US1640756A - Tubing catcher - Google Patents

Description

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J s. v. DILLON TUBING CATCHER www@ v 6 a l ///////V//\//////W/w//////////////V///\w 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan.l9, 1927 Aug., E@ i927 S. V. ULLON TUBING GATCHER Filed Jan.l9, 1.927 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Grimma Patented Aug. 30, 1927.

UNlTED STATES PATENT FF'.

TUBING CATCHER.

Application tiled January 19, 1927. Serial No. 182,043.

This invention relates to improvements in tubing catchers for oil wells and the like.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a tubing catcher adapted to be arranged between the tubing and casing of a well: such device Functioning to latch at any point in the casing. and allowing free longitudinal movement of the tubing to a predetermined extent. 5

Another ob'ect is to furnish a tubing catcher designed to automatically function whenever a break occurs in the tubing string above the catcher. and to instantaneously anchor the tubing when such an accident l5 happens.

A *further object is to provide a tubing catcher which will automatically and instantaneously anchor the tubing in position. even if the tubing string should break While the tubing is being elevated or Withdrawn from the well.

A further object is to furnish a tubing catcher capable of permitting, after the catcher is anchored, vertical reciprocation 5 of the tubing, such 4as takes place during pumping.

With the foregoing objects outlined and with other objiects in view which Will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel features hereinafter described in detail, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, yand more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings,

form'ot' my improved tubing catcher, with the parts in the positions which they occupy while the tubing is being lowered into the casing.v

Fig. 2 is a similar View showing the catcher after it has been anchored in a certain position in the casing, and with the tubin;T in its lowered position ready to be raised tor a controlled drop.

Fig. 3 is a perspective View ot the catcher; the parts being in the positions they assume while being lowered into a Well.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional View taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

5" Fig. 5 is a similar view taken on line 5-5 ot' Fig. 1.

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of one Fig. 6 is a similar view taken on line 66 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is an elevation of another form of the invention.

Fig. 8 is a similar view of a third form of the invention.

Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional view of a modification.

Figs. 10 and 11 are respectively. hori- @0 zontal sectional views taken on lines 10-10 andi11-11`in Fig. 9.

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of one of the slips used with the -form of the invention shown in Fig. 9.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. '1 to 6 inclusive, 1 designates a string of well tubing. and 2 a well casing.

For the 'purposes of the present invention, the tubing is provided at predetermined spaced points with collars 3. 4 and 5 which are preferably Welded in position on the periphery of the tube.

A Wedge sleeve or Weight 6 is slidable axially on the tubing and its sliding move ment is limited by vertical ribs 7 and 8 on the collars 3 :ind 4. The upper end of the wedge sleeve is hollowed out to forman annular recess 9 terminating at its lower end in an annular shoulder 10. The upper end 30 portion of the Wedge sleeve is also provided with a pair of diametrically opposite vertical grooves 11 which communicate at 'their upper end with the annular recess 9.

As best shown in Fig. 4, the collar 3 has 85 a pair of the vertical ribs 7, and these ribs when they are out of alignment with the grooves 11, may be close to, or in contact with the shoulder 10, but when the ribs are in alignment with the grooves 11, the ribs may enter said grooves and reciprocate in the latter if necessary.

The wedge sleeve is provided at its lower end with an annular recess 12, terminating at its upper end in semi-circular shoulders 13, and a pair ofvertical grooves 14 are provided in the wedge sleeve and extend upwardly from the shoulders 13. The collar 4, as best shown in Fig. 5, has a pair of the vertical ribs 8 which When they are out of 10 alignment with the grooves 14, may abut ,against the shoulders 13, but when in alignment with the grooves 14, may enter the latter.

