US3288000A

US3288000A - Supporting and positioning mechanism for power tongs

Info

Publication number: US3288000A
Application number: US428777A
Authority: US
Inventors: Foster James Lewis
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1965-01-28
Filing date: 1965-01-28
Publication date: 1966-11-29
Anticipated expiration: 1983-11-29

Description

N v- 96 J. L FLOSTER 3,288,000

SUPPORTING AND POSITIONING MECHANISM FOR POWER TONGS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 28, 1965 z/'meJ ZQW/J FaJ fer INVENTOR.

ATTO/PA/E y SUPPORTING AND POSITIONING MECHANISM FOR POWER TONGS Filed Jan. 28, 1965 J. L. FOSTER Nov. 29, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 (far/7a.; Zew/J Fa: fer

INVENTOR.

ATTOPMFLV United States Patent 3,288,000 SUPPORTING AND POSITIONING MECHANISM FOR POWER TONGS James Lewis Foster, P.O. Box 1351, Wichita Falls, Tex. Filed Jan. 28, 1965, Ser. No. 428,777 9 Claims. (Cl. 81-54) The invention relates to the connecting and disconnecting of sections of well pipe by means of power tongs and more particularly to mechanism for supporting and positioning power tongs for such use.

The invention is capable of wide application in connection with the connecting and disconnecting of sections of pipe and the like employed in well drilling and production operations and finds particular utility in the making up and breaking out of strings of drill pipe during the drilling of wells.

In the drilling of oil and gas wells it is customary to make use of power tongs for connecting and disconnect ing sections of drill pipe, such tongs usually being of a type having a frame formed at one end with a hollow housing provided with a central opening therethrough, and within which rotary head mechanism is rotatably mounted, to be driven by gear mechanism operated by a pressure fluid actuated motor carried on the frame. The rotary head mechanism includes means engageable with the pipe when the same is extended through the central opening to rotate the pipe with the mechanism and which is disengageable from the pipe to release the same.

In the use of tong mechanism of this kind, it has been customary heretofore to suspend the tong from above by a cable, the tong being supported by the cable in a position over the well bore with its central opening in axial alignment therewith for use in connecting and disconnecting sections of pipe, and being swung aside and lowered by the cable to a stand-by location when out of use. The use of such cable suspension means presents the disadvantage that the tong must be manually swung into and out of position for engagement with the pipe which greatly increases the labor and difiiculty in the use of the equipment. Moreover, the suspension of the tong for free swinging movement greatlyincreases the likelihood of injury to the user or damage to the mechanism.

The present invention has for an important object the provision of supporting and positioning mechanism for power tongs by which such tongs may be moved into and supported in an elevated position over the bore of a Well for use in rotating a section of well pipe in the connecting together or disconnecting of such sections of a string of pipe extending into the bore and moved aside from such position and supported in an out-of-use position laterally away from the bore when not in use.

Another object of the invention is to provide power tong supporting and positioning mechanism by which the position of the tong may be adjusted vertically while the same is supported horizontally above a well bore to allow the tong to be engaged with a section of well pipe at a desired location to permit the same to be rotated relative to another such section located below in connecting or disconnecting the sections.

hydraulically operable means for elevating and lowering the tongs whereby the vertical position of the same may be adjusted as desired.

3,288,000 Patented Nov. 29, 1966 lcg A further object of the invention is the provision of power tong supporting and positioning mechanism embodying means for movably supporting the tong for generally horizontal swinging movement into and out of position for engagement with a section of pipe to be connected into or disconnected from a string of pipe extending into a well bore and including means for allowing vertical rocking movement of the tong to permit angular adjustment of the tong relative to the pipe to accurately position the tong for gripping engagement therewith.

Briefly described the invention comprises power tong mechanism for connecting and disconnecting threaded joints of well pipe, including a power tong adapted to be grippingly engaged with a well pipe to rotate the same and supporting and positioning mechanism for the tong comprising inner and outer upright telescopingly arranged trackways and means for movably supporting the tong on the upper one of the trackways for horizontal swinging movement bodily about an axis common to the trackways to position the tong over the bore of a well for engagement with the pipe and means positioned for coaction with the trackways to import relative longitudinal movement to the trackways and to hold the trackways in a selected position of longitudinal adjustment relative to each other. By so supporting the tong, the tong may be moved bodily into a position over a well bore and adjusted to and held at a desired elevation for engagement with the pipe to rotate the same, and also moved bodily horizontally away from the well bore to clear the area around the pipe when the tong is not in use.

