US3806082A

US3806082A - Power kelly cock

Info

Publication number: US3806082A
Application number: US00220292A
Authority: US
Inventors: J Kellner
Original assignee: Smith International Inc
Current assignee: Smith International Inc
Priority date: 1972-01-24
Filing date: 1972-01-24
Publication date: 1974-04-23
Anticipated expiration: 1991-04-23

Abstract

A power kelly cock comprises a ball type plug valve for permitting or preventing the transmission of drilling fluid through a kelly and a powered actuator. The powered actuator includes a motor, which is fluid pressure driven, and a transmission means connecting the motor to the kelly cock. The motor, which does not rotate, includes a reciprocating portion and a stationary portion, e.g., piston and cylinder or vice versa. The transmission means includes a translating means for converting reciprocating motion of the motor to rotation of the core of the valve. The translating means rotates with the kelly cock. The transmission means further includes a rotary connection for connecting the translating means to the motor. The rotary connection allows the motor to be non-rotating so that it can remain connected by hose lines to a source of pressure fluid while the kelly cock and the translating means rotate. Thrust means is provided connecting the stationary portion of the motor to the swivel housing or swivel sub or the kelly cock body. If such thrust means connects the stationary portion to a rotating member such as the swivel sub or kelly cock body, it includes a rotatable connection.

Description

United States Patent [191 Kellner I [111 3,806,082 [451 Apr. 23, 1974 POWER KELLY COCK Jackson M. Kellner, Midland, Tex.

[73] Assignee: Smith International, Inc., Midland,

Tex.

22 Filed: Jan. 24, '1972 211 Appl. No.: 220,292

[75] Inventor:

[52] US. Cl 251/58, 92/106, 251/62 [51] Int. Cl. Fl6k 31/143 [58] Field of Search..... 137/496; 166/224; 175/218;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,835,227 5/1958 Garnet 92/106 3,433,252 3/1969 Kennard 137/496 3,439,925 4/1969 Sampson.. 92/106 X 3,690,615 9/1972 Rogers 251/58 Primary Examiner-Henry T. Klinksiek [5 7 ABSTRACT A power kelly cock comprises a ball type plug valve for permitting or preventing the transmission of drilling fluid through a kelly and a powered actuator. The powered actuator includes a motor, which is fluid pressure driven, and a transmission means connecting the motor to. the kelly cock. The motor, which does not rotate, includes a reciprocating portion and a stationary portion, e.g., piston and cylinder or vice versa.

The transmission means includes a translating means for converting reciprocating motion of the motor to rotation of the core of the valve. The translating means -rotates with the kelly cock. The transmission means further includes a rotary connection for connecting the translating means to the motor. The rotary connection allows the motor to be non-rotating so that it can remain connected by hose lines to a source of pressure fluid while the kelly cock and the translating means rotate.

Thrust means is provided connecting the stationary portion of the motor to the swivel housing or swivel sub or the kelly cock body. If such thrust means connects the stationary portion to a rotating member such as the swivel sub or kelly cock body, it includes a rotatable connection.

32 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures W APR 23 mm 3.806; 0.82-

sum 3 OF 7 POWER KELLY COCK BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention pertains to power actuated valves and more particularly to upper kelly cocks used to prevent back flow through the drill string in the rotary system of drilling wells.

During the course of drilling a well, if there is an indication that the formation pressure exceeds the hydrostatic pressure of the drilling fluid (mud) in the well such that there is apt to.be a blow out, the annular space between the drill pipe and easing or well bore is closed with valve means known as a blowout preventer and the fluid passage through the drill string is closed by other valve means, either a check valve in the lower end of the drill string adjacent the bit, sometimes called a .float valve because of other functions, or else by means of a kelly cock at the upper end of the drill string.

The present construction concerns such upper kelly cocks and is to be distinguished from mud saver valves or kelly foot valves used to retain mud in the kelly when the string is disconnected for the insertion of an additional length of drill pipe. Upper kelly cocks are also to be distinguished from automatic shut off valves for tubing, used to discontinue flow of oil from the well through the tubing in case the flow line is broken downstream from the well.

2. Description of the Prior Art It is .known to place valves at various positions along the length of a drill string.'For example, a check valve, typically of the flapper type and known as a float valve, may be placed at the lower end of the string just above the bit, to prevent back flow of fluid from the well bore into the drill string. A variety of valves known as kelly foot valves and mud saver valves have also been proposed for installation below the kelly near the upper end of the drill pipe to prevent back flow in case of formation pressure exceeding the pressure of the fluid in the well bore or to retain the drilling fluid in the kelly when separated from the rest of the drill string (e.g., to

always above the rotary table where it is accessible for manual actuation, as distinct from float valves, kelly foot valves, and mud saver valves, which are either always or oftentimes down the hole, at least below the rotary table.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a powered actuator for the remote operation of a kelly cock transmitting the drilling fluid for a drilling rig. The powered actuator is annularly disposed around the exterior of and attached to the kelly cock and/or the power swivel or power swivel sub. Fluid power lines are extended from the powered actuator to a valve located on the drilling rig floor such that the kelly cock can be remotely operated. In order to permit the fluid power lines to remain connected to a source of power that is stationary on the rig floor while the kelly cock rotates with the drill string, a rotatable connection means is provided between a rotating portionof the powered actuator that is connected to the kelly cock and a non-rotating portion of the powered actuator that is connected to the fluid power lines. In addition, meansis provided to anchor the non-rotating portion of the powered actuator to some non-rotating structure of the drilling rig to prevent the non-rotating portion of the powered actuator from rotating with the kelly cock.

