US2726881A - Knuckle joint with lateral actuating means - Google Patents

Description

De. 13, 1955 c. M. HOWARD KNUCKLE JOINT WITH LATERAL ACTUATING MEANS Filed Jan. 5, 1955 W I, w

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zllllll a Ill nited States Patent KNUCKLE JOINT WITH LATERAL ACTUATING MEANS Clifford M. Howard, Fontana, Calif.

Application January 5, 1953, Serial No. 329,703

3 Claims. (Cl. 285-93) This invention relates to a knuckle joint for use in oil or Water wells, and particularly for the purpose of fishing for or recovering broken sections of pipe, tubing, rods, etc.

An object of my invention is to provide a novel knuckle joint in which the movable sub of the joint is pressed to an angular position relative to the center line of the tool by means of an auxiliary piston which engages the sub on one side thereof.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel knuckle joint in which fluid under pressure is directed to the auxiliary piston by means of a restricting orifice positioned above the movable sub.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a novel knuckle joint in which the actuating piston is eccentrically positioned relative to the vertical center line of the tool.

Other objects, advantages and features of invention may appear from the accompanying drawing, the subjoined detailed description and the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a longitudinal sectional view of my knuckle joint in the position in which the tool is first run into the well.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of my knuckle joint showing the movable sub in its angular position.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4--4 of Figure 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the numeral 1 indicates the main body portion or housing of the knuckle joint which includes an upper portion 2 and a lower portion 3 threaded on to the upper portion, as shown. The upper portion 2 of the body is provided with threads 4 by means of which the tool is attached to the drill pipe or the like (not shown). The parts of the main body 2 and 3 are threaded together as shown, so that it is possible to assemble the movable sub 5. The sub 5 is formed with a bearing 6 at its upper end which fits in a complementary seat 7 in the body of the tool. The bearing 6 of the sub 5 is flattened on both sides, as shown at 8 and these flat faces or sides fit against a corresponding flat face in the body 2 and 3 whereby the sub is prevented from rotating relative to the body of the tool.

The lower portion 3 of the body is provided with an elongated bore 9 in which the movable sub 5 can move back and forth, as will be subsequently described. A vertical fluid bore 10 extends through the body 1 of the tool and a fluid passage 11 is provided in the sub 5 so that circulating fluid can flow downwardly through the tool, all of which is necessary in the drilling of an oil well.

A fitting 12 screws onto the lower end of the sub 5 and this fitting is threaded at its lower end, as shown at 13, so as to receive a fishing tool of a well known type,

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or the fitting may on occasions be threaded directly into the lost tool or pipe (fish) in the hole. The fitting 12 is provided with a shoulder 14 on one side thereof and a cam or block 15 is mounted on this shoulder. It is obvious that the shoulder 14 and block 15 may be integral, if desired. A piston 16 is mounted in the cylinder 17 in the body section 3 of the tool. A shoe 18 on the lower end of the piston 16 engages the block 15 and the shoe and the block have complementary inclined surfaces which will press the sub 5 and the fitting 12 to one side or into the angular position, shown in Figure 2, when fluid pressure is applied to the piston 16.

A duct 19 extends from the fluid bore 10 to the cylinder 17. A plate 20 is mounted in the fluid bore 10 and this plate is provided with a small orifice 21 which restricts the flow of fluid moving downwardly through the bore 10. Due to the restriction of the orifice 21 fluid under pressure will be forced through the duct 19 and.

will thus exert pressure on the top of the piston 16 which will press the shoe 18 downwardly, thus tilting the sub 5 to one side, as shown in Figure 2.

When the sub 5 is inclined, as in Figure 2, the entire tool can be rotated, thus causing the fitting 12 and any fishing tool attached thereto, to sweep the wall of the bore, thus engaging and recovering any lost article which might be leaning against the wall of the bore. The sub 5 is maintained in proper alignment with the shoe 18, that is, the sub cannot rotate relative to the body 1 of the tool, due to the flat faces 8 previously described.

Having described my invention I claim:

1. A knuckle joint comprising a body, threads on the upper end of said body, a sub, a bearing on the sub seated in the body and tiltably mounting the sub on the lower end of said body, said sub projecting from the body, said body having a fluid bore centrally arranged therein and extending vertically therethrough, and said sub having a fluid passage centrally arranged therein and extending vertically therethrough, said body having a vertical cylinder therein eccentrically positioned to the vertical center line of the body, a piston reciprocally mounted in the cylinder, said body having a fluid bore therein, and a duct extending from said fluid bore to said cylinder, a tapered shoe on said piston, and means on said sub engageable by said shoe to tilt the sub as the piston moves downwardly, said means being positioned below said bearing on the sub.

2. A knuckle joint comprising a body, threads on the upper end of said body, a sub, a bearing on the sub seated in the body and tiltably mounting the sub on the lower end of said body, said sub projecting from the body, said body having a fluid bore centrally arranged therein and extending vertically therethrough, and said sub having a fluid passage centrally arranged therein and extending vertically therethrough, said body having a vertical cylinder therein eccentrically positioned to the vertical center line of the body, a piston reciprocally mounted in the cylinder, said body having a fluid bore therein, and a duct extending from said fluid bore to said cylinder, a tapered shoe on said piston, and means on said sub engageable by said shoe to tilt the sub as the piston moves downwardly, said means being positioned below said bearing on the sub, and a plate in said fluid bore positioned below the opening of the duct into the fluid bore, said'plate having a restricting orifice therein.

3. A knuckle joint comprising a body, threads on the upper end of said body, a sub, a bearing on the sub seated in the body and tiltably mounting the sub on the lower end of said body, said sub projecting from the body, said body having a fluid bore centrally arranged therein and extending vertically therethrough, and said sub having a fluid passage centrally arranged therein and extending vertically therethrough, said body having a Patented Dec. 13, 1955.

, mounted in the cylinder, said body having a fluid bore therein, and a duct extending from said fluid bore to said cylindenratapered shoe on said piston, a tapered 5 cam on said sub' engageable by said shoetto tilt the sub as the piston moves downwardly; saidtapered cam being positioned below said bearing on the sub, and a plate in said fluid bore positioned below the entrance of the duct into the fluid; bore, said plate having a restricted 10 orifice therein.

UNITED STA'lQES PATENTS LeBus June 2, 1942

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