US1592706A - Safety sucker rod elevator - Google Patents

Description

July 13 1926. 1,592,706

J. D.APR!DGEN SAFETY SUCKER ROD ELEVATOR 31a/vento July 13, 1926.

J. D. PRIDGEN SAFETY SUCKER ROD ELEVATOR Filed Feb. 1'?, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 muto@ um l ers

Patented July` 13, 1926.

AUNITEV'D `STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSIAHDAVID PRIDGEN, OF LOUAN'N,Av ARKANSAS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-V'I-IIRD TO A.THOMAS,DAYIDKNGHT, OF SMACKOVER, ARKANSAS.

SAFETY SUCKER non nLEvAToR.

Application filed February The present invention relates to improvementsv in means for pulling out and replacing. sectional sucker rods. Y

As the practice now in general use, a set of two elevators are'employed for the purpose or" pulling or replacing sucker rods in oil or water-wells. In the pulling of a sucker-rod by lthis method, first one elevator is attached to a head ofV one rod length, and the rod is then raised until the coupling at kits lower end is vrfree ofthe well casg, whereby upon attaching the other elevator to the head of the lower rod section, the elevated rod section may be unscrewed iti-om its lower section and the .process re` peated; liist attaching one elevator and thenr the other.` This procedure requires much time andlabonand quite frequently the clevatorbecomes detached from the line or cable, resulting in considerable damage to property, and iii somefcases inpersonal injury. f

It is therefore a-primary object of this invention to provide an improved means vfor 'pulling and replacing'sectional suckerrods, whereby merely one elevator is employedin connect-ion with a wrench attachment for acconiplishing the pulling or replacing of the rod, said wrench` attachment beingsubstituted for the second elevator. l

A further object ofthe invention is to provide an improved elevator for sucker rods embodying' novel featuresot' construction whereby the suckerrod will be prevented -irom moving out of the elevator when being removed or placed in a well.

A still further object of the invention is to providean improved elevator of the character described, wherein thelocking arrangement which is automatic in its locking operation, also acts for centering. the sucker rod axially beneath the point of suspension ot tlieelevator, thereby eliminating possible ranting of the elevator. y

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during 'the course ofthe following detailed description, takenV in connection with-the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which drawings,

Figure 1 is a view 'in centralpverticalsecino- ' 'Figure 17, 1925. seriai Nojassi.

tion, and showing the improved sucker rod elevator and wrenchattachment in operative relation to a casing and sucker rod.

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the improved elevator, showing the rod retaining means in a raised position. l

15"",gure 3 is a side elevation of the elevator, and showing the retaining means in` a lowered position just prior to its being canted into a locked position.

Figure Llis a central vertical section ou line L -1l or Figure l, looking in the direction ot the arrows, and showing the retain-r 'ing means in alowered operative position `for axially centering the sucker rod'in the .nate'corresp'onding parts throughout the` several views, the; letter A 4may generally designate the improved suckerl rod elevator, and which in the example shown embodies a. body portion B; a retaining means C;

and a suspension means l). E may general-A ly designate a suclrer rod length ot' suitable `construction, and F 'a casing for the rod.

The wrench attaclin'ient, which may be gen-l` orally designated by the letter G, comprises a rod holder or rest H, and a normally sep arable wrench portion I.

Referring more particularly to the body portion B of the elevator and which is preferably formed .ot ii'ietal, the same is ot cylindricalhollow formation, being closed at its upper end by a top wall 10,/ and at its lower endV by a bottom wall l1.. An

opening l2 of substantially rectangular i Y shape in formation, is provided adjacent the lower end of the'tront portion ot the body,

and extends upwardly a suitable distance from a plane equal with t-he upper surface of the bottom wall ll. Centrally of the upper' portion ot' theV opening l2 and of less width than the opening, is a longitudinally extendingV guideway 13 and the purpose of which will be subsequently explained. Disposed. directly below the guideway 13 in the bottom wall ll, and ex ,ending from the peripheral edge of the wall 11 to a point axially thereof, is a slot 1i for the reception of the wrench square l5 of the sucker rod box or head 1G. lf desir Q., the upper face of the bottom wall ll may be slightly cupped toward its axial center for aiding in retaining the sucker rod E axially of the body.

