US2643007A

US2643007A - Pipe handling apparatus

Info

Publication number: US2643007A
Application number: US237777A
Authority: US
Inventors: Bowman W Gray
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1951-07-20
Filing date: 1951-07-20
Publication date: 1953-06-23
Anticipated expiration: 1970-06-23

Description

June 23, 1953 B. w. GRAY I 2,643,007

PIPE HANDLING APPARATUS Filed July 20, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VENT OR 3 BJ KGray ATTORNEYS June 23, 1953 a. w. GRAY 2,643,007

PIPE HANDIZING APPARATUS Filed July 20, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 5'5 INVENTOR' BlWr aray BY- i: I

ATroNEYs Patented June 23, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PIPE HANDLING APPARATUS Bowman W. Gray, Odessa, Tex.

Application July 20, 1951, Serial No. 2375777 2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to apparatus for conveying pipe from a Well to a rack or storage location.

-When removing pipe from a well, the pipe sections, which are approximately thirty feet in length, are pulled vertically upwardly by a derrick or the like, and when the lower end is clear of the ground and is disconnected from the succeeding section, the present practice is to hook the lower end of the pipe section to a sheave mounted for movement along a taut cable extending from the derrick. One of the difliculties encountered in the present practice is the dropping of the pipe onto a rack or pile in an even manner.

Another difficulty in the present practice is the lack of automatic equipment for releasing the outer end of the pipe at a predetermined lateral location.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention 'to provide means for automatically releasing the pipe at a predetermined point in the lateral movement thereof so that the pipe may be stacked in an even pile.

A further object of this invention is to provide a conveying device which can readily be adapted for conveying elongated heavy rods, boxes or bundles of material. 1

With the above and other objects in view, my invention consists in the arrangement, combination and details of construction disclosed in the drawings and specification, and then more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a carrier for conveying a pipe which is constructed according to an embodiment of this invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure I.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary side elevation showing an attachment adapted to be used with the carrier.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary bottom plan of the attachment shown in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary side elevation partly in section showing another attachment or accessory for use with this invention. 7

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 'I'I of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a rear elevation of the accessory shown in Figures 6 and '7.

Referring to the drawings, and, first, to Figures 1, 2, and 3 the numeral I designates generally a carrier frame structure which is formed of side frame members II and I2 and a top wall I3. A pair of grooved Wheels I and I6 are rotatably mounted on transversely disposed shafts I1 and I8, respectively. The grooved wheels I5 and I6 ride over a relatively taut cable It which is preferably inclined to the horizontal and is normally extended from a well derrick to a remote point where it is intended to store pipe which has been withdrawn from the well.

The frame structure II] also includes a transversely. disposed bar at the forward end of the frame which is secured between the side members II and I2, and the bar 20 has secured therein a rubber bumper or guide 2!. A pipe carrying hook 22 is rockably mounted on a shaft 23 disposed between the side members II and I2, and the hook 22 is formed with a bill 24 adapted to engage Within one end of a pipe section P.

In order to provide a means whereby the hook 22 will be locked in a pipe carrying position until the carrier I0 has reached a predetermined point along the length of the cable I3, I have provided a latch member 25 which is rockably mounted on a shaft 26 extending between the side members I I and I2. The latch member 25 includes a latching bill 21 which is adapted to engage a complementary latching bill or keeper 28 which is formed on or carried by the hook 22.

A spring 29 bears at one end against the forward side of the latch member 25 engaging about a lug 30 which is carried by the latch member 25, and the opposite or forward end of spring 29 is seated in a socket 3| which is secured to and supported from one of the side members of the frame, and in the present instance is secured to .the side member I2.

The upper end of the latch member 25 has pivotally secured thereto an elongated plunger 32 which is loosely mounted in a cylindrical housing 33. The forward end of the plunger 32 is pivotally connected with the latch member 25 by means of the pivot pin 34. A spring is disposed about the plunger 32 within the housing 33 and bears at its forward end against the forward end wall 35 of housing 33 and bears at its rear end against a collar 31 which is secured on the plunger 32.

The housing 33 is threaded at its rear end into a bushing 38 which is carried by a bracket arm 39, and the arm 39 is provided as at Ail on the inner side of wall I2. The rear end of plunger 32 is formed with a rounded head II confronting a plunger operator or lever 42 which is pivotally 3 mounted on a transversely disposed pin or shaft 43 extending between the side members H and I2. The lever or operator 42 is formed with a relatively long slot 44 through which the cable I5 is adapted to loosely engage, and the rear side of the lever 42 is formed with a rounded or cam surface 45 which is adapted to be engaged by a stop member or collar 46 which is clamped to the cable 19 at the point or location where it is desired to drop the pipe P.

The frame H] has an eye 41 at the forward portion of the top wall I3 with which a cable or flexible member 48 is connected so that the carrier It may be returned from its remote discharge position to a receiving position adjacent the derrick.

In order to provide a means whereby the carrier I may be adapted for carrying articles other than pipes such as boxes, machine tools, drill collars or the like, a pair of clevises 49 are adapted to be mounted on the shaft 26, and the ends of a chain or sling forming member 50 are connected with the two clevises 49.

Where long rods or the like are to be conveyed from the derrick to a remote position, an attachment is mounted on the hook 22 as shown in Figures 6, '7 and 8. This attachment comprises a socket member having a pair of rearwardly projecting ears 52 which are adapted'to engage on opposite sides of the bill 24 of the hook 22.

Preferably the bill 24 at its forward end is formed with a notch 53 within which a' substantially V-shaped lug 54 carried .by the rear of the socket 52 is adapted to engage.

A pin 55 is extended through the ears 52 and through the bill 24 as shown in Figures 6 and '7 so that the socket 5| will be firmly locked to the bill 22.

In the use and operation of this apparatus the carrier i0 is mounted for movement on the taut cable 19, and the stop or release member 46 is clamped about the cable I9 at a point closely adjacent the point of discharge or release of the article from the carrier I0. Where a pipe P is to be conveyed one end of the pipe P is telescoped over the bill 24 of the hook 22, the pipe abutting against a lug 53a carried by bill 24, and at this time the hook 22 is locked against rocking by means of the spring-pressed latch member 25. Lug 5311 provides a weight to assist in swinging hook 22 to released position. The pipe is then moved downwardly along the cable I9, and when the releasing lever 42 strikes the stop member 46 plunger 32 will be moved forwardly, thereby re- 4 leasing latch member 25 from keeper 28 so that hook 22 may rock downwardly and forwardly to a release or discharge position.

Where a sling is to be used which is formed by the chain 50 the hook 22 may be raised upwardly to an out of the way position and held in such out of the way position by means of a pin engaging through aligned openings 56 which are formed in the side members I I and 12. This pipe or rod conveying device will provide a means whereby the article which is to be conveyed will be moved to a selected location and automatically released from the carrier at such predetermined location.

What is claimed is:

1. Pipe handling apparatus comprising a mova'ble frame, a pair of grooved wheels rotatably carried by said frame and engageable on a taut cable whereby said frame may be moved along said cable, a pipe engaging hook rockably carried by said frame, a keeper carried by said hook, a spring-pressed latching member carried by said frame for engaging said keeper to lock said hook in operative position, a latch releasing lever carried by said frame, a spring biased operating connection between said latch and said lever, and a lever operator secured to said cable whereby contact of said lever with said operator will rock said lever to latch releasing position.

2. In combination, a taut cable disposed on an inclination to the horizontal, a pipe carrier movable along said cable comprising a frame, grooved wheels rotatably carried by said frame engaging said cable, a pipe supporting hook rockably carried by said frame, a spring-pressed latch carried by said frame, a keeper carried by said hook engageable by said latch for normally holding said hook in operative position, a spring-pressed plunger pivotally connected at one end to said latch, means supporting said plunger in said frame, a latch releasing lever rockably carried by said frame and bearing against the opposite end of said plunger, and a lever operator fixed to said cable adapted to rock said lever to latch releasing position.

BOWMAN W. GRAY.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 919,003 Hahn et a1. Apr. 20, 1909 2,425,292 McCoy Aug. 12, 1947 2,539,751 Olsen Jan. 30, 1951