US1830848A - Ditch - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 10, 1931. F. J. MILES 1,830,848

DITCH Filed Aug. 27. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l IN VEN TOR. FRED \AM/Lf' F. J. MILES Nov. 10, 1931.

DITGH Filed Aug. 7. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

FEED d/W/L 55 TORNEYS.

Patented Nov. 10, 1931 PATENT, oFFicE FRED J. MILE-s, or nsiznnsrrnnn, cnnrronum DITCH Application filed August 27, 1929. Serial No. 388,794.

This invention appertains to well drilling apparatus and more particularly to ditches or chutes used to convey circulating mud from the well hole to the tank where it is to be stored until used over again.

lVith ditches that are now in use it is necessary to bolt the various sections thereof together and as these ditches are moved from rig to rig as the wells are completed, consld- 1 erable time is used in the assembling and the taking apart of the ditches.

Further, in the ditches commonly used,

difiiculty is experienced in the removing of the sand and heavy mud from the bottom thereof and as one of the primary purposes of the ditches is to permit the settling of the sand and heavy mud therein, the use thereof has not been eflicient. g

It is therefore one of the primaryobjects of my invention to provide a novel mud ditch for well rigs including a plurality of novel sections with novel means for connecting the sections together without the use of bolts, the

said means giving a water-tight joint but which will still permit the quick and efiicient assembling and taking apart of the sections.

A further object of my invention is the proa vision of novel settling basins or the like in the bottom wallsof the ditches, which form means for catching the sand and heavy mud,

with trap doors arranged in the bottom of the basin portion for permitting the quick remoral of the sand and mud therefrom.

A still further object of my invention is to provide an improved ditch ofthe above character, which will be durable and efiicientlin claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of my improved ditch showing the same connected with the well and with the storage tank;

Figure 2 is a detail vertical section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1 looking illhe direction of the arrows and showing the main longitudinal portion of the ditch in side elevation;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary horizontal section through the ditch taken on the line 33 of Figure 2 looking in the direction of the arrows; v

Figure 4: is a vertical longitudinal section through the ditch taken on the line l-4 of Figure 3 looking in the direction of the arrows; a

Figure 5 is a detail fragmentary perspective view looking from the male end of one of the ditch sections; v

Figure 6 is a similar view looking from the female end of one of the ditch section-s;

' Figure 7 is an enlarged detail sectional view showing a pair of the sections connected together and illustrating the novel joint therebetween, and

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary detail perspective view illustrating the novel joint employed for connecting one of the'lateral transverse sections of the ditch to one of the longitudinal sections of the ditch. i i

Referring to the drawings in detail, whereill similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout .the' several views, the letter A generally indicates the diagrammatic showing of an oil or similar a well drillmg apparatus and B a storage tank for the circulating mud used in connection ther with, the well hole and the tank being connected together by my novel ditch C,

which will now be described. A

My improved ditch 0 comprises amain longitudinal portion 10, a laterally extending portion 11 leading to the well and a laterally extending end portion 12 leadingto the tank B.

The main, longitudinal portion 10 comprises a plurality of intermediate sections 13 and end sections 14 and 15, to which are connected respectively the laterally extending portions 11 and 12. I Each of the intermediate sections 13 includes a bottom wall 16, and upstanding side walls 17. These walls may be'bolted or riveted as at 18 to longitudinally extending corner angle irons 19, The walls 16 and 17 can be constructed from metal plate of the desired gage. These sections can be provided with cover plates 20, if preferred, and the cover plates are likewise bolted to the angle irons 19.

The end sections 14: and 15 are similarly formed and each includes bottom walls 21, upstanding side walls 22 and an outer end wall 23. All of these walls are bolted or riveted to the corner angle irons 24. The end sections can likewise be provided with cover plates 25, if preferred.

The bottom walls of all of the sections have preferably formed therein depending or concave depressed portions forming basins 26, in which the sand and heavy mud is adapted to collect and each of the basins 26 is provided with a removable gate 27 whereby the collected sand and heavy mud can be removed.

In accordance with my invention, the various sections are connected together by a novel joint 28, which forms an important part of my invention. To provide the novel coupling 28, the end of one section is provided with a substantially U-shaped guide member 29 in cross section, which is provided with a rearwardly extending attaching flange 30 which is riveted or otherwise secured to said section. The guide member 29 being U shaped in cross section provides a trough or seat for the guide or seating flange 31 which extends outwardly at right angles to the adjacent end of the next adjacent section. This outwardly extending guide flange 31 is provided with a right angularly disposed attaching flange 32 which is riveted or otherwise secured in place. It can be seen that the guide flange 31 and the attaching flange 32 can be constructed together and out of suitable angle iron.

By this arrangement of parts the guide flange 31 can be slid into the guide track or trough 29 and in order to provide a snug water-proof joint, a substantially U-shaped gasket is placed within the guide trough, as indicated by the reference character 33. Thus a liquid-proof joint is provided, but one in which the sections can be readily separated when desired.

In order to aid in efficiently supporting the longitudinal portion 10, suitable supporting blocks 35 are placed under the sections, preferably near the joints thereof. As shown in the drawings, the block is placed near the joint and under the section which carries the U-shaped guide trough 29, whereby the adjacent section will rest on or in the trough.

Then it is desired to take the sections apart, it is merely necessary to pull up on the section carrying the guide flange 31.

In order to permit the expeditious connecting of the lateral chute portions 11 and the same is not deemed necessary.

It is to be seen, however, that as the circulating'mud passes from the well into the lateral trough l1, and thence into the longitudinal main portion, and thence into the tank B through the lateral portion of the chute or ditch 12, the mud or sand or heavy particles will be deposited in the basins 26, where the same can be conveniently removed by taking out the gates 27 From the foregoing description it can be seen that I have provided an efficient and durable ditch for well drilling appliances which can be readily taken apart and set up again in a minimum amount of time and with the expenditure of a minimum amount of energy.

Changes in details may be made without departing from the spirit 01' the scope of this invention, but

WVhat I claim as new is:

A flume joint for connecting two sections of a chute together comprising a guide track substantially U-shaped in cross section having its upper end open and riveted to one end of one section, and a right angularly extending guide flange substantially U-shaped in elevation carried by the other section and slidably received within the guide track, a gasket substantially U-shaped in side elevation received in the guide track and interposed between the flange and one wall of the guide track, the end sections of the longitudinal portion being provided with openings, guide tracks extending about said openings and having their upper ends open, and a right angularly extending guide flange carried by the outer ends of the lateral portions slidably received within said last mentioned guide tracks, and gaskets interposed between the flanges and the flanges of the last mentioned guide tracks.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

FRED J. MILES.

12 with the end sections 14 and 15, the end sections have bolted to their side faces,

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