US910295A - Fire-extinguishing apparatus for wells. - Google Patents

Description

M 13. LA YNE.

FIRE EXTINGUISHING APPARATUS FOR WELLS.

APPLICATION FILED n20 a 1907.

910,295. I Patented Jan. 19. 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES M. E. LAYNE. FIRE EXTINGUISHING APPARATUS FOR WELLS. 7

APPLICATION FILED DEG. 3,1907. 910,295. Patented Jan. 19, 1909 2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

INVENTOR mZAzM 4149M uuiirsri lyLlHLON E. LAYNE, OF HOUSTON, TEXAS FILRE-EXTINGUISHING AEPARAT'JS FUR WELLS.

we, moses.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. lessee.

Application filed December 3, 1957. Serial Ho. 484,379.

5 of Texas, have invented certsin new and useful nproveinents in Fire-Extinguishing Appv ul as for Wells, of which the following 15 e specification.

The invention relates to mechanism for piecing under control ignited oil gushers. The invention has for its primary objects; the provision of improved mechanism by which the oil flowing from the Well may be diverted laterally and the supply of oil and gas diverted from the ignited body of fluid; the provision of a. mechanism or the type specified "which may be easily and safely plac d in posi io bycperetors Without approaching dangerously near the well, and the provision of mechanism which shall be simple in construction and reliable in operation. {lerteiu embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the eccompo-o fing drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a, side elevation of the preferrcd form of the apparatus,

Figure '2 is an enlarged detail sect-ion through the head which fits over the well casing,

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a detail section taken on the line 4l of Figure ,1,

Figure 's a detail side elevation of a 5 modified form of construction for anchoring the apparatus to the Well casing,

V Figure 6 is wtrsnsvcrse section on the line VI-VI of Figure 5, and

Figure 7 is an enlarged sectional detail 40 View on the line VII-V1I of Figure 3.

Herctofore it has been found extremely r diliicult and ln 'V11lfLIl}"C1S -f-l impossible to extinguishburning oil and gas wells, because of the pressure of the escaping fluid, and because of the great heat in the immediate vicinity of the well. constituting my invention is designed to accomplish the extinguislnnent of such burning. wells, and comprises apparatus for diverting the flow of oil and gas from the mouth of the Well-laterally through a pipe line wl'iereby the supply of comhus- The no stratus tible material to the upper strata of on at which ignition occurs is cut ed, and any ignited fluid in the pipe line quenched either because of the insufiicierfitsupply of air or by the addition of steam or other vapor. The apparatus is so constructed that the upward flow of fluid from the mouth of the Well is unconfined until the device is positioned over the Well and securely anchored, at which time the flow of oil is suddenly diverted through the pi e line Referring first to t e enercl arrange ment of parts as indiceted m Figure 1, 1 is the Well casing to which it is desired to e ply the apfpsrstus, 2 is e leterelly exten; 111g pipe 0 suliiclent capac ty to carry the flow of oil from the Well, which pipe hes the curved end 3, end-is mou.iited forrfio=rs ment upon two pairs of Wheels l and 5, 6 is the heed oi the -emmretus which is sci-outed to he clamped over the top of the Well casino, 1, 7 is an upward extension through uduch the oil flows when the sppm-stus is first placed in position over the Well casing 1, and from which the flow is diverted to the ipe 2 after the parts are securely anchored, S is a means for operat; ing the velve which diverts the flow of oil fronl the upright pipe 7 to the pipe 2, w sh dev ce is opemole from the rear part of the apparatus, 9 is a pipe connection to the upright pipe 7, and the letercl pipe 2 through. whif pipe steam or other extinguishing vapor may be supplied. if necessory,-eud 10 is the pivoted cap secured to the top of the upright pipe 7 and designed to out off t e supply of air to such pipe '2 when the v ve in the head 6 has been turned to divert the lieu of oil through the pipe 2. The pipe 2 is supported at the wheels 4 by means of the U shaped axle 11 Fig 3), to which it secured by means of the brackets 12. Secured on either side of'thc brackets 12 is the end of the our post Secured to the upper end of this post is the truss-rod 14, which trussrod us shown in Figure 1, is provided with the tightening turn-buckles on either side of the post and secured at its two ends to the pipe by mes-us oithe collars 155. This arrangement is designed to stiffen the pipe 2 which constitutes the heck bone of the apparatus, and prevent sagging w hen the wheels 4 are withdrawn from the ground in a manner to be hereinafter described. The construction of the head of the device 6 which is to be secured to the well casing 1 is illustrated in Figure 2. As here shown this head compries a box portion to which is connected the pipe 7 and the curved end 3 of the pipe 2 in t-he manner shown: The lower portion 16 of the box 6 is of suiflcient size tofit snugly over the end of the well casing 1, and such end is provided with the spring catches 17 which slip over the flange 18 of the well casing 1 and securely lock the head 6 against vertical movement. A converging portion 18 is provided just above the portion 16, which converging portion is designed to prevent the upwardly directed fluid from striking any projecting portions in the box or head 6. In order to direct the fluid from the pipe 7 to the end 3, the swinging valve 19 is provided, which valve is, -piyoted'upon the rod 20 and has a curved ower face 21 to reduce the impact upon the valve, and more easily divert the fluid through the pipe 3 when the parts are in the position of Figure 2. A, recess 22 is provided in the rear of the head 6 to receive the valve 19, so that all portions thereof willbe out of line of the upwardly directed fluid passing through the portion 18. The rod 20 carrying the valve is operated by means 'of the arm 23 on the end of such rod, which arm 23 is in turn operated by the connecting rod 8 which extends to a bracket 24 at the rear of the machine. The rear end of the rod 8 is screw threaded for the adjustment of the handle 25, and such handle 25 is adapted to take against a block 26, which is held spaced away from the bracket 24 by means of the's ring 27.