According to one embodiment of the invention the powered actuator can be used with a standard kelly cock whereby the powered actuator has more versatility. This flexibility also permits the powered actuator to be moved from one drilling rig to another.

The kelly cock includes a cylindrical valve body wit a ball core rotating perpendicularly to the axis of the valve body. The core is keyed to a valve stem. The powered actuator provides means to rotate the valve stem about the stem axis.

According to the invention the powered actuator includes a fluid motor and a transmission means. Specifically, the fluid motor comprises an expansible chamber means, one portion of which reciprocates along the flow axis of the kelly and drill string, and the other portion remains stationary in that it does not reciprocate with respect to the rotating kelly and does not rotate with respect to the reciprocating portion of the motor. The expansible chamber means includes a piston and cylinder. Either the piston or the cylinder may be used as either the stationary or the reciprocating portion of the motor. t

In the different embodiments of the invention, thrust means is provided connecting the stationary portion of the motor to the swivel housing or swivel sub or the kelly cock body. In the case of such connection of the stationary member to a rotating member, i.e., swivel sub or kelly cock body, the connection includes a thrust bearing.

The transmission means includes a translating means for converting the reciprocation of the motor to rotation of the core of the kelly cock. The translating means comprises a rack and pinion. The reciprocating member of the motor is connected to the the rack of the translating means by a set of thrust bearings-so that the translating means can rotate with the kelly cock and the motor can be not rotating. By virtue of this rotary connection, the fluid power lines can be left connected to the motor at all times during drilling. To

. avoid imposing any pull on the fluid power lines, other means are provided to positively prevent rotation of the connection part of the motor, either piston or cylinder, to which'the hose lines are connected. Means is also provided to prevent relative rotation of the piston and cylinder to prevent wear on the motor seals.

Several means are disclosed to prevent rotation of the connection part of the motor. In one embodiment wherein the hoselines are connected to the outer or housing part of the motor and such housing is the reciprocating part of the motor, the housing is splined to a special swivel flange that is bolted to the swivel housing. The inner part of the motor is rotatably mounted by thrust bearings upon a support clamped to the kelly cock, and guide pins carried by the outer part slide in apertures in the piston carried by the inner part to prevent relative rotation of the piston and cylinder.

In another embodiment, the interior stationary part of the motor is bolted to the swivel flange and the exterior reciprocating part is connected to the interior part by a pin and slot to prevent relative rotation. In a third embodiment of the invention the connection part of the motor is connected to the valve body by a thrust bearing and to prevent rotation is chained to the rig mast. The interior part of the motor is connected to the stationary exterior part by a pin and slot. If there is enough seal friction to prevent relative rotation of the exterior and interior parts of the motor, the guide pins or pin and slot connection therebetweencan be omitted.

The embodiments of the invention are structured to minimize any mechanical failure by having the motor and transmission means take the form of a cylindrical structure having an axis coinciding with the flow axis of the valve body of the kelly cock. This permits a uniform thrust around the kelly cock to either open or close the valve. This structure also facilitates making the actuator releasably attachable to the valve body.

The powered actuator can be located at various points. In one embodiment the transmission means is disposed around the body of the kelly cock and the motor is disposed around the cylindrical structure of thr transmission means. This provides a short overall construction. The alternative embodiments circumscribe the transmission means around the valve body of the kelly cock but dispose the motor above the transmission means around the swivel sub or the upper part of an elongated valve body. In the alternative embodiments the overall construction will have a smaller outer diameter.

In one alternative embodiment a plurality of expansion chambers acting in tandem are used permitting an even smaller diameter since the larger number of expansible chambers can duplicate the thrust of a larger single chamber as shown'in the preferred embodiment. However, the overall length of this structure is greater than that of the other embodiments.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1' is an elevation of a'drilling rig including a power kelly cock, in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevation, partially in section, of the power kellycock shown in FIG. 1, the kelly cock being in the open position;

FIG. 3'is an elevation similar to FIG. 2 showing the kelly cock in the closed position;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the power kelly cock taken at a plane-4-4 indicated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the power kelly cock taken at a plane 55.'indicated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the power kelly cock taken at a plane 6'6 indicated in FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the power kelly cock taken at a plane ,7-7 indicated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is an elevation, partially in section, showing another embodiment of the power kelly cock in the open position.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view of the power kelly cock of FIG. 8 showing the kelly .cock .in the closed position;

FIG. 10 is an elevation, partially in section, showing another embodiment of the power kelly cock in the open position;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary sectional view of the power kelly cock of FIG. 10 showing the kelly cock in the closed position;

FIG. 12 is a sectional view of the embodiments of the power kelly cock shown in FIGS. 8 and 10 at plane l212 indicated in FIGS. 8 and 10.

DESCRIPTION OF-TI-IE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS DRILL RIG & DRILL STRING Referring now to FIG. 1 there is shown the lower portion of a mast 10 of a drill rig derrick (not shown) resting on the floor 12 of the drill rig. Below the floor there is shown the upper end of a string of drill pipe 14 which is connected to the lower end of a kelly 16, the latter passing through a rotary table 18 on the rig floor 12. Rotary table 18 provides means by which the kelly. 16 and drill pipe 14 are rotated.

The upper end of the kelly 16 is screwed into a plug valve 20 knownas a kelly cock. The kelly cock 20 rotates with the kelly 16 and drill pipe 14. The upper end of the kelly cock 20 is connected to a swivel sub 22 which also rotates.

