US2890513A - Well spider - Google Patents

Description

J. J, ANE

WELL SP ER June 16, 9

2 Sheets-S 1 Filed May 23, 1955 (IO/7h Lane NV NTOR A RNEYS J. J. LANE WELL SPIDER June 16, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 23, 1955- INVENTOR ATTORNEYS United States 2,890,513 WELL SPIDER JolinJ. Lane, Dallas, Tex assignor, by mesne assignments, to The Guiberson Corporation, Dallas, Tex., a corporation of- Texas Application May 23,1955, Serial No. 510,121

7 Claims. (Cl. 24-263) This invention is concernedwith a well pipe supporting device commonly known as a well spider;

In connection with certain operations on an oil well, such as reconditioning, treating, cleaning it, and replacing and repairing sub-surface equipment such as flow valves, pumps or pumping equipmenhit is necessary to withdraw the pipe from the well and to run the pipe back into the well after the'servicing and repair operations are carried out. Drill pipe must also be removed and replaced to change bits, and for other purposes.

While withdrawing pipe from the well and lowering it therein, it is necessary to support the pipe as successive joints are taken therefrom or added thereto. This has been done by means of a'device detachably positioned at'the well head by detachably securing it to the top' of the casing, or setting it on the rotary table, and having engaging slips spaced therearound which frictionally engage thepipe'to hold and support it. Such devices usually employed-slips substantially encircling the pipe having relatively wide faces thereon which faces were roughenedor toothed to give frictional contact with pipe in the manner of conventional slips. Such slips failed to hold many times and tended to swage and distort thepipe. g H I v This invention is particularly addressed to improvements in a pipe supporting device of the type indicated which has certain advantages over previous devices of this character, as will be hereinafter set forth. g. I

It is a primary object of this invention to provide a pipe supporting and holding device having a plurality of longitudinally arranged rows of individual slip teeth arrangedthereabout, wherein each tooth isfree to adjust itself laterallyyand' 'vertically to. engage the .pipe being supported in suchafiway as to positively support the pipe and prevent rotation'thereof, p

Another'object is to provide a pipesupporting, device wherein each slip tooth element, whether it carries one or more teeth, isv free to rotate to a limited extent about a vertical axis parallel to the vertical, axis or centerline of the bowl in whichithe supporting deviceisdiplosed, whereby the corners of the engaging portions of the teeth will bite into the pipe and prevent. rotation of the pipein either direction.

A stillfurther object of thisginventionistto. provide a pipe supporting; device having. individual, slip teeth with sharp cutting edgesthereon, said; teeth beinglarranged to normally tiltivertically downward whileiunderload, so,.that 'the teethrwill. present a sharpened upper. edge to biteinto theipipeflto support thepipe, and said teeth being loosely disposed in the receptacletherefor: so: that they are free to tilt upward to release the pipe, when the pipe. is pulled upwardly.

A still: further object vof tl1is. inventionis toprovide a. pipe supportingv device: which is, arranged in: separate hinged segments, the 'saidivsegmentszsuspending; a pipe by a three-.poiutsuspension; betweenhtwo. rows of slip teeth; which. contact the. pipe. andby anvouter side which 2,89%,513 Patented June 16, 1959 2 is in line contact with the' conical bowl in which the pipe supporting. device ispositioned, Such three-point suspension perfectlycenters. the pipe in the bowl, thereby allowing the teeth to uniformly engage the pipe. This prevents swaging and distortion. of the pipe caused by irregular contact between the slip teeth and the pipe.

A further object of this invention is to provide a pipe supporting device wherein each individual slip tooth is suspended by a three-point contact, the two corners of the outer margin of the. tooth being in contact With the pipe and the rear edge of the tooth. being in 'contac't with the rear, inner side of the channel in which the teeth are disposed. 1

A further object of this invention is to provide individual slip teeth which: are simple and inexpensive to manufacture, and-a. 'slip tooth .body with receptacles therein for receiving the. slip tooth which'are easy and inexpensive to make by simple drilling and boring operations.

