US1676539A - Fabricated-steel derrick or tower construction - Google Patents

Description

July l0, 1928.

' C. B. FOSTER FABRICATED STEEL DERRTCK 0R TOWER CONSTRUCTION 3 Sheets-Sheet Filed July 1.7, 1926 July 10, 1928.

c. B. FOSTER"v FABRICATED STEEL DERRICK OR TOWER CONSTRUCTION` Filed July 1'?. 192e s Smets-sheet 2 i if( y INVENTOR.

I B. FOSTER FABRICATED STEEL DERRICK OR TO WER CONSTRUCTION 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 17, 1926 NVENTOR.

July l0, 1928.

Patented July 10, 1928.v

- UNITED stares 1,676,539 sp ATE Nr 'io-Fries.

CLARENCE B. FOSTER, oF. eLENnALE,A cALIroRNIA, AssIGNoR 0E ONE-SIXTH -TO'IRED- ERICR L. FEISTIIAMEL, oNE-sIXTII To ARTHUR J. CARR, 4AND `oNE-sIXfrH 'roV THOMAS A. COLLINS, ALL 0F Los ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

FABRICATED-STE'EL DERRICK vOR TOWER CONSTRUCTION.

Application 1ed`Ju1y17,1926. Serial No. 123,135.

This invention relates to an improved vtype lof Afabricated steel derrick ortower construction, and is particularly Vdirected to that class of -structure'in Awhich vthe corner leg columns and .associated 'girts are formed of `standard structural angles.' Y l More specifically, the present invention yis directed to certa-in improvements in the construction of the type of derrick or tower disclosed in ymy copending application, Serial No. 123,134, and vhas for an objject'to V,provide a structure including a triple-angle type of corner leg column in rwhich the three angle leg sections thereof are arranged in back-tobickrelationship Ito form a leg column crossshaped in cross section, and with `the y leg angles secured together in intimate contacting relationship throughout their lengths.V

Another object is to provide. an improved form of compound gusset bracket associated with the corner leg column `and thegirts and braces of the adjacent. sides ofthe structure `to form reinforcing means free from connrction to the outer intermediate leg angle, said bracket constituting a means providing directl connection between the girts and braces of the adjacent sides.

' A further object is to provide a compound.

horizontal and; vertical gusset bracketwhich may be formed of-a single vsheet metal stamping bent to form a horizontalgussetofdouble Athickn-css,and two vertical gussets langularly disposed to each other. f I

Various other objects and advantages will be more fully .apparent from the following description of the accompanying drawings which form a part of this disclosurepand which illustrate a preferred Fform of embodiment ofthe invention.

Oftlie drawings; Fig. l. is an elevation of a 'tower structure constructed in `accordance with thel present invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan section, lpartly broken, taken. on line 2-2of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a fragi'nentary vertical section taken'on lineBMSof Fig. 2.

Fig. Yl is a fragmentary elevation of a corner :portion ofthe tower, looking outwardly in Ythe .direction indicated by the arrow 4e inFig. 2. i v

Fig. 5 is a'pl'an view of the-gusset bracket Vblank before Abeing bent to form.

invention.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the .gusset lbracketsas it will .appear before the boltholes. are punched therein.

Fig. 7 is an elevationofa drilling derrick constructed in accordance Fig. 8 is an enlarged Afragmentary elevation :of one corner of thederrick as it will appear with the .present with the outer-.intermediate leg angles lre- 1 moved. p

Fig. 9 isa similar .elevation .showing the angle joint-.plates which may beused to replace the removed intermediate vleg angles. In the construction disclosed in my other application, above identified, the corner leg column consisted of two opposed linner leg angles and anouter intermediate leg angle spaced from saidinnerleg angles to accommodate the anchorplates of the respective compound gusset brackets and veach of said brackets provided a horizontal gusset of single thickness.r y i. For certain purposes it has been found de# sirable to provide a triple vangle Fleg column I in which the several angle leg ksections .are clamped together in lintimate contacting relationship throughout their respective lengths so as Ito .produce `a more "rigid corner column in whichshear strainsv on the bolts or rivets of the ,-leg 'angles 4is minimized .by

the `resistance yagainst relative slippage of the respective .leg angles due to the intimate clamped contact -of the 'leg angles, itbeing recognized that such boltsor rivetscannotbe subjected to shear until slippage 4occurs .and

that the resistance to slippage of clamped surfaces rhas an accepted value fof `approximately l8',000 pounds'per square inch, which will substantially equal Ithe Ashear strengthVV of the bolts or :rivets used.

