US2059629A

US2059629A - Well bailer

Info

Publication number: US2059629A
Application number: US667439A
Authority: US
Inventors: Weldon C Erwin; Cecil H Sweet
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1933-04-22
Filing date: 1933-04-22
Publication date: 1936-11-03
Anticipated expiration: 1953-11-03

Description

Nov. 3, 1936. wfg, ERW|N ET AL 2,059,629

WELL BAILER Filed April 22, 1933 2 sheets-sheet 1 Nov. 3, 1936. w. c. ERWIN ET AL WELL BAILER Filed April 22, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 3, 1936 UNITED STATES BAILER Weldon o. Erwin and eeen msweet, Brea, cam., assign'ors to John Grant, Los Antelel ,-Cali!.v

Application Apru z2, 193s, serial No. 061,439

17 claims. (ci. res-19) This invention has to do generally with improvements and features of construction applica.-

ble to tools or devices such as are used in cleaning Wells, and in accordance with the broader princi- 5 ples of theinvention it is applicable to well cleaners, such for example, as we set forth in our copending application entitled Well tool, Serial No. 648,072, filed'December 20, 1932, as well as to that type or form of tool ordinarily termed 1o bailer." Throughout the following presentation of our present invention, we will refer,to it as applied to or embodying a bailer, it being understood that such reference Vis not to be construed aslirniting the scope or range of application of 15 the invention, but that the invention is broadly applicabletowell tools, ,and particularly ballers/ tion to provide a well device of the character'A 3 mentioned in which the body or cavity of the device isvclosed by a-frangible closure or sealing A disc adapted to be operated or broken by a punch,

which punch is effective and dependable in operation, and is such that it does not materially in- `j terfere with the free flow or entrance of material into the device when the closure is broken.

Another object of our invention is to provide a simple, practical and improved construction to facilitate unloading or emptying of 'the device' o after it has been removed from the well. i

It is another objectvof our invention to provide a well tool of the character described with a Alateral discharge openingclose to the lower end of the material carrying chamber of the device, 45 which opening is provided with an eiective cio'- sure that can be readily applied and removed in s the course of handling o-r manipulating the tool.:

It is a further object of our invention to provide improvements in a tool of 'the character 5U. mentioned by which the. plfessuresbetween the interior and exteriorof; the tool aregoverned orI handled to make the .tool safe and simple and rapid to operate.l

A particular object of the present invention is to provide means in connection with the body of atooi of the character described by which pressure is admitted into the body above the material in the bodyas the material is unloaded or discharged from the` body in order to prevent a negative or reducedjpressure occurring in the body above the 5 material being discharged, such as might retard or prevent the discharge ot-material from the body.

Another object of this invention is to-provide a novel and imprdved-means for mounting a clol0 'sure or sealing disc in a tool of the character mentioned. -By the present invention we provide amounting for the closure disc by which it is possible for an operatorto quickly and eiectively apply and remove a closure disc without 15 disassembling or` otherwise manipulating the major or principal parts of the device. n

The various. objects and features of the present invention will be best and more fully understood from the following detailed description of a typical -forml -and application of the invention, throughout which description reference is had to the accompanying drawings showing the invention applied to a well bailer, in which drawings:

Fig. 1 isa longitudinal detailed sectional view of the upper portion of a bailer embodying features of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal detailed sectional view of the lower portion of the bailer showing fea tures provided by our present invention. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detailed transverse sec- 3 tional view taken as indicated by line 3 3 on Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detailed transverse sectional view taken as indicated by line l--l on Fis. 2. 35

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detailed transverse sectional view taken as indicated by line 5-5 on Fig. 6 is an enlargedside elevation of a poro tion of the tool, being a view taken substantially as indicated on line 6--6 on Fig. 2.

Fig. '1 is a view of the parts shown on Fig. 6 taken as indicated by line 'l'| on Fig. 6.

The various features ot constructionfprovided .by our-present invention'aredisclos'ed inror as applied to a ,wellbailer adapted to be. run. or..

lowered 'into a we ll ,.to; remove` material .from the well. The present 'invention relates vtojf'eatures applicable to a bailer, .wel1 cleanenor simi-lartool, 50

in which the loading or action of the.toolis. et fected by the; hydrostatic Vheadv olf-fluid in the well.4 Ballers operated on this principle are commonly termed vacuum type bailers". This type of bailer, or like tool. includes a body or chamber u member which is empty as the tool is lowered into the well, and is sealed to prevent fluid in the well from entering it. When the tool has been lowered to the desired point in the well, the seal or closure means is operated so that the head of iiuid in the well, which is obviously much greater than the pressure of the air trapped in the tool when it was sealed at the surface of the well, causes fluid or material in the well to rapidly enter or fill into the tool until the internal and external pressures equalize. By this action the tool is loaded or filled in the well at or under the pressure existing in the well at the point the tool is operated.

The bailer embodying the present invention and illustrated in the accompanying drawings includes, generally, a body A, a closure means B that operates to close or seal the lower end of the body, means C for operating or opening the closure, a check valve D for retaining material in the body after it has entered the body, control means E in connection with the body to allow fluid to escape from the body so that excessive pressures do not occur within the body when the tool is removed from the well, control means F for admitting pressure into the body as the body is being emptied to prevent a negative or reduced pressure from developing in the body. and various other features, the details and functions of which will be hereinafter described.

The body A is an elongate tubular element or structure forming a container or chamber adapted to receive material in a well, and to carry it out of the well. The body A further forms a carrying or mounting for the various elements of the device, and thus becomes the principal element of the tool. In the preferred form of construction the body is sectional, for instance, it may be formed of a main section I0, a top section I I applied to the upper end of the main section, and a bottom section I2 applied to the lower end of the main section. The main section I0 of the body forms the principal material receiving chamber of the device, and in practice is a comparatively long tubular section formed of pipe or tubing sumciently heavy to withstand the pressures under which the tool has to operate.

The top section II of thebody is applied to the upper end of the main section Il to close it, and acts as a coupling or means for connecting the device with an operating member such as a string of pipe or a suitable line. In the drawings we have shown the top section II screw threaded to the upper end of the main section I0, and provided at its upper end with atapered screw threaded pin projection I2 adapted to receive a coupling, rope socket, or the like. In accordance with the preferred form of the invention, the top section II is employed as a mounting or carrier for the means E and F hereinafter described.

'I'he bottom section I2 of the body A is a tubular section connected to the lower end of the main section I0 through a' suitable screw threaded connection. The bottom section I2 in the construction illustrated carries the check valve D, is provided witl'r a lateral discharge opening I4 above the valve D, and is adapted to receive and carry the mounting member I5 which supports the closure means B. The. section I2 is a tubular part sutnciently long to accommodate the other parts above mentioned. The upper end of the section I2 is provided with a central screw threaded socket I6 that receives the threaded lower end of the main section I0 of the body.

An eccentric opening ITI extends downwardly through the section I2 from the socket I6 to the centrally located chamber I8, which accommodates the valve D. The opening I1 through the body section I2 being eccentric as clearly illustrated in Figs. 2, 3 and 7 of the drawings, provides a thick wall portion I9 at one side of the body where the opening Il extends through the body, providing stock or material to accommodate the discharge opening I4 and its closure, as will be hereinafter described.

A reduced opening 20 continues downwardly from the lower end of the valve chamber I8 tov the lower end of the body section I2. The differential in size between the opening 20 and the valve chamber IB results in the formation of a valve seat 2i facing upwardly in the body section I2 to receive the check valve D.' Check valve D is preferably a ball valve adapted to cooperate with the seat 2| as illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The valve is adapted to be lowered into position in the chamber I8 through the opening I1, and is held against displacement from the chamber by a retaining bar 22 arranged through the upper end portion of the valve chamber, as shown throughout the drawings.

The discharge opening I4 provided by our invention extends laterally through the thickened or heavy wall portion I9 of the body section I2 to communicate with the opening I1. The opening I4 is preferably-made of substantially the same diameter as the opening I1, as will be apparent from a consideration of the drawings. The closure 24 is provided to normally close the discharge opening I4 and has a plug portion 25 adapted to project into the opening I4, and a ange portion 26 presenting a face 21 that engages or abuts the flat face 28 provided at the outer end of the opening I4. 'I'he ange 26 has diametrically opposite ear portions 30 adapted to engage under overhanging lugs 3i formed by transversely notching the thickened wall portion I9 of the body section I2 immediately outward of the face 28, providing transverse ways 35 in Figs. 2 and 6 of the drawings. The outer end or exterior surface 38 of the closure 24 is shaped so that when the closure is in position with the ears 30 held by the lugs 3i as shown in Figs. 2 and 6, it extends longitudinally parallel with the exterior of the body section I2, and is laterally curved concentric with the outer surface of the body section I2, as clearly shown throughout the drawings. 'I'he outer portion of the closure 24 that iits between the lugs 3i is turned concentric with the opening I4 to a size or diameter that will fit between the lugs 3| as shown in Fig. 6. This turned portion of the closure is designated by numeral I1.

With the discharge opening and the closure therefor formed and related as just described and as shown throughout the drawings, the closure can be arranged so that the plug portion 25 enters the opening I4 when the ears 30 are in line transversely of the tool. From this position the closure can be rotated to bring the ears Ill into position behind the lugs Il, in which position the closure is held against displacement from the body section I2. For the purpose of making the closure 24 tight, a suitable packing ring or gasket Il may be arranged in a suitable groove provided at the Junction of the plug portion 25 and the flange 20, and clamp screws I! may be provided in the lugs 3| to be tightened against the vflanges so that the closure is held tight against the iace 28.

l The mounting member I5 for the closure B is a tubular partprojecting downwardly from the lower end of the body section I2 so that itI is in effect a continuation of the body section I2. In the particular construction illustrated the part I5 is formed separate from the body section I2, and is attached thereto by a suitable threaded connection 4I). An opening 4I extends longitudinallythrough the mounting member I5, and

has a portion 4I of reduced diameter at its upper end or immediately adjacent connection 48. A seat member or bushing 42 is mounted in -the upper end portion of the opening 4I to receive a closure disc 43. In accordance with the present invention, an opening 44 is formed transversely through the mounting member I5 to intersect the opening 4Ia immediately below the seat 42. The opening 44 is preferably rectangular in cross section with its major dimension transverse of the tool, and somewhat greater than the diameter of the opening Illa. A disc carrier 45 slidably fits the opening 44, and when in position in the opening 44 its ends 45 are flush with and coincide with the curvature of the exterior of the member I5, as clearly shown in Fig. 4 ofthe drawings.

An opening 46-is formed vertically through the carrier to coincide with the opening through the seat 42 when the carrier is in position in the tool as shown in Figs. 2 and 4 of the drawings. The closure disc 43, which maybe formed of any frangible material such as glass, bakelite, or other such composition or material, is mounted in the upper end of the opening 46, formed through the carrier 45, and is adapted to set against the bottom or lower end of the seat 42 when the tool is in operation or conditioned for lowering into a well. In the preferred construction the closure disc 43 is made concavo-convex as shown in the drawings, and is mounted with its convex side facing downwardly. The carrier 43 may be set in position in the opening 44 in any suitable manner. For instance, a set screw 58 may be arranged in the member I5 transversely of the opening 44 to engage and set the carrier 45 as shown in Figs. 2, 4 and 7 of the drawings.

'I'he means C for operating or opening the closure is carried by the lower portion o-f 'the mounting member I5 so that it is below the closure disc 43. The closure 43 being in the nature of a frangible disc, the means C is in the nature of a punch adapted to engage or break the disc. The punch, as shown throughout the drawings, includes a tubular stem 68 slidably tting the opening 4I in the mounting member I5, and a head 8i on the upper end of the stem adapted to engage and to rupture the disc 43. The head 6I is proportioned and shaped to effectively' fracture the disc 43, and is mounted or carried'on the upper end of the stem 68 through shapedI ribs 62, which leave openings 83 providing free 'communication between the opening B4 through lthe stem 80, and the interior of the member I5 above the punch.

In practice, the punch may be .retained in connection with the mounting member I8 in any suitable manner, for instance, it may be connected to the member I5 for suitable limited longitudinal movement relative thereto by a. pin 'I8 carried by member I5, and that the desired movement of the punch relative to the member I5 can be had by suitably proportioned slots 1I. The lower end portion of the stem 88 is provided with a foot portion 80, having a plurality of transverse openings 8|, as well as a. central opening 82 extending through it and communicating with the opening 84 in the stem 60. The foot 80 is threaded to the lower end of the stem 60, and a regulating sleeve 85 is retained between the foot and the lower end portion of the stem, as clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. 'Ihe sleeve-85 can be positioned so that the openings 8| are open as shown throughout the drawings, or are restricted or closed, as the operator desires. The lower end portion oi the mounting member I5 may be provided with threads 86 to facilitate connecting the structure with other parts or devices in the event that the device is to be used in combination with a well cleaner or other like device.

The control E is provided to allow iluid or pressure to escape from the body as the device is removed from the well, so that there is only a. limited pressure differential between the inside and outside of the body when the device is removed from the well. When the device is loaded or filled in the well under the head of iluid standing in the well, air or gas trapped in the upper portion of the bodyv A is under a high pressure, i. e., under a pressure corresponding to the pressure in the well. As the tool is withdrawn from the well, the check valve D operates to prevent escape of fluid from the body A, and therefore in the absence of means for escape of pressure from the body, the body would be removed from the well, with its contents under pressure corresponding to that at which it was loaded in the well. The means E is in the nature of an escape opening 81 provided in the top section II of the body, and a control valve 88 normally closing the opening under the action of a spring 88. The valve 88 seats inwardly in the opening 81, and therefore acts as a check valve, preventing the admission of fluid into the body through the opening 81, and acts as an escape valve to allow fluid to escape from the body through the opening 81, when the pressure is suillcientto counteract the spring 88. The spring is held against the valve` underv the desired pressure by a' tubular plug 98 threaded in the outer portion of the openthe device has been removed from the well filled with fluid or other material, the contents of the body are under a `certain pressure limited by the means F as above described. When the closure 24 for the discharge opening I4 is removed, the pressure on the material in the body causes the material to immediately flow or discharge through the opening I4, and under the initial impulse given the material by the pressure in the body A, the` entire contents of the body tends to discharge through the opening I4 in one continuous ow or action. In practice. this tendency is retarded or checked by the fact that as the material discharges from the body a reduced pressure is established in the body above the material therein, which tends to hold, if not completely retard, discharge of material from the body after a certain amount of ,material has. discharged from the body. y

The means F provided by our invention lis provided to allow free and continuous discharge of material from the body upon the closure 24 being removed from the opening I4. The means F in its preferred form includes an opening in the upper portion of the body, for instance in the body section Il, designed to admit fluid into the body under control of a plug and a check valve. In the particular construction illustrated, the opening 9| provided in the body section II is threaded and carries a tting or mounting 92, which has an opening 93 through it controlled by a plug 94 and a valve 95. The plug 94 is threaded in -an enlargement 96 of the opening 93 at the outer end of the opening, and is provided with an inner end adapted to be positioned to close the opening 93. Suitable ports or passages 91 are provided in the plug to allow free communication of pressure past the plug, and to the opening 93 when the plug has been backed out in the opening 96 so that the opening 93 is uncovered.

The valve 95 is in the nature of a ball check valve operating in a suitable cage 98, and urged by spring 99 to normally set outwardly to close the opening 93. Suitable ports I connect the cage 99 to the interior of the body A so that pressure admitted past the valve 95 enters the body.

When the tool is being lowered into the well, the plug 94 is in position or made tight so that it closes the opening 93. When the tool has been operated in the well and withdrawn therefrom, but before the closure 24 is removed from the discharge opening I4, the plug 94 is loosened to admit atmospheric pressure to the opening 93.'

Upon the closure 24 being removed from the opening I4, the material in the body will flow out through the opening I4, and as soon as suflicient material has discharged from the body to reduce the pressure within the body so that it is less than that outside of the body, the valve 95 will open admitting atmospheric pressure into the body above the material therein. The spring 99 is preferably made light and is merely to retain the valve 95 in working position.

