Patent ID: 11873686
Assignee: GENERAL DOWNHOLE TOOLS, LTD.
Field: Mechanical elements (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC E  F | IPC E  F

Claim 13:
14. A method of using a downhole tool for dampening torsional shock and vibration of a drill string and drill bit, the method comprising:
coupling an outer body to the drill string, the outer body having an axis;
coupling an inner body to the drill bit, and the inner body is axially movable relative to the outer body;
spring biasing the inner and outer bodies relative to each other;
dampening axial motion of the inner and outer bodies;
recirculating balls between the inner and outer bodies to regulate axial motion therebetween; and
the outer and inner bodies comprise inner and outer grooves, respectively, that are closed loop grooves, each having groove sections with transitional groove sections, a depth of at least one of the groove sections differs from the others to recirculate the balls, and the groove sections are contiguous and uninterrupted so that the balls flow smoothly through them.