US3656561A

US3656561A - Well casing handling tool

Info

Publication number: US3656561A
Application number: US41137A
Authority: US
Inventors: Samuel Leven; Kenneth S Moffitt
Original assignee: Ingersoll Rand Co
Current assignee: Ingersoll Rand Co
Priority date: 1970-05-25
Filing date: 1970-05-25
Publication date: 1972-04-18
Anticipated expiration: 1989-04-18

Abstract

A handling tool used for inserting a well casing pipe into a previously drilled hole such as a water well hole. The tool is designed to be used with the machine which is used to drill the well. The tool includes a first coupling end which can be connected to the rotary head of a drilling machine and a second coupling member which can be connected to the casing pipe to be inserted in the previously drilled hole. The two coupling parts are pivotally connected to each other. The pivotal connection allows the casing pipe to be aligned with the hole in which it is to be inserted. The tool transfers longitudinal and rotary movement from the rotary head to the casing pipe.

Description

United States Patent Leven eta].

[l5] 3,65,561 5] Apr. l8, 1972 [54] WELL CASING HANDLING TOOL 3,463,247 8/1969 Klein ..l75/85 x 3,053,330 9/1962 Arthur ....175/207 X [72] 62 3,265,138 8/1966 Alexander et al ..l75/85 x [73] Assignee: lngersoll-Rand Company, New York, NY. P im y ne avid H. Brown Attorney-Carl R. Horten, David W. Tibbott, Frank H. Thom- [22] Flled: May 1970 son and Bernard J. Murphy .1 41 37 [211 App] 57 ABSTRACT H 7 1 A handling tool used for inserting a well casing pipe into a [52] U S Cl 1 3/163 173/147 0 3 previously drilled hole such as a water well hole. The tool is 51 1 1m. 0 "E211, 19/16 designed to be used with the machine which is used to drill the [58] Field 7 8 5 202 203 well. The tool includes a first coupling end which can be con- 147 i 3 nected to the rotary head of a drilling machine and a second 1 coupling member which can be connected to the casing pipe to be inserted in the previously drilled hole. The two coupling [56] References cued parts are pivotally connected to each other. The pivotal con- UNITED STATES EN nection allows the casing pipe to be aligned with the hole in which it is to be inserted. The tool transfers longitudinal and 1 i g f rotary movement from the rotary head to the casing pipe. em 1,377,575 5/1921 Greve ..l75/207 X 5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures l6 5 ll lo J l 1 'l2 3 PATENTEDAPR 18 I972 INVENTORS SAMUEL LEI EN KENNETH s. MOFF/TT I WELL CASING HANDLING TOOL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a well casing handling tool and in particular to a casing handling tool for use in inserting a casing pipe into a previously drilled hole such as a water well hole.

In the construction of a water well, a hole is first drilled in the earth until an ample supply of water is reached. After the drilling operation is complete, it is necessary to insert a casing into the upper portion of the drilled hole. The casing is merely a large diameter pipe of random length.

Problems are often encountered in inserting the casing pipe into the previously drilled hole. These problems include aligning the pipe with the hole and the pipe sticking in the hole. Since the hole is drilled by means of a drilling machine which has a rotation mechanism to rotate the drill bit during the drilling of the hole and a longitudinal feed mechanism for applying some pressure to the drill bit and advancing the drill bit as the hole deepens, it would be desirable to employ the drilling machine in inserting the easing into the hole. The rotational mechanism of the drilling machine can be used for coupling one casing section to another. The feed mechanism of the drilling machine can be used for forcing the casing down the hole in the event it gets stuck in the hole.

Prior to the present invention no convenient apparatus was available which allowed the casing pipe to be connected to the drilling machine and at the same time allowed the rotary and feed mechanism of the drilling machine to be used in inserting the casing pipe in the hole. Prior to the present invention, the casing pipe was manually positioned over the hole in which it was to be inserted. The size of the casing pipe makes such manual labor difficult.

SUMMARY It is therefore the principle object of this invention to provide a well casing handling tool which permits the drilling machine used to drill the well to be used in inserting the casing pipe into the hole.