The swivel 30, into which the swivel sub 22 connects, provides a rotatable connection to the mud line 24, which does not rotate. The swivel 30 is supported by a hook 26 on the lower end of a traveling block 28, by means of which the drill pipe 14 is raised and lowered. The traveling block 28 is supported by cables 32 which extend toja fixed or crown block (not shown) at the upper end (not shown) of the derrick.

POWERED ACTUATOR A-powered actuator 40 for. opening and closing the kelly cock includes a motor 41 and transmission means (described hereinafter) connecting the motor to the kelly cock. The motor 41 includes a cylinder within which is disposed a double acting piston, forming between the cylinder and piston on opposite sides of the piston two

expansible chambers

43, 45 .(see FIGS. 2 and 3). The piston is connected through thrust bearings to the body of the kelly cock 20 and the cylinder is connected through the transmission means to the core of the kelly cock. g I

The

expansible chambers

43, 45 are supplied'with an actuating fluid such as air'by two lines 42 and 44 (refer once more to FIG. 1) which in turn connect through a four way valve 46 to a source (not shown) of fluid under pressure, valve 46 either opening line 42 or opening line 44; Fluid pressure through line 44 causes chamber 43 to expand thereby opening the kelly cock 20, and fluid pressure through line 42 causes chamber 45 to expand thereby closing the kelly cock 20.

To move the kelly cock 20 between the open and closed positions, a portion of motor 41, in this case an outer portion, the cylinder, moves up and down relative to the kelly cock 20.

The outer portion of motor 4l.must not rotate, due to the attachment of

fluid lines

42, 44. To prevent rotation of the outer portion of the motor and at the sametime allow up and down motion thereof it is connected by spline means to the stationary part of the swivel. The spline means comprises a plurality of slotted ears 47 disposed on the outer periphery of the motor 41 which receive a plurality of legs 48 extending downwardly from swivel flange 49 fastened to the base of swivel 30. The legs slide within ears 47 thereby allowing the outer portion of the motor 41 to reciprocate up and down while preventing rotation thereof relative to the derrick. The swivel flange 49 is a special structure used especially as a part of the invention, but any standard swivel can be used in that the swivel flange can be attached to any standard swivel.

KELLY COCK Refering now to FIG. 2, there is shown the kelly cock upon which is mounted the powered actuator 40 for opening and 'closing same. The kelly cock 20 which may be of conventional design, includes a cylindrical valve body 50 having an outlet 52 at its lower end which terminates in a threadedpin 54 for connection in the kelly 16. The upper end of the valve body 50 is provided with a threaded bore 56 which is closed by a valve sub 58. As shown in FIG. 3, sub 58 includes a pin 60 received in the threaded bore 56 and, at its upper end, a box 62 adapted to receive the swivel sub 22.

Still referring to FIG. 3, a pair of

valve seats

64, 65 and a spherical plug 70 are captured within the valve body 50 by a shoulder 66 at the valve outlet 52 and by a shoulder 68 near the lower end of the valve sub 58. There are

springs

72, 74 between the

shoulders

66, 68 and

seats

64, 65 urging the seats against the plug 70. Plug 70 has a passageway 71 therethrough which, when aligned with the bore 73 of valve body 50, permits the drilling fluid to pass through. FIG. 2 shows the valve in the open position and FIG. 3 shows the valve in the closed position.

Referring further to FIG. 3, a valve stem 76 is rotatof valve body 50. Bearing 98 gives added support to the wrench shaft 80 so that it will not jump out of the stem socket 86 when subjected to torque caused by the rack 92 moving to turn pinion 90.

The rack 92 is reciprocated within the interior space defined by support sleeve 100 and bearing 98 by means of tie rod 102. The tie rod 102 is screwed into the rack 92 and as shown in FIG. 3, extends upwardly through holes 105, 107 in sleeve 100.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 6 the upper end of the tie rod 102 has a head 104. The tie rod head 104 is received in a socket 108 in the inner drive ring 110 (see also FIG. 3) and is retained therein by inner ring cover 106, which, as shown in FIG. 2, is secured to the inner ring 110 by a plurality of cap screws 112. The ring 110, the ring cover 106, the cap screws 112, and the tie rod 102, all rotate with the kelly cock 20. A dust cap 114 is also secured to the ring cover 106 by cap screws 112. A rubber ring seal 116 is secured between the cap 114 and the cover 106 to seal them and centralize them relative to the valve sub 58. These parts also rotatewith the kelly cock. The translating means described above all rotate with the kelly 16 and drill pipe 14.

MOTOR The stationary member of motor 41 includes an annular piston 120 suitably secured by a press fit or welding to a sleeve 122 which circumscribes a portion of ably mounted in a hole 78 in the side of the valve body 50 and is connected to the plug 70 by means of a key 82 and slot 84 whereby the plug 70 can shift axially within the valve body 50 moving against the downstream seat 64 when the kelly cock 20 is in the closed position. The valve stem 76 also has a socket 86 at its outer end to receive a wrench or the like for turning the plug 70.

TRANSLATING MEANS The aforementioned transmission means forming part of powered actuator 40 and connecting motor 41 to kelly cock 20 is shown in FIG. 3. The transmission means includes a translating means comprising a wrench shaft 80,'a pinion 90, a rack 92, a cylindrical support sleeve 100, and a tie rod 102. The short wrench shaft 80 is inserted into the valve stem socket 86. The pinion 90 is mounted on the wrench shaft 80. The pinion 90 is engaged by a rack 92 which moves up and down parallel to the flow axis of the valvebody 50 and drill pipe 14. The rack 92 moves within the outline of cylindrical support sleeve 100, which extends around the valve body 50 of the kelly cock 20. As shown in FIG. 4, a split clamp ring 94 frictionally engages the valve body 50. The clamp ring 94 is connected to the support sleeve 100 by cap screws 96 extending through slotted lugs 97 on the clamp ring. The wrench shaft 80, pinion 90, rack 92, cap screws 96, support sleeve 100 and clamp ring 94, all rotate with the kelly cock 20 as the rotary table turns the kelly 16.

