US1666414A - Fabricated derrick - Google Patents

Description

C. B. FOSTER FABRICATED DERRIK Filed July 17. 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 lill,"

imi A A 1.7; lsza C. B. FOSTER FABRICATED DERR I C K Filed July 17. 1926 I5 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

April 17, 1928 C. B. FOSTER FABRICATED DERRIGK Filed July 1*?. 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.y

Patented Apr. 17, 1928.

vnarran srATEs PATENT OFFICE.

CLARENCE B. FOSTER, OF GLENDALE, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-SIXTH TO FREDERICK L. FEISTEIAMEL, ONE-SIXTH T0 ARTHUR J. CARR, AND ONE-SIXTH TO THOMAS A. COLLINS, ALL OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

FABRICATED DERRICK.

Application filed J'uly 17, 1926.' Serial No. 123,137.

This invention relates to improvements in fabricated derriclrs, and is particularly directedto the general class of derrick structures usually employed in the drillingand operating of oil, gas and like wells.

More specifically, the present invention is directed to certain improvements in the construction ofthe type of panel derriclr disclosed in my co-pending application Serial No. 123,136, and has for an object to provide an improved method of constructing the several' panels, adapting them for connection to the adjacent panels at the corners of the derrick independently of the removable corner leg members, so as to provide a derrick structure which will be self sustaining before said corner leg members are applied or after they are removed and without it being necessary to apply substitute cornerconnections or joint plates, although such substitute corner connections may be applied for additional strength, if desired.

Another object is-to so connect the adjacent panels as to provide a more stable structure, especially againsthorizontal and torsional strains.

A further object is to provide a structure which may be easily and quickly erected to form a heavy duty drilling` derrick, and which may subsequently be readily and quickly converted to a lighter derriclr suitable for use as a pumping derriclr.

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:

Fig. l is an elevation of a drilling derrick constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan section, partly broken, taken on line QMQ of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective of a corner of the derrick viewed as indicated by the arrou7 3 in Fig. 2.

Fig. l is partial vertical section taken on line lf-l of Fig. 2. i

Fig. 5 is a plan section taken on line 5x16 of Fi 4, i

Fig. 6 is an el-evation of one of the panel sections.

Fig. 7 is a plan section, similar to Fig. 2, showing the substitution of the joint plates for the corner' leg members when the construction is convertedto constitute a pumping 'derricln Fig. S is a perspective view, similar to Fig. 3, of a corner of the pumping derrick.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary plan section illustrating a modified form of construction, and

10 is a fragmentary perspective View of the construction shown in 9 and viewed as indicated by the arrow l0 therein.

As illustrated in the drawings, eachof the four sides of the derrick is formed of a plurality of panel sections secured together in vertical alignment, with the several panel sections of'suitable dimensions to produce a completed derriclr gra-dually tapering upwardly to the top upon which will be mounted the usual crown block.

The respective panels of eachside may be exact duplicates of those of the other three sides and in the erection of the derrick the panels are arranged in tiers or stories one upon the other with the four panels of each tier horizontally aligned, thus permitting all four panels of each tier being of the same relative size so they may be interchangeable as well as readily adaptable for standardization.

lith this construction each tier is finished l to a horizontal levelthus eliminating the necessity of providing two short panels at the bottom and top of the derrick as is required in a panel derrick in which the panels of adjacent sides are arranged in break-joint relationship.

lVhilethe several panels of the derrick are herein described as being of duplicate character, this has more particular reference to the major portion of the derrick, it being evident to'those skilled in the oil industry that the lower panels will necessarily be somewhat modified to accommodate the walking-beam, draw-works and other portions of the drilling or pumping equipment and also that suitableprovisions will be made for the derrick ladder, platform, waterable and crown-block, eter l The several panels are of the construction shownin Fig. 6 of the drawings, each panel including opposite marginal angle side members 11 and 12 disposed vertically and at slightly converging angles corresponding to the general taper of the completed derrick, lower'alnd upper transverse marginal girts 13 and 11i, an intermediate transverse girt 15, a lower pair of diagonal sway braces 16 and 17, an upper pair ot similar diagonal sway braces 18 nd 19, and lower and upper vertical hangers 2O and 21. The marginal side members 11 and 12 are arranged with their respective flanges 11a and 12n disposed towards each other in the plane ol the panel and with their respective adjacent flanges 11b and 12b extended outwardly, land the respective llower and upper transverse marginal girts 13 and 1st are arranged with their respective vertical flanges disposed towards each other in the plane oit the panel and with their respective horizontal flanges eX- ltended inwardly.

