US3458230A - Transfer elevator assembly with latch means - Google Patents

Description

July 29, 1969 T. JONES ET AL TRANSFER ELEVATOR ASSEMBLY WITH LATCH MEANS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 4, 1967 INVENTORS.

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A TTOEA/EV July 29, 1969 T. L JONES ET AL TRANSFER ELEVATOR ASSEMBLY WITH LATCH MEANS Filed Dec. 4, 1967 5 Sheets$heet 5 JO/M/ W United States Patent O 3,458,230 TRANSFER ELEVATOR ASSEMBLY WITH LATCH MEANS Taylor L. Jones and John W. Turner, Jr., Houston, Tex., assignors to Byron Jackson Inc., Long Beach, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 4, 1967, Ser. No. 687,811 Int. Cl. B66c 1/10; B25b US. Cl. 294-90 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention has to do with elevators, primarily intended for the transfer of a section or stand of pipe for oil wells and the like. It is the current practice to use a slip or other type of elevator attached to a travelling block to withdraw pipe from a borehole, or to lower pipe into a borehole, and usually the pipe is worked in either individual lengths or in lengths of three, which are termed stands. As the pipe is withdrawn from the hole, usually every third section is grasped by a tong and unthreaded from the pipe still in the borehole, which latter is supported by a spider or other means, leaving the collar intact with the pipe still in the borehole. When the stand has been withdrawn by the primary elevator, it is grasped by the spider and the tong for unthreading. The regular elevator then starts its downward movement from the upper position and the transfer elevator is placed around the pipe while it is being unthreaded and while theregular elevator is moving to the stand still in the borehole. As soon as the regular elevator reaches the bottom area of the stand being unthreaded, the transfer elevator picks up the stand and transfers it to the racking means. The sequence of operations in running pipe into the hole is generally reversed; the stand being picked up by the transfer elevator and aligned with the regular elevator, then lowered through the regular elevator onto the top of the pipe already in the borehole so that the tong (which may be over the pipe in the borehole or may be placed on the transferred pipe from the side) may start the threading operation attaching the two ends together while the regular elevator moves up the transferred pipe towards the end. The transfer elevator is then removed from the upper portion of the transferred stand and the latter is picked up by the regular elevator for lowering into the hole. It is essential, therefore, to have a transfer elevator which is easy to operate by the derrick man, preferably by manipulation of one hand only.

Field of the invention The invention is generally in the field of elevators for transferring segments or stands of pipe for wells, such as oil wells and the like, and is intended primarily for use with oil well pipe.

The applicants primarily disclose a transfer elevator for either collar or upset pipe with an improved latch for closing the elevator body opening or gate, and a releasable ice.

latch lock holding the latch in closed position but releasable to unlock the latch and operable to retract the latch from the closed position to allow pipe to enter the elevator body opening. Also, applicants disclose a supporting means for the pipe in the opening for which other means may be readily substituted to make the elevator available for more universal application, thus eliminating the need for a number of elevators for accommodating various sizes of pipe. As referred to herein, the discloseure will be primarily with respect to working pipe, but it is not intended thereby to eliminate the possibility of working other objects of proper configuration.

Description of the prior art A great many varieties of elevators have been used for lifting and supporting pipe or the like. For example, some of the prior art devices may be found in Lundeen, US. Patent No. 2,144,072, Smith, US. Patent No. 2,164,843; Patin, US. Patent No. 2,183,582; Mullinix, US. Patent No. 2,215,649; Wilson US. Patent No. 2,281,128; Ramey, US. Patent No. 2,375,584, Tamny, US. Patent No. 3,055,698, and many other patents. None of these patents above cited or any others known to the applicants are free of objectionable features or disclose the improved features and operation of applicants device.

SUMMARY It is an object to provide a transfer elevator which is relatively simple and inexpensive, and which is easily operated by one hand of the operator, leaving the other hand free.

Another object is to provide an elevator of the class described which has an opening therein sufiiciently large to accommodate the largest size pipe to be worked therewith, but which has a replaceable support plate with pipe opening of suitable size to work the desired size of pipe, the elevator being adjusted to diiferent size pipe by substituting support plates with different size openings.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide an elevator with a simple blade type latch adapted to close the opening of the elevator automatically, but which latch may be easily withdrawn to permit the entry or exit of pipe being worked, the latch operating to retain such pipe securely within the elevator during the transfer operation.

-It is another object of the present invention to provide a latch lock which locks the latch in its closed position, but which may be readily released by a hand-grip actuated by the operator.

In this connection, it is an object to provide a latch lock which forms the means of retracting the latch from the elevator opening.

It is an object to provide an improved latch which extends across the elevator opening when in closed position a sufficient distance only to hold the pipe securely therein but which is short enough to be easily withdrawn from the opening so that it does not interfere with the entry and exit of the pipe when the elevator is being placed on the pipe or removed from the pipe by the operator.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a latch operated by a relatively heavy spring means urging it into closed position, and a latch lock operated by a relatively light spring means urging it into locking position; whereby the latch lock may be released with a minimum of effort and the latch may be withdrawn or opened by a somewhat greater effort, but in a way which will not be unduly burdensome to the operator.

Other objects will become evident as the invention is described in the following detailed description along with the accompanying drawings.

3 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the transfer elevator forming the subject matter of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the device of FIG. 1, showing the pipe-receiving opening with the latch in closed position;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows and indicating, in broken lines, a pipe latched in position in said elevator;

FIG. 4 is a view taken on the line 44 of FIG. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, portions of the view being in cross-section and the latch being locked in closed position;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, partially cross-sectioned, view showing the latch lock mechanism of FIG. 4 in released position, with the latch mechanism still in its closed position but conditioned for movement to open the elevator;

FIG. 6 is a view generally similar to FIG. 4, but showing the latch withdrawn from its pipe-holding position, the view being partly fragmentary and located nearer the base or bottom of the elevator body than FIG. 4, to indicate the sidewall slot through which the latch moves into and out of pipe-retaining and releasing positions. This view is partially in cross-section;

FIG. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view, taken on the line 7-7 of FIG. 4, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 8 is a front elevational cross-sectional view, taken on the line 8-8 of FIG. 7, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary elevational view taken on the line 9-9 of FIG. 8, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 3, but showing a support plate adapted to use with a smaller size pipe than that indicated in FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring more in detail to the structure shown in the various figures and referring first, primarily, to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, there is here shown a transfer elevator 11, having a support pipe or hanger 12 which is provided with a bail 13 to which a line or hook (not shown) may be attached to support the assembly. This hanger 12 preferably is angled toward the forward portion of the elevator so that the support will be approximately over the center line of the elevator opening (hereinafter described), whereby the elevator will remain properly aligned and in balance regardless of the load being handled by the elevator.

Attached by any convenient means, such as welding or the like, to the hanger 12 is an elevator body 14, one side (herein sometimes referred to as the front) of which is open or U-shaped to accommodate a pipe or the like to be transferred. A front view of this opening is seen at 15 and reference may be had to FIG. 4, for example, for a disclosure of a preferred shape of the opening when viewed from above the elevator.

The body 14 is provided with spaced outwardly extending side- wall portions 16 and 17, defining the sides of the opening 15 therebetween; and the back 18 of the opening 15 is preferably rounded to accommodate the circumference of a pipe therein. It may be noted for purposes of description, that the opening 15 formed by the side- walls 16, 17 and back 18, may be generally described as of a horizontal U-shape, although it is conceivable that it could have an angular conformation such as, partly hexagonal.

As viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2, the opening 15 is shown as containing a pipe 19 having a collar 21, which pipe and collar are shown in broken lines for illustrative purposes only.

The bQ y .4 ha p eferab y as an n g l Pa t t e e- 4 of (see FIGS. '1 and 4, for example), a handle or handgrip 22 at the rear of the body, which handle or handgrip may be cast or otherwise formed integrally with, or attached to, the body.

As will be clear from FIG. 1, in particular, and also FIG. 7, the body 14 at its rear has a rearwardly extending upper body flange 23 and a rearwardly extending lower body flange 24, with space therebetween to house the latch and latch lock mechanisms to be hereinafter described.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 7, and particularly to FIG. 7, the side- walls 16 and 17 and back 18 are provided with downwardly and outwardly extending recesses 28-=on their upper internal edges, which may terminate short of the outer or front ends of said side-walls. A hearing plate or support plate 25 which is of generally horizontal U-shape having an opening on one side to accommodate a pipe, is attached to the top of the elevator body by any convenient means, such as screws 26, and extends inwardly from the side- walls 16, 17 and back 18 over the opening 15 at least a short distance to partially close the vertical passage through the opening 15. The U-shaped opening of the support plate corresponds generally to the configuration of the opening 15, but the support plate opening is of a size and shape to allow a pipe to be inserted therein with the pipe collar resting on the sides of the opening, or if an upset pipe not having a collar is being worked, to receive and hold the upset in said opening. For the latter purpose, the opening in the support plate may be tapered to prevent damage to the pipe. Preferably the support plate has a downwardly depending flange 27 adapted to seat in the recesses 28, thus increasing the strength of the support plate and giving added protection to the side-walls and back of the body 14.

Pipe having a tapered joint, generally referred to as an upset, is a commonly used pipe in the oil industry as is collared pipe, and with the arrangement just above described the universal application of the elevator herein disclosed is enhanced.

Further, and referring to FIG. 10, support plates adapted to work different sizes of pipe may be readily substituted. It is noted in FIG. 10 that support plate 29 has a much smaller pipe-receiving opening than that illustrated in the device of FIG. 3. The support plate 29 may be substituted for the support plate 25 for smaller pipe, and pipe of other sizes may similarly have other support plates substituted therefor, the principal limitation being the size of the opening 15 of the body.

As will be noted at 31 in FIG. 2, and 32 in FIGJJIO, the open front side of the support plates 25 and 29, respectively, are preferably provided with guide surfaces slanting inwardly toward the pipe-receiving bearing surfaces to enable the operator to insert the elevator on a pipe rapidly and without delay for aligning the elevator and pipe. As is obvious from the drawings, the outer ends of the side- walls 16 and 17 may likewise be tapered to lead into the opening.

Referring next to the retractable latch mechanism and the latch lock mechanism, and referring primarily to FIGS. 4 thru 9, the upper body flange 23 and lower body flange 24 are drilled, as is evident from FIG. 7, to receive the latch pin 33 which forms a journal for a latch 34. The latch 34 is preferably hook-shaped and is mounted, as best evident from FIG. 7, to swing about the latch pin 33. The side-wall 17 of the body 14 is slotted, as indicated best in FIGS. 1 and 6, providing the slot 35 through which the outer end of the hook-shaped latch 34 enters the opening 15. The latch 34 is free to move into the opening, as shown in FIG. 4, (see also FIG. 2), and preferably extends far enough across the outer end of said opening to form a barrier against displacement of pipe in said opening, thus holding pipe in position on the support plate when the latch is closed; that is, across said opening as shown in FIG, 4. Preferably this latch extends only far enough across the opening to securely retain the pipe positioned, but terminates short of the side-wall 16. The reason for this is that when the latch is withdrawn from the opening, as shown in FIG. 6, the movement of the latch a sufficient distance to clear the opening is not excessive. Since, as will be later explained, the with drawal is accomplished by a gripping of handle means by the operator, a longer latch would put an excessive strain on the operator and also there would be a tendency to leave the latch partially within the opening, resulting in possible damage to the latch and difliculty in placing the elevator around the pipe to be worked.

Referring primarily to FIG. 7, the latch is provided with an upstanding integral rear flange portion 36 which in turn has a forwardly extending upper flange 37. The latch pin 33 extends through the flange 37 and the base portion of the latch 34 to form the mounting means for the latch 34; the flange 37 being spaced from the base of the latch 34, as is evident from FIG. 7.

Means here shown as a latch spring 38 mounted on the latch pin 33 and having its ends bearing against the elevator body 14 and the rear flange 36 respectively, is mounted on the pin 33 and urges the latch 34 into the closed position shown in FIG. 4.

The rear flange 36 is provided with spaced lower and upper rearwardly extending cars 39 and 41 which extend generally rearwardly at, for example, an angle of 37 to the centerline of the elevator, past the rear of the body flanges 23 and 24. The ears 39 and 41 are drilled or otherwise perforated to receive a latch lock pin 42 which extends vertically therethrough and is held in place by a spiral pin 43. Journaled on the pin 42 is a latch lock assembly comprising a generally crescent-shaped latch lock 44 which has formed, preferably integral therewith, a hand-grip 45, as will be apparent from FIG. 7, for example. The latch lock 44 may be swung in a rotary motion about the pin 42 by manipulation of the handle 45. A latch lock spring 46, or other convenient means for biasing the latch lock in a direction counter-clockwise as viewed from the top, is here disclosed as a spiral spring, one end of which (see FIG. 6) rests against rear latch flange por tion 36, and the other end of which bears against a depending, slightly oflset integral web portion between the inner ends of the handle 45 and the latch lock 44.