A second sleeve is slidably mounted on the tubing and is provided with 'leaf springs 16, designed to frictionally engage the inner surface of the casing fory holding the sleeve 15 of the,l slip assembly (hereinafter referred to), at any desired point. lhe degree of friction between the springs`16 and the casing 2 is such that the sleeve 15 and connected parts must be pushed into the casing by additional weight.

rlhe sleeve 15 is provided, say at three equally spaced points around its circumference, withpockets 17, each one of which receives the enlarged lower end 18 of a slip stem 19. 'llhilsl stem is pivotally mounted on the sleeve 15 'by means of a pin 20, and if v the pin should be broken, the enlarged lower end 18 will prevent the' stem 19 from leaving the sleeve 15;." y p 1n normal operation, the pins 20 pivotally guide the slip stem-$.19 equally, but in case of'breakage of a pin, the, enlarged head 18 A will hold that slip in position and permit the same to function. Heretofore, in some `1nstances, pins have been' employed to pivotally mount the stems` of the slips, and in other instances, heads have been used withl enlarged the head, as shown at 18, and coml out the pins, but lf am unaware of any prior construction in which a pin and head have been combined.' lit will be noted that l have bined a pivot pin `2() with this enlarged head.

Each stem is provided at its upper end with a slip 21 having a curved inclined face 22 on its inner side, and a toothed face 23 on its outer side; such slips being adapted when the wedge sleeve 6 falls, to eX and and wedge themselves between the we ge block and the easing, and thus anchor the tubing catcher in position. 'The sleeve 15, stems 19, the sli s 21 constitute a slip assembly. The we ge sleeve 6, is, at certain times, prevented from dropping relatively to the sleeve 15, by means of the spring legs 24. Each of these legs has its upper end secured by some suitable fastening means, such as screws 25, to the lower end of the wedge sleeve 6, and the lower end of the leg enters a notch 26 provided in the sleeve 15. While the tubing 1s being lowered into a well, the lower extremity of each leg 24 rests on the lower surface 27 of its respective notch 26, and' consequently, the wedge sleeve is held in a raised osition, as shown in Fig. 1.

Each notc is associated with a radially Y slidable pin 28v extending through' the sleeve 15, and adapted to be forced by cams, (which make u as to push the ower ends of the legs 24 od -of the surfaces. 27 and permit the wedge sleeve 6to drop relatively to the sleeve 15, as illustrated in lBig. 2.

the collar 5) outwardly, so

aeeiavee To produce this result, the collar 5 is made up of an upper set of cam surfaces 29, and a lower set of cam surfaces 30. lin the construction illustrated, there are three legs 24, three pins 28, three cams 29 and three cams 30. rlhe cams 29 are arranged in ring formation, with notches 31 between 4the same, and these cams '29 form the automatic actuating means in case there is an accidental drop of the tubing string, `due to breakage or the like.

Thecam surfaces 30co-me into play when the tubing is turned by the operator,l from the top of the well, and in such a case, these cams push the pins 28 outwardly to release v'the legs 24.

rlhe lower end of the wedge sleeve 6 is provided with pairs of`. upwardly 'and outwardly extending fingers 32; a pair of these fingers acting as guides for eachof the slip stems 19, and the lower end of each slip has an inclined surface 33which cooperates with the fingers to normally hold the slips in snug engagement with the outer surface of the wedge sleeve 6. Furthermore, in raising the device out of a well, the fingers 32 will tend to come in contact with the inclined surfaces 33, and by cooperation with the inner surface of the casing, will move the slips into contact with the outer surface ofthe wedge sleeve 6.

r1`he wedge sleeve has the usual vertical grooves or water courses 34.

My improved tubing catcher operates as follows: Assuming that the `parts are in the position shown in Fig. 1, and the device is being lowered into a well, the weight of the wedge sleeve 6, through the legs 24, will'beai` upon the sleeve 15, and this will overcome the friction of the springs 16, and cause the catcher to move downwardlywith the tubing, while the lpartis arev in the position shown in said figure.

