US1492994A - Pipe-engaging slip - Google Patents

Description

May 6 1924.

G. R. LIVERGOOD PIPE ENGAGING SLIP Filed June 17, 1922 (3' X LIVEKGOOD grvuenhn Patented May 6, 1924.

PAT

GERALD R. LIVERGOOD, OF HOUSTON, TEXAS.

PIPE-ENGAGING SLIP.

Application filed June 17, 1922. Serial No. 568,989.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GERALD R. Livnaooon, a citizen of the United States, residing at Houston, Harris County, Texas, have in vented a certain new and useful Improvement in Pipe-Engaging Slips, of which the following is afull, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in pipe engaging slips for use on rotaries in well drilling. It is adapted particularly for gripping the pipe and sustaining the load of the string of drill stem or casing while the joints of same are being screwed or unscrewed, at times when the pipe is being introduced into, or being removed from the well. This tool is designed as an improvement on the construction shown in my Patent No. 1,381,074: issued June 7, 1921.

The object of my improvement is to provide a pipe engaging slip wherein a plurality.

of jaws are used on a holder having a means to prevent rotation of said jaws beyond a certain range of movement.

Another object is to mount the jaws in the holder so that they will have a free, yet limited movement in all directions both relative to the holder and to each other.

I have found that where pipe is gripped with the ordinary pipe engaging slip, made up of two or three jaws for the entire pipe, the pipe is clamped so firmly against each ofsaid jaws as to make the release of the pipe from the jaws difficult. But where a larger number of jaws are used to avoid such diiiiculty, it becomes necessary to mount them in holders so that a number of jaws may be handled as a unit. These jaws must be mounted for free movement relative to the holder and to each other to provide for the quick release of the pipe which is desired.

This application is a continuation of my application No. 507,528 filed Oct. 13, 1921.

Referring to the drawing forming a part of this specification and wherein like numerals of reference are applied to like parts in the. various views, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a slip constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse section on the plane 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of a set of jaw's constituting one of my slips, the holding means for said jaws being removed. Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the plates constituting a part of the holder. Fig. 5 is a similar bottom plan view and Fig. 6 is a side or edge elevation of one of the top plates connected with the holding means. i

The pipe engaging slips shown in the drawing are constructed generally in the same manner as has been shown in my prior patent above referred to, with the exception of certain details of construction which'will be particularly pointed out. I have shown two separate sets of jaws, each set being an exact duplicate of the other, the two sets together acting to entirely surround a pipe to be seized by the jaws. Each slip comprises four jaws 7 held together for movement as a unit by means of a holder or cage.

This holder is made up of an upper plate 8 and a lower plate 9 connected together and spaced apart by means of rods or pins 10, one rod for each of the separate jaws. The upper plate 8 is provided at its outer margin with a downwardly projecting flange 11 thereon, and on its upper face it has two spaced upwardly extending lugs 12. These lugs are formed with a horizontal opening 13 therein to receive the lower hooked end of a bail or handle 14, as shown particularly in Fig. 1. The lower plate 9 is an arcuate fiat plate having spaced openings 15 therein, said openings being threaded so that the lower threaded end of the rods 10 may be screwed therein. Nuts 16 may also be screwed on to the lower ends of the'pins 10 after they have been threaded through the openings in the plate 9. These nuts are locked in position by any well known means to prevent their accidental removal. v

The jaws 7 are provided with longitudinal openings 18 therethrough to receive the pins or rods 10. These openings are materially larger than are the pins so. that the jaws may have a movement in all lateral directions relative to the pins. The'two plates 8 and 9 are spaced apart so' that the jaws may also move vertically between the plates a certain predetermined distance. The jaws will thusbe free to move separately upon the frame or holder thus provided, but in order to prevent a rotative' movement of the. jaws on the holder and es eciallv of the two end jaws on such ho der, T contemplate providing one or both of the plates with vertically extending flanges to co-act with the jaws to prevent rotative movement beyond a certain point. In the drawing 1 have shown the upper plate thus provided with a downwardly extending flange 11. To receive this flange the upper ends of the jaws are provided with a marginal recess 17. to receive this downwardly extending flange. As will be seen particularly from Fig. 2, this flange 11 is spaced slightly away from the upper end of each of the jaws so as to. allow a limited radial lay of the jaws relative to this flange 11 o the upper plate.

