US3792836A - Simplified well rig - Google Patents
Simplified well rig Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US3792836A US3792836A US00231993A US3792836DA US3792836A US 3792836 A US3792836 A US 3792836A US 00231993 A US00231993 A US 00231993A US 3792836D A US3792836D A US 3792836DA US 3792836 A US3792836 A US 3792836A
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- fluid
- assembly
- recited
- piston
- lift
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E04—BUILDING
- E04H—BUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES; SWIMMING OR SPLASH BATHS OR POOLS; MASTS; FENCING; TENTS OR CANOPIES, IN GENERAL
- E04H12/00—Towers; Masts or poles; Chimney stacks; Water-towers; Methods of erecting such structures
- E04H12/34—Arrangements for erecting or lowering towers, masts, poles, chimney stacks, or the like
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B7/00—Special methods or apparatus for drilling
- E21B7/02—Drilling rigs characterized by means for land transport with their own drive, e.g. skid mounting or wheel mounting
Definitions
- the rig lift system has three hydraulically driven piston rods or rams, one or more of which may be actuated to provide a range of lift capacity from high speed/low power to low speed/high power.
- the rig may be portably mounted on a transport vehicle. All conventional mechanisms of an oil well rig are eliminated. That is, the rig does not have drawworks, drums, brakes, sprockets and associated lift chains, clutches, a transmission, line spoolers, weight indicators, or travelling blocks.
- U. S. Pat. No. 2,324,096 discloses an hydraulic lift wherein the free end of the piston rod includes a sheave over which a lift line, fixed at one end, is trained, to provide a two-to-one lift ratio, lift line free end to piston rod travel, but the device disclosed is for a catline only and could not be used as the main lift structure for the derrick.
- a catline is a small capacity, purely auxiliary line used with a derrick to raise and lower pipe sections, tools and other small items needed about the derrick area. Similar twoto-one ratio hydraulic lifts useful in remote environments are indicated by prior U. S. Pat. Nos.
- At least two components of the present invention including guide means for the travelling crown and a folding derrick structure having outboard wing units, are somewhat similar to previously known counterpart components.
- a wheeled guide for the travelling block ofa conventional drill rig is disclosed in U. S. Pat. No. 3,376,938, and a derrick for a small drilling rig having folding wing sections forming the upper terminal portion of the derrick when the rig is in an operational disposition as disclosed in U. S. Pat. No. 2,183,867.
- the present invention provides a greatly simplified, low cost, hydraulically operated well rig assembly in which the conventional, cumbersome, expensive and troublesome components of oil well rigs, in existence previous to the present invention, are entirely eliminated.
- the invention herein disclosed and claimed has absolutely no drawworks, no grooved drums, no brakes, no chains, no sprockets, no clutches. no gear transmission, no line spooler, no conventional crown block, no travelling block, and the need for a weight indicator is entirely eliminated.
- These former essential components are replaced by a hydraulic ram assembly which provides a full range of power and lift velocity capacities employing a lift line of relatively short length rather than the conventional long four to six strand lift line threaded through a travelling block and crown to deadline and fastline ends.
- Elimination of the many components set forth above also provides a rig assembly of significantly less overall weight and size compared to prior art rigs, which therefor may easily be transported from well to well and easily raised to a vertical operational position or lowered to a horizontal position for
- a principal object of this invention is to provide a well servicing, pumping and/or drilling rig in which a fluid pressure actuated lift assembly having a range of high speed/low power to low speed/high power lift capacities is provided to replace the usual drawworks assembly.
- Another object of the present invention resides in providing a multipurpose fluid pressure operable rig which may be mounted on a truck transporter.
- Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a multipurpose fluid pressure operable well rig having at least a pair, and preferably three hydraulically operable rams, selectively actuable, individually or in various combinations to provide a variety of lift speed power capacity ratios.
- a still further object of the present invention is to provide a multipurpose fluid pressure operable well rig having an easily controlled, balanced master rotary valve therein for controlling lift.
- Still another object of the invention is to provide a multipurpose fluid pressure operable well rig having, in combination, sand reel line and catline auxiliary components, all driven from a single prime mover.
- FIGS. 1 and 2 are side elevation and end elevation views respectively, illustrating one embodiment of the invention in an operational disposition, over a Well head;
- FIGS. 3 and 4 are side elevation and top plan views, respectively, of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, but in a transport or portable mode;
- FIGS. 5 and 5a and 6 and 6a are detail views, FIGS. 5 and 6 being in section and illustrating two embodiments of the crown guide means used in the embodiment of the invention depicted in FIGS. 1-4 and FIGS. 5a and 6a being partial section views taken along lines 5a-5a of FIG. 5 and 6a-6a of FIG. 6, respectively;
- FIG. 7 is a partial elevation view, half in section, illustrating one hydraulic ram component of the invention.
- FIGS. 8 and 9 are section views taken along lines 88 and 99 of FIG. 7, respectively;
- FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic top plan view of the closed circuit hydraulic fluid pressure system of the invention.
- FIGS. 1 through 4 inclusive illustrate one embodiment of the invention including a truck transporter l0, hydraulic fluid pressure system 12, well hoist l4, and derrick cage 16.
- the truck 10 is rather conventional, having the usual bed 18, wheels and operators cab 22.
- a brace 24 at one end of the truck bed serves as a mid-support for the derrick 16 when the rig is in its transport mode (FIG. 3), and a bracing and frame structure 26 at the other end of truck 10 constitutes the base and horizontal pivot mount 28 for well hoist l4 and derrick l6.
- the derrick 16 may be raised from a horizontal, transport position (FIG. 3) to its vertical, operational position (FIGS. 1 and 2) by a lifting paired leg lever system 30, more fully illustrated and completely described in my prior U. S. Pat. No. 2,593,246.
- lift 30 includes paired lift legs 32 having wheels 34 at their outer ends which ride along rails 36 of derrick 16 to push derrick 16 into a vertical disposition. rather than pulling the derrick, as is done in the previously known, gin pole lift method.
- a simple sheave and line arrangement 38 moves the lever legs 32 utilizing a winch 40 on truck bed 18 to provide the necessary lifting force.
- derrick 16 Once raised to a vertical position, derrick 16 may be locked in place and the legs 32 then form an integral part of the derrick mast structure.
- Locking of the derrick assembly in upright position is done by a safe, simple wedge lock arrangement (not shown), which is fully shown and described in my prior U. S. Pat. No. 2,968,373, FIGS. 5-8 inclusive incorporated herein by reference thereto.
- Major advantages of incorporating the wedge lock mechanism of that patent are to assure an automatically actuablc wedge locking unit as well as to prevent overtravel of the derrick be yond a vertical disposition during erection.
- the lock is firmly and securely engaged during operation of the rig and must be manually disengaged in order to lower the derrick to a transport mode.
- the opposite side of the bracing and frame structure 26 includes a pair of outrigger extension derrick support legs 42 (FIGS. 1 and 2) which are disposed so they straddle a well head 44 located forward of the center of gravity of derrick 16 in order to securely balance the rig during operation.
- This structure is more fully illustrated and discussed in detail in my prior U. S. Pat. No. 3,156,328.
- the outer ends 46 of legs 42 are disposed forwardly of the vertical axis of travel of lift line 48 of well hoist 14.
- this outrigger extension system properly balances the lift forces on the derrick, which is offset forward of the truck front wheels 20, those lift forces tending to overbalance and dislodge truck 10 from its stable disposition.
- This unique well hoist assembly 14 includes a bank of fluid pressure rams or cylinders 50 and sheave assembly 52, over which lift line 48 is trained, the deadline end of lift line 48 being fixed to the derrick structure by an anchor device 54.
- the three cylinders 50 are secured together by suitable means and to derrick 16 by an egg crate arrangement 58 (FIG. 2) comprising three closed end tubes secured to a horizontal pivot mount 28. Similar simple mounting structure may be provided near the upper ends of the three cylinders to secure the same to derrick 16.
- Sheave assembly 52 in a preferred embodiment, comprises a pair of oversized sheaves rotatably mounted on an axle 60 which is secured to the upper ends 62 of hollow piston rods 64 (FIG. 7) in cylinders 50.
- Each sheave is oversized so that the working end of lift line 48 falls outside of derrick l6 and to spread the balance of lift forces exerted on the rig during operation to either side of cylinders 50 as viewed from FIG. 1.
- Lift line 48 will be in two equal length sections, joined at lift end 56 by a suitable yoke (not shown).
- Lift line 48 may be constructed of the usual stranded cable as shown or may be a flat, woven wire belt (not shown).
- sheave assembly 52 has two sets 66 of two wheels each,
- the derrick 16 can include the usual pipe racking platform 68, shown in an extended, operative position in FIG. 1, and folded to a storage position for transport, as illustrated in FIG.
- FIGS. 5, 5a and 6, 6a illustrate a guide structure for sheave assembly 52 as it reciprocates vertically within the upper portion of derrick cage 16.
- Two pairs of inboard rails 70 are formed along the interior front and back sides of derrick 16, as viewed from FIG. 1, and a pair of outboard guide braces 72 are fixed across the outer ends of sheave assembly 52.
- Each outer free end of guide braces 72 has either a pair of slide blocks 74 (FIGS. 5-5a) or a pair of freely rotatable rollers 76 (FIGS. 6-6a) for guiding and stabilizing the reciprocal movement of sheaveassembly 52 to as close to a true vertical movement as possible within derrick 16.
- derrick 16 should be shortened in overall length in order that the structure and its supporting truck may legally travel over conventional roadways. For this reason, the terminal upper end of derrick 16 is bisected, resulting in a pair of wing elements 78 each pivoted to the main portion of derrick 16 at 80, and foldable outwardly to a storage position (FIG. 4). Suitable locking mechanisms may be used to secure wings 80 in both the extended and folded dispositions (not shown).
- each cylinder 50 includes a free piston 82 therewithin, driven upwardly from beneath by fluid under pressure, the source of which is described in detail below, and piston rod 64 thereabove.
- Driving contact between piston 82 and its rod 64 is cushioned by a semispherical or convex abutment plate 84 formed on the base of each piston rod 64.
- a floating piston arrangement is used since not all three cylinders will be driven together all the time and because the upper ends 62 of all three rods 64 are secured together by sheave assembly 52 for simultaneous movement irrespective of whether one, two or all three rods are being driven by their pistons 82 or not.
- the cylinders 50 are quite massive, each having an internal diameter of, e.g., 8, l5, or more inches.
- the overall length of each cylinder may be from to 30 feet.