It vwill Ithus fbe quite evident that 'the importance of closely contacting and tightly clamping together the leg angles comprising the corner .-legs assumes a major aspect of thisinvention The formA of gusset bracketincorporated -in `the structure herein disclosed -is-oflparticular value byfreason'of the-horizontal gussets of double thickness -`thereby provided" and for the reason that fthe vertical 'Kgussets are joined to each other throughout ltheir height, a further advantage being that the bracket is fully independento'f any .connection with the' .outer intermediate .leg .angle which is intended for removal for the conversion of the structure from a heavy duty type to one adaptable for lighter' service.

v In Figs. 1 to 6 there is illustrated a heavy duty type of structure in the form of a square tower having'four corner leg columns connected together by transverse girts and diagonal sway braces which form `the re,- spective sides of the structure. The several corner leg columns are of duplicate construction and each is formed of three strings of angle sections disposed in back-to-back relationship to form a leg column substantially cross-shape in cross section, with the sections of each string vertically aligned to abut one upon the other.

The inner' opposed angle leg sections 10 and 11 are ldisposedzwith their respective flanges 1021 and 11a extended in the planes of the respective adjacent sides of the towel' and with their other flanges 10b and 11b extending outwardly, and the respective leg sections 10 and 11 of the several corner leg columns are arranged in horizontal alignment so as to bring the several lines 12 of abutment at coincident vertically spaced intervals, whereby the tower may be assembled progresively in stories or tiers to a horizontal level. vThe outer intermediate angle leg sections 13 are disposed between the inner opposed leg sections'l() and 11 with their flanges in direct intimate contact with the flanges 10b and 11b of said inner' leg angles and said outer leg Vanglesv are disposed in break-joint relationship with the inner leg angles'lO and 11 so that their ylines 14 of abutment come half way between those ofv the inner leg angles, as shown in Fig 1.

Disposed at each end of each pair of inner leg angles sections 10' and 11 is a compound gusset bracket of'novel construction, formed to provide two vertical Vgusset plates 15 and 16 disposed at right angles to each other and joined at their inner vertical edges, and two vhorizontal gusset plates 17 and 17a extended from the respective vertical gusset plates 15 and 16 and disposed in overlapping` relationship yto constitute a horizontal gusset of "double thickness. This' gusset bracketis preferably formed of a single Y' sheet metal stamping of the contour illusf stamping,

trated in Fig. 5, said stamping being formed with a central aperture 20vand a slit 21 extending inwardly to intersect said aperture. In the forming of the bracket from vsaid the vertical gusset portions 15 and 16 may be bent towards each other, along lthe line 18, the portion 17 being then bent 'at right angles to the portion 15, along the line 15a, and the portion 17a being subsequently bent, along the lines 16a, to position parallel and in -overlapping relationship with the portion 17, thus forming a bracket of substantially the shape illustrated in Fig. 6, said bracket being, by preference,

subsequently punched or bored to accommodate the several rivets or vbolts by which it is secured into thetower structure.

At each level or tier of the Vtower structure, as defined by the line 12 of abutment between the vertically adjacent innerleg angles, two of the above described gusset bracket-s are positioned 4in lreverse relation ship with their respective horizontal gusset plates 17a back-to-back and their respective vertical gusset plates extended in opposite directions; andsuch brackets are disposed so that their vertical gusset plates 15 and 16 closely engage the inner surfaces of ythe flanges 10a and 11L of the respective inner leg angles 10 and 11, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, these particular gusset brackets being indicated generally, by the referencevcharacters A and B. Y Y

Certain other intermediate gusset brackets C and D, similar to those above described, are preferably located at approximately the middle of the respective pairs of inner leg angles 10 and 11 of each corner column and are disposed in the same relationship tothe several leg angles as are the gusset-brackets A and B, that is, each pair of gusset brackets C and D are in reverse relationship vertically with their vertical gusset plates engaging the leg angles 10 and 11 and their horizontal gussets in back-to-back relationship.

In erecting the structure, the several leg 'sections are clamped together in contacting relationship, by bolts 22, 23, and 211, the bolts 22 extending through the flange 1()b of the lrespective leg angles 1() and the contacting llt) of the respective outer leg angles 18, it being understood that a greater number of the bolts 24 and 28, between the pairs of gusset brackets, may be provided if desired.

The side structure connecting the adjacent corner leg columns is illustrated as comprise ing a plurality of girts and braces, and as such girts and braces included in each story or tier are duplicates of those included in the other stories or tiers, only one set thereof will herein be described in detail` The s sides of each story includes lower and upper transverse marginal girts 30 and- 31, so called because they define the respective lower and upper margins of the respective story, a pair of intermediate transverse girts 32 and 33, a lower pair of diagonal sway or anti-vibration braces 34C and 35, and an upperpair of. similar sway or y.anti-vibration braces 36 The'severa'l*transverse girts are of angle 'form andmaybe-of identical size and shape, With the ends of their horizontal flanges cut angular as shown 'in F ig. 2, and the respective ends of each girt are disposed in'neste-d relationship inside the cooperating gusset vbracket with the horizontal flange ofsaid v'girt engagingthe horizontal gusset :plate k17 v fbracket, and "issecured to said bracket 'and the'a-djacent inner' leg angle by abolt 4l eX- `tending through said vertical 'gusset portion ofthe bracket and through said inner leg anglefsaid vertical .gusset plate 'portion of the Vbracket being thus clampedv between -said girt and saiddnner' leg angle,'as is plainly evident in Fig. "2. Bolts 42 extending through the horizontal flanges of 'the respective girts and `through the horizontalgusset'plates 17l and 17a of each pairv of brackets A, Bya'nd C, D,'thus securing said pairs of brackets together independently of their connection with the corner legs, and

said horizontal gusset plates 17 and 17a are Lfurther secured4 together independently also of thegi'rts, by bolts 43.

VThe several diagonalsWay braces are of angle form and their ends are swayed to :bring Vboth flanges 'thereof 'to vertical par- .allel lcontact thusproviding securing ends of double thickness. These 'respective sway braces are each secured to the .vertical 'gussetplate portions of the associated brackets fby bolts 44 and 45, the 'bolts44 extending through saidbr'aces and the V`vertical gusset vplate portion-s of said brackets and the lbolts 45feXtending through said braces, said .brackets and "the adjacent 'inner vangle leg Y sections. f

The above` described 'l construction provides a tower vor similar structure in which .the respective corner leg columns each con-- sists of three strings of angle leg' sectionsarranged in back-to-back relationship and secured together throughout their lengths in `intimate contact to form corner "legs substantially cross-shapein cross section, Vand ktransverse -girts and braces Yconnected to saidcorner "legs by compound horizontal and vertical ygusset* Iibr'ackets,1 With v'such .gusset brackets forming reinforcing connec- Vt-ions joining the horizontal girts and braces of one side of the "tower to vthose of the adjacent sides thereof. Such construction further-provides corner leg columns consisting of two vertical strings of opposed inner corner -leg angles and an -intermediate string of vouter corner leg angles connected rtogether in a manner permittinga removalof said outer leg angles to convert the structure to one adaptable dor luse *for lighter service.

.In Fig. 7, the above described construction is shown' incorporated Ain 'an oil Well drilling derric'k, and when such a derrick is lto be converted to a lighter pumping derrick the outerleg angles 13 thereof will be removed, Figg showing a corner `of the derrick with such leg angles removed. fI'n.' lcertain instances the structure may be used .in this condition, but it is believed to be desirable to substitute lfor the removed-leg angles, short angle yjoint-'plates `50, as-shovvn `in Figy'9, 'these joint-plates being securedL r-in place by bolts 51 `Which extend through the vsame bolt holes as did the respective bolts 22, 23, 26, and 27 previously'fused to secure the leg angles 13 in place. v

The several stories 'or t'iers of the ltower are herein described as being of like'construction, but it is tobe understood 'that this v:has more particularly reference tothe major lportion thereof, for 'it Will be evident, particularly to those skilled in the oil :industry that in a Well derrick certain lportions yof lthe structure Will necessarily be somewhat inodied to accommodate the Walking-beam draw-Works, and other portions'ofthe drilling or pumping equipment andalso 'that suitable lprovisions will 'be made"'for"`the derrick ladder, platform, `Water-table, vcrown-block, etc.

\ While the Vstructure herein'illustrated and described yis fully capable of `fulfilling all of 'the objects :primarily stated, 'it is to be understood'that :I do not Wish to restrict the present invention to the specific 'embodiment herein-disclosed, for it is susceptible of embodiment in various-other forms, all coming- Within the scope of the claims, which follow.

I y'claim as my invention:

l. In a structure Vofthe nature disclosed, i

-the combination of: relatively spaced tripleangle corner leg columns, each'comprised-of 'only two opposed inner -leg'angles and -one intermediate louter leg angle disposed `in intimateback-to-back'contactlto form a compact corner leg `column substantially cross- ,shape in cross section ;transverse girt-s -forming AtheV .respective 4sides rof the structure and connectingthe adjacent corner :leg columns,

'the'girts ofeach side being secured at opposite-ends'to vthea'djacent inner leg angles of the :associated leg columns; means connect" ing the 4innerleg angles of each corner colum'n independently df 'the `intermediate leg :angles 1thereof; andfindependent removable "means for jse'curing vthe intermedi-ate leg 4angle "of each corner/column to th'e inner leg angles thereof, whereby the intermediate leg angles may be independently removed.

2. In a structure ofthe nature disclosed the combination of: relatively spaced tripleangle corner leg columns, each comprised of only two opposed innerl leg angles and one intermediateouter leg angle disposed in intimate back-to-back contact to form a com- .pact corner leg column substantially crossshape in cross section, with one flange of each inner leg angle disposed parallel to the adjacent side ofthe structure; transverse girts forming the respective sides of ther structure and connecting the adjacent corner leg columns, the girts of each side being secured t-o the Vrespective parallel flanges of the adjacent inner leg angles; means connecting said flanges of both inner leg angles ofv each corner leg column inde-v pendently of the intermediate leg angle thereof; and removable means for securing the other flanges of bothinner leg angles of each corner legI column to the intermediate leg angle thereof, whereby said intermediate leg angle may be` independently removed. z y

3. In a structure of the nature disclosed, the combina-tion of: relatively spaced tripleangle corner leg columns. each comprised of only two opposed inner leg angles and one intermediate outer leg angle disposed in intiv mate back-to-back contact to form a compact corner leg column substantially cross-shape in cross section; transverse girts forming the respective sides of the structure and connecting the adjacent corner leg columns;

.means for securing the girts of eac-h side to the adjacent inner leg angle ofeach associated corner column; and independent removable means for securing the intermediate leg angle only to the inner. leg angles, whereby said intermediate leg angle may be sepaf rately removed.

4t. In a structure ofthe nature disclosed, the combina-tion of: relatively spaced tripleangle corner leg columnseach comprised of only two opposed strings of inner leg angles and one intermediate string of outer leg angles arranged in intimate back-to-back contact to form a compact corner leg column substantially cross-shape in cross section, the leg angles of each string being vertically aligned to abut one upon another, the inner angles only to the inner leg angles, whereby said intermediate leg angles'may be rately removed.

In a structure of the nature disclosed, the combination of: relatively spaced tripleangle corner leg columns, eachl comprised of two opposed strings of inner leg angles and an intermediate string of outer leg angles arranged in intimate back-to-back contact to form a compact corner leg column substantially cross-shape vin cross section, the leg angles of each string beingvvertically aligned to abut -one upon another, the inner leg angles of said two opposed strings being horizontally aligned so that the leg angles of both-said opposedstrings abut at'coinc-ident' pendentlyv of the intermediate leg angles sepathereof; and independent means for securing the intermediate leg angles only to the inner leg angles, whereby said intermediate leg angles may be separately removed.

6. In a structure of the nature disclosed, the combination of: relatively spaced corner leg columns each formed of two opposed strings of vertically aligned leg angles with the'flanges of each string disposed at right angles to the-adjacent flanges of the .opposed string, and with the inner flange of each string disposed parallel to the adjacent side of the structure and the other flange thereof extended outwardly, the leg angles of both strings being horizontally aligned to bring their respective abutment joints at coincident levels; transverse girts forming the respective sides of the structure and connecting the adjacent leg columns; means for securing the girts of each side to the adjacent inner flanges of theV associated leg columns; intermediate angle connecting elements associated with each corner leg column and disposed between and in intimate contact with the outer anges of both strings of leg angles thereof in positions to span said respective abutment joints; and separate means for securing said connectingelements to said outer flanges of the leg angles of both opposed strings.. j

7. A compound gusset bracket for a fabricated steel structure, comprised, of: two angularly disposed yvertical gusset plate portions having their adjacent vertical edges joined together; and two horizontal gusset plate portions each connected to ahorizontal edge of one of said vertical gusset plate portions, said horizontal gussetl plate portions extending inwardly in overlapping relation- Aprovide a two-ply horizontal gusset.

9. In a structure of the nature disclosed, the combination of: relatively spaced tripleangle corner leg columns, each comprised of .only two opposed strings of vertically aligned leg angles and one intermediate vstring of vertically aligned leg angles arranged in intimate back-to-back contact to form a compact corner leg column substantially cross-shape in cross section, the leg angles of both opposed strings of all of said leg columns being respectively of corresponding lengths so as to break joint at coincident levels, and the intermediate leg angles of each corner column being disposed in break-joint relationship with those of the companion opposed strings; and transverse girts forming the respective sides of the structure and connecting the adjacent corner leg columns, the girts of each side being secured to the adjacent opposed stringsof the` associated corner leg columns independently of the intermediate leg angles thereof.

10. In a structure of the nature disclosed, the combination of: a triple-angle corner leg column formed of two opposed strings of vertically aligned inner leg angles with the angles of each string horizontally aligned with those of the other string and an intermediate string of vertically aligned outer leg angles disposed in break-joint relationship with said inner leg angles, the three strings of leg angles being arranged in intimate back-to-back contact to form a compact corner leg column substantially crossshape in cross section; reinforcing brackets positioned at opposite ends' of said inner leg angles and secured thereto to form direct connections between both strings of inner legangles; transverse girts forming adjacent sides of the structure, the girts of each side being secured Ato the adjacent inner leg securing the intermediate leg angles only to the inner leg angles, whereby said intermediate leg angles may be separately removed.

l1. In a structure ofthe nature disclosed, the combination of: a triple-angle corner leg lcolumn formed of two inner strings of vertically aligned leg angles with the angles of each string horizontally aligned with those of the other string, and an intermediate string of vertically aligned leg angles disposed in break-joint relationship with the inner leg angles, the three strings of leg angles being arranged in back-to-back relationship to form a corner leg column substantially cross-shape in cross section; compound gusset brackets reversely arranged in pairs and positioned at the abutting ends of the inner leg angles, each bracket having two vertical gusset plate portions joined together and two overlapping horizontal gusset plate portions each extending inwardly from one of said vertical gusset plate portio-ns, each vertical gusset plate being secured to the adjacent inner leg angle and the horizontal gusset plates forming a horizontal gusset plates of each pair of brackets together to connect the several'` leg angles of both inner strings; transverse girts and braces forming vadjacent sides ofthe structure, the girts and braces of each side being secured to the adjacent inner legangles and the adjacent brackets; and separate means for securing the intermediate legv angles to the inner leg angles independently of the girts, braces and brackets.

l2. A combination asdened in claim l1 in which each girt is ofl angle' form and is nested ina horizontal corner of one1of said gusset brackets with its horizontal flange connected to the horizontal gusset plates of said bracketand its vertical flange connected to the adjacent vertical gusset plate of said bracket.

13. A combination as del-ined in claim l in which the girts of each side comprise upper girts secured to the upper ends of the inner leg angles of the'associated corner leg columns and lower girts secured to the lower ends of said inner leg angles.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California, this direct connection between the two innerY strings of leg angles; means securing the-

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