US1427524A - Apparatus for separating cemented well casings - Google Patents

Description

R. w. EDENS AND s; E. CLEVER. APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING CEMENTED WELL CASINGS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPTJ. 920.

Patented Aug. 29, 1922.

3 SHEEIS-SHEEY l.'

INVENTOR.

R. W. EDENS AND S. E. CLEVER APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING CEMENTED WELL CASINGS.

APPLICAIIUN HLED SEP'LT. I920.

Patented Aug.

3 SHEEYS-SHEET 2.

IN V EN TOR.

Sela/11,4 fiwe/r/ a- WM R. w. EDENS AND S. E. CLEVER.

APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING CEMENTED WELL CASINGS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 7, 1920.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT W. EDENS AND SIMON EDWARD CLEVER, 0F FULLERTON, CALIFORNIA.

APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING CEMENTED WELL CASINGS.

S ecification of letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 29, 1922.

Application filedseptembcr 7, 1920. Serial No. 408,601.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ROBERT W. Beans and SIMON EDWARD CLEvnR, citizens of the United States, residing at Fullerton, in the county of Orange and State of California, have invented a new and useful Apparatus for Separating Cemented Well Casings, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an apparatus for separating cemented well casings and has for its object to provide a means by which said. casings may be separated without injury thereto so that they may be subsequently utilized.

Another object is to provide an apparatus for separating cemented well casings which consists of boring the cement from between the walls of the casings.

Another object is to provide a rotatable tubular boring tool longitudinally fed between the casings in a boring operation, and to provide means for automatically arresting said longitudinal feed.

Another object is to provide a quick return for the tool and to provide means for lubricating the cuttin edge thereof and to flush the borings from the casing.

Various other objects and advantages will be more fully apparent from the following description of the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this disclosure, and which illustrate a preferred form of embodiment of the invention.

Of the drawings:

Figure l a top plan view of the apparatus.

Figure 2 is an enlarged section on line [B 50 of Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal central vertical section on line of Fig. 1.

Figure .lis a detail section on line m rc of Fig. 3.

Figure 5 is a plan section on line m m of Fig. 4.

Figure 12 is a vertical section on line m' a2 of Fig. 3; and I Figure 13 is an enlarged fragmentary section of a detachable cutting sleeve for the tool.

In the drilling of oil Wells water strata are quite frequently encountered and as the laws governing the drilling of oil wells require that these water strata be blocked off before drilling is continuedit becomes necessary to cement the well.

The usual method of cementing a well is to drive the outer casing, for instance a twelve inch casing, part way through the water strata and then insert a smaller casing, say a ten inch casing, inside the outer casing, and also driving said inner casing part way through the water strata. A mixture of cement is then forced down the inner casing, and laterally into the water strata and upwardly between the two casings cementing the casings together and forming a substantial block of cement in the water strata. After this cement is hardened the drilling of the well may be continued through the inner casing, the water strata having been completely blocked off.

After these cemented casings have been withdrawn from a well they are of no further use unless separated and as such casings are of considerable value it will be evident that a method by which they can be separated without injury is very desirable.

The herein described apparatus accomplished this result for the first time in a manner which leaves the casings in asperfeet a condition as before separation, and which is entirely Within reasonable cost limits.

Other methods which may suggest themselves, such as the utilization of acids or of heat to disintegrate the cement, are obviously impractical as the action of these elements are detrimental to the casings and would leave them unfit for immediate use.

In general terms, the apparatus illustrated in the drawings provides a tubular boring tool A having a toothed forward end and rotatably journaled at its rear end in a longitudinally slidably tool carriage B which is translated, by suitable mechanism, along parallel tracks CC which are a part of the stationary framework of the machine. Gear connections between the tool chuck and a constantly rotating shaft D provides a rotary drive for the tool and there is provided a stop mechanism to stop the feed of the tool at a predetermined point in its forward travel and other devices providing a quick return feed, and to provide for entraining lubricating and flushing fluid to the working end'of the tool.