- a considerable amount of hydraulic fluid may remain on the interior walls 86 of each cylinder which must be permitted to drain back into pressure area 88 of each cylinder 50 to prevent hydraulic locking of rod 64.
- area of contact between each rod and its cylinder should be minimized, particularly when only one or two pistons are being driven under fluid pressure, to minimize drag on the assembly.
- Frictional contact between piston rods and cylinders is minimized by forming rod 64 with an external diameter less than the internal diameter of the cylinder 50 and providing a pair of guide rings 90 to fill the gap between rod 64 and cylinder wall 86, stabilizing vertical movement of the rod and providing the only contact between each rod and its associated cylinder.
- guide rings 90 are made of a polytetrafluoroethylene compound such as Teflon or, alternatively, they may be made of brass. In either event, hydraulic locking of rod 64 is prevented by provision of a series of breather holes 92 through and circumferentially spaced apart around the cylindrical wall of hollow piston rod 64 which enables fluid communication from the exterior to the hollow interior 94 of rod 64.
- the base end 96 of piston rod 64 is also provided with breather holes 98 circumferentially spaced about abutment plate 84 (FIG. 8) enabling drainage for fluid scraped from walls 86 and trapped between or beneath rings 90 to the area between a piston 82 and its rod 64.
- Hydraulic locking of a piston 82 within its cylinder 50 is prevented by a stack of piston rings 100 backed up by a flexible seal 102, being inverted U-shape in crosssection (FIG. 7). Fluid scraped fromwall 86 passes between rings 100 against flexible seal 1'02, forcing the outer seal wall 104 inwardly so that fluid may pass to a weep hole 106 formed in piston 82 and communicating from the seal groove to pressure area 88 beneath the piston.
- a piston 82 and its associated rod 64 are made hollow and are constructed of several components to reduce weight and expense of manufacture, considering their massive size. Nevertheless, each could be made of solid material if desired.
- a prime mover 108 in the form of a standard diesel engine drives a hydraulic fluid pump 110 through a torque converter 112 which, of course, reduces drive power to the pump as pressure within the system 12 increases.
- a mechanical power take-off comprising auxiliary drive belts 114 connected to a small air compressor or hydraulic pump 116 is interposed between torque converter l 12 and primary fluid pump 110.
- the secondary compressor or pump 116 provides fluid pressure for an accumulator tank 118 and outlet line 120 to drive the motor of a catline winch (not shown).
- any standard hydraulic pump 110 might be employed, I prefer to use a constant displacement rotary screw type pump such as the IMO pump marketed by De Laval Turbine, Inc. of Trenton, New .lersey. This pump has only three moving parts, providing constant displacement axial flow offluid, without need of reciprocating parts.
- pump 110 provides hydraulic fluid under pressure to a primary outlet line 122 which directs fluid through a check valve 124, provided to prevent backflow to the pump 110, to branch lines 126 and 128.
- a hydraulic power take-off line 130 may be interposed in primary outlet line 122 to provide a hydraulic power source for motor 132 which drives the usual sand line reel 134.
- a standard sand line is used to bail sand out of a well during servicing thereof and control lever 144 provides the primary on-off power to motor 132, which may be a Staffa motor (a rotary vane pump).
- Branches 126 and 128 direct fluid under pressure to the cylinders 50 for variable, controlled lift power for the well hoist 14.
- Branch 126 directs fluid to the base of the centrally disposed cylinder 50 and branch 128 directs fluid to the two outboard cylinders 50.
- Selector control valve 146 provides on-off power in branch 126 while selector control valve 148 provides the on-off control for branch 128.
- a balanced rotary control valve 150 is located downstream of branches 126 and 128 and is either closed to direct drive fluid to branches 126 and 128, or open, to direct drive fluid through an exhaust line 152, which is connected to a conventional fluid storage tank (not shown).
- the fluid pressure circuit is completed by a pump inlet line 154 from the storage tank (not shown) to the inlet of primary hydraulic fluid pump 110.
- rotary control valve 150 is closed to direct drive fluid to branches 126 and 128.
- branches 126 and 128 have equal flow capacity (therefore, equal internal diameters).
- selector control valve 148 is closed, all drive fluid is directed to central cylinder 50, beneath piston 82, and the well hoist 14 is driven upwardly under X speed at Y power. With controls set in this disposition, hoist 14 is operated at maximum speed under minimum lift power. If more power but less speed is required, selector valve 146 is closed and valve 148 is opened, to direct drive fluid to the two outboard cylinders 50. Assuming all three cylinders 50 have the same dimensions and thus equivalent lift power capacities, well hoist 14 will now operate at 0.5X speed or velocity but at a power rating of 2Y.
- both selector valves 146 and 148 are opened so that all three cylinders 50 are open to drive fluid, thus increasing lift power to 3! while reducing lift velocity to 0.33X.
- the hoist is lowered merely by opening balanced rotary control valve 150 thereby allowing fluid to drain from beneath pistons 82 to the hydraulic fluid storage tank via exhaust line 152.
- all control valves 146, 148, 150 and 144, as well as controls for auxiliary pump 116, pump 110 and prime mover 108 may be mounted on a conventional control console, (not shown) along with balanced valve 150.
- selector valve 148 is opened and 146 is closed, therebydirecting drive fluid to the two outboard cylinders 50, lift force is doubled to 88,000 pounds with rods 64 now moving at one-half the velocity of the first example set forth because input quantity of fluid under pressure remains constant, whether fluid is directed to one, two or all three cylinders, assuming that pump pressure remains at 1,000 psi.
- fective lift force in the lift line 48 is now 44,000 pounds.
- power is tripled to 132,000 pounds at one-third the velocity set forth in the first example. Again, effective lift force in lift line 48 will be 66,000 pounds.
- valve 150 Due to the tremendous power ratings and capacities of the fluid pressure system, it is desirable that the master control or rotary control valve 150 be a balanced valve as illustrated in FIGS. 1l-15 so that a minimum of manual force may be exerted on control handle 156 thereof to operate well hoist 14.
- Valve 150 includes an outer annular chamber 158 having four equispaced ports 160 formed through the interior wall 162 thereof, arranged to communicate with four similarly'spaced ports 164 formed through a rotary plug 166 which has ,aninterior plug chamber 168 and an axial outlet 170,
- control handle 156 being secured to plug 166 on the side opposite outlet 170. Since four cooperating ports 160-164 are provided, arithmetic dictates that only a 45 arc rotation of plug 166 is required to move valve 150 from a fully closed to a fully open position. Since the valve is balanced by provision of four equispaced cooperating ports about an axial flow center, the valve may also be easily set in an infinite number of positions between fully open and fully closed. Stop means 172 define the fully open and closed positions (FIGS. 14 and 15).
- annular projecting rib 174 extending 270 and formed on the outer face of plug 166 cooperates with an annular groove 176 formed in the rear wall 178 of chamber 158, aboutoutlet 170, and includes a 45 arc stationary abutment 180 which defines the limit stops of the valve.
- FIGS. 16 through 18 Another embodiment of the overall protable well rig is illustrated in FIGS. 16 through 18. Components are similar to those illustrated in FIGS. l-4, except that the overall unit is considerably smaller in size and capacity.
- rod stroke distance in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-4 is designed to be about 30 feet, with an effective lift line movement of about 60 feet, while in the embodiment illustrated by FIGS. 16-18, rod stroke will be 15 feet, with an effective lift line movement of 30 feet.
- 13jor significant feature of this latter embodiment is the complete elimination of the derrick cage 16. Only minimal bracing and frame structure 26 is required for integrity of the structure.
- outrigger extension legs 42 are unnecessary, and the sheave and line arrangement 38 may be replaced by a simple single line 182 trained about a pulley 184 to winch 40 to pivot well hoist 14 from a stored, transport position (FIG. 16) to an upright operative position (FIGS. 17, 18).
- a well servicing, drilling and/or pumping assembly comprising a fluid pressure lift device and a lift line operable by said lift device, said fluid pressure lift device comprising: a prime mover; pump means driven by said prime mover for providing fluid under pressure; and lift means powered by said fluid under pressure comprising at least a pair of reciprocable pistoncylinder fluid motors, said lift line operatively connected to the reciprocating components of said fluid motors, and means for selectively directing fluid under pressure to one or both of said fluid motors whereby said fluid under pressure is directed to one of said fluid motors, for relatively high speed/low power lift capacity, or to more than one of said fluid motors for relatively low speed/high power lift capacity said fluid under pressure comprising hydraulic fluid, said fluid pressure lift device further comprising a closed circuit hydraulic fluid system including said pump, powered by said prime mover, having a primary hydraulic outlet branched to said fluid motors, exhaust means from said outlet, an accumulator tank for reserve fluid in fluid communication with said exhaust means, pump inlet means connecting said accumulator tank to said pump,
- control valve is a balanced rotary valve comprising an outer annular fluid chamber communicating with said exhaust line, a plurality of circumferentially spaced ports on the inner face of said annular chamber, a plug member coaxially disposed within said annular chamber and having a plurality of corresponding ports therethrough alignable with said annular chamber spaced ports, and means defining a hollow chamber within said plug member, communicated to said plug ports and to said exhaust line, said plug member being rotatable within and about the axis of said annular chamber to a fully open valve position with said ports aligned and to a fully closed valve position with said chamber ports out of alignment with said plug ports.
- each set of ports comprises four in number, each set of four ports being equally circumferentially spaced apart whereby said plug member is rotatable through a 45 are in moving between fully open and fully closed limit positions.
- said hydraulic system exhaust means further comprise an auxiliary drive branch line, a hydraulically drive motor, driven by fluid under pressure from said auxiliary drive branch line, and a sand reel driven by said hydraulically driven motor.
- said prime mover further comprises an auxiliary motor, power take-off means from said prime mover to said auxiliary motor, said auxiliary motor comprising an air compressor and winch means driven from said air compressor, said winch means being a catline reel.
- said primary hydraulic outlet further comprises a primary branch line interposed between said outlet and said exhaust line, a first secondary branch line from said primary branch line to one of said fluid motors, and a second secondary branch line from said primary branch line to another of said fluid motors.
- each said secondary branch line includes control means therein for independently selectively stopping flow to the fluid motor associated therewith.
- each fluid motor comprises a generally vertically disposed cylinder, a piston in said cylinder driven by said hydraulic fluid, and a piston rod above each piston driven by its piston and extending beyond the upper terminal end of its cylinder, said lift line being operatively connected to the extended upper ends of said piston rods.
- each said piston is a free floating piston, driving its piston rod by abutting the lower end thereof.
- each piston rod lower end includes an abutment plate having a convex contour arranged to contact said floating piston during upward drive by said piston.