The above objects and advantages of the invention may best be understood from the following detailed description constituting a specification of the same when considered in conjunction with the annexed drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of the invention illustrating a preferred embodiment of the same and showing the supporting and positioning mechanism with the tong supported in position for use in the rotation of a section of pipe;

FIGURE 2 is an end elevational view, partly broken away and partly in cross-section, of the invention as illustrated in FIGURE 1, looking at the left hand end of the mechanism as shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view illustrating a different form of the supporting and positioning mechanism of the invention and showing the same with the tong supported in position for use; and

FIGURE 4 is a top plan view of the mechanism of the invention as illustrated in FIGURE 3.

Referring now to the drawings in greater detail the invention is illustrated herein in connection with its use for the supporting and positioning of power tong mechanism of a conventional type, such as that employed in well drilling operations for the connecting and disconnecting of the sections of pipe of a well string. Tongs of this type, such as that illustrated in the drawings are commonly constructed with a main frame, generally designated 10 having at one end thereof a hollow housing 12, Within which rotary head mechanism is rotatably carried, to be driven through the intermediation of suitable gear mechanism or other means, not shown, enclosed in a casing 14 forming a part of the frame, and which is in turn driven by a motor 16, operable by pressure fluid from any convenient source of supply under the control of suitable valve means, not shown, of usual construction and arrangement. I The tong structure also commonly includes pipe holding or back-up means, such as that indicated at 18, which is constructed for engagement with a section of the pipe to hold the same against-rotation while the section above connected thereto is rotated by the tong to unscrew the section above therefrom. The holding or back-up device 18 may conveniently be connected to the frame of the tong by a supporting bar 20, as shown in FIGURE 1, which is in turn loosely connected to the frame, as by means of a bolt 22, slidably extended through a performation in the bore and which is surrounded by a coil spring 24 to allow limited movement of the back-up means relative to the housing 12 to permit the pipe gripping means of the tong and back-up means to position themselves properly on the pipe.

The bar 20, may be additionally supported for limited movement relative to the housing 12, by an adjustable bracket 26 of generally U-shape attached to the frame and through which the bar is loosely extended.

As illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2, the tong supporting and positioning mechanism is of a type intended to be disposed in an opening in a supporting structure P, such as a derrick floor, drilling platform, or the like, for movement to an extended position with the tong at a desired location above the floor or platform or to a retracted position within the opening 0, as shown in FIG- URE 2. The supporting and positioning mechanism comprises an outer pair of parallel, vertically disposed

side members

30, 30, having

upper end flanges

32, 32 which are secured to the floor or platform as by means of bolts 34, with the members 30 extending downwardly in the opening 0 and connected together at their lower ends by a cross-piece 36.

The supporting and positioning mechanism also includes a telescoping framework made up of inner, parallel, spaced apart

trackways

42, 42 and outer parallel, spaced apart

trackways

44, 44, all of the trackways being of channel shape. The

inner trackways

42, 42 are connected together at their upper ends by a cross-member or plate 46, and the

outer trackways

44, 44 are connected together at their upper ends by cross-pieces, such as that shown at 48 in FIGURE 2 between which the inner trackways may move vertically.

The outer trackways open outwardly toward the

side members

30, 30 with the

rollers

38 and 40 extending between the flanges thereof for rolling movement along the trackways when the trackways move vertically relative to the side members. The trackways 44 are also provided with upper and lower rollers 50 and 52 respectively, rotatably attached thereto and which are positioned to extend between the flanges of the

inner trackways

42, 42 for rolling movement therealong as the inner trackways move longitudinally relative to the outer trackways.

Inwardly projecting stop lugs 54 are positioned on the

side members

30, 30 in position for engagement by outwardly projecting flanges 56 on the lower ends of the outer trackways to limit upward movement of the outer trackways relative to the side members, and the inner trackways have outwardly projecting flanges 58 at their lower ends positioned for engagement with inwardly projecting, upper end flanges 60 on the outer trackways, as shown in FIGURE 2, to limit the upward movement of the inner trackways relative to the outer trackways.

Within the framework formed by the trackways, a hydraulic cylinder 62 is positioned centrally between the trackways with its lower end supported on the cross-piece 36 and with the upper end of its plunger 64 slidably extended into the lower end of a sleeve or spring cage 66 whose upper end is positioned to transmit an upward force to the plate 46 to lift the

inner trackways

42, 42 upon actuation of the hydraulic cylinder. Within the sleeve 66 a coil spring 65 rests at its lower end on the upper end of the plunger 64 in position to transmit an upward force to the plate 46 at its upper end. The sleeve 66 thus forms a lost motion connection between the plunger 64 and the plate 46.