Referring now to FIG. 5, the outer end of the wrench shaft 80 is supported by an outboard bearing 98. The bearing 98 is screwed to plate 101 by cap screws 99. Plate 101 is welded across an opening in the side of sleeve 100 and is also welded to the open side of an inner sleeve 103 which fits closely around the outside support sleeve 100. The sleeve 122 not only does not rotate with the kelly-cock 20 and support sleeve 100, but it also does not reciprocate with the reciprocating member of motor 41. Sleeve 122 has shoulders 124 which capture thrust

bearings

126, 128 against oppositely directed shoulders 130 disposed in support sleeve thereby permitting the support sleeve 100 of the transmission means to rotate with the kelly 16 and yet prevent the reciprocation of the annular piston of motor 41. The

bearings

126, 128 and sleeve 100 provide thrust means connecting the stationary parts of the motor 41, i.e., piston 120 and sleeve 122, to the body 50of the kelly cock.

The reciprocating member of motor 41 is the cylinder 140. The cylinder includes cylinder sleeve 141 to which are secured cylinder heads 143, forming annular recess 142 therebetween. I

Cylinder 140 circumscribes piston 120 and piston rod sleeve 122 and support sleeve 100. Cylinder 140 moves up and down axially relative to annular piston 120 and valve body 50. The cylinder 140 and the piston 120 are kept in alignment by means of a plurality of SC ws 144 which also serve to hold together the various components of the cylinder 140.

ROTARY CONNECTION Means to transmit thrust of the cylinder 140 to the rotating translating means portion of the transmission means includes a thrust bearing 146 and tube 147 extending upwardly from cylinder head 145. The bearing is secured between an annular groove 148 formed by shoulder 149 in tube 147 and shoulder 149 created by ring .cover 107 and a corresponding annular groove 150 formed by shoulder 152 disposed in inner ring 110 and shoulder 154 created by ring cover 106. Bearing 146 permits the tie rod 102 to rotate with the kelly 16 and yet transmits the thrust of cylinder 140 to force tie rod 102 to reciprocate up and down with cylinder 140, thereby rotatingplug 70 to the open position or closed position. The previously described dished cap 114 extends over the inner ring 110 and end of cylinder casting 140.

Cylinder heads 143, 145 are provided with

ports

156, 158.'

Fluid lines

42, 44 are attached to these ports. Fluid pressure against the annular piston 120 causes the cylinder 140 to reciprocate up or down. Dependent on the position of four way valve 46, pressure fluid is supplied through one line'to one side of piston 120 and through the other line pressure fluid is bled off. Fluid pressure in line 42 causes upward motion of the piston. This drives tie rod 120 and rack 92 upward turning pinion 90 to move ball 70 to the closed position shown in FIG. 3. The creation of fluid pressure in line 44 causes chamber 43 to expand and the reciprocating member of motor 41 to move downward aligning the passageway 71 and bore 73 thereby opening kelly cock 20 to the passage of drilling fluid, as shown in FIG. 2.

MODIFICATIONS Two alternative embodiments of the invention are shown in FIGS. 8 and 10. These embodiments differ from the FIG. 2 embodiment in that the motor does not circumscribe the transmission means but is disposed above it closer to the swivel. This requires either a longer kelly cock or the use of some special sub between the upper end of the kelly cock and the swivel because of theadded length of the powered actuating means. In the FIG. 8 embodiment a special long swivel sub has been used whereas in the embodiment of FIG. a longer kelly cock has been provided.

FIG. 8 EMBODIMENT The embodiment shown in'FIGS. 8, 9, and 12 includes a valve or kelly cock 170 which is basically the same as that of the FIG. 2 embodiment. Valve 170 includes a tubular body 172 having at its upper end a threaded box 174 connecting to the pin 176 at the lower end of swivel sub 178. A double pin nipple 180 is screwed into a threaded box 182 at the lower end of the body. Valve seats 184, 186, are received in sockets in the valve body and nipple 180 respectively and sealed thereto by 0 rings 18 8, 190. A ball 192 provides a valve core as in the FIG. 2 embodiment. Valve stem 194 is rotatably mounted in a bearing hole 195 in the valve body and is keyed to the core. 0 ring 196 seals the stem to the bearing. Packing rings 197, 198 in the seats seal them to the ball 192, either around the flow passage 199 therethrough when the ball is in the open position as shown in FIG. 8, or at the sides of the ball when it is in the closed position as shown in FIG. 9. It isnoted that in the FIG. 8 embodiment, the valve core is inserted through the pin end of the valve whereas in the FIG. 2 embodiment the valve core is inserted through the box end of the valve. The difference is not significant however, for either valve could be used in either construction. Except as just noted the valves of the two constructions are alike and operate in the same way.

For operating the valve of the FIG. 8 embodiment there is provided a powered actuator comprising a motor 204 which does not rotate and a transmission means 205 which rotates with the valve (kelly cock).

TANDEM CHAMBER MOTOR The motor 204 comprises two sets of

expansible chambers

207, 209 and2l0, 212. The chambers act inthe kelly cock 170. The expansion of chambers 210,

212 by virtue of fluid pressure via

fluid lines

211, 213 causes the kelly cock 206 to open, as shown in FIG. 8, and the

expansion'of chambers

207, 209 by virtue of pressure through

lines

201, 203 causes the kelly cock to close as shown in FIG. 9.