- each piston rod is a hollow piston rod throughout its length and further comprises breather means defined through the side walls and lower end thereof for preventing hydraulic locking of the piston rod within its cylinder.
- each piston rod has an outside diameter less than the internal diameter of its cylinder, and includes a pair of antifriction guide rings mounted therearound.
- each said piston further comprises a plurality of piston rings located circumferentially therearound, and annular fluid pressure bleed means internally of said piston rings for draining fluid accumulated on said piston rings during movement of said piston to prevent hydrauliclock of said piston within its cylinder.
- a well servicing, drilling, and/or pumping assembly comprising a fluid pressure lift device and lift line means operable by said lift device comprising: a prime mover; pump means driven by said prime mover for providing fluid under pressure; and lift means powered by said fluid .under pressure comprising at least three reciprocable piston-cylinder fluid motors, said lift line means operatively connected to the reciprocating components of said fluid motors and means for selectively directing fluid under pressure to one of said fluid motors for relatively high speed/low power lift capacity, to two of said fluid motors for relatively intermediate speed and power lift capacity, and to at least three of said fluid motors for relatively low speed/high power lift capacity, said fluid under rpessure comprising hydraulic fluid, said fluid motors being mounted in a side by side relationship, said means for selectively directing fluid under pressure to one or more of said fluid motors comprising a closed circuit hydraulic fluid system driven from said pump, including a primary hydraulic outlet, a first hydraulic branch in fluid communication with the centrally disposed fluid motor of said fluid motors, a second hydraulic branch
- control valve is a balanced rotary valve comprising an outer annular fluid chamber communicated to said exhaust line, a plurality of circumferentially spaced ports on the inner face ofsaid annular chamber, a plug member coaxially disposed within said annular chamber and having a plurality of corresponding ports therethrough alignable with said annular chamber spaced ports, and means defining a hollow chamber within said plug member, communicated to said plug ports and to said exhaust line, said plug member being rotatable within and about the axis of said annular chamber to a fully open valve position with said ports aligned and to a fully closed valve position with said chamber ports out of alignment with said plug ports.
- each set of ports comprises four in number, each set of four ports being equally circumferentially spaced apart whereby said plug member is rotatable through a 45 arc in moving between fully open and fully closed positions.
- each of said hydraulic branches further includes control means for independently selectively enabling fluid flow through the respective branch line.
- each fluid motor comprises a generally vertically disposed cylinder, a piston in said cylinder driven by said hydraulic fluid, and a piston rod above each piston and extending beyond the upper terminal end of its cylinder, said lift line being operatively connected to the extended upper ends of said piston rods.
- each said piston is a free floating piston, driving its piston rod by abutting the lower end thereof.
- each piston rod lower end includes a convex abutment plate arranged to contact the top of said floating piston during upward movement thereof.
- each piston rod is hollow throughout its length and further comprises breather means defined through the side walls and lower end thereof for preventing hydraulic locking of said piston rod within its cylinder.
- each piston rod has an outside diameter less than the internal diameter of its cylinder and includes a pair of antifriction guide rings mounted therearound.
- each said piston includes a plurality of piston rings located circumferentially therearound, and annular fluid pressure bleed means internally of said piston rings for draining fluid accumulated on said piston rings during movement of said piston to prevent hydraulic lock of said piston within its cylinder.
- sheave means comprise axle means mounted across said piston rod upper ends, and a pair of sheaves rotatably mounted by said axle means, said lift line means comprising a pair of generally flat belts secured to a stationary part of said assembly on one side of said three cylinders and being trained over said sheaves with lift means secured to said lift line means free end.
- said assembly further comprises a wheeled transporter and pivotal mounting means for said fluid motors arranged to mount said fluid motors on said transporter in a generally horizontal disposition for transport, and to raise and position said fluid motors in a generally vertical disposition, over a well head, for drilling, pumping, and/or servicing of a well.
- pivotal mounting means comprises a horizontal pivot structure mounted adjacent one end of said transporter, and bracing and frame means securing said fluid motors together as a unitary structure, said bracing and frame means being mounted on said horizontal pivot structure.
- bracing and frame means further comprise a racking platform, mounted mesially of said fluid motors, said platform being pivotal to a horizontal storage position over said fluid motors.
- bracing and frame means further include a derrick cage surrounding and mounting said fluid motors as a unitary structure, and extending above said fluid motors a distance at least equal to the effective stroke distance of said fluid motor reciprocating members, the upper ends of said reciprocating members including sheave means over which said lift line means are trained, and sheave support means joining said upper ends together, and guide means in the upper portion of said derrick cage for stabilizing movement of said reciprocating members, said sheave support means and said sheave means during operation of said assembly.
- said guide means comprise a plurality of guide tracks formed in said derrick cage adjacent said sheave support means, a pair of outboard guide braces secured to the outer ends of said sheave support means, and antifriction guide means on each guide brace joined to said guide tracks to stabilize vertical movement of said upper ends within said derrick cage upper portion.
- each of said anti-friction guide means comprise a pair of slide blocks mounted on each outer free end of said outboard guide braces.
- each of said anti-friction, guide means comprise a pair of freely rotatable wheels mounted on each outer free end of said outboard guide braces.
- bracing and frame means further comprise a pair of folding outrigger struts, adjacent said horizontal pivot structure, arranged to be positioned in spaced apart relationship on the side of a well head opposite the disposition of said transporter to balance said assembly during operation.
- bracing and frame means further comprise lift means for raising said fluid motors from a horizontal transport position to a vertical, operational disposition.
- bracing and frame means include closed end support means for the ends of said fluid motors.
Abstract
A multipurpose oil well rig of simple construction with hydraulically actuable working components. The rig lift system has three hydraulically driven piston rods or rams, one or more of which may be actuated to provide a range of lift capacity from high speed/low power to low speed/high power. The rig may be portably mounted on a transport vehicle. All conventional mechanisms of an oil well rig are eliminated. That is, the rig does not have drawworks, drums, brakes, sprockets and associated lift chains, clutches, a transmission, line spoolers, weight indicators, or travelling blocks.
Description
United States Patent [191 Bender Feb. 19, 1974 SIMPLIFIED WELL RIG [76] Inventor: Emil A. Bender, 6625 Kane Way,
Bakersfield, Calif. 93309 [22] Filed: Mar. 6, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 231,993
[52] US. Cl 254/139, 91/411, 60/97 H, 92/129 [51] Int. Cl. 1366c 23/60 [58] Field of Search..... 254/139, 139.1, 184; 187/9, 187/95;212/145;91/411,413;92/129; 60/97 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,324,096 7/1943 Lilly 254/139 2,957,678 10/1960 Jones 254/139 1 2,438,277 3/1948 Fife et a1 254/139.l
3,481,251 12/1969 Shook 60/97 H X 446,799 2/1891 Thorpe 60/97 H 3,003,584 10/1961 Wiegand et al..,.. 187/9 X 3,478,647 11/1969 Gerber et al.... 91/411 R 3,587,784 6/1971 Tait 91/411 R 3,282,569 11/1966 Thompson 254/184 3,444,784 5/1969 Wengerd 92/129 X 3,614,994 10/1971 Goodrumm. 187/95 3,167,188 l/l965 Burgess 212/145 Primary ExaminerRichard A. Schacher Assistant Examiner-Gene A. Church Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Strauch, Nolan, Neale, Nies & Kurz 5 7 ABSTRACT A multipurpose oil well rig of simple construction with hydraulically actuable working components. The rig lift system has three hydraulically driven piston rods or rams, one or more of which may be actuated to provide a range of lift capacity from high speed/low power to low speed/high power. The rig may be portably mounted on a transport vehicle. All conventional mechanisms of an oil well rig are eliminated. That is, the rig does not have drawworks, drums, brakes, sprockets and associated lift chains, clutches, a transmission, line spoolers, weight indicators, or travelling blocks.
49 Claims, 20 Drawing Figures PATENTED 3 7 92 8 36 SHEET t 0F 6 FIG. I0
SIMPLIFIED WELL RIG BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Oil well drilling, servicing, and/or pumping equipment has always been massive and expensive. The early developments in the art of derrick structures included permanent structures which had to be left at the well site long after completion of the drilling operation.
Soon the trend to portable derrick structure began.
Significant progress over the years provided a transportable yet easily self-erected derrick which could be quickly and efficiently converted from a transport disposition to an operational mode with a minimum of time and labor. Twenty or more of my patents, issued over the last thirty years, evidence this development.
Although the development of the derrick art has progressed in providing easily transportable rig assemblies, little has changed since the earliest days of oil well drilling, pumping and servicing concerning the mechanically operative parts of an oil well rig, including drawworks, crown blocks and travelling blocks, and lift line arrangements. These elements and their associated parts cause significant difficulty and resultant unnecessary maintenance expense in the attempt for efficient, yet satisfactorily acceptable oil well drilling, pumping, and servicing.
There is a paucity of prior art teachings relevant to hydraulic rigs for servicing, pumping or drilling wells. U. S. Pat. No. 2,324,096 discloses an hydraulic lift wherein the free end of the piston rod includes a sheave over which a lift line, fixed at one end, is trained, to provide a two-to-one lift ratio, lift line free end to piston rod travel, but the device disclosed is for a catline only and could not be used as the main lift structure for the derrick. By definition, a catline is a small capacity, purely auxiliary line used with a derrick to raise and lower pipe sections, tools and other small items needed about the derrick area. Similar twoto-one ratio hydraulic lifts useful in remote environments are indicated by prior U. S. Pat. Nos. 2,897,907 and 2,93 1,627. Obviously, a two-to-one ratio hydraulic lift is not novel per se use thereof in a pumping rig having a fluid pressure counterbalance system being disclosed in my prior U. S. Pat. No. 3,538,777. A small capacity, single cylinder well drilling rig is shown in U. S. Pat. No. 2,807,441. The only known prior use of hydraulics in portable rig assemblies for handling pipe or casing sections on the order of 30 to 60 foot lengths is disclosed in U. S. Pat. No. 2,595,307, and there a hydraulic lift is used only to raise the derrick to a vertical, operational disposition. Otherwise, that disclosed rig is completely conventional.
At least two components of the present invention, including guide means for the travelling crown and a folding derrick structure having outboard wing units, are somewhat similar to previously known counterpart components. A wheeled guide for the travelling block ofa conventional drill rig is disclosed in U. S. Pat. No. 3,376,938, and a derrick for a small drilling rig having folding wing sections forming the upper terminal portion of the derrick when the rig is in an operational disposition as disclosed in U. S. Pat. No. 2,183,867.
