US1556103A - Grapple - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 6, `A

H. s GORE Filed Jan. 28, 1925 Oct. 6, 1925. l,5 56,l03

H. S. GORE GRAPPLE Filed Jan. 2 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I J 33 E 32 af' z Patented Oct. 6, 1925.

UNITED STATES HARRY s. GDR-E, or

MIDWEST, I WYOMING.

GRAAPPLE.

Application filedlanuary To aZ'Z whom it may camera:

Be it known that I, HARRY S. GORE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Midwest, in the county of Natrona and State of Vyoming, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Gripples, of which the :following is a specification.

This invention pertains to grapples and by the present design it is sought to provide a simple yet rugged grapple intended primarily to be used for removing broken sucker rods from well casings.

It is also contemplated that the invention may be embodied in nun erous forms to adapt it to other analogous uses, among which may be mentioned the recovery of drill bits, wire line, rope sockets and other accessories used in well drilling. For these purposes the device will take the form ot' a fishing tool. In a modified form of the in- Vention,hereinatter described, the device is made in the form of a spear for pulling out well casings or recovering parted or lost pipe.

Tools of this general character heretofore devised have numerous shortcomings, principal of which are inability to stand the great strains to which they are subjected, complicated constructions resulting in disuse ofthe'tools when once out of repair, and ineficiency of operation.

The present invention ;is intended to overcome these objections 'by furnishing a tool whichis extremely'simple in both Construction and operation, in which the number of parts is reduced'toa minimum and the parts are all of such Construction that there is small chance of breakage.

A further objecu is a" device which maybe readly dismounted and assembled to replace broken or-worn parts.

Referring to the accompanying drawings wherein 'like reference numerals designate thesame parts throughout the several views, there are shown two practical embodiments of the invention, one, a fishing tool, and the other, a casing spear.

Fig. 1 represents a front elevation of the fishing tool Suspended in a well casing (shown in Section) and about to eng-age the upper end ot' a broken sucker rod;

Fig. 2, a sectonal view of the same tool with the parts in the positions which they assume as the tool comes into partial engagement with-the sucker rod;

Fig. `3,21, similar sectonal View, fragmen- 28, 1925. Serial No. 5,277.

tary, of the tool 'in full eng-agement with the sucker-rod and ready to be elevatcd to c'arry the rod with it;

Fig. 4, a section taken on line 4-& of Fig. 3 looking upwardly, showing the cross-sectonal shape of the'slips .of the tool at this point and illustrating in dot-and-dash lines the manner inwhich they may be removed from the fulcrum ring;

Fig. 5, an inside elevational View of one of the slips removed from the tool; and

Fig. 6, a sectonal view of a casing or pipe spear embodying the invention, the spear being shown in operative engagement 'with the casing as when the latter is being drawn from the well.

In the drawings, except Fig. 6, l is the well casing in the lower portion of wnich rests the broken sucker rod 2. 'In order to adapt the present tool for recovering sucker rod 2 or other object from the lower end ot' the casing, it is made up of a seriesof metal slips 3 held in proper assembled relaton to each other and the rest ot' the tool by means of a fulcrum ring 4:. 'Three slips 3 are used in the present Construction as this has been found to be the most eficient number, although it is to be understood that any number, from two up, may be used if found advisable. Each slip 3 is provided externally With a transverse groove 5 in which a portion of the fulcrum ring 4 rests. F ulcrum ring 4 is of such size as to fit .loosely in the grooves 5 in the slips, so asto permit of the pivotal movement of'the slips 'hereina-fter described& 4

Upon reference to Fig. 4, it will be seen that ea'ch slip 3 is of segmental form in horizontal cross-section and of such size as -to permit ittopivot' or swing vertically on fulcr um ring %when assenibled with the .other slips.

