US2271577A

US2271577A - Collapsible mast

Info

Publication number: US2271577A
Application number: US407922A
Authority: US
Inventors: Homer J Woolslayer; Erwin A Campbell; Jenkins Cecil
Original assignee: Lee C Moore & Co Inc
Current assignee: Lee C Moore & Co Inc; Lee C Moore & Company Inc
Priority date: 1941-08-22
Filing date: 1941-08-22
Publication date: 1942-02-03
Anticipated expiration: 1959-02-03

Description

Feb. 3, 1942. H. J. wooLsLAYER ETAL ,271,577

COLLAPSIBLE MAST Filed Aug. 22, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 3, 1942 2,271,577 COLLAPSIBLE M AST Homer J. Woolslayer, Erwin A. Campbell, and I Cecil Jenkins, Tulsa, Okla asslgnors to Lee C.

Moore & Company, Inc., poration of Pennsylvania Pittsburgh, Pa., a cor-' Application August 22, 1941, Serial Na -107,922

17 Claims.

This invention relates to collapsible masts, and 'more particularly to oil well mastsor derricks that can be collapsed for transportation from one location to another without being disassembled.

It is among provide a mast which is originally fabricated along the ground, which can be quickly and easily raised and lowered as desired without being taken apart, which can be readily transported from one location to another, which can be collapsed into a form small enough to be within highway limit regulations, and which is suitable for permanent mounting on a truck or the like.

In accordance with this invention a mast is carried on a portable base, such as a support permanently mounted on a truck or other suitable vehicle. The mast is hinged between its top and bottom so that it can be collapsed to form upper and lower sections which are folded upon themselves in substantially horizontal position with the lower section resting on the support. The bottom of the mast is pivotally and slidably connected to the support, and means is provided for moving thebottom of the mast along the support from one end to the other. A plurality of links are pivoted to the upper and lower sections of the mast and to its support in such a manner that when the bottom of the mast is moved along the support these links swing the two sections upwardly into alignment to form an upright mast in operative position. The mast is lowered by moving its bottom back toward the other end of the support. During this movement the links swing the upper ends of the two sections of the mast downwardlyin opposite directions so that they can fold down upon each other.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. l is a side view of our mast in collapsed position on a truck; Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof; Fig. 3 is a rear end view of the truck and mast; Fig. 4' is a reduced side view of the mast in upright operative position; Fig. 5 is a rear view thereof looking from the front of the truck; and Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section through one side of the mast support showing the mounting of the bottom of the mast therein.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, a. mast base or support I is rigidly mounted on the rear end of a truck from which it projects rearwardly. This support includes a pair of laterally spaced horizontal channels 2 that form supporting the objects of this invention to.

guide rails for the bottom of the mast. The mast is of the structural type. having four legs connected by girts and braces and carrying a crown-block 3 at its upper end. As shown in legs together at 1 so that the mast can be folded down upon itself into substantially horizontal position as shown in Fig. 1. In this position the lower ends of the front legs of the mast are disposed at the end of'the guide rails adjacent the draw-works 8 mounted on the truck; while the opposite end of the lowersection of the mast rests on a cross beam Sat the outer end of the supporting base I. The upper section of the mast extends forward over the truck cab and rests on a cross bar Ill supported from the truck frame. The top or front portion of the upper section is hinged to the rest of it so that it can be swung back alongside of the upper sec- Extending upwardly from both sides of base l are braces l2 which support a pair of bearings l3 in which are pivotally mounted a pair of links it that are substantially horizontal when the mast is collapsed asin Fig. .1. The opposite ends of these links are pivotally connected. to the mast at the points 'Iwhere the two sections are hinged together. Also projecting upwardly from the truck is another set of braces IE to which the lower end of a set of links I! are pivotally connected. These links extend upwardly over the draw-works with their outer ends pivotally connected to the ends of a pair of nearly horizontal links I8 that extend back over links I! and up into the upper section of the mast to which they are pivotally connected a short distance above hinges l. The central portion of the set of links H is pivotally connected by links iii to the lower ends of the rear legs of the mast.

Before the mast is raised fromcollpased position at the desired location; the Jacks 2| that are pivotally suspended from the outer end of base I are swung down and-tightened down 021 blocks .22 as shown in Fig. 4 so as to take the major portion of the weight of themast oil the truck wheels. The folded-back front portion of the masts upper section is then swung forward into its normal position and locked there. The bottom of the lower section of the mast can now be moved toward the outer end of support I by any suitable means. For example, as shown in Figs. 1 and 6, the lower ends of the front legs of the mast are provided with downwardly extending lugs 23 that are pivotally connected to the links of an endless chain 24 extending around sprockets 26 and 21 at the opposite ends of the support. The outer sprocket is joumaled in the support, but the inner sprocket projects from a gear-box 28 mounted on the truck and through which the sprocket is driven from the transmission of the truck or from any other suitable power source, such as a separate engine for the draw-works. The upper strand of the chain pulls the legs toward the outer end of the mast support, with wheels rolling in guide rails 2. As the top of the masts lower section is prevented by links M from moving outwardly at this time, it is compelled to swing upwardly. At the same time the outwardly moving bottom of the mast, through links l9, pulls the set of links I1 and swings theirouter ends upwardly. This causes the links I8 attached thereto to simultaneously push the upper section of the mast upwardly into upright position in alignment with the lower section as shown in Fig. 4. As soon as all of the mast legs are brought into alignment in this manner the front legs are detachably locked together by any suitable latching means 29, preferably such as can be operated from the ground. This general procedure is just reversed for lowering the mast.

The mast preferably is provided with a tubing platform 3| that projects from the front side of the upper section and is hinged thereto in such a manner that when the mast is collapsed the platform folds down more or less flat against the .top side of the upper section, as shown in Figs.

land 2. The mast may also be provided with a rod basket 32 hinged to a front leg of the upper section so that it can be swung around the leg and into the mast when the mast is lowered (Figs. 1 and 2).

According to the provisions of the patent statutes we have explained the principle and mode of operation of our invention, and have illustrated and described what we now consider to represent its best embodiment. However, we desire to have it understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the inventionamay be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described.

We claim:

1. A collapsible mast structure comprising a support, a mast hinged between its top and bottom toform upper and lower sections folded upon themselves in substantially horizontal position with the lower section resting on said support, means pivotally and slidably connecting said bottom to the support, means for sliding said bottom of the mast along the support, and a plurality of links pivoted to said sections and said support for swinging the sections upwardly into alignment to form an upright mast when said sliding of the mast bottom occurs.

2. A collapsible mast structure comprising a support, a mast hinged between its top and bottom to form upper and lower sections folded upon themselves in substantially horizontal position with the lower section resting on said support and with said bottom adjacent one end of the support, means pivotally and slidably connecting said bottom to the support, means for sliding said bottom of the mast toward the opposite end of said support, and a plurality of links pivoted to said sections and to the support adjacent said one end for swinging the sections upwardly into alignment to form an upright mast when said sliding of the mast bottom occurs.

3. A collapsible mast structure comprising a support, a mast hinged between its top and bottom to form upper and lower sections folded upon themselves in substantially horizontal position with the lower section resting on said support, means pivotally and slidably connecting said bottom to the support, means for sliding said bottom of the mast along the support, a link pivoted to the mast and said support for pulling said lower section up into upright position when said sliding of the mast bottom ccurs, and means for simultaneously swinging said upper 'section upwardly into alignment with the lower section whereby to form an upright mast.

4. A collapsible mast structure comprising a support, a mast hinged between its top and bottom to form upper and lower sections folded upon themselves in substantially horizontal position with the lower section resting on said support, means pivotally and slidably connecting said bottom to the support, means for sliding said bottom of the mast along the support, a link pivoted tothe mast and said support for pulling said lower section up into upright position when said sliding of the mast bottom occurs, and a plurality of links pivoted to the mast and support for simultaneously pushing said upper section up into alignment with the lower section whereby to form an upright mast.

5. A collapsible mast structure comprising a support, a mast hinged between its top and bottom to form upper and lower sections folded upon themselves in substantially horizontal position with the lower section resting on said support,

means pivotally and slidably connecting said bottom to the support, means for sliding said bottom of the mast along the support, means for swinging said lower section upwardly into upright position when said sliding of the mast bottom occurs, and a linkage system pivoted to the mast and support for simultaneously pushing said upper section up into alignment with the lower sec tion whereby to form an upright mast.

6. A collapsible mast structure comprising a support, a mast hinged between its top and bottom to form upper and lower sections folded upon l themselves in substantially horizontal position with the lower section resting on said support,

'means pivotally and slidably connecting said bottom to the support, means for sliding said bottom of the mast along the support, a pair of links hinged end to end and folded upon themselves with their outer ends pivoted to the support and to said upper section, means for swinging said lower section upwardly into upright position when said sliding of the mast bottom occurs, and a link pivoted to said lower section and to one of said pair of links for simultaneously moving said pair of links toward alignment with each other whereby to Bush said upper section up into alignment with the lower section in order to form an upright mast.

'7. A collapsible mast structure comprising a support, a mast hinged between its top and bottom to form upper and lower sections folded upon themselves in substantially horizontal position With the lower section resting on said support,

means pivotally and slidably connecting said bottom to the support, means for sliding said bottom of the mast along the support, a pair of links hinged end to end and folded-upon themselves with their outer ends pivoted to the support and to said upper section, means for swinging said lower section upwardly into upright position when said sliding of the mast bottom oc- .curs,,and a link pivoted to said lower section and to the lower one of said pair of links substantially midway between its ends for simultaneously swinging said lower link upwardly whereby to push said upper section up into alignment sition with the lower section resting on said support, means pivotally and slidably connecting said bottom to the support, means for sliding said bottom of the mast along the support, a plurality of links pivoted to said sections and said support for swinging the sections upwardly into alignment to form an upright mast when tion with the lower section resting on said support, means pivotally and slidably connecting said bottom to the support, means for sliding said bottom of the mast along the support, a

section and to the lower one of said pair of links substantially midway between its ends, and means for sliding the bottom of the mast toward the opposite end of said support whereby said links unfold said sections and swing them upwardly into alignment to form an upright mast.

12. A collapsible mast structure comprising a upon themselves in substantially horizontal position with the lower section resting on said support and with said bottom adjacent one end of the support, means pivotally and slidably connecting said bottom .to the support, a substan-: tially horizontal link pivoted to said lower sec- .tion and to said support adjacent said end, an

upper link and a shorter lower link hinged end.

to end and folded upon themselves with the upper end of the upper link pivoted to said upper section and with the lower end of the lower link pivoted to said support adjacent said end, a substantially horizontal link pivoted to said lower section adjacent said bottom and to the mid portion of said lower link, and means for slidingthe bottom of the mast toward the opposite end of said support whereby said linksunfold said sections and swing them upwardly into alignment to form an upright mast.

.13. A collapsible mast structure comprising a support, a mast hinged between its top and bottom to form upper and lower sections folded upon themselves in substantially horizontal po= sition with the lower section resting on said support, means pivotally and slidably connecting said bottom to the support, an endless chain connected to said bottom of the mast, means for driving the chain to pull said bottom along the link pivoted to said support and to the mast coaxially with the mast hinge for pulling said lower section up into upright position when said sliding of the mast bottom occurs, and means for simultaneously swinging said upper section upwardly into alignment with the lower section whereby to form an upright mast.

10. A collapsible mast structure comprising a support, a mast hinged between its top and bottom to form upper and lower sections folded upon themselves in substantially horizontal position with the lower section resting on said support and with said bottom adjacent one-end of the support, means pivotally and slidably connecting said bottom to the support, a link pivoted to the mast and to said support adjacent said end, a pair of links hinged end to .end with their outer ends pivoted to the support adjacent said end and to said upper section, a link pivoted to said lower section and to one of said pair of links, and means for sliding the bottom of the mast toward the opposite end of said support whereby said links unfold said sections and swing them upwardly into alignment to form an upright mast. r

11. A collapsible mast structure comprising a support, a mast hinged between its top and bottom to .form upper and lower sections folded upon themselves in substantially horizontal position with the lower section resting on said supthe mast coaxially with the mast hinge, a pair of links hinged end to end with their outer ends pivoted to the support adjacent said end and to said upper section, a link pivoted to said lower support, and a plurality of links pivoted to said sections and said support for swinging the secalong said rails to'move the bottom of the mast from one end to the other of the rails, and a plurality of links pivoted to said sections and said support for swinging the sections upwardly-into alignment to form an upright mast when said tom to form upper and lower sections folded upon themselves in substantially horizontal position withthe lower section restingon said support, a tubing platform hinged to said horizontal upper section and folded down on top of it, means pivotally and slidably connecting said bottom to the support, means for sliding said bottom of the mast along the support, and a plurality of links pivoted to said sections and said support for swinging the sections upwardlyinto alignment to form an upright mast when said sliding of the mast bottom occurs, said platform being formed to swing outwardly away from said upper section into substantially horizontal position when the mast is raised.

16. .A collapsible mast structure comprising a support, a mast hinged between its top and hottom to form upper and lower sections folded upon themselves in substantially horizontal position with the lower section resting on said support, said upper section being materially longer than the lower section and having its top portion hinged to it and swung backwardly to shorten the upper section, means for detachably connecting said top portion rigidly to the remainder of said upper section in-alignment therewith, means pivotally and slidably connecting said bottom to the support, means for sliding said bottom of the mast along the support, and a plurality of links pivoted to said sections and said support for swinging the sections upwardly into alignment to form an upright mast when said sliding of the mast bottom occurs.

17. A collapsible mast structure comprising a support, a mast hinged between its top and bottom to form upper and lower sections folded upon themselves in substantially horizontal position with the lower section resting on said support, said upper section being materially longer than the lower section and having a one-piece top portion hinged to it and swung backwardly in a substantially horizontal plane to shorten the upper section, means for detachably connecting said top portion rigidly to the remainder of said upper section in alignment therewith, means pivotally and slidably connecting said bottom to the support, means for sliding said bottom of the mast along the support, and a plurality of links pivoted to said sections and said support for swinging the sections upwardly into alignment to form an upright mast when said sliding of the mast bottom occurs.

HOMER J. WOOLSLAYER.

ERWIN A, CAMPBELL.

CECIL JENKINS.