US2345766A - Deflecting tool - Google Patents

Description

April 4, 1944. c, MlLLER 2,345,766

DEFLECTING TOOL Filed Dec. 2, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l April 4, 1944; L. c. MILLER DEFLECTING TOOL 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 2, 1940 Maul llll I v 9. III 4 iii Iii lean/dais C.

Patented Apr. 4, 1944 DEFIECTING TOOL Leonidas C. Miller, Dallas, Tex, assignor of onehali to Eastman Dallas, Tex

ll Well Survey Company, a corporation of Delaware, and one-half to Eastman Oil Well tion, Long BeachfCaliL,

Survey Corporaa corporation or Call- Application December 2, 1940, Serial No. 368,132

15 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in deflecting tools.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved deflecting tool which is adapted to be lowered into position within a well bore and rotated therein to change the direction or inclination of said bore and being particularly useful in controlled or directional drilling operations.

An important object of the invention is to provide a well bore deflecting tool which is arranged to automatically ofl-set or incline in a predetermined or known direction within the bore, whereby said tool may be accurately oriented after it has been lowered into the bore to permit drilling-in a desired direction to be accomplished.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved well bore deflecting tool wherein the drill bit of said tool is mounted so as to automatically swing or oil-set in a predetermined known direction, together with means for locking the same in such position, whereby a rotation may be imparted to the tool to properly orient the drill bit and dispose the same in the desired direction in which drilling is to be continued.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved deflecting tool, of the character described, having hydraulically actuated means for locking the drill bit in its deflected position, said means being actuated by the pressure of the fluid which is circulated downwardly through the drill stem and which is normally circulated around the bit during the drilling operation.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved valve arrangement for controlling the fluid pumped downwardly through the drill stem to the deflecting tool, whereby said fluid may be directed to the hydraulic locking means for locking the drill bit in a predetermined position prior to the drilling operation; the arrangement :being such that after the bit of the deflecting tool has been properly oriented and actual drilling started, the valve is automatically actuated to permit circulation of the fluid through the drill bit and also to the looking means to retract the same. i

A particular object of the invention is to provide an improved well bore deflecting tool, wherein the pilot bit is mounted so as to automatically swing in a predetermined direction when lowered into the well bore; the construction making it possible to cause said bit to swing either to the low side or to the high side of the bore, from which point proper orientation of said bit may be accomplished.

The construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described together with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading or the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings, as an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a deflecting tool, constructed in accordance with the invention, and illustrating the device lowered within a well gore with the bit swung to the low side oi said ore,

Figure 2 is an enlarged, transverse, vertical, sectional view of the deflecting tool, with the hyfiaulic locking means retracted prior to the orientation of the tool,

Figure 3 is a transverse, sectional view of the hydraulic locking means in a position locking the bit in its deflected position,

Figure 4 is a view, similar to Figure 2 with the parts in their respective position after orientation and during the drilling operation,

Figures 5 to 10 are horizontal, cross-sectional views, taken on the lines 5-5, 66, 'l--'l, 8-8, 99 and Hli0, respectively, of Figure 2, and

Figure 11 is a view, similar to Figure 1, illustrating the drill bit deflected in a direction toward the high side of the well bore.

In the drawings, the numeral i0 designates the usual rotatable drill pipe or stem which has an elongate coupling sleeve ll threaded onto its lower end. The drill stem is adapted to be lowered through the well bore W and has the improved deflecting tool T connected to its lower end by means of the coupling sleeve II. The deflecting tool includes a main body or housing I! which is connected to a pilot bit assembly l3 by means of a ball and socket connection I20: and, manifestly, the pilot bit assembly is free to swing with relation to the longitudinal axis of the housing I2 and drill stem ill.

The assembly I3 includes a pilot bit It having radially extending cutting blades l5 formed on its outer surface. The body of the bit is preferably bored and is formed with the usual fluid circulating passages it which have their lower ends terminating adjacent the cutting blades IS. The bit It is connected to the lower end of an elongate tubular stem l1 and the upper end of this stem is threaded into the body i8 of a main cutting bit or reamer. The reamer includes vertically extending cutting blades I9 which project radially outwardly from the body of said reamer a desired distance so blades within the formation, a bore of the desired that upon rotation 01' said diameter is drilled. A tubular shank 28 has its lower end threaded into the reamer body It and a ball 2| is preferably formed integral with the upper end of this shank. It is preferable that the shank have a general tapered, external surface, being slightly reduced toward its upper end and immediately below the ball 2|. An extension 22, which is preferably integral with the ball 2|, extends upwardly from said ball and the extreme upper end of the extension is conical as illustrated at 23. An elongate passage or here 24 extends through the shank 28 and through the ball 2| and the upper end of this passage or bore communicates with a pair of inclined ports 25 which extend radially through the lower portion of the extension 22. In this manner, the area outside oi. the extension 22 may communicate with the bore 24 through the ports 26 and said bore, in turn, communicates with the bore of the tubular stem l1 and the pilot bit H.

The ball 2| which is provided at the upper end of the shank 2|) fits or engages within a ball socket 26 which is formed within a socket element 21. The ball is retained within the socket 26 by means of a flanged collar 28 which is threaded into the lower end of the coupling element 21. The bore 29 of the retaining collar 28 is flared or tapered complementary to the tapered external surface of the shankjll and this core co-acts with the shank to limit the swinging movement of the pilot bit assembly l3 with relation to the socket element 21. Suitable packing rings 30 may be interposed between the socket 26 and the outer surface of the ball 2| and similar rings 3| may be interposed between the retaining collar 28 and said ball. Each of the packing rings 30 and 3| may be exposed to the pressures surrounding the ball and socket, whereby such pressures will urge these rings into a tighter sealing engagement. If desired, ball bearings 32 may be mounted in the upper end of the retaining collar 28, whereby rotation of the ball 2| within its socket is facilitated. The socket element 21 within which the ball is mounted is axially alined within the well bore W by means of radially extending cutting blades 33 which extend vertically on the outer surface of said element.

For rotatably connecting the socket element 21 with the ball 2| so that a rotation of the element will impart rotation to the ball and thus to the pilot bit assembly, said element is provided with a plurality of inwardly extending pins 34 which are suitably secured within the bod of the element. A hearing collar 35 is mounted on the inwardly projecting end of each pin and each collar is disposed within a vertical recess 36 which is formed in the external surfac of the ban 2| above the retaining collar 28. The recesses 36 are of a suilicient length with relation to the diameter of the collars 35 to permit the ball 2| to undergo a rotative movement within its socket 26. Thus, the pilot bit assembly l3 may undergo a swinging movement with relation to the socket element 21 but upon a rotation of said socket element, a similar rotation is imparted to the pilot bit assembly through the co-action of the connecting pins 34 and the recesses 36.

The tubular body or housing |2 of the deflecting tool has its lower end threaded onto the upper end of the socket element 21 and said housing extends upwardly from said element. The extreme upper end of the bore of the housing I2 is reduced as shown at 31 and the coupling sleeve H which connects the drill stem It with the housing slidably extends through this re- It is noted that the keys 33 may, if desired, be

made integral with the wall of said housing. Manifestly, with this arrangement, the coupling sleeve may undergo a limited longitudinal movement with relation to the housing |2 but a rotation of the sleeve will impart a similar rotation to the housing through the co-action of the key-ways 38 with the keys 39.

From the above, it will be seen that the drill stem |0 has a direct connection with the housing i2 through the sleeve H and any rotation .of the stem will rotate said housing. The lower end of the housing, being threaded onto the socket element 21 will impart a rotation to the socket element and the pin and recess connection between said element and the ball 2| will result in a rotation of the pilot bit assembly. The socket element 21 is provided with an axial bore 4| which extends upwardly from the socket 26 and the upper end of this bore is enlarged and threaded to receive the lower end of an elongate cylinder 42. As is clearly shown in Figure 2, the cylinder 42 is concentric to the housing l2 and is of a smaller diameter than the bore of said housing, whereby an annular space or passage 33 is formed between said cylinder and the wall of the housing. The extreme lower end of the cylinder is provided with inclined ports 44 which establish a communication between this annular passage or space 43 and the interior of the cylinder at its lower end. As illustrated, the inclined ports 44 in the cylinder are adjacent the inclined ports 25 which gr? formed in the upstanding extension 22 on the The upper end of the cylinder 62 is closed by a flanged head or cap 65 which is threaded into the upper end of the cylinder. The flange 46 of the head has an external diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the housing bore and this flange has an annular packing element 41 mounted therein to provide a seal between the cap and the housing, whereby the upper end of the annular passage or space 43 is sealed ofi. The upper end of the head or cap 45 is formed with an axial bore 48 which extends downwardly from the top of the head. The lower end of the bore 48 communicates with the annular passage or space 43 through a plurality of radially extending ports 49 which are formed in the head and which are open to the extreme upper end of said passage or space. Communication between the housing above the head or cap 45 and the interior of the cylinder 42 is established through a plurality of vertical passages 50 which are drilled through said head and which are located between the radial ports 49, as is clearly shown in Figure 9.

A hollow piston 5| is reciprocable within the upper portion of the cylinder 42 and this piston has an annular packing sleeve 52 mounted upon and in sealing engagement with the bore of the cylinder. The bottom or lower end of the piston is conical or tapered as indicated at 53 and this tapered portion is adapted to co-act with the conical upper end 23 of the extension 22 on the ball 2|. The piston is normally held in a raised osition within the cylinder, as sho in Figure 2, by a coil spring 54 which is conflned between the lower end of the piston and an. internal shoulder 55 which is formed within the bore of the cylinder. When a fluid pressure is applied to the upper end of the piston through the vertical passages 50, said piston is moved downwardly within the cylinder under tension of the spring 54, such downward movement continuing until the conical lower end 53 01' said piston engages the conical upper end 23 of the extension, as shown in Figure 3. So long as the piston remains in its lowered position, it is obvious that a swinging of-the extension which is a part of the ball 2I is impossible. S nce the ball is directly connected with the pilot bit assembly, it will be obvious that when the piston engages the extension, a swinging of the pilot bit assembly is prevented. Upon a release of pressure from above the piston 5|, the coil spring 54 will raise said piston upwardly to its orginal position (Figure 2), any pressure above said piston escaping through bleeder ports 58 which are provided in the upper end of the cylinder 42.

A tubular valve stem 51 has its lower -end threaded into the bore 48 of the closure head or cap 45 and this stem extends upwardly above said head and into the lower end of the bore Ila 01' the coupling element II. This tubular stem has its lower end in communication with the annular space 43 between the cylinder 42 and the housing I2, and a plurality of inclined openings 58 are provided in the upper end of the stem so as to establish communication between the bore of said stem and the exterior thereof. A valve sleeve 59 is threaded into the lower end of the bore Ila of the coupling element II and this sleeve surrounds the valve stem 51. The lower portion of the sleeve has a packing element 50 mounted within its bore and when the coupling sleeve is in a raised position, as shown in Figure 2, the packing element 60 overlies the openings 58 in the valve stem to close said openings. When the coupling sleeve II is moved downwardly with relation to the housing I2, the valve sleeve 59 moves downwardly with relation to the valve stem 51 so as to uncover the openings 59; at the same time, the lower end of the packing element 69 engages the upper end of the head or cap 45, as shown in Figure 4, to overlie and close the vertical passages 50 in said head and thereby cut off communication to the upper end of the cylinder 42. Immediately above the packing element 50, the valve sleeve is provided with a plurality of radial ports or openings BI which establish a communication between the bore I Id of the coupling sleeve II and the upper end of the housing I2 above the head or cap 45. A suitable packing cup 62 may be secured to the underside of the coupling sleeve II so as to sealpfi between said sleeve and the bore of the housing I2.

In the operation of the device, the deflecting tool is lowered into the well bore by means of the drill stem III as is shown in Figure 1. During such lowering the housing I2 is maintained in substantial axial alinement with the well bore by means of the cutting blades 33 which are formed on the exterior surface of the socket element 21, the outer edges of said cutting blades engaging and riding upon the wall of the bore. During lowering of the device, the piston 5| within the cylinder 42 is held in its raised position by means of the coil spring 54 and said piston is spaced above the upper end of the extenson 22 which is formed on the ball 2|. Due to the ball and socket connection, the pilot bit assembly I3 is permitted to swing with relation to the housing I2 and, manifestly, said assembly will swing in a direction toward .the low side or the well bore; Thus, when the lower end of the bore is reached, the pilot bit assembly assumes a position with the pilot bit I4 engaging the low side of said bore, as shown in Figure 1.

After lowering of the tool is completed, a fluid pressure is pumped downwardly through the drill stem and such pressure will flow downwardly through the bore Ila of the coupling sleeve and then through the ports of, openings 61 in the valve sleeve 59. This fluid pressure will then pass downwardly through the vertical passages 50 in the cap or head 45 and into the upper end of the cylinder above the piston 5|. Manifestly, this pressure will force the piston downwardly against the pressure of the spring 54 to the position shown in Figure 3, whereby the lower conical end 53 of the piston will engage the inclined upper end 23 of the extension 22. So long as the piston remains in this position, the pilot bit assembly is locked against a swinging movement with relation to the housing I2 and to the drill stem. Since the pilot bit has automatically swung to a position at the low side of the hole, it is manifest that the engagement of the piston with the extension will lock the bit assembly in its oiT-set or inclined position,

The pressure is maintained against the piston so as to maintain the pilot bit assembly I3 in its oil-set position and the drill pipe and deflecting tool may be lifted and rotated so as to properly orient the pilot bit I4. Since the operator knows that the pilot bit I4 is deflected in a position toward the low side of the hole, it is manifest that by locking said bit in such deflected position, the necessary rotation may be imparted to the drill stem to properly locate the bit in the desired direction.

After the bit has been properly oriented, the entire assembly is owered so that the bit I4 engages the bottom of the well bore. The weight oLthe drill stem is then placed upon the deflecting tool and such lowering of the drill stem causes the coupling sleeve II to move downwardly with relation to the housing I 2, such downward movement being permitted by the key connection between the housing and the sleeve. Downward movement of the coupling sleeve with relation to the housing continues until the parts assume the position shown in Figure"4, at which time the packing element 60 of the valve sleeve 59 secured to the lower end of the coupling I I strikes the top of the closure head or cap 45. When this occurs, the packing element overlies the vertical passages 50 in the head and shuts off the communication with the upper end of the cylinder 42 above the piston 5|. The downward movement of the coupling I I with relation to the housing I2 causes the valve sleeve 59 which is carried by said coupling to move downwardly on the tubular valve stem 51, whereby the packing element 50 of said sleeve which normally closes the inclined ports or openings 58 in the stem 51 is moved downwardly below said openings so as to uncover the same. When the ports or openings 58 are uncovered, the fluid from the drill stem may pass downwardly through the openings 58, through the stem 51 and outwardly through the inclined ports 49 in the head 45 and into the annular space 43 between the cylinder and the housing. This fluid then flows downwardly clined ports-M .inthe lower end of the cylinder 42, from where said fluid passes through the bore 24 of theballzl and'shank 20. From the shank,

the fluid may pass through the tubular stem 11 and then outwardly through the circulating passages i6 offthe pilot bit It in the usual manner.

The pressure fluid'which is circulated downwardly to the pilot bit II also passes into the lower end offthe cylinder 42 and will exert a pressure against the underside of the piston This pressure will be added to the pressure of the spring 54 and will cause the piston to move upwardly to its original position, such upward movement being permitted by thebleeder ports SI so that any pressure within the upper end of the cylinder may bleed into the annular flow pas= sage or space 43.

As soon as the weight of the drill stem is imposed upon the deflecting tool to cause the valve mechanism, which controls the flow of fluid, to shut off flow to the upper end of the piston and direct said flow to the pilot bit ll, the drill stem is rotated and such rotation is imparted through the coupling ll, housing I2, ball and socket and to the pilot bit assembly I 3, whereby said bit is rotated to perform the drilling operation.

From the foregoing, it will be obvious that the pilot bit assembly I3 is free to swing with relation to the body or housing l2. By maintaining the housing in substantial alinement with the well bore, the pilot bit assembly will always swing to the low side of the hole, such swinging being caused by gravity. After the bit has swung to this position and is ready to be oriented, a fluid pressure is pumped downwardly through the stem to actuate the piston 5| and lock the pilot bit assembly in its off-set or inclined position. After such locking of the pilot bit assembly, the drill pipe may be rotated to properly orient said pilot bit. When orientation of the bit It is completed, it is only necessary to lower the weight of the drill pipe or stem downwardly so as to automatically actuate the control valve mechanism, whereby the fluid which was employed to actuate the piston 5| is directed to the drill bit during the drilling operation.

The form of the invention shown in Figures 1 to is such that the pilot bit assembly automatically swings to the low side of the hole, this being caused by maintaining the housing [2 in substantial alinement in the well bore. It would be possible to permit the pilot bit assembly to swing to the high side of the hole and such an arrangement is shown in Figure 11. In this instance, the vertical blades 33 are omitted from the socket element 21, whereby the housing i2 is permitted to move from side to side within the well bore W. The cutting blades IS on the reamer it are enlarged so that the outer vertical edges of said blades contact the wall of the well bore. With this arrangement, the pilot bit assembly I3 is maintained in substantial axial alinement with the well bore at all times. When the lower end of the well bore is reached, it is obvious that the assembly l3 cannot swing of itself because the blades l9a will prevent such swinging with relation to the housing. However, since there is a space between the wall and the housing l2 and the well bore, said housing may move laterally within the bore. When further downward movement of the bit assembly I3 is prevented, it wi11 be manifest that a shifting of the housing I2 will occur, as shown in Figure 11, and such swinging will be toward the low side of the 2,845,766 through the annular space and through the inhole. Suc swinging will result in the bit I at the lower swung opposite to the direction of movement ofthe housing II, with the result that said bit will 5 movetoward the high side of the bore. After the assembly is so swung, the rhydraulic piston is actuated to lock the same in its deflected position and orientation or the-bit may then be carried out, as above explained. i. I

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory thereof and various changes in the size, shape and materials. as well as in the details of the illustrated construction may be made, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A well bore deflecting tool including, a body adapted to be connected to the lower end of a drill pipe, a drill bit assembly suspended from the .body and capable of a free swingin movement relative to the longitudinal axis 0 the body, whereby when the tool is lowered into an inclined well bore, said bit assembly will swing toward a predetermined direction relative to the direction of inclination of the well bore, and hydraulic means within the body arranged to co-act with the assembly for locking the assembly in its deflected position, whereby the tool may be rotated to orient the same.

2. A well bore deflecting tool including, a tubular body adapted to be coupled to the lower end of a drillstem, a drill bit assembly connected to the lower end of the body by means of a universal knuckle joint so that the assembly may swing relative to the longitudinal axis of the body, whereby when the tool is lowered into an inclined well bore said bit assembly will deflect in a predetermined direction relative to the direction of inclination of the well bore, and means for locking the assembly in its deflected position to permit orientation of said assembly.

3. A well bore deflecting tool including, a tubular body adapted to be coupled to the lower end of a drill stem, a drill bit assembly connected to the lower end of the body by means of a universal knuckle joint so that the assembly may swing relative to the longitudinal axis of the body, whereby when the tool is lowered into an inclined well bore said bit'assembly will deflect in a predetermined direction relative to the direction of inclination of the well bore, and hydraulic means within the body arranged to co-act with the bit assembly for locking the same in its deflected position to permit orientation of the same.

4. A well bore deflecting tool including, a tubular body adapted to be coupled to the lower end of a drill stem, a drill bit assembly connected to the lower end of the body by means of a universal knuckle joint so that the assembly may swing relative to the longitudinal axis of the body, whereby when the tool is lowered into an inclined well bore said bit assembly will deflect in a predetermined direction relative to the direction of inclination of the well bore, hydraulic means within the body arranged to co-act with the bit assembly for locking the same in its deflected position to permit orientation of the same, and means for conducting a pressure fluid downwardly through the drill stem and to the hydraulic means for actuating the same.

5'. A well bore deflecting tool including, a tubular body adapted to be coupled to the lower end of a drill stem, a drill bit assembly connected to the lower end of the body by means of a universal d of the'pilot bit assembly I! beings whereby when the tool is lowered'into an inclined well bore said bit assembly will deflect in a predetermined direction relative to the direction oi inclination of theweil bore, hydraulic means within the body arranged to co-act with the bit assembly for locking the same in its deflected position to permit orientation oi the same, said tool having a flow passage establishing communication between the drill stem and the hydraulic means and also having a second passage establishing communication between the drill stem and drill bit assembly, and valve means for controlling the flow through said passages, whereby pressure fluid from the drill stem may be first conducted to the hydraulic means to actuate thesame to permit orientation after which said fluid may be directed to the bit assembly during the drilling operation.

6-.- A well bore deflecting tool including, a tubular body adapted to be coupled to the lower end of a drill stem, a drill bit assembly connected to the lower end of the body by means of a universal knuckle joint so that the assembly may swing relative to the longitudinal axis of the body, whereby when the tool is lowered into an -inclined well bore said bit assembly will deflect in a predetermined direction relative to the direction or inclination of the well bore, hydraulic means within the body arranged to coact with the bit assembly for locking the same in its deflected .position to permit orientation oi the same, said tool having a flow passage establishing communication between the drill stem and the hydraulic means and also having a second passage establishing communication between the bly will automatically swing in a predetermined direction relative to the direction 01- inclinadrill stem and drill bit assembly, and valve means and being automatically actuated to direct flow to the bit assembly upon the commencement of the drilling operation.

7. A well bore deflecting tool including, a body, a coupling sleeve rotatively and slidably connected to the upper end of the body and adapted to couple the body to the lower end of a drill stem, a drill bit assembly suspended from the body and capable of a free swinging movement with respect to the body, whereby when tl 1e tool is lowered into an inclined well bore said bit assembly will automatically swing in a predetermined direction relative to the direction of inclination of the well bore, means withinthe housing and actuated from the surface for locking the assembly in its deflected position, whereby said tool may be rotated to orient the same, and means for establishing communication between the drill stem and the bit assembly through the housing for conducting fluid to the bit assembly during the drilling operation,

8. A well bore deflecting tool including, a body, a coupling sleeve rotatively and slidably connected to the upper end of the body and adapted to couple the body to the lower end of a drill stem, a drill bit assembly suspended from the body and capable of a free swinging movement with respect to the :body, whereby when the tool is lowered into an inclined well bore said bit assemtion of the well bore, means within the housing and actuated from the surface for locking the assembly in its deflected position, whereby said tool may be rotated to orient the same, means for establishing communication between the drill stem and the bit assembly through the housing for conducting fluid to the bit assembly during the-drilllng operation, and valve means for contr'olling said flow oi fluid to the assembly, said valve means being normallyclosed and being opened when the coupling sleeve is moved downwardly relative to the housing.

