommon for drill holes to deviate' so far as to enter the confines of adjacent properties or to cause serious t damage to neighboring wells. Unfortunately, in

the` prevailing drilling practice. the hole may be v'extendedin the direction of deviation for a considerable distance without knowledge on the part of the driller.l If the deviation is not excessive, it maybe decided to suiler theconsequences andl to continue drilling. Ii' the deviation is serious,

l however, it becomes necessary to draw back to the point of initial departure from vertical and l ing the hole for some redrill,l the procedure -usually involving cementdistance. It is apparent,

then, that` there is a distinct and pressing need for some means to detect and evaluate any seriv. ous deviation at the very inception of such deviation..

In ,ordinary ldrilling performed with proper ,care, signiilcant deviation from the desired vertical', f 4readily ,.quat

weigh .on the vdrill or reducing the rate of drill excessive. ilexu're drill isgencountering faulted or dipping lstrata Aor thefboundary tions. .In any case if the required information ,deviation may be reduced to lignment is unusual and generally may be rrected by some simple expedient. Adeection may involve merely reducing the rotationor fthe replacement of an unsymmetrical bit. `li/Iorel extensive correction procedures may ben'ecessary where caving formations allow ofthe drill pipe or Where the between hard and soft formais availablfeto the driller promptly and as frequently as desired, the hole may be kept straight, and losses in drilling time attributable to bore aminimum.

In designing the particular form'of our invention here under consideration our general object is to make known to a driller-by some suitably simple procedure any serious substantial deviation of the bore hole direction, and to do so at the drilling time.

One group' -of objects in the invention relates specifically tothe problems involved in designing such a device for operation in drill pipe. Among these objects are to achieve a rugged compact construction, to provide a structure that will not interfere -with normal circulation of-drllling fluids, to provide a self-contained apparatus requiring no cables or wires for communication with the surface, to provide an indicating apparatus adapted for relatively long periods'of continuous service in a bore hole. and to provide a device that may be readily installed in the borev hole or withdrawn therefrom without the necessityof pulling the string of drill pille.

driller as often as he desires as to whether or not substantially vertical alignment is being maintained in the drilling of the bore hole and to indicate the approximate degree of any deviation, whereby the driller may be warned to check the various drilling factors when deviation occurs and may be informed promptly about whether or not the corrective steps he takes sufilce to restore normal alignment of the bore hole. In other words, it is our object to meet the need for some simple foolproof warning device or warning system to nt into routine drilling operation without incurring the expense or involving the disadvantages of typical well surveying instruments. We proposeto provide what is in eilect an automatic indicating system that will perform -promptly in some simple manner without complicated vauxiliary surface equipment and vwithout any difcult or time-consuming manip- .ulations on the part of the driller at the surface.

Our invention includes combining with a simple deviation-detector some means for sending a signal or series of signals up the well to indicate .whether or not' the bore hole is within a permissible range of deviation from vertical andto The preferred form of our invention is furtherl vcharacterized by the concept of employing the energy of the circulating drilling iiuid to actuate the detecting and'signailing means. More specifically. we have in mind employing a subterranean mechanism in the well that has an inherent tendency to move operatively in one direction and is adapted to be moved in the opposite oper- "ative direction in opposition to such tendency in response to force derived from the 'stream of drilling fluid. An important feature of such an arrangement is that the mechanism may be caused to reciprocate by simply shutting ofi normal circulation of the drilling iluld to permit the mechanism to operate in one direction and' then resuming the tluid circulation to cause the mechanism to be moved in the opposite direction. The movement of the'reciprocating mechanism produces a series of .signals in which the number of signals varies with the extent of movethe volume ofthe drilling fluid displaced by the mechanism. Another oblectis to provide a velocity control for the mechanism movement for various purposes in various forms of our invention. One such purpose is to delay the movement of the mechanism to permit the deviationdetector to become stabilized; another purpose is to accelerate the movement of the mechanism between signal points; and a third purpose is to accelerate the rate of pressure rise in the drilling iiuid when pressure changes in the drilling uid are employed for signals. l

In one form -of our invention the deviationdetector is in the form of a pendulum and we have the further object of automatically locking the pendulum at a gravitational position prior to arrest of the mechanism movement by the pendulum. A still further object relating to such a pendulum is to provide for automatically constraining or immobilizing the pendulum during normal drilling to avoid damage to the pendulum by the vibration and shock incidental to drillin'g.

The above and other objects and advantages of our invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken with the acstem sub incorporating the preferred form of our invention;

Fig. 2 is a similar view to indicate how a certain reversal of parts may be made in modifying the structure of Fig. i:

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view ofthe same char- Fig. 4 is a similar view to suggest how the dashpot arrangement in Fig. 1 may be altered for certain desirable dashpot effects:

Fig. 5 is an axial section through a special drill stem sub incorporating a. second form of our invention: v

Fig. 6 is a similar view showing a third for of the invention;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view of the same character to indicate how a portion of the structure 4shown in Fig. 6 may be modiiied; and

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary axial section similar -to Fig. 5 to indicate how the upper structure in Fig. 5 may be modied to provide a structure in which sound signals are transmitted through vthe metal of the drill string.

Our invention may be enclosed in a, special drill collar or sub in the drill string oi .a well immediately above the bit. In the particular form of our inventionshown in Fig. 1, such a special .drill stem sub, generally designated I0.

has an enlarged upper bore I I to retain a special sleeve insert I2, an intermediate bore I3 of some- 'what less diameter to house an instrument case I4 of cylindrical configuration, and a lower vbore I5 leading to the bit. The reduction in internal diameter at the lower end of the intermediate bore I3.provides a shoulder I6 to supportV a spider Ii, the purpose of which is to seat the lower streamlined end of the instrument case I4 without blocking uid flow past the cylinder. Fig. 1 shows the disposition of the various parts of the invention during normal drilling while the drilling iiuid is iiowing downwardly through the drill string to the bit. A channel of adequate crosssectional dimension to accommodate the required flow is provided not only in the sleeve insert I2, but also around the instrument case I4.

The sleeve insert I2 has an upper bore 20 corresponding to the normal bore of a drill collar. Below the upper bore 20 the sleeve is-enlarged in internal diameter, but is provided with a series of five uniformly spaced inwardly directed annular ribs 2Ia-2Ie at which the uid channel is constricted to approximately the diameter of the upper bore 20.4

The instrument case I4 is closed at its lower end and is held in a centralized position within the sub I0 by the spider Il at the lower end of the cylinder and by centering leaf springs 22 attached to its upper end by rivets 23. The instrument case I4 provides an upper dashpot cylinder 24 and a bore 2,5 communicating with the lower end of the dashpot cylinder throughl a tapered bore 26. Below the bore 2'5 lthe interior of the instrument case forms a pendulum chamber 21 that is enlarged in successive stages to provide ive relatively sharp annular stop shoulders28a-28e of theI same spacing as the previously mentioned constricting ribs 2Ia-2Ie.