1f the string should break above my mechanism, the tubing will tend to fall at a greater speed than the parts 6 and 15, and consequently, the cam surfaces 29 will move downwardly past the pins 28, and cause the latter 'to project and dislodge the lowerl ends of the legs 24 from the ledges 27.` As this relieves the sleeve 15 of the weight 6, the

springs 16 immediately halt the sleeve l15 ofl stances, the operator will turnr the `tubing ica iat

from the top of `the Well, in a counter-clockwise direction, and this will cause the cams 30 to project the pins 28 and release the spring legs 24. This same movement brings the ribs 8 into alignment with the vertical grooves 14, so that the wedge block mayimmediately drop, and cause the slips 2l tomove outwardly and grip the casing. At the same time, if desired, the tubing may be lowered until the ribs 7 enter the grooves 11, as shown in Fig. 2.

With the parts in this position, the tubing may be raised to a limited extent to allow reciprocation of the tubing without dislodging the tubing catcher. This is permitted by the grooves 11 or 14. In the position of the parts as shown in Fig. 2, the pins 28 are in alignment with the clearance spaces 31, so that the cams 29 and 30 will not interfere with the reci rocation of the tubing.

I it is desired to remove the tubing, the latter is raised and the ribs 8 enter the grooves 14,l` and as soon as they abut against the upperfends of these grooves, they lift the wedge sleeve 6. When the wedge sleeve has been raised to a point where the fingers 32 are within a short distance of .the slips 21, a collar 35, fixed on the tubing, will enter the sleeve 15, and project the pins 28 outwardly, so that the lower ends of the legs 24 will be prevented from entering the notches 26, even though the tubing has raised the wedge sleeve 6, to a point where the lower ends of the legs 24 are opposite said notches. The collar 35 will hold the pins 28 projected as long as the tubing is being raised, and assuming, of course, that the ribs 7 and 8 are in alignment with the grooves 11 and 14.

As soon as the wedge sleeve 6, in rising, brings its fingers 82 into engagement with the lower ends ofthe slips 21, the slips will commence to ascend, and their stems 19 will pull alon Y the sleeve 15 and the springs 16.

Shoul however, the string break while it is being raised, the sprinos 16 will immediately halt any downwardD movement of the sleeve 15 and slips 2,1, and as the legs 24 are out of the notches126, the wedge sleeve 6 may fall instantaneously and expand the slips 21 to again anchor the tubing catcher in the casing. At such time, the ribs 7 will engage the upper end of the wedge sleeve, and thus prevent the tubing from dropping through the catcher.

Assuming that the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 2, and it is desired to position the tubing catcher at some lower point in the casing, the operator turns the tubing in a clock-wisedirection, and'raises the same to the position shown in Fig. 1. This causes the ribs 8 to engage the shoulders 13, so that the ywedge block is raised first with the tubing. As the tubing rises, the cam surfaces 29 will slide past the pins 28 and assume the position shown in Fig. 1. Then, as the legs 24 rise with the wedge sleeve, they will push the pins 28 inwardly until the lower ends of the legs 24 rest on the ledges 27. At the same time, the fingers 32 Iwill engage the lower ends of the slips 21, so as to hold the latter in their contracted positions. Now the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 1, and the catcher may be raised or lowered as desired.

` If it is lowered to another location, and it is desired to anchor it at this point, the operator `simply turns the tubing in a counterclock-wise direction to cause the cams 30 to project the pins 28 and release the legs 24. The wedge sleeve 6 then drops and locks the catcher in position. Y

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 7, 6 designates a wedge sleeve, and 15 the sliding sleeve or tubular guide to which the stems 19 of the slips 21x1 are connected.

In this form of the. invention, the friction springs 16 which are capable of bearing the weight of the slip assembly, have their upper ends curved inwardly and then upwardly to provide resilient supports 16b for projections 16e, arranged on the wedge block 6a. With this construction, asstnning that the device is being lowered into the well, as shown in Fig. 7, if the spring breaks, the tubing 1 will abruptly drop, and* the collar 3 will strike the upper end of the sliding wedge sleeve 6a. This will cause the lugs 16c to expand the springs 16 and allow the wedge block to drop. This, of course, causes the wedge block to expand the slips 21, so that the latter will grip the casing.

On the other hand, letus assume that the string remains unbroken, and it is desired to set the catcher at some particular elevation. lVhen this elevation is reached, the operator allows the tubing to fall a short distance, or until the collar 3 strikes the wedge sleeve 6 and causes the' latter to function.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig. 8 is very similar to that illus- `trated in Fig. 7, but in Fig. 8, I employ the cams 29a and 30 to actuate the releasing pins 28. These pins in this form of the invention expand the springs 16d, to release the projections 16" of the wedge block 6".

In this form ot the invention, if there is an abrupt drop of the tubing, due to breakage of the string, the cams 29a will project the pins 28I1 to expand the springs 26". This will cause the springs to release the projections 16" and permit the wedge block to fall, and the latter will expand the slips 21" into locking engagement with the casing.

If it is desired, with this construction, to set the catcher at any desired point in the casing, the tubing is turned to cause the cams 30n to project the pins 28 and expand the springs 16", so that the latter will release the projettions 16 and permit the wedge block to fall and expand the slips 21".

, sleeves connected to the latter.

' It will be noted inthe construction shown in Figs. Vl to 8 inclusive, that the lower ends of the slip stems are pivotally connected to the guide sleeves, andthe Wedge blocksv are arranged above the guide sleeves.

Referring to Figs.. 9 to 12 inclusive, itr will be seen that the guide sleeve 15b and the wedge sleeve 6f are both slidably mounted on the tubing 1b. rlhe guide sleeve carries the kfriction springs' 1'6f, the lower ends of which bear against the stems 19f of the slips 2l". Inthis form of the invention, the slips are suspended from the sleeve 15", and each slip stem is mounted on a pivot pin 20f.

Each slip in, this instance is provided with a ledge 21.g which normally fits under a shoulder 6g on the wedge block, so that the slips normally support said wedge block. t

The tubing is provided with sets of cams 29t and 30 for `actuating the pins 28f.

'ln operation, we will assume that the parte are in the position shown in Fig. 9, and being lowered into the well. In this position of the parts, they combined weight of the slip assembly and wedge block Gf Will be 'suiiicient to overcome the friction of the springs 16f, so that in entering the well, the sleeve l5bv will rest on the collar 15g.' Now if the string should break, the tubing will drop faster than the tubing catcher, but immediately, the cams 29'I will project the pins 28f, so as to release the slipsfrom the shoulders 6g. This relieves t-he slips of the Weightfof the wedge block (if, and then the springs 16t will immediately halt the slip assembly. As the wedge block is then no longer su ported by the slips, it will move downward y relatively to said slips and cause the latter to eX- pand and latch the tubing catcher. Then a collar 15h on the tubing, will engage the upper end of the wedge block and prevent the tubing from falling through the catcher'.

Assuming that the device is being lowered into a Well, and it is desired to anchor the same at some particular point, the operator turns the tubing, and this causes the cams 30f to project the pins and release the Wedge block. rlhe Wedge block Will instantaneously fall and expand the slips 21', so as to lock the Icatcher'in the well at the desired point. .In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 9 to 12 inclusive, it will be noted that the stem 19f of each slip is offset or arranged at one end of the` slip 21'?, and the .stem extends through the Water course 34h.

:The invention disclosed in the present application is an improvement on the devi@ madres described and illustrated in my prior applil cation, Serial No. 97,919, liled March 27, 1926. lin that application, I' relied upon springs having a certain degree of friction to exert pressure against the well casing, but' in that case, the springs permit the slip assembly to move down the well under the weight of the slip assembly. l have found,

-in practice, in using such al construction,

relatively high degree of friction on the casing, and such springs are actually forced down the well. Consequently, the springs will, in every instance, immediately halt the slip assembly, Whenever the tubing descends at a faster rate than the catcher, or whenever the tubing is turned in a counter-clock-Wise direction to release the wedge block from bearing on the slip assembly. Furthermore, y

when the parts'are in the last mentioned position, if the device is being drawn upwardly, it can be immediately anchored at any point, as the springs will instantaneously halt the slip assembly at any desired elevation.