Describing more in detail, the framework of the apparatus comprises a forward trans verse frame structure E which provides a support for the forward ends of the tool A and the shaft D, a rear transverse frame structure F supporting the drive and control. mechanism, and an intermediate frame structure G supporting a main drive shaft H. These frame structures are preferably formed of standard angle iron and suitable reinforcing plates and are adapted to rest on suitable base beams or on a floor. The for ward frame structure E provides four vertical legs 1, a table plate 2 supported on transverse angle beams 23, opposed transverse angle beams 4t oined to legs 1 below the table plate, and horizontal bearing supporting plates 5 joined to the beams 4. The intermediate frame structure G provides four vertical legs 6 and two shorter legs 7, the legs being joined together and maintained rigidly in spaced relation by transverse angle beams 8 and horizontal bearing supporting plates 9-1011 connecting said beams. The rear frame structure F likewise provides four vertical, legs 12, table plates i3-1st supported ontransverse angle beams 15, opposed angle beams 16 oined to the legs 12 below the table plates, and horizontal bearing supporting plates 171819--20 joined to the beams 16.

The parallel tracks CC are respectively positioned 011 opposite sides of the longitudinal center of the machine and are sup ported upon the upper ends of the vertical legs 1-6-12 of the frame structures E-J'?" and F respectively. Each track consists of an angle beam 21 supporting three superposed plates having finished surfaces (see Fig. 2) the center plate 22 being narrower than the adjacent plates 23-23, providing an intermediate groove 24. In securing the plates to the angle beams 21, the plate 22 is first riveted to the lower plate 23 and said lower plate 23 is then riveted to the beam 21. the upper plate being then attached by halts so that it may be removed if necessary.

The tool OfLI'IltLQjS B comprises a main bod v 25 having secured at opposite sides thereof. laterally projecting horizontal plates 2- each plate engaging within a respective groove 24 of the parallel tracks C in abutting engagementwith the narrow plate 22 there of which serves as the base of the groove and maintains the carriage against transverse movement. The upper surface of the be i, 25 is formed to provide a lower half-bearing 27 receiving a chuck body 28 which has formed on its forward end a chuck gear and on its rear end a flange 30. An upper half-bearing cap 81 is secured on the body 25, the flange 30 engages the body and cap to retain the chuck against forward movement relative to the carriage and the face of the gear 29 prevents a rearward movement of the chuck in the carriage by engaging against a thrust washer 32 which in turn engages the body 25 and cap 31. The inner wall of the chuck body 28 has a tapered portion 33 with which cooperates a pair of semicircular chuck jaws 34 having similarly tapered peripheral surfaces and radially proj ecting annular flanges 85. Said flanges have series of elongated radial slots to receive companion bolts 36 projecting longitudinally from the face of the chuck gear 29 and en gaged by clamp nuts 37 operable to translate the chuck jaws to clampingly grip the tool A. This mechanism provides a cone chuck rotatably journaled in the carriage and retained against longitudinal movement relative thereto and it also provides a chuck adapted to grip tools of different diameters. If it is desired to use a tool smaller than the minimum clamping limit of a certain set of chuck jaws said set can be removed and a other set of smaller internal bore can be substituted.

The forward end of the tool is supported upon a pair of longitudinally disposed rollers 38 journaled in journal boxes 39 which are secured upon the table plate 2 of the frame structure E and has its forward edge out to provide cutting teeth 6.

The shaft D from which motion is derived for rotating the tool, is journaled in journal boxes 4041 secured respectively on the table plates 2 and 13 of the frame structures E and F, and has a longitudinal key way (Z. A gear pinion 42 meshes with the chuck gear 29 and is splined to the shaft l) to rotate therewith and to slide longitudinally thereof, the pinion 42 being journaled in a lower half-bearing 13 in the carriage body 25 and in a bearing cap 'iet secured there o and retained against endwise movement within said hearing by a flange 1-5 and the toothed portion of the pinion.

A beveled pinion 4:7 secured to the rear end of the shaft 1) meshes with a companion beveled pinion 418 secured to one end of a transmission shaft 49. said shaft 49 being journaled in journal boxes 50-51 secured upon the table plates 13-14 respectively of the rear frame structure F. A beltpulley 52 is secured to the outer end of the shaft 19 and connects by a belt 53 with a pulley on the main drive shaft H to complete the tool drive.

Before describing the carriage feed it will be stated that the main drive shaft H is journaled in journal boxes 5556--57 secured upon the plates 9-10-ll respectively. of the intermediate frame structure G, and has fixed thereto the pulley 54, pulleys 5S and 59 and a main drive pulley 60 which is in driving connection with any suitable source of power, such as an electric motor or a gas or oil engine.