Slidingly mounted in the instrument case I4 is a plunger, generally designated 30, having an upper shank 3|, a lower shank 32, and integral complementary annular recess in the dashpotl acter showing an automatic dashpot valve that may be added to the structure of Fig. l:

therewith an intermediate dashpot piston 33 cooperative with the dashpot cylinder 24. The end ofthe upper shank 3| carries a plunger head 34 having a spear projection 35, the head being small enough in diameter to clear the constricting ribs 2l of the sleeve insert I2 but being large enough to choke down the stream of drilling uid to a. material extentv whenever it registers with one of the constricting ribs. A split ring 39 in a cylinder 24 serves as a stop cooperative with the dashpot piston 33 to limit the upward movement .or the plunger. 'The instrument case contains quantity-'of suitable liquid such as light oil thatis isolated from the drilling duid by a suitably extensive and flexible diaphragm sleeve 31.

The lower end of thev diaphragm sleeve ,incorporates an elastic ring 38 that'v tightly embraces the 4upper plunger shank 3|. and the upper end of the `diaphragm sleeve is attached `to'the surthat crowds the material 'of the diaphragm'into l a complementary recess. in the cylinder wall.

While the construction provides for extension and retraction of the plunger 30 relative to the v instrument case it does not involve any change tain the constant displacement of the combination as the plunger 30 is extended upward in the operation of theinvention.

The dashpot piston `33 is provided with a dashpot passage 40 that preferably is reduced in diameter at one end to provide a'sharp-edged orifice 42,'the purpose oi the sharp-edged orifice being to minimize variations in the rate of dashpot ilow that might result from changes in viscosity of the dashpot liquid incidental to changes in temperature. Beneath the piston 33 and acting between the piston and the bottom ofthe dashpot cylinder 241s ahelical lift spring 43 that continuously urges the plunger 30 upward into4 extended disposition. The spring is not of pressure against the plunger head 34 so that during normaldownward flow of the drilling fluid the plunger is in` the retracted' disposition indicated in Fig. 1. l

Attached to the end of the lower plunger shank 32 4by a pin 44 is a socket or bearing 45 for a ball ried downward by the retraction of the plunger 30. The upper surface or rear oi the pendulum A head, however. is flat or concave to favor engagement of the head with one oi the annular stop shoulders 28 when the pendulum is inclined during an upward or extension movement-of the' plunger. The operation of the arrangement of our iny vention shown in Fig.v 1 may be readily understood from the foregoing description. During normal drillingoperation the dynamic pressure of the downwardly owing drilling mud against the L plunger head 34 keeps the plunger 30 in retracted disposition in opposition to the lift spring 43.

To make a test for bore-hole deviation the driller stops rotation of the drill string. and then stops 4the mud pumps. As soon as the driller stops themud pumps, thereby cutting oi circulation oi' the drilling fluid, the spring 43 becomes effective to lift the4 plunger 30 toward its fully extended position. If the plunger 38 is permitted to move upward to the limit determined by the stop ring 33, the plunger head 34 will reach the enlarged space above the uppermost constricting rib 8in.

A`rounding dashpot cylinder 24 by a split ring 384 The upward movement of the plunger must be smooth and relatively slow vto permit the pendulum 41 to' become stable at its natural gravitational position and to prevent the pendulum from being deflected by resistance of the iiuid in which it is immersed. The upward movement of the plunger 30 is retarded to the required slow rate, because the ui'd in the instrument case above the piston 33 must bedlsplaced through the'dashpot passage 40.

-The upward movement of the plungerextends `to the maximum level permitted by the stop ring 39 only if the drill stem su'b I 0 is substantially vertical so that the pendulum takes a gravitational position coaxial with the sub and therefore'escapes even the uppermost, small-diameter stop shoulder 28a.- Ii', however, the drill stem sub I0 is inclined away from the vertical, the pendulum head 48 will engage one of the annular stop shoulders 28.

If the. deviation from vertical exceeds 4, the pendulum will become stabilized at the corre sponding inclination relative to the sub axis in the interval of a minute or more in which the sufllcient strength to withstand normal dynamic pendulum head approaches the level of the lowermost annular stop shoulder 23e and the pendulum head will then engage the annular stop shoulder 28e to arrest the upward movement of the plunger 3D. At this arrested position of the plunger heady 34- the lower circumferential edge of the plunger head will be at approximately the level indicated by the dotted line E. If the deviation is Abetween 3 and 4, the pendulum head 48 will clear the annular stop 'shoulder 23e, but will engage the next annular stop shoulder 28d. .In like manner a deviation from vertical of between 2 and 3 will cause the pendulum to be stopped bythe annular stop shoulder 28e; -a deviation o! 1 to 2 will cause the upward movement'to be arrested at the stop shoulder 28h;

, and if the deviation is between !/2 and 1 the uppermost annular stop shoulder 28a will be effective. Dotted lines A, B, C, and D represent respectively arrested positions of the plunger head'34 when the pendulum head 48 engages respectivelyv the annular stop shoulders 28a, 28h,

28e, and 28d.- vIt is apparent that if no stop shoulder is engaged the plunged will rise to its fully extended position with the plunger head above the uppermost constricting rib 2i.

After stopping the mud pumps, the driller waits for an interval of sufcient duration to permit the plunger 30 to cover its maximum range of longitudinal movement. The driller then starts the mud pumps to resume the downward iiow of drilling iluidfwhich downward now exerts dynamic pressure against the plunger head and causes the plunger to retract toward its lowermost position. As the plunger 30 retracts at a rate limited by the described dashpot action, the plunger head 34 moves slowly past whatever `constricting,ribs 2| lie between its position of arrest and its normal retracted position. It the drill stem sub l0 is close enough to vertical to permit maximum upward extension of the plunger 30 the plunger head 34 on its downward movement will .approach and' pass the five constricting ribs 2| in succession, thereby causing the downowing drilling stream to be retarded and released live times at substantially uniformly spaced time intervals. Even if the temporary reductions in the rate of flow of the drilling uid are relatively mild, they may be readily detected by pressure-responsive means at the top of the well. In our preferred practice. however,

the reductions in flow caused by the plunger head cooperating with the constrlcting ribs are relativelyi severe, s severe as to cause a distinctly discernible water-hammer wave to traverse the column of drilling fluid to the surface of the well.

It is apparent that a series of ve signals will indicate that the well bore is within the tolerance oi' Af from vertical; four signals will indicate an inclination of V2" to'1 from vertical; three signals will indicate a deviation of between 1 and 2 from vertical; two signals will indicate a deviation of 2 to 3; one signal will indicate a deviation of 3 to 4; and if no signals are received the driller will be informed that the deviation is greater than 4.