Slips3 areshaped so that when assembled and restingwith their lower edges on a fiat surface,-the lower portion of the tool is practically cylindrical, while the upper part of the tool, thatis, thepart above `tulcrum ring 4, tapers somewhat inwa-rdly and upwardly. The purpose of this will appear later;

'i Interiorly each slip 3 is formed with an nwardly and 'downwardly inclined surface 6 extending from the upper edge of the slip and merging at its lower edge with an outwardly and downwardly inclined surface 7. These two `inclined surfaces 6 'and -7 at their juncture forma ridge 8 which may be rounded o fi if desired. Projecting between the upper portions of the several slips 3 is a rod 9 having a downwardly and outwardly flaring enlargement or head 10 formed on the lower end thereof. Rod 9 comprises the means for raising and lowering the tool in the casing 1.

Slips 3 are also each provided nteriorly with an inwardly projecting, horizontal rib 11 adapted to serve as an abutment for head 10 of rod 9 and also to re-enforce the slips at this point, perhaps the greatest point, of strain when the tool is being used to lift an object.

The head 10 on rod 9 is adapted to spread open the upper ends of slips 3 and to accomplish this it is made suficiently large, so that when the tool is suspencled by rod 9, ridges 8 of the several slips 3 will gravitate into engagement with the inclined surface of the head, thereby rotating each of the slips about fulcrum ring 4 as a center. This results in the lower portions of the slips swinging inwardly until their edges abut at the lower ends thereof. Tn other words, when the tool is Suspended by rod 9, the parts gravitate so as to cause an expansion of the upper part of the tool and a contraction of the lower part thereof, as clearly shown in Fig. l.

The lower edge of each slip 3 is nclined inwardly and upwardly as shown at 12 to facilitate the engagement of the tool with the object to be lifted. Above this inclined surface 12 and extending almost to rib ll, the slip is of substantially uniform thickness and on its inner surface is formed with a series of transverse serrations 13. These serrations extend from one edge of the slip to the other and aiford positive means for engagement of the tool with the sucker rod or other object 2.

In use, the fishing tool of Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, is lowered into casing 1, as shown in Fig. 1, for the purpose of recovering the sucker rod 2. As the tool is lowered from the position of Fig. l, in which position the lower end of the tool is contracted, it comes into engagement with the upper end of sucker rod 2.' If the upper end of rod 2 should be located in the casing as shown in Fig. l, that is, centrally thereof, it will pass readily between the lower ends of slips 3 and into the object-engaging chamber 14 as the tool is lowered, as shown in Fig. 3, being aided in this connection by the inclined surfaces 12 on the loweredges of slips 3, as shown in Fig. 2. The size and shape of head 10 on rod 9 is such, it will be understood, that, as soon as the downward movement of the slips 3 is impeded by their engagement with the sucker rod 2, head 10 will move downwardly out of engagement with the slips 3, thus permitting` sucker rod 2 to pry open the lower end of the tool and enter the gripping chamber 14.

Should sucker rod 2 be disposed in the casing with its upper end close to the wall of the casing, it may still be engaged by the tool to bring it into the object-engaging chamber 14. As clearly disclosed in Fig. 2, the upper part of the tool, that is, the part above fulcrum ring 4:, tapers upwardly towards the top of the tool. Red 9, by reason of the particular Construction and arrangement of head 10 and slips 3, is universally connected to the tool proper, inclined surfaces 6 on the slips 3 permitting rod 9 and the tool to assume various angular relatons to each other. These features of Construction, it will be seen, allow the rod 9 to be manipulated so as to bring the lower edge of the tool into close engagement with the inner surface of the casing 1 and pry out an object leaning over towards or even against it. `When this has been accomplished, the tool is lowered further until the upper end of the sucker rod or other object is well within the object-engaging chamber 14. This, as explained, results in more or less of a contracton of the upper portion of the tool depending upon the size of the end of the sucker rod 2. The pivotal action of slips 3 about fulcrum ring 4 may be readily appreciated upon comparison of their positions shown in Figs. 1,2 and 3 taken in order.

