US2262694A - Cathead for drilling rigs - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 11, 1941. I. 1-. MINYARD 2,262,694

CATHEAD FOR DRILLING RIG'S I Filed July 25, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Irt I Mlfiyard Patented Nov. 11, 1941 UNITED STATES PATE NT OFFICE 2 Claims.

. dependently of each other, in order to work two separate cat lines.

It is particularly aimed to provide such a structure as forms an attachment for drilling rigs, including a means attachable to the rotary shaft of the latter and which accommodates the cathead normally attached to such shaft.

The invention generally adds to the safety to operators since the wrapping of a rope around the conventional type of cathead and lifting articles in the rig is extremely dangerous. The improvement renders it unnecessary to wrap the line around a spool since the steel line is fastened on one of the spools and upon being wound, lifts the load which is attached to the other end of the line. There are of course various other operations in oil well drilling which require the use of a cat line and with the present invention, such jobs can be performed with greater safety, speed and more economically.

Various additional objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the description following taken in connection with accompanying drawings, illustrating an operative embodiment.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the construction;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the plane of line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a central longitudinal section taken on the plane of line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a cross section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a detail section illustrating one of the hydraulic devices for operating the yoke of the spinning line drum, and

Figure 6 is a detail section of one of the hydraulic devices for operating the yoke of the derrick line drum.

Referring specifically to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate like or similar parts, It) represents the rotary shaft of a drilling rig and H indicates a cathead of conventional construction and which is usually removably keyed to the shaft H]. In accordance with the present invention, a supplemental shaft is provided at I2 having one end portion l3 formed into a sleeve which receives and at I4 is keyed to that end of shaft I0 on which the Auxiliary shaft I2 is held against axial displacement' by means of a rod I5 screwed at IE to a fixed nut or the like I! fastened to the adjacent end of shaft ID. A disk l8 overlaps the free end of auxiliary shaft l2, and a key l9 which engages the cathead H and rod l5 passes through disk l8 and beyond the same receives a fastening nut or the like 20.

Loosely and slidably mounted on a portion 2| of auxiliary shaft l2, of reduced diameter, is a spinning line spool or drum 22, the spinning line of which is shown at 23. Roller bearings at 24 are operatively disposed between the drum 22 and shaft portion 2|. Drum 22 has a cone clutch flange or section 25, normally disengaged from butv engageable with a cone clutch section or head 26 provided on the cathead H and which is preferably lined as at 21.

The spinning line 23 is accommodated between the section 25 and a flange 28 and between the latter and a flange 29, a shifting yoke 30 is mounted for axial movement in either direction, the yoke having rollers 3| engageable with either flange 28 or 29. Such yoke 30 is preferably made in two sections having outwardly extending arms 32 bzolted together at 33 as best shown in Figure On a portion 34 of auxiliary shaft I2, a derrick line drum or spool 35 is loosely and slidably mounted, with roller bearings 36 operatively disposed between the drum and said enlarged portion. The derrick line is shown at 31 and accommodated between a head or section 38 thereon and a flange 39. Section 38 interiorly is conical and normally disengaged from but movable to engage a clutch head or section 39', of conical form, preferably lined as at 40.

The periphery of section 38 constitutes a braking surface and it is surrounded by a contractile brake band 4|, normally disengaged therewith. Movable in opposite directions between flange 39 and a flange 4| on the drum 35, is a yoke 42 constructed similarly to the yoke 30 and having connected outwardly extending arms 43 similar to those at 32, the connecting bolts or the like being indicated at 44. Yoke 42, has rollers 45 mounted thereon for engagement with either flange 39 or 4|.

Hydraulic cylinders 46 and 47 are mounted in any suitable manner on the exterior of a generally cylindrical casing or housing 48 provided about the operating parts and being adapted for attachment at one end 'to a stationary part, of the drilling rig and for instance at a flange 43 cathead ll of usual construction is carried. by means of bolts passed through openings 50,

Slidable in the cylinders 46 and 4! are pistons 48' and 49, respectively, having rods 50' and 5| extending through end walls thereof and con- I nected to the arms 32 and 43. Surrounding the rods 50' and 5|, are coil springs 52 and 53, respectively, which maintain and urge the pistons 48' and 49' to positions in which the associated yokes 30 and 42 maintain the drums 22 and 35,

loose and unclutched. Such cylinders 46 and 41,

and pistons- 48' and'49 therein are under control of pressure lines from master cylinders, the pressure lines being shown connected as at 54 and 55 to the respective cylinders. noted that the arms 32 and 43, extend through enlarged openings 56 and 51 of the casing 48.

It will be Reverting to the brake band 4|, it is anchored at one end as by means of a pin 58 to the casing 48 and its other end is fastenedas by means of a pin 59 to a manually operable lever 66 pivoted as at 6| to the casing 48.

The spinning-line 23 passes out througha'suitable opening 62. in casing 48,-its inner end being fastened to the drum 22.. The derrick 1iIiel3'1 passes out from the casing throughan elongated fastened to the,

slot 63, and i its inner end is drum 35.

It'will be realized that up. the desired amount of line.

.Various changes. may be resorted they fall within vention.

I the arm win anow the shaft [0 and auxiliary shaft l2 to continue to; revolve after the drums 22 and 35 have spooled 7 so to provided the spirit and scope-of the inhydraulic cylinder and piston devices, and connections from the yokes extending through the "casing and connected to the piston devices.

2. A cathead construction of the class describedh'aving a rotatable shaft, a clutch head rigid thereon, a cathead rigid thereon having a clutch head, a spinning line drum loose and slidable on said shaft to engage and disengage one of said heads, a derrick line drum loose and slidable on said shaft to engage and disengagethe other of said heads, a casing surrounding said heads and drums, means operable to'slide the drums mounted on the exterior of said casing, comprising yokes disposed about-the drums, -.hydraulic cylinder and piston devices, connections from the yokes extending through the casing and connected to the piston devices, and rollers on said yokes, said drums having flanges between which the rollers arejdisposed and which are engageable by' the rollers.

' IRA T. MINYARD.

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