A still further object is to provide.- a' pipe supporting device having. teeth therein whichvwillv positively hold the pipe against rotation,- makingit unnecessary to hold the pipe engaged by the pipe supporting device with wrenches in order to disconnect a joint of pipe/therefrom. No previous pipe supporting device of this character has been made which would'positivel'y hold the. pipe against rotation. This function is present whether. the tooth element has one tooth thereon or a plurality of teeth thereon (as shown in the modified form hereinafter described). r

A further object is to provide a pipe supportingdevice which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and which is simple to operate,

Other and further objects of my invention will become apparent upon reading the detailed specification hereinafter following and by referring to the drawings annexed hereto.

In the drawings:

Fig.1 is, a perspective view of a pipe supporting device, incorporating my invention, disposed in the supporting bowl, in the position in which it would be disposed to engage a; pipe being'run into a well or being withdrawn from a well;

Fig. IL is a perspective view showing the pipe supporting device, incorporating my invention, in raised position with respect to the supporting'ibowl, thehandle havirrg been pushed downward to raise the body segments from the bowl. r

Fig. III-is an exploded perspective View showing an individual tooth, an individual: spacer disc and the upper retaining plug, with a cotter key which holds the retaining plug in place with relation to a tooth retaining'channel. 1

Figtlv is a top plan view of the pipe supporting device showingthe normal position of the teeth when'engaged with a pipe being lowered into, or raised from, a well, wherein no rotative force is applied to the pipe.

Fig; V' isa top plan view of the pipe supporting'Tdevice showing the position the teeth assume with relation, to a pipe supported thereby when the pipe is attempted, to be rotated counterclockwise, the corners of the teeth being shown as bitingv into the pipe -to prevent rotation. v

Fig. V1 is a top plan view of the pipe supporting device,,showing the position which the teeth wouldassume withresp'ectto a pipe when it is attempted to rotate the pipe clockwise, showing'the corners of the teeth' biting into the-pipe to prevent rotation. v i f Fig. VIIVis avertical section ofone of the slip bodies takenon line VII+VII of .Figure. IV showing the teeth in normal downwardly slanted position in the teeth supporting channel.

Fig. VIII is a fragmentary plan view showing the position of the teeth in the teeth-supporting channel shown in cross-section, illustratingthe three-point contact between the slip body and the pipe, shown in cross-section, when the pipe is supported by the teeth. The corners of the tooth element are illustrated biting into the pipe.

Fig.1X is a cross-sectional elevational view of a slip body showing a modified form of tooth element which has thereon a plurality of teeth.

Fig. X is a perspective view of the modified form of tooth element having a plurality of teeth thereon, said teeth having sharpened edges turned upwardly to bite into the pipe to hold and supportsarne, and having a substantially circular body which permits the teeth to move laterally to cause the corners of the teeth to bite into the pipe to prevent rotation of the pipe.

Numeral references are employed to designate the various parts shown in the drawings, and like numerals designate like parts throughout the various figures of the drawings.

The numeral indicates, generally, a spider supporting bowl of substantially conventional construction which is divided into two separable, complementary halves 10a and 10b. One half 10a of the spider bowl 10 has spaced hinge tongues 11 on each side thereof which are interengageable with complementary hinge tongues 12 on the other half 10b of the spider bowl. A hinge pin 13 is removably inserted through the inter-engaged tongues 11 and 12 at one side of the spider bowl. The hinge pin 13 has a pivoted ring 14 engaged with the head thereof, and a chain 15 having a hook 16 on the outer end thereof is attached to the ring 14. The free ends of the hook 16 may be engaged in a hole in the upper side of the bowl half 10b, as shown, to prevent the loss of the pin 13 when it is removed from the inter-engaging hinge tongues 11 and 12 to permit the spider supporting bowl to be opened to pass it around a pipe or to remove it from a pipe.

A hinge pin 17 also removably passes through complementary tongues, such as 11 and 12, on the opposite side of the spider bowl 10 to thereby hingedly join the halves 10a and 10b of the spider bowl.