Referring now to tbe retaining means C, and which is adapted for relative movement with respect to the body portion B, the same embodies allocling ring 17 which is pivotally mounted at substantial y right angles to the slot llas by aligned pivot pins 1S which are adapted for sliding movement in vertically extending guide slots 19 provided in the body portion B, and which slots are preferably disposed to one side of the medialvertical plane of the body portion B. This ring' 17 which is of slightly greater size than the outer dimension of the body B, and which is clearly shown in Figures 5 and 6 respectively, has provided at its forward portion, an upwardly extending locking tongue 20 which is of a size to permit of its being swung inwardly to a position whereby the, upper edge thereof will engage beneath the upper wall of the opening 12 for locking th-e ring 17 in a lowered operative position `as shown in Figure 4. Disposed inwardly of the locking tongue 20, and preferably .secured to the tongue as by suit-able fastening elements 21, is a substantially wedge shaped retaining block 22 being of such thickness as to permit of its being moved into the slot 14 when the retaining means is in a lowered position. The guideway 13 is adapted to receive this tongue 22 when the means C is in a raised position, for preventing rotational strain upon the pivot pins 1S. Disposed diametrically opposite to the locking tongue 20 and preferably formed integral with the ring 17, is a hand grip or handle 23 which preferably extends upwardly beside the body portion B. This handle portion 23 aside from forming a suitable means for raising of the retaining means C, is of sufficient weight to cause thel ring 17 to cant in a manner as illustrated in Figure 4 for locking the tongue 2O beneath the top wall of the opening 12 when the means B is in a lowered position. It will also be seen that as the locking tongue swings inwardly, that the locking block 22 will move into engagement with the upper collar portion 24 of the sucker rod for holding` the sucker rod in the .axial center of the elevator. By so disposing the vertically extending guide slots 19 to one side of the vertical medial plane of the body B, and to that side at which the tongue 20 is disposed, thephandle side of the. means C will automatically cant downwardly for performing the locking' operation when the means is lowered upon the elevator body.

Viith refer-ence now 'to the suspension means D, the .same preferably consists of an attaching eye 25 having a depending shank portion 26 extending through an axially aligned opening provided in the' top wall of the body portion B. A shoulder 27 is preferably formed at the juncture of the shank 26 with the eye 25, for bearing engagement with the topl surface of the wall 10. A ball bearing arrangement 28, held in position against the underface of the top wall 10 as by a nut 29, provides means for swivel connection of the means D and body portion B, at a point in vertical axial relation with the seat for the sucker rod E. lf desired, an opening 30 may be provided adjacent the upper .end of the body B for permitting of easy assembling of the suspension means D with the body.

Referring now to the wrench attachment G, and more specifically to the rod holder or rest H, the same consists of a handle portion 31 having a rest plate 32 provided at one end thereof, and which plate is formed with an outwardly opening slot of a size to receive the reduced body portion 3i of the sucker rod E. A boss 35 is provided on the under surface of rest plate 32, in concentric relation to the inner end of the slot 33, and is adapted to extend into the casing F for preventing lateral movement of the rod holder when supporting a sucker rod. Arranged at a point intermediate the handle portion 31 and rest plate 32, are upstanding spaced apart arms 36 having their inner fiat faces disposed in parallel confronting relation to one another. The wrench member I, which is of double end formation, is provided at each end with wrench heads 37 andr 38 having longitudinally opening slots of different sizes for use upon sucker rod couplings having different sizes of wrench squares. Secured to one face of the wrench I, and having its intermediate portion spaced from the wrench, is a longitudinally extending retaining strip 39 having each end thereof secured to the wrench in any approved manner.v A bolt Ll() is adapted to extend between the wrench I and strip 39, and have its ends mounted in the upstanding arms 86 of the holder H for permitting of reversing of the wrench member upon removal of the bolt. It can be seen that by so slidably and pivotally mounting the wrench upon the holder H, that the wrench member may be slid into and out of holding relation with the wrench square 15, and also inclined at various angles for proper engagement with the wrench square as is illustrated in the dotted line ,showing in Figure 1. Thisconstruction permits `of the wrench attachment being applicable to varithe head'of the sucker rod, with the wrenchv square 15 sliding into the'sloty 14, and the shoulder 2a resting upon the upper surface o' the bottom wallll at a point axially of the elevator.V The retaining means CV may then be lowered to its fullest extent and whereby, due to the special pivotal supporting thereof, the same will. automatically cant downwardly at one side, thereby locking the tongue 2() in the opening 12 and swinging the bloclr 22 inwardly for centering the sucker rod within the elevator.

Theelevator and sucker rod may'then be raised a slight distance for permitting withdrawal of the device G, and'then raised ak su'liicient height until the next coupling of the sucker rod sections is disposed ashort distance above the top of the casing F. The device G may then be slid intoposition with the rest plate positioned about the body portion of the rod below the head 16, and the wrench l Vmoved into position with the wrench square 15 as illustrated in the dotted line showing in Figure 1. The sucker rod may then be lowered until the head 16 seats upon the rest plate 32, and the boss 35 eX- tends into the casing F for preventing accidental displacement of the holder G with the sucker rod. Any suitable wrench may then be applied to the upper sucker rod section, and by grasping the holder G with the' other hand, the upper section may be readily unscrewed from the lower section; whereby, after removal of the raised rod section from the elevator A, and withdrawal of the wrench I from engagement with the lowerV rod section, the elevator may be coupled to this section as betore stated, and the process.

repeated as before. Owing to the swivel mounting oi' the elevator body B, it will be seen that there will be no liability of the elevator becoming uncoupled from its line or cable when the elevated rod section is being unscrewed from its contiguous lower rod section. V

It will be apparent from the foregoing description, that by so employing an improved combined rod holder and wrench in combination with an improved elevator' as described, that merely one elevator is required for pulling or replacing sucker rods in wells,

and that this process of pulling and replacing sectional sucker rods will be accomplished in an efficient and expeditious manner.

Various minor changes may be made as to the speciiic construction and operation ot the device herein shown and described, with- Aout departing trom the spirit `oi tne' invention or the scope of the tollonfing claims.

claim:

1. An elevator for sucker rods, comprising La hollow body portion having a transversely extending slot provided in its bottom wall for reception oi the rwrench square asucker rod, locking means embodying a blockextending into the hollow body poi'- tion and adapted tor movement into said slot in engagement with the sucker rod head for preventing withdrawal ot' the rod lroin the slot, and suspension means carried by said body Jtor attachment to a line or cable.

2. An elevator for sucker rods-comprising a hollow body portion having a trans-- versely extending slot provided in its bottom wall for reception of the wrench square of a suekerrod, retaining means movable relative to said body and embodying a. retaining bloclr adapted for swinging nieveinent into said slot for centering the sucker rod in the elevator body and locking the rod against movement out ot the slot, and swivelly mounted Lsuspension means carried bythe upper portion of the body for suspending the. elevator from a.' line or cable.

3. An elevator for sucker rods comprising a hollow body portion having a transversely extending slot provided in its bottom wall for reception ofthe wrench square oi' a sucker rod, retaining means for said rod comprising a locking ring slidably mounted eXteriorly of the body portion and embodying a. retaining block adapted for movement into the-slot of said body portion, means for locking the retaining means in lowered operative relation to said rod, and means for suspending the elevator Vtrom a line or cable.

l. An elevator -for sucker rods comprising a hollow body portion having a transversely extending slot provided in its bottom wall tor reception of the wrench square ot' a Sucker rod, retaining means slidably and pivotally mounted exteriorly ot the body portion and adapted for automatic canting into a locked position upon its downward limit ot movement for locking the sucker rod against movement out of the slot in said body portion, and means Vtor suspending the elevator from a suitable means.

5. An elevator' for sucker rods comprising a hollow body7 portion having a top wall, and a bottom wall having a slot tending from the axial center oi the body portion to the outer surface thereof, a loclr- Ving ring pivotally and slidably mounted inl said ringi and adapted -for movement into from the axial center of the body portion to the slot in seid bottom Wall upon the downthe outer Surface thereof, means carried by Ward limited movement oi tlle looking` ring, the Jtop Wall for suspending the elevator means for looking said ring in its lowered from a suitable support, :1nd means for re* 5 position upon cnnting o the ring, and means taining n, sucker rod in the slot ofsaid bot- 15 for suspending the elevator from a suitable tom Wall embodying a vertical movable lockmeans. ing ring adapted for automatic oanting in- 6. An elevator for Sucker rods compristo a looked position upon its downward ing a hollow bod)7 portion lnwing n top well, limit of movement. n Y

10 and a bottom wall having a slot extending JOSIAH DAVID PRDGICN.

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