From the foregoing description, it is believed that the operation of the device will be fully understood. The structure is lowered into a Well to be cleaned or bailed on a string of pipe or on a line, as the operator may desire. The device is lowered into the well with the plug 94 made tight to close the opening 93, with the closure 24 in place in the discharge opening I4, and a sealing disc in position in the carrier 45 to cooperate with the seat 42. When the structure reaches the bottom of the well or an accumulation-of solid material in the well, the downward movement of the punch C is retarded so that relative movement occurs between the body A and the punch C, resulting in the disc 43 being ruptured by the head I of the punch. Upon the disc 43 being ruptured, the hydrostatic head of iluid in the well being considerably greater than the pressure within the body A, there is a sudden and violent rush of material upwardly through the punch past the valve D, and into the body A. When this filling action has ceased, the valve D seats and operates to prevent discharge of any of the caught material from the device.

When the device has been operated it is then removed from the well, whereupon the operator may release the plug 94 and then remove the closure 24 from the discharge opening I4. 'Ihe pressure under which the material is held in the body A causes it to discharge from the body through the opening I4, and by reason of the admission of atmospheric pressure into the body A above the discharging material, the discharging operation continues when once started, resulting in effective and thorough discharging of the body. If for any reason it is found that the material has not thoroughly discharged from the body, the plug 94 may be removed from the fitting 92 and a pressure line, such as a line carrying air or water, may be connected in place of the plug 94 so that fluid pressure is applied to the upper end of the body to flush material down through the body and out of the opening I4. To put the tool in condition for a second operation, the plug 94 is made tight, the closure 24 isapplied to the opening I4, and the carrier 45 is removed from the body and then replaced, bearing or carrying a new closure disc 43. It will be obvious that these operations are all simple, and such that they can be performed rapidly and without complicated or ungainly operations.

Having described only a typical form and application of the invention, we do not Wish to limit ourselves to the particular details hereinabove set forth, but wish to reserve to ourselves changes or modifications that may occur to those skilled in the art, and which may fall within the scope oi. the following claims.

Having described our invention, we claim:

l. A well tool of the character described including, a tubular body closed at its upper end, a closure for the lower end of the body, means for operating the closure, the body having a lateral discharge opening above the closure and a seat at the outer end of the opening, a plug closure for the opening and adapted to engage the seat, and means for holding the last mentioned closure in position at the opening, including spaced lugs on the body engaging projections on said last mentioned closure.

2. A well tool of the character described including, a tubular body closed at its upper end, a closure for the lower end of the body, means for operating the closure, the body having a. lateral discharge opening above the closure and a seat at the outer end of the opening, a plug closure for the openingand adapted to engage the seat, and means for holding the last mentioned closure in position at the opening, including diametrically opposite lugs arranged in line longitudinally of the tool and diametrically opposite ears on the last mentioned closure engaged by the lugs.

3. A well tool of the character described including, a tubular body closed at its upper end, a closure for the lower end of the body, means for operating the closure, the body having a lateral discharge opening and a seat at the outer end of the opening, a closure for the opening and adapted to engage the seat, and means for holding the last mentioned closure in position at the opening, including diametrically opposite lugs arranged inline longitudinally of the tool and diametrically opposite ears on the last mentioned closure engaged by the lugs, the outer portion oi' said last mentioned closure being shaped to conform to and be ilush with the exterior of the body when the ears are engaged by the lugs.

4. A well tool of the character described including, a tubular body closed at its upper end, a

closure for the lower end of the body, means for operating the closure, thebody having a lateral .discharge opening, the bore of the body being holding the last mentioned closure in position at the opening:

5. A well tool of the character described including, a tubular body closed at its upper end, a closure for the lower end of the body, an upwardly opening check valve in the body above the closure, and means carried by the body for operating the closure including, a punch having a tubular stem slidably carried by the body and a head on the stem to engage the closure, the lower end of the stem bore being open to well-fluid, and the upper end of the stem bore being adapted to open to the body bore when the closure is opened.

6. A well tool of the character described including, a tubular body having an opening at its opening at the upper end of the body preventing flow outwardly through said opening, and operable to allow flow inwardly through said opening.