The purpose of Fig. 2 is to suggest a certain reversal of parts that may be made in the portion of Fig. 1 that periodically restricts the ilow of the drilling fluid as the plunger 3U moves downward toward its normal retracted position. Fig. 2 shows a special drill stem sub 50 corresponding to the special sub l of Fig. 1. I'he special sub 58 has a sleeve insert 52 that corresponds to the sleeve insert I2, but provides only one constriction 53 instead of the ilve constrlcting ribs of Fig. 1. The rest of the arrangement is identical with the arrangement of Fig. 1, corresponding numbers indicating corresponding parts, except the plunger head 55 which comprises in effect five individual head elements. 56 in one integral structure providing alternate reduced and enlarged diameters. 'Ihe spacing of the head elements 56 longitudinally of the plunger 30 is the same as the spacing of the constrlcting ribs2l of Fig. 1 so that as the plunger head 55 descends, it cooperates with the sleeve insert 52 to throttle the ow of the drilling fluid in the same manner as achieved by the arrangement in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 suggests the addition to Fig. 1 of a valve member 58 in the form of a collar slidingly mounted on the lower plunger shank 32 to close the dashpot passage 40 at least partially whenever relatively high mud pressure on the plunger head 34 at a now-constrlcting position of the plunger head tends to accelerate the downward 'movement of the plunger 38. The collar rests on the upper end of the previously mentioned lift spring 43 and is normally maintainedata position slightly spaced below the piston 33 by a second spring 59 that is somewhat stronger than the rst spring 43. The spring 59 rests upon the valve member 58 and embraces a downward extension 68 of -a dashpot piston 6 I. Except for 'the substitution of the piston 6 I' for the piston 33 and the addition of the valve member 58 and the second spring 59, the arrangement suggested by Fig. 3 is identical with' the arrangement shown in Fig. 1.

The valve memberV 58 in Fig. 3 is normally held in spaced relation to the piston and does not interfere withthe operation of the plunger.

sure rise at each of the constrictingpositions of Whenever a rise in pressure at a flow-constrlcting position of the plunger head causes the piston 6I to accelerate sharply the piston moves against the valve member 58 because the valve member is retarded both by its own inertia and by its own effect in restricting ilow past its periphery. The valve member 58 closes or partially closes the lower end of a dashpot passage 62 in the piston 6I that corresponds to the dashpot passage 40 in the piston 33. As a result of this arrangement the dashpot passage 62 is automatically throttled whenever relatively high pressure builds up sufcient to tend to accelerate sharply the downward movement of the plunger 30. The virtue of such the plunger head.

Another manner in which the arrangement of Fig. 1 may be modified to accentuate lthe pressure signals by automatically controlling the movement of the plunger 36 may be understood by referring to Fig. 4. This particular modification involves substituting a new piston assembly for the piston 33 of Fig. 1- and involves the provision of by-passing recesses in the wall ofthe instrument case, but in all other respects the arrangement of Fig. 4 is identioalwith the arrangement Y' of Fig. 1, as indicated by the use of correspond- Ving numerals for corresponding parts.

Fig. 4 shows a piston 65 corresponding to the piston 33 of Fig. l and mounted in a dashpot cylinder 24a corresponding to the dashpot cylinder 24. The piston 65 has a lower extension 66 of reduced diameter' that terminates in a sharp edged annular flange 61 that is sufllciently close to the internal diameter ofthe cylinder 24a to have a marked dashpot effect. The usual lift spring 43 in the bottom of the cylinder 24a presses upward against the lower face of the piston 65 be# low the flange 61. The piston 65 is provided with an inclined dashpot passage 68 corresponding to the dashpot passage 40 of Fig. 1. The dashpot passage 68 is `of uniform internal diameter and is controlled at its upper end by a valve member 69 in the forml of a suitable ring that slidingly embraces the upper plunger shank 3| and rests on the upper face of the piston 65. The valve member 69 is normally held against the upper face of the piston by a suitable valve spring l0 embracing the-upper shank 3 I the spring being conned between the valve member 69 and a collar 1I that is anchored on the upper shank by a suitable pin 12,. The valve member 69 is provided with a relatively small fluid passage 14 that is restricted at its upper end to form a. sharp-edged oriue 15. It is contemplated that the nuid passage 14 in the valve member 69 will be continuously in communication with the larger capacity dashpot passage 68, and to insure such communication when the smaller passage is out of registry with the larger passage we provide an inter-V mediary annular groove 'I6 in the upper face of the piston 65 in communication with both the small passage 14 and the larger passage 68.

The dashpot cylinder 24a has a number of bypass recesses l1 in its inner cylindrical wall spaced within the range of movement of the dashpot iange 61. In the preferred form of our invention these by-pass recesses TI are suitab...4 dimensioned annular grooves in the wall o! the cylinder 24a, but other forms of recesses may be provided. The by-pass recesses 11 are spaced in accord with the spacing of the constrlcting ribs 2i in the sleeve insert I2.

When the mud pumps are started up after the piston 65 has completed its upward movement,

the spring 'l0 maintains the valve member 68 in its lowermost position until the pressure created by the mud pump in the mud column rises to a `substantial extent and the spring thereby initially retards the downward movement of the piston 65 until the velocityof the mud stream is high enough for an eiective lnrst signal wave.

manner of a check valve rate Aat which the llcng attached to the dashpot cylinder by pendulum support' menaces The upward movement of the piston 08 is controlled both "by the dashpot enect of -the small passage 14 in the'valve-member 88.-the valve ing eiiect'is less but the piston is not materially accelerated at such times because the dashpot e'ect or the small passage 14 islstill effective. On the downward movement of the piston 88,

eilect. of the 4piston flange .81. As'

'|08 provides nuidcommunloation between the interlor'of the inner'cyllnder |01 and the interior howeverfthevalve member 88 is lifted inthe to permit relatively free now through the dashpot passage 68, and the primarily by the clearance for iluid ilow around piston descends is controlled valve member 88 rises to clear the dashpot passage 88, the piston 85 moves downward ata moderaterate until the piston flange 81 reaches a by-pass recess 11. The by-pass recess 11 provides such ample clearance for iiuid ilow past the' 81 that the piston spurts in its piston flange downward movement for a distance corresponding vto the vertical dimension ofthe by-pass recess. a downward spurt in the movement of the piston 68 occurs shortly before the plunger head. of Fig. 4l reaches one of the constricting ribs 2|, the plunger head slowing down abruptly at the end of the spurt as the plunger head reaches or' approaches vregistration with the lconstrictiiig rib. The -result ofyarying the velocity of the downward movement of the piston in the manner described is to increase the intensity of the waterhammer Ashock and to steepen the front of the indicating pressure wave that Ipasses upward through the mud column.

Another form of our invention shown ln Fig. 54 is housed in la speciall drill stem sub 80 that is like the drill vstemsub I and in like manner is equipped witha sleeve insert 8| having a series of annular tiow-constricting ribs 82. .An instru- .ment case 83 is supported in the sub 80 by a spider-84 and is maintained in a centralized position b'y leat'springs 88 at its upper'end.