As indicated above, the latch lock may be described as generally crescent-shaped, having a hook portion 48 on its righthand end, as viewed for example in FIGS. 4 and 6, adapted to latch around a drive pin 49 (see FIGS. 8 and 9 in particular), which drive pin 49 is mounted in and extends below the upper body flange 23 of the elevator. The latch lock has a shoulder or stop 51, herein termed first stop 51, which seats against a shoulder 52 on the flange 37 of the latch 34 and positions the latch lock when in its closed position with a locking action. Thus, so long as the latch lock hook 48 remains engaged with the drive pin 49, the latch is in its normal closed position and will retain a pipe in the opening 15.

At its other end, the latch lock 44 has a second stop 53 which, when the latch lock is rotated counter-clockwise, for example, 20 by movement of the handle 45 clockwise toward closing relation with the handle 22, engages the flange 37. This engagement takes place before the handle 45 has been moved toward the handle 22 more than just enough to clear the latch lock hook 48 from the pin 49, and is the position illustrated in FIG. 5. The movement from the closed position to the position of engagement of the stop 53 with the flange 37, as shown in FIG. 5, thus releasing the pin, requires only suflicient gripping effort by the operator to overcome the relatively light pressure of the latch lock spring 46. Further movement of the handle 45 toward the handle 22 to the position shown in FIG. 6 causes the gripping force to be transmitted through the latch lock pin 42 with the stop 53 holding the latch lock fixed with respect to the ears 39 and 41 of the latch 34, and pivots the latch 34 about the pin 33 against the relativley heavy pressure of the latch spring 38. This, in turn, withdraws the latch through the slot 35, clearing the elevator opening 15 and allowing the elevator to receive a pipe or to be removed from a pipe. Release of the handle 45 will cause the latch 34 to swing, under pressure of the latch spring 38, back into a closing position, and will cause the latch lock hook 48 to move around the drive pin 49, thus locking the latch 34 in its closed position. The latch 34 is locked to the body 14 by the latch lock 44 when the latch lock hook 48 engages the drive pin 49.

It is noted that the latch pin 33 is held in position in the elevator by any convenient means such, for example, as the spiral pin 54 (see FIGS. 7 and 8).

Operation In operation, the elevator 11 is usually suspended by the hanger 12 in position to be placed on a pipe to be transferred or otherwise worked. The operator usually grasps the hand-grip 22 and handle 45 in one hand and squeezes them together. This will rotate the handle 45 clockwise about the latch lock pin 42 toward the handgrip 22.

The primary movement of the handle 45 will be against the resistance of the relatively weak latch lock spring 46, requiring very little gripping pressure and placing no strain on the hand of the operator, will disengage the hook portion 48 of the latch lock 44 from the drive pin 49, and will rotate the latch lock 44 (which is integral with the handle 45) about the latch lock pin 42 mounted on the ears 39 and 41 of the latch, causing the stop 53 to move against the latch flange 37 locking up the latch lock 44, handle 45 and latch 34, and preventing further movement or rotation of the latch lock 44 and handle 45 about the latch lock pin 42. This movement, in the example shown, is about 20.

Further gripping action moving the handle 45 clockwise toward the hand-grip 22, causes the locked-up handle 45, latch lock 44, and latch 34 to pivot about the latch pin 33, against the heavier latch spring 38, and will withdraw the hook portion of the latch 34 from across the opening 15 of the elevator, thus clearing the opening 15 for entry of pipe (or, if pipe is already in said opening, clearing the egress therefrom of such pipe). It is noted that the shorter the latch hook portion, the less the arc traversed by the handle 45 before the latch is clear of the opening 15, and thus the less strain on the hand of the operator using the device. The latch hook portion need only extend a sufficient distance across the opening 15 to prevent displacement of the pipe.

The operator, to grasp the pipe, then places the elevator around a pipe, beneath the collar or upset, and releases the handle 45. The latch 34, under the influence of the heavy latch spring 38, will then pivot about the latch pin 33 and the hook portion will move back through the slot 35 and across the opening 15, thus closing the opening and blocking lateral movement of pipe through the opening. When this has occurred the latch lock 44, under the influence of the latch lock spring 46 will pivot about the latch lock pin 42 and cause the hook portion 48 of the latch lock to seat around the drive pin 49, holding the latch (by holding the ears 39 and 41 thereof) against pivoting about the latch pin 33. This effectively locks the latch and holds the pipe, the collar or upset of which is seated on the support plate 25 (or other support plate such as 29, as the case may be).