1. A. well tool of the character described including, a tubular body having an opening at its upper end and a transverse opening at its lower end, a seat in thevbody at the transverse opening, a frangible sealing disc for the lower end of the bodyito cooperate with the seat, a carrier for the disc adapted to be arranged in the lateral .opening in the body to hold the-disc in position to cooperate with the seat, a check Valve in the lower part of the body to prevent discharge from the body, a lateral discharge opening in the. body including a normally closed check valve above the check 'valve, a closure for the dischar'ge opening, means for holding said closure in position at the discharge opening, including lugs on the body cooperating with projections on the closure, means for breaking the sealing disc, including a punch having a stem projecting downwardly below the body and shiftable longitudinally relative to the body, and a head at the upper end of the stem for engaging the disc, and a control for the opening at the upper end of. the body, including a check valve for preventing flow outwardly through the body and a screw threaded plug arranged in position from the exterior of the body, and adapted to close the opening.

8. In a well tool of the character described, a tubular body memberra transverse opening from the exterior of the body member to the bore thereof, a carrier movable through said opening across the body member bore and supported against vdisplacement axially of the body member by defining walls Aof the opening, and a frangible closure mounted on said carrier and positioned within the'body member bore when the carrier is across said bore.

9. In a tool of. the character described, a tubular body member, a'downwardly facing seat in the bore, a transverse opening in the wall of the body member, and a closure member for the bore movable thereinto through said opening and onto said seat, and means in said opening and engaging the closure to hold it against said seat.

il). In a tool of the character described, a body member having a chamber therein, a relief valve at the upper end of the chamber opening to the exterior of the body, a frangible closure for the lower end of the chamber, means for breaking said closure and an upwardly opening check valve in the chamber between said relief valve and said closure.

11. In a tool of the character described, a body member having a chamber therein, a relief valve at the upper end of the chamber openingv to the exterior of the body, a frangible closure for the lower end of the chamber, means for breaking said closure, an upwardly opening check valve in the chamber between said relief. valve and said closure, and a dump valve for the chamber at a point above said check valve.

12. In a tool of the character described, a body member having a chamber therein, a relief valve at the upper end of the chamber opening to the exterior of the body, a closure for the lower end of the chamber, means for opening said closure, and an upwardly .opening check valve in the `chamber between said relief valve and said cloa hollow body, there being a transverse opening through the body Wall, an insertable closure for the body-bore near the bottom thereof, and means for mounting the closure in operative position, including a carrier for the closure positioned in said opening.

l5. In a well tool of the character described, a hollow body, there being a transverse opening through the body wall, a seat in the body-bore adjacent the opening, an [insertable closure for the body-bore at said seat, and a carrier for the closure adapted to be positioned in said opening with the closure in cooperating relation with said seat.

16. A well tool of the character described, including a tubular body closed at its upper end, a closure for the lowerend of' the body, means for operating the closure, the body having a lateral discharge opening and a seat at the outer end of the opening, there being a transverse way formed in the body, a closure for the opening embodying a plug portion, a flange portion, and

a projecting portion, said projecting portion being slidable through. said way, said` plug portion being enterable in the opening and the flange being engageable with said seat while said projecting portion is entered in said way.

17. A well tool of the character described, in-

cluding a tubular body closed at its upper end, a

closure for the lower end of the body, means for operating the closure, the body having a lateral discharge opening and a seat at the outer end of the opening, there being a transverse way formed in the body adjacent the opening, and a closure for the' opening, said last mentioned closure being movable through the way into and out of registration with the opening and being movable radially with respect to the body axis when in such registration.

WELDON C. ERWIN.

CECIL H.'y SWEET.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 2,659,629.. November 3, 1936.

WELDON C. ERWIN, ET AL.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 4, second column, lines 32 and 43, claims 1 and 2, strike out the Words "above the c1osure"; page 5, first column,

l lines

27 and 28, claim 6, for "operable to allow" read a releasable closure for preventing;

lines

40 and 41, claim '7,

strike out the words "including a normally closed check valve" and insert the same after "body" in line 26, claim 6; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

.Signed and sealed this 23rd day of February, A. D. 1937.

Henry Van ArSdale (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.