It is another object of this invention to provide a casing handling tool which permits the drilling machine to be used to align the casing pipe with the previously drilled hole in which it is to be inserted.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a handling tool which permits the full downward force of the drilling machine to be used in pushing the casing pipe into the hole.

The foregoing and other objects will be carried out by providing apparatus for use in inserting a casing pipe into a previously drilled hole comprising: a first member adapted to be connected to one end of a casing pipe; a second member adapted to be connected to the rotary head of a drilling machine; and means for pivotally connecting said first member to said second member to permit the casingpipe to be aligned with the hole in which it is to be inserted and for transmitting the longitudinal movement of said second member to said first member so that a downward force applied to said second member will be transmitted to said first member and the casing pipe for forcing said casing pipe into the hole.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The invention will be described in connection with the annexed drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of a rock drilling machine employing the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a generally schematic view of the present invention used to connect a casing pipe to a drilling machine; and

FIG. 3 is a view partially in section of the casing handling tool of the present invention with a casing pipe connected thereto.

In FIG. 1 there is shown a drilling machine generally indicated at 1 which may be used for drilling holes such as water wells. The machine includes a drill tower 2, conventional leveling jacks 3 and a suitable dust control system 4. A rotary head 5 is movably mounted on the tower 2 and may be of any suitable type such as that shown in US. Pat. No. 3,446,295 A chain drive 6 may be used for moving the rotary head 5 along the length of the drill tower 2. The rotary head 5 includes a rotation output member 7. During drilling operations, a drill rod having a drill bit or down hole drill and drill bit is connected to the rotary output 7 of the rotary head 5. The drill rod is rotated and advanced by the rotary head 5 in a conventional manner to drill the hole. A centralizer 8 is provided to maintain alignment of the drill rod. The drilling machine may be provided with a drill rod storing and handling apparatus 9.

When the machine is used for drilling a hole such as a water well, the drill tower and rotary head must be aligned with the hole to be drilled. Since the casing pipe must also be aligned with the hole when it is being inserted in the hole, it would be desirable to employ the drilling machine to insert the casing into the hole. One problem is to get the casing pipe connected to the rotary head. The handling apparatus of the present invention is particularly well adapted to perform this function.

The handling apparatus of the present invention is best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 and includes a first member or coupling end 10 including a circular plate member 11 having an externally threaded annular portion 12. The threaded portion 12 is threadedly connected to a conventional coupling member 13 which is threadedly secured to a casing pipe 14. After the casing is inserted in the hole, the coupling 13 may be used for connecting one casing section 14 to another casing section. As best shown in FIG. 3, the plate member 11 defines a shoulder 15 which is dimensioned to fit over the end of the coupling 13 and thereagainst so that, as subsequently explained, force applied to coupling end 10 will be transmitted to the annular end of easing pipe coupling 13, by shoulder 15, to help unload and to avoid stressing the threads of annular portion 12. A female coupling element 16 in the form of a yoke extends upwardly from the plate member 11. The female coupling element 16 is provided with a bore 17 through each of the legs of the yoke.

The casing handling apparatus also includes a second member or head end 20. The second member 20 includes a plate member 21 and upwardly projecting threaded portion 22 which is adapted to be threadedly connected to a spindle hub 23 which is connected to the rotary output 7 of the rotary head 5. A male coupling element 24 having a radial bore 25 therethrough projects downwardly from the plate 21. The male coupling element 24 is adapted to be received by the female coupling element 16 so that the bore 17 is suitably aligned with the bore 25 to permit a pin 30 to pivotally connect the

members

10 and 20.

In use, the first member 10 is threadedly connected to the coupling member 13 while the casing pipe 14 is positioned on the ground. The rotary head 5 is lowered. A sling from a hoist, schematically indicated at 35 in FIG. 2, is connected near one end of the casing pipe 14. The casing pipe 14 is raised off the ground and the female coupling element 16 is aligned with the male coupling 24 so that the

bores

17 and 25 are generally aligned. The pin 30 is inserted in the bores. The bore 25 is larger in diameter than the bore 16 to permit the

coupling members

10 and 20 to be pivotally connected to each other.

The rotary head 5 is then raised on the drill tower and the casing pipe 14 swings into alignment with the previously drilled hole. The rotary head 5 with casing pipe 14 connected thereto is lowered and the pipe 14 is inserted in the centralizer 8 on the drilling machine. The centralizer prevents further pivotal movement of the pipe 14 and insures alignment between the pipe and the drilled hole. The rotary head 5 is then lowered and the casing pipe 14 is inserted in the previously drilled hole.

In the event the pipe becomes stuck in the hole the full downward push of the rotary head can be used to force the easing into the hole, such force will be transferred directly from the coupling member 20 to the member 10 and the easing pipe 14. The male and female coupling elements are such that the casing pipe may be rotated by the rotary head 5 in the event it is desired to couple one casing pipe to another casing pipe which is already in the hole. Because the bore 25 is larger in diameter than the bore 17 the member 20 can move relative to the member and the plate member 21 can be placed in contact with the coupling element 16. This allows the transfer of longitudinal movement through the coupling members rather than through the pin 30.

From the foregoing it should be apparent that the objects of this invention are carried out. A simple casing handling tool or apparatus has been provided which permits the drilling machine to be used for both starting the casing pipe down the hole, for coupling one casing pipe to another and for forcing the casing pipe into the hole in the event it becomes stuck.

We claim:

1. In combination, a drilling machine having a tower and a rotary head longitudinally movably mounted on said drill tower, and a coupling assembly for inserting a casing pipe into a previously drilled hole comprising a first member adapted to be connected to a casing pipe, a second member connected to said rotary head and means for connecting said first member to said second member so that a casing pipe can be raised and lowered relative to said drill tower; wherein said first member is pivotally connected to said second member by means of a pin which permits limited longitudinal movement between said first and second members.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein one of said first and second members is provided with a male coupling element having a bore therethrough and the other of said first and second members is provided with a female coupling element having a bore therethrough, one of said bores being larger in diameter than the other of said bores, said female coupling element adapted to receive said male coupling element and said pin means adapted to extend into each of said bores.

3. Apparatus for use in inserting a casing pipe into a previously drilled hole, comprising:

a first member having means for threadedly engaging a casing pipe end coupling;

a second member having means for effecting a driven coupling of said second member to the rotary head of a drilling machine; and

means for pivotally connecting said first member to said second member to permit the casing pipe and end coupling thereof to be aligned with the hole in which it is to be inserted and for transmitting the longitudinal movement of said second member to said first member so that a downward force applied to said second member will be transmitted to said first member and the end coupling for forcing said casing pipe into the hole; wherein said first member includes means defining a shoulder through which downward movement of said first and second members is transmitted to said end coupling.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said connecting means comprises a male coupling element, extending from one of said first and second members, having a bore therethrough, and a female coupling element, extending from the other of said first and second members, having a bore therethrough;

said male coupling element being receivable by said female coupling element for engagement therewith; and

pin means for insertion into the bores of both said male and female coupling elements for pivotally connecting said first member to said second member.

5. The apparatus of claim 4,'wherein:

the bore in one of said male and female coupling elements is larger than the bore of the other of said male and female coupling elements to thereby permit relative movement between said fist member and said second member towards and away from each other.

Claims

3. Apparatus for use in inserting a casing pipe into a previously drilled hole, comprising: a first member having means for threadedly engaging a casing pipe end coupling; a second member having means for effecting a driven coupling of said second member to the rotary head of a drilling machine; and means for pivotally connecting said first member to said second member to permit the casing pipe and end coupling thereof to be aligned with the hole in which it is to be inseRted and for transmitting the longitudinal movement of said second member to said first member so that a downward force applied to said second member will be transmitted to said first member and the end coupling for forcing said casing pipe into the hole; wherein said first member includes means defining a shoulder through which downward movement of said first and second members is transmitted to said end coupling.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said connecting means comprises a male coupling element, extending from one of said first and second members, having a bore therethrough, and a female coupling element, extending from the other of said first and second members, having a bore therethrough; said male coupling element being receivable by said female coupling element for engagement therewith; and pin means for insertion into the bores of both said male and female coupling elements for pivotally connecting said first member to said second member.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein: the bore in one of said male and female coupling elements is larger than the bore of the other of said male and female coupling elements to thereby permit relative movement between said fist member and said second member towards and away from each other.