The use of dual expansible chambers permit the outside diameter of the powered actuator to be smaller than that of the FIG. 2 embodiment or the alternative embodiment described in FIG. 10'since two smaller chambers acting in tandem will have the thrust of a single larger expansible chamber used in the other two embodiments. However, the use of tandem chambers causes the embodiment of FIG. '8 to be longer.

The two sets of

chambers

207, 209 and 210, 212 are formed by a reciprocating member and a nonreciprocating member. Piston 230 is the reciprocating member of the motor 204 and the cylinder 220 is the non-reciprocating member. The cylinder 220 is formed by a support sleeve 222 circumscribing the swivel sub 240 and by three external annular flanges or

cylinder heads

224, 226, 228 disposed on the outer-periphery of the support sleeve 222.

Flanges

224, 226, 228 form ana cylindrical sleeve 232 circumscribing the support sleeve 222 and by internal

annular flanges

234, 236 extending into recesses 242,244 respectively, forming

expansible chambers

207, 209 and 210, 212. Annular rings 245, 246, 247 seal the outer periphery of

flanges

224, 226, 228 to the inner periphery of cylindrical sleeve 232 and annular rings 248 249 seal the outer periphery of flanges 234', 236 to the outer periphery of support sleeve 222 to make

expansible chambers

207, 209 and .210, 212 fluid tight. I

In contrast to the FIG. 2 embodiment, in the FIG. 8 embodiment the non-reciprocating part (cylinder 220) of motor 204 is secured to a flange 250 bolted to the swivel 252 rather than being rotatably mounted on the exterior of the transmission means attached to the kelly cock. The cylinder 220 is threaded into skirt 251 depending from flange 250. The skirt 251 provides thrust means to prevent the cylinder 220 reciprocating with the piston 230, and it also provides means preventing rotation of the cylinder with the kelly cock.

The piston 230 can be prevented from rotating with the kelly cock 206 by a variety of means. One means shown in FIG. 8 comprises pin 254 in sleeve 232 extending into slot 255 in sleeve 222, forming a spline.

This allows the piston to reciprocate while preventing it from rotating with the kelly cock 232 relative to the cylinder.

ROTARY CONNECTION Asin the FIG. 2 embodiment, thrust bearings are used to'transmit the reciprocation of the piston of the non-rotating motor 204 to the rotating translating means 205. Piston 230 is threaded to a cylindrical coupling 274 which has an internal flange 276 engaging a ring of thrust bearings 272. The bearings 272 are respectively above and below an annular flange 278 on a nipple 280 which is threaded into the actuator sleeve 260 of the transmission means. The lower bearings 272 are captured between flange 278 and a bearing ring 282 pressed into a counter-bore in sleeve 274. Bearings 272 thereby transmit the reciprocating movement of piston 230 to the actuator sleeve 260.

TRANSLATING MEANS The translating means of the FIG. 8 embodiment is different from that of the FIG. 2 embodiment in that an actuator sleeve 260 with one or more racks such as rack 262 affixed to its inner periphery is used to rotate the pinion 264 rather than a tie rod attached to a rack which reciprocates within its support sleeve as in the FIG. 2 embodiment.

Preferably, as shown in FIG. 12, the ball 192 is provided with a second shaft 164-, keyed to the ball in the same manner as shaft 164. A second pinion 264 is affixed to shaft 164', the same as pinion 264 is affixed to shaft 164. The actuator sleeve 260 is internally slotted at 265, 266, the slots extending from the lower end of the sleeve part way up to the upper end of the sleeve, forming channels allowing for relative movement of the sleeve and the pinions 264, 264'. There are grooves 267, 268 in the sides of the slots in which are inserted the racks 262, 262'. The racks are connected to the actuator sleeve by cap-screws 284, 284'. By using a plurality of racks driving a plurality of pinions there is less tendency for the ball 192 to bind in the body of the kelly cock.

There are apertures 286, 286' in the sides of the actuator sleeve 260 through which the pinions 264, 264' can be inserted. These apertures are closed with

cover discs

288, 288 which in turn are held in the actuator sleeve 260 against the sides of

racks

262, 262, by an outer cover sleeve 290. The cover sleeve 290 is retained axially on actuator sleeve 260 against annular shoulder 291 by spring biased detents 292, 292' which can be released with ones finger.

Referring to FIG. 8, rubber seal 293 is bonded to the inner periphery of the upper part of actuator sleeve 260, and rubber seal 294 is bonded to the inner periphery of ring 295 screwed into the lower part of the actuator sleeve 260.

Seals

293, 294 are adapted to slide up and down on the valve body 270 and thus provide axial guide bearings for the actuator sleeve. A drain port 297 in sleeve 260 prevents fluid from accumulating above seal 293 in the annulus 298 between the motor 204 and nipple 280 on the one hand and swivel sub 240 and valve body 172 on the other.

FIGURE EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIGS. 10-12 there is shown another modification of the invention including a kelley cock 330 and a powered actuator including a motor 320 and translating means 321. The kelly cock 330 and translating means 321 are almost identical to that of the FIG. 8 embodiment and need not be further described except to point out the minor differences from the construction of FIG. 8. As to the valve, one point of difference is that the valve body 334 of the FIG. 10 embodiment is much longer than the corresponding valve body 172 of FIG. 8, eliminating the need for the extra long swivel sub 178 of the FIG. 8 embodiment.

MOTOR WITH STATIONARY CONNECTIO MEMBER x In the embodiments of FIGS. 2 and 8 the reciprocating member of the motor is the outer cylindrical sleeve. In the FIG. 10 embodiment an inner member reciprocates and the outermost member is stationary. This has the advantage that the lines do not reciprocate up and down when the motor is operated.

