US2226558A

US2226558A - Hydrodynamic brake resistance control and cooling system

Info

Publication number: US2226558A
Application number: US239272A
Authority: US
Inventors: Walter G Fitzpatrick
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1938-11-07
Filing date: 1938-11-07
Publication date: 1940-12-31
Anticipated expiration: 1957-12-31

Description

W. G. FITZPATRICK Dec. 31, 1940.

HYDRODYNAMIC BRAKE RESISTANCE CONTROL AND COOLING SYSTEM Filed Nov. 7, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 awe/whom 1940- w. a. FITZPATRICK 2,226,558

HYDRODYNAMIC BRAKE RESISTANCE CONTROL AND COOLING SYSTEM Filed NOV. 7, 1938 v 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I IIIIIIIIII WALTER G. FITZPAY'T'URICK 1940-- w. G. FITZPATRICK 2,226,553

HYDRODYNAMIC BRAKE RESISTANCE CONTROL AND COOLING SYSTEM Filed Nov. 7, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Qwuowtom WALTER G.F\Tz PATRICK.

iltto: "M34 Patented Dec. 31, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT [OFFICE HYDRODYNAMIO BRAKE aasrs'rauca I CONTROL AND coonmc. SYSTEM Walter G. Fitzpatrick, Houston, Tex.

Application November 7, 1938, Serial No. 239.272

14 Claims. (01. 188-90) The invention relates to .a resistance control and cooling system for use with a hydrodynamic brake, particularly of the type used in hoisting equipment such as drilling rigs.

In the drilling of oil wells by the rotary method the drill bit and string of drill pipe are raised and lowered in the well bore continuously during the drilling operation and must be suspended while being rotated so that the brake mechanism is a very important element in the combination.

Hydrodynamic brakes have been utilized in the drilling of wells and one such brake is disclosed in the patent to De LaMater, N0. 1,992,911,

granted February 26, 1935.

In the actual operation of such brakes in the field, however, it has been found that it is desirable to vary the resistance which is applied to namic brake.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combination storage, cooling and control tank for hydrodynamic brakes.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an adjustable outlet for storage tanks so that any desired head of liquid may be maintained therein sothat such head of liquid will be available as a back pressure on an hydrodynamic brake.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a jet arrangement for withdrawing liquid in a cooling system for hydrodynamic brakes.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a control reservoir wherein the head of liquid can be adjusted and the temperature of the water controlled so as to obtain the most efficient operation of the brake.

Still another object of the. invention is to provide an arrangement for introducing and withdrawing the cooling water from a resistance control reservoir for hydrodynamic brakes.

Other and further objects of the invention will be readily apparent when the following description is consideredin connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view showing one form of the apparatus wherein the outlet from the reservoir to control the head of liquid therein is adjustable.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken at right angles to the. section of Fig.1 and showing the upper- 5 most portion of the reservoir. 4

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view of a modified form of the device wherein a flexible connection 10 is provided for the outlet of the liquid by which the resistance head is controlled.

Fig. 5,is an elevation taken at right angles to the view of Fig. 4 and showing the uppermost portion of the device.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view of a second form of the invention wherein a slightly different arrangement of .the exhaust outlet has been provided.

Fig. '7 is an elevation taken at right angles to 20 the section of Fig. 6 and showing the uppermost portion of the device.

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic. view showing the general arrangement and combination of the resistance control and cooling system asv applied to an 25 hydrodynamic brake.

- The invention will be best understood by having reference to Fig. 8 wherein, a hoisting equipment is indicated generally at 2 and the power unit 3 therefor isshown as connected to operate 30 the hoist. A hydrodynamic brake 4 is connected to the shaft 5 of the hoisting mechanism and the present resistance control and cooling system is shown at 6 as receiving the discharge connection I from the brake and the inlet pipe 8 to the brake. 35

In operation the head of liquid in the reservoir 6 is available through the pipe! inside of the housing of the brake 4 to serve as a resistance in controlling the brake. The water or liquid which becomes heated and discharges from the 4g brake 4 will pass through the connection I and discharge into the reservoir Ii. In order to control the resistance head and at the same time to provide cooling water the special reservoir 6 has been provided and one form is shown in Fig. 1.

In this form the connection 8 is shown in the middle of Fig. 1 near the bottom thereof and it is through this pipe that the cool water discharges into the brake housing, The connection 1 by which the heated 'water returnsto the reservoir is shown near the top of Fig. 1.

