US2017260A

US2017260A - Rotary machine having improved oil circulation means

Info

Publication number: US2017260A
Application number: US656604A
Authority: US
Inventors: David M Smith
Original assignee: Emsco Derrick and Equipment Co
Current assignee: Emsco Derrick and Equipment Co
Priority date: 1931-06-03
Filing date: 1933-02-13
Publication date: 1935-10-15
Anticipated expiration: 1952-10-15

Description

Oef. 15, 1935.

ROTARY MACHINE HAVING IMPROVED OIL CIRCULATION MEANS Original Filed June A3, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l f w ,M v\\\\\\\\\ pw Oct. l5, i935.

D. M. SMITH 2,017,260

ROTARY MACHINEA HAVING `IMPROVED OIL CIRCULATION MEANS Original Filed June 5, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 AT Toe/VSM Y Patented Oct. l5, 1935 ROTRY IHACHINEA HAVING CIRCULATION ME OFFICE nuPnovED om Ans David M. Smith, Hermosa Beach, Calif., assigner to Emsco Derrick & Equipment Company, Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California original appllation June s, 1931, serial No. `541,771. Divided and this application February 13, 1933, Serial No. 656,604

22 Claims. (Cl. Z55-23) Miy invention relates to rotary machines of the character employed in drilling oil wells by the so-called rotary system and this application is a division of my application entitled Oil end closed rotary, Serial No, 541,771, led June 3,

lo of the rotary machine and carries a bit at its oilreservoirinwhicha body of lubricant is mainlower end. In the present common form of royained, and in which the pinion of the rotary tary machine the rotary table has a bevel or machine is rotatable, the pinion being operated ring gear which is driven by a pinion mounted to carry or splash tlllle lubricant to the rotary on a pinion shaft, which pinion shaft is jourtable ring gear mes ing therewith. l

l5 nalled in bearings of the rotary machine. A It is a still further object of my invention to 1 sprocket is secured to the outer end of the pinion provide in a rotary machine, as described in shaft, and this sprocket isldriven from a draw the above paragraph, means for delivering a works of the derrick by a chain and sprocket ow of lubricant from the ring gear to the roarrangement. When'the rotary machine is opertary 4table bearing, and means for delivering ated, the rotary table is rotated and3 the drill lubricant from the rotary table-bearing back into 20 pipe and bit are thuscaused to rota e, the bit the oil reservoir. digging away the bottom of the hole in order to Another unique feature of my present invendeepen same. tion is that the main table bearing is of a ta' Oil wells today are being drilled to exceedpered roller bearing type having the roller bearingly4 great depths, ncessitating larger and ings so arranged that the axes of the rollers are 2li heavier drilling appara us which consequently disposed at an angle to the horizontal so that materially increases the already tremendous` the faces of the rollers lie .in aplane at a steep l strains to which rotary machines are subjected angle from horizontal in order to facilitate the during the drilling of an oil well. As a result, centering of the table on the base.

the working parts of rotary machines have been In the following detailed description of my $0 made more and more rugged and massive in. invention other objects and important advanorder that these strains and stresses may be withtages of the invention Willbe pointed out. For A stood. Furthermore, it has and is becoming quite the purpose of illustrating the details of my inneoessary to provide Suitable and ample lubrivention, I have selected what I consider at the Cation for the Working or Wearing parts-0f the present time to be the preferred form of my in- 85 rotary machines in order to minimize friction and vention. It should be understood that I do not to reduce wear. wish to be limited to this particular form of my t iS ant ObJeCt ormy Preslllliltlnvlfnllon t0 E IO- invention, since I understand my invention to be vi e a ro ary mao 111e in W .C a e WOY 111g susceptible of embodiment in various forms.

parts are completely enclosed and constantly lu-` Referring, to the drawings which accompany d0 bricated. this specification,

It is another object of my invention to pro- Fig. 1 is an elevational view, partly sectioned, vide an oil enclosed rotary machine in which the of a rotary machine incorporating the features bevel ring gearv of the rotary table, the pinion, of my invention and the main table thrust bearing included in Fig' 2 is a plan View of Fig 1; Fig. 2 boing no 1V'ottrcyfmachine are all operable in a common partly in Section It is one of the important ObJects of my m- 'villgshwiiigatlhrlllirngngr vhiellatllse lsukriglal't vention to provide a rotary machine in which the main table bearing is constantly bathed by 1S delivered from the ng gear to the. minS for so a stream or now of on which passes through the dlrectlng the lubricant to the matin bearing. bearing. This oil is so circulated ythat when it Flg- 4h15. a fragmentary .View lllustmting the is delivered 'to the main table bearing, it is relmanner 1n which the lubricant passes through atively cool and relatively clean. i o the main bearing and is delivered therefrom to It is a further object to provide a rotary ma- .the oil or lubricant reservoir. u

In the oil well drilling industry a rotary machine is placed on the derrick licor of a well. The drill pipe extends through a rotary table chine of the character referred to in the foregoing paragraph in which thereis an oil reservoir to which the oil ows after lubricating and cooling the main table bearing wherein any sediment may settle to the bottom of the oil reservoir and thus permit only the clean oil to be circulated through the parts to be lubricated.

It is another object of my invention to provide in a rotary machine of the type described an A 7. within the annular wall I6 and the lower por- Referring to the drawings in detail and particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, I have illustrated a roskids I2 depend, and adjacent one end thereof,

is a vertically extending annular wall I6 which is of a diameter substantially equal to the width of the horizontal wall I3. Formed also integrally with the wall I3 is a vertically extending annular wall 22 which is of smaller diameter than the annular wall I6 and cooperates with this wall I6 and the horizontal -wall I3 to forni an oil or lubricant reservoir 23. The wall 22 extends upwardly from the wall I3 a comparatively short distance relative to the wall `I 6 and' is of considerably greater thicknessfor the purpose of providing an upper horizontal face 25 for the support of a rotary table bearing generally designated by the numeral 26. The inner annular surface 21 of the wall 22 denes an -opening which extends this-` opening being concentric with the vertically extending annular wall I6., v

Thebearing 26 is preferably of the tapered roller type and comprises a lower stationary race 30, tapered rollers 3| spaced by a roller retainer 32 and an upper rotatable race 33, The lower race 30 is 'prevented from rotation relative to the base I2 by a series of dowel pins, one of which is shown. at 34 in Fig. 1, which project upwardly' from the surface 25 of the wall 22 and extend into depressions formed in the lower face of the race 30, as shown. The bearing 26 is preferably designed so thaty the axes of rotation Vof the ta,- pered rollers 3| are positioned at approximately 45 from the vertical or from the horizontal so that the upper faces of these rollers lie in a plane at a relatively steep angle from the horizontal t0 facilitate the centering of a rotary table 40 which is journalled by the bearing 26. This rotary table 40 includes a vertically extending cylindrical wall 4I of such an external diameter as to engage the inner surface 21 of the wall 22 in a running fit, this wall 4I terminating upwardly in an annular shoulder .42 which provides a downwardly facing horizontal surface 43 against which the race 33 abuts and to which this race is secured by suitable means.

Formed integrally with the wall 4I of the table 48 is a horizontally extending ilange or body portion forming the table top 44 of the rotary table 40. The peripheral part 45 of the table top 44 is positioned adjacent the upper edge of the annular wall I6 and forms a relatively tight joint to prevent the leakage of lubricant from the oil reservoir 23. Securedto the under side of the table top 44 and secured thereto is a ring gear 46 provided with downwardly facing bevel teeth 41. The ring gear 46 has an internal diameter slightly greater than the'outer diameter of the bearing 26\ and has an external diameter slightly less than the internal diameter of the annular wall I6.

