US2570320A

US2570320A - Combination traveling block and swivel connection

Info

Publication number: US2570320A
Application number: US687312A
Authority: US
Inventors: Byron C Christensen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1946-07-31
Filing date: 1946-07-31
Publication date: 1951-10-09
Anticipated expiration: 1968-10-09

Description

Oct. 9, 1951 B. C. CHRISTENSEN COMBINATION TRAVELING BLOCK AND SWIVEL CONNECTION Filed July 51 1946 36 37 35 glay. 4?.

7 33 -3 a" \A 50 45 29 ,5 z; 46 60 E 48 a 50 Z; 52

5/ E 55 56 6' 7 l 57 6/ 2 54 6'? \b Q 8 2 Q m Z8 L i I ma .2 l0

2/ Zhwentor Byron C (fir/'5 fame/L Gttomeg Patented Oct. 9, 1951 OFFICE COMBINATION TRAVELING BLOCK AND SWIVEL CONNECTION Byron C. Christensen, Oklahoma City, Okla.

Application July 31, 1946, Serial No. 687,312

This invention relates to traveling blocks and particularly to a combination traveling block and swivel connection adapted for use in the tackle of a rotary drilling rig or the like for handling strings of drill pipe, casing and similar heavy loads.

The ordinary traveling block and its connection with the bail of a swivel head or elevator is of considerable combined length so that it limits the ultimate height that the drill pipe or other load can be raised within the derrick of a drilling rig without dan er of colliding the traveling block with the crown pulley of the derrick. It is often desirable to obtain a maximum lift but with the high speed operation of the drawworks it is difficult for the driller to accurately judge the position of the traveling block as it approaches the crown block of the derrick. Consequently, to-

8 Claims. (C1. 25 4,-195) I single piece having a where the height of the derrick must be kept with- V in the length limits that can be transported over public highways.

Therefore, the principal objects of the present invention are to provide 'a combined traveling block and swivel connection that is characterized by its extremely short, compact construction; to provide a substantially sturdy traveling block unit of small size and capable of handling heavy loads; to provide a traveling block with shock absorbing means located intermediate the block sheaves; to provide an improved mounting of the sheaves in the body of a traveling block structure; to provide a traveling block structure having a fewer number of parts and connections to be made when the block is assembled in a tackle mechanism; and to provide a sheave arrangement that assures a centralized draft through the axis of the traveling block.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the" invention, I have provided improved structure, the preferred form of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein:

i :Fig. 1 is a side elevational new of my. improved traveling block and swivel connection member and showing a part of the block body broken away and in section to better illustrate the swivel bushingand lock therefor.

' Fig. 2 is a longitudinal central section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

f 3 is a cross section on the line 3+3 of Fig. 2.-

: Refe'rring more in detail to the drawing:

designates a (combined traveling block and swivel connection constructed in accordance with the present invention and which includes-a travelingblockbody; 2.: The body 2 is constructed ina 2v streamlined shape and a substantially smooth exterior to avoid possibility of the block hanging up on a part of the derrick of substantially semi-cylindrical shape with the axis extending horizontally of the longitudinal axis of the body of the block anda lower portion 4 having converging

sides

5 and 6 extending downwardly from the rounding top I. The

other sides

8 and 9 are preferably rounded from the lower end of the block to the ends of the semi-cylindrical portion 3 as best shown in Fig. 2. Formed within the body of the block coaxially with the longitudinal axis thereof is a sleeve-like partition Ill forming a central compartment H opening through aboss l2 at thetop of the block (Fig. 1)v and terminating within the lower end of the block in. an annular bearing seat 13 encircling an opening 14 in which is rotatablymounted a swivel bushing l5 having an annular flange l6 supported upon an anti-friction bearing I! carried on the seat, l3. The upper end of. the bushing and the upper face of the flange l6 provide a sup: port for one end [8 of a coil spring I9 later described. The opposite end of the bushingprojects through the opening l4 and is encircled with an oil sealing ring 20. for retaining the lubricant for the. bearing ll.v Thebushing is provided with an axial opening 2|,preferably of polygonal shaped cross section to slidably and non-rotatably mount a stem 22 of a connecting member 23 which in the illustrated instance is shown as being a safety hook although the stem may be provided with a clevis or other connecting device without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The polygonal-shaped portion of the stem ter-' minates substantially midway of the block in a cylindrical extension'24 having threads 25 for mounting an adjusting nut 26 on the stem'and providing a stop face 21 adapted to engage a stop face 28 on the swivel bushing when the spring I9 is compressed under load. The nut 26 includes a sleeve-like body of substantial length having a threaded bore 29 to receive the threaded end of the stem and is provided with an annular flange 30 spaced from the upper end to form an annular seat for a thrust bearing 3|, the bearing being retained on the seat by a washer 32 sleeved on the threaded stem and secured by a nut 33 and a cotter pin 34 extending through the nut and. stem as shown in Fig. 2.