As soon as sucker rod 2 is well within chamber 14, rod 9 is elevated by any suit able means, either manually actuated or power driven. This results in head 10 again engaging the inwardly I projecting ridges 8 of slips 3, the upper portions of slips 3 thus being forced outwardly by reason of the shape of head 10, and the lower portions of slips 3 being forced inwardly to contract chamber 14: and bring` the serrated faces of the slips into firm gripping engagement with the upper portion of sucker rod 2 (see Fig. 3). Practically any desired force may then be exerted upwardly on rod 9 to remove sucker rod 2, the more power used the firmer the grip of the tool on the sucker rod will become, due to the tendency of head 10 to expand the upper part of the tool and contract the lower part thereof. In practical test-s with a tool of substantially the same size and construction as that shown in the drawings, the tool has successfully lifted and held suspended a` ton for an hour without showing any effects of the strain.

If for any reason it should be necessary to disassemble the parts of the tool, as for instance to replace a worn slip, this is provided for as shown in Fig. 4. Slips 3, which as stated are segmental in form, are of such a size and such a curvature externally that even when their adjacent verticaledges are brought together, they cannot be removed upwardly through fulcrum ring` 4. ;Pro-

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Vision is made, however, for removing any one of them downwardly through ring 4 after whichtheothers may be removed =in either direction. This is accomplished by giving the exteror of each slip at the upper edge of its groove 5 a curvature which [will just permit a selected slip to be removed downwardly through fulcrum ring 4 when the other slips are positioned so that their adj acent vertical edges are abutting throughout their lengths and ring 4 is in close engagement with the inner wall of the groove 5 of these slips. This is shown in dot-anddash lines in Fig. 4. Upon removal of one slip, it is obvious that the others may then be removed readily. To reassemble the tool parts, the Operations just described are carried out in the reverse order.

In Fig. 6 the same invention-is shown embodied in a casingspear. In this figure the spear is shown in operative or gripping engagement with the casing 21 which it is desired to pull from the well; noted that the principle of operation ofthe slips 22, fulcrum ring 23, rod 24 and its head 25 is the same as that of the corresponding parts of the fishing tool of Figs. l to 5. Each slip 22 has inner inclined faces 26 and 27 forming a ridge 28 for engagement with head 25 on rod 24 and an inner horizontal rib 29 to limit the downward movement of head 25 within the tool.

The portion of the spear above fulcrum ring 23 is substantially cylindrical when not in operative engagement with the casing. The external upper portion of each slip 22 above its groove 30 is provided with serratons 31 for engagement with the interior of the casing. Below its groove 30, each' slip 22 tapers slightly downwardly to :prevent jamming or binding of the spear when being lowered within the casing. The lower end of each slip 22 is inturned to form a segmental fiange 32 having an arc-shaped notch on its inner edge. The three arc-shaped notches in slips 22 co-operate to form an annular opening 33 in the lower end of the tool through which extends a grip-releasing member 34.

The body of member 34 tapers gradually upwardly and at its upper end has a flange 35 which rests on the upper faces of fiange 32 of slips 22 to support member 34 in the lower end of the tool. The lower end of member 34 is also formed with a flange 36' It will be along the inner-;surface'of the casing, this will only result in the upper portions of slips 22 swinging 'inwardly on fulcrum' ring 23 causing a corresponding ontward swinging movement of the lower portions;thereof.

The lower portions of slip 22 taper'downwardly, however and thus there is nothing to interfere With ready lowering of the spear within the casing.

Then the tool has reaohed a desired point in the casing, rod 24 is elevated which immediately' causes the upper portion of the tool to expand andforce serrations 31 into ends of slips 22. 'This appears clearly in Fig. 6.