The reservoir B is in the form of a tank In which is mounted on a base II. A pipe I! is connected to a suitable source of fresh cold water under pressure and the flow of this water is upwardly through the pipe I3 to the top of-the reservoir where the flow is controlled by a valve ll, as best seen in Fig. 2. The water flowing through this pipe is visible, as at I5, where it enters the down pipe l6. It is desirable that this connection be open so that the operator can observe the amount of water which is entering the resistance reservoir.

The down pipe I6 is best seen in Fig. 1 and terminates at the elevation li closely adjacent the outlet port 8 and near the bottom of the reservoir. A continuation oi the pipe |2 carries a valve l8 by which any desired proportion of the liquid can be discharged into a Venturi tube It, which is provided in a bypass line 20 in order to create a suction in the control pipe 2|. This control pipe discharges at 22 so that any desired amount 01' liquid can be discharged from the reservoir 6 in order to maintain the desired elevation of the head of liquid above the outlet pipe 8. This discharge may be into the atmosphere, to a feed water line for boilers, to a cooling tower to be returned to the system or to any other connection desired.

In Fig. 1 the control pipe 2| is shown as hinged or pivoted at 2'4 and 25 so that the elevation of the end 26 thereof may be raised to any desired position. In order to effect the desired adjustment of this control pipe a Windlass 29 has been provided in the top of the housing l0 and this windl-ass may be operated by a handwheel 30. A chain 3| extends from the Windlass to the clamp 32 near the end 26 of the control pipe. A ratchet arrangement 33 enablesthe operator to set the Windlass at any desired position to control the elevation of the entrance end 28 or this control pipe. As seen in Fig. 1, the elevation of the liquid level in the container will be at the line 36, which is the elevation of the end 26 of the control pipe.

with the arrangement just described the hot water entering the pipe 1 will be in the upper portion of the reservoir while the cold water will be discharged through the down pipe 16 near the bottom of the reservoir. The water being discharged from the reservoir through the control pipe 2| will be taken from the upper elevation and will be the warmer water. so that there will be a tendency to control the temperature by varying the amount of water introduced through the flow line l2 as compared with the amount of heated water which is discharged from the control pipe 2|. On the other hand, the head of liquid from the variable elevation at 38 controls the back pressure which is applied through the pipe 8 to the brake 4 so as to vary the braking eflect thus obtained.

If desired, a valve 38 may be provided in the outlet pipe 22 in order to control the rate of flow so that if it is desired to quickly increase the head of liquid in the reservoir this valve may be closed to prevent any escape or to control the volume or liquid which escapes from the reservoir.

In operation the driller can adjust the end 26 of control pipe to the desired elevation by manipulation of the hand wheel 30 so that he can apply the desired resistance to the brake. The amount of cooling water can be observed by noting the flow'irom the pipe I3 into the down pipe I6. I! desired a sight gauge 40 can be provided on the side 01' the reservoir.

Fig. 4 shows a modified tom of the device which is substantially the same in operation as that described in connection with Fig. 1. The inlet water pipe and the down pipe are the same as previously described except that the down pipe may be provided with a plurality 0! periorations 50. as best seen in Fig. 4. The down pipe l8 and the inlet or supply pipe I3 serve as guides for an adjustable head H which carries the upper end of the control hose 52. This control hose takes the place of the control pipe 2| and, as seen in Fig. 4, is coiled in position adjacent the base of the reservoir or housing I. The entrance to this pipe is at 53 in the head Bi and by manipulating the chain 3| this head can be raised to any desired elevation the same as the end 28 of the control pipe. An overflow pipe 55 has been provided with a plurality of perforations 58, so that no excessive pressure can be created in the reservoir. The remaining portions including the discharge and Venturi arrangement are the same as described in connection with Fig. 1. A drain valve 51 is shown on the side 01 the reservoir.

Fig. 6 shows still another form of the invention which is a modification of Fig. 4 in that the flexible hose 52 has been. somewhat shortened by having its discharge and 58 connected to an upright pipe 59 while the adjustable head 5| has been replaced with a bracket 60 which is adjustable along a guide rod 6|, upon which the stops 62 are adjustably arranged. The chain 3| and Windlass 29 operate the same as in connection with Figs. 1 and 4.

Fig. 6 shows a pressure gauge 6-5 connected by a conduit 66 to the supply pipe |2 adjacent the venturi l9, so that the operator may observe that the pressure at which the venturi is being operated has an indication of the amount of liquid which is being withdrawn from the reservoir.

Figs. 4 and 6 operate in exactly the same manner as described in connection with Fig. 1.

