US2565777A - Automatic latch mechanism for portable extension masts - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 28, 1951 H Filed Nov. 10, 1947 J. MOON AUTOMATIC LATCH MECHANISM FOR PORTABLE EXTENSION MASTS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 James INVENTOR.

M on '%KZZW HTToR/wsy.

Aug. 28, 1951 J. MOON AUTOMATIC LATCH MECHANISM FOR PORTABLE EXTENSION MASTS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 10, 1947 IN vE NTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Aug. 28, 1951 J. MOON AUTOMATIC LATCH MECHANISM FOR PORTABLE EXTENSION MASTS Filed Nov. 10, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VENTO/P.

Jam 2.5 JET on ATTORNEY-1 Patented Aug. 28, 1951 AUTOMATIC LATCH PORTABLE EXTENSION MAS-TS- James Moon, Altadena, C

ern Oil Tool & Engineering Co. Inc., Hollydale, Calif., a corporation of California Application November 10, 1947;.Serial No. 785,165

6 Claims. 1 This invention relates to a latching mechanism and particularly to a latching mechanism forv telescoping masts, and more particularly this invention is designed for use as a latching mechanism in the telescoping drilling mast type of derrick employed with portable oil well drilling and servicing rigs.

Portable drilling and servicing rigs are commonly employed in the petroleum production for the drilling and servicing of wells. Such rigs are usually transported on trucks or trailers which carry a mast or derrick which may be positioned on the truck and erected at the drilling site. Thesemasts are usually composed of one or more sections, usually two, in such form that the upper section may be telescoped into the lower section when the derrick is to be transported, and

upon erection of the lower section the telescoped derrick may be withdrawn or extended from the lower section to give a mast of thedesired height. This type of mast for such purposes is now conventional and is described inPatent No. 2.204.713

and in m co-pendingapplications Serial Nos. 786,461, filed November 27, 1947- and 10,412 filed February 24, 1949-.

Since such masts are called upon to carry tre-- mendous loads on the order of 200,000 pounds, it is important that when the derrick is extended the extensible portion be securely latched in position in the lower portion.

In such derricks of the prior art, manually operable latches have been provided and a numberof bad accidents have occurred because of the failure to securely latch the derrick in positionprior to application of load- Additionally, the latches, heretofore used, may be accidentally damaged due to improper setting when the derrick is retracted, and upon extensionof the derrick the damagedlatch fails toset and failure results. Accidents due to this cause have also been known.

It is an object and feature of my inventionto provide a latching mechanism which automatically latches thev extensible section of the mast to the lowermost section when the extensible mast section has reached a predetermined posi-' tion in relation to the lower section during the extension thereof and will hold the upper section securely in position under all loads designed to be taken by the derrick, and will also automatically unlatch and move into an inoperative position when the derrick is tobe retracted and remain in that position during the retraction thereof.

It is a particular feature of this inventionthat the latching mechanism operates automatically MECHANISM' FOR alif., assignor to Westand without-attention so thatreliance is not had uponthe human element in latching the. derrick inpositionor unlatching it for retractionsecurely latch. the derrick/in position.

Thelatching mechanism is at all. times out of the way, both when in operative position and in inoperative position.

These. andother objects. of my invention. will be clear from the following description taken together withthe accompanying drawings, in which:v

Fig. 1 isaverti'cal elevation partly fragmentary and partly schematic, showing a mastin erected position;

Fig. 2 Ba fragmentary, detail of. one of the legs.

of the extensible section showing the relationship between the legsand the valve actuating mechanism in one position;

Fig. 2ais similar to Fig. 2 but showing the valve actuating mechanism in another position;

Fig. 3 isa schematic showing ofv part of the piping. employed in thepneumatic actuation of the latching. mechanism; 1

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary part section takenon the line 4-4. of Fig.1.; said v section also being takenon the line. 4--4-o Fig. 5-;

Fig. 5'is afragmentarypart section taken along, the line 5-5 of. Fig. 4;

Fig- 6 is a sectiontaken. along the line 6-43 of Fig. 7, showing in diagrammatic form the piping layout and the valve mechanism in position to movethe latches into. their operative position;

Fig. '7 is a section taken along line '|--1 of Fig 6;

Fig. Sis a. section. takenalong line 8-8 of Fig.

5; and. a

Fig. 9 is a schematic view of the valve showing it. in positionfor moving the derrick to the inoperative position.

Derrick I may be mounted upon truck. 2 in any conventional. manner, such. as shown in Patent No. 2,204,713 or in my co-pending appli-r in a manner not shown, Such conbe extended from section 1 to anfelevated posi- Lower section 'I is seppanel sections by horition as shown in Fig. 1. arated into a number of zontal box girders 9a to the lowermost girder of the lower section. These 91, inclusive; 9a forms the top girder of the lower section, and 9 forms Another port, shown at BI (see Figs. 3 and 6) is girders connect the front legs I2 and I3 andthe rear legs I!) and II of the lower section, as shown;

in Figs. 4, 6, and '7.

Mounted on the front end of each of the boxgirders adjacent the front legs- I2 and I3 are uide channels I4 which extend between each of the adjacent box girders 9a to 9f, inclusive. These are connected to the box girders in the connected to the conduit 29' which is in turn connected to two manifolded pressure lines 3| and 3|. Another port 60 is connected to the line 29 and to the manifolded lines 32 and 32', and a fourth port is connected to the atmospheric vent 53. The bores 24a and '24h of the valve 24 can make the connections shown in both Figs. 6 and 9, and a quarter turn will change the port position from one form to the other.

One of the box girders, preferably 9b, has its lower plate 62" cut out to form an entry to the hollow chamber 59 inside the box girder between the legs I and I3 and also between II and I2. The upper plate 6I, of the box girder is bored with bores 60' positioned in the top plate of GI adjacent each of the front legs I2 and I 3 and also adjacent the rear legs I0 and II. The cut-out portions of the bottom plate 62 are covered by manner shown most clearly in Fig. 7. At each of the box girders adjacent, each pf the legs I0,

II, I2, and I3 is a semi-circular channel member I3 welded to'the box girders and connected to the legs I0, II, I2, and I3, respectively,.by a gusset I311. Circular guide channels I4 are connected (by welding) by spacers I to the channels I3 to provide a space between the channels I4 and I3 for purposes to be describedhereinbelow.

The front legs of the upper telescoping section, shown at I1, are guided in the channel member I4 mounted adjacent the front legs I2, and the back legs I8 of the-telescoping inner section are mounted and guided in guide channels I4 mounted adjacent the rear legs I0 and II. The

inner section is thus securely guided in the lower section and maybe. extended and in its extension is guided by the channels I4.

In a derrick adapted for the use of the derrick latch of my invention I prefer that at least one of the rear legs, either It] or II, be hollow. Of course, all may be tubular in character but at least one is provided (see Fig. 3 at its lower end close to the bottom channel 9f with a plug or diaphragm I Swhich seals that end of the, tubular member. Adjacent the diaphragm I9 is provided a drain outlet suitably provided with a valve. The upper end of the tubular leg ad acent the member 9a is also closed by a plug or diaphragm 22, thus providing a sealed tubular conduit between I9 and 22. An inlet line 2I is connected to the tubular member at some convenient point intermediatethe diaphragm22 and I 9 to be connected to a source of high pressure fluid such as oil or air for purposes to be described hereinafter. Mounted underneath the box girder 9a is a valve 24 preferably of the rotary type and 2.0- 4

tuated by spokes 25 (see Figs. 2 and 2a) which act to rotate the four-way plug 24. These spokes are operated by a hingedly mounted dog 25' which is mounted on a bracket 26 on one of the legs I8. This dog will break at the hinge point on the descent of the leg as it contacts the spokes 25 of the valve so as not to rotate the .valve, but is rigid on the, upstroke of the leg so that it will rotate the valve. In this fashion the valve is rotated a quarter turn when the upper section 8 is raised sumciently so that the dog 25' passes the valve on the upward movement of 8, but will not actuate the valve when, on the downward movementof section 8, the ,dog again passes by the valve. Y

One of the ports 59 of the four-way plug valve 24 (see Figs. 3 and 6) is connected by a conduit 28 to the pressure outlet 23 of the tubular leg I0,

plates 30 which may be bolted to the bottom plate 62', as shown in' Figs. 4, '5, and 6. These plates carry sleeves 38 welded'to the plates 30 on brackets 39.

The sleeves 38 carry bushings 40 in which is rotatably mounted the shaft 4|. Mounted on shaft 4| is a collar 42 secured to the shaft M by a key M. A spring 43 is mounted on shaft 4I between the collar 42 and cap 43'. Hingedly mounted upon the plate 30 at 30a are power cylinders 30' carrying a piston 33 connected to a piston rod 34 which is pivotally connected at 35 to a bracket 36adjustably mounted upon a reciprocating rod 31. at the end of the rod 3! nearest therear legs Ill and I I, respectively, by an arm 46 which is] pivotally connected at to the bracket 44 mounted upon the collar 42. 31, nearest the legs I2 and I 3, is connected to a similar bracket 44 by the arm 4! which is piv- Q otally connected to the bracket 44 by a pivot 45 and connected to the rod 31 by means of a sleeve 48 adjustably mounted upon rod 31 by means of the retaining nuts 49 and 50 which are screwed v onto the threaded end of the rod 31.

The lower end of the shaft II which protrudes beneath the plate 30 is connected by an arm 5| mounted at right angles to the axis of the shaft M. The arm 5| is connected to a cup 52 whose axis is parallel to the axis of 4I. The inner diameter of the cup 52 is of such size as to receive the legs I1 and I8, as will be described below. The cup is beveled at its upper end at 53 and is closed by a split ring 54 which extends to form a ledge 55 and has a lip 51 to form a ledge 58.

The operation of the device will be clear from what has been said before. When the derrick is in position on the truck the upper section 8 is retracted completely inside the lower section 1. The bottom of the upper section is adjacent the lower girder 9]. When it is desired to erect the derrick, the hydraulic jack 5 is extended, the derrick rotating round the hinge point 3 upon the frame 4 and aroundthe hinge point 6 on the jack 5, and the derrick is moved into erect position shown inFig. 1. The bottom derrick section may be latched in position by conventional means usually employed in this art. The

upper section 8 may then be extended by moving this section in its guideways I4 into the erect:

position shownvin, Fig. 1. Means for extending the derrick are well known and are now used in such derricks, or I may use the extending means The rod 31 is connected,

The end of the rod shown in my co-pending. application Ser. No- 10,412. At this point, as well as when the derrick is retracted, the latching mechanism has the position shown underneath the plates 30 and extended as shown in Fig. 4-.

As the derrick section 8 moves up, when one of the legs l8 carrying the bracket 26 has reached a point near its upper limit of travel, the dog 25 (see Fig. 2) will rotate the valve 24 to place it in position, shown in Fig. 6 The derrick may then move upward a short distance, the dog 25' clearing the arm 25. Pressure is thus applied via leg l and line 28, 60, line 29 to lines 32 and 32. The lines 3| and 3| are vented via line 21, port 6|, bore 24a, port 62, and line 63. The piston rod 34'- is moved in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 6, to rotate the shaft 4| to move the cups 52 in the direction of the arcuate arrows on Fig. cups from the position Fig. 4 to the position shown in Figs. 6 and 7. Thederrick legs [8 and the piston is fully I! have been raised so that their lower and is' spaced from the top of the lower section H for a distance greater i. e., the distance between 53 and the bottom 58' of the ring 54. This permits the cups to swing into position with the outer rims of the ring 54 against [3. This aligns the cups axially with the legs IT and I8, respectively. The upper section is then lowered. The dog 25" breaks at the hinge point as the arm 26 passes the valve and thus the valve is not actuated. The pressure in the cylinder thus holds the cups against the guide I3. The fourv legs I! and [8 enter the corresponding cups and the weight of the derrick.

pushes the shaft 4| down, the shaft and key M sliding in the. collar 42 and the keyway out therein, compressing the spring 43. The cups are set on top of the guide H with the. rim 58 nesting between l3 and I4. The derrick is thus locked in extended position. Each of the four cups act similarly.

Usually the derrick legs l8 are smaller in diameter than the derrick legs I! and the cooperating cups must therefore be dimensioned to receive these derrick legs. In this position it will be observed that the legs rest directly on top of the guide section M which are in turn connected through the box girders to the legs I0, I l, and [2 of the lower derrick section so that the load im posed on the upper section is transmitted directly to the derrick legs and through the guide sections. It will be observed that none of this load is imposed upon the latching mechanism except in that the loads are transferred through the ring members '54 to the derrick legs. It will also be observed that the greater the load on 8, the more firmly do the legs seat in the cups and the more firmly are they latched in position.

In retracting the derrick, the reverse procedure is employed. The derrick is lifted until the bottom of the legs clears the top rim 53 sufficient to permit the spring 43 to retract the rim 58' from between I3 and M. In so doing the dog 25 again rotates the valve 90 (see Fig. 2) moving the valve from the position shown in Fig. 6 to that in Fig. 9. The air pressure is now applied to the cylinders through lines 3! and 3|, 32 and 32' being vented through 63. This causes the piston and piston rod to move to the right (Fig. 6') in the direction opposite to that indicated by the arrow. The cups are swung into the position shown in Fig. by movement in a direction opposite to that of the arrows in Fig. 4. The legs may now in Figs. 4 and 5, with the cups through port 59, bore 241), port 4. This moves the than the height of the cups,

' tration,

descend along the guideways'. M to permit the.

retraction of the upper derrick section.

While I have described a particular embodiment of my invention for the purpose of illusit should be understood that" various modifications and adaptations thereof may be made within the spirit of the invention asset forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An automatic latching mechanism for sectional extensible-drilling masts comprising a lower section, an upper'extensible section telescopically mounted in. said lower section in extensible and retractible position, a latching means mounted on said sections for latching said upper and lower sections with the upper section in extended position, power actuated means for moving said latching means into operative latching position and for moving said latching means into inoperative unlatched position, automatic means mounted on said mast, said automatic means including means for controlling application. of. power in one direction to actuate said latching means, for moving said latching means into operative latching position, and means said controlling means upon the.

for operatingv arrival of said telescoping section at a predetermined position during the upward extension of said derrick, said controlling means being also. operative to control said power means to move said latching means to inoperative unlatching position upon movement of said upper section from its extended and latched position.

2. An automatic latching. mechanism for sec.

tionel extensible drilling masts comprising a lower section, an upper extensible section telescopically mounted on said lower section in'extensible and retractible position, a latching means mounted on. said sections for latchingsaid upper and lower sections with the upper section in extended position, means for moving said latching means into operative latching position and for moving said latching means into inoperative unlatching position, said latching means comprising an interlock between said extensible members, a pneumatically actuated power means mounted on said mast for moving said interlock to operative latching position and also operative for moving said interlock into inoperative unlatched position, a pneumatic line connected to said power means, a valve in said line mounted on said mast, means mounted on said mast to actuate said valve to apply the pneumatic pressure in said power means to move said latching means from an unlatched to latching position upon the arrival of said telescoping section at a predetermined position during the upward extension of said telescoping section, said valve actuating means being operative also to apply pneumatic pressure in said power means to move said latching means to inoperative unlatching position for retraction of said derrick from its initial extended latched position.

3. A latching means for extensible sectional drilling masts comprising a lower section, an upper extensible section telescopically mounted in said lower section, said sections being composed of cross-braced longitudinal members, a latching mechanism for said mast comprising a plurality of cup-shaped members, said members being hingedly mounted on the cross braces of one of said members, and means for moving said cup-shaped members about said hinge point into position between the longitudinal members of the upper and lower sections in load transmitting the direction of relationship between the longitudinal members of said section.

4. A latching means for extensible drilling masts comprising a lower section,- an upper extensible section telescopically mounted in .said lower section, each of said sections composed of longitudinal leg members, lateral cross bracing between said leg members, a latching means mounted on said lower section, said latching means comprising an arm hingedly mounted on a hinge point positioned on one of the cross braces on the lower section, a leg receiving member mounted on said arm, means for moving said arm about the hinge point to swing said arm into latching position underneath the lower end of one of the leg members of the upper section upon arrival of said end at a point above said leg receiving member, means mounted upon said lower section underneath said leg receiving member to engage said leg receiving member in latching position, and means for engaging in latching position said lower end of said leg of said'upper section, said leg receiving member and said aforesaid means in said lower member upon lowering of said leg into said leg receiving member.

5. A latching means for extensible drilling masts comprising a lower section, an upper extensible section telescopically mounted in said lower section, each of said sections composed of longitudinal leg members, lateral cross bracing between said leg members, a latching means mounted on said lower section, said latching means comprising an arm hingedly mounted on a hinge point positioned on one of the cross braces on the lower section, a cup mounted on said arm, a pneumatic power cylinder containing a piston and a piston rod mounted on said cross bracing upon which said hinge point is mounted, a link between said piston rod and said arm, a pneumatic pressure line connected to said power cylinder, a valve in said line and mounted on one of said sections, a valve actuating means mounted on the; other'section'and acting toactuate said valve upon the'arrival of said upper section at a predetermined location on extension thereof, said hinged arm being of length suificient to move said cup underneath the end of a leg of said upper section upon arrival of said upper section at'said predetermined location during the, extension thereof, a cup receiving means mounted upon said lower section underneath said cup when positioned to receive the endof the leg of the upper'section, and means for engaging in latching position said lower end of said leg, said cup and saidcup receiving means upon lowering of-said leg into said cup.

6. An automatic latching'mechanism for Seetional drilling-masts, comprising a lower section,

an upper extensible section, telescopically mount-s ed in said lower section in extensible and retractible position, a latch means mounted on one, of

; said sections'for latching said upper section in extended position against retractive movement of said extensible section, means mounted on said mastfor actuating said latching means to move said latching means into a latched position to prevent the retraction of said extensible section,

actuating means for moving said latching means into an unlatched position to permit the retraction of said extensible section, said actuating means being "actuable by the arrival of said extensible section at a predetermined position during said extension of said extensible section to cause the latching means to move to latching position, and said actuating means including means actuable upon withdrawal of said extensible section from said position to cause themovement of, said latch from latching position to permit the furtherretractive movement of said extensible section. V

No reference cited.

JAMES MooN.

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