From a consideration of Figs. 1 and 2, of

the drawings,1ift will be observed that the ribs 7 an`d8 are spaced further apart than the shoulders l0 and 13 so that the tubing may move a limited distance relatively to the wedge block even though the ribs are out of alignment with the vertical grooves 11 and 14. Uf course, if the ribs are in alignment with said grooves, the tubing `may move to a greater extent. f

From the foregoing, it is believed that the construction, operation and advantages 0f the invention may be readily understood byV those skilled in the art, and l am aware that various changes may be made in the details disclosed .without departing from the spirit of the invention as expressed in the claims.

`What l claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination with a Well casing and tubing therein, of a tubing catcher including a slidablewedge block, a slip assembly, and friction means between the slip assembly and casing, said friction means supporting the slip assembly in the casing at Iall times, and the Wedge block forcing the slip assembly down the casing as the tubing descends, said Wedge block functioning to exlng engagement with the casing. 2. 'lhe combination with a Well casing and tubing therein, ofla tubing catcher including a weight, a slip assembly and friction means,

pand the slips of the slip assembly into lockf said weight being slidably mounted on the tubing, and said friction means beine arranged between the slip assembly and the casing, said friction means exerting at all times, sufficient pressure to support thevslip assembly alone, said sliding weight bearing against the slip assembly to overcome the friction exerted by the friction means and cause the slip assembly to descend with the tubing, and means functioning upon a downwardmovement of the tubing relatively to the catcher to permit the weight to move on the tubing relatively to the slip assembly, whereby the slips of the slip assembly are moved into locking engagement with the casing.

3. The combination with a well casing and tubing therein, of a tubing catcher slidably mounted on said tubing and including a weight, a slip assembly and friction means, said friction means exerting sufficient pressure on the casing to support the slip assembly alone at all times, said weight exerting its force upon the slip assembly while the catcher is being lowered into the well for causing the slip assembly and friction means to move downwardly with the tubing, and means functioning upon downward movement of the tubing relatively to the catcher for permitting the weight to move relatively to `the slip assembly for moving the slips of the slip assembly into locking engagement with the casing.

4. The combination with a well casing and tubing therein, of a tubing catcher mounted on the tubing and including a wedge block, a slip assembly and friction means, said 'friction means being connected to the slip assembly and always exerting sufficient pressure on the casing to support the slip as sembly alone, said wed e block being slidably mounted on the tu ing and forming a weight bearing against the slip assembly at certain times for causing the latter to descend in the well with the tubing, and means functioning uponldownward movement of the tubing relatively to the catcher for permitting relative t movement between the wedge block and slip assembly, whereby the latter moves the slips of said assembly into locking engagement with the wall of the well.

5. The combination with a well havin tubingtherein, of'a tubing catcher mounte on the tubing and including a weighted wedge block, a slip assembly and friction means, said friction means being connected to the slip assembly and always exerting suiicient pressure on the wall of the well to support the slip assembly alone, said wedge block being slidably mounted on the tubing and bearing upon the slip assembly for causing the latter to descend 1n the well with the tubing, and means functioning upon downward movement of the tubing relatively to the catcher for permitting the wedge block to move relatively to the slip assembly and thereby move the slips of the assembly in to locking engagement with the wall of the well.

6. The combination kwith a well havin tubing therein, of a tubing catcher mounte `on the tubing and including a weighted wedge block, a slip assembly and frlction means, said friction means being connected to the slip assembly and always exerting sufficient pressure on the wall of the well to support the slip assembly alone, said wedge block being slidably mounted on the tubing and bearing upon the slip assembly for causing the latter to descend in the well with the tubing, and means functioning upon downward movement of the tubing relatively to the catcher for permitting the wedge block to move relatively to the sli assembly and thereby move the slips o' the assembly into locking engagement with the wall of the well, said tubing being freely movable through the catcher to a limited eX- tent before and after the latter has been anchored in the well..