The upper end of the compartment l l is closed by a cap 35 that is seated on the boss I2 and has a depending annular flange 36 extending into the compartment and into a position to be engaged by the thrust bearing. The spring 19 is coiled about the stem and has its upper end bearing against the flange 30 so as to normally support the thrust bearing in contact with the annular flange 36 when the load carried by the connection member is relatively light or has been removed fromtheblock. The

cap

3,5 isseculted by,

fastening-devices 3:1 and has anreye-38 projectingg therefrom. At times it may be desirable to lock the bushing from rotation and this is efiected by fixed to a projecting-end of the, shaft ell-as: shown" inFig. 3.

Formed. Within the body'of" the block on; opposite sides ofthe compartmenttl-l

arejsheave compartments

45 and 45. that 'open through the sides" 5; and 6,.to permit insertion of. sheaves; and 4B. The sidewalls Band 9 f 'the body-of-theblock are provided concentric with the axis of. the. upper portion. 3 with openings49and-50'which register with smaller openingsl and 5am the. side walls of the tubular partition lfln The openings 49.. and 59am encircled on the. outersides' ofv the body. of the block by. annular recesses.5.3 and 54 as shown in Fig. 2 for mounting spindles. 5.5; and 56, The spindles 55; and 55 each include. a. stub. shaft. 51 of, a diameter. to snugly engage. inthe o oenin s 5l and 52 and;which.are mounted on p1ates,58 thathave portions.59 snugly engaged. Within openings. 49; and 51L plates, areanchored in the recesses53 and" 5 bv fastening devices such. as cap. screws 69: Mounted; on. the. stub shafts: areanti friction bearings. 6|; carryingthe hubs 62 of. the. respective. sheaves, as,

The latch 31 has a .1:ounded;. endAZ of the compartments and 45 so that the hubs thereof register with the openings 49.

The spindles 55 and 56 carrying the roller bearings are then moved into position through the bearings and into the openings 5i and 52. The cap screws 60 are applied to retain the spindles in position. The cover plates 63 and 64 are appliedto complete the assembly.

The block. is used in customary manner by threading the tackle cable 51" through the openings 65 and around the sheaves and the hook 23 is attached to the bail of the apparatus to be handledibvthestaclsle.

When. power is appliedto the cable Gland a loadis depending from the hook 23, the spring l9 yields to reduce shock incidental to sudden applioationofiapower. If the latch 39 is in position ShQWIl..in Fig. l, the hook and swivel bushing arefree toswivel within the body of the block to avoid twisting of the cable lines when the load is rotated; for example, as when unscrewing the joints-of adrillpipet From= theforegoing it is. obvious that I have provided a tack-1e block assembly-including a con- 25 heating-member that isof compact construction;

of streamlined shape, and composed of a comparativelysmallnumber ofparts.

What I'claimand desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

1i Inadevice of the character described-in eludinga body member having a central compartment extending through ends of" the body member; a connecting member, a stem on the connecting member projecting into the compartment through one end and terminating at the opposite end of='the body member a swivel bushing for' mounting the-stem slidably inone end of the compartment a springsleeved on the stem and having one end seated. on said bushing, a

spring adjusting member mounted on the stem shown in Fig.1 2.. Thesheave compartments. 45.

and 4.6. are closed. onthe respective sides 5 and.6. of. theblock. bv plates 53 and. 6.4. secured. in. 13.0-- sition bv su table. fastening devices such. as. screws 65.. The cover. plates have open ngs 6.6; therein to facilitatethreadingof the. tackle. cable. 61.- and to facilitatethreadingthereoiaboutthe.

sheaves;

In assembling. the traveling block: the swivel: bushing; l6 and thrustbearing I] are moved into: the cylindrical compartment H throughethe omens upper end thereof. The stem 2240f. the hook-is; then moved throughtthe opening zl ofrthe bushing SOi that the threadediendj-iislocatezr in ,thez.oD- posite end of the cylindrical; chamber and. in: lapping relation with the sheave compartments. The spring I9- is then passed'into the compart ment' II and over the stem 22-;so-thatthe-=endf28 seats upon the swivel'bushing IS: The nut-29 isthen passed over the upper end'of the stem and turned to engage the threads for movingthe flange 39 into contact withthe upper end of the spring, the nut being turned on the-:stem un-tl-lthe stem projects from theu-pper-end oi the nut for mounting the retaining nut33.

The thrust bearing 3| is then applied tothe nut followed'by thewasher 32 and retaining nut 33. The cap 35 is applied to close the-open-u-pper end of the compartment H and form a stop for the thrust bearing- 31". The sheaves 41- and- 48 are moved into positionthrough the'open' side's terminal of said portion of the stem'for forming'ai.

for engaging-the opposite endof said spring, a" thrust-bearing" carried by said adjusting memher to move with, the stem, and acap closing the other end'of thecompartment and having a stop adapted to seat saidbearing against action. of.

a disprine,

2...I n. a device of the character described, in-

cluding a body member having a central. comp-- partment extending through ends of the body member, a. connecting. member, a stem on the. connectingmember projecting into the compartment through. one endand terminating at the, opposite end. of. the. body member, a swivel bushing swivelly supported. at said O en end of the compartment and having an axial bore, said bore.

anda. portionof. the stem. being of a cross sectional shape to. provide. a non-rotativesliding connection between the stem and bushing throughsaid portion'of the stem a spring sleeved onthestem and having oneend seated on said: bushing, a spring adjusting member mounted on the stem for engaging the opposite end of said spring; a, thrust bearing carriedby said adjusting member; and; a; cap closing the other-end, of the; compartmentzand having; a stop adapted teen-- gage-andseatsaid bearing against actionof said; spring, said adjusting member-having a sleeve portion terminating" at, substantially the; upper stop adapted to engage the swivel; bushing to limit compression of thespring when a. load"v is applied to the connecting member for support by said'device.

3 A device of the character described includ inga body mem-b'er having a central compartment extending through one end of the body member, a connecting member, a stem on the non-rotative slidable connection between said 5 stem and bushing a spring sleeved on the stem and having one end seated within the body member, a spring adjusting member mounted on the stem for engaging the opposite end of said spring, a thrust bearing carried by said adjusting member to move axially in the body member'with said stem, and a stop adapted to support said bearing against action of said spring in the expanding direction of the spring, said adjusting member having a sleeve portion terminating at said polygonal portion of the stem for forming a stop adapted to engage the swivel bushing to limit compression of the spring when a load is applied to the connecting member for support by said device.

4. A traveling block including a body member having sheave compartments on opposite sides of an intermediate compartment extending through one end of the body member with partitions dividing the compartments and cooperating with sides of the body member for forming sides of the sheave compartments, spindles arranged transversely of the sheave compartments and having support in the sides of the body member and said partitions, sheaves rotatable within the sheave compartment on the spindles, a swivel bushing, means rotatably mounting the swivel bushing in the end of the intermediate compartment opposite said sheaves, a cap closing the opposite end of the intermediate compartment and forming a stop directly between said sheaves, a stem having non-rotatable sliding support in said swivel bushing and terminating between said sheaves at said cap, a spring seat on the terminal end of the stem and having an annular shoulder, a thrust bearing carried on said shoulder and adapted to engage said stop on the cap, and a spring having one end seated on the swivel bushing and its other end engaging the spring seat to normally retain the thrust bearing in contact with said stop.

5. A traveling block including a body member having sheave compartments on opposite sides of an intermediate compartment extending through one end of the body member with partitions dividing the compartments and cooperating with sides of the body member to form sides of the sheave compartments, spindles arranged transversely of the sheave compartments, sheaves rotatable within the sheave compartments on the spindles, a swivel bushing, means rotatably mounting the swivel bushing in the end of the intermediate compartment opposite said sheaves, a cap closing the opposite end of the intermediate compartment and forming astop directly between said sheaves, a stem having non-rotatable sliding support in said bushing and terminating between said sheaves at said cap, a spring seat on the terminal end of the stem and having an annular shoulder, a thrust bearing fixed to said shoulder and adapted to engage said stop on the cap, a spring having one end seated on the swivel bushing and its other end engaging the spring seat to normally retain the thrust bearing in contact with said stop, and a thrust hearing be- 6. tween the bushing sleeve and body member to cooperate with the thrust bearing on the spring seat for limiting expansion of said spring.

6. In a traveling block, a body member having sheave compartments on opposite sides of an intermediate compartment with partitions separating said compartments and cooperating with sides of the body member to form sides of the sheave compartments, said body member having recesses in the outer faces of said sides of the body member and having openings in the bottoms of said recesses registering coaxially with open ings in the partitions, individual spindles extending through said openings, plate-like heads on the spindles and located in the recesses, and fastening devices for removably securing said heads to the body member.

'7. In a traveling block, a body member having sheave compartments on opposite sides of an intermediate compartment with partitions separating said compartments and cooperating with sides of the body member to form sides of the sheave compartments, said body member having recesses in outer faces of said sides of the body member and having openings in the bottoms of said recess registering coaxially with openings in the partitions, individual spindles extending through said openings, plate-like heads on the spindles and. located in the recesses, fastening devices for removably securing said heads to the body member, sheaves rotatable on said spindles, said body member having sheave insert openings intermediate said sides or the sheave compartments for insertion of the sheaves, and plates for closing said insert openings.

8. A traveling block including, a body member having sheave compartments on opposite sides of an intermediate compartment extending through one end of the body member with partitions dividing the compartments and cooperatin with sides of the body member for forming sides of the sheave compartments, spindles arranged transversely of the sheave compartments and having support in the sides of the body member and said partitions, sheaves rotatable within the sheave compartment on the spindles, a swivel bushing, means rotatably mounting the swivel bushing in the end of the intermediate compartment opposite said sheaves, a stem having non-rotatable sliding support in said swivel bushing and terminating between said sheaves, a spring seat on the terminal end of the stem and having an annular shoulder, a thrust bearing carried on said shoulder and adapted to engage a part on said body member, and a spring having one end seated on the swivel bushing and its other end engaging the spring seat to normally retain the thrust bearing in contact with said part.

BYRON C. CHRISTENSEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 1 file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS