Aug. 2, 1955 A. E.

ATKINSON 2,714,424
DENICES FOR CLEANING THE WALLS OF BORE HOLES
Filed May 26, 1952

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 United States Patent Office 2,714,424
Patented Aug. 2, 1955
1. 2
2,714,424 are secured in shaped cover elements which are Welded
to the ring structure.
DEVICES FOR CLEANING THE WALLS OF The ring elements may be formed from thick sheet
BORE HOLES steel if desired by suitable bending or forming operations.
5 In the accompanying drawing,
Albert Edward Atkinson, Hinchley Wood, Esher, England Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bore hole cleaning
Application May 26, 1952, Serial No. 290,055 device or scratcher constructed in accordance with the
invention;
Claims priority, application Great Britain June 26, 1951 Figure 2 is a perspective view, to an enlarged scale, of
() the formed edges of half ring elements constituting the
8 Claims. (C. 166-173) body of the cleaning device or scratcher before assembly;
This invention relates to devices sometimes known as Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing a
scratchers for cleaning the walls of bore holes of the modified mode of connecting the edges of the half ring
elements.
kind comprising a plurality of stiff wires or wire bristles 5In carrying the invention into effect according to one
carried by a ring or annular form of structure which is convenient mode, a bore hole cleaning device or scratcher
adapted to be mounted on the outside of the bore hole
casing, the wires extending outwardly from the said ring ofand the kind described comprises a pair of arcuate elements
or like structure and being arranged so that by recipro 1round 2 of semi-circular shape which can be fitted together
the well casing and carrying the cleaning wires.
cating the casing in the hole the wires exert a scratching 20 Each element
action for cleaning the wall by the removal of caked Steel of suitablemay conveniently be shaped from sheet
mud or the like therefrom. These devices are primarily opposite ends ofthickness. The two longitudinal edges at
the arcuate element 1 are bent outward
intended for removing caked mud from the bore hole ly and over to form a fold portion 3 lying parallel to the
immediately before the casing is cemented in the hole. element wall and spaced therefrom a distance slightly
The invention is more particularly concerned with de 25 greater than the thickness of the metal. The ends of
vices of the above kind adapted for use with casing hav the outwardly folded portion 3 are cut away for a short
ing enlarged or upset ends which necessitates a device distance as shown in Figure 2. The longitudinal edges of
which is divided or split longitudinally at one or more the second element 2 are displaced outwardly or offset at
points to permit it to be sprung over or fitted round the
casing between the enlargements. Such devices are 4 by anmetal amount somewhat in excess of twice the thickness
usually welded together or secured by pin type joints 30 lyof the and the so displaced portion 5 is bent inward
and rearwardly to form a fold portion 6 substantially
after they have been fitted over the casing. The object aligned with the element wall 2 and defining a recess 7
of the present invention is to provide an improved device into which
of simpler construction than those hitherto proposed or introduced bytherelativeoutward fold 3 of the element can be
longitudinal sliding of the respective
employed and which can be more easily and rapidly
fitted to the casing. A further object is to provide a 35 elements 1 and 2. When so introduced, the outward fold
3 of one element lies within the outwardly displaced in
more inexpensive construction which does not require ward fold space 7 of the other element and forms a con
the use either of welding or of pin type joints in fitting. nection which can only be disengaged by sliding in the
The invention comprises a longitudinally divided ring longitudinal direction of the folds, the connected ele
or structure the division edges of which are shaped to ments being shown
interengage or to be connected by interengaging, means 40 offset in Figure 1. The end portions 8 of the
portion 5 of the element 2 are separated from the
in such a manner that they can be secured by displace remainder by saw cuts 9 which are aligned with the cut
ment or deformation of the metal forming Such shaped away ends 10 of the fold 3 of the element 1.