The motor 320 includes expansible chambers 322, 324. The chambers 322, 324 are formed between annular cylinder 310 and annular piston 300. The piston 300 is secured to tubular piston rod or support sleeve 312 by snap r'ings 308 and sealed thereto by O ring 307. The cylinder 310 is formed by cylindrical sleeve 312, which circumscribes support sleeve 302 and by annular cylinder heads 314, 316, head 314 being a ring screwed into sleeve 312, and head 316 being an annular flange integral with sleeve 312. Annular rings 317, 318 provide sliding seals between heads 314, 316 and the outer periphery of support sleeve 302, and annular ring 319 provides a sliding seal between the outer periphery of head 314 and the inner periphery of cylindrical sleeve 312. Heads 314 and 316 form a recess 318. The piston 300 extends into recess 318 thereby forming chambers 322, 324. Ring 309 provides a sliding seal between the outer periphery of piston 300 and the inner periphery of cylindrical sleeve 312. Pressure fluid is supplied to expansible chamber 322, through fluid line 326 to open kelly cock 330, as shown in FIG. 10, and fluid pressure is supplied to expansible member 324 through fluid line 328 to close the kelly cock, as shown in FIG. 11.

Cylinder 310 is prevented from reciprocating by thrust ring 332 press fitted onto the flange 333 on valve body 334. A ball bearing 335 has its outer race 336 pressed into skirt 337 that depends from ring 332 and its inner race 338 pressed over neck 339 extending upwardly from cylinder head 316. Bearing 335 is a thrust bearing and transmits the axial reaction of cylinder head 316 to reaction ring332. To prevent cylinder 310 from rotating it is provided with pad eyes 340 welded to the cylinder 310. A chain 341 connected to the mast of the drill rig is releasably connected to the pad eyes by a pin 342. To prevent piston 300 from rotating, it is provided with a depending integral skirt 343 through which extends a pin 344. The pin 344 extends into slot 345 forming a spline which allows the piston to reciproc'ate while preventing it from rotating relative to the cylinder.

ROTARY CONNECTION The transmission means in this embodiment is the same as that of the embodiment in FIG. 8 except that the actuator sleeve 350 of the translating means is connected to the inner sleeve 302 of the motor rather than the outer sleeve 312. As in the embodiments of FIGS. 2 and 8 this connection comprises thrust bearing means, in this instance bearing 351. Outer race 352 of the bear-ing is secured in a counterbore in the end of actuator 350 by snap ring 353. Inner race 354 of the bearing is secured against an annular extenral flange 355 on the lower end of sleeve 302 by a snap ring 356.

PARALLEL AXIS MOTOR In the preferred embodiment and the embodiment of FIG. 8, the power actuator is circumferentially disposed about the flow axis of the upper drill 'string including the kelly, kelly cock, and swivel sub. However, the mtor could be positioned to one side of the upper drill string. As in the embodiments shown in FIGS, 2, 8, and 10, the reciprocating part of the motor would be connected to the rack of the translating means by a rotary connection including a thrust bearing disposed around the axis of the drill string.

.- RECAPITULATION In all of the embodiments of the invention there is provided a powered actuating means for operating the kelly cock. In each case the powered actuating means includes a motor and a transmission means. The motor does not rotate and means are provided to prevent it from rotating. The motor includes a piston and a cylinder at least one of which is held against rotation by means connecting it to a stationary part of the system such as the mast or a non-rotating part of the swivel. The second part of the motor, piston or cylinder, is also held against rotation, but although this could be done with the same as with the one part of the motor by conmeeting it to a stationary part of the system such as the mast or a stationary part of the swivel, it is simpler and preferable to connect the second part of the motor to the first. The transmission means in each case includes translating means, e.g., rack and pinion, for translating reciprocation of the motor into rotation of the core of the kelly co'ck. The translating means rotates with the kelly cock. The transmission further includes a rotary connection for transferring the thrust from the nonrotating motor to the rotating translation means.

It is to be observed that although it is preferred that no part of the motor rotate,'it would be possible to have the part of the motor that is connected to the translation means rotate, thereby eliminating the need for the rotary connection. This of course would require that the seals between the motor piston and cylinder be capable of. withstanding relative rotation of the piston and cylinder.- It would also be possible to omit any anchoring means for the non-rotating part of the motor, allowing the power line to take the tension.

It is further to be noted that the powered actuator is supported in a variety of ways. In the first embodiment the actuator is supported primarily by the support sleeve on the valve body and is guided at its upper end by the spline means of the special swivel flange. In the second embodiment the actuator is supported primarily from its upper end by the swivel flange and is guided at its lower end by the valve body. In the third embodiment the actuator is supported at its upper end by the valve body and is guided by the valve body at its lower end.

Finally, it is to be noted that the various antirotation means shown in the various embodiments are inter changeable, i.e., the splined connection between the motor and swivel flange of FIG. 2, and the pad eyes and chain of FIG. 10, and the threaded connection of FIG. 8, depending upon whether the motor member to which such means is connected is a reciprocating or stationary chamber. It is also to be observed that instead of using means interconnecting the piston and cylinder elements of the motor to prevent relative rotation thereof, e.g., pin and slot or guide screws and holes, both the piston and cylinder elements could be directly connected by antirotation means to some nonrotating member.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, modifications thereof can be made by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

1 claim:

1. An apparatus for opening and closing a kelly valve rotating with a kelly rotatably mounted on a swivel comprising,

expansible chamber means, transmission means connected to said expansible chamber means and attachable to said kelly valve for transmitting the movement of the expansion of said expansible chamber means to the kelly valve, whereby'the movement of said expansible chamber means causes said. transmission means either to open or to close said kelly valve,

said transmission means including thrust bearing means allowing relative rotation of the part of the transmission means connected to the expansible chamber means and the part of the transmission means that is attachable to the kelly valve.