For the purpose of operating the rotary table 40 I provide a pinion 48 having bevel teeth 49 adapted to engage the teeth 41 of the ring gear 46. This pinion, as shown in Fig. 1, is positioned ion 48 is secured to the inner end of a pinion shaft.

58. The pinion shaft 50 is supported by a pair through the horizontal wall I3,

aoimeo of pinion shaft bearings 5I which includes suitable housings for supporting them, and the outer end thereof has a sprocket 62 secured thereto by means of which the rotary machine may be operated. 5

For the purpose of holding the table 4II in place and preventing same from being inadvertently raised from position, I provide a hold-down bearing 54 which is supported between a lower wall 55 of the base II and a retaining member 66 i0 which is secured tothe lower end of the cylindrical wall 4I of the rotary table 40. This holddown bearing 54 prevents the rotary table 40 from ,being raised, while any weight on the rotary table during the operation thereof is carried by the l5 'main table bearing 26.

Secured to the inner surface of the wall I6, as by screws or other means, are a number of downwardly sloping drip pans 80 which constitute a means for delivering lubricant to the main bear- 20 ing 26. These drip pans 80 are positioned directly below the ring gear 46 inclining downwardly and inwardly, as shown. 'I'he drip pans 80 are shown to be three in number and are positioned in spaced relationshiparound the annular wall 25 I6 and above the oil or lubricant reservoir 23, but it is of course apparent that the number of these pans is immaterial. Upon an inspection, of Fig. 4, it will be seen that the inner part of the drip pans 30 projects above outer portions of 30 the main table bearing 26.

As shownbestin Fig. 4, the numeral 8l designates an oil throw-oil means which is adapted to return lubricating fluid from the bearing 26 to the oil reservoir 23. This throw-oil means 8I in- 85 cludes a narrow vertically extending annular flange 82 formed on the inner annular part oi the bearing supporting face 25 of the wall 22. Formed on the outer surface of the cylindrical wall 4I of the rotary table 40 at a point imme- 40 diately above the flange 32 and directly below the bearing retainer 32, is a plurality of annular grooves 83 which forms a plurality of relatively sharp edges, as shown. The' grooves 83 are provided for the purpose of preventing lubricating 45 fluid from iinding its way downwardly between the wall 4I and the flange 82 of the wall 23 by reason of the fact that these grooves collect any uid which might be owing downwardly on the surface of the cylindrical wall 4I and the same 50 is thrown outwardly above the flange 82 by centrifugal force as the rotary table revolves. Provided in spaced relationship in the upper surface 25 of the wall 22 is a plurality of downwardly and outwardly sloping drainV channels 85. drain channels 85 extend from the base of the flange 82 tothe outer periphery of the annular wall 22 and are provided for the purpose of delivering lubricating fluid thrown from the groove 83 and flowing from the bearing 26 back into the oil reservoir 23.

The operation of the rotary machine and particularly the operation of the parts which constitute the essence of my invention are as follows: Upon rotation-of the pinionshaft 50, the pinion 48, due to its engagement with the teeth 41 of the ring gear 46, causes the rotary table 40 to be rotated. Due to the fact that the lower part of the pinion 48 is submerged in the bodv of lubricating uid contained in the reservoir 23, it picks up a quantity of lubricant and carries it into contact with the teeth 41 of the ring gear 46.

A portion of this lubricant, which is oil, ordinarily, adhering to the teeth 41 of the ring gear, is thrown outwardly by centrifugal force against 'I'hese 55 .2,017,2o- I l 3 the inner surface of the wall I 6, and in passing downwardly by gravity is collected bythe'dripvthe drain channels 85 and into the reservoir 23,`

as indicated by the arrows E of Fig. 4.- A portion of the lubricating oil passing inwardlyvthrough the bearing 26 will adhere or tend toA adhere to the cylindrical wall 4|, and will flow downwardly over the surface thereof until reaching the throwoff groove means v83 wherein the lubricating oil will collect and will vbe thrown outwardlyby centrifugal force over and above the flange 82 and into the drain channels 85, as indicated by the arrows F of Fig. 4.

It will be seen that the oil circulating means oi my invention delivers a continuous ,flowor stream of lubricant to the main bearing 26. Thislubricant has a very valuable washing and cooling action on the bearing and' effectively: cools the bearing and washes the bearing surfaces cleany as well as supplying the necessary lubrication to enable its efficient operation. The lubricant chamber 23 provides a settling space wherein any particles or sediment carried in the oil may settle out. It will be understood that in relatively large castings there will be small fragments of metal breaking loose or scale breaking loose from the walls, as well as particles of` sand which are carried in the pores of the metal, this sand being deposited in the surfaces or pores of the metal during the casting operation. Due to the continuous iiow of lubricant over the main bearing 26, none of these foreign particles will remain in the bearing due to the eiective washing action.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a rotary machine of the type employed in the drilling of Aoil wells, the combination of: a

vbase; a table above said base, said table and base cooperating to provide an annular oil chamber; a main bearing supported by said base .adjacent said oil chamber and in open communication therewith; means for driving said rotary table, including a pinion, and a ring gear mounted on saidrotary table within said chamber, said pinion being adapted to deliver oil to said ring'gear; and means for directing the oil from said ring gear inwardly above the oil level of said chamber to said main bearings.

2. In a rotary machine of the type employed in the drilling of oil wells, the combinationof: a base; a rotary table above said base, said base and table cooperating to provide a lubricant chamber; a cylindrical wall depending. from said table; 4a bearing supported by said base at a higher level than said lubricant chamber and surrounding said cylindrical wall, said bearing supporting said rotary table; means supplyingA said bearing with lubricant from a level above the bearing; and drain means extending downwardly from said bearing for delivering the lubricant from the inner part of said bearing downwardly to said lubricantcharnber.

3.*In a rotary machine of the type employed in the drilling of oil wells, the'combination of: a

base; a rotary table above said base, said base and table cooperating to provide a -lubricant chamber; a cylindrical wall depending from said table; a bearing supported by said base and,

surrounding said cylindrical wall, said bearing supporting said rotary table; means whereby said l bearing Vis supplied with lubricant; and drain means situated below said bearing for .delivering .the lubricant from the inner part of said bearing to said lubricant chamber. 5

4. -In a'rotary machine of the type employed in the' drilling of oil wells, the combination of: a base; a rotary table abovelsaid base, said base and table cooperating to provide a lubricant chamber; a cylindrical wall depending from said 10 table; a bearing supported by said base and surrounding said cylindrical wall, said bearing sup- -a base; a rotary table above said base, said base and table cooperating to provide a lubricant chamber; a cylindrical wall depending from said table; a bearing supported by said base and sur- 25 rounding said cylindrical wall, said bearing supporting said rotary table; means whereby saidv bearing is supplied with lubricant; drain means situated below said bearing for delivering the lubricant from the inner part of said .bearingf30 to said lubricant chamber; and means on said` cylindrical wall adapted to throw the lubricant i outwardly therefrom so that the lubricant will flow intoV said drain means.

6. In a rotary machine of the type employed in the drilling of oil wells, the combination of a base having an upstanding wall; a rotary table cooperating with said upstanding wall for providing a lubricant chamber; a shelf inwardly of said upstanding wall and adjacent said chamber; a bearing on said shelf for rotatably supporting said rotary table; drive meansfor driving said table including a ring gearsecured to said table and a pinion gear, both of which 'are within said chamber, said pinion gear delivering lubricant to said; ring gear; and means above the oil level in the lubricant chamber for directing lubricant dropping from said ring gear inwardly to said bearing.

7. In a rotary machine of the type employed in drilling oil wells, the combination of t a base having an annular oil channel and an annular shelf inwardly of said oil channel; a bearing supported on said shelf; a table supported on said bearing, said table cooperating with said base to form a closed chamber in which said annular oil channel, lsaid shelf, and said bearing are located; a ring gear -secured to said table and situated in said chamber above said oil channel; means for supplying oil to said ring gear, said oil droppingdownwardly in said chamber from the teeth thereof; and means for intercepting said oil falling through said chamber and delivering same to said bearing.

8. In a rotary machine of the type employed in drilling oil wells, the combination of a base having an annular oil channel and an annular shelf inwardly of said oil channel; a bearing supported on said shelf; a table supported on said .ated in said chamber above said oil channel; Vmeans for supplying oil to said ring gear, said oil dropping downwardly in said chamber from the teeth thereof; and a pan situated in said chamber below said ring gear for intercepting said oil falling through said chamber and delivering same to said bearing.

9. In a rotary machine of the type employed in the drilling of oil wells, the combination oi: a base having an annular oil channel; a rotary table above said base andcooperating therewith to form a closed chamber in which said oil channel is located; a bearing in said chamber adjacent said oil channel for rotatably supporting said table; a ring gear on said table within said chamber; means for supplying said ring gear with oil, said oil falling from said ring gear; and

means for intercepting said oil fallingfrom said 4 ring gear and delivering same to said bearing, said oil then ilowing from said bearing to said oil channel.

10. In a rotary machine of the type employed in the drilling of oil wells, the combination oi: a base having an annular oil channel; a rotary table above said base and cooperating therewith to form a closed chamber in which said oil channel is located; a' bearing in said chamber adjacent said oil channel for rotatably supporting said table; a ring gear on said table within said chamber; means for supplying said ring gear with oil, said oil falling from said ring gear; and

a pan in said chamber below said ring gear for intercepting said oil falling from said ring gear and delivering same to said bearing, said oil then flowing from said bearing to .said oil channel.

l1. In a rotary machine of the typeemployed in the drilling of oil wells, the combination of a base having an annular oil channel; a rotary table above said base and cooperating therewith to form a closed chamber in which lsaid oil channel is located; a bearing in said chamber adjacent said oil channel for rotatably supporting said table; a ring gear on said table within saidv chamber; means for supplying said ring gear with oil, said cil falling from said ring gear; means for intercepting said oil falling from said ring gear and delivering same to said bearing, said oil then flowing from said/bearing to s'aid oil channel; and hold-down means for said table outside said chamber. y

12. In a rotary machine of the type employed in the drilling of oil wells, the combination of: a base having an annular oil channel; a rotary table above said base and cooperating therewith to form a closed chamber in which said oil channelis located; a bearing in said chamber adjacent said oil channel for rotatably supporting said table; a ring gear on said table within said chamber; means for supplying said ring gear with' oil, said oil falling from` said ring gear; a pan in said chamber below said ring gear for intercepting said oil falling from said ring gear and delivering same to said bearing, said oil then flowing from said bearing to said oil channel; and hold-down means'for said table outside said chamber. ,5

13. In a rotary machine of the type employed for drilling oil wells, the combination of: a base having an annular oil channel;` a bearing supported by said base inwardly of said oil channel and being at a higher level than said oil channel; a rotary table supported by saidl bearing; means fordelivering oil to said bearing from a level above the oil level in the oil channel; and walls forming an oil passage for delivering said oil from the inner part of said bearing downwardly to said Voil channel.

14. In a rotary machine of the type employed rfor drilling oil wells, the combination of: a base having an annular oil channel; a bearing supported by said base inwardly of said oil channel. there being a space inwardly of said bearing; a 5 rotary table supported by said bearing; means for delivering oil to said bearing; and walls forming an oil passagev connected to said space inwardly of said bearing and to said oil channel and extending beneath said bearing for de- 10 livering said oil from the inner part of said bearing to said oil channe ported by said base inwardly of said oil channel; a rotary table supported by said bearing and having an extension which is surrounded by said bearing, there being an annular -space inwardly of said bearing; means for delivering oil to said 20 bearing, .said oil owing through said bearing into said space; and walls on said base forming an oil passage connected to said space inwardly of said bearing and to said oil channel, and extending beneath said bearing for delivering said 26 oilfrom the inner part of said bearing to said oil channel.

16. In a rotary machine of the type employed for drilling oil wells, the combination of: a base having an annular oil channel; a bearing sup- 80 ported by said base inwardly of said oil channel:

a rotary table supported by said bearing and having an extension which is surrounded by said bearing, there being an annular space inwardly of said bearing; means for delivering oil to said 35v bearing, said oil flowing through said bearing into said space; walls on said base forming an oil passage'connected to said space inwardly 'of said bearing and to said oil channel and extending beneath said'bearing for deliveringv said oil 40 from the inner part of said bearing to said oil channel; and means for throwing oil from said extension into said space.

1'7. In a rotary machine of the type employed for drilling oil wells, the combination of: a base 4K5' f channel.

18. In a rotary machine of the type employed for drilling oil wells, the combination of: a base having an annular oil channel; a bearing supported by said base inwardly of said oil channe therefbeing a space inwardly of said bearing; a 60 rotary table supported by said bearing; a ring gear on said table; means for delivering oil to said ring gear, said oil falling downwardly from said ring gear; means for intercepting said falling oil and delivering same to said bearing; and walls on said base forming an oil passage connected to said space inside said bearing and to said oil channel and extending beneath said bearing for delivering said oil from the inner part of said bearing to said oil channel. l

19. In a rotary `machine of the type employed for drilling oil wells, the combination of: a base having an annular oil channel; a bearing supported by said base inwardly of said oil channel; a rotary table supported by said bearing and i 2,017,260 having an extension which is surrounded by said 'g forming an oil passage connected to said space inwardly-of said bearing and to said oil channel and extending beneath said bearing for delivering said oil from the inner part of said bearing to said oil channel.

20. In a rotary machine of the type employed for drilling oil wells, the combination of a base having an annular oil channel; a bearing supported yby said base inwardly of said oil channel; a rotary table supported by said bearing and .having an extension which is surrounded by said bearing, there being an annular space inwardly of said bearing; a ring gearv on said table, means for delivering oil to said ring gear, said oil falling downwardly from said ring gear; means for intercepting said falling oil and delivering same to said bearing, said oil owing through said bearing intosaid space; walls on said base forming an oil passage connected to said space inwardly of said bearing and to said oil channel,

Aand extending beneath said bearing for delivering-said oilfrom the inner part of said bearing to said oil channel; and means for throwingoil from said extension into said space.

21. In a. rotary machine of the type employed for drilling oil wells, the combination o1' a base having an annular oil channel; a bearing supported by said base inwardly of said oil channel; a rotary table supported vby said bearing; 5

a ring gear on said table; means for delivering oil to said ring gear, said oil falling downwardly from said ring gear; a removable pan means for intercepting said falling oil and delivering same to said bearing; and walls forming an oil passage for delivering -sai-d oil from the inner part of said bearing to said oil channel.

22. In a rotary machine of the type employed for drilling oil wells, the combination of a base having an annular oil channel; a bearing supported by said base inwardly of said oil channel; a rotary table supported by said bearing and having an extension which is' surrounded by said bearing, there being an annular space inwardly of said bearing; a ring gear on said table; means for delivering oil to said ring gear, said oil falling downwardly from said ring gear;

a removable pan means for intercepting said falling oil and delivering same to said bearing, said oil owing through said bearing into said space; and walls on said base forming an oil passage connected to said space inwardly of said bearing and to said oil channelv and extending beneath said bearing for delivering said oil from the inner part of said bearing to said oil channel:

DAVID M. SMITH.