Should the operator desire to work a different size of pipe, he may readily substitute the proper size of support plate for the support plate 25. This eliminates the necessity of having a different size of elevator for each different size of pipe to be handled.

It is thus seen that only one hand of the operator is needed to operate the elevator, and the simplicity of the device and its operation are clearly apparent.

While the specific details of the invention have been herein shown and described, changes and alternations may be resorted to Without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a transfer elevator or the like having an elevator body (14) with a front opening (15) for the receipt of pipe (19, 21) to be handled by the elevator, and means such as a hanger (12) for support of said elevator, said elevator body also having a hand grip (22) by which the elevator may be manipulated by the user, those means comprising:

(a) a latch (34) mounted for pivotal movement into and out of said opening (15) and having means (38) urging it into said opening whereby said opening is closed to the entry and exit of pipe laterally from said elevator;

(b) means comprising a latch lock (44) pivotally mounted on said latch (34) and having an integral handle means (45) to pivot first said latch lock (44), and then said latch (34), said latch lock having a hooked portion (48) and (c) means (49) on said elevator body (14) positioned for engagement by said latch lock hook portion (48) to lock said latch lock (44) against movement under influence of forces on said latch (34) and lock the latter when said latch (34) is in its normal closed position blocking said opening (15).

2. In a transfer elevator or the like having an elevator body (14) with a front opening (15) for the receipt of pipe (19, 21) to be handled by the elevator, and means such as a hanger (12) for support of said elevator, said elevator body also having a hand grip (22) by which the elevator may be manipulated by the user, those means comprising:

(a) a latch (34) mounted for pivotal movement into and out of said opening (15) whereby said opening is closed to the entry and exit of pipe laterally from said elevator;

(b) means comprising a latch lock (44) pivotally mounted on said latch (34) and having an integral handle means (45) to pivot said latch lock (44), said latch lock having a hooked portion (48);

(c) means (49) on said elevator body (14) positioned for engagement by said latch lock hook portion (48) to lock said latch lock (44) against movement under influence of forces on said latch (34) and lock the latter when said latch (34) is in its normal closed position blocking said opening (15); and

(d) said latch having a hook-shaped blade portion and a latch pin on which said latch is mounted for pivotal movement, and wherein said latch has generally rearwardly extending means comprising ears through which a latch lock pin extends on which is pivotally mounted said latch lock and integral handle means, the arrangement being such that pivoting of said handle means rotates said latch lock out of engagement with said means (49) on said elevator body and continued movement of said handle means pivots said latch means about said latch pin (33).

3. An elevator latch and latch lock means as set forth in claim 2, wherein said latch means has means comprising a spring (38)'urging said latch to its normal closed position, and wherein said latch lock pin (42) has a spring urging said latch lock hooked portion (48) into locking engagement with said means (49) on said elevator body (14), said latch lock spring means (46) being of lesser strength than said latch spring means (38), the arrangement being such that pivoting said latch lock by pivotal movement of said handle (45) first disengages said latch lock from said elevator body and then moves said latch to its open position.

4. In a transfer elevator or the like, an elevator body having a front opening defined by forwardly extending sidewalls for the reception of pipe laterally therein and extending vertically therethrough, means such as a hanger for the support of said elevator, a pipe support plate removably mounted over said opening and adapted to receive and support pipe by the upset or collar thereof, but open at the front for the ingress and egress of such pipe;

a slot in one side of said elevator body;

a pivoted hook-shaped latch having an upstanding integral rear flange portion with a forwardly extending upper flange, said latch being adapted to swing through said slot to close said elevator;

a latch pin mounted in said elevator on which said latch is pivoted and having a latch spring urging said latch through said slot to close the front opening of said elevator;

means comprising ears integral with said latch and positioned generally on the opposite side of said latch pin from the portion of said latch moving into and out of said slot;

latch lock pin means mounted on said ears;

a latch lock and integral handle pivotally mounted on said latch lock pin, said latch lock having at one end thereof a hook means and at the other end thereof a stop means;

a spring means of less strength than said latch spring means urging said latch lock and handle into locking position;

a drive pin on said elevator body positioned to be engaged by said latch lock hook;

the arrangement being such that movement of the latch lock handle in a clockwise direction rotates the latch lock disengaging the latch lock hook from said latch lock pin, and moving said stop means against said forwardly extending upper flange of said latch means, and further movement of said latch lock handle pivots said latch about said latch pin withdrawing said latch from its position closing the opening in said elevator body.

5. A transfer elevator or the like comprising in com bination:

(a) an elevator body with support means therefor and having an opening in the front thereof for the receipt of pipe;

(b) means comprising a hand grip on the rear of said body for manipulation of said elevator;

(c) a latch operable to open and close said opening and having a hook-shaped blade portion and integral rearwardly extending ear means, said latch being mounted for pivotal movement in said body by mounting means between said blade portion and ear means;

(d) a latch lock and integral handle means pivotally mounted on said ear means, said handle means being at the rear of said elevator body and positioned in close proximity to said hand grip, whereby said hand grip and said handle means may be gripped simultaneously by a hand of the operator; and

(e) means on said body adapted for engagement by said latch lock to retain said latch lock and thus said latch in position closing said opening, the arrangement being such that pivoting said handle means first releases said latch lock and continued pivoting of said handle means withdraws said latch from said opening allowing the ingress and egress of pipe with respect to said opening.

6. A transfer elevator or the like comprising in combination:

(a) an elevator body with support means therefor and having an opening for the receipt of pipe;

(b) means comprising a hand grip on the rear of said body for manipulation of said elevator;

(c) a latch operable to open and close said opening and having a hook-shaped blade portion and integral rearwardly extending ear means, said latch being mounted for pivotal movement in said body by mounting means between said blade portion and ear means and said latch having means urging it to the position clos- (e) means on said body adapted for engagement by said ing said opening; latch lock to retain said latch lock and thus said latch (d) a latch lock and integral handle means pivotally in position closing said opening, the arrangement mounted on said ear means, said handle means being being such that pivoting said handle means first reat the rear of said elevator body and positioned in leases said latch lock and continued pivoting of said close proximity to said hand grip, whereby said hand handle means withdraws said latch from said opengrip and said handle means may be gripped simuling allowing the ingress and egress of pipe with respect taneously by a hand of the operator; and to said opening, said latch lock having means urging (e) means on said body adapted for engagement by it into latched position with said body means to retain said latch lock to retain said latch lock and thus said said latch in body opening and closing positions to latch in position closing said opening, the arrangeprevent ingress and egress of pipe from said body ment being such that pivoting said handle means first opening; and

releases said latch lock and continued pivoting of (f) a support plate readily replaceable for different sizes said handle means withdraws said latch from said and types of pipe to be handled, attached to said opening allowing the ingress and egress of pipe with body With its opening aligned with the opening of respect to said opening, said latch lock having means said body.

urging it into latched position with said body means 8. A transfer elevator or the like comprising:

to retain said latch in body opening and closing posiy having pp r means and an opening for tions to prevent ingress and egress of pipe from said lateral ingress and egress of pipe;

body opening. (b) latch means biased to a position closing said open- 7. A transfer elevator or the like comprising in comg and retractable to p Said p g;

bin tion; (c) latch lock means biased to lock said latch means (a) an elevator body with support means therefor and n a P n Cl sing said opening; and

having an opening for the receipt of pipe; ((1) means operable first to release said latch lock means (b) means comprising a hand grip on the rear of aid and then retract said latch means from said opening,

body for manipulation of said elevator; said releasing and retracting means being operable (c) a latch operable to open and close said opening and from the rear Said yhaving a hook-shaped blade portion and integral rearwardly extending ear means, said latch being mounted References Cited for pivotal movement in said body by mounting 3O U I STATES PATENTS an b tween said bl s aid lite; having meari s l ir girig ii tg igj223132 55: 1646981 10/1927 Rlck 294 102 2,375,584 5/1945 Ramey 294-90 mg said opening, 2,957,724 10/1960 Bujold 294-1 2 (d) a latch lock and Integral handle means pivotally 3,287,776 11/1966 Brown 294 9O mounted on sand ear means, said handle means being 3,309,130 3/1967 Arrowood 294 90 at the rear of said elevator body and positioned in close proximity to said hand grip, whereby said hand ANDRES H NIELSEN, P i Exami grip and said handle means may be gripped simultaneously by a hand of the operator;

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