US1740849A - Packing sleeve for overshots - Google Patents

Description

Dec 24, 1929.

E. H. WILLIAMS PACKING SLEEVE FOR OVE RSHOTS Filed Sept. 21, 1928 2 Sheets-Shea:

Dec. 24, 1929. E. H. WILLIAMS 1,740,849

PACKING SLEEVE FOR OVERSHOTS Filed Sept. 21. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheer. 2

\ B 5% I I 8 1 S 9 0 l- 9 Z 11 .4 2 1B I Z 4 f 5 1 3 A t 4 & 13 Ne w Patented Dec. 24, 1929 FATENT QFFEQE EDWAED H. WILLIAMS, OF GRAFTON, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE NATIONAL SUPPLY COMEANY, OE TOLEDO, 01-110, A CORPORATION OF OHIO PACKING SLEEVE FOR OVER-SHOTS Application filed September 21, 1928.

My invention relates to packings for overshots or fishing tools for broken drill pipes through which a forced circulation of a fluid, such as muddy slush fiui-d, is kept up during drilling operations. When such drill pipes are twisted apart, circulation of the slush fluid through the pipes naturally ceases, and the mud settles out of the slush fluid and shale may fall in around the drill pipes, soon causing them to become stuck and very difficult to free. if the circulation of fluid can be re-established around the broken drill pipes, there is usually little or no difiiculty in removing them from the wells, as the solidified mud is restored to a solution and the circulation of the fluid carries the shale upward and out of the well holes to the slush pits.

It is the object of this invention to provide an improved packing for overshots or fishing tools whereby the circulation of fluid may be reestablished through an overshot and down through the broken drill pipe in the well hole and upwardly around the drill pipe, the packing forming a fluid-tight fit between the 25 overshot and the drill pipe. More specifically, it is one object of this invention to provide a cylindrical resilient packing sleeve slidable within the overshot and having at its bottom end an inwardly and upwardly extending annular flange resembling a truncate-d cone and provided with a central opening through which fluid may pass down from the oversliot and into the drill pipe.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, 1 is a central vertical section of the lower end of an overshot fishing tool in operative connection with a broken drill pipe, one of my packing sleeves being shown in central vertical section and in operative connection with the broken-off end of a drill pipe. Fig. 2 is a similar View but some of the lower portions shown on Fig. 1 are broken away and the packing sleeve is shown operatively con nected with the coruoling, at the upper end of which the drill pipe has been broken off. Fig. 3 is a view similar to the upper portion of Fig. 1, but showing a drill pipe more completely filling the cross-section of the overshot than the drill pipes in Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 1 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing SeriaI No. 307,393.

the packing sleeve resting on the coupling instead of on the end of the broken-off drill pipe. Fig. 5 shows a modification of the packing sleeve shown in Figs. 1 to 4, one-half being shown in side elevation and the other half in central vertical section.

Referrirn to Figs. 1 and 2, I show an overshot fishing tool comprising the pipe or shank 1 extending to the top of the well and having a shoe 2 screwed on its lower end. This shoe has a number of upwardly and inwardly projecting spring fingers 3 attached at their lower ends to the shoe by the screws l, but free at their upper ends. I show two lengths 5 and 6 of a drill pipe connected together by the coupling '4'. The length 5 is shown broken oh at some distance above the coupling. The portion of the drill pipe above the break is supposed to have been removed and the fishing tool has been lowered so that its lower end has telescoped the broken pipe, the fingers 3 having passed below the coupling and snapped inwardly against the pipe length 6. If the shank 1 is pulled upwardly the fingers 3 will engage the lower end of the coupling 7 and pull the broken drill pipe upwardly out of the well unless the drill pipe has become frozen or stuck in the well hole, as hereinbefore described.

I provide a cylindrical packing sleeve 8 composed of a flexible resilient material, such as rubber, whose diameter is substantially the same as the internal diameter of the shank 1. The sleeve has at its bottom an inwardly and upwardly extending flange 9 in the form of substantially a truncated cone which is provided centrally at its top with the opening or orifice 10. Normally the flange 9 will have the undistorted shape shown in Fig. 2. The lower end of the sleeve is somewhat thickened forming an annulus 11 whose inner annular face 12 converges upwardly, the inner face of the said flange being a continuation of the face 12.