The upper portion of the instrument case comprises a dashpot cylinder 88 that embraces a hollow plunger 81 `and a slidable sleeve .88 in the-path of the plunger. The hollow plunger 81 is integral with a piston 80 and the piston 90 is in turn integral with` an upwardly extending plunger shank 8| that terminates' in a plunger head 82. 1 The'piston 90 has a dashpot' passage 83 thatlterminates in a central recess 94 and the interior` of the hollow plunger 81 has a. conical en'd wall 30 leading to the central'recess. To isolate the dashpot uid a diaphragm sleeve 98 is connected by an elastic ring 81 at one end to the plunger shank 9| and is connected at the other end to the dashpot cylinder 88 by a split ring 88 engaging a xed ring 99, the ilxed rivets The lower interior end of the instrument case 83 provides a recess |02 in which the reduced lower end 08 of a pendulum support |04 is seated and is anchor therein bya cross pin |05. The |04has a head or ilange |08 to Jwhich an inner cylinder |01 is fixed by pins |08. 'I'he inner cylinder- |01 is slidingly embraced by the' previously mentioned slidable sleeve 88 and is integral at its upper end with a. bearing block |08 that provides a socket ior a ball member llt.

The by-pass recesses are so located thatring ofthe dashpot cylinder 88 above the hearing block.

atively slight inclination from the vertical on the part of the stop-arm H3 the hollow plunger 81 on downward movement will clear all'oi the stop ilanges except the lowermost flange: at somewhat greater inclination of the stop-arm the hollow plunger will labut the next to lowest stop flange; and at maximum inclination -indicated by the arrangement the top end H6 of the stoparm will block the downward movement of the hollow plunger. The inclination of the stop-arm ||3 is controlled by a downwardly extending pendulum arm H6 having a relatively heavy pendulum weight I1 and terminating in a locking point H8.

Below the pendulum arm H8 is a locking piston |20.that is slidingly mounted in the inner 'cylinder |01 and is provided on its upper face with a series of vconcentric locking grooves |2|.

Preferably the' lockinggrooves are dimensioned to accord with the various angles at which the stop-arm |3 may be eifective to arrest the downward movement oi' the hollow plunger 81. To provide iiuid pressure for lifting the locking piston |20 into engagement with the locking point 8 of the pendulum arm we provide iluld communicationibetween the' interior of the innerA erse the series of constricting ribs82. The lifting force of the spring I 2471s transmitted to the hollow plunger 81 through an annular piston |25 embracing the pendulum support 04 and through the slidable sleeve 88 resting upon the annular piston. Whenever the hollow plunger 81 moves v downward by dynamic pressure from the drilling A suitable vent passage in the bearing block 'u fluid, it forces the annular piston |25 downward against the resistance of the spring |24, and the downward movement ofthe annular piston displaces liquid through the bores |23 and |22 into the inner cylinder |01 to lift the locking piston |20 against the locking point ||8.

Toobtain an indication of the bore hole alignment by means of ,the apparatus shown.. in Fig. 5, the Voperator stops the mud pumps for a sufcient interval to permit the lift spring |24 to move the hollow plu'nger to its uppermost position. It will be noted that the stop-arm ||3 is not eiective on the upstroke of the hollow plunger. After the required interval of time, in which interval the pendulum becomes stable at its gravitational position, the operator starts the mud pumps and the consequent dynamic pressure against the plunger 92 forces the hollow plunger 81 downward. On the downward movement of the hollow plunger, the plunger head 92 cooperates'wlth the constricting ribs 82 to create the pressure waves in the mud column as heretofore described. and the 'number of such waves generated by the devicewill depend upon the range of downward movement permitted by the stop-.arm III, which range of downward movement, of course, depends upon the alignment oi the instrument case 83 relative to vertical. Itis to be noted that the initial downward movement of the hollow plunger is transmitted through the slidable sleeve 88 tothe annular piston |25 and therefore causes the locking piston to immobilize the stop-arm ||3 at or near the gravitational disposition of the pendulum so that the stop-arm is rigid when it is met by the downwardly moving hollow plunger.

It is contemplated that the locking piston |20 will be held in its upper locking position only so long as the annular piston is moving down ward and that when the downward movement of the annular piston ceases, the locking piston will drop to its lowermost position to release the pendulum. With this in mind we dimension the annular piston to produce the desired hydraulic eilect, but provide enough clearance for reverse leakage when stationary. Further leakage clearance is provided around the locking piston |20 sleeve 88 entering the annular pendulum support |074. y

When the'hollow plunger is stopped at an intermediate position on its downward movement after a series of signal waves. the locking piston |20 soon retreats to release thev pendulum arm ||6 and when the operator subsequently resumes drilling rotation, the vibration o! drilling jars the stop-arm ||3 free of the hollow plunger and the hollow plunger is then driven by the dynamic pressure of the mud stream to its normal retracted position.

It is not necessary in all practices of our in,- vention to restrict or hinder to any substantial degree the downwardly flowing mud stream. For example, as may be understood by referring to Fig. 6, the pressure wave for signalling borehole inclination may be generated in a by-pass interconnecting the downwardly flowing mud stream and the upwardly flowing mud stream, the by-pass being open only during signalling periods.

In Fig. 6 a special drill stem sub |28 has an unrestricted passage |29 for carrying drilling fluid to the bit at the end of the drill string. A by-pass |30 provided in the wall of the sub adjacent the mud passage |29 has an inlet port |3| from the mud passage |29 and has an outlet port |32 for communication with vthe exterior space around the of the sub. The upper end of the by-pass 30 is provided with a suitable valve seat |33 of rubber or other material that cooperates with a valve member |34 in the form of a head on the end of a plunger |36. The by-pass |30 is provided with a. series of annular constricting ribs |30 in the same manner and for the same purpose as heretofore described. Immediately below the by-pass |30 is a dashpot cylinder |39 embracing a dashpot piston 40 that is integral with the plunger |36. The dashpot piston |40 has a pair of dashpot passages I4 that are preferably constricted at their upper ends to form sharp-edged orices. A helical' spring |42 for continuously urging the plunger |36 downward is housed in the cylinder |39 in compression between1 the dashpot piston |40 and an annular flange |43 at the top of the cylinder. A diaphragm |43a is provided to seal off the dashpot cylinder.

.Whenever the mud pumps are stopped to' interrupt vflow through the passage I 29 pressure becomes equalized on the opposite sides of the plunger head |34 and the spring |42 has suicient force at such time to move the plunger |36 downward to carry the plunger head to the lower end of the by-pass |30. Upon resumption of normal mud iiow, the mud streaming through the `by-pass |30 carries the plunger head |34 upward past the constricting ribs |38 to the normal position against the valve seat |33, and the pressure differential between the mud passage |26 and the exterior ofthe sub thereafter maintains the plunger head in the closed position until the mud pumps are stopped.

4to allow for liquid displacement by the slidable The lower end |44 of the plunger |36 recipro-f cates in a bore |45 and carries by a ball-andsocket connection a suitable pendulum |46. In the normal raised position of the plunger |36 the upper portion of the pendulumji46 is embraced by the bore |45 to immobilize"the pendulum. When the plunger |36 moves downward the pendulum |46 is carried into a pendulum chamber |41where it is free to seek its gravitational position. The pendulum chamber |41 is successively reduced in diameter to form a series.

of annular stop shoulders |48 that correspond in number and spacing to the previously mentioned constricting ribs |38.