The spider supporting bowl 10 is arranged to be opened to permit it to be positioned around a tubing, drill stem or other pipe extending into a well by removing the hinge pin 13 and pivoting the separate halves 10a and 10b about the hinge pin 17, thus permitting the separate halves 10a and 10b to be passed around a pipe. The halves may then be closed about the pipe, causing the tongues 11 and 12 to inter-engage in the positions shown in Figs. I and II, and the hinge pin 13 is then reinserted through coinciding passages (not shown) extending through the complementary tongues 11 and 12.

A pair of guide rails 18 extend upwardly from the upper edge of each of the bowl halves 10a and 10b. Each guide rail 18 has an inwardly tapered inner surface 19 thereon, which is arranged to guide the slip bodies 26 into the bowl receptacle 23.

Each half 10a and 10b of the spider bowl 10 has an inwardly converging tapered surface 20 therein which, when the halves are attached together in the position shown in Fig. II, form a substantially frustoconical shaped receptacle, indicated at 23, inside the bowl.

A concentric opening (not shown) is provided through the lower end of the spider bowl, which is larger in diameter than the pipe which passes therethrough. A downwardly extending flange (not shown) is provided on the lower side of the spider bowl, when assembled in the position shown in Fig. II, said flange surrounding the central passage through the bowl. The spider bowl 10 may be detachably secured about a pipe to be supported in the manner hereinbefore described, and may be positioned on a rotary table or the upper end of a casing by passing the base flange thereon through the central opening in the rotary table, or by setting it on top of the casing flange or connection, in the usual and customary manner.

Suitable holes 21 are provided in the bodies of the spider bowl halves 10a and 10b for the purpose of attaching chains or cables thereto for lifting and handling, and for the purpose of anchoring the spider bowl to the rotary table or the well casing either by means of bolts or by attaching chains or cables to other parts of the well head assembly or drilling equipment, if such further anchoring be desired.

The bowl assembly, hereinbefore described, is of conventional construction, and it is therefore thought that it is not necessary to show and describe same in more detail. Sufficient description is given for an understanding of the use and function of the invention claimed.

The slip assembly and pipe holder, incorporating the improvements claimed herein, is made up of a substantially tubular supporting structure comprising a plurality of slip bodies 26, there being three of such bodies shown in the drawings. The bodies 26 are hingedly attached to each other by means of hinge pins 31 which pass through interfitting hinge tongues 27 and 28 which are made integral parts of the bodies 26 and extend from the edges thereof. It will be understood that the pipe supporter would work satisfactorily even though the bodies 26 were not hingedly attached. All of the slip bodies 26 are identical and are interchangeable. This provides for production economy.

The'hinge pin tongues 27 and 28 have bolt receiving passages 29 and 30, respectively, extending therethrough, which passages 29 and 30 are in coinciding alignment when the interfitting tongues are engaged, so as to receive the hinge pins 31. The hinge pins 31 are preferably easily removable so that the bodies 26 may be detached for shipment or for replacement. Each of said hinge pins 31 is held in place with respect to the complementary tongues 27 and 28 by means of a nut 32 threaded on the outer end thereof.

A coiled spring 34 is positioned about the lower end of each hinge pin 31 and between a hinge tongue 27 and a nut 32, the free ends 34a of the spring 34 being engaged with the adjoining edges of the bodies 26.

The adjoining edges of two bodies 26 are left unattached, when the three bodies are hingedly assembled, so that when the bodies are pulled together by the frustoconical receptacle 23, as shown in Fig. I, the tongues 27 and 28 will interfit but are free to separate when the bodies are lifted from the bowl, as shown in Fig. II.

The springs 34 tend to urge the hinged bodies 26 apart, so that when the bodies are lifted from the bowl 10, in the manner which will be hereinafter described, the springs 34 will urge them outwardly against the tapered surfaces 20, on the inner side of the bowl, and cause them to slide upwardly thereon, permitting the unjoined edges of the bodies to separate, thereby freeing the teeth on the inner sides of the bodies 26 from the pipe which is being held and supported.

All of the bodies 26 could be left unattached, and the device wouldoperate satisfactorily. In such event, the bodies would be inserted in the receptacles 23 with the tongues 27 and 28 in interfitting relationship, but without hinge pins 31 joining the tongues. The interfitting tongues would permit the bodies to be lifted in unison by handle or pedal 66 suffieiently to allow the teeth to release the pipe, but in using the slip bodies unattached it is more desirable to attach an operating handle to each slip body.