All of the girts and sway braces are pret erably of angle form and the ends of the several sway braces may be swaged to bring b-oth of the flanges thereof to parallel contact yto provide securing end-s of double thickness, while the ends of the girts are not so swaged but have their respective horizontal flanges cut at 450 angles, as shown in Figs. 2, 3, 5, and 7. The ends of the sway braces, the vertical flanges of the girts and the flanges 11a and 12EL of the respective marginal side angles 11 and 12 are suitably punched or bored to receive securing` rivets or bolts, the several rivets securing the parts of the panel together being designated by reference characters consisting of a suffix added to the numeral designating the respective parts they secure to the side angles 11 and 12, thus the rivets 13a secure the transverse girt 13 to the lower ends of the side angles 11 and 12, the rivets 14a secure the transverse girt 14 to the upper ends of said side angles, while the rivets 15a, 16, 17a, 18, and 19a, respectively secure the intermediate `girt and the several sway braces to said side angles.

While it is evident and is clearly realized that the derrick may, if desired, be erected piece by piece, the preferred method to be followedv in practice will be to preassemble the several panels, leaving to the lield crew only the work of assembling these panels into a complete derriclr. Therefore, l will for the purpose of this disclosure, limit the description of the erection to the manner in which the several panels and their cooperating parts are secured together to form the completed structure, it being understood that the erection of the several tiers will be progressive from the bottom to the top of the structure, and further that the panels of each tier will rest upon the like panels of the next lower tier with the horizontal flanges of their lower transverse marginal girts 13 contacting the horizontal flanges of the transverse marginal girts 14 of said next lower panels (see Fig.

Also, at this same level the side angles 11 and 12 of the panels of each tier will abut upon the aligned side angles of the panels of the next lower tier so that insofar as the panels themselves are concerned those of every tier are horizontally aligned.

ln theerection of the derriclr, the four panels of a tier will be positioned upon those of the next lower tier and the horizontal flanges of their lower marginal girts 13 will be secured at suitable intervals to the adjacent horizontal flanges of the upper inarginal girts 14 of said next lower tier by bolts 22, (see Figs. 2 anl 'lhese marginal girls 18 and lll are further secured together near each corner of the derriclr a d connected to those of the adjacent panels by gusset plates 23 and bolts (see Figs. 2 and l), said gusset plates being respectively positioned above and below the horizontal flanges of said girts and the bolts 2st securg :id flanges and gusset plates rigidly together. ln a somewhat similar manner the intermediate girt 15 of each panel in a tier is joined to the lilre interi'nediate girts oit the panels of the adjacent sides of the dei-rick by gusset `plates 26 and bolts 27 (see Figs, l and 5). Thus the several panels of each tier are connected together at the corners of the dcrriclr and the panels of each tier are also connected to those of the nextlower and upper tiers independently of any corner posts or leg members.

'llo complete the derrick for usejas a heavy duty drilling derrick there will be provided angle corner posts or legs which extent/l throughout the full height of the several tiers at the wfour corners, said corner legs each preferably consisting of a jilurality ol angle sections 28 abutting cach other end on end and positioned between and in intimate contact with the respective side angles of the adjacent panels, the respective flanges of said leg sections 26 being secured to the flanges 11h and l2 of said panel side angles at intervals throughout their lengths by bolts 29, 30, and v31. lt will be noted that the several angle sections 25% of each corner leg are preferably of uniform length and are arranged so that they break joint with the several tiers, that is, the line 32 of abutment between the vertically adjacent leg sections yis opposite the intermediate girts 15 of the adjacent tier. This brings the leg angle sections iu vertically staggered relationship with the side angles of the panels.

The above described construction provides a dei-rick having all of its sides constructed ot complete pre-assembled panels, with the panels of the several sides arranged lll) in superposed tiers and With all of the panels of each tier horizontally aligned and of the same size and character and interchangeable one with another. Such a construction provides a derriclr ot great strength coupled With eXtreme relative lightness ot' the material required for its manufacture.

A feature of major importance incident to the construction above described, is its adaptability for conversion to a derrick of lighter construction capable ot use as a pumping derriclt. rllhis can be very easily and quickly accomplished-by removing the corner leg sections Q8 and replacing them With short angle. joint-plates 33 (see Figs. 7 and 8) positioned adjacent the abutting ends otl the side angles ll and 12 ot' the adjacent panels and secured thereto by bolts 34, these bolts extending through the same bolt holes in said side angles as did the previously described bolts 29. The leg sections 28 so removed Will constitute a very appreciable amountof salvage and can be subsequently utilized tov recondition the derrick as a drilling derrick or can be incorporated in a nevi7 derrick structure.

If thought desirable, additional joint-` plates 35 may be secured adjacent the respective intermediate girts by bolts 36 which extend through the same bolt holes as did the previously described bolts 3l,

In Figs. 9 and l0 there is illustrated a modified form of structure in Which the angle side members of the panels have their anges 37 extended inwardly and joined to the corner leg sections, or joint-plates as the case may be, by bolts 38, the lhorizontal flanges of the transverse girts beingI connected by gusset plates 40 and bolts 4l.