lVhen the fishing tool is lowered into a well as described, it has therein a sleeve 8. lVhen the spring fingers 3 have passed below the coupling 7, fiuid circulation is re-established by pumping it down the pipe or shank 1. The traveling fluid forces the sleeve 8 down in Fig. 1 until it engages the broken end of the pipe length 5 where it becomes lodged, the annulus 11 becoming wedged fluid-tight between the shank 1 and the pipe length 5 while the interior of the bottom of the sleeve becomes distorted by being forced partly down over the end of the pipe length 5 with the orifice 10 over the passage through the drill pipe. The pressure of the circulat ing fluid d 'orts the flexible resilient sleeve so as to prevent the passage of the fluid between the shank 1 and the sleeve and also between the pipe length 5 and the sleeve. Normal circulation oi the fluid is thus re-established, whereby the mud settled from the previously standing circulating fluid, and the shale accumulated around the drill p'pe are carried to the surface of the well in the usual manner. The broken drill pipe may then be pulled out of the well in t 1e usual manner.

In Fig. 2 the pipe length 5 is broken oil so short that the sleeve 8 is caused to seat on the upper end of the coupling The sleeve is in Fig. 2 shown in its natural or undistorted shape. lVhen the circulation of fluid is established, it will be more or less distorted, but the orifice 10 will remain practically central over or in the (lllll pipe and. the lower end of the sleeve 8 will eilectually seal the space between the shank 1 and the coupling 7.

In Fig. 8, the sleeve 8 occupies the same position as in Fig. 1, but the space between the shank 1 and the pipe length 5 is narrower, causing the annulus 1 l to be distorted into a more cylindrical form, the upper end of the flange about the orifice catching over the end of the pipe length 5, as in Fig. 1, and holding the sleeve in place.

In Fig. 4, the pipe length is brokenoil so as to let the sleeve seat directly on the coupling 7 which has substantially the same diameter as the shank. The sleeve in 4 is shown in its undistorted condition. When the circulating fluid flows down through it, it becomes distorted but provides an e'll ectual seal between the shank and the coupling.

Fig. 5 shows a modified form of packing sleeve, marked 8 The parts marked 9, 10, l1 and 12 are as in Figs. 1 to l. The sleeve 8 has a short distance above its bottom an external upwardly and outwardly extending flange 13. There is an annular series or open ings or orifices i l near the upper end of the sleeve and at both sides of this series of openings is the external annular rib and between the flange 1-3 and the rib 15 is an annular series of openings 16. The flange 13 and the rib 15 form lines of friction contact between the sleeve and the shank, whereby the sleeve will slide down more freely to its contact with the coupling or pipe length end than it would slide it the entire external cylindrical surface 0t the sleeve engages the shank. The openings 14 and 16 are for greases equalizing the fluid pressure between the inner and outer surfaces of the sleeve.

1. In combination an overshot for a pipe, the overshot having a relatively long upwardy extending hollow shank, a cylindrical resilient packing sleeve slidable within the shank forming a seal between the periphery of the sleeve and the innerwall of the shank, said sleeve havin at its bottom end an inwardly and upwardly extending annular flange in the term of a truncated cone and a central circular opening through which a fluid may pass into the pipe.

2. in combination an overshot for a pipe, the overshot having a relatively long upwardly extending hollow shank, a cylindrical resilient packing sleeve slida. le within the s.-ank, said sleeve having at its bottom and an inwardly and upwardly extending annular fiance in the form of a truncated cone and a l circular opening through which a fluid may ass into the pipe, the sleeve havan annular external projecting portion combination an overshot having a long upwardly extending hollow a c lindrical resilient packing sleeve in the shank, said sleeve having end an inwardly and upwardly extending annular flange in the form of a tr ncated cone and a central circular ope-ning through which afluid may pass, the sleeve having external annular ribs, there being openings through the sleeve between the rib l. In combination an overshot for a pipe, the overshot having a relatively long upwardly extending hollow shank, a cylindrical resilient packing sleeve slidable within the shank, the periphery of the said sleeve being adapted at positions of the sleeve in the shank to seal the annular space between the pipe and the said shank and having a portion adapted to lie over the upper end of the pipe and also having an opening through which fluid may pass into the pipe.

5. in an overshot, a hollow shank slidable longitudinally downwardly over a sipe with a tree upper end, a lined support for the pipe, and a cylindrical resilient packing sleeve slidable within the shank above the support and forming a seal between itself and the inner wall of the shank and having at its bottom end an inwardly and upwardly extending annular flange in the form oi a truncated cone and a central circular opening through which a liuin may pass into the pipe, the inner face of the truncated cone forming a seal between itself and the said end or" the pipe.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afilX my signature.

EDWARD H. WILLIAMS.

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