Each body 26 has a longitudinal rib 35 formed on the outer side thereof. Each rib 35 has a hole 36 arranged therethrough for the purpose of attaching the lifting mechanism, hereinafter described.

Each rib 35 has an inwardly converging tapered outer surface 37 which is arcuately curved so that it has a lesser radius, on the outer side thereof, than the radius of the frusto-conical receptacle 23 on the inner side of the bowl 10. This arrangement permits the ribs 35 to have line contact with the inner sideof the bowl 10, as indicated by the arrows 38 in Fig. IV, for the purpose which will be hereinafter explained. 7

There is formed on the inner side of each body 26 a pair of substantially parallel, spaced, vertical toothreceiving channels 40, the bores of which are substantially circular in cross-section, as indicated at 41. The bore of each channel 40 opens at the upper side of the segment 26 and terminates short of the lower end of the segment. A segmental portion of the circumference of each bore 41 is cut away on the inner side thereof to form a longitudinal passage 42 through which the tooth shanks 59 may extend. On each side of the passage 42 there is formed a straight surface 43, which is engageable withthe shanks 59 on the slip teeth 48 to limit the extent of lateral movement thereof. However, it will be observed that the passage 42 is wider than the tooth shanks 59 to thereby permit free lateral movement of the tooth shanks.

A block 44, of substantially circular cross-section, is fitted in the lower end of each of the bores 41 of the tooth-receiving channels '40, which block has a down wardly inclined surface 45 on the upper side thereof to permit the teeth 48 and spacers 49 to assume a normal downwardly inclined position, as shown in Fig. VII.

The bores 41 are preferably formed by drilling them in the body 26, after the body is castand the block 44 is then inserted in the channel 40-. It may either be loose or it may be welded-in place. Such drilling is a quick, simple and relatively inexpensive operation, as compared with the prior practice of making square or dovetailed tooth channels by machining.

A plurality of flat slip teeth 48, of uniform thickness, are loosely disposed, in superposed relationship, in each of the'channels 40, each tooth 48 being separately movable and unattached to any other tooth or spacer member used therewith.

The teeth 48 are separated and spaced, each from the other, by flat circular disc spacers 49 of substantially uniform thickness, which are larger in diameter than the width of passage 42 and are loosely carried in the circular bore of channel 40, so that the disc spacers '49 will not pass through the passage 42.

Each tooth 48 has a substantially circular body por- 'tion 58, which is larger in diameter than the width of the passage 42, but being loosely carried in the circular bore 41 of channel 40, whereby it will not pass through the passage.

It will be noted, as clearly shown in Fig. VIII, that the body portion 58 is considerably lesser in diameter than the diameter of the bore 41, so that the body 58 is free 'to rotate to a limited extent, and tilt vertically therein.

Each of the tooth members 48 includes a shank portion 59 which is made integral with the body 58 and extends therefrom. The circular bodies 58 are inserted in the bores 41 of channels 40 at the upper end thereof, with the shank portions 59 extending outwardly through, and beyond, the passage 42', as shown. One of the spacer discs49 is inserted in the bore 41 of channel 40 between each of the body portions 58. After a suflicient number of tooth members 48 and spacer discs 49 are inserted in the bore 41, a retaining plug 50, having a circular portion larger in diameter than the width of the passage 42, is then removably inserted in the bore 41 of channel 40 over the superposed column of teeth 48 and discs 49. The retaining plug 50 has a downwardly beveled surface 51 thereon which causes the teeth 48 to be normally maintained in a downwardly inclined position. The plug 50 has a flat outer face 52 thereon and a slot 53 extends inwardly of the upper end thereof. The plug 50 may be secured in place after being inserted in the channel 46 by passing the cotter key 54 through the slot 53 and through a passage 55 in the slip segment body 26 and deforming the ends 57 of the cotter'key to engage them against the outer face of the segment 26. The tooth members 48 and spacer discs 49 are thus removably held in the channel 40.

The teeth 48 are preferably disposed in the channel 40 in such a manner that a suth'cient amount of space is left between the column of teeth and the plug 50 to permit the teeth to pivot sufiiciently to allow the teeth to adjust themselves vertically and laterally to fit the supported pipe 38 and to also permit the teeth to piv'ot'upwandly, when a pipe is pulled upwardly there'against, sufiiciently to free the ipe from the upper cutting edge 61 of the teeth, thereby permitting the pipe to be passed upwardly between the rows of teeth and "raised.

Each tooth shank 59'has an ou'ter flat surface thereon which is preferably 'aicuat'ely curved on a radius, shorter than the radius of the outer diameter of the pipe which the teeth engage, as showri in Fig. ViII. sharp edges 61 and 63 are thus provided on the upper and lower outer edges of each shank 59, and the sharp corners 62 of the shanks 59 are arranged to engage and bite into the pipe 88 in the manner illustrated iii Fig. VIII.

In Figs. IV and VIII, the shanks 59011 the teeth 48 are shown in their normal engaged position with a pipe 88 when no rotative force is applied to the pipe. It will be observed that the sharp corners 62 of the shanks 59 are biting into the pipe. The upper sharp edge 61 is also in engagement with the pipe and is penetrating same sufficiently to hold the pipe.

When counterclockwise rotative force is applied to the pipe 88, the teeth 48 will be calised to rotate about a vertical axis parallel tothe vertical axis of the pipe 83. Sufiicient space is provided in the opening 42, between the edges of the shank 59, to permit the shank 59 to move laterally a suflicieht distance to cause the sharp corners 62 of the shank 59 to bite deeper into the pipe, thus preventing the ipe from rotating. The same operation occurs when an attempt is made to rotate the pipe clockwise, as illustrated in Fig. VI. The pipe 88 is positively prevented from rotating. The pipe 88 is firmly held against rotation even when the section. of pipe above the place of engagement by the slip teeth has wrenching torque applied thereto for the purpose of breaking joints. a

The teeth members 48 are simple and relatively inexpensive to manufacture. They may be stamped out of sheet metal and then case hardened. No other machine work is necessary to make them.

The spacer discs 49 may also be stamped out of sheet metal simply and inexpensively.

It will be obvious that the teeth are easy to remove for replacement by merely removing the plug 50 and sliding the teeth and spacer discs upwardly out of the channels 40.

A lifting handle 65 is arranged to raise the bodies 26 out of the bowl 10, such handle also being supplemeiited by a foot pedal 66, whereby the spider assembly may be lifted and lowered in the bowl 10 by use of the hand or the foot. The handle 65 is detachable, if desired. The handle 65 and the pedal 66 are attached to a lever thrust block 67, which in turn is pivotally attached between the links 63 by a pivot pin 70. The links 68 straddle one of the ribs 35 and are pivotally attached thereto by means of a link pin 69 which passes through the ends of the links 68 and through a hole 36 in a rib pivotally attached at one end between the ears 72 and 73 by means of a pivot pin 75, and the other end of the follower link 73 extends into a slot 76 in the thrust block 67 and is pivotally attached therein by a pivot pin 76a.

It will be seen that when the handle 65 or pedal 66 are pushed downwardly, the bodies 26 will be raised out of the bowl 10 and will be separated in the manner shown in Fig. II. The springs 34 urge the segments outwardly to cause them to separate in the manner which has already been described, thus freeing the teeth 48 from the pipe.

The segments may be lowered into the bowl by merely pushing upwardly on the handle 65 or pedal 66, as shown in Fig. II, and allowing the tapered sides 37 of the ribs 35 to slide downwardly along the tapered surfaces 19 and 20 until the segments are brought together in the bowl in the position shown in Fig. I and the teeth 48 are brought into engagement with a pipe, such as shown at 88, to hold and support it in the manner which has been hereinbefore described. The weight of the pipe wedges the segments 26 into tight frictional engagement with the inner side of the bowl 10 so that they will not turn in the bowl, and the greater the weight of the pipe, the tighter will be the wedging action and the more firmly will the teeth grip the pipe.

When the handle 65 and pedal 66 are in down position, the linkage, described above, goes over center to permit it to stay down without holding, in the manner well known in the art.

The handle and lever arrangement for lifting and lowering the pipe supporting assembly is merely illustrative. It will be obvious that other lever arrangements could be provided to serve the same purpose. Power means, such as hydraulic or pneumatic mechanism, could be provided to raise and lower the segments 26.

As is indicated in Fig. IV, by the arrows 38 and 39, each body 26 is suspended between the bowl 10 and the supported pipe 88 by a three-point contact. The outer surface 37 of each of the ribs 35 has a shortened radius with respect to the radius of the inner side of the bowl 10 so that it makes a line contact with the conical shaped receptacle 23 of the bowl. This constitutes the outer point of suspension. The other two points of suspension are the separate rows of superposed teeth 48 in the channels 40 on the inner side of the bodies 26. Thereby the pipe 88 is perfectly centered between the bodies 26 when they are closed about the pipe.

Such three point suspension assures that the rows of teeth arranged about the pipe 88 will evenly engage the pipe, and there will be no excessive and uneven pressure exerted against a limited circumference of the pipe. The rows of teeth are spaced evenly about the pipe at 60 degree intervals, and since the pipe is perfectly centered between the rows of teeth, each supports its proportionate part.

of the weight of the pipe and there is no uneven pressure exerted against a limited section of the pipe. Therefore, swaging or distortion of the pipe is reduced to a minimum. In using many old type slip devices, wherein the pipe was not centered between the slips, and the load was not evenly distributed, the pipe was distorted.

Moreover, the teeth 48 are loosely disposed in the channels 40 and are free to pivot laterally and vertically so that the individual teeth are free to adjust themselves to irregularities in the contour of the pipe which is being supported. Each tooth is free to pivot to move inward a limited distance, or laterally a limited distance, to conform to an irregularity in the shape of the pipe, thereby permitting substantially all of the teeth to be engaged with the pipe to distribute the weight thereof between the individual teeth. As previously pointed out, the teeth so grip the pipe as to positively prevent rotation.

In Figs. IX and X is shown a modified form of tooth assembly wherein a plurality of teeth 80 are made an integral part of one tooth segment or body 78. Each toothed segment 78 has a substantially cylindrical body portion 79 which is arranged to be loosely disposed in the bore 41 of a channel 40 in a manner similar to that shown in Fig. VIII. Each segment 78 has a shank portion 77 extending therefrom on which is formed a plurality of teeth 80, made integral therewith, and projecting therefrom. The shank 77 is arranged to extend through the passage 42 leading into the bore 41 of channel 40, in substantially the same manner shown in Fig. VIII. The width of shank 77 is less than the width of passage 42 so that it may move laterally in both directions. The teeth 80 are formed on the segment 78 by cutting angled slots 82 therein which form arcuate biting edges 81. The biting edges 81 are facing upwarding in position to engage and bite into a pipe such as 88 when engaged therewith. The arcuate edges 81 of the teeth 80 are preferably formed on a smaller radius than the outer radius of the pipe 88 whereby the sharp corners 83 of the teeth will engage the pipe and support same in the manner illustrated in Fig. VIII. It will be observed that the cylindrical portion 79 of the toothed segment 78 may rotate in the channel 40 in both directions to the limit of the Width of the passage 42, thereby permitting the corners 83 of the teeth 80 to bite deeper into the pipe and prevent rotation thereof in either direction, when torque is applied to the pipe being supported. In this respect the teeth have the same function as the individual teeth 48, shown in the preferred form.

Since the teeth 80 are formed on the segments 78 in upwardly facing position, it is unnecessary to have downwardly slanted plugs, such as 44 and 50, positioned in the channel 40, as was the case in the preferred form wherein it was desirable to maintain the individual teeth 48 in downwardly slanted position so that the upper cutting edges 61 would be presented to the pipe 88. The filler plug 84, in the lower end of the channel 40, may be simply a flat cylindrical plug of proper width and diameter, and the upper plug 85 may be slidably inserted in the channel 40 and held in place therein by means of a cotter key 86, which passes through a slot 87 (similar to that shown at 53) in the upper end of the plug 85, and through the passage 55 provided through the wall of the body 26. The plug 85 may thus be removed in order to replace tooth sections 78. The filler plug 84 may be entirely eliminated in this form in the event the segments 78 are suflicient to fill the bore 41.

Although it is desirable that the outer arcuate faces of the teeth 59 and 80 be made on a smaller radius than the outer radius of the pipe with which they are engaged, it is to be understood that the teeth will work satisfactorily to engage and support the pipe even though the outer faces are formed on the same or even a slightly larger radius than the pipe which is supported thereby. In either event, the sharp edges of the teeth will bite into the pipe to support it.

It is believed that the operation and function of this device is apparent without further description.

It is also believed to be apparent that I have provided improvements in a pipe supporting device which positively supports the pipe against vertical or rotative movement when engaged therewith, which positively centers the pipe within the supporting device, thereby evenly distributing the weight of the pipe between the rows of teeth therein and prevents swaging and distortion of the pipe, and one in which the teeth are free to move laterally and vertically to seek a fit with the supported pipe even though the pipe be irregular in shape, thereby evenly distributing the weight between the individual teeth. I have also invented a device which is simple and economical to manufacture and which is easy to operate.

It will be apparent that other and further forms of my invention may be devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a pipe holding device, a slip body having a vertical channel in an inner side portion thereof; a plurality of individual teeth positioned in said channel; and spacer discs positioned in said channel, interposed between the teeth to space the teeth from each other, the said teeth extending outwardly of the channel further than the spacer discs.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the teeth and spacer discs are normally inclined outwardly and downwardly with respect to the inner side portion of the body.

3. In a pipe holding device, a slip body having a vertical channel in an inner face of the body, said channel being substantially circular in cross-section and having an opening communicating with the inner face of the said body; a plurality of spaced tooth members positioned in superposed relation in said channel; a plurality of spacer discs disposed in the channel between the tooth members, spacing the tooth members from each other the said tooth members extending outwardly of the channel further than the spacer discs; said tooth members having body portions of substantially circular oross-section rotatively carried in the channel, and a shank section extending through the opening, said shank section being less in width than the opening whereby the shank may move laterally when the body portion rotates in the channel.

4. A device as defined in claim 3 wherein the tooth body portion is substantially lesser in diameter than the channel.

5. A device as defined in claim 3 wherein the outwardly extending face of each tooth member is arcuately shaped on a lesser radius than a pipe with which it is to be engaged.

6. Advice as defined in claim 3 wherein the individual teeth are normally inclined downwardly, but are free to tilt upwardly.

7. In a pipe holding device, a slip supporting body; a longitudinal rib arranged on the outer side of the body;

said rib having an arcuate outer face thereon arranged on a lesser radius than the radius on the inner side of a bowl in which the slip body is used; said body having a pair of circular vertical channels on the inner side of the body; a plurality of slip teeth positioned in each channel, the slip tooth having circular bodies smaller in diameter than the channel, and arcuate outer faces arranged on a lesser radius than a pipe with which said teeth are adapted to be engaged, whereby a three-point contact may be effected by the teeth between a pipe and the body, and three-point contact is eifected between a bowl and a pipe.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,012,506 Blair Dec. 19, 1911 1,381,074 Livergood June 7, 1921 1,436,246 Greve Nov. 21, 1922 1,604,580 Jaques Oct. 26, 1926 1,738,101 Graham Dec. 3, 1929 1,795,578 Smith Mar. 10, 1931 1,908,652 Adair May 9, 1933 2,010,938 Abegg Aug. 13, 1935 2,012,337 Burns Aug. 27, 1935 2,061,771 McLagan Nov. 24, 1936 2,071,637 Laurent Feb. 23, 1937 2,143,615 Abegg Jan. 10, 1939 2,287,432 Kinzbach June 23, 1942 2,523,374 Jensen Sept. 26, 1950 2,589,159 Stone Mar. 11, 1952 2,591,763 Abegg Apr. 8, 1952 2,591,887 Spiri Apr. 8, 1952 2,736,941 Mullinix Mar. 6, 1956 2,785,454 Young Mar. 19, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 806,426 Germany Feb. 21, 1952

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