US2344383A

US2344383A - Shoring for portable drilling rigs

Info

Publication number: US2344383A
Application number: US373775A
Authority: US
Inventors: Alexander Emmett Lee; Albert W Braithwaite
Original assignee: GEORGE E FAILING SUPPLY COMPAN
Current assignee: GEORGE E FAILING SUPPLY Co; GEORGE E FAILING SUPPLY COMPAN
Priority date: 1941-01-09
Filing date: 1941-01-09
Publication date: 1944-03-14
Anticipated expiration: 1961-03-14

Description

M r 1944- E. L. ALEXANDER ET AL 2,344,383

SHORING FOR PORTABLE DRILLING RIGS Filed Jan. 9, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet l March 14, 1944. E ALEXANDER ET A 2,344,383

SHORING FOR PORTABLE DRILLING RIGS Filed Jan. 9, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 7,3, \flk" Jig. 6.

ATTdRNEY Patented Mar. 14, 1944 SHORING FOR PORTABLE DRILLING RIGS Emmett Lee Alexander and Albert W. Braithwaite, Enid, Okla assignors to The George E. Failing Supply Company, Enid, kla., a corporation of Oklahoma Application January 9, 1941, Serial No. 373,775

Claims. (01.189-11) This invention relates to drilling rigs, particularly those of portable type wherein the derrick platform, derrick, turntable, and draw-works are\ mounted on the chassis of a-vehlcle so that the rig may be readily transported from one drilling site to another and quickly set up for drilling operations. Since drilling loads are extremely great, especially those acting on the derrick when handling the drillingstring, well casing, or the like, it is desirable to provide undershoring to support the rear of the vehicle frame directly from the ground independently of the wheels.

It is, therefore, a principal object of the present invention to provide a simple shoring structure that is readily assembled in position and adjusted so that all of the footing members thereoftake their proportional share of the load when supporting the platform in level position.

Further objects of the invention are to provide shoring members which consist of built up units that are of strong, light weight construction and equipped with channel-like saddles for seating longitudinal members of the vehicle frame and/or platform; and to provide a portable rib with an undershoring and platform construction which facilitates disengagement of the rig from a finished well.

It is a further object of the invention to provide the platform with lateral extensions which are adapted for support by adjustable posts cooperating with the main undershoring units.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, as hereinafter pointed out, we have provided improved structure, the preferred form Fig. 6 is a, longitudinal section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of one of the undershoring units.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

l designates a portable drilling rig including a vehicle 2 having a chassis comprising a frame 3 supported at the mall on wheels 4, the Wheels being connected with an axle housing 5 carrying the frame 3 on springs (not shown), as in conventional automotive practice.

Mounted on the frame 3 is a platform including longitudinal rails Ii, 1, 8, 3, ill and II, and cross rails l2 that are connected therewith. The central longitudinal rails 8 and 9 are spaced apart a suflicient distance to carry a turntable I3 which is supported directly above the longitudinal members of the chassis frame 3 and rearward extensions l4 and I5 thereof. The platform thus described is carried on longitudinal sills l6 and I1 which are supported directly on the vehicle frame.

With the exception of the space between the rails substantially in plane with the lower flanges 23 ing the upper end of one of the jack-posts therefor. Fig. 4 is an end view of the drilling larly illustrating the undershoring of the platform and platform extensions.

Fig. 5 is a cross-section through the platform showing the platform extensions in folded position.

rig particu- 8 and 9 at the location of the turntable, the platform is covered with a sheet metal flooring Hi to provide a working space thereon. Secured to the under side of the platform, substantially in alignment with the rails I and III, are sub-sills l9 and 20 having lower flanges 2| and 22 located and 24 of the extensions I4 and I5 as shown in Fig. 5. -The sub-sills, being located substantially in alignment with the wheels of the vehicle, terminate short of the wheels and are braced from the platform frame by tubular braces 25 as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4 and full lines in Fig. 5.

Mounted on the platform, directly over the forward ends of the sub-sills l9 and 23, are

posts

26 and 21 carrying bearings 28 at their. upper end for trunnioningly mounting the

forward legs

29 and 30 of a derrick 3|. The posts are retained in perpendicular position by

braces

32 and 33 which connect with the platform as shown in Fig. 1. The

front legs

34 and 35 of the derrick have flange ends 36 adapted to seat in sockets 31 which are carried on the floor of the derrick and are securedtherein by fastening devices 38 extending through suitable openings in the flanges 36 and through registering openings in the frame of the platform. ,The derrick is thus adapted to be carried in a horizontal position during transport and to be moved to perpendicular or drilling position when the drilling rig is set 'up at a drilling site as in portable drilling rig practice.

Mounted forwardly of the derrick is a drawmounting of the vehicle.

works 36 including a winding drum for raising and lowering the drilling string, and a power shaft 46 having operative connection with the turntable iii. The turntable includes a base plate 4| that is secured to the rails 8 and 8 by fastening devices 42 to close the opening .43 in the platform floor i8.

The rear ends of the sills I9, l4, l and 20 are connected by a removable plate 44, the plate being secured to the respective longitudinal sills and to the rearmost cross rails l2 by fastening devices such as bolts 45, the rearmost rail being divided at the rear edge of the opening 43. It is apparent that with removal of the turntable and plate 44, the space between the sills 23-24 is open so that when the well is completed the drilling rig may be moved away from the completed well casing and flow pipes.

As above mentioned, it is the purpose of the present invention to provide the drilling rig with an undershoring to support the rear of the platform independently of the spring and wheel This is accomplished by means of a pair of

individual shoring units

46 and 41. one of which is shown in detail in Fig. 7. 'As illustrated in Fig. 7, a shoring unit includes

longitudinal channels

48 and 49 arranged with the web portions 50 thereof in horizontal position to seat the sills l9 and I 4 thereon in case of the shore unit 46 and the sills l5 and 26 in the case of the shore unit 41. The channels are also arranged so that the side flanges BI and 52 thereof project upwardly over the sides of the longitudinal sills to prevent lateral movement thereof and assure proper placement of the units. Fixed to the respective ends of the channels and depending therefrom are

tubular posts

53, 54, 55 and 56. The posts 56-54 and 55-56 are respectively connected by cross braces 51 and 56, and the posts 53-55 and 54-56 are connected by

similar cross braces

59 and 66 respectively.

Threadedly mounted in each of the posts are externally threaded shafts 6! having swivel connections with footing flanges 62in the manner of a jack. The shafts are rotated to efl'ect levelling of the channels by inserting a bar (not shown) through openings 63 in collars 64 which are attached to the shafts. The units just described are carried on cross sills 65-66 which in turn are carried on longitudinally arranged mud sills 69.

Mounted on the sides of the platform are platform extensions l0 and H extending along the sides thereof and preferably hinged thereto by ears E2, the ears if being engaged in slots 13 7 formed in the outer longitudinal sills 6 and II and secured by hinge pins 14. The platform extensions are supported in the plane of the frame by Jack-posts located along the length thereof along the sides of the platform preferably to the forward end thereof.

When the drilling rig is being transported, the derrick is carried in horizontal position and the side rails are positioned between the draw-works and the platform extensions, with the platform extensions in vertical position, as shown in Fig. 5, to give a desired road clearance at the sides of the vehicle. The

shoring units

46 and 41 may be carried on the platform at the forward end thereof along with the mud sills, or these parts may be transported on a separate service vehicle.

When the drilling ri reaches the drilling site, the mud sills are placed in properposition on the ground to support the

cross sills

65 and 66. The shoring units are then placed in position on the cross sills so that the channel-like saddles thereof align with the platform sills l9, l4, l5 and 20. The threaded shafts are then adjusted to raise the channel-like saddles into seating engagement with the platform sills, whereupon the rear end of the platform is rigidly supported independently of the vehicle wheels. The platform extensions may then be lowered and supported by the jack-posts 15, the shaft extensions thereof being adjusted to bring the footing flanges into engagement with the blocks 62.

With the rig set up for drilling operations, the

load acting upon the derrick is substantially the same load acting upon the rotary table, the load ports provided under each of the sills. The load and which include tubular sections l6 engaging the terminals ll of rail supporting posts 78, the rail posts extending through sockets '19 in the platform extension and into the open upper ends of tubular sections of the jack-posts. Threaded in the lower ends of the tubular sections of the jack-posts are threaded shafts carrying i'oot flanges 8! similar to the foot flanges previously described. the shafts 80 being rotated to bring the foot flanges into engagement with supporting blocks 82 by means of collars 83 which are fixed on the shafts and have openings 83 therein for passing a turning bar (not shown). The posts l8 carry

horizontal rails

85 and 86 which extend 7 is then transmitted from one set of supports to the other of each shoring unit by the braces by which they are interconnected.

When the drilling operation is completed, the bore-hole is cased and equipped with the usual flow control apparatus, while the drilling rig and derrick are in position. The upper portion of the well equipment will therefore extend through the floor of the platform, however, the rig may be disengaged, upon removal of the turntable over the top of the casing, and disconnecting the plate 44 by removing the fastening devices 45. The opening in the platform is then clear so that the truck may be moved away from the drilling site after the shoring units have been removed. I

From the foregoing it is obvious that we have provided a portable drilling rig wherein a platform is rigidly supported on undershoring that is readily placed and which adequately supports the derrick loads.

What we claim and desire to secure by'Letters said supporting portions, and brace means connecting the vertical members disposed under the outer portions with the vertical members disposed under the inner portions whereby said shoring units provide common and direct ground supports for the load when shifted to either one of said positions.

2. In an apparatus of the character described including, a wheel supported frame adapted to support a shiftable load, said frame having spaced inner sills arranged to support the load when the load acts upon the frame intermediate said innersills and having outer sills spaced from the inner sills and arranged to support the load when shifted to act upon sides of said frame, shoring units adapted to be disposed under opposite sides of said frame, each having vertical members located under said sills, and brace means connecting the vertical members disposed under the inner sills with the brace members disposed under the outer sills whereby said shoring units provide common and direct ground supports for said load when shifted to either one of said positions.

3. In an apparatus of the character described including, a wheel supported frame adapted to support a shiftable load, said frame having spaced inner sills arranged to support a load acting upon the frame intermediate said inner sills and having outer sills spaced from the inner sills and arranged to support the load when shifted to act upon the sides of said frame, shoring units adapted to be disposed under opposite sides of said frame, each having vertical members located under said sills, brace means connecting the vertical members that are disposed under the inner sills with the vertical members disposed under the outer sills whereby said shoring units provide common supports for the load in either of said positions, and means for adjusting length of the vertical members.

4. In an apparatus of the character described either of said load positions. EMME'I'I' including, a wheel supported frame adapted to support a shiftable load having spaced longitudinal inner sills arranged to support the load when the load acts on the frame between said sills and having spaced longitudinal outer sills arranged to support the load when the load is shifted to act upon the sides of the frame, shoring unitsadapted to be disposed under opposite sides of the wheel supported frame, each having longitudinal members respectively engaging the spaced longitudinal sills, tubular posts fixed to ends of said longitudinal members, screw shafts adjustably positioned in said posts, bracing connecting the tubular posts in the respective units, and foot members having swivel connections with the screw shafts, said screw shafts being independently rotatable to bring said longitudinal members into supporting engagement with said sills whereby said units provide common supports for said load in either of said load positions.

5. In an apparatus of the character described incIuding, a wheel supported frame adapted to support a shiftable load having spaced longitu-- dinal inner sills arranged to support the load when the load acts upon the frame between said sills and having spaced longitudinal outer sills arranged to support the load when the load is shifted to act upon the sides of the frame, shoring units adapted to be disposed under opposite sides of the wheel supported frame, each having longitudinal channel members forming seats for seating longitudinal sills, tubular posts fixed to ends of said longitudinal members, means interconnecting the tubular posts, screw shafts, and foot members having swivel connections with the screw shafts, said screw shafts being independently rotatable to bring said longitudinal members into supporting engagement with said sills whereby said units provide common supports in LEE ALEXANDER. ALBERT W. BRAITHWAITE.