7. The combination with a well havin tubing therein, of a tubing catcher mount on the tubing and including a wei hted wedge block, a slip assembly and friction means, said friction means being connected to the slip assembly and always exertin sufficient pressure on 'the wall of the we to support the slip assembly alone, said wedge block` being slidably mounted on the tubing and bearing upon the slip assembl for causing the latter to descend in the we l with the tubing, andl means functioning upon downward movement of the tubing relatively to the catcher for permitting the wedge block to move relatively to the slip assembly and thereby move the slips of the assembly into locking engagement with the wall of the well, said last mentioned means including movable members on the slip assembly and Vcam surfaces on the tubing.

8. The combination with a well having tubing therein, of a tubing catcher mounted on the tubing and including a weighted wedge block, a slip assemblyand friction means, said friction means being connected to the slip assembly and always exerting suilicient pressure on the wall of the wel to sup ort the slip assembly alone, said wedge lilock being slidably mounted on the tubing and bearing upon the slip assembl for causing the latter to descend 1n the wel uwith the tubing, and means functioning upon downward movement of the tubing relatively to the catcher for permitting the wedge block to move relatvely to the slip assembly and thereby move the slips of the assembly into locking engagement with the wall of the well, said last mentioned means including projectable pins slidably mount- ,the tubing for projecting said pins.

lio

lze

-*'19, The combination lwith 1a well having a tubiiigtherein, of a' tubing catcher arranged in the Well onv said tubing and including a Weighted Wedge block, a slip assembly and friction means, said friction,means ,exerting at all times, sufficient pressure on th-easing to support the slip assembly alone, said Wedge lock being slidably mounted on the tubing and at certain times, exerting its Weight on the slip assembly to cause the latter to descend in the Well with the tubing, and means functioning upon turning movement of the tubing relatively4 to the catcher for permitting said Wedge block to move relatively to the slifp assembly, and force the slips of said assembly into locking engagement With the Wall of the Well.

10. The combination With a Well having tubing therein, of a tubing catcher arranged in the well on said tubing and including a Weighted Wedge block, a slip assembly and friction means, said friction means exerting e at all times, suiiicient pressure on the cas ing to support the sli assembly alone, said" Wedge block being slidably mounted on the tubing and at certain times, exerting its Weight on the slip assembly to cause the latter to descend in the Well With the tubing, and means functioning upon turning movement of the tubing relatively to the catcher for permitting said Wedge block to move relatively to the slip assembly and force the slips of said assembly into locking engagement with the Wall of the Well, said last mentioned means including movable mem- -bers on the slip' assembly and cam surfaces on the tubing. l v

11. The combination With a Well having a tubing therein, of a tubing catcher arranged in the Well on said tubing'and including a Weighted Wedge block, a slip assembly and 4friction means, saidfriction means exerting at all times, sufficient pressure on the casing to support the slip assembly alone, said Wedge b ook being slidably mounted on the tubing and at certain times, exerting its Weight on the slip assembly to cause the latter to descend in the Well with the tubing, and means functioning upon turning movement of the tubing relatively to the catcher for permittin said Wedge block to move relatively to te slip assembly and force the slips of said assembly into locking engagement with the wall of the Well, said last mentioned means including projectable pinsslidably mounted on the slip assembly, and cam surfaces on the tubing for projecting said pins.

12. A. tubing catcher comprising a Wedge block, a slip assembly and friction means, the

Wedge block and slip assembly bein adapted to be slidably mounted on a Wel tubing and to move thereon relatively to each other,

iecyzee legs connected to the Wedge block and engaging a part of the slip assembly for teinporarily holding the Wedge block and said part of the slip assembly in spaced relation, and means for disengaging the legs from said partof the slip assembly to permit the Wedge block to fall and expand the slips' of the `slip assembly. f

13. A tubing: catcher comprising a Wedge lock, a slip assembly and friction means, the Wedge block and slip assembly being 4adapted to be slidably mounted on a Well tubing and to move thereon relatively to each other, legs' connected to the Wedge block and engaging a part of the slip assembly for teniporarily holding the wedge block and said part of the slip assembly in spaced relation,

and means for disengaging the legs fromv said part of the slip assembly to permit the Wedge block to fall and expand the slips of the slip assembly, said last mentioned means including sliding projectable pins adapted to be actuated `by cam surfaces on a Well tubing.

14C. The combination with a Well having a tubing therein, of a tubing catcher mounted on the tubin and including a Weight, a slip assembly an friction means, said friction means being connected to the slip .assembly and always exerting sufficient pressure on the Wall ofthe well to supportthe slip assembly alone, said Weight being slidably mounted on the tubing andbearing upon the slip assembly for causing the latter to descend in the i well with the tubing, and means functioning upon movement of the tubing relatively tothe catcher for permitting the weight to move relatively to the sli assembly, and

. thereby move the slips of t e assembly into loclling engagement with the wall of the We 15. r1`he combination with a well having a tubing therein, of a tubing catcher `mounted on the tubing and including a Weight a slip assembly and friction means, said riction means being connected to the slip assembly and always exerting sufficient pressure on -the Wall of the Wellto su port the slip assembly alone, said Weight eing slidably mounted on the tubing and bearing upon the slip assembly for causing the latter to descendin the Well with the tubing, and means functioning upon movement of the tubing relatively to the catcher for permititng the weight to move relatively to the slip assembly, and thereby move the slips of the assembly into lockin engagement with 'the yvall of' the Well, said tubing and Weight having stop surfaces for limiting the movement of theweight relatively to the tubing, certain of said stop surfaces permitting the Weight to move a greater distance than other of said sto surfaces.

16 A tu ing catcher comprising a weight, a slip assembly and friction means, the

Weight and slip assembly being adapted to belslidably mounted on a Well tubing and to move thereon relatively to each other, legs connected to the Weight and engaging a part of the slip assembly for temporarily holding the weight and said part ofthe slip assembly in spaced relation, and means for disengaging the legs from said part of the slip assembly to permit the Weight to fall and expand the slips of the slip assembly.

17. In a device substantially as described, a slip'asseinbly including a sleeve provided with pockets, slips forming part of said assembly and having stems provided with cnlarged heads occupying said pockets, and pins pivotally connecting said heads to the sleeve, said enlarged heads cooperating With the Walls of said pockets for preventing the stems from disengaging the sleeve in case of breakage of the pins.

18. The combination with a Well and tubing therein, of aqtubing catcher including a Weight, a slip assembly and friction means, said friction means bearing against the Wall of the Well and exerting sufficient pressure at all times -to support the slip assembly alone, said weight bearing against the slip assembly to overcome the friction exerted by the friction means and causing the slip as sembly to descend with the tubing, and means functioning upon sliding or turning movement of the tubing relatively `to the catcher to permit the Weight to move on the tubing relatively to the slip assembly whereby the slips of the assembly are moved into locking engagement with the casing.

19. The combination with a well casing and a tubing therein, of a tubing catcher including a weight, a slip assembly and friction means, said friction means bearing against the casing and capable of supporting the slip assembly alone at all times, said Weight being slidably mounted on the tubing, means for holding the Weight in spaced relation to the slip assembly, pins for releasing the last mentioned means, cam surfaces on the tubing for actuating said pins, and a collar on the tubing adapted to engage said pins when the tubing is in a certain position and raised, for holding the pins in projected positions.

20. The combination with a well casing and a string of tubing therein, of a tubing catcher lincluding a wedge block, a slip assembly and friction means, said wed e block being slidably mounted on the tubing and provided With substantially horizontal shoulders and vertical grooves, vertical ribs on the tubing adapted to engage said shoulders or said grooves, ribs being spaced apart a greater distance than the distance between said shoulders, said slip assembly including a sleeve, supports connected to the Wedge.

block and bearing against said sleeve, actuating members on the sleeve adapted to move the supports to permit the Wedge block to move relatively to the sleeve, and actuating means on the tubing adapted to operate said actuating members when the tubing is moved relatively to said sleeve.

In testimony whereof` I aiix my signature.

STEPHEN V. DILLON.

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