If it is desired, either before or while they are in operative'engagement, to remove the spear without the casing, this may be accomplished by first lowering rod 24 and the attached spear until the lower end of member 34 comes into` contact ,with the bottom of the well. This causes member34 tobe forced upwardly betweenslips 22 and spread the lower ends thereof apart by reason of the tapered form of the body of member 34. As the lower portions of slips 22 vare spread open, fulcrumring 23 causes the upper portions of the slips to move to- .gether radially and release the grip of the.

spear from the casing. -Memberfl34 isretained in its last-mentioned position by friction and the spear may be removed readily from the casingby rod 24.

Numerons changes-in the structure illustrated and described may .be made without departing from'the spirit of this invention except as it may be limited bytheattached claims.

hat is claimed is:

l. In a grapple, the combination of a plurality of slips each having a transverse groove formed in the eXterior surface thereof; a fulcrum ring loosely mounted in said grooves and serving to maintain said slips in assembled relation; a relatively movable head located between the slips for engagement therewith only above the fulcrum ring to swing the upper portion of each of the slips outwardly about said ring as a center, each of said slips having aportion adapted, upon said swinging movement of the slips, to engage an object to be lfted; and suspension means for said head.

2. In a grapple, the combination of a plurality of slips; a ring on which said slips are pivotally mounted intermediate their extremities for vertical swinging movement of said eXtremities toward and from each other; movable means located between the slips for spreading apart the upper eX- tremities thereof, said slips each having a portion adapted, upon said spreading apart of the extremities of the slips', to engage an object to be lifted; and suspension means for said movable means.

3. In a grapple, the combination of a plurality of uprght slips; a ring on which said slips are pivot-ally mounted intermediate their extremities; relatively movable means located between said slips for causing eXpanson of the upper portion of the grapple and contraction of the lower portion thereof, said slips each being provided with r a portion adapted, upon expansion and contraction of said portions of the grapple, to engage an object to be lifted; and suspension means for said relatively movable means.

4:. A grapple such as is set forth in claim 3, in which the relatively movable means have a universal connection with the slips.

5. A grapple comprising aplurality of upright slips each having a transverse groove in the exterior surface thereof; a continuous ring surrounding the slips and loosely mounted in said grooves; suspension means; and means, on the lower end of said suspension means, located between the slips for engagement therewith to move said slips into engagement with an object to be lifted, said parts being so propo-rtioned and arranged as to permit disassembly of the grapple only by first removing one of said slips.

6. A tool of the character described comprising a plurality of upright, segmental slips; a ring on which said slips are pivotally mounted for vertical swinging movement towards and from each other; means disposed between said slips for engagement therewith to cause said swinging movement, said slips each having an inner, lower portion adapted, upon said swinging movement, to engage an object to be lifted; and

suspension means for said slip-engaging means, the lower portions of the adjacent slips coacting with each other to present an opening between the slips for the entranee of the object to be lifted. 7. In a grapple, the combination of a plurality of upright, segmental slips, each of which has a transverse .groove in its outer surface intermediate it ends; a fulcru'm ring surrounding the slips and loosely mounted in said grooves, the upper' portion of each of said slips being formed with an inwardly projectng portion on its inner face; and an upright suspension member having a downwardly flaring head on its lower end, said head being movablyj located between said slips above the fulcrum ring for coacton with said inwardly projecting portions of the slips to Swing the upper portions of the slips radially outward and the lower portions thereof radially inward, the lower portions of the slips having portions on their inner faces adapted for gripping engagement with an object to be lifted.

8. A grapple of the character described comprising a plurality of upright, segnental slips having transverse grooves in their outer faces intermediate their ends and object-engagng surfaces on their lower, inner faces; a fulcrum ring surrounding the slips and loosely disposed in said grooves to retain the slips in assembled relation; actuating means disposed between said slips and adapted, upon relative longitudinal movement of said means and the slips, to move said slips radially away from each other at their upper ends and radally towards each other at their lower ends; and sus-- pension means for said actuating means. In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

HARRY S. GORE.

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