2. An apparatusaccording to claim 1 wherein said expansible chamber means includes,

a reciprocating member,

a non-reciprocating member,

and means to hold said non-reciprocating member fixed against rotation relative to said kelly valve, said reciprocating member reciprocating along the flow axis of said kelly valve in response to the expansion of said expansible chamber means.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said expansible chamber means includes means for supplying a fluid pressure to sad expansible chamber means, said fluid pressure causing said reciprocating member to reciprocate with respect to said non-reciprocating member.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said transmission means includes a translating means for converting axial motion of said reciprocating member to motion for opening and closing said kelly valve.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4 adapted to actuate a kelly valve which includes a plug rotatably 5 mounted within said kelly valve, said plug having a first position and a second position, and said kelly valve being open when said plug is in said first position and being closed when said plug is in said second position.

6. An apparatus according-to claim 5 wherein said translating means includes a rack and pinion, said pinion being adapted to be rotatably attached to said plug and said rack being connected to said reciprocating member by means of said thrust bearings.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said transmission means is annular adapted to be disposed concentric with the flow axis of said kelly valve.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said expansible chamber means is annular adapted to be disposed concentric with the flow axis of said kelly valve.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said non-reciprocating member is adapted to be secured to said kelly valve.

10. An apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said non-reciprocating member is adapted to be secured to said swivel.

11. An apparatus comprising:

a kelly valve adapted to be mounted on a kelly, said kelly valve having an open position and a closed position;

a motor including expansible chamber means,

supply means connecting said motor to a source of power,

transmission means connecting said motor to said valve for transmitting the movement of the expansion of said expansible chamber means to said valve, said motor positioning said kelly valve in said open position or in said closed position by means of said transmission means, said transmission means including thrust bearing means allowing relative rotation of the part of the transmission means connected to the expansible chamber means and the part of the transmission means that is connected to the valve, and

means for holding said motor fixed against rotation with said kelly valve.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said means for holding said motor fixed against rotation with said kelly valve comprises means on said motor adopted for connection to a flange on said swivel, thereby holding said motor fixed against rotation.

13. An apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said transmission means includes a support member,

a pinion rotatably mounted on said support member,

said pinion being connected to said valve,

a rack engaging said pinion and being mounted within said support member,

means for fixing sid support member to said kelly valve,

said thrust bearings being captured between said rack and said motor.

14. An apparatus according to claim 13, said expansible chamber means comprising a reciprocating member and a non-reciprocating member, means connecting said non-reciprocating member to said reciprocation member preventing the non-reciprocating member from rotating, said non-reciprocating member being prevented from reciprocating by connection to said support member of said transmission means, and said thrust bearings being captured between said reciprocating member and said rack whereby the thrust of said reciprocating member is transmitted to said rack.

15. An apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said expansible chamber means includes plural upper chambers and plural corresponding lower chambers, each of said chambers having a fluid opening at one end, said supply means alternately supplying a fluid pressure to all upper chambers or all lower chambers causing said reciprocating member to reciprocate. 16. An apparatus according to claim 15 wherein said reciprocating member is a cylinder and said nonreciprocating member is a piston, said cylinder having plural recesses, said piston having a projection into each of said recesses, each of said projections having its peripheral edge sealed with said cylinder thereby creating a fluid tight chamber. 17. Apparatus according to claim 12 adapted for use wherein said swivel flange has arms extending downwardly, and including slotted ears disposed on said expansible chamber means, said arms rotating with said ears permitting the axial reciprocation of said reciprocating member but preventing the rotation of said motor.

18. A power kelly cock comprising a kelly cock, A

a reciprocating motor including annular expansible chamber means disposed concentric with the flow axis of the kelly cock, translating means for converting axial motion of the motor to rotation motion of the core of the kelly cock,

a rotaary connection between the motor and translating means, and

anti-rotation means to prevent rotation of the motor with the kelly cock,

said motor including a piston and a cylinder, said anti-rotation means including means to prevent relative rotation of the piston and cylinder.

19. A power kelly cock according to claim 18 wherein said motor is disposed around said translating means.

20. A power kelly cock according to claim 18 wherein said motor includes two expansible chamber means operating in tandem.

21. A power kelly cock according to claim 18 wherein said motor includes a piston element and a cylinder element and said anti-rotation means is connected to one of said elements.

22. A power kelly cock according to claim 21 wherein said anti-rotation means includes a spline means for cooperation with correlative spline means on a special swivel flange.

23. A power kelly cock according to claim 21 wherein said anti-rotation means includes thread means on the upper end of one of said elements of the motor for screwing said one element into a correlative part of a swivel flange.

24. A power kelly cock according to claim 21 wherein said anti-rotation means includes pad eyes connected to one of said elements of the motor adapted to be chained to a rig mast.

25. A power kelly cock according to claim 18 wherein said motor and rotary connection are annularly disposed about the flow axis of the kelly cock.

26. A power kelly cock according to claim 25 wherein the translating means includes a sleeve concentric with the flow axis of the kelly cock and axially slidably mounted thereon, a pair of racks carried by said sleeve interiorly thereof extending parallel to the sleeve axis, and a pair of pinions each connected to one end of the kelly cock core, said sleeve being connected to said rotary connection, and means sealing said sleeve to said kelly cock above and below said pinions.