Positioned below the table plates of the rear frame structure F is a differential drive mechanism which comprises opposed horizontally aligned shafts 62-63, the shaft 62 being journaled in journal boxes 64l.65 mounted respectively on the plates 1T18, and the shaft 63 being journaled in journal boxes 66-67 mounted respectively on the plates 19--20. The shaft 62 has fixed to its outer end a belt pulley 68 and the shaft 63 carries at its outer end a fixed pulley 69 secured to the shaft and a loose pulley 70 rotatable thereon. The differential gear mechanism operatively connecting the inner ends of the shafts 6263 is illustrated in detail in Fig. 6, and comprises beveled pinions 71-72 keyed respectively to the inner ends of the shafts and a plurality of floating beveled pinions 73 meshing with the pinions 71-72, the pinions being enclosed within a gear housing which comprises opposed sections 74-75 loosely journaled upon the hubs of the pinions 71-72 and an intermediate annular chain wheel or sprocket rim 7 6 all bolted together by bolts 77 to form an integral housing and constituting the intermediate member of the differential mechanism. Any desired number of the gears 73 may be provided and mounted for independent rotation within thehousing, in the drawings, two being shown, each loosely journaled upon opposite ends of a transverse stud shaft '78 carried by the housing.

Referring particularly to Figs. 23-47%), 80 designates a chain wheel or sprocket mounted upon a shaft 81 journaled in opposed journal boxes 82sup'ported upon the plates 5 of the forward frame structure E, and 83 designates a lug projecting downwardly from the tool carriage body 25. Pivoted on said lug is a. link member 85 to the opposite ends of which are connected the terminal ends of a feed chain 86. The chain is rove around the chain Wheel rim 7 6 of the differential housing and extends forwardly and is rove around the chain wheel 80.

The belt pulley 69 of the differential shaft 63 is driven by a belt 88 connecting with the wide face pulley 58 on the main drive shaft H and the belt pulley 68 of the differential shaft 62 is driven in reverse. direction by a belt 89 which connects with the pulley 50 on said main drive shaft. the runs of the belt 89 being ;:rossed as indicated in Fig. 1. It will of course, be understood that if the two differential shafts 62-63 are driven in opposite directions at equal speeds, there will be no rotation of the chain wheel 76, therefore, in the present device the pulley 69 is of slightly less diameter than is the pulley 68, giving a very slow rotation to said chain wheel in the direction indicated by the a: row inl ig. 3, for a lOTWIlCl feed of tie tool carriage It s of course, obvious that instead of the 1 ulley 69 being smaller than the pul e3: 68, these pulleys may be of equal diameter and the main shaft pulley; 58 -59 may be of different relative diameters.

It is desirable that the tool can stopped at predetermined points in its forward travel and for this pure c there is provided an automatic belt shilling device associated with the pulleys 69-70, Said device comprising a square rod 90, (see Figs. 31O12) which is slidably mounted in brackets '9l 92 attached to the forward legs 12 of therear frame structure i and in a bracket 93 attached to a plate 9 1 as a part of said structure and having an aperture through which the lower run of the chain passes, the rod l'iaving upwardly projecting fingers 95 secured to its outer end and. spaced apart to en; ge the opp site edges of the belt 88. A. spring 96 surrounding the rod 90 between toe bracket and, the inner finger 95 and exerts its tension to translate the rod outwardly to shift the be t 88 to the loose pulley 70 when the rod is released. To throw in the carriage feed the rod 90 is translated inwardly ai'nil latched in inner position until automatically released, the means provided for translating the rod 90 inwardly consisting of a hand lever 97 attached to a rock shaft 98 Which is journaled in bearings 99 in the frame structure and has attached to its inner end an arm 100 ena transverse pin 101 projecting lat-' erally from the rod, and the means for latching the rod in inner position consisting of a latch 102 pivoted onthe bracket 93, a spring 103 tending to maintain the lower end of said, latch in engagement within a notch 90 cut in the side of the rod 90, when the rod is in inner position. The upper end of the latch 102 is bifurcated to extend on opposite sides of the feed chain 86 andthere is provided a trip block 104 which is adapted'to be removably attached to the lower run of the chain 86 in a position relatively coincident to the selective length of feed to be imparted. to the tool carriage. S d trip block preferably has medial orifice through which the chain passes and a trans verse pin 105 which passes through a link of the chain to maintain the block in set position.