While the structure herein illustrated and described is fully capable. ot fulfilling all of the objects primarily stated it is'to be understood that I do not Wish to restrict the presentinvention to the specific embodiment in various other forms all coming within the scope ot the claims, which .follow.

I claim as myv invention:

1. In a derriclr of the nature disclosed, the combination of: adjacent sides each formed of a plurality ot vertically aligned complete pre-assembled panel sections, with the panel sections of each side laterally spaced from those of the adjacent sides; intermediate corner legs disposed at the respective corners of the derrick and positioned between the horizontally adjacent panel sections; means for securing said legs to said panel sections to connectthev sides of the derriclr together; and means for connecting the panel sections of the adjacent sides ndependently of the intermediate corner legs.

v2. In a derrick of the nature disclosed, the combination of: adjacent sides each'formed ot' plurality of verticallv aligned complete pre-assembled panel sections, with the panel sections of each side laterally spaced from those of the adjacent sides and with the panel sectionsot the several sidesk horizontally aligned in superposed stories or tiers; intermediate corner legs disposed at the respective corners of the derrick and positioned between the horizontally adjacent panel sections; means for securing said legs to said panel sections to connect the sides of the derrick together; and means for connecting the panel sections of the adjacent sides independently of the intermediate corner legs.

3. In a derrick of the nature disclosed, the combination of: adjacent sides each formed ot a plurality of vertically aligned complete pre-assembled panel sections, With the panel sections of each vside laterally spaced from those of the adjacent sides and with the panel sections of the several sides horizontally aligned in superposed stories 0r tiers; intermediate connecting corner elements disposed at the respective corners of the derriclr and positioned between the horizontally adjacent panel sections and in break-joint relationship thereto; means for securing said elements to said panel sections to connect the sides of the derrick to. gether; and means for connecting the adjacent sides independently of the intermediate corner elements.

4. In a derrick of the nature disclosed, the combination ot:'adjacent sides each formed of a. plurality of vertically aligned complete pre-assembled panel sections, With the panel Asections 'of each side laterally spaced from those or" the adjacent sides, each panel section having opposed marginal side angles and transverse girts connecting said side angles; intermediate angle corner legs disposed Vat the respective corners of the derriclr and positioned between the side angles of the horizontally adjacent panel sections; means for securing said angle corner legs to the associated panel sections to connect the sides of the derrick together, the side yangles of the adjacent panel sections and the associated angle corner legs being arranged in baclr-to-baclr relationship to form at each Corner of the derrick, a corner column substantially cross-shape in cross section; and means for connecting the adjacent sides in-l dependently of the intermediate angle corner legs.

5. In a derrick of the nature disclosed, the combination of: adjacent sides each formed of a plurality of vertically aligned complete pre-assembledpanel sections` with the panel sections of each side laterally spaced 'from those ot the adjacent sides and with the panel sections of the several sides horizontially aligned in superposed stories or tiers, each panel section having opposed marginal side angles and transverse girts connecting said side angles; intermediate corner legs disposed at the respective corners ot the derrick and positioned between the side angles ofthe horizont-ally adjacent panel sections, each corner leg being comprised of a plurality ot vertically aligned leg angles arranged in brealnjoint relationship to the respective stories or tiers; means tor securing the leg angles to the associated panel sections to connect the sides ot the derrick together, the side angles ot the adjacent panel Vsections and the associa-ted corner leg angles being arranged in baclr-to-baclr relationship to form at each corner ot the derriclr, a corner column substantially cross-shape in cross with said girts secured at opposite ends to.

one flange ot each ot said side angles; intermediateangle corner legs disposed at the respective corners ot the cerrick and positioned between the side angles ot the liori zontally adjacent panel sections; means tor securing said angle corner legs to the other flanges ot the associated panel sections to` connect the sides of the derrick together, the side angles ot the adjacent panel sections and the associated angle corner legs being arranged in back-to-back relationship to form at each corner of the derrick, a corner column substantially cross-shape in cross section; and means tor connecting the adjacent sides of the derrick independently of the intermediate corner legs.

7. ln a derrick ot the nature disclosed, the combination ot: adjacent sides each formed of a plurality of vertically aligned complete pre-assembled panel sections, with the panel sections oil: each side laterally spaced trom those ot the adjacent sides and with the Vpanel sections ot the several sides horizontally aligned in supeiposed stores or tiers, each panel section having opposed marginal side angles and transverse girts connecting said side angles with said girts secured at opposite ends to one flange of each ot said side angles; intermediate corner legs disposed `at the respective corners of the derrick and positioned between the side angles ot' the horizontally adjacent panel sections, cach corner leg being comprised of a plurality of vertically aligned leg angles arranged in break-joint relationship to the respective stories or tier; means for securing the leg angles to the other flanges of the associated panel sections to connect the sides ot the deraccenni riclr together, the side angles ot the adjacent panel sections and the associated angle corner legs being arranged to torni at each corner ot the derriclr, a corner column substantially cross-shape in cross section; and means connecting the girts of each side with the corresponding girts ot the adjacent sides independently of the leg angles.

8. ln a derrich ol the nature disclosed, the combination ot: adjacent sides each formed et' a plurality ot vertically aligned complete pre-assembled panel sections, with the panel sections ot each side laterally spaced from those et the adjacent sides and with the panel sections et the several sides horizontally aligned in superposed stores or tiers each eX- tendedl to a horizontal level, each panel section having opposed marginaly side angles and lower and upper transverse marginal girts connecting said side angles with said lower transverse girt secured at opposite ends to the respective lower ends ot said side angles and with said upper transverse girt secured at opposite ends to the respective upper ends ot' said side angles; intermediate angle corner legs disposed at the respective corners ot the derrick and positioned between the side angles ot the horizontally adjacent panel sections; means tor connecting the lower transverse girt ot each panel section ot' each side of the der rick to the upper transverse 4girt ot the next lower panel section; independent means tor securing the angie corner legs to the associated panel sections to connect the sides ot the derriclr together', the side angles ot the adjacent panel sections and the associated angle corner legs being arranged in back-toback-relationship to torni at each corner ot the derricl, a corner column substantially cross-shape in cross section; and means for connecting the respective lowen and upper transverse girts of each side ot the dei-rick to the corresponding lower and upper transverse girts of the adjacent sides thereof, independently of the respective angle corner legs.

9. ln a derrick ot the nature disclosed, the combination ot: tour independent sides each formed of a plurality of superposed panel sections with each panel sections secured to the vertically adjacent panel sections; a separate corner leg at each respective corner of the derrick, disposed between the adjacent sides thereof and secured to the several panel sections comprising said adjacent sides to join said sides to each other; and separate means tor connecting the adjacent sides of the derrick together, independently ot the corner legs, whereby said corner legs may be removed at any time, leaving a selt sustaining derrick structure. Y

10. In a derrick ot the nature disclosed, the combination ot: adjacent sides each formed ot a plurality of vertically aligned complete pre-assembled panel sections, with the panel sections of each side laterally spaced from those of the adjacent sides, each panel having opposed marginal side angles and transverse angle gifts connecting said side angles with the vertical flanges oit said gifts secured at opposite ends to one flange of each of said side angles, the girts associated with each side of the derriclr being horizontally aligned with the like gifts of the adjacent sides; intermediate angle cor` ner legs disposed at the respective corners of the derrick and positioned between the side angles of the horizontally adjacent panel sections; means for securing said angle corner legs to the other flanges ot the associted panel sections to connect the sides of the derrick together, the side angles of the adjacent panel sections and the associated angle cornerlegs being auanged in back-to-bacl relationship to form at each corner or' the dcrrick, a corner columnsubstantially crossshape in cross section; and horizontal gusset plates connecting the horizontal flanges of the angle girts of each side of the derrick to those of the adjacent sides, independently of the angle corner legs.

ll. In a derrick ot the nature disclosed, the combination of: adjacent sides each 'formed oi a plurality of vertically aligned complete pre-assembled panel sections, with the panel sections of each side laterallv spaced from those of the adjacent sides and with the panel sections of the several sides horizontally aligned 1n superposed stories or tiers each extended to a horizontal level,

each panel section having opposed marginal side angles and lower and upper transverse marginal gifts of angle form connecting said side angles with the vertical flange ot' said lower transverse girt secured at opposite ends to the respective lower ends of said side angies and with the vertical iiange of said npper transverse girt secured at opposite ends to the respective upper ends of said side angles; intermediate angle corner legs disposed at the respective corners of the derrick and positioned between the side angles of the horizontally adjacent panel sections; means for connecting the lower transverse girt of each panel section of each side of the derficlr to the upper transverse gift of the nent lower panel section; independent means for securing the angle corner legsfto the associated panel sections to connect the sides oiP4 the derricl; together', the side angles of the adjacent panel sections and the associated angle corner legs being arranged in baclr-to-back relationship to form at each corner oi the der-rick, a corner column substantially cross-shape in cross section; and horizontal gusset plates connecting the horizontal flanges of the respective lower and upper transverse Oirts of the panel sections of each side of the derriclr to the horizontal flanges of the like girts or" the adjacent sides, independently of the angle corner logs.

In testimony whereof, 'I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California, this 8th day o'il July, 1926.

CLARENCE B. FOSTER.

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