I The hydraulic cylinder 62 is connected in a conventional manner, not shown, to any suitable source of fluid under pressure, under the control of suitable valve mechanism, not shown, whereby the flow of fluid into and out of the cylinder may be controlled to extend the plunger 64 or allow thesame to retract in the usual manner.

The power tong is supported on the plate 46, as by means of a rotatable connection, shown at 67, between a pair of

channel members

68, 68 rotatably connected to the plate at one end and connected at their other ends to the frame 10 of the tong, as by means of a U-shaped element 70 having a pivotal connection at its bottom, as

seen at 72, with the channel members, and whose arms are connected at their upper ends to the frame 10 of the tong.

The spring 65 may be of a size to etfectively cushion the weight of the tong and inner trackway structure, so

that the tong may be raised and lowered by the hydraulic cylinder without substantial impact between the parts.

The above described preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGURE 2 in its fully lowered or retracted position, and when the tong is to be used for the connecting or disconnecting of sections of well pipe, the hydraulic cylinder 62 is actuated to lift the

inner trackways

42, 42 and the tong therewith to the desired elevation, whereupon the tong may be moved 1 into position for use by rotating the tong bodily, horizontally about the connection 67 and also by rotating the tong about the connection 72. When the tong has 6 been positioned with the well pipe T extending through the hollow casing 12 and through the back-up mechanism 18, with the connected ends of the pipe sections 6 between the casing and back-up mechanism, the tong may be operated by the motor 16 to grippingly engage the pipe to unscrew the sections or to screw the same be moved upwardly and when the lower end flanges 58 engage the upper end flanges 60 of the outer trackways l the outer trackways will then be moved upwardly until the lower end flanges thereof engage the stops 54.

When the tong is not in use it may be swung aside I from its operating position above the well bore, by rotation about the connection 67, whereupon the tong may be further rotated about the connection 72 to position the tong in an out-of-the-way location until needed.

It will thus be seen that the form of the invention illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2 provides a telescoping supporting and positioning mechanism whereby a power tong may be elevated and lowered to position the same at a desired elevation and whereby the tong may be moved horizontally and adjusted to position the same over a well bore or to move the tong aside when not needed for immediate use.

A somewhat different form of the invention is illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 4, wherein the support mechanism is mounted on the floor or platform P extending abovethe same. In this form of the invention the tong supporting and positioning mechanism includes an upright or post, generally designated 74 in FIGURE 3, comprising parallel, spaced apart

channel members

76, 76 forming upright trackways, attached at their lower ends to a flat base 78, which is adapted to be secured to a drilling platform P or other supporting structure, as by means of bolts 80. The

trackways

76, 76, may be connected to the base 78, by means of reinforcing angle plates, or the like, such as those shown at 82, 82, welded to the trackways and base or otherwise attached thereto.

A vertically movable carriage having parallel, spaced apart

side plates

84, 84, connected by one or more crosspieces, such as that indicated at 86, is disposed between the

trackways

76, 76, each of which plates is provided with upper and lower rollers, 88 and 90, respectively, rotatably connected thereto and extending between the flanges of the adjacent trackway for vertical rolling movement therealong. The carriage also has a cross-bar 92 connected at its opposite ends to the side plates 84 which serves as a slide rest upon which the tong rests between the trackways 7 6, 76, as best seen in FIGURE 3.

A hydraulic cylinder 94, similar to the cylinder 62, previously described, is centrally located between the

trackways

76, 76 resting at its lower end on the base plate 78 and whose plunger is positioned to transmit an upward force to the carriage upon actuation of the cylinder to lift the carriage along the trackways, thereby elevating the tong therewith.

The supporting structure also includes opposite, parallel spaced apart

channels

96, 96 connected at one end to the bottom of a U-shaped connector 100 whose arms are attached at their upper ends to the frame of the tong.

The

side plates

84, 84 are also connected by a crosspiece 102 located mediate the ends of the plates, as shown in dotted lines in FIGURES 3 and 4 against which one end of a coil spring 104 is seated, whose other end bears against a downwardly extending lug 105 attached to the connector 100 and through which a rod 106 attached at one end to the connector is extended, the rod being slidably extended at its other end through the cross-piece 102. By this construction the tong may have some longitudinal sliding movement on the carriage between the trackways 7 6, 76 which movement is restrained by the spring 104 to hold the tong on the carriage and to allow some slight angular movement of the tong relative to the horizontal.