In throwing in the carriage feed, the hand lever 97 rocks the shaft to trans late the rod 90 inwardly and shifts the belt- 88 to engage and drive the belt pulley 69, and the latch 102 engaging into the notch in the rod maintains said rod in inner position. The trip block 10st being previously set in accordance with the desired length of carriage feed, will travel rcarwardly as the carriage is fed forwardly and upon. reaching the latch will engage its upper bifurcated end and disengage its lower end from the notch in the belt shift rod 90, whereupon, the spring 96 automatically translates the rod outwardly and shifts the belt 88 to the loose pulley 70. When the belt 88 is so shifted the differential shaft 63 and connected parts become idling elements and no further rotative motion will be transmitted to the chain wheel 76. This mechanism provides automatic stop means for disabling the carriage feed at selective points in the forward travel of the carriage and means for manually throwing in the carriage feed and conditioning the stop for subsequent operation.

To provide for a quick return travel of the tool carriage I provide a manually operated brake means for gripping the differential shaft 63 to hold the differential pinion 72 stationary so that the pinion 71 will drive the'pinions 7 3 around said stationary pinion 7 2, carrying with them the differential housing and chain wheel 76 in reverse rotation at an increased speed. Said brake mechanism comprises a brake drum 110 secured to the shaft 63 and engaged by a brake band 111 extending around said drum and actuated by a brake lever 112, the brake lever being pivoted at 118 on the frame structure F and the brake band being attached at one end to the lower end of said lever and at the other end of the pivot stud 113 or to the frame, a spring 114 normally maintaining said lever in releasing position: Wh n the outer end of the lever 112 is depressed the brake band 111 will grip the periphery of the brake drum and hold the shaft 6?) and connected parts stationary providing a quick return carriage drive as above explained.

The boring tool A may be formed of a length of Well casing one end of which is notched to provide the teeth 6, or if desired the casing may be threaded and a steel shoe 115 screwed thereon, said shoe having teeth 116 out in its outer edge. (See Fig. 13).

To provide for entraining lubricating and flushing fluid, such as water, to the cutting zone, a conduit 117 is mounted upon the carriage and extends into the rear end of the tool, the opposite end being connected. by a flexible conduit 118 with asource of supply. To prevent said fluid flowing out the rear end of the tool there is provided a bushing forced into the end of the tool and secured in a suitable vice or like structure and positioned in axial alignment with the boring tool, the rotation of the main drive shaft H will cause the tool A to be driven by the belt 53 shaft 419 and shaft D and the belt 89 will rotate the differential shaft 62 on the one side, the opposite differential shaft 63 idling without causing a rotation of the carriage feed chain wheel 76. The trip block 104 having been positioned on the chain 86 coincident to the desired length of the tool feed, the hand lever 97 is shifted to the left (Fig. 7) to translate the belt shift rod 90 inwardly to shift the belt 88 from the loose pulley to the differential drive pulley 69 and when so shifted the notch in the rod 90 will be positioned in alignment. with the trip latch 102so that said latch will engage therein and maintain the rod in o perated position against the tension of the spring 96. This shifting of the belt 88 re sults in both differential shafts 6263 being driven in reverse directions at slightly varying speeds, producing a forward feed of the carriage and as said carriage travels forwardly the trip block 1041 is carried rearwardl so that upon reaching the tr'p latch 102 it will rock said latch out of engagement with the notch in the belt shift rod 90 and said rod will be shifted outwardly by its spring 96 and stop the carriage feed as above explained. During the forward travel of the carriage the lubricating and flushing fluid will be turned on to lubricate the tool and flush away the borings. If the operator now wishes to retract the tool he depresses the brake lever 112 to hold the differential shaft 63 against rotation to provide a quick return of the carriage as pre viously explained.

We claim:

1. An apparatus of the class described combining a frame, a tool carriage slidable on the frame, a tubular tool rotatable on the carriage, means for rotating the tool, means for translating the carriage, and means associated with the carriage and adapted to render the carriage translating means ineffective when said carriage reaches the end of its ope ating stroke.

2. An apparatus of the class described combining a frame, a tool carriage slidable on the frame, a tubular tool rotatable on the :arriage, means for rotating the tool, means for translating the carriage, selectively positioned means associated with the carriage and adapted to render the carriage translating means ineffective when said carriage reaches the end of its operating stroke, and means providing a quick return translation of the carriage.