The operation Voi the arrangement shown in Fig. 6 is carried out as heretofore described by first stopping and then starting the mud pumps. Once mud circulation ceases the spring |42 moves the plunger downward at a sufllciently slow rate to permit the pendulum |46 to become stable at its gravitational position. The downward movement of the plunger |36 is continued to the full extent if the well bore hole is true, but is interrupted by the pendulum |46 striking a stop shoulder |48 ii the bore hole is out of vertical. When the driller starts up the mud pumps, .the plunger head |34 is carried upward past the successive constricting ribs |38, thereby generating pressure waves corresponding in number to the range of movement downward previously permitted by the pendulum |46. When the plunger |36 completes its upward movement to reach the normal position shown in Fig. 6 both the plunger and the pendulum are locked against the vibration and thrashing oi.' normal drilling.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. I a special sub |50 for the drill string provides an unresstricted downstream passage' |5| for drilling,

mud, a radial by-pass |52 to the exterior of the sub, and a hollow wall |53 4to house a plunger control arrangement. The downstream passage |5| is enlarged to form an annular recess |54 in which is slidingly mounted a valve sleeve |65 having substantially the same internal diameter as the passage |5|. The valve sleeve IBB-has a plurality of spaced valve ports |56 positioned to register successively with the radial by-pass |52 as the valve sleeve moves upward or downward. The valve sleeve |55 is connected by an arm |51 to the lupper end ot a plunger |56 that. corresponds with the plunger |36 of Fig. 6.

Fg. '7 shows the plunger |58 integral with a dashpot piston |60 in a dashpot cylinder |6|', the piston having two dashpot passages |62 formed with sharp-edged orifices. A diaphragm |62a is provided to seal off the dashpot cylinder. A

Vlift spring |63 acting between the bottom of the yi8 a pendulum chamber |41 whenever the plunger |55 moves downward.

During normal drilling operations the friction of the downwardly iiowi'ng mud stream `on the internal walls of the valve sleeve |55 holds the valve sleeve at the bottom of theI annular recess .154 against the opposition ofthe lift spring |58.

assunse causes the valve sleeve |55 to move downward to bring the valve ports |55 successively into registration withthe-by-pass |52. If the'bore-hole alignment is close to vertical. all of the Vvalve ports |58 will -be brought into4 action to release lspurts of the drilling iiuid through the by-pass |52. Ifth'e pendulum |45 is inclined to any significant extent away from the axis of the drill stem sub |50'the pendulum will encounter oney of a series of stop shoulders in the pendulum chamber so thatthe number of times liquid is discharged through the by-Pass |52 will signify the alignment of the bore hole.- The opening and closing of the by-pass |52 produces a pressure wave in the mud column that may be detected at the surface of the wall.

Our `conception of a clinograph` mechanism that is moved in one direction by yielding means and is moved in the opposite direction by pressure from the stream of drilling fluid may be incorporated in an arrangement for generating signal waves by impact of metal against metal, the signals being sound waves transmitted to the surface of the well through the metal walls of the drill string. Fig. 8 shows such an embodiment of our invention.

In Fig. 8a special drill stem sub |10 provides a drilling nuid'passage |1|, the lower portion of `which is enlarged for adequate flow clearance around an. instrument case |12. The instrument case |12 is equipped 'with the usual centering springs |13. The lower portion of the' mechanism is broken away in Fig. 8 but is identical with the correspondingmechanism in Fig. 1. Thus the instrument case |12 rests on a spider I1 of Fig. l vand the lower portion of the instrument case has a progressive series of sharp stop shoulders 28 adapted to be engaged by a head 48 of a pendulum 41.

i In the construction shown in Fig. 8, a dashpot piston |15 slidingly mounted in a dashpot cylinder |15 is connected to an upwardly extending plunger shank |11 and to a downwardly extendlng plunger shank |18. The downwardly extending `shtml: |18 has an integral sharp-edged flange |18 and terminates in a ball-and-socket mounting for the aforementioned pendulum 41. The wall of the dashpot cylinder 15 is provided 'with a series of spaced dashpot recesses |80 for cooperation with the sharp-edged flange |18 in controlling the-rate of movement of the plunger assembly that includes the piston |15 and the two plunger shanks |11 and |18.

The piston |15 has one or more down-flow dashpot passages |52 for transmission of the dashpot: uid when the piston moves upward 1 and has one or more up-iiow dashpot passages |58 for service when the piston |15 moves downward. An upper ring |84 slidingly keyed to the upper shank |11 is adaptedto close the up-fiow dashpot passages |88 and to place a restricted orice |55 in registry with each of the downtially the saine cross-sectional areas as the upilow passage. To urge the lower' ring |80 upward against the piston |15. a spring |82 lighter than the upper spring |88 is compressed between the lower ring and thev sharp-edged ange |19.

Above the series of dashpot recesses the dashpot cylinder |18 is enlarged in internal diameter to provide an annular vshoulder |88 to seat an anvil |84 in the formof a spider with radially disposed legs |85..y The anvil |84 surrounds the plunger shank |11 with liberal clearance to avoid interfering with longitudinal movement of the shank. Above the anvil |84 a tubular hammer |85 also surrounds the upper plunger shank |11. The tubular hammer |85'has an inner annular dashpot rib |81 that slidingly embraces the shank |11 and the shank 11 has an outwardly extending annular dashpot rib |88 that is in turn slidingly embraced by the tubular hammer. The annular space within the tubular hammer |85 between the two dashpot ribs |81 and |88 expands and contracts with longitudinal movement of the shank relative to the tubular hammer and may be aptly termed 'an annular dashpot chamber. lNormally the tubular hammer |85 is supported in a position spaced slightly above the anvil |84 by a helical spring 20| that surrounds the shank |11 in compression between the anvil and the dashpot rib 81. It is apparent that if the plunger shank |11 moves downward at a speed that cannot be accommodated by leakage of dashpot duid from the annular dashlpot chamber 200, the tubular hammer ,|85 will be carried downward with the shank' against the compression of the spring 20|, and if the movement is suiliciently rapidthe hammer will be carriedy against the anvil |84 with considerable momentum. l

The upward plunger shank 11 has a plurality of radial projections 202 to cooperate with the dashpot cylinder |15 in maintaining the alignment of the plunger assembly, and the shank |11 may also have an enlarged portion 203 of-4 tapered coniiguration that normally wedges into the top of the tubular hammer |85, as shown in Fig. 8, to-'hold the tubular hammer xed against vibration. A diaphragm sleeve 204 to isolate the dashpot iluid is muntedfin the previously described manner to bridge the annular space between the plunger shank 11 and the surrounding dashpot cylinder |18. The upwardly extending shank |11 terminates in a streamlined plunger head 205 that is dlmensioned to t into a normally dimensioned portion205 ofthe mud passage |1| with slight clearance, say, Je" to Fig. 8 shows the various parts of the arrangement in normal disposition while mud is being pumped down the drilling iiuid passage |1|. at such time the pendulum 41 is immobilized in the bottom of the instrument case, as indicated in Fig. 1, the upper ring |84 and the lower ring |80 lie against the opposite ends of the dashpot ward pressure from the tapered enlargement 203, and the plunger head 205 is in its fully retracted position in the enlarged portion of the mud pasposition, and the downward iiow of dashpot uidl through the piston is limited to the capacity of the restricted orifices |85 in the upper ring. As a result of the dashpot effect the plunger assembly rises so slowly that the pendulum ,41 shown in Fig. 1 is free to become stable at its gravitational position before the pendulum head 48 reaches the lowermost annular stop shoulder 28. It is to be noted that the limited rate of ow -permitted by the restricted orifices |85 keeps the dashpot recesses |80 from accelerating the upward movement of the plunger assembly as the sharp-edged flange |19 passes the recesses. It is apparent that the extent of upward movement of the plunger assembly depends upon the angle taken by the pendulum 41 and therefore varies with the inclination of the drill stem sub |10. Since the range of upward movement of the plunger assembly varies with the inclination of the mechanism, the number of dashpot recesses |80 traversed in the subsequent downward movement of the plunger assembly will also vary with the inclination of the sub |10.

When the operator again starts the mud pumps to resume downward flow oi mud through the drill string, the pressure of the mud stream against; the plunger head 205 forces the' plunger assembly downward against the resistance of the lift spring 43. The lower ring |90 is kept closed by fluid pressure during the downward movement oi the plunger assembly, but the upper ring |84 lifts to clear the up-ow dashpot passages |03 to permit relatively rapid ow through the dashpot passages |83. It is to be noted, however, that the spring |86 pressing downward against the upper ring |84 tends to delay the downward movement of the plunger assembly until the pressure of the mud stream has been built up to an eiectivev magnitude.

Since the up-flow dashpot passages |93 are unrestricted and of relatively large ow capacity, the limiting factor in the rate of downward movement of the plunger assembly is the annular clearance around the sharp-edged ilange |19, and the normal internal diameter of the dashpot cylinder |16 is so small that normally the sharpedged ange |19 causes the plunger assembly to move downwardly at a rate well within the leakage capacity of the annular dashpot chamber 200 so that the hammer spring 20| is permitted to hold the hammer |96 in elevated position, notwithstanding the downward movement of the dashpot rib |98 on the plunger shank |11. Whenever the downwardly moving sharp-edged flange |19 reaches one of the dashpot recesses |80, the annular clearance around the sharp-edged flange is increased to a flow capacity commensurate with the flow capacity of the up-ilow dashpot passages |83 and the dashpot assembly under the pressure of the downwardly flowing mud stream accelerates or spurts in its downward movement over a range corresponding to the vertical extent of the dashpot recess. The arrangement is so designed that the successive spurts in the plunger assembly speed, as the sharp-edged flange passes the dashpot recesses, are above the leakage capacity of the annular dashpot chamber 200. and as a result the tubular hammer` |98 is forced sharply downward with each acceleration of the plunger assembly and is thereby carried against the anvil |94 with such impact that a readily perceptible sound wave is sent to the surface of the well through the metal of the drill string.

Between each acceleration in the downward movement of the plunger assembly, the hammer spring 20|' is effective to restore the hammer to its normal spaced relationship to the anvil |94. It is apparent that the number of hammer shocks transmitted to the top of the well will indicate the position at which the pendulum 41 stops the upward movement of the plunger assembly and will thereby indicate the current alignment of the bore hole of thewell.

In addition to sending signals to the surface v of the well in the form of sound waves transmitted through the metal oi' the drill string. the arrangement in Fig. 8 also sends signals to the surface oi' the well inthe form of pressure waves in the columnvof circulating drilling duid. The pressure waves are created because the plunger head 205 cooperates with the normally dimensioned portion -208 of the passage |1| to retard severely the downwardly flowing stream of drilling iluid, but when the downward movement of the plunger head is permitted to accelerate intermittently by temporary increased ilow through dashpot recesses |80, the downwardly flowing drill stream is likewise intermittently accelerated. It is apparent, then, that either the means for creating sound waves or the means for creating fluid pressure variations that are incorporated in the arrangement of Fig. 8 may be relied upon for indicating well-bore deviation from vertical.

In the various forms and practices of our invention exemplified by the above described specic structures, a wide range is permissible in the degree to which the stream of drillingiluid is restricted to create a pressure variation for transmission to the surface of the well and considerable latitude is permissible infthe abruptness with which the restriction ofiow is accomplished. At one extreme relatively slight restriction in ilow may be utilized for signals, the signals being comprehended by noting minor fluctuations in a pressure gauge in communication with the circulating drilling iluid at the surface of the well. At the other extreme the restriction of flow may approach cessation of ow to cause exceedingly large pressure changes in the duid stream. Again, on one hand, the pressure changes of whatever magnitude may be so gradual as to produce no audible eiects. or, on the other hand, may be so abrupt as to create steepfront pressure waves characteristic oi4 waterhammer phenomena. Such water hammerwaves may be of such amplitude as to be readily audible at the surface of the weil.

It is not dirlicult to produce a water-hammer wave of large amplitude; the velocity of the drilling huid column in a typical drill line is so high at acoustic velocity. In the preferred form of oui-` invention the now-reducing means' is of such design asto retard the 4column of iiuid for periods V of short duration. In general the duration of the retardation period is comparable to and preferably shorter than the time required for each water-hammer pressure wave to reach the surface of the well. As soon as the flow-reducing means reopens after the generationof each signal wave, the iiuid column is free to unload its accumulated water-hammer pressure as a spurt of fluid dawnward through the Jets in the bit, the'unloading wave traveling with acoustic velocity up -the column of uid. In the course of this unloading wave the iiuid pressure in the drill pipe drops substantially `tonormal and the pipe wall contracts to normal dimensions.

- It is not essential that the flow-reducing means close extremely rapidly, although if it does the water-hammer'wave front will be steep enough 4 `to produce. an audible signal shock, whereas if it closes more slowly thev signal shock will `be subaudible. While the pressure variations produced as described above may be severe enough to produce readily perceptible shock at the surface of thewell, in most practices of our invention the signals will be read from some pressure-responsive d'evloe such as a common pressure gauge on the in ud line.

The various forms of ourinvention described in specific detail herein will suggest to those skilled inthe art various changes. modifications,

and substitutions that may be made without de! parting from the underlying principles of-the invention. and we reserve the right to all such changes, modifications, and substitutions that properly come within the scope of our appended claims.

We claim as our invention:

1. A signalling clinograph for service in a well having a channel for a stream of drilling uid, said clinograph including: a mechanism for subterranean operation in said well, said mechanism being movable in opposite` directions and being ladapted to move in one of the opposite directions in response to said fluid stream; means cooperative' with said mechanism to send a series 'oi' signals to thesurface of the well when saidmechanism moves;l andY a gravity-responsive deviation-detector to limit the movement of said mechanism in accordance with the degree of the deviation of the well from vertical thereby to vary the number of signals in said series' to indicate such deviation at the surface of the well.

2. A signalling vclinograph for service in a well having a channelfor a stream of drilling fluid,

said clinograph including: a mechanism for subterranean operation in said well. said mechanismbeing movable in opposite directions and being adapted to move in one of the opposite directions in response to said uid stream; means cooperative with said mechanism to send a series ofsignals to the surface of the well when said mechanism moves; and a gravity-responsive deviation-detector to limit the movement of said mechanism in accordance with thedegree of the deviation ofthe well from vertical thereby to vary the number of signals in said series to indlcate such deviation at the surface of the'well, said signalling clinograph as set forth being further characterized in that said mechanism is surrounded by instrument iluid in a casing immersed in said drillingv fluid, said mechanism lncluding means to retard movement of the mechanism sufficiently to permit said gravity-responsive detector to become stable prior to arrival of the mechanism at a point of control, and said mechanism including a exible 4diaphragm separating said instrument uld from said drilling fluid, said diaphragm being adapted to yield for maintaining constant the volume of said drilling fluid displaced by said mechanism.

3. A signalling clinograph .for service in a well having a 4channel for a stream of drilling iiuid, said clinograph including: a mechanism for subterranean operation in said well,V said mechanism being movable in opposite directions and being adapted to move in one of the opposite directions in response to said fluid stream; means cooperative with said mechanism to send a ,series of signals to the surface of the well when said mechanism moves; and a gravity-responsive deviation-detector to limit the movement of said mechanism in accordance with the' degree of the deviation of the well from vertical thereby to vary the number of signals -in said series to indlcate such deviation at the surface of the well, said signalling clinograph as set forth being further characterized in that said mechanism and said cooperative means vary the freedom of iiow of said iiuid stream repeatedly in one operating cycle thereby generating ya. series 0f pressure waves in the iiuid stream for signals to the surface of the well.

4. A signalling clinograph for service in a well having a. channel for a stream of drilling fluid, said clinograph including: a mechanism for subterranean operation in said Well, said mechanism being movable in opposite directions and being adapted to move in one of the opposite directions in response to said fluid stream; means cooperative with said mechanism to send a series of signals to the surface of the well when said mechanism moves; and a gravity-responsive deviation-detector to limit the movement of said mechanism in'v accordance with the degree of the deviation of the well from vertical thereby t0 vary the number of signals in said series to indlcate such deviation at the surface. of the well, i

said signalling clinograph as set forth being fur- -ther characterized in'that said mechanism and cooperative means make successive impacts in one operating cycle for sending sound waves to` one Operative direction and being 'adapted tol move in the opposite operative direction in re- Ispouse to said fluid stream, whereby the mechanism may be operatively reciprocated by stopping and starting said stream: means cooperative with said mechanism to send a series of signals to the surface of the well when said mechanism moves; and a. gravity-responsive deviation-detector to limit the movement of said mechanism selectively at various points in accordance with the amount of the deviation of the well from vertical, thereby to vary said signals to indicate such amount of deviation at the surface of the Well.

6. A signalling clinograph for service in a well having a down channel and an up channel for circulating a stream of drillingiluid, said clinovided with a series of spaced'constricting means within said by-pass; means movable in said bypass `and cooperating with said constricting means to-vary iiow through said by-pass thereby to produce pressure variations in said `stream to serve as signals to be detected at the surface of the well; and a gravity-responsive deviationdetector co-expensive with and adapted to control the extent of movement of said movable means and thereby to vary said signals in accordance with the degree of the deviation of the well from vertical. v v

7. A signalling clinograph for service in a well having a channel for a stream of drilling duid, said clinograph including: extensiie means adapted to be immersed in said ilu-id stream at a subterranean position; yielding means continuously urging said extensiie means to extended disposition, said extensiie means being adapted to contract in response to force from said stream in opposition to said yielding means, whereby said extensiie means may be caused to extend and contract by stopping and starting flow of said drilling iiuid in said channel; stationary means in said channel cooperative with said extensiie means to vary the eiective cross section of the channel at successive stages in the movement of the extensiie means thereby to produce successive pressure variations in the fluid at the surface of the well corresponding in number to the range of movement of said extensiie means; and gravity-responsive means to arrest the movement of said extensiie means at various points according tothe degree of deviation of thewell bore from vertical, thereby to vary the number of successive pressure variations to indicate said degrec of deviation at the surface of the well.

8. A signalling clinograph as set forth in claim '7 in which means is provided to control the rate of movement of said extensiie means relative to said stationary means in a varying manner to accentuate said pressure variations of the fluid.

9. A signalling clinograph for service in a well having a channel for a stream of drilling duid,

said clinograph including: a mechanismfor subrise caused byl 'said y mechanism-'in cooperation with said stationary means.

1l. Asignalling clinograph. as set forth in claim 9 in which said 'dashpot means is 'adapted for automatic increase 'in dashpot flow to'accelerate the movement' of vsaid mechanism 4as the mechanism approaches a position of now-restricting cooperation with said'stationary means, whereby the increased dashpot fiow'accelerates ra pressure rise of the drilling fluid.

12. A signalling clinograph for service in a well said cllnograph including: a'. signal means having terranean operation in said well, said mechanism having an inherent tendency to move in one operative direction and being adapted to move in the opposite operative direction in response to ilow of said fluid stream, whereby the mechanism may loe-operatively reciprocated by stopping and starting said stream; stationary means in said channel cooperative with said mechanism to temporarily restrict the eective cross section of the channel at successive spaced points in the movement of said mechanism thereby to produce successive pressure rises inthe nuid at the surface of the well corresponding in number to the range of movement of said mechanism: dashpot means to control the rate of movement of said mechanism relative to said stationary means; and a gravityresponsive deviation-detector to arrest the movement of said mechanism at various stages according to the degree of deviation of the well bore from vertical, thereby to vary the number of said successivepressn're rises to indicate said degree of deviation at the surface of the well.

10. A signalling clnograph as set forth in claim 9 in which the dashpot means includes an automatic valve to restrict the dashpot flow when a rise in the iiuid pressure of said stream tends to accelerate said mechanism whereby the automatic valve prolongs the duration of a pressure dicates said degree of deviation.

a predetermined maximum signal cycle in the course of which the signal means" signals to the surface of the well; fluid-pressure-responsive means adapted to a'ctuate said signal means by energy derived from said stream of drilling duid; and a gravity responsive deviation detector adapted to arrestmovement'of said signal means selectively 'at spaced points in said signal cycle in accordance with various predetermined degrees of deviation of the well from vertical whereby the duration of signal sending by the device-in- 13. A signalling clinograph for service in a well having a channel for a 'stream of drilling fluid, said clin'ograph including: a' signal mechanism movable through an operating cyclto repeatedly vary 'the freedom 4of-'fiow of said iiuid thereby to send a series of pressurevsignais through the fluid to the surface of theweil: means to derive energy from said streamof drilling fluid to actuate said mechanism; and a gravity-responsive deviation-detector tocontrol said mechanism and modify said operating cycle to vary the number of pressure signals-'in said series in accordance with various predetermined degrees of deviation of the well from vertical.

14. A signalling clinograph for service in Va wellA having a channel for a stream of drilling fluid, said clinograph including: a reciprocating mem'- berin said well adapted when moved'in one direction to send a plurality of successive signals to the surface of the well; a stationary member in thewell: a pendulum mounted on one of said members; stop means carried by the other of said members to cooperate with said `pendulum to limit reciprocation of said reciprocating mem,

ber at selected positions in accordance with the degree of deviation of the well from vertical;

yielding means to movesaid reciprocating means in one direction; and means responsive to said streamV to move said reciprocating means in the other direction whereby upon cessation of iiow of the drilling iiuid said reciprocating means moves in one direction and upon resumption .of flow movesl in the other direction and whereby the extent of movement of the reciprocating means and therefore the number of said signals varies with the degree of deviation of the well from vertical.

. 15. A signalling clinograph for service in a well having a channel for a stream of drilling fluid, said clinograph including: extensiie means adapted to be immersed in said iiuid stream; yielding means continuously urging said extensiie means in one direction, said extensile means aesaesa 21 with said entensilemeans to vary the eective cross section oi the channel repeatedly in the' Vlimit the range of movement orl said extensile means in accordance with the degree or deviation `oi.'.the well bore from vertical, thereby to vary said pressure signals to indicate said degree of deviation.

16. A signalling clinograph for service in a well having a channel for a stream of drilling a portion oi' said channel; a rst -means reciprocative in the -well cooperative with said channelforming means when moved in vone direction to alternately increase and decrease the effective cross section of the channel repeatedly to create a series of sign'al waves in said stream of drilling fluid, said first means being adapted to move in one direction automatically when flow of said drilling uid ceases and to move in the other direction automatically in response to flow of the drilling fluid; a second means stationary in the well: a gravity-responsive deviation-detector mounted on one of said rst and second means; and stop means fixed relative to the other of said rst and second means cooperative with said deviation-detector to limit at selected positions the movement of said rst means according to the degree o! deviation of the well from vertical i whereby such deviation is indicated bythe number of signal waves in said series.

v1'?. 'A signalling clinograph for service in a well having a channel for a stream' of drilling iluid, said clinograph including: a reciprocating member in said well adapted when moved in one iiu id,'said clinograph including: means forming dlrection'to send a plurality of successive signals to the surface of the well; a stationary member in the well; a gravity-responsivey deviationdetector mounted on one of said members; stop cooperative with said deviation-detector to limit at selected positions the movement of said reciprocating member according to'the degree of deviation of the well from vertical whereby such deviation is indicated by the number of said 'successive signals; and a retaining means responsive to movement oi said reciprocating member to immobilize the deviation-detector automatically while said deviation-detector is out of the signal means signals to the surface" of the well; iluid-pressure-responsive means exposed to said stream for actuation of said signal means,

said duid-pressure-responsive means having a normal limit position maintained in response to the velocity loadof `said stream permitting ilow of said stream adequate for normal drilling operation, said iiuid-pressure-responsive means having an inherent tendency to move towards an sure-responsive means moves towards said alternate limit position automatically upon cessation of such flow; and a gravity-responsive deviationdetector adapted to arrest movement of said signal means selectively. at spaced points in said s ignalf cycle in accordance with predetermined fdesrees ot deviation-oi the well from vertical means fixed relative to the other of said members ation and being adapted to move automatically towards an alternate limit position upon cessation of such flow, said means being movable in the direction from said alternate position towards said normal position in response to tlow of said stream and being adapted to repeatedly vary the freedom of ilow oi' the stream in the'course of such movement thereby to create a series of pressure signals in the iluid: and a gravityresponsive deviation-,detector to limit the movement oi" said movable means in the direction of said alternate limit position in accordance with the degree of deviation oi' the well from vertical thereby to vary the number of said pressure signals to indicate said degree of deviation.

20. In a device of the type described tor use iia drill stem or thelike, a 4stepped member and a pendulum movable relative to each other in a direction longitudinally of said drill stem to cause engagement of said pendulum with a portion of said stepped member depending on the inclination of said drill stem, and means for indicating at the upper end of said drill stem the portion of said stepped member engaged by said pendulum.

21. In a device of the character described for use in a drill stem or the like, a member movable in said drill stem while iiuid is being forced therethrough, cooperating flow-constricting means on said member and within said stem, said means being relatively spaced in the direction of movement of said member and adapted to intermittenuy throttle such flow of duid during the time said member is moving, and gravity responsive means for limiting the extent of such movement of said member in accordance with the inclination vof said drill stem from the vertical.

22. In a device for indicating the inclination of a. drill st em or the. like, a housing adapted to be located in said drill stem, an inclination indicating mechanism-disposed in said housing and including a. plunger adapted to Project from said v of a drill stem or the like, ahousing adapted to :alternate limit position whereby the iluid-presbe disposed in said drill stem, an inclination indicating mechanism disposed in said housing and dependent on variations of pressure in iiuid iiowing through said drill stem for its operation, said mechanism including a plunger adapted to be projected from said housing and forming with said housing an annular opening, a lubricating and protecting fluid substantially lling said housing for protecting` said mechanism from contact with iiuid in said drill stem, and a iiexible member connected to said housing and embracing said plunger to close said opening, whereby the 'pressure-or said protecting and lubricating iluid mamas mersed in said drilling iluid in said channel, saidA housing containing a body of iluid. for lubrication and for protection i'roin said drilling fluid: a'

mechanism mounted in said housing, including means partially in the housing and partially immersed in said drilling iiuld and adaptedl tor movement relative to the housing in response' to starting and stopping oi iiow oi' the drilling fluid through said channel; means cooperative with said mechanism to send a series of signals to the surface of the well when said mechanism moves;

a gravity-responsive deviation-detector to limit the movement of said mechanism in accordance with the degree of deviation of the well-from vertical, thereby to vary the number of signals in saidI series to indicate such deviation at the surface of the well; and a flexible member comprlsing a portion of said housing movable to compensate forl displacement of said lubricating fluid in said housing in response to relative movel Certicate Patent No. 2,435,934.

ment oi said relatively movable means whereby the pressure of lubricating tluidin said housing and the pressure of said drilling tluid around the housing are substantially equalized at all-times.

- .FRED M. VARNEY.

JUSTIN A. VARNEY.

l REFERENCES 'CITED The following references are 1 fue of tmspacent:

l UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,313,367 Anschutz-Kaempfe Aug. 19, 1919 18 1,930,832 Wickershaln et al. Oct. 17, 1933 1,963,090 Jakosky June 19, 1934 1,970,253 Smith Aug. 14, 1934 1,979,481 Lynch et al. ....'NOV. 6, 1934 1,938,741 Lynch etal. Jan.'2. 1935 "20 2,046,956 Lynch .et al. July "I, 1936 2,142,559 Dulls Jam-'3, 1939 2,156,519 Walker May 2, 1939 2,190,141 Walker Feb. 13, l1940 2,201,311 Halliburton May 21, 1940 4 .u 4 e of Correction February 10, 1'948.

FRED M. VARNEY ET AL.

- It is hereby certified that errors appearin the printed specification of the above I numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Column 6, line 48, for the Word plunged read plunger case in the Patent Oliice.

Signed and sealed this 4th day oi May, A. D.1948.

column 19, line 10, for co-expensive. column 21, hne 64, for fload read head; and that the said Letters read with these corrections therein that the same may conformto the record of the read co`-extensz`ve; Patent should be THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Uommssoner of Patent l "of record in the n

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