The hydraulic cylinder 94 is supplied by pressure fluid in the usual manner from any convenient source, under the control of suitable valve mechanism, not shown.

In making use of the above described form of the invention, illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 4, the tong is positioned on the carriage with the well pipe T extending through the hollow casing 12 and the back-up mechanism 18 of the tong as previously described, whereupon the tong may be elevated by supplying pressure fluid to the hydraulic cylinder 94 to position the tong for gripping engagement with the pipe at the desired location to efiect the unscrewing of sections of the pipe or the screwing together of the same.

It will be apparent that the tong may move horizontally somewhat relative to the carriage to allow the tong to adjust its position to the well pipe and that the tong may also tilt vertically somewhat to allow the tong to adjust itself to a position for gripping engagement with the pipe when the motor 16 is actuated to rotate the pipe. By this arrangement, in the event of some slight lateral movement of the pipe or angular movement of the same, the tong may adjust itself to compensate for such movements while remaining in tight gripping engagement with the pipe.

It will thus be apparent that the invention, constructed as described above, provides power tong supporting and positioning mechanism by which a power tong may be readily positioned at a desired elevation over the bore of a well or moved aside and supported in an out-of-theway position when out of use to make available a maximum space about the well bore for the carrying out of well operations.

The invention is disclosed herein in connection with specific embodiments of the same, which are intended as illustrative only, it being understood that various modifications can be made within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus clearly shown and described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In apparatus for connecting and disconnecting threaded joints in a well pipe string, the combination With a power tong adapted to be grippingly engaged with a well pipe to rotate the same, of supporting and positioning mechanism for the tong comprising inner and outer telescopingly arranged trackways, means for supporting the trackways in an upright position for longitudinal movement relative to each other adjacent a well bore, means for movably supporting the tong on the upper end of one of the trackways for horizontal rotational movement into and out of a position extending over the bore for engagement with the pipe, and means positioned for coaction with the trackways to impart relative longitudinal movement to and hold the trackways in a selected position of longitudinal adjustment relative to each other.

2. In apparatus for connecting and disconnecting threaded joints in a well pipe string, the combination with a power tong adapted to be grippingly engaged with a well pipe to rotate the same, of supporting and positioning mechanism for the tong comprising inner and outer telescopingly arranged trackways, means for supporting the trackways in an upright position for longitudinal movement relative to each other adjacent a well bore, means for movably supporting the tong on the upper end of one of the trackways for horizontal swinging movement bodily about an axis common to the trackways to position the tong over the bore for engagement with the pipe and means positioned for coaction with the trackways to impart relative longitudinal movement to and hold the trackways in a selected position of longitudinal adjustment relative to each other.

3. In apparatus for connecting and disconnecting threaded joints in a well pipe string, the combination with a power tong adapted to be grippingly engaged with a well pipe to rotate the same, of supporting and positioning mechanism for the tong comprising inner and outer telescopingly arranged trackways, means for supporting the trackways in an upright position for longi-- tudinal movement relative to each other adjacent a well bore, means for movably supporting the tong on the upper end of one of the trackways for horizontal swinging movement bodily about an axis common to the trackways and for rotational movement about an axis spaced horizontally from said common axis to allow the tong to be moved into and out of a position extending over the bore for engagement with the pipe and means positioned for coaction with the trackways to impart relative longitudinal movement to and hold the trackways in a selected position of longitudinal adjustment relative to each other.

4. In apparatus for connecting and disconnecting threaded joints in a well pipe string, the combination with a power tong adapted to be grippingly engaged with a well pipe to rotate the same, of supporting and positioning mechanism for the tong comprising inner and outer telescopingly arranged trackways, means for sup porting the trackways in an upright position for longitudinal movement relative to each other adjacent a well bore, means for movably supporting the tong on the upper end of one of the trackways for horizontal rotational movement into and out of a position extending over the bore for engagement with the pipe, and hydraulic means positioned for coaction with the trackways to extend the trackways to and hold the trackways in a selected position of extension relative to each other.

5. In apparatus for connecting and disconnecting threaded joints in a well pipe string, the combination with a power tong adapted to be grippingly engaged with a well pipe to rotate the same, or supporting and positioning mechanism for the tong comprising inner and outer telescopingly arranged trackways, means for supporting the trackways in an upright position for longitudinal movement relative to each other adjacent a well bore, means for movably supporting the tong on the upper end of one of the trackways for horizontal swinging movement bodily about an axis common to the trackways to position the tong over the bore for engagement with the pipe and hydraulic means positioned for coaction with the trackways to extend the trackways and hold the trackways in a selected position of extension relative to each other.

6. In apparatus for connecting and disconnecting threaded joints in a well pipe string, the combination with a power tong adapted to be grippingly engaged with a well pipe to rotate the same, of supporting and positioning mechanism for the tong comprising inner and outer telescopingly arranged trackways, means for supporting the trackways in an upright position for longitudinal movement relative to each other adjacent a well bore, means for movably supporting the tong on the upper end of one of the trackways for horizontal swinging movement bodily about an axis common to the trackways and for rotational movement about an axis spaced horizontally from said common axis to allow the tong to be moved into and out of a position extending over the bore for engagement with the pipe and hydraulic means positioned for coaction vw'th the trackways to extend the trackways and to hold the trackways in a selected position of extension relative to each other.

7. In apparatus for connecting and disconnecting threaded joints in a well pipe string, the combination with a power tong adapted to be grippingly engaged with a well pipe to rotate the same, of supporting and positioning mechanism for the tong comprising inner and outer telescopingly arranged trackways, means for supporting the trackways in an upright position for longitudinal movement relative to each other adjacent a well bore, means for movably supporting the tong on the upper end of one of the trackways for horizontal rotational movement into and out of a position extending over the bore for engagement with the pipe, and means for imparting relative longitudinal movement to the trackways to extend the trackways including hydraulically extensible means supported on an axis common to the trackways and yieldable means positioned for coaction with said extensible means and one of said trackways to yieldingly resist relative longitudinal movement of the trackways in a direction to retract the trackways.

8. In apparatus for connecting and disconnecting threaded joints in a well pipe string, the combination with a power tong adapted to be grippingly engaged with a well pipe to rotate the same, of supporting and positioning mechanism for the tong comprising inner and in a direction to extend the trackways and including yieldable means positioned to yieldingly resist relative longitudinal movement of the trackways in a direction to retract the trackways.

9. In apparatus for connecting and disconnecting threaded joints in a well pipe string, the combination with a power tong adapted to be grippingly engaged with a well pipe to rotate thesame, of supporting and posii tioning mechanism for the tong comprising inner and outer telescopingly arranged trackways, means for supporting the trackways in an upright position for longii tudinal movement relative to each other adjacent a well bore, means for movably supporting the tong on the upper end of one of the trackways for horizontal swing ing movement bodily about an axis common to the trackways and for rotational movement about an axis spaced horizontally from said common axis to allow the tong to be moved into and out of a position extending over the bore for engagement with the pipe and extensible means positioned for coaction with the trackways to impart relative longitudinal movement to the trackways in a direction to extend the trackways and including yieldable means positioned to yieldingly resist relative longitudinal movement of the trackways in a direction to retract the trackways.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,181,641 11/1939 Hicks 8157 2,450,934 10/1948 Calhoun 2142.5 X l 2,781,185 2/1957 Robbins 2142.5 X 3,143,220 8/1964 Goepfert 2142.5

WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner.

JAMES L. JONES, JR., Examiner.

Claims

1. IN APPARATUS FOR CONNECTING AND DISCONNECTING THREADED JOINTS IN A WELL PIPE STRING, THE COMBINATION WITH A POWER TONG ADAPTED TO BE GRIPPINGLY ENGAGED WITH A WELL PIPE TO ROTATE THE SAME, OF SUPPORTING AND POSITIONING MECHANISM FOR THE TONGE COMPRISING INNER AND OUTER TELESCOPINGLY ARRANGED TRACKWAYS, MEANS FOR SUPPORTING THE TRACKWAYS IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION FOR LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER ADJACENT A WELL BORE, MEANS FOR MOVABLY SUPPORTING THE TONG ON THE UPPER END OF ONE OF THE TRACKWAYS FOR HORIZONTAL ROTATIONAL MOVEMENT INTO AND OUT OF A POSITION EXTENDING OVER THE BORE FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH THE PIPE, AND MEANS POSITIONED FOR COACTION WITH THE TRACKWAYS TO IMPART RELATIVE LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT TO AND HOLD THE TRACKWAYS IN A SELECTED POSITION OF LONGITUDINAL ADJUSTMENT RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER.