US2482114A - Shock absorber for cable tool drilling machines - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 20, 1949. N. N. LABOUNSKY 2,432,114

NOW BY JUDICIAL CHANGE OF NAME N. N. NIXON SHOCK ABSORBER FOR CABLE TOOL DRILLING MACHINES Filed Nov. 18, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet l Sept- 20, 1949- N. N. LABOUNSKY NOW BY JUDICIAL CHANGE OF NAME NIXON SHOCK ABSORBER FOR CABLE TOOL DRILLING MACHINES Filed Nov. 18. 1946 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 5 fiw w ATTOF/VFYS Patented Sept. 20, 1949 I SHOCK ABSORBER FOR CABLE TOOL DRILLING MACHINES Nicholas N. Labounsky, Beaver Falls, Pa., now by: judicial change of name Nicholas N. Nixon, as-

signor to Keystone Driller Company, Beaver Falls, Pa.

7 Application November 18, 1946, Serial No. 710,480

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a shock absorber which may be used for absorbing shock between two relatively movable members of different kinds of apparatus, but is shown in the present example of one of its uses in connection with relatively movable parts of a cable tool drilling machine.

The object of this invention is to provide an economical and simple operating device which will absorb the shock peculiar to spudding drilling and give the necessary reach or stretch in the drilling line essential to the drilling operation with cable tools.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevation, on a reduced scale, of a portable drilling machine embodying this invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary front elevation of the mast or derrick of the drilling machine, on an enlarged scale, showing the shock absorber containing this invention associated therewith.

'Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section, on a still larger scale, of the shock absorber made in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal section, on a still larger scale; showing the retarding valve mechanism whereby the flow of liquid in this shock absorber is retarded and caused to produce a shock absorbing efiect, said section being taken on line 44, Fig. 5.

Figs. 5 and 6 are horizontal sections taken on the correspondingly numbered lines in Fig. 4.

In the following description similar reference characters indicate like parts in the several figures of the drawings.

In general, the drilling machine which is shown I in Figs. 1 and 2 and illustrates one installation of the present invention is constructed as follows:

The main frame of the machine is portable and comprises the horizontal sills I0, front and rear posts II, I2 and braces I3.

The spudding mechanism of the driller includes a vertically oscillating walking beam I4 which is pivoted at its rear end on the rear post I2 and connected at its front end with a slide l5 movable vertically on the front post I I.

The derrick or mast consists generally of a lower section I6 which is mounted on the slide I5 and an upper section I I which is vertically adjustable on the lower section. The numeral I8 represents the head of the derrick which is slidable on the upper section I! thereof and carries the usual crown sheave I9. The operating line, consisting preferably of a steel cable, passes over the crown wheel and has a front stretch 20 extending downwardly and connected with the drill 2| and a. rear stretch 22 extending downwardly and around a front sheave 23 on the walking beam I4 thence rearwardly and downwardly around a rear sheave 24 and thence around a drum 25'from which the cable is payed off as the iii) 2 drilling progresses and also serves to hoist the drill 2 I.

During the operation of the driller,'the drill is raised as by the beam, as the latter moves downwardly and when the beam moves upwardly the drill descends by gravity. This produces alter nate jerking and slackening on the cable and jars the apparatus and causes undue wear and strain.

The sh-ockabsorber embodying this invention is designed to reduce or eliminate this jarring action and is interposed between the head and upper section of the derrick and in its preferred form the same is constructed as follows:

The numeral 26 indicates an upright cylinder,

the interior of which forms a pressure chamber 21 which contains the means whereby the shock to which the apparatus is subjected during operation is taken up. This cylinder is closed at its lower end by a lower or front head 28 which is connected with brackets or cross pieces 29 forming part of the upper derrick section. At its upper end the cylinder is closed by an upper or rear head 30 and also with a filling opening 3| through which oil or other suitable liquid is introduced into the pressure chamber and which is normally closed by a screw plug 32 or similar closure. When desired, the oil may be withdrawn from the pressure chamber through a drain opening 9 in the lower head of the cylinder which is normally closed by a screw plug 8.

Within the cylinder and fitting closely the bore thereof is a piston or plunger 33 which is adapted to reciprocate lengthwise therein and which is connected with the lower or front end of a piston rod 34. The latter slides through a stufiing box arranged on the upper head 30 0f the cylinder 26 and having a gland B B which surrounds the piston 34 so as to form a tight joint between the piston rod and .the cylinder. The upper end of the piston rod is provided with a cap 35 which is connected with the lower end of the sliding head I8 upon which the crown wheel I9 is mounted. During the pulling action of the cable which raises the drillthe piston is forced downwardly in the pressure chamber of'the cylinder 26 and displaces the absorbing oil in the lower part of the pressure chamber and also compresses resilient absorbing means which are arranged in the lower part. of the pressure chamber between the lower or front head thereof and the piston. As the piston descends, part of the liquid in the cylinder belowthe piston squeezes through the check valve 43 and passes into the upper part or above thecheck valve into the pipe 34, so that the combined resistance of the spring means and the liquid absorbs the shock on the machine which is produced at this time by the mechanism actuating the drill.

. Although the spring absorbing means may be openedposition exceptin one instance when the shock absorber isin a horizontal or traveling position. At this time the cock-valve is closed in order to prevent oil from being wasted from main are arranged, respectively, at the front and rear ends of the row of groups. Each of these-spring groups includes a relatively heavy outer helical spring 36 and a relatively light inner helical spring 31 nested within the companion heavy spring, and made of the same length. Between the uppermost groups of shock absorbing springs, an upper or rear spacing plate or disk=38 is arranged, a similar spacing plate or disk '39 is arranged between the lowermost or foremost group of absorbing springs and the front head 28 of the cylinder, and anintermediate spacing plate or disk40 is arranged between each' endmost spring group and the adjacent intermediate spring group. By these means the downward or forward pressure of the piston is transmitted through the several springgroups to th'e'lower or front head-of the cylinderand thus cushions the shock or blow which is transmitted from the crown pulleyhead !8 to the-derrick as the drill is jerked upwardly by the spuddingmechanism. Means are provided for preventing the springs of each group from being closed or compressed to the fullest extent and also maintaining the coils of the several groups in axial alinement relative to each other. i

This is preferably accomplished'by providing the rearmost spacing plate 38 with a central tubular retaining neck 4| which projects downwardly therefrom into the. center of the upper or rearmost group or cluster of absorbing springs, also providing the lower or foremost spacing plate 39 with a central tubular retaining neck 42 which projects upwardly into the center of the'lower or'foremost group or cluster of absorbing spring and also providing each of the intermediate spacing plates 40 on opposite sides of its central part with atubular retaining neck 43 which projects axially therefrominto the center. of the corresponding opposing ends of the intermediate groups-or clusters of absorbing springs 36; These retaining necks are of such length that their opposing ends thereof form stops which engage one another before the groups of absorbing springs are completely compressed and thus prevent these springs from becoming set and lose their resilience. Controlling means are provided whereby some of the liquid in the pressure chamber during the downward or forward pressure of the piston against the same is permitted to escape and be utilized to subsequently assist inabsorbing the shock on the machine during the upward or rearward movement of the pistonas the spudding mechanism releases the drill and permits the same to descend. These controlling means in their preferred form are constructed as follows:

.The piston rod 34 is made hollow and its interior provides a relief chamber 44 the lower or front part of which communicates by conduit means with the rear end of the pressure chamber and adapted to interchange fluid or oil with. the latter while its up er or rear partis provided with a vent opening 45 leading to theouter atmosphere for maintaininga balance between the air 'prescylinder 'lli through the oil return pipe 62 and pipe 34 and finally through the opening out of the system. v

Inthe lower or front part of the relief chamber in the piston rodisarranged a check valve device whereby liquid is permitted to flow comparatively freely from the pressure chamber into a relief chamber during the downward or forward movement ofthe piston 33 in the pressure chamber 21 but restricts the rate ofc return flow of liquid from the relief chamber to the pressure chamber during the upward movement of the piston in the pressure chamber. This check valve device ineludes a valve ring I engaging its periphery with the bore of the piston rod 34 and provided with a central port and an upwardly or'rearwardly facing annular valve seat 4! on its upper side.

The numeral 48' represents "a check valve closure which is arranged in the-tubular piston rod above the check valve ring and is movable axially therein toward and from the valveseat 41 for-the purpose of engaging a forwardly facing seat 49 on the underside of the check valve closure with the ring se'at4! ordisengaging the same 7 therefrom The valve ring" '1 is secured against movement in the piston rodand thelvalve closure 48 is guided relative to the valve ringby a frame or holder'which is preferablyof U shape and provided with two longitudinal-legs 50 engaging the inner side ofthe piston rod and a cross bar 5'] connecting the inner ends 'of' these legs. The latter are preferablysecured to the piston red by means of welding 52 applied to the opposingsurface between these-members through openings 53 in the piston rod as'shown in Fig. 4, although this maybe accomplished in any'other suitable or approved manner. The valve ring is secured to the legs 50 so as to be immovable in the piston rod, preferably by engaging the legs 50 of "the holder with notches 55-on diametrically opposite sides of the periphery of the valve ring and welding the ring and legs together as shown at 56 in Fig. 4. The valve closure is guided in its axial movements by providing this closure on opposite.

sides of its periphery with notches 5'! which slidingly receive the legs '50 of this holderas shown in Fig. 4, 5, and 6.

In the preferred construction the outer side of the legs 50 of the holder are curved concentrically relative to the bore of the piston and engage therewith, as shown at 58 in Figs. 5 and 6, and the periphery of the valve closure 'also 'engages with this bore; as shown at 59 in the same figures. v I a .On its periphery the valve closure is provided with a plurality of notches 50 forming intermittently openable relief or transfer ports which are covered or closed by the peripheral part'of' the valve ring when the closure is in its lower or foremost'position, as shown in Figs..3 and 4, but areop-ened when ,this closure is moved upwardly or away from the valve ring. In its central part sure in the relief chamber above the oil'therein 7 the valve closure is provided with a constantly openrelief or transfer port's! which is preferably formed in a tube 52 arranged axially within the piston rod and having its lower or front'e'nd connected with the valve closure and opening constantly into the j'pressure'chambe'r while its upper end-is guided in the central part of the cross bar 5| of the'holder andopens constantly into the-relief chamber above the checkvalvedevicel The valve closure is yieldingly held in its foremost or closed position by a helical spring 63 surrounding the tube 62 and bearing at its lower and upper ends respectively against the valve closure and the cross bar of the holder. On its rear side the valve closure is preferably provided with a tubular collar or socket 64 which surrounds the front part of the spring 63 and holds the same in a central position relative to the valve closure and thus cause this spring to always operate most effectively in closing this valve.

Assuming that the pressure chamber has been filled with the required amount of oil and that the drilling machine is at rest with the drill lowered and the piston 33 in the upper or rear part of the pressure chamber the complete cycle of operation of the shock absorbing mechanism is as follows:

As the piston is forced downwardly in the pressure chamber by the spudding mechanism while raising the string of drilling tools the absorbed springs 36, 31 are compressed and absorb part of the energy of the jerk or work expended on them during this operation. Another part of this blow is absorbed by the resistance or work done as the result of the piston 33 in its descent, displacing some of the oil from the lower part of the presure chamber into the relief chamber through the constantly open transfer port El and through the intermittently openable passage which is controlled by the check valve closure 48. The latter is opened at this time by the resistance of the oil in the pressure chamber against the underside of this valve closure, whereby the latter is lifted from the seat 41 and permits oil to flow upwardly through the valve ring and through the notches 60 in the valve closure and. into the relief chamber in the hollow piston rod above the check valve device. The remaining part of this blow is absorbed by the work done in creating a vacuum in the upper part of the pressure chamber in the wake of the piston during its downward stroke.

During the subsequent upward or return stroke of the piston in the pressure chamber as the spudding mechanism releases the drill and permits the same to descend, part of the energy stored in the absorber springs during the previous compression of the same by the piston is expanded in again pushing the latter upwardly by the recoil action of these springs. At this instance the check valve closure 48 is closed by the action of the spring 63 aided by gravity and the weight of the oil above the same, thereby creating a vacuum in its wake and compressing the oil in the upper part of the pressure chamber and forcing the same past the piston into the lower part of this chamber, thereby absorbing shock and vibration of the apparatus during this part of its operation. As the piston rises in the pressure chamber some of the oil in the relief chamber returns from the same through the constantly open port 6| in the check valve closure to the pressure chamber, but at a slower rate than the flow of oil from the pressure chamber to the relief chamber, thereby contributing to the effect of absorbing shock on the apparatus at this time. These several oil resistance effects on the piston while the same is travelling upwardly in the pressure chamber operate in opposition to the recoiling action of the absorber springs and completely deaden the force of these springs by the time this piston reaches the upper end of its travel in a starting position preparatory to beginning the next following downward stroke. In consequence of this retarding eifect of the oil, no secondary wave action from the travel of the piston takes place.

Due to venting, the air space in the upper part of the relief chamber through the opening 45 to the outer atmosphere, the air pressure within the relief chamber and the outer atmosphere is equalized and building up of air resistance or parasite pressure inside of the main pressure chamber is prevented.

I claim as my invention:

In a spudding drilling machine having a frame, a derrick rising from said frame and a crown sheave vertically movably mounted on the upper end of said derrick, the combination there with of a shock absorber operatively interposed between said crown sheave and said derrick, comprising a cylinder operatively connected at its lower end to said derrick and filled with liquid, 2. plunger reciprocable in said cylinder, a hollow piston rod operatively connecting said piston to said crown sheave and having its interior in communication with that of said cylinder and being vented to the atmosphere, shock absorbing spring means arranged in said cylinder between said plunger and the lower end of said cylinder, and a liquid retarding valve device arranged in said piston rod and constructed to retard the flow of liquid from said hollow piston rod into said cylinder during the upward movement of said plunger in said cylinder and to permit the liquid to flow more freely from said cylinder into said hollow piston rod during the downward movement of said plunger in said cylinder, said retarding valve device comprising a U-shaped guide member having two longitudinal legs engaging said hollow piston rod and secured thereto and a cross bar connecting said legs, a valve ring secured to said legs and having an upwardly facing annular valve seat, a check valve member having guide notches receiving said legs and movable toward and away from said seat and being fluted on its periphery to provide liquid by-pass ports and having at its center an upstanding tube providing a passage through said check valve member, said tube extending through a guide opening provided in said cross part, and a spring interposed between said check valve member and cross bar to urge said check valve member yieldingly against said seat.

NICHOLAS N. LABOUNSKY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 988,382 Phelan Apr. 4, 1911 1,159,347 Angeli Nov. 9, 1915 1,464,524 Gilmour Aug. 14, 1923 1,572,060 Yarnall Feb. 9, 1926 1,902,421 Rawdon et al. Mar. 21, 1933 1,961,634 Faunton June 5, 1934 2,146,089 Onions Feb. 7, 1939 2,182,581 Casper Dec. 5, 1939 2,185,802 De Port Jan. 2, 1940 2,244,373 Powers June 3, 1941 2,310,570 Briggs Feb. 9, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 45,059 France Mar. 11, 1935

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