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When the valve '19 is moved part y toward the position of Figure 2, and the impact of the oil carries it violently to.its final position, the handle 25 striking against the spring-supported member 26 secures a s ring seating of the valve, and injur tile parts is avoided. In' order to ta e a certainamount of strain off the. holding catches 17, it is desirable to add the weight of the apparatus to assist in anchoring the device against vertical movement, .and iii order to accomplish this result the wheels 4 are mounted forvertical adjustment as are also the wheels 5, so that after the device is positioned over the well casing the wheels 4 may be raised from the ground, and the wheels 5 lowered, thereby throwing the weight of the device to a large extent u on the point of engagement between the ead 6 and the well casing 1. In order to secure the vertical adjustment. of the wheels 4, they are mounted. upon the U' shaped axle 11 66 (Figure 3), and this ,axle is made rotatable amass by means of the segmental worm-wheel 28 keyed to the axle 11 as indicated in Figures 3 and 7, which worm-wheel is operated by the worm-gear 29 carried by the bearing 30 also mounted upon the axle in the manner shown in Figure 2. 'lhe worm-gear is rotated by means of its shaft 32 which extends to the rear of the appathe rear wheels 5 adjustable with respect to the pipe 2, a bracket 34 is secured to the pipe 2, and it is made adjustable with respect to the frame-work 35 carried by the wheels 5 by means of the screw 36 swiveled at its lower end in such frame 35 and working through a nut 37 upon the yoke 34.

In operation the machine having the parts in the position shown is moved to a position with the head 6 over the well casing 1, at which time the hand-wheel 33 is operated to move the U shaped axle 11 carrying the pipe oif center, and permit the apparatus to fall, so that the portion 16 (Fig. 2) engages the top of the pipe casing, and the spring catches 17 clamp over the flange 18 of the wall casing and hold the device firmly anchored to such casing. During this 0 eration, the valve 19 is held'in its rea'rwar position in the recess 22, and the cap 10, (Fig. 1), is opened so that the fluid from the well passes unconfined upward through the pipe 7, while the parts are being positioned. Af ter the parts are positioned, .the rod 8 is pushed forward so that the valve 19 assumes the position shown in Figure 2, the impact of the fluid tending to carry the valve'to its seated position after it passes into the stream of fluid, and the spring '27 permitting a seating of the valve without undue shock to the parts. The supply of oil and gas to the uper strata of air ed in the lateral pi e 2, the fire is extinguished because of lac of air, or if necessary steam or other extinguishing vapor may be supplied to the pipes 7 and 2 by means of the pipe 9, shown in Figure 1. After the fire as been extinguished the valve 19 may be returned to its original position in the recess eing out ofl and the oil con 22 allowing the fluid to escape upward erases is being wheeled about on the Wheels 4, and the subsequent lowering of such wheels pre liminary to the lowering of the apparatus about the axle 11. it will be understood, that when the device is loweredover the well casing the princi al weight is borne by the rear wheels 5 an the well casing 1, so that the weight of the device, which is considerable, assists mat'erially in holding the apparatus against vertical movement when thevalve;l9 is moved to the position of Figure 2. An alternative method of clamping the device to the well casing l is shown in Figures 5 "rear of the machine.

and 6. As here shown the truss-member 39 is secured to the'bottom of the pipe 2 and projects to a position with its other end adacent to the well casing which. latter end is provided with a plate 40, and is supported against vertical movement by means of the connecting rods ll provided with the adjusting turn-buckle 42. The plate carries pivoted to its under-side the tongs 43, adapted to clasp the i e beneath the flange 18 and securely hold tlle apparatus against vertical movement. The tongs are operated by means of a pair of toggle levers 44 provided with an operating rod 45 extending to the Thespring catches 17 through the apparatus while the apparatus is being positioned; I

2. An extinguisher for Wells comprising a movably mounted lateral pipe line adapted to make connections with the top of a Well tube, means for securing the end of the pipe to the well casing and means whereby the fluid from the well is allowed to escape freely upward through the apparatus until the securing means is adjusted and then directing such fiuid through the lateral pipe line.

3. An extinguisher for wells comprising a movably mounted lateral pipe line adapted to make connections with. the top of a well tube, spring catches for securing the end of the ipe to the well casing, and means whereby t e fiuidfrom the well is allowed to escape freely upward through the apparatus until the catc es engage the Well casing and then ilirecting such fluid through the lateral pipe 4. An extinguisher for wells comprising a movably mounted lateral pipe line having an upwardly directed outlet adjacent its end and means for directing fluid either through such outlet or through the pipe, and means for anchoring the end of the pipe over the well casing. i

An extinguisher for wells comprising a laterally directed pipe line having a down-- wardly extending end, a truck on which the pipe line is carried in such manner that the downwardly extending end may be moved vertically, catches on the downwardly ex tending end for enga ing the top of a well casing, a vertical out et pipe extendim upward. from the downwardly directed end and means whereby the fluid entering the downwardly extending end may be directed either upward through the outlet'pipe or laterally through the pipe line.

6. An extinguisher for wells comprising a laterally directed. pipe line having a downwardly extending end, a truck on which the pipe line is carried in such manner that the downwardly extending end may be moved vertically, catches on the downwardly extending end for engaging the top of a well casing, a vertical outlet pipe exteudin upwardly from the downwardly directed and and means whereby the fluid entering the downwardly extending end may be directed either upward through the outlet pipe or laterally through the pipeline, and a cap and extinguishing means for the outlet pipe.

7. A movable extinguisher for wel s comprising in combination, a head for fitting the well casing having an upwardly directed outlet, a laterally extending pipe connected to the head, and a valve for sending the flow from the well either throu h the-saidv pipp or permitting it to escape tlirough'the out et.

8. A movable extinguisher for wells comprising in combination, a head for fitting the well casing having an upwardly directed outlet, a laterally extending ipe connected to the head, a valve for sen mg the flow from the Well either through the ,said pipe or permittin'g it to escape through the outlet, and connections for applying an extinguishing fluid to the interior or" the ipe.

- 9. A movable extinguis er for wells comrisui 1n combination. a head for fittm the well casing having an upwardly directed outlet, a laterally extending pipe connected to the head, -a valve for sending the flow from the well either through the said pipe or per mitting it to escape through the outlet and connections for applying an extin ishing fluid to the outlet portion of the hea i 10. A movable extinguisher. for wellscom prising in combination, a head for fitting the well casing having an upwardly directedoutlet, a laterally extending ipe'connectecl'to the head, a valve for send the well either throu h the said pipe or permitting it to escape t rough the outlet, and an adjustable supporting means for the a rparatus whereby the apparatus may e mg the flow from lowered so that its weight rests partially In testimony whereof I have hereunto upon the well casing. signed my name in the presence of the two 11. An extinguis er for wells comprising a subscribed-Witnesses. movably mounted lateral pipe line having an MAHLON E. LAYNE. 5 upwardly directed outlet adjacent its end WVitnesses:

and means for directin flu id either through J. C. BRADLEY, such outlet or through t e pipe. DOERING BELLINGER.

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