US 11,808,151 B2
Dual rod directional drilling system
Michael D. Langenfeld, Pella, IA (US); and Jacob Richard Smith, Atloona, IA (US)
Assigned to Vermeer Manufacturing Company, Pella, IA (US)
Filed by Vermeer Manufacturing Company, Pella, IA (US)
Filed on Mar. 9, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/195,811.
Application 17/195,811 is a continuation of application No. 16/936,703, filed on Jul. 23, 2020, granted, now 10,961,779.
Application 16/936,703 is a continuation of application No. 15/967,965, filed on May 1, 2018, granted, now 10,851,588, issued on Dec. 1, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/567,624, filed on Oct. 3, 2017.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/566,971, filed on Oct. 2, 2017.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/530,610, filed on Jul. 10, 2017.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/530,616, filed on Jul. 10, 2017.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/530,642, filed on Jul. 10, 2017.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/492,818, filed on May 1, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2021/0189802 A1, Jun. 24, 2021
Int. Cl. E21B 3/00 (2006.01); E21B 17/18 (2006.01); E21B 7/04 (2006.01); E21B 17/046 (2006.01); E21B 7/02 (2006.01); E21B 7/06 (2006.01); E21B 17/07 (2006.01); E21B 19/16 (2006.01); E21B 3/02 (2006.01)
CPC E21B 7/06 (2013.01) [E21B 3/02 (2013.01); E21B 7/02 (2013.01); E21B 7/046 (2013.01); E21B 7/062 (2013.01); E21B 17/046 (2013.01); E21B 17/07 (2013.01); E21B 17/18 (2013.01); E21B 19/16 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A dual rod drill rod for a dual rod drilling system having a drill string extending from an above ground drilling machine to a downhole drilling tool, the drill string being formed by a plurality of dual rod drill rods joined end-to-end, the dual rod drill rod comprising:
a tubular outer rod including a first end having a shoulder, and a second, opposite end;
an inner rod within the tubular outer rod, the inner rod including
a first end having
a torque-carrying section; and
a flow collar having an outer rod interfacing surface defining a continuous annular surface with a constant outer diameter; and
a second end having
a torque-carrying section;
wherein the inner rod is constrained against movement within the tubular outer rod in a first direction by the outer rod interfacing surface of the flow collar interfacing with the shoulder of the tubular outer rod;
wherein the flow collar includes a first interior portion having a first interior diameter, and a second interior portion having a second interior diameter that is larger than the first interior diameter such that there is more annular space between the inner rod and the second interior portion than between the inner rod and the first interior portion; and
wherein an annular fluid flow passage is defined between the inner rod and the tubular outer rod, and wherein a plurality of radially-extending peripheral fluid passages extend through the flow collar to provide fluid communication between the annular fluid flow passage and the second interior portion.