The present invention provides a greatly simplified, low cost, hydraulically operated well rig assembly in which the conventional, cumbersome, expensive and troublesome components of oil well rigs, in existence previous to the present invention, are entirely eliminated. The invention herein disclosed and claimed has absolutely no drawworks, no grooved drums, no brakes, no chains, no sprockets, no clutches. no gear transmission, no line spooler, no conventional crown block, no travelling block, and the need for a weight indicator is entirely eliminated. These former essential components are replaced by a hydraulic ram assembly which provides a full range of power and lift velocity capacities employing a lift line of relatively short length rather than the conventional long four to six strand lift line threaded through a travelling block and crown to deadline and fastline ends. Elimination of the many components set forth above also provides a rig assembly of significantly less overall weight and size compared to prior art rigs, which therefor may easily be transported from well to well and easily raised to a vertical operational position or lowered to a horizontal position for transport.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, a principal object of this invention is to provide a well servicing, pumping and/or drilling rig in which a fluid pressure actuated lift assembly having a range of high speed/low power to low speed/high power lift capacities is provided to replace the usual drawworks assembly.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a multipurpose oil well rig which entirely eliminates the need for drawworks, grooved drums, brakes, chains, sprockets, clutches, gear transmission, line spoolers, weight indicators, conventional crown blocks, and travelling blocks.
Another object of the present invention resides in providing a multipurpose fluid pressure operable rig which may be mounted on a truck transporter.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a multipurpose fluid pressure operable well rig having at least a pair, and preferably three hydraulically operable rams, selectively actuable, individually or in various combinations to provide a variety of lift speed power capacity ratios.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide a multipurpose fluid pressure operable well rig having an easily controlled, balanced master rotary valve therein for controlling lift.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a multipurpose fluid pressure operable well rig having, in combination, sand reel line and catline auxiliary components, all driven from a single prime mover.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a multipurpose fluid pressure operable well rig having multiple hydraulic ram drives, each ram including a free drive piston operable against a lightweight hollow piston rod situated thereabove, whereby one or more of the rams may be powered without drag being encountered from an unpowered ram.
It is a still further object of the invention to provide a multipurpose fluid pressure operable well rig wherein a lift line is fixed at one end to the rig and trained over sheaves mounted on top of the vertically movable lift component or crown of the rig so that movement of the crown through a given distance imparts twice that length of movement to the free, working end of the lift line.
It is another object to provide an easily transportable fluid pressure operable well rig having derrick components foldable to a storage position whereby the rig may be reduced to a size for legal travel over conventional raodways, the derrick components also having guide tracks to stabilize the travelling crown of the rig.
It is yet another object of the invention to provide a transportable fluid pressure operable well rig which requires no steadying guys when operational, and which need not include any conventional derrick components at all.
Further novel features and other objects of this invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, discussion and the appended claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Preferred structural embodiments of this invention are disclosed in the accompanying drawings in which:
FIGS. 1 and 2 are side elevation and end elevation views respectively, illustrating one embodiment of the invention in an operational disposition, over a Well head; i
FIGS. 3 and 4 are side elevation and top plan views, respectively, of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, but in a transport or portable mode;
FIGS. 5 and 5a and 6 and 6a are detail views, FIGS. 5 and 6 being in section and illustrating two embodiments of the crown guide means used in the embodiment of the invention depicted in FIGS. 1-4 and FIGS. 5a and 6a being partial section views taken along lines 5a-5a of FIG. 5 and 6a-6a of FIG. 6, respectively;
FIG. 7 is a partial elevation view, half in section, illustrating one hydraulic ram component of the invention;
FIGS. 8 and 9 are section views taken along lines 88 and 99 of FIG. 7, respectively;
FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic top plan view of the closed circuit hydraulic fluid pressure system of the invention;
- respectively, of the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 16, showing the rig in an operational disposition, over a well head.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIGS. 1 through 4 inclusive illustrate one embodiment of the invention including a truck transporter l0, hydraulic fluid pressure system 12, well hoist l4, and derrick cage 16. The truck 10 is rather conventional, having the usual bed 18, wheels and operators cab 22. A brace 24 at one end of the truck bed serves as a mid-support for the derrick 16 when the rig is in its transport mode (FIG. 3), and a bracing and frame structure 26 at the other end of truck 10 constitutes the base and horizontal pivot mount 28 for well hoist l4 and derrick l6.
The derrick 16 may be raised from a horizontal, transport position (FIG. 3) to its vertical, operational position (FIGS. 1 and 2) by a lifting paired leg lever system 30, more fully illustrated and completely described in my prior U. S. Pat. No. 2,593,246. Briefly, lift 30 includes paired lift legs 32 having wheels 34 at their outer ends which ride along rails 36 of derrick 16 to push derrick 16 into a vertical disposition. rather than pulling the derrick, as is done in the previously known, gin pole lift method. A simple sheave and line arrangement 38 moves the lever legs 32 utilizing a winch 40 on truck bed 18 to provide the necessary lifting force. Once raised to a vertical position, derrick 16 may be locked in place and the legs 32 then form an integral part of the derrick mast structure. Locking of the derrick assembly in upright position is done by a safe, simple wedge lock arrangement (not shown), which is fully shown and described in my prior U. S. Pat. No. 2,968,373, FIGS. 5-8 inclusive incorporated herein by reference thereto. Major advantages of incorporating the wedge lock mechanism of that patent are to assure an automatically actuablc wedge locking unit as well as to prevent overtravel of the derrick be yond a vertical disposition during erection. The lock is firmly and securely engaged during operation of the rig and must be manually disengaged in order to lower the derrick to a transport mode.
The opposite side of the bracing and frame structure 26 includes a pair of outrigger extension derrick support legs 42 (FIGS. 1 and 2) which are disposed so they straddle a well head 44 located forward of the center of gravity of derrick 16 in order to securely balance the rig during operation. This structure is more fully illustrated and discussed in detail in my prior U. S. Pat. No. 3,156,328. The outer ends 46 of legs 42 are disposed forwardly of the vertical axis of travel of lift line 48 of well hoist 14. As is clear from an inspection of FIG. 1, this outrigger extension system properly balances the lift forces on the derrick, which is offset forward of the truck front wheels 20, those lift forces tending to overbalance and dislodge truck 10 from its stable disposition.
This unique well hoist assembly 14 includes a bank of fluid pressure rams or cylinders 50 and sheave assembly 52, over which lift line 48 is trained, the deadline end of lift line 48 being fixed to the derrick structure by an anchor device 54. This results in a simple two to one lift mechanism, movement of sheave assembly 52 through a given distance imparting twice that given distance of movement to the lift end 56 of lift line 48. The three cylinders 50 are secured together by suitable means and to derrick 16 by an egg crate arrangement 58 (FIG. 2) comprising three closed end tubes secured to a horizontal pivot mount 28. Similar simple mounting structure may be provided near the upper ends of the three cylinders to secure the same to derrick 16. Sheave assembly 52, in a preferred embodiment, comprises a pair of oversized sheaves rotatably mounted on an axle 60 which is secured to the upper ends 62 of hollow piston rods 64 (FIG. 7) in cylinders 50. Each sheave is oversized so that the working end of lift line 48 falls outside of derrick l6 and to spread the balance of lift forces exerted on the rig during operation to either side of cylinders 50 as viewed from FIG. 1.
Lift line 48 will be in two equal length sections, joined at lift end 56 by a suitable yoke (not shown). Lift line 48 may be constructed of the usual stranded cable as shown or may be a flat, woven wire belt (not shown). In another embodiment (FIGS. 3 and 4) sheave assembly 52 has two sets 66 of two wheels each,
whereby the lift forces exerted on the rig are still spread outwardly from the cylinders 50 yet smaller and less expensive sheaves may be employed.
As illustrated by FIGS. 1 and 4, the derrick 16 can include the usual pipe racking platform 68, shown in an extended, operative position in FIG. 1, and folded to a storage position for transport, as illustrated in FIG.
FIGS. 5, 5a and 6, 6a illustrate a guide structure for sheave assembly 52 as it reciprocates vertically within the upper portion of derrick cage 16. Two pairs of inboard rails 70 are formed along the interior front and back sides of derrick 16, as viewed from FIG. 1, and a pair of outboard guide braces 72 are fixed across the outer ends of sheave assembly 52. Each outer free end of guide braces 72 has either a pair of slide blocks 74 (FIGS. 5-5a) or a pair of freely rotatable rollers 76 (FIGS. 6-6a) for guiding and stabilizing the reciprocal movement of sheaveassembly 52 to as close to a true vertical movement as possible within derrick 16. When the rig is in a transport mode, (FIGS. 3 and 4) derrick 16 should be shortened in overall length in order that the structure and its supporting truck may legally travel over conventional roadways. For this reason, the terminal upper end of derrick 16 is bisected, resulting in a pair of wing elements 78 each pivoted to the main portion of derrick 16 at 80, and foldable outwardly to a storage position (FIG. 4). Suitable locking mechanisms may be used to secure wings 80 in both the extended and folded dispositions (not shown).
The internal construction of each cylinder 50 is best shown by FIGS. 7-9 inclusive. Each cylinder 50 includes a free piston 82 therewithin, driven upwardly from beneath by fluid under pressure, the source of which is described in detail below, and piston rod 64 thereabove. Driving contact between piston 82 and its rod 64 is cushioned by a semispherical or convex abutment plate 84 formed on the base of each piston rod 64. A floating piston arrangement is used since not all three cylinders will be driven together all the time and because the upper ends 62 of all three rods 64 are secured together by sheave assembly 52 for simultaneous movement irrespective of whether one, two or all three rods are being driven by their pistons 82 or not.
In preferred embodiments, the cylinders 50 are quite massive, each having an internal diameter of, e.g., 8, l5, or more inches. The overall length of each cylinder may be from to 30 feet. Thus, during each stroke, a considerable amount of hydraulic fluid may remain on the interior walls 86 of each cylinder which must be permitted to drain back into pressure area 88 of each cylinder 50 to prevent hydraulic locking of rod 64. At the same time, area of contact between each rod and its cylinder should be minimized, particularly when only one or two pistons are being driven under fluid pressure, to minimize drag on the assembly.