9. A well bore deflecting tool including, a body, a coupling sleeve rotatively and slidably connected to the upper end of the body and adapted to couple the body to the lower end of a drill stem, a drill bit assembly suspended from the body and capable of a free swinging movement.

with respect to the body, whereby when the tool is lowered into an inclined well bore said bit assembly will automatically swing in a predetermined direction relative to the direction of inclination of the well bore, hydraulic means within the housing arranged to co-act with the bit assembly for locking said assembly in its deflected position, whereby the tool may be rotated to orient the same, the housing having a flow passage establishing communication between the drill stem and the hydraulic means and also having a second passage establishing communication between the drill stem and the bit assembly, and valve means associated with the coupling sleeve and actuated by the movement of said sleeve relative to the body for controlling the flow through the passages.

10. The combination with a drill stem of a defleeting tool rotatably connected to said stem so as to be capable of a limited longitudinal movement with respect to the stem, said tool including, a body, a drill bit assembly swingably connected with the body so as to be deflected in a predetermined direction relative to the direction of inclination of an inclined well bore by gravity, fluid-actuated means for locking the bit assembly in its deflected position, and valve means actuated by the sliding movement between the drill stem and body for controlling theflow of pressure fluid from the drill stem to said hydraulic means.

11. The combination with a drill stem of a deflecting tool rotatably connected to said stem so as to be capable of a limited longitudinal movement with respect to the stem, said tool including, a body, a drill bit assembly swingably connected with the body whereby when the tool is lowered into an inclined well bore, the drill bit assembly is urged toward a vertical position by gravity to deflect the bit with respect to the body and toward the low side of the inclined well bore, fluid-actuated means for locking the bit assembly in its deflected position, the body having flow passages for conducting pressure fluid from the drill stem to the fluid-actuated means and to the bit assembly, and valve means for controlling the flow through said passages, said valve means normally being in a position permitting flow to the fluid-actuated means while the tool is suspended i'rom the drill stem and being automatically moved to a position directing flow to the bit assembly when the weight of the drill stem is imposed on the deflecting tool which causes a limited sliding movement oi said stem relative to the tool.

12. A well bore deflecting m1 including, a body adapted to be connected to the lower end 01a drill pipe, 9. tool assembly suspended from the body and capable of a universal swinging movementrelative to the longitudinal axis of the I body adapted to be connected to the lower end of a drill pipe, a drill bit assembly suspended from the body and mounted to undergo a universal swinging movement relative to the longitudinal axis of the body, whereby when the tool'is lowered into an inclined well bore the drill bit assembly will be inclined relative to the longitudinal axis of the body to direct the drill bit into a known direction relative to the direction of inclination of the well bore, and means for locking the assembly in its deflected position to permit subsequent orientation of the bit into a desired direction by imparting a rotation to the tool.

14. A well bore deflecting tool including, a body adapted to be connected to a drill pipe,

guide means on the lower portion of the body for axially alining said body and the drill pipe within a well bore, a drill bit assembly connected with the body by a universal connection to permit free swinging oi the assembly in all directions with respect to the longitudinal axis 0! the body, said universal connection allowing the drillbit assembly to swing by gravity toward the low side of the well bore when the device is lowered in an inclined bore, and means for locking the assembly in its deflected position to permit sub I sequent orientation of the bit by imparting rotation to the drill pipe.

- 15. A well bore deflecting tool includingpa body adapted to be connected to the lower end of a drill pipe, an elongate drill bit assembly having a drill bit on its lower end and having its upper end connected to the body by means of a universal joint, guide means on the upper portion of the bit assembly adapted to engage the wall of a well bore for axially alining the assembly within said bore, the axial alinement of the bit assembly together with the universal connection between the body and assembly causing a deflection of the bit toward the high side of an inclined well bore when the drill pipe and tool are lowered in said inclined bore, and means within the body co-acting with the drill b t assembly for locking the assembly in its deflected position to permit subsequent orientation of the bit by imparting a rotation to the drill pipe.

LEONIDAS C. MILLER.

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