Nhen my device, constructed as herein described, is employed in practice, the slip comprisingthe four jaws held together by the frame work. or holder is handled by the drillers by the use 'of the bail or handle 14. The slips are thus adjusted in position about the pipe on: the rotary. Two of these slips are necessai' to entirely enclose the pipe, although it is obvio us that a fewer numb-er of aws could be employed in each set, thereby necessitating a larger number of separate slips. The outer face of each set of jaws is tapered to fit within the tapered seat of a rotary, and, as the pipe comes in contact with the toothed inner face ofthe jaws the said jaws are moved downwardly within the seat of the rotary and are clamped firmly against the pipe so asl to sustain its entire weight. Each jaw being made on so short an are it does notwedge against the pipe so as to be jammediinto position, and hence when the pipe is again raised up the jaws will easily release and drop away from the pipe and can be removed.

The provision of the vertically extending flange on the. plate fitting within a recess in each of the jaws does not interfere with the limited movement. necessary for each jaw to accommodate itself to the surface of the pipe, but will. act to prevent a rotative movement of the jaw beyond the necessary limited range.

The further objects and advantages of my improvement will be obvious to one skilled in the art.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A slip for rotaries comprising a plurality of sets ofpipe-engaging jaws shaped to fit a tapered seat, each set comprising a plurality of jaws, means to hold each set of said jaws loosely together, comprising upper and lower arcuate plates, means securing said jaws loosely to said plates, each of said jaws having a marginal recess at its outer,

upper face, and a' downwardly projecting means-s flange on the uppermost plate adapted to fit into said recesses so as to allow a limited play to said aws relative to said plate and to each other. a

2. In a device of the character described, a plurality of sets of pipe engaging jaws, upper and lower plates on each said set, means connecting said jaws loosely between said plates, and a downwardly projecting flange on said upper plate, each of said jaws being recessed to receive said flange loosely. V: 3. A pipe engaging slip, comprising a plurality of'arcu'ate pipe engaging jaws, 11 holder whereby said jaws may be moved as a unit, said holder including an upper arcuate plate, a downwardly extending flange thereon, said jaws being recessed to receive said flange loosely, and means on said plate whereby said jaws may be handled in operation. n

4 In a pipe engaging slip, a plurality of units, each comprising .a plurality of armate pipe engaging jti\VS,:lllG outer faces of which are tapered downwardly, and a holder for said jaws including spaced plates oneof which has a .vertically extending flange, said jaws. being recessed to loosely receive said flange.

5. A pipe engaging slip comprising a pluralityi of jaws, and means to hold said jaws together as a unit including an upper arouate plate having a downwardly projecting flan e thereon, said jaws being recessed to receive said flange and thus limit the rotative movement of said jaws as described.

6. A pipe engaging slip-comprising a plurality of arcuate pipe engaging jaws, a holder whereby said aws are held together as a unit including an arcuate plate having a vertically extending flange thereon, means securing said jaws loosely to said plate, said jaws having recesses therein to receive said flange in the manner described.

7. In a device 'of the character described, a plurality of sets of arcuate pipe engaging jaws tapered to fit within a tapered seat, and a holder for each set of jaws whereby said jaws may be handled as a unit so as to be moved to and from said tapered seat, said jaws being mounted loosely on said holder thereby allowing a limited play of said jaws in both lateral and vertical directions relative to the holder and to each other.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aflix' my signature this the 13 day of June, A. D. 1922.

GERALD R. LIVERGOOD.

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