Frictional contact between piston rods and cylinders is minimized by forming rod 64 with an external diameter less than the internal diameter of the cylinder 50 and providing a pair of guide rings 90 to fill the gap between rod 64 and cylinder wall 86, stabilizing vertical movement of the rod and providing the only contact between each rod and its associated cylinder. In a preferred embodiment, guide rings 90 are made of a polytetrafluoroethylene compound such as Teflon or, alternatively, they may be made of brass. In either event, hydraulic locking of rod 64 is prevented by provision of a series of breather holes 92 through and circumferentially spaced apart around the cylindrical wall of hollow piston rod 64 which enables fluid communication from the exterior to the hollow interior 94 of rod 64. The base end 96 of piston rod 64 is also provided with breather holes 98 circumferentially spaced about abutment plate 84 (FIG. 8) enabling drainage for fluid scraped from walls 86 and trapped between or beneath rings 90 to the area between a piston 82 and its rod 64.
Hydraulic locking of a piston 82 within its cylinder 50 is prevented by a stack of piston rings 100 backed up by a flexible seal 102, being inverted U-shape in crosssection (FIG. 7). Fluid scraped fromwall 86 passes between rings 100 against flexible seal 1'02, forcing the outer seal wall 104 inwardly so that fluid may pass to a weep hole 106 formed in piston 82 and communicating from the seal groove to pressure area 88 beneath the piston.
As shown in FIG. 7, a piston 82 and its associated rod 64 are made hollow and are constructed of several components to reduce weight and expense of manufacture, considering their massive size. Nevertheless, each could be made of solid material if desired.
Turning now to FIG. 10, the fluid pressure system 12 for the invention will be discussed in detail. A prime mover 108 in the form of a standard diesel engine drives a hydraulic fluid pump 110 through a torque converter 112 which, of course, reduces drive power to the pump as pressure within the system 12 increases.
A mechanical power take-off comprising auxiliary drive belts 114 connected to a small air compressor or hydraulic pump 116 is interposed between torque converter l 12 and primary fluid pump 110. The secondary compressor or pump 116 provides fluid pressure for an accumulator tank 118 and outlet line 120 to drive the motor of a catline winch (not shown).
While any standard hydraulic pump 110 might be employed, I prefer to use a constant displacement rotary screw type pump such as the IMO pump marketed by De Laval Turbine, Inc. of Trenton, New .lersey. This pump has only three moving parts, providing constant displacement axial flow offluid, without need of reciprocating parts.
In any event, pump 110 provides hydraulic fluid under pressure to a primary outlet line 122 which directs fluid through a check valve 124, provided to prevent backflow to the pump 110, to branch lines 126 and 128. A hydraulic power take-off line 130 may be interposed in primary outlet line 122 to provide a hydraulic power source for motor 132 which drives the usual sand line reel 134. A standard sand line is used to bail sand out of a well during servicing thereof and control lever 144 provides the primary on-off power to motor 132, which may be a Staffa motor (a rotary vane pump).
WELL HOIST OPERATION To initiate a lifting cycle, rotary control valve 150 is closed to direct drive fluid to branches 126 and 128. In
a preferred embodiment, branches 126 and 128 have equal flow capacity (therefore, equal internal diameters). Assuming that selector control valve 148 is closed, all drive fluid is directed to central cylinder 50, beneath piston 82, and the well hoist 14 is driven upwardly under X speed at Y power. With controls set in this disposition, hoist 14 is operated at maximum speed under minimum lift power. If more power but less speed is required, selector valve 146 is closed and valve 148 is opened, to direct drive fluid to the two outboard cylinders 50. Assuming all three cylinders 50 have the same dimensions and thus equivalent lift power capacities, well hoist 14 will now operate at 0.5X speed or velocity but at a power rating of 2Y. For maximum power, both selector valves 146 and 148 are opened so that all three cylinders 50 are open to drive fluid, thus increasing lift power to 3! while reducing lift velocity to 0.33X. Under any of these three conditions, the hoist is lowered merely by opening balanced rotary control valve 150 thereby allowing fluid to drain from beneath pistons 82 to the hydraulic fluid storage tank via exhaust line 152. For ease of operation, all control valves 146, 148, 150 and 144, as well as controls for auxiliary pump 116, pump 110 and prime mover 108 may be mounted on a conventional control console, (not shown) along with balanced valve 150.
- Specific examples are given to illustrate the "X" velocity and Y" power capacities set forth above. Assuming the pump provides pressure at 1,000 psi to 8 inch O.D. cylinders 50, having an internal diameter of about 7.5 inches, 44,000 pounds of lift force, or Y is provided to each cylinder 50. Of course, the effective lift force provided to end 56 of lift line 48 will be one-half, or 22,000 pounds, due to the two-to-one simple pulley arrangement of lift line 48 over sheave assembly 52. If selector valve 148 is opened and 146 is closed, therebydirecting drive fluid to the two outboard cylinders 50, lift force is doubled to 88,000 pounds with rods 64 now moving at one-half the velocity of the first example set forth because input quantity of fluid under pressure remains constant, whether fluid is directed to one, two or all three cylinders, assuming that pump pressure remains at 1,000 psi. Similarly, ef-
fective lift force in the lift line 48 is now 44,000 pounds. When all three cylinders 50 are open to drive fluid, by opening both selector valves 146 and 148, power is tripled to 132,000 pounds at one-third the velocity set forth in the first example. Again, effective lift force in lift line 48 will be 66,000 pounds.
If extremely large, fifteen inch I.D. diameter cylinders are used, 176,000 pounds of force are provided by each cylinder 50 if the pump provides fluid at a pressure of 1,000 psi. Thus, with selector valve 146 .open and 148 closed, 88,000 pounds of lift force is imparted to lift line end 56. With valve 148 open and 146 closed, or with the two outboard cylinders 50 being driven, 176,000 pounds of lift force are imparted to lift line end 56 and with all three cylinders open, 264,000 pounds of lift force may be provided in lift line end 56. With a pump rating of 2,000 psi, the figures given for both examples will be doubled.
Due to the tremendous power ratings and capacities of the fluid pressure system, it is desirable that the master control or rotary control valve 150 be a balanced valve as illustrated in FIGS. 1l-15 so that a minimum of manual force may be exerted on control handle 156 thereof to operate well hoist 14. Valve 150 includes an outer annular chamber 158 having four equispaced ports 160 formed through the interior wall 162 thereof, arranged to communicate with four similarly'spaced ports 164 formed through a rotary plug 166 which has ,aninterior plug chamber 168 and an axial outlet 170,
control handle 156 being secured to plug 166 on the side opposite outlet 170. Since four cooperating ports 160-164 are provided, arithmetic dictates that only a 45 arc rotation of plug 166 is required to move valve 150 from a fully closed to a fully open position. Since the valve is balanced by provision of four equispaced cooperating ports about an axial flow center, the valve may also be easily set in an infinite number of positions between fully open and fully closed. Stop means 172 define the fully open and closed positions (FIGS. 14 and 15). As shown, an annular projecting rib 174 extending 270 and formed on the outer face of plug 166 cooperates with an annular groove 176 formed in the rear wall 178 of chamber 158, aboutoutlet 170, and includes a 45 arc stationary abutment 180 which defines the limit stops of the valve.
Another embodiment of the overall protable well rig is illustrated in FIGS. 16 through 18. Components are similar to those illustrated in FIGS. l-4, except that the overall unit is considerably smaller in size and capacity. For example, rod stroke distance in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-4 is designed to be about 30 feet, with an effective lift line movement of about 60 feet, while in the embodiment illustrated by FIGS. 16-18, rod stroke will be 15 feet, with an effective lift line movement of 30 feet. Themajor significant feature of this latter embodiment is the complete elimination of the derrick cage 16. Only minimal bracing and frame structure 26 is required for integrity of the structure. Additionally, outrigger extension legs 42 are unnecessary, and the sheave and line arrangement 38 may be replaced by a simple single line 182 trained about a pulley 184 to winch 40 to pivot well hoist 14 from a stored, transport position (FIG. 16) to an upright operative position (FIGS. 17, 18).
The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.
What is claimed and desired to be secured by letters Patent is:
l. A well servicing, drilling and/or pumping assembly comprising a fluid pressure lift device and a lift line operable by said lift device, said fluid pressure lift device comprising: a prime mover; pump means driven by said prime mover for providing fluid under pressure; and lift means powered by said fluid under pressure comprising at least a pair of reciprocable pistoncylinder fluid motors, said lift line operatively connected to the reciprocating components of said fluid motors, and means for selectively directing fluid under pressure to one or both of said fluid motors whereby said fluid under pressure is directed to one of said fluid motors, for relatively high speed/low power lift capacity, or to more than one of said fluid motors for relatively low speed/high power lift capacity said fluid under pressure comprising hydraulic fluid, said fluid pressure lift device further comprising a closed circuit hydraulic fluid system including said pump, powered by said prime mover, having a primary hydraulic outlet branched to said fluid motors, exhaust means from said outlet, an accumulator tank for reserve fluid in fluid communication with said exhaust means, pump inlet means connecting said accumulator tank to said pump, thereby completing said circuit, and torque converter means, interposed between said prime mover and said pump, for reducing power input to said pump in response to increased pressure in said hydraulic system.
2. The assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said primary outlet includes check valve means therein for preventing fluid backflow to said pump.
3. The assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said pump comprises a constant displacement, rotary screw pump.
4. The assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said fluid exhaust means include a control valve to selectively direct fluid to said fluid motors and to said accumulator tank.
5. The assembly as recited in claim 4 wherein said control valve is a balanced rotary valve comprising an outer annular fluid chamber communicating with said exhaust line, a plurality of circumferentially spaced ports on the inner face of said annular chamber, a plug member coaxially disposed within said annular chamber and having a plurality of corresponding ports therethrough alignable with said annular chamber spaced ports, and means defining a hollow chamber within said plug member, communicated to said plug ports and to said exhaust line, said plug member being rotatable within and about the axis of said annular chamber to a fully open valve position with said ports aligned and to a fully closed valve position with said chamber ports out of alignment with said plug ports.
6. The assembly as recited in claim 5 wherein each set of ports comprises four in number, each set of four ports being equally circumferentially spaced apart whereby said plug member is rotatable through a 45 are in moving between fully open and fully closed limit positions.
7. The assembly as recited in claim 6 wherein said plug member and said annular chamber further include cooperating stop means for defining the end limits of said 45 arc movement.
8. The assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said hydraulic system exhaust means further comprise an auxiliary drive branch line, a hydraulically drive motor, driven by fluid under pressure from said auxiliary drive branch line, and a sand reel driven by said hydraulically driven motor.
9. The assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said prime mover further comprises an auxiliary motor, power take-off means from said prime mover to said auxiliary motor, said auxiliary motor comprising an air compressor and winch means driven from said air compressor, said winch means being a catline reel.
10. The assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said primary hydraulic outlet further comprises a primary branch line interposed between said outlet and said exhaust line, a first secondary branch line from said primary branch line to one of said fluid motors, and a second secondary branch line from said primary branch line to another of said fluid motors.
1 1. The assembly as recited in claim 10 wherein each said secondary branch line includes control means therein for independently selectively stopping flow to the fluid motor associated therewith.
12. The assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said reciprocable piston-cylinder fluid motors are each generally vertically disposed with said reciprocating components arranged to move in a generally vertical direction.
13. The assembly as recited in claim 2 wherein each fluid motor comprises a generally vertically disposed cylinder, a piston in said cylinder driven by said hydraulic fluid, and a piston rod above each piston driven by its piston and extending beyond the upper terminal end of its cylinder, said lift line being operatively connected to the extended upper ends of said piston rods.
14. The assembly as recited in claim 13 wherein each said piston is a free floating piston, driving its piston rod by abutting the lower end thereof.
15. The assembly as recited in claim 14 wherein each piston rod lower end includes an abutment plate having a convex contour arranged to contact said floating piston during upward drive by said piston.
16. The assembly as recited in claim 15 wherein each piston rod is a hollow piston rod throughout its length and further comprises breather means defined through the side walls and lower end thereof for preventing hydraulic locking of the piston rod within its cylinder.
17. The assembly as recited in claim 14 wherein each piston rod has an outside diameter less than the internal diameter of its cylinder, and includes a pair of antifriction guide rings mounted therearound.
l8. The assembly as recited in claim 17 wherein said guide rings are made of a polytetrafluoroethylene compound.
19. The assembly as recited in claim 17 wherein said guide rings are made of brass.
20. The assembly as recited in claim 14 wherein each said piston further comprises a plurality of piston rings located circumferentially therearound, and annular fluid pressure bleed means internally of said piston rings for draining fluid accumulated on said piston rings during movement of said piston to prevent hydrauliclock of said piston within its cylinder.
21. A well servicing, drilling, and/or pumping assembly comprising a fluid pressure lift device and lift line means operable by said lift device comprising: a prime mover; pump means driven by said prime mover for providing fluid under pressure; and lift means powered by said fluid .under pressure comprising at least three reciprocable piston-cylinder fluid motors, said lift line means operatively connected to the reciprocating components of said fluid motors and means for selectively directing fluid under pressure to one of said fluid motors for relatively high speed/low power lift capacity, to two of said fluid motors for relatively intermediate speed and power lift capacity, and to at least three of said fluid motors for relatively low speed/high power lift capacity, said fluid under rpessure comprising hydraulic fluid, said fluid motors being mounted in a side by side relationship, said means for selectively directing fluid under pressure to one or more of said fluid motors comprising a closed circuit hydraulic fluid system driven from said pump, including a primary hydraulic outlet, a first hydraulic branch in fluid communication with the centrally disposed fluid motor of said fluid motors, a second hydraulic branch in fluid communication with the fluid motors mounted outboard of said centrally disposed fluid motor, exhaust line means connected to said outlet line downstream of said first and second branches, an accumulator tank for reserve hydraulic fluid connected to said exhaust line means, pump inlet means connecting said accumulator tank to said pump, thereby completing said circuit, and torque converter means interposed between said prime mover and said pump, for reducing power input to said pump in response to increased pressure in said hydraulic system.
22. The assembly as recited in claim 21 wherein said exhaust line means includes a control valve for selectively directing fluid to said fluid motors and to said accumulator tank.
23. The assembly as recited in claim 23 wherein said control valve is a balanced rotary valve comprising an outer annular fluid chamber communicated to said exhaust line, a plurality of circumferentially spaced ports on the inner face ofsaid annular chamber, a plug member coaxially disposed within said annular chamber and having a plurality of corresponding ports therethrough alignable with said annular chamber spaced ports, and means defining a hollow chamber within said plug member, communicated to said plug ports and to said exhaust line, said plug member being rotatable within and about the axis of said annular chamber to a fully open valve position with said ports aligned and to a fully closed valve position with said chamber ports out of alignment with said plug ports.
24. The assembly as recited in claim 23 wherein each set of ports comprises four in number, each set of four ports being equally circumferentially spaced apart whereby said plug member is rotatable through a 45 arc in moving between fully open and fully closed positions.
25. The assembly as recited in claim 24 wherein said plug member and said annular chamber further include cooperating stop means for defining the end limits of said 45 arc movement.
26. The assembly as recited in claim 21, wherein said primary hydraulic outlet includes check valve means therein for preventing fluid backflow to said pump.
27. The assembly as recited in claim 21 wherein each of said hydraulic branches further includes control means for independently selectively enabling fluid flow through the respective branch line.
28. The assembly as recited in claim 21 wherein each fluid motor comprises a generally vertically disposed cylinder, a piston in said cylinder driven by said hydraulic fluid, and a piston rod above each piston and extending beyond the upper terminal end of its cylinder, said lift line being operatively connected to the extended upper ends of said piston rods.
29; The-assembly as recited in claim 28 wherein each said piston is a free floating piston, driving its piston rod by abutting the lower end thereof.
30. The assembly as recited in claim 29 wherein each piston rod lower end includes a convex abutment plate arranged to contact the top of said floating piston during upward movement thereof.
31. The assembly as recited in claim 29 wherein each piston rod is hollow throughout its length and further comprises breather means defined through the side walls and lower end thereof for preventing hydraulic locking of said piston rod within its cylinder.
32. The assembly as recited in claim 31 wherein each piston rod has an outside diameter less than the internal diameter of its cylinder and includes a pair of antifriction guide rings mounted therearound.
33. The assembly as recited in claim 32 wherein said guide rings are made of a polytet rafluoroethylene compound.
34. The assembly as recited in claim 32 wherein said guide rings are made of brass.
35. The assembly as recited in claim 28 wherein each said piston includes a plurality of piston rings located circumferentially therearound, and annular fluid pressure bleed means internally of said piston rings for draining fluid accumulated on said piston rings during movement of said piston to prevent hydraulic lock of said piston within its cylinder.
36. The assembly as recited in claim 28 wherein said lift line means is secured at one end to said assembly, said rod upper ends including sheave means over which said lift line means are trained, the free end of said lift line arranged to depend vertically therefrom over a well head, whereby vertical movement of said rods through a given distance imparts a movement of twice said given distance to the free end of said lift line.
37. The assembly as recited in claim 36 wherein said sheave means comprise axle means mounted across said piston rod upper ends, and a pair of sheaves rotatably mounted by said axle means, said lift line means comprising a pair of generally flat belts secured to a stationary part of said assembly on one side of said three cylinders and being trained over said sheaves with lift means secured to said lift line means free end.
38. The assembly as recited in claim 21 wherein said assembly further comprises a wheeled transporter and pivotal mounting means for said fluid motors arranged to mount said fluid motors on said transporter in a generally horizontal disposition for transport, and to raise and position said fluid motors in a generally vertical disposition, over a well head, for drilling, pumping, and/or servicing of a well.
39. The assembly as recited in claim 38 wherein said pivotal mounting means comprises a horizontal pivot structure mounted adjacent one end of said transporter, and bracing and frame means securing said fluid motors together as a unitary structure, said bracing and frame means being mounted on said horizontal pivot structure.
40. The assembly as recited in claim 39 wherein said bracing and frame means further comprise a racking platform, mounted mesially of said fluid motors, said platform being pivotal to a horizontal storage position over said fluid motors.
41. The assembly as recited in claim 39 wherein said bracing and frame means further include a derrick cage surrounding and mounting said fluid motors as a unitary structure, and extending above said fluid motors a distance at least equal to the effective stroke distance of said fluid motor reciprocating members, the upper ends of said reciprocating members including sheave means over which said lift line means are trained, and sheave support means joining said upper ends together, and guide means in the upper portion of said derrick cage for stabilizing movement of said reciprocating members, said sheave support means and said sheave means during operation of said assembly.
42. The assembly as recited in claim 41 wherein said guide means comprise a plurality of guide tracks formed in said derrick cage adjacent said sheave support means, a pair of outboard guide braces secured to the outer ends of said sheave support means, and antifriction guide means on each guide brace joined to said guide tracks to stabilize vertical movement of said upper ends within said derrick cage upper portion.
43. The assembly as recited in claim 42 wherein each of said anti-friction guide means comprise a pair of slide blocks mounted on each outer free end of said outboard guide braces.
44. The assembly as recited in claim 42 wherein each of said anti-friction, guide means comprise a pair of freely rotatable wheels mounted on each outer free end of said outboard guide braces.
45. The assembly as recited in claim 41 wherein said derrick cage upper portion includes a pair of upper, terminal wing members foldable into a storage position when said assembly is disposed for transport, thereby reducing the overall length of said derrick cage.
46. The assembly as recited in claim 41 wherein said bracing and frame means further comprise a pair of folding outrigger struts, adjacent said horizontal pivot structure, arranged to be positioned in spaced apart relationship on the side of a well head opposite the disposition of said transporter to balance said assembly during operation.
47. The assembly as recited in claim 39 wherein said bracing and frame means further comprise lift means for raising said fluid motors from a horizontal transport position to a vertical, operational disposition.
48. The assembly as recited in claim 39 wherein said bracing and frame means include closed end support means for the ends of said fluid motors.
49. The assembly as recited in claim 39 wherein said bracing and frame means are located entirely beneath the upper ends of said fluid motors.
l l =l UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent N9- 3,792,836 Dated Februarv 19. 1974 Inventor) Emil A. Bender It is certified that errot appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:
Signed and seeled this 6th day of "August 197 (SEAL) Attest: I I
MCCOY M. GIBSON, JR. C. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents M PO-IOSO (IO-69)
Claims (49)
1. A well servicing, drilling and/or pumping assembly comprising a fluid pressure lift device and a lift line operable by said lift device, said fluid pressure lift device comprising: a prime mover; pump means driven by said prime mover for providing fluid under pressure; and lift means powered by said fluid under pressure comprising at least a pair of reciprocable pistoncylinder fluid motors, said lift line operatively connected to the reciprocating components of said fluid motors, and means for selectively directing fluid under pressure to one or both of said fluid motors whereby said fluid under pressure is directed to one of said fluid motors, for relatively high speed/low power lift capacity, or to more than one of said fluid motors for relatively low speed/high power lift capacity said fluid under pressure comprising hydraulic fluid, said fluid pressure lift device further comprising a closed circuit hydraulic fluid system including said pump, powered by said prime mover, having a primary hydraulic outlet branched to said fluid motors, exhaust means from said outlet an accumulator tank for reserve fluid in fluid communication with said exhaust means, pump inlet means connecting said accumulator tank to said pump, thereby completing said circuit, and torque converter means, interposed between said prime mover and said pump, for reducing power input to said pump in response to increased pressure in said hydraulic system.
2. The assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said primary outlet includes check valve means therein for preventing fluid backflow to said pump.
3. The assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said pump comprises a constant displacement, rotary screw pump.
4. The assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said fluid exhaust means include a control valve to selectively direct fluid to said fluid motors and to said accumulator tank.
5. The assembly as recited in claim 4 wherein said control valve is a balanced rotary valve comprising an outer annular fluid chamber communicating with said exhaust line, a plurality of circumferentially spaced ports on the inner face of said annular chamber, a plug member coaxially disposed within said annular chamber and having a plurality of corresponding ports therethrough alignable with said annular chamber spaced ports, and means defining a hollow chamber within said plug member, communicated to said plug ports and to said exhaust line, said plug member being rotatable within and about the axis of said annular chamber to a fully open valve position with said ports aligned and to a fully closeD valve position with said chamber ports out of alignment with said plug ports.
6. The assembly as recited in claim 5 wherein each set of ports comprises four in number, each set of four ports being equally circumferentially spaced apart whereby said plug member is rotatable through a 45* arc in moving between fully open and fully closed limit positions.
7. The assembly as recited in claim 6 wherein said plug member and said annular chamber further include cooperating stop means for defining the end limits of said 45* arc movement.
8. The assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said hydraulic system exhaust means further comprise an auxiliary drive branch line, a hydraulically drive motor, driven by fluid under pressure from said auxiliary drive branch line, and a sand reel driven by said hydraulically driven motor.
9. The assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said prime mover further comprises an auxiliary motor, power take-off means from said prime mover to said auxiliary motor, said auxiliary motor comprising an air compressor and winch means driven from said air compressor, said winch means being a catline reel.
10. The assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said primary hydraulic outlet further comprises a primary branch line interposed between said outlet and said exhaust line, a first secondary branch line from said primary branch line to one of said fluid motors, and a second secondary branch line from said primary branch line to another of said fluid motors.
11. The assembly as recited in claim 10 wherein each said secondary branch line includes control means therein for independently selectively stopping flow to the fluid motor associated therewith.
12. The assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said reciprocable piston-cylinder fluid motors are each generally vertically disposed with said reciprocating components arranged to move in a generally vertical direction.
13. The assembly as recited in claim 2 wherein each fluid motor comprises a generally vertically disposed cylinder, a piston in said cylinder driven by said hydraulic fluid, and a piston rod above each piston driven by its piston and extending beyond the upper terminal end of its cylinder, said lift line being operatively connected to the extended upper ends of said piston rods.
14. The assembly as recited in claim 13 wherein each said piston is a free floating piston, driving its piston rod by abutting the lower end thereof.
15. The assembly as recited in claim 14 wherein each piston rod lower end includes an abutment plate having a convex contour arranged to contact said floating piston during upward drive by said piston.
16. The assembly as recited in claim 15 wherein each piston rod is a hollow piston rod throughout its length and further comprises breather means defined through the side walls and lower end thereof for preventing hydraulic locking of the piston rod within its cylinder.
17. The assembly as recited in claim 14 wherein each piston rod has an outside diameter less than the internal diameter of its cylinder, and includes a pair of anti-friction guide rings mounted therearound.
18. The assembly as recited in claim 17 wherein said guide rings are made of a polytetrafluoroethylene compound.
19. The assembly as recited in claim 17 wherein said guide rings are made of brass.
20. The assembly as recited in claim 14 wherein each said piston further comprises a plurality of piston rings located circumferentially therearound, and annular fluid pressure bleed means internally of said piston rings for draining fluid accumulated on said piston rings during movement of said piston to prevent hydraulic lock of said piston within its cylinder.
21. A well servicing, drilling, and/or pumping assembly comprising a fluid pressure lift device and lift line means operable by said lift device comprising: a prime mover; pump means driven by said prime mover for providing fluid under pressure; and lift means powered by said fluid under pressure cOmprising at least three reciprocable piston-cylinder fluid motors, said lift line means operatively connected to the reciprocating components of said fluid motors and means for selectively directing fluid under pressure to one of said fluid motors for relatively high speed/low power lift capacity, to two of said fluid motors for relatively intermediate speed and power lift capacity, and to at least three of said fluid motors for relatively low speed/high power lift capacity, said fluid under pressure comprising hydraulic fluid, said fluid motors being mounted in a side by side relationship, said means for selectively directing fluid under pressure to one or more of said fluid motors comprising a closed circuit hydraulic fluid system driven from said pump, including a primary hydraulic outlet, a first hydraulic branch in fluid communication with the centrally disposed fluid motor of said fluid motors, a second hydraulic branch in fluid communication with the fluid motors mounted outboard of said centrally disposed fluid motor, exhaust line means connected to said outlet line downstream of said first and second branches, an accumulator tank for reserve hydraulic fluid connected to said exhaust line means, pump inlet means connecting said accumulator tank to said pump, thereby completing said circuit, and torque converter means interposed between said prime mover and said pump, for reducing power input to said pump in response to increased pressure in said hydraulic system.
22. The assembly as recited in claim 21 wherein said exhaust line means includes a control valve for selectively directing fluid to said fluid motors and to said accumulator tank.
23. The assembly as recited in claim 23 wherein said control valve is a balanced rotary valve comprising an outer annular fluid chamber communicated to said exhaust line, a plurality of circumferentially spaced ports on the inner face of said annular chamber, a plug member coaxially disposed within said annular chamber and having a plurality of corresponding ports therethrough alignable with said annular chamber spaced ports, and means defining a hollow chamber within said plug member, communicated to said plug ports and to said exhaust line, said plug member being rotatable within and about the axis of said annular chamber to a fully open valve position with said ports aligned and to a fully closed valve position with said chamber ports out of alignment with said plug ports.
24. The assembly as recited in claim 23 wherein each set of ports comprises four in number, each set of four ports being equally circumferentially spaced apart whereby said plug member is rotatable through a 45* arc in moving between fully open and fully closed positions.
25. The assembly as recited in claim 24 wherein said plug member and said annular chamber further include cooperating stop means for defining the end limits of said 45* arc movement.
26. The assembly as recited in claim 21, wherein said primary hydraulic outlet includes check valve means therein for preventing fluid backflow to said pump.
27. The assembly as recited in claim 21 wherein each of said hydraulic branches further includes control means for independently selectively enabling fluid flow through the respective branch line.
28. The assembly as recited in claim 21 wherein each fluid motor comprises a generally vertically disposed cylinder, a piston in said cylinder driven by said hydraulic fluid, and a piston rod above each piston and extending beyond the upper terminal end of its cylinder, said lift line being operatively connected to the extended upper ends of said piston rods.
29. The assembly as recited in claim 28 wherein each said piston is a free floating piston, driving its piston rod by abutting the lower end thereof.
30. The assembly as recited in claim 29 wherein each piston rod lower end includes a convex abutment plate arranged to contact the top of said floating piston during upward movement thereof.
31. The assembly as reCited in claim 29 wherein each piston rod is hollow throughout its length and further comprises breather means defined through the side walls and lower end thereof for preventing hydraulic locking of said piston rod within its cylinder.
32. The assembly as recited in claim 31 wherein each piston rod has an outside diameter less than the internal diameter of its cylinder and includes a pair of anti-friction guide rings mounted therearound.
33. The assembly as recited in claim 32 wherein said guide rings are made of a polytetrafluoroethylene compound.
34. The assembly as recited in claim 32 wherein said guide rings are made of brass.
35. The assembly as recited in claim 28 wherein each said piston includes a plurality of piston rings located circumferentially therearound, and annular fluid pressure bleed means internally of said piston rings for draining fluid accumulated on said piston rings during movement of said piston to prevent hydraulic lock of said piston within its cylinder.
36. The assembly as recited in claim 28 wherein said lift line means is secured at one end to said assembly, said rod upper ends including sheave means over which said lift line means are trained, the free end of said lift line arranged to depend vertically therefrom over a well head, whereby vertical movement of said rods through a given distance imparts a movement of twice said given distance to the free end of said lift line.
37. The assembly as recited in claim 36 wherein said sheave means comprise axle means mounted across said piston rod upper ends, and a pair of sheaves rotatably mounted by said axle means, said lift line means comprising a pair of generally flat belts secured to a stationary part of said assembly on one side of said three cylinders and being trained over said sheaves with lift means secured to said lift line means free end.
38. The assembly as recited in claim 21 wherein said assembly further comprises a wheeled transporter and pivotal mounting means for said fluid motors arranged to mount said fluid motors on said transporter in a generally horizontal disposition for transport, and to raise and position said fluid motors in a generally vertical disposition, over a well head, for drilling, pumping, and/or servicing of a well.
39. The assembly as recited in claim 38 wherein said pivotal mounting means comprises a horizontal pivot structure mounted adjacent one end of said transporter, and bracing and frame means securing said fluid motors together as a unitary structure, said bracing and frame means being mounted on said horizontal pivot structure.
40. The assembly as recited in claim 39 wherein said bracing and frame means further comprise a racking platform, mounted mesially of said fluid motors, said platform being pivotal to a horizontal storage position over said fluid motors.
41. The assembly as recited in claim 39 wherein said bracing and frame means further include a derrick cage surrounding and mounting said fluid motors as a unitary structure, and extending above said fluid motors a distance at least equal to the effective stroke distance of said fluid motor reciprocating members, the upper ends of said reciprocating members including sheave means over which said lift line means are trained, and sheave support means joining said upper ends together, and guide means in the upper portion of said derrick cage for stabilizing movement of said reciprocating members, said sheave support means and said sheave means during operation of said assembly.
42. The assembly as recited in claim 41 wherein said guide means comprise a plurality of guide tracks formed in said derrick cage adjacent said sheave support means, a pair of outboard guide braces secured to the outer ends of said sheave support means, and anti-friction guide means on each guide brace joined to said guide tracks to stabilize vertical movement of said upper ends within said derrick cage upper portion.
43. The assembly as recited in claim 42 wherein each of said anti-friction guiDe means comprise a pair of slide blocks mounted on each outer free end of said outboard guide braces.
44. The assembly as recited in claim 42 wherein each of said anti-friction guide means comprise a pair of freely rotatable wheels mounted on each outer free end of said outboard guide braces.
45. The assembly as recited in claim 41 wherein said derrick cage upper portion includes a pair of upper, terminal wing members foldable into a storage position when said assembly is disposed for transport, thereby reducing the overall length of said derrick cage.
46. The assembly as recited in claim 41 wherein said bracing and frame means further comprise a pair of folding outrigger struts, adjacent said horizontal pivot structure, arranged to be positioned in spaced apart relationship on the side of a well head opposite the disposition of said transporter to balance said assembly during operation.
47. The assembly as recited in claim 39 wherein said bracing and frame means further comprise lift means for raising said fluid motors from a horizontal transport position to a vertical, operational disposition.
48. The assembly as recited in claim 39 wherein said bracing and frame means include closed end support means for the ends of said fluid motors.
49. The assembly as recited in claim 39 wherein said bracing and frame means are located entirely beneath the upper ends of said fluid motors.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US23199372A | 1972-03-06 | 1972-03-06 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US3792836A true US3792836A (en) | 1974-02-19 |
Family
ID=22871449
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US00231993A Expired - Lifetime US3792836A (en) | 1972-03-06 | 1972-03-06 | Simplified well rig |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US3792836A (en) |
Cited By (13)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3960360A (en) * | 1972-06-27 | 1976-06-01 | Thomas L. Elliston | Internally pressurized load supporting mast |
US3986564A (en) * | 1975-03-03 | 1976-10-19 | Bender Emil A | Well rig |
US4128229A (en) * | 1977-11-17 | 1978-12-05 | Hydra-Rig, Inc. | Hoist apparatus with dual mast structure and compound power transmission system |
US4290495A (en) * | 1979-06-18 | 1981-09-22 | Hydra-Rig, Inc. | Portable workover rig with extendable mast substructure, platform mounted drawworks and adjustable wellhead anchor |
FR2501180A1 (en) * | 1981-03-06 | 1982-09-10 | Dapa Systemes | Support for antenna mast on lorry - uses hydraulic jack to erect mast support frame to allow legs to lower to ground |
US4388837A (en) * | 1982-06-28 | 1983-06-21 | Bender Emil A | Positive engagement fail safe mechanism and lift belt construction for long stroke, well pumping unit |
US4585213A (en) * | 1984-08-07 | 1986-04-29 | Armco Inc. | Well derrick |
US4638978A (en) * | 1983-07-22 | 1987-01-27 | Jordan Larry B | Hydropneumatic cable tensioner |
US5309992A (en) * | 1991-07-03 | 1994-05-10 | Evi-Highland Pump Company, Inc. | Pulley-drive lifting system |
WO2009040569A2 (en) * | 2007-09-28 | 2009-04-02 | National Oilwell Varco, L.P. | A mobile land rig |
US20110079568A1 (en) * | 2009-10-01 | 2011-04-07 | Robert Eugene Mau | Guyless service rig with side-mounted, pivotally deployable rear outriggers |
US8083499B1 (en) | 2003-12-01 | 2011-12-27 | QuaLift Corporation | Regenerative hydraulic lift system |
US20160040491A1 (en) * | 2014-08-07 | 2016-02-11 | Harnischfeger Technologies, Inc. | Fluid coupling drive system for a drill rig air compressor |
Citations (12)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US446799A (en) * | 1891-02-17 | Hydraulic power | ||
US2324096A (en) * | 1941-06-05 | 1943-07-13 | Russell M Lilly | Well hoisting device |
US2438277A (en) * | 1945-01-03 | 1948-03-23 | Roy E Fife | Oil well mast |
US2957678A (en) * | 1958-08-14 | 1960-10-25 | Eldon D Jones | Hydraulic hoist attachment for tractors |
US3003584A (en) * | 1959-03-20 | 1961-10-10 | John E Wiegand | Hydraulic lift |
US3167188A (en) * | 1962-11-23 | 1965-01-26 | Clark Equipment Co | Retractable outrigger and the like |
US3282569A (en) * | 1965-03-15 | 1966-11-01 | Washington Iron Works | Infinite-ratio driving interlock for yarder |
US3444784A (en) * | 1966-12-19 | 1969-05-20 | Robert L Wengerd | Fluid motor rotary actuator |
US3478647A (en) * | 1967-03-10 | 1969-11-18 | Orenstein & Koppel Ag | Circuit for hydraulically operable devices,especially hydraulic dredges |
US3481251A (en) * | 1968-02-05 | 1969-12-02 | Warner Swasey Co | Machine with hydraulic boom |
US3587784A (en) * | 1968-09-26 | 1971-06-28 | Hunter Manufacturing Co Inc | Telescopic load booster |
US3614994A (en) * | 1968-08-07 | 1971-10-26 | Samuel F Goodrum | Construction hoist |
-
1972
- 1972-03-06 US US00231993A patent/US3792836A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Patent Citations (12)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US446799A (en) * | 1891-02-17 | Hydraulic power | ||
US2324096A (en) * | 1941-06-05 | 1943-07-13 | Russell M Lilly | Well hoisting device |
US2438277A (en) * | 1945-01-03 | 1948-03-23 | Roy E Fife | Oil well mast |
US2957678A (en) * | 1958-08-14 | 1960-10-25 | Eldon D Jones | Hydraulic hoist attachment for tractors |
US3003584A (en) * | 1959-03-20 | 1961-10-10 | John E Wiegand | Hydraulic lift |
US3167188A (en) * | 1962-11-23 | 1965-01-26 | Clark Equipment Co | Retractable outrigger and the like |
US3282569A (en) * | 1965-03-15 | 1966-11-01 | Washington Iron Works | Infinite-ratio driving interlock for yarder |
US3444784A (en) * | 1966-12-19 | 1969-05-20 | Robert L Wengerd | Fluid motor rotary actuator |
US3478647A (en) * | 1967-03-10 | 1969-11-18 | Orenstein & Koppel Ag | Circuit for hydraulically operable devices,especially hydraulic dredges |
US3481251A (en) * | 1968-02-05 | 1969-12-02 | Warner Swasey Co | Machine with hydraulic boom |
US3614994A (en) * | 1968-08-07 | 1971-10-26 | Samuel F Goodrum | Construction hoist |
US3587784A (en) * | 1968-09-26 | 1971-06-28 | Hunter Manufacturing Co Inc | Telescopic load booster |
Cited By (19)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3960360A (en) * | 1972-06-27 | 1976-06-01 | Thomas L. Elliston | Internally pressurized load supporting mast |
US3986564A (en) * | 1975-03-03 | 1976-10-19 | Bender Emil A | Well rig |
US4128229A (en) * | 1977-11-17 | 1978-12-05 | Hydra-Rig, Inc. | Hoist apparatus with dual mast structure and compound power transmission system |
US4290495A (en) * | 1979-06-18 | 1981-09-22 | Hydra-Rig, Inc. | Portable workover rig with extendable mast substructure, platform mounted drawworks and adjustable wellhead anchor |
FR2501180A1 (en) * | 1981-03-06 | 1982-09-10 | Dapa Systemes | Support for antenna mast on lorry - uses hydraulic jack to erect mast support frame to allow legs to lower to ground |
US4388837A (en) * | 1982-06-28 | 1983-06-21 | Bender Emil A | Positive engagement fail safe mechanism and lift belt construction for long stroke, well pumping unit |
US4638978A (en) * | 1983-07-22 | 1987-01-27 | Jordan Larry B | Hydropneumatic cable tensioner |
US4585213A (en) * | 1984-08-07 | 1986-04-29 | Armco Inc. | Well derrick |
US5309992A (en) * | 1991-07-03 | 1994-05-10 | Evi-Highland Pump Company, Inc. | Pulley-drive lifting system |
US8083499B1 (en) | 2003-12-01 | 2011-12-27 | QuaLift Corporation | Regenerative hydraulic lift system |
US8562308B1 (en) | 2003-12-01 | 2013-10-22 | Rodmax Oil & Gas, Inc. | Regenerative hydraulic lift system |
WO2009040569A2 (en) * | 2007-09-28 | 2009-04-02 | National Oilwell Varco, L.P. | A mobile land rig |
US20090084558A1 (en) * | 2007-09-28 | 2009-04-02 | Robert Lewis Bloom | Electrically powered well servicing rigs |
WO2009040569A3 (en) * | 2007-09-28 | 2009-06-04 | Nat Oilwell Varco Lp | A mobile land rig |
US20110079568A1 (en) * | 2009-10-01 | 2011-04-07 | Robert Eugene Mau | Guyless service rig with side-mounted, pivotally deployable rear outriggers |
US9284168B2 (en) * | 2009-10-01 | 2016-03-15 | Mw Industries, Inc. | Guyless service rig with side-mounted, pivotally deployable rear outriggers |
US20160040491A1 (en) * | 2014-08-07 | 2016-02-11 | Harnischfeger Technologies, Inc. | Fluid coupling drive system for a drill rig air compressor |
AU2015210448B2 (en) * | 2014-08-07 | 2020-05-14 | Joy Global Surface Mining Inc | Fluid coupling drive system for a drill rig air compressor |
US11441369B2 (en) * | 2014-08-07 | 2022-09-13 | Joy Global Surface Mining Inc | Fluid coupling drive system for a drill rig air compressor |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US3792836A (en) | Simplified well rig | |
US3986564A (en) | Well rig | |
CN100357530C (en) | Multifunctional turn digging dynamoelectric drilling machine | |
US3960360A (en) | Internally pressurized load supporting mast | |
US8944157B2 (en) | Hydro pneumatic lifting system and method | |
CN2818564Y (en) | Multifunctional electric cyclone digging driller | |
US4099447A (en) | Hydraulically operated oil well pump jack | |
CN102491186A (en) | Tower crane | |
CN107218000B (en) | Multi-cylinder lifting and rotation integrated form ocean hydraulic workover unit | |
US3018902A (en) | Hydraulic crane | |
US2296827A (en) | Material collecting and loading apparatus | |
US8657258B2 (en) | Portable pump jack | |
DE1431985A1 (en) | Elevator | |
US2438277A (en) | Oil well mast | |
US4796863A (en) | Dual cluster crown block | |
US3804369A (en) | Jacking mechanisms | |
DE3741570A1 (en) | BRIDGE CRANE | |
US3093248A (en) | Self powered boom assembly | |
CN107859084A (en) | Diaphram wall grab type chute forming machine | |
US3345950A (en) | Deep well pumping apparatus | |
CN104972954B (en) | Van-type tailer lift upper mounting plate structure | |
US3870109A (en) | Hydraulic drilling or servicing rig | |
US2919109A (en) | Hydraulic hoist | |
DE2433015C3 (en) | Lifting device with a vertically fixable mast | |
US9574625B2 (en) | Safety lock device for pump-jack |