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Class 175 :: BORING OR PENETRATING THE EARTH

Definition

A. This class relates to processes and means for initially forming or radially enlarging an elongated hole in the earth in situ by dislocating the solid material of the earth.1. The means forming the hole is of the type which advances inwardly into the earth from the point at which the earth is pierced and acts on the entire peripheral extent of the hole as it advances.2. Dislocating of the earth formation may be achieved by any action, such as disintegrating, compacting, chipping, cutting, severing, splitting, spalling, piercing, burning, decomposing or eroding, for example, so long as the purpose is to form a hole.

B. This class also takes tools not elsewhere classified specifically described as for forming bores in masonry, concrete, cement, glass or similar materials having a brittle frangible character similar to rock.

C. This class is also the locus for below ground impact connections. Such devices, commonly called “Jars” are defined as a means forming a lost motion connection in a shaft or cable, and are provided with impacting faces which are described as generating a blow to be delivered to some device connected to the rod or cable and located in a hole in the earth. Combinations involving below ground impact connection and a specifically claimed art device which forms subject matter for another class will be found in such other class.

However, the combination of the below ground impact connection and a specific joint for joining the shaft or cable to an art device which forms subject matter for another class is classifiable in Class 175.

D. This class includes subject matter relating to devices for firing a bullet or exploding a shaped charge from an inaccessible hole to penetrate the formation (See Subclass References to the Current Class, below.). Also included are such devices which are limited by disclosure to perforating or cutting a casing or other hole lining in an inaccessible hole but which would inherently function to direct a bullet or charge in the same manner as a formation cutter or perforator.

LINES WITH OTHER CLASSESRELATIONSHIP TO CLASS 166, WELLSClasses 166 and 175 are very closely related since the majority of the wells classifiable in Class 166 are made by the processes or apparatus of Class 175 and much of the apparatus of Class 166 used in operating wells is also useful in operating Class 175 apparatus. In view of this fact, the general lines between these two classes are different with respect to processes and apparatus.

A. ProcessProcesses of making, using or treating a well which as a whole are more comprehensive than an earth boring or penetrating process and which include a step of earth boring or penetrating, which step alone would be classifiable in the processes of Class 175, are classified in the appropriate process subclasses of Class 166, except as noted below.

A well fluid sampling process including a step of earth boring or penetrating is classifiable in Class 166, unless a step of sampling the earth formation solids is included in such a fluid sampling process, then classification is in Class 175. (See Subclass References to the Current Class, below.)Generally, processes of cementing a well are classified in Class 166 while processes of boring the earth with fluid containing a plugging or cementing type constituent are classified in Class 175. Also see References to Other Classes, below, for the reference to Class 166.

Processes for cleaning the wall of a well or earth bore in which the material being removed has been deposited in the well are classified in Class 166. Processes in which the well bore is enlarged or acted upon to remove the natural solid earth formation (e.g., reaming), are classified in Class 175. In a process of cleaning a well bore which includes a step of drilling or boring, the step of the removal of the deposited material from the wall of a well or earth bore must be specifically recited in the claim to be classifiable in Class 166 since practically all drilling processes would inherently result in cleaning of the well bore.

Processes of casing or lining well bores are generally classifiable in Class 166 even though an earth boring step is claimed. However, drilling a well generally involves the use of a tubing, particularly in rotary drilling operations, which may in some instances be left in the bore to form a casing or lining. Therefore, a patent which claims in a boring process the formation of a cased or lined well by merely leaving the tubing or the like used in the boring operation in the well, will be classified in Class 175.

If, however, a drill tubing or shaft and a separate well lining or casing are specifically described, and steps are claimed of boring and lining or casing, classification will be in the processes of Class 166 even if the separate casing or lining is specifically described as including an earth cutting shoe and the step of cutting with the casing or lining is claimed.

B. ApparatusIn general, Class 175 is more comprehensive than Class 166 with respect to apparatus when an earth boring tool is claimed in combination with a well feature except as noted below.

Cutters specifically described as perforating or cutting well pipe in situ as defined in Class 166 are classified in such subclass even though such cutter may be incidentally described as also cutting the earth. For such cutters to be classified in Class 175, there must be a cutter element which is specifically described as a rock or earth cutting element in addition to the pipe cutter and such earth cutting element must be claimed. However, devices for firing a bullet or exploding a shaped charge to perforate or cut well pipe in situ are classified in Class 175 even though the disclosure is limited to perforating or cutting casing or a wall member in a bore if the device inherently functions to form a bore in the earth formation.

A lateral probe extending from a tubular well member to engage and penetrate the earth formation to form a fluid passage is classified in Class 166. If the probe removes any of the earth formation, for a sample or otherwise, classification will be in Class 175. See Subclass References to the Current Class, below.

RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER CLASSES WHICH INCLUDE SUBJECT MATTER CLOSELY RELATED TO CLASS 175.

A. ProcessesProcesses for forming a hole in stone or a stone like substance which has been previously removed from its relative position, and processes for precious stone working are classified elsewhere. (See References to Other Classes, below.)Processes of forming holes in the earth for agricultural purposes such as, for example, aerating the soil are classified elsewhere. (See References to Other Classes, below.)Processes for forming openings in the earth while recovering in desirable sizes or shapes a valuable material which naturally occurs in the solid state are classified elsewhere. However, merely forming a hole in valuable material for a purpose other than recovery of the material removed, such as to form a hole to receive a blasting charge or for ventilation is classified in Class 175. Disintegrating hard material in situ where the area worked is of larger surface extent than the working extent of the tool, and forming a large horizontal opening in the earth by following a cutting means into an opening with a horizontally operating vehicle support therefor is elsewhere. (See References to Other Classes, below.)methods and apparatus for installing water or earth control structures or piles or the like in the earth which may include a hole forming step or means are classified elsewhere as are methods or apparatus for forming an underground fluid storage cavity, or a shaft or tunnel, which go beyond merely removing the material to form the hole. However, boring generally involves the use of tubing, and such tubing may, in some instances, be left in the bore to form a cased hole which may be described as a shaft, tunnel, or conduit for fluid, etc. Therefore, a patent which claims in a boring process, the formation of a cased or lined hole by merely leaving the tubing or the like used in the boring operation in the hole, will be classified in Class 175. (See References to Other Classes, below.)Processes where boring or penetrating the earth is employed as part of a process within the Class 588 definition. (See References to Other Classes, below.)B. Tool driving or impacting;Means to drive or impact a tool, when such means includes combined features, such as driving and advancing, driving and cleansing or specific impact relationship to a tool, but which means is not limited to specific art use are elsewhere. Class 175 includes combinations of such means with means such as the specific structure of the work contacting portion of a tool, a fluid head adapted to engage a bore entrance, or a bore wall engaging guide or packer on a shaft being used in a boring operation. Class 175 also provides for below ground impacting devices comprising lost motion connectings as described in C, Tools, below, even when such impacting devices are not combined with any other specific feature for Class 175. (See References to Other Classes, below.)C. ToolsTools for boring gem stones, and also the combination of a tool for boring stone or stone-like material when the tool is claimed in combination with a work support or work holder are elsewhere as are sawing or splitting tools for working blocks of stone and stone-like materials, and for stone surface working tools and miscellaneous stone working tools (e.g., miners picks). (See References to Other Classes, below.)Tools for boring or penetrating into the earth, when the boring is done to recover valuable cuttings from a borehole in desirable size or shape, and also includes earth boring or penetrating tools which are specifically described as being adapted to follow a boring movement with a lateral movement relative to the surface of a hard material which is being worked to form a channel or kerf are elsewhere. However, Class 175 takes such channeling cutters which are described as functioning completely below the surface of the earth in an inaccessible hole. Apparatus for forming a large horizontal passageway into the earth by continuously advancing a cutting device by means of a horizontally operating vehicle which forms a passageway as the vehicle follows the cutting means into and along the passageway are elsewhere. (See References to Other Classes, below.)Rotary boring bits not otherwise classifiable are elsewhere. (See References to Other Classes, below.)Soft earth removing tools such as ditchers, dredgers and clam shells, which are adapted to form a hole of greater peripheral extent than the tool by lateral movement which may or may not follow a boring advance, or by repeated laterally displaced excavatory grabs are elsewhere. (See References to Other Classes, below.)A tool which is provided with a cutting edge adapted for boring or penetrating into the earth, but which is solely disclosed as for boring into the earth around a living plant for the purpose of removing the plant from the earth as the tool is extracted, is classified in the appropriate agricultural or material handling class.

A tool such as a drive point or nozzle which assists in the placement or construction of an earth embedded structure and forms part of the completed structure is classified in the appropriate building art.

A device which is disclosed as a tool to bore or penetrate the earth by directly applying heat to fluidize or comminute, but which is merely a heater of general utility (e.g., does not claim bit elements, drilling fluid discharge port, etc.), is classified in the appropriate heating class.

In the References to Other Classses, below, search notes to classes which provide for processes for boring or penetrating the earth, or apparatus or processes relating to subject matter which is described for use in connection with a process or apparatus for boring or penetrating the earth, including a statement of the line with the most closely related classes.

Class 175 :: BORING OR PENETRATING THE EARTH

Definition

Subclasses List