US 12,264,543 B2
Drill string joint for horizontal directional drilling system
Jacob Richard Smith, Altoona, IA (US)
Assigned to Vermeer Manufacturing Company, Pella, IA (US)
Appl. No. 18/006,704
Filed by Vermeer Manufacturing Company, Pella, IA (US)
PCT Filed Jul. 20, 2021, PCT No. PCT/US2021/042435
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jan. 24, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/026252, PCT Pub. Date Feb. 3, 2022.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/057,562, filed on Jul. 28, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0272679 A1, Aug. 31, 2023
Int. Cl. E21B 17/046 (2006.01); E21B 7/04 (2006.01); E21B 19/16 (2006.01)
CPC E21B 17/0465 (2020.05) [E21B 7/046 (2013.01); E21B 19/16 (2013.01)] 31 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
15. A method of assembling a drill string with a drill head along a central axis, the method comprising:
inserting a pin end member into a box end member along the central axis such that a first insertion portion of the pin end member is positioned within a first bore of the box end member at a first axial end of the box end member, and a second insertion portion of the pin end member is positioned within a second deeper bore of the box end member, the second bore having a smaller cross section than the first bore;
establishing a conical tapered surface interface between the second insertion portion and the second bore with the axial insertion of the pin end member to the box end member;
establishing a torque coupling with the axial insertion of the pin end member to the box end member; and
inserting a plurality of cross pins perpendicular to the central axis through corresponding apertures formed through both the box end member, at the first bore, and the first insertion portion of the pin end member, the plurality of cross pins being located within a first axial span of the joint separate from a second axial span in which the conical tapered surface interface is established,
wherein the torque coupling is established at an axial position between the first axial span and the second axial span.