3. An apparatus of the class described combining a frame, a tool carriage slidable on the frame, a tool rotatable on the carriage, means for rotatipg the tool,,a differential gear mechanism having opposed differential shafts and an intermediate cooperating member, means connecting said. intermediate member to the carriage, means driving the differential shafts at relatively. different speeds in opposite directions to r0- tate the intermediate member for translating the carriage.

Al. An apparatus of the class described combining a frame, a tool carriage slidable on the frame, a tool rotatable on the carriage, means for rotating the tool, a differential gear mechanism having opposed differential shafts and an intermediate coopcrating member, means connecting said intermediate member to the carriage, means driving the differential shafts at relatively different speeds in opposite directions to rotate the intermediate member for translating the carriage, and means functioning to disconnect the drive from one shaft to discontinue the rotation of the intermediate member.

5. An apparatus of the class described combining a frame, a tool carriage slidable on the frame, a tool rotatable on the carriage, means for rotating the tool, a differential gear mechanism having opposed differential shafts and an intermediate cooperating member, means connecting said intermediate member to the carriage, driving means for each shaft for driving said shafts at relatively different speeds in opposite directions to rotate the intermediate member, means for disconnecting the drive from one of the differential shafts permitting its idle rotation by the opposed shaft and discontinuing the rotation of the intermediate member, and means for arresting the idle rotation of the one shaft to cause a quick reverse rotation of the intermediate member.

6. An apparatus of the class described combining a frame, a tool carriage slidable on the frame, a tool rotatable on the carri age, means for rotating the tool, translating means for the carriage,a control. device for the translating means manually operated to cause the transmitting means to translate the carriage in one direction and automaticall v normalized to render the transmitting means ineffective, retaining means releasably maintaining the control device in condition for automatic operation, and means associated With the carriage to trip the retaining means.

7. An apparatus of the class described. combining a frame, a tool carriage slidable thereon, a tool rotatable on the carriage, means for rotating the tool, a differential gear mechanism having opposed differential shafts and an intermediate cooperating member, means connecting said intermediate member to the carriage, drive means for one shaft, drive means for the opposite shaft, said drive means rotating the shafts in opposite directions at relatively different speeds to rotate the intermediate member in one direction, means controlled by the movement of the carriage for disconnecting one drive means permitting its associated shaft to rotate idly and the intermediate member to remain stationary, and means for arresting the idle rotation of said shaft to cause a quick reverse rotation of the intermediate member.

8. An apparatus of the class described combining a frame, tool carriage slidable thereon, a tool rotatable on the carriage, means for rotating the tool, a differential gear mechanism having opposed differential shafts and an intermediate cooperating member having a chain sprocket, a chain sprocket journaled at the forward end of the frame, a chain attached to the carirage and rove around both sprockets, and driving means for each shaft driving said shafts in opposite directions at relative different speeds to cause a rotation of the intermediate member.

9. An apparatus of the class described combining a frame, a tool carriage slidable thereon, a tool rotatable on the carriage, means for rotating the tool, a differential gear mechanism having opposed differential shafts and an intermediate cooperating member having a chain sprocket, a chain sprocket iournaled at the forward end of the frame, a chain attached to the carriage and rove around both sprockets, driving means for each shaft driving said shafts in opposite directions at relative different speeds to cause a rotation of the intermediate member. and means for disconnecting one of said driving means to discontinue the rotation of the intermediate member.

1o. An apparatus of the class described combining a frame, a tool carriage slidable thereon, a tool rotatable on the carriage, means for rotating the tool, a differential gear mechanism having opposed differential shafts and an intermediate cooperating member having a chain sprocket, a chain sprocket journaled at the forward end of the frame, a chain attached to the carriage and rove around both sprockets, driving means fo each shaft driving said shafts in opposite directions at relative different speeds to cause a rotation of the intermediate member, means for disconnecting one of said driving means to permit its companion shaft to rotate idly and discontinue the rotation of the intermediate member, and means for arresting said idlv rotating shaft to cause a reverse rotation of the intermediate member.

Signed at Fullerton, California, this 30 day of Aug, 1920.

ROBERT WV. EDENS. SIMON EDWARD CLEVER.

Witnesses:

ALBERT LAUNER, RUTH ADAMS.

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