27.'A power kelly cock according to claim 26, including means slidably sealing said sleeve to said kelly cock above and below said pinions, said seals providing guide bearings for said sleeve.

28. A power kelly cock according to claim 26 said expansible chamber including piston and cylinder elements, one of said elements being connected to said rotary connection and the other of said elements being connected to anti-rotation means to prevent rotation of said other of said elements with said kelly cock.

29. A power kelly according to claim 28 including means connecting said piston and cylinder elements preventing relative rotation of said elements while allowing relative reciprocation thereof.

30. A power kelly cock according to claim 25, wherein the translating means includes a support sleeve fastened to said kelly cock against both translation and rotation, said sleeve having guide means thereon for guiding a member in reciprocation parallel to the flow axis ,of said kelly cock, a pinion connected to the core of said kelly cock, and a rack engaging said pinion and to said guide means, and means connecting said rack to said rotary connection.

31. A power kelly cock according to claim 30 wherein said motor includes piston and cylinder elements, one of said elements being connected to said rotary connection and one of said elements being connected to anti-rotation means to prevent rotation of the nected to said support sleeve by thrust bearing means preventing axial motion of said other element'and allowing relative rotation of said other element and said kelly cock, and means connecting said elements together preventing relative rotation thereof while allowing relative reciprocation thereof.

Claims

1. An apparatus for opening and closing a kelly valve rotating with a kelly rotatably mounted on a swivel comprising, expansible chamber means, transmission means connected to said expansible chamber means and attachable to said kelly valve for transmitting the movement of the expansion of said expansible chamber means to the kelly valve, whereby the movement of said expansible chamber means causes said transmission means either to open or to close said kelly valve, said transmission means including thrust bearing means allowing relative rotation of the part of the transmission means connected to the expansible chamber means and the part of the transmission means that is attachable to the kelly valve.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said expansible chamber means includes, a reciprocating member, a non-reciprocating member, and means to hold said non-reciprocating member fixed against rotation relative to said kelly valve, said reciprocating member reciprocating along the flow axis of said kelly valve in response to the expansion of said expansible chamber means.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4 adapted to actuate a kelly valve which includes a plug rotatably mounted within said kelly valve, said plug having a first position and a secOnd position, and said kelly valve being open when said plug is in said first position and being closed when said plug is in said second position.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said translating means includes a rack and pinion, said pinion being adapted to be rotatably attached to said plug and said rack being connected to said reciprocating member by means of said thrust bearings.

11. An apparatus comprising: a kelly valve adapted to be mounted on a kelly, said kelly valve having an open position and a closed position; a motor including expansible chamber means, supply means connecting said motor to a source of power, transmission means connecting said motor to said valve for transmitting the movement of the expansion of said expansible chamber means to said valve, said motor positioning said kelly valve in said open position or in said closed position by means of said transmission means, said transmission means including thrust bearing means allowing relative rotation of the part of the transmission means connected to the expansible chamber means and the part of the transmission means that is connected to the valve, and means for holding said motor fixed against rotation with said kelly valve.

13. An apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said transmission means includes a support member, a pinion rotatably mounted on said support member, said pinion being connected to said valve, a rack engaging said pinion and being mounted within said support member, means for fixing sid support member to said kelly valve, said thrust bearings being captured between said rack and said motor.

15. An apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said expansible chamber means includes plural upper chambers and plural corresponding lower chambers, each of said chambers having a fluid opening at one end, said supply means alternately supplying a fluid pressure to all upper chambers or all lower chambers causing said reciprocating member to reciprocate.

16. An apparatus according to claim 15 wherein said reciprocating member is a cylinder and said non-reciprocating member is a piston, said cylinder having plural recesses, said piston having a projection into each of said recesses, each of said projections having its peripheral edge sealed with said cylinder thereby creating a fluid tight chamber.

17. Apparatus according to claim 12 adapted for use wherein said swivel flange has arms extending downwardly, and including slotted ears disposed on said expansible chamber means, said arms rotating with said ears permitting the axial reciprocation of said reciprocating member but preventing the rotation of said motor.

18. A power kelly cock comprising a kelly cock, a reciprocating motor including annular expansible chamber means disposed concentric with the flow axis of the kelly cock, translating means for converting axial motion of the motor to rotation motion of the core of the kelly cock, a rotaary connection between the motor and translating means, and anti-rotation means to prevent rotation of the motor with the kelly cock, said motor including a piston and a cylinder, said anti-rotation means including means to prevent relative rotation of the piston and cylinder.

27. A power kelly cock according to claim 26, including means slidably sealing said sleeve to said kelly cock above and below said pinions, said seals providing guide bearings for said sleeve.

30. A power kelly cock according to claim 25, wherein the translating means includes a support sleeve fastened to said kelly cock against both translation and rotation, said sleeve having guide means thereon for guiding a member in reciprocation parallel to the flow axis of said kelly cock, a pinion connected to the core of said kelly cock, and a rack engaging said pinion and to said guide means, and means connecting said rack to said rotary connection.

31. A power kelly cock according to claim 30 wherein said motor includes piston and cylinder elements, one of said elements being connected to said rotary connection and one of said elements being connected to anti-rotation means to prevent rotation of the last said element with said kelly cock.

32. A power kelly cock according to claim 31 wherein the element connected to the rotary connection is the same as the element connected to the anti-rotation means, the other of said elements being connected to said support sleeve by thrust bearing means preventing axial motion of said other element and allowing relative rotation of said other element and said kelly cock, and means connecting said elements together preventing relative rotation thereof while allowing relative reciprocation thereof.