US2263778A

US2263778A - Applicator for drill pipe protectors

Info

Publication number: US2263778A
Application number: US223539A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ralph H Howard
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1938-08-06
Filing date: 1938-08-06
Publication date: 1941-11-25
Anticipated expiration: 1958-11-25

Description

' I APPLICATOR FOR DRILL PIPE PROTECTORS Filed Aug. '6, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet l m\ N w .1 SN m WW 1--- .-wiii T m g u. .M M

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R. H. HOWARD APPLICATOR DRILL PIPE PROTECTORS Filed Aug. 6, 1958 2 sheets-sheet 2 /Q640h H. Howard INVENTOR Patented Nov. 25, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE arrmoa'roa Foa mun. lIPE rao'rac'rons Ralph H. Howard, Oklahoma City, Okla.

Application August 6, 1938, Serial No.223,539

4 Claims.

The invention relates to applicators for expansible rubber drill pipe protectors, and has for its object to provide a device of this character, adapted to be secured to a drill pipe sec- A whereby a protector may be forced over an expanding mandrel onto the drill pipe section.

A further object is to provide the applicator with a shutter head having a plurality of pivoted shutters therein, around the mandrel, and normally forced inwardly to follow the contour of the mandrel and engage the outer end of the protector as it is expanded in its course over the mandrel.

A further object is to provide a split cylindrical extension member adapted to be interposed between'the protector and the shutter head for forcing the protector a desired distance on the drill pipe beyond the tool joint thereof.

A further object is to connect the applicator to the outer reduced end of the expanding mandrel by a piston rod extending into a traveling cylinder, which carries the shutter head and to provide means whereby said cylinder may be reciprocated on the piston rod by fluid pressure acting in opposite ends of the cylinder and on opposite sides of a piston carried by-the piston.

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A further object is to provide a plurality of rods connecting the cylinder and shutter head so they will move together during the reciprocation of the cylinder on the piston. Also to provide the piston rod with a guide disc, cooperating with the shutter supporting rods for guiding the shutter head axially during the reciprocation thereof.

A further object is to form the pivoted shutter elements so they will move inwardly to thesmallest diameter of the mandrel under spring action and will gradually spread as they move over the tapered portion of the mandrel, during the expanding operation. Also to so mount the shutter elements that they may be easily removed and replaced withoutdisassembling the entire shutter head.

-With the above and other objects in view the invention resides in the combination and arrangemeint of parts as hereinafter .set forth, shown in the drawings, described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the preciseembodiment of the invention'may be made within the scope of what is claimed without depart ing from the spirit of the invention.

'- In the drawings: I

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section view through the applicator, showing the same in position on the end of a drill pipe section,

and the parts in position for the initial movement of the protector.

the parts in position assumed when the protector is on the tool joint.

Figure 3 is.a top plan view of the applicator showing the split extension sleeve in horizontal section and in position for forcing the protector onto the drill pipe beyond thejoint.

. Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, but showingthe position of the protector after it has 'been forced onto the drill pipe by the split sleeve.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the split sleeve, showing the same open.

Figure 6 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Figure 3, and through the shutter head. a

Figure 'I is a detail perspective view of a portion of the shutter head, showing one of the shutters being removed therefrom.

Figure 8 is a side elevation of the applicator showing the same supported on adjustable skids and in position to be applied to a drill pipe end.

Figure 9 is a horizontal sectional view through the four way valve.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral I designates one end of a drill pipe section and 2 pered extension 3 of conventional form. It is the present practice to place on the drill pipe sections annular rubber protectors l which are expanded in position on the drill pipe over a tapered mandrel 5. The tapered mandrel 5 is threaded on the extension 3 and terminates at its outer end in a reduced cylindrical portion 6 on which .the protector is initially placed for the P starting of the expanding operation. Secured, 'by means of a pin l'passing through the mandrel and through a reduced portion 8 of a piston rod 9 is the applicator. It will be noted that the piston rod 9 is axially disposed in relation to the ,drill pipe section, and during the protector expanding operation the rod is stationary and the cylinder l0 reciprocates thereon. The outer end of the rod 9 is provided with a piston i I disposed within the cylinder Ill, and it will be seen that when air is admitted into the end A of the cylinder chamber, through the pipe 12, the cylinder Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, showing an enlarged joint thereof having a threaded ta- ID will be forced towards the mandrel 5. Extending outwardly from the inner end of the cylinder Ill and around the shaft Sare rods I3, the outer ends of which are provided with reduced portions II, which extend through the shutter head casing l5, clearly shown in Figure l: Disposed within the shutter head casing i is a plurality of pivoted shutters 15 having recesses at their pivoted ends designated by the numeral I'|.. The reduced portions l4 of the rods I 3,,extending through the casing l5, form bearlugs for the pivoted ends of the shutters, and at the same time allow the same to be easily removed through the central opening of the casing l5 for repair and replacement purposes.

port 34 is placed in communication with pipes 3| and 24 for a reverse operation of the cylinder,

' the port 32 will register with pipes l2 and 35 and I relatively long is placed on supporting blocks Anchored within the shutter casing l5 are leaf springs it, which springs bear against the outer curved surfaces of the shutters l6, and normally force the shutters inwardly so they will yieldably bear against the periphery of the cylindrical portion 6 and the tapered portion of the mandrel 5 in engagement with the outer end of the rubber protector 4 andforce the same over the mandrel as it is expanded by the mandrel. The shutters l6 are limited in their inward movement by means of lugs 2| in the path of the removable cap screws 22. It will be noted that the free ends of-the shutters ii are provided with arcuate guide surfaces 23 against which the cap screws 22 engage, therefore itwill be seen that the shutters will be maintained in proper relation with, the rod ends f4 for forming the pivotal point during the movement of the shutters. When it is desired to remove the shutters, it is only necessary to remove the cap pins, and then the shutters can be removed from the casing l5 and through the shutter head opening I 8.

After the protector has been forced onto the tool joint 2, as shown in Figure 2, air is applied through the pipe 24 to the end B, of the cylinder chamber. This air or fluid will then force the cylinder 10 outwardly to the position shown in Figure 3, and at which time a split sleeve 25 is placed around the mandrel 5wlth one end in engagement with the rubber protector 4 and the other end in engagement with the shutter head casing l5. Following this operation air is again applied to the end A of the cylinder chamber and the cylinder is again forced towards the mandrel. During this action split sleeve 25 will force the rubber protector 4 onto the drill pipe section beyond the joint 2 any desired distance. Usually theprotectors are placed a substantial distance from. the joint. The split sleeve is formed from two sections; hingedly connected at 26 and have their free ends provided with hasps 21 and. staples 28 for securing purposes.

Mounted on the stationary piston rod 3 is a guide disc 29 with which the rods I3 have slid.- able engagement, hence it will be seen that the shutter head will be held against side movement during its axial movement.

It is to be understood that fluid or air may be used for operating the device and applicant does not limit himself in this particular.

The operation of the device is controlled by a 'four way valve 30 and fluid is supplied through the supply pipe 3| and thence through port 32 of the valve and pipe 2 to the end A of the cylinder it) when the valve handle 33 is in position a, Figure 3. When the valve is in this position. it will be noted that the air or fluid in the other end of the cylinder ill at B will how and exhaust through pipe 24, thence through port 34 to the exhaust pipe 35. It will be noted that when the 38 as shown in Figure 8 and then the reduced end 8 is attached to the mandrel 1 after the protector 4 is placed on the portion 6 of the mandrel. The cylinder III is preferably supported on skids 31, as shown in Figure 8, and which skids have link connections 38 with the cylinder and an extensible Jack connection 39 pivoted at its ends to the skids 31 and to the cylinder, therefore it will be seen by referring to Figure 8 and the dotted line position shown therein, the cylinder can be adjusted to various elevations for axial alinement with pipe i.

It will be noted that by providing the split sleeve 25, the machine can be made relatively light, and at the same time by the two stroke operation,'all the advantages of a longer and heavier machine are obtained, therefore it will be seen that the applicator can be easily handled, incident to its lighter weight.

From the above it will be seen that a machine is provided for applying rubber protectors to drill pipe sections which is positively anchored to the end of the pipe section and mandrel in axial relation and that the shutter head, which engages the protector, will positively force said protector over the mandrel and onto the pipe section, applying uniform pressure entirely aroundthe protector.

The invention having been set forth what is claimed as new and useful is: p

1. A machine for facilitating the placement of expansible protectors onto drill pipe, comprising an expanding mandrel adapted to be rigidly connected to a pipe end, a stationary piston rod rigidly and axially carried by the mandrel, a piston carried by said rod, a cylinder slidably mounted on the piston rod and piston, means for reciprocating said cylinder on the piston rod and piston, expansible means carried by the cylinder and adapted to engage one end of the expansible protector and force the same over the mandrel onto the pipe end as the cylinder is forced towards the mandreLsaid expansible means carried by the cylinder comprising a shutter head. supporting rods connecting the head and cylinder and a guide disc carried by and slidably engaging the piston rod between the supporting rod and having sliding engagement with the supporting rods.

2. A machine for facilitating the placement of expansible protectors onto drill pipe, comprising an expanding mandrel adapted to be rigidly connected to a pipe end, a stationary piston rod rigidly and axially carried by the mandrel, a piston carried by said rod, a cylinder slidably mounted on the piston rod and piston, means for recip rocating said cylinder on the piston rod and piston, expansible means carried by the cylinder and adapted to engage one end of the expansible protector and force the same over the mandrel onto the pipe end as the cylinder is forced towards the mandrel, supporting skids for the cylinder and means connecting the skids and cylinder whereby the elevation of the cylinder may be varied in relation to the skids.

3. An applicator for expanding and forcing an expansible protector onto a pipe end, said applicator comprising a mandrel, a piston anchored to the outer end of the mandrel in axial relation thereto, a cylinder slidably mounted on said piston, means for supplying fluid to either end of the cylinder for longitudinally moving said cylinder on the piston axially of the mandrel, means carried by the cylinder and adapted to engage the protector and force the same over the mandrel onto the pipe end, a shutter head for engaging the protector and forcing the same onto the mandrel, said shutter head comprising a chambered casing having a mandrel passage therethrough,

shutters hingedly mounted within the chamber of the casing around the opening therethrough and springs within the casing and cooperating with the shutters for normally forcing the same inwardly into the path of the protector and into engagement with the mandrel.

4. An applicator for expanding an expansible protector onto a pipe end, said applicator comprising a mandrel, a piston anchored to theouter end of the mandrel in axial relation thereto, a cylinder slidably mounted on said piston, means for supplying fluid to either end of the cylinder for longitudinally moving said cylinder on the piston axially of the mandrel, means carried by the cylinder and adapted to engage the protector and force the same over the mandrel onto the pipe end; said'last named means comprising a shutter head for; engaging'the protector, said shutter head comprising a casing having a mandrel opening therethrough, spring actuated shutters within the casing and adapted to engagethe protector, said shutters being hingedly mounted on pins in recesses in the shutters for allowing easy removal thereof, springs normally forcing said shutters inwardly, limit lugs carried by the free ends of the shutters and removable members inthe path of said lugs for limiting the inward movement of theshutters.

RALPH H. HOWARD.