Broadly the invention contemplates a combination resistancecontrol and cooling system to be used in combination with hydrodynamic brakes.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination with a hydrodynamic brake, a system for cooling and regulating the pressure on such brake, said system including connectionsv to and from the brake, a reservoir to which said connections are attached so that cooling liquid flows to the brake from adjacent the base and heated liquid enters the top of said reservoir from the brake, means adjustable in said reservoir to determine the elevation at which the liquid will be withdrawn from said reservoir, and additional means to force liquid from said reservoir through said first means.

2. In combination with a hydrodynamic brake, a reservoir connected to receive and discharge cooling liquid to said brake, means in said reservoir to control the back pressure on the cooling liquid to vary the resistance to said brake including a discharge pipe adjustable as to elevation. and means exterior 01' said reservoir to adjust the elevation of such discharge pipe.

3. In combination with a hydrodynamic brake, a. reservoir connected to receive and discharge cooling liquid to said brake, means in said reservoir to control the back pressure on the cooling liquid to vary the resistance to said brake, said means including a discharge control outlet from said'reservoir, and means exterior oi said reservoir to adjust the elevation of such discharge outlet.

4. In combination with a hydrodynamic brake, a reservoirconnected to receive and discharge cooling liquid to said brake, means in said reser- 1! voir to control the back pressure on the cooling liquid to vary the resistance to said brake, said means including a discharge control outlet from said reservoir, having an entrance which is adjustable as to elevation, and means exterior or said reservoir to adjust the elevation of said entrance.

5. In combination with a hydrodynamic brake, a reservoir connected to receive and discharge cooling liquid to said brake, means in said reservoir to control the back pressure on the cooling liquid to vary the resistance to said brake, said means including a discharge control outlet from said reservoir, and a suction device connected to said means. 7

6. In a resistance and cooling liquid control device for hydrodynamic brakes, a reservoir for liquid which flows to and irom the brake, an inlet for cool liquid, and a discharge for warm liquid, said discharge including a jointed pipe to be adjusted as to elevation to vary the resistance applied to the brake.

7. In a resistance and cooling liquid control device for hydrodynamic brakes, a reservoir for liquid which flows to and from the brake, an inlet for cool liquid, and a discharge for warm liquid, said discharge including a flexible hose to be adjustedas to elevation to vary the resistance applied to the brake.

8. In a resistance and cooling liquid control device for hydrodynamic brakes, a reservoir for liquid which flows to and from the brake, an inlet for cool liquid, a discharge for warm liquid, said discharge including a flexible hose to be adjusted as to elevation to vary the resistance applied to the brake, and means to adjust the entrance to said hose.

9. In a resistance and cooling liquid control device Ior hydrodynamic brakes, a reservoir for liquid which flows to and from the brake, an inlet for cool liquid, and a discharge for warm liquid, said discharge including an upstanding pipe, 9. flexible hose section thereon, and means to adjust the end of said hose to vary the head of liquid-applying resistance to said brake.

10. In combination with a hydrodynamic brake, a reservoir connected to receive and discharge cooling liquid to said brake, means in said reservoir to control the back pressure on the cooling liquid to vary the resistance to said brake, including a discharge pipe adjustable as to elevation. and means exterior of said reservoir to adjust the elevation of such discharge pipe, including a hoist which can be set to support said discharge pipe at diflerent elevations.

I 11. In combination with a hydrodynamic brake, a reservoir connected to receive and discharge cooling liquid to said brake, means in said reservoir to control the back pressure on the cooling liquid to vary the resistance to said brake, including a discharge pipe adjustable as to elevation, and means exterior of said'reservolr to adjust the elevation of such discharge pipe, including a hoist having a cross head and guide rods in the resen ir which cross head can be set to support said discharge pipe at diflerent eleva- 'flexible hose section thereon,- and means to adjust the end of said hose to vary the head oi. liquid applying resistance to said brake, including a hoist having a bracket connected to said hose. I

13; In combination with a hydrodynamic brake,

, a reservoir connected to receive and discharge cooling liquid to said brake, means in said reservoir to control the back pressure on the cooling liquid to vary the resistance to said brake, including a discharge pipe adjustable as to elevation, and means to add cooling liquid to the reservoir includinga sight feed to observe such addition.

14. In combination with a hydrodynamic brake. a reservoir for cooling liquid for the brake, a pipe fixed to said reservoir and brake to conduct liquid from the reservoir to the brake, another pipe fixed to the reservoir and the brake to conduct liquid from the brake to the reservoir, means independent of said pipes and carried by said reservoir to vary the back pressure of the cooling liquid in the reservoir to vary the resistance to said brake comprising means operable from the exterior of the reservoir to discharge the liquid from the reservoir at diilerent levels.

WAL'I'ER G. FI'I'ZPA'I'RICK.