edges
casing. or means after the device has been fitted to the The purpose of the saw cuts 9 and their alignment with
The invention also comprises arcuate elements, for 45 the cut away ends of the fold 3 of element 1 when the
example a pair of half elements, constituting a ring like elements 1 and 2 are aligned as indicated in Figure 2 is
structure, in which the mating edges of the elements; or to enable the end portions 8 to be flattened, as by ham
mering for example, when the folds 6 and 3 are inter
of said elements and a connecting means are shaped like engaged as later described. Thus when assembling the
a folded or like interengaging joint and can be assembled device, the fold 3 of element 1 is slidably introduced into
by longitudinal sliding of the edges one into another, the 50
connection being capable of being secured by displace the fold 6 of element 2 until the saw cuts 9 are level with
ment or deformation of the metal as by hammering. the ends 8 of the fold 3. The outer faces of portions 8
According to a further feature of the invention, the are then flattened against the inner portions 6 so that they
interengaging or mating edges as defined in either of the abut the ends 10 of fold 3 at both ends thereof. The en
two preceding paragraphs are of different longitudinal 55 gaged elements and 2 are thereby locked against rela
extent so that one fold portion is overlapped at both ends tive longitudinal movement.
by another fold portion and the overlapping portions The cleaning wires of the device are secured to the
can be displaced or hammered down to Secure the con outside of the arcuate elements 1, 2 and one suitable mode
nection against relative longitudinal motion of the parts. of securing the wires is shown in Figure 1. The wire
According to a further feature of the invention, the afore 60 employed may be of any suitable character and in the
said overlapping portions are divided from the main part present example wire of multiple strand or bundled for in
of the fold portion, e.g. by a saw cut, to facilitate dis is employed. Each wire 11 comprises a single length of
placement of said portions for securing the connection. wire folded into a narrow U or similar shape and the U
According to a further feature of the invention, the portion is secured to the outside of the element by a
respective mating edges of the arcuate elements comprise 65 cleat 12 consisting of a metal plate having formed in it
inward and outward fold portions and the inward fold a U-shaped recess 13 to receive the wire. The cleats are
is displaced or offset outwardly to lie substantially in secured to the element by spot welding as indicated in
line with the main wall portion of the arcuate element, Figure 1 or in any other desired manner. Each cleat 2
the elements being assembled by sliding the respective is secured in an inclined position upon the element so that
fold portions longitudinally one into the other. 70 the wires are inclined laterally with respect to the axis
The cleaning wires may be of any convenient kind and . of the device and they are also inclined outwardly as
are secured to the outside of the ring or annular structure shown. Thimbles or short metal tubes i4 are secured
by welding or other suitable means. Preferably the wires over the wires where they emerge from the cover plates
 2,714,424 . 4. or -
3. when the division edges are aligned so that the portion
12 and these tubes 14 are angled to direct the wires out of the said second flange formation which overlaps the
wardly. Similar thimbles or tubes 15 are secured near said first flange formation is deformable relative to the
the outer ends of the wires and are also angled as shown. latter to secure the joint against displacement in an axial
It will be understood however that other arrangements of direction.
wires and wire securing means may be employed as is 5
understood in devices of the kind in question. 2. A device according to claim 1, in which the said
The arrangement is such that when it is desired to first and second folded flange formations are integral
mount the cleaning device upon a section of well casing, with the respective division edges of the ring-like struc
ture. -
the two elements or halves 1 and 2 of the ring with the 0. 3. A device according to claim 1, in which the said
cleaning wires mounted thereon are placed around the first and second folded flange are integral with the re
casing one below the other and are engaged by sliding Spective division edges, and the second folded flange
the outward folds 3 of one element into the inward folds
7 of the other element until the ends of the two elements formation overlaps both ends of the first folded flange
are aligned. The previously described overlapping por formation so that the overlapping portions of said sec
tions 5 of the inward fold, which are separated from the ond flange formation are capable of being deformed to
main body by saw cuts 9, are then displaced inwardly, secure the joint.
preferably by hammering, into the spaces at the ends of 4. A device according to claim 1, in which the said
the shorter outward fold 3, thereby securing the ring first and second folded flange formations are integral
halves against relative longitudinal motion and also secur with the respective division edges, and the second folded
ing the completed device upon the casing. It will be 20 flange formation comprises a main part coextensive with
seen that this mode of securing the ring halves is simple the first folded flange formation and end portions which
and capable of rapid execution, thereby Saving time as overlap the ends of the first folded flange formation,
compared with methods involving welding or the making said end portions being provided with slits extending
of pin type joints. Also whilst the arrangement has transverse to the division edges through part of the flange
especial advantages when applied to well casing having 25 formation and aligned with the ends of said first flange
enlarged or upset ends which preclude the use of Solid formation, the said slits being arranged so that the end
rings, it can also be employed, if desired, with ordinary portions can be flattened by deformation to secure the
or standard casing. In such circumstances the usual joint.
stop means or lugs, which limit the longitudinal displace 5. A device according to claim 1, in which the first
ment of the cleaning device on the casing, can be welded 30 of said folded flange formations extends outside and
Spaced from the ring-like structure, and the second of
upon the casing before the cleaning device is mounted
thereon, and if desired before the casing is positioned Said folded flange formations lies substantially in line
With the ring-like structure and is joined to the division
for lowering in the bore hole. edge thereof by a shoulder portion.
In a modified mode of connection of the arcuate ele
ments 1 and 2 as illustrated in Figure 3, each of the 3. 5 6. A device according to claim 1, in which the said
mating edges of the elements is formed with an out Second flange formation comprises a member of flattened
wardly directed fold portion 16, each fold portion being of C-Section affording a pair of oppositely folded edges one
similar to the other and being cut away to provide ends which is engaged with the first said folded flange for
17 which are spaced inwardly from the edges of the nation and the second folded edge of which is engaged
ring elements 1 and 2. A metal strip 18 of C-section 40 With a folded flange formation integral with the second
is formed so that it can be slid over the aligned fold of 7.theAsaid division edges of the ring-like structure.
device according to claim 1, in which the said
portions 16. Slits 9 are formed in the outer part of
the strip is forming end pieces 20 which are separated Second flange formation comprises a member of flattened
from the main outer part of the said strip. When the As C-section affording a pair of oppositely folded edges one
of which is engaged with the first said folded flange
strip 18 has been fitted by sliding over the aligned fold formation and the second of which is engaged with a
portions 16 to connect the elements 1 and 2 together,
the end portions 20 are flattened by hammering or other folded flange formation integral with the second of said
division edges of the ring-like structure, said c-section
wise and the connection is thereby secured.
The invention is not restricted to the example described itmember
overlaps
having a length and being arranged such that
both ends of said first flange formation.
above, since the details of the interengaging connection 8. A device according to claim 1, in which the said
may be widely varied. Thus for example the interen Second
gageable fold portions may be of a sufficiently open C-sectionflange formation comprises a member of flattened
affording a pair of oppositely folded edges one
character to allow of their being engaged directly with of which is engaged with the first said folded flange
out the necessity for longitudinal sliding, the connection formation and the second of which is engaged with a
being finally effected by hammering the fold parts to folded
gether. Also the device may be divided at one point only divisionflange formation integral with the second of said
edges of the ring-like structure, said c-section
and adapted to be opened and sprung over the casing,
the connection being completed by hammering the fold itmember having a length and being arranged such that
overlaps both ends of said first flange formation, said
portions together as mentioned above. CO C-section member also being provided with slits extend
I claim: ing transverse to the division edges through part of said
1. A device or scratcher of the kind described for
cleaning the walls of bore holes, comprising a longitu member and aligned with the ends of said first flange
dinally divided ring-like structure carrying the scratcher formation, said slits being arranged so that the over
wires and means capable of constituting a folded joint lapping portions of the C-section member can be flattened
between two adjacent division edges of said structure, by deformation to secure the joint.
said means comprising a folded flange formation attached References Cited in the file of this patent
to one of said division edges and occupying a part only UNITED STATES PATENTS
of the full extent of such division edge in the axial direc
tion thereof, a folded flange formation attached to the 296,786
70 540,827
Rock ------------------ Apr. 15, 1884
other of said division edges and shaped to be interen Avery ---------------- June 11, 1895
gaged with said first flange formation to constitute the 822,004 Kronauer -------------- May 29, 1906
joint between the said division edges, said second folded 2,506,405 Wright ----------------- May 2, 1950
flange formation being shaped and arranged to extend FOREIGN PATENTS
also in an axial direction over a part of said first divi
sion edge not occupied by its associated flange formation 75 663,675 Great Britain ----------- Dec. 27, 1951