US3351372A - Split hook hoisting apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 7, 1967 w. M. MARKS ET Al. 3,351,372

SPL IT HOOK HOISTING APPARATUS Original Filed Oct. 7, 1964 i ZE 43 m ll I Q 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 /50 O dd 0 O O O O o 0 O o O 2e 27 r P -9 WILL/AM M. MARKS INVENTORS ATTORNEYS I Nov. 7,1967 w. M. MARKS ET AL 3,351,372

SPLIT HOOK HOISTING APPARATUS Original Filed Oct. 7, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 E W/LL/AM M; MARKS JAMES E. ASHWORTH INVENTORS A T TORNE Y5 NOV. 7., 1967 w, MARKS ETAL 3,351,372

SPLIT HOOK HOISTING APPARATUS Original Filed Oct. 7, 1964 TUTTI 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 m WILLIAM M; MARKS JAMES E. ASA/WORTH INVENTORS BY 23 I and. 7 7 o 7 fl ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,351,372 SlPLlT HOOK HOISTING APPARATUS William M. Marks and James E. Ashworth, Beaumont,

Tern, assignors to Dresser industries, line, a corporation of Delaware Continuation of application Ser. No. 402,120, Oct. 7,

1964. This application May 2, 1966, Ser. No. 547,129 8 Claims. (Cl. 294-81) This application is a continuation of co-pending application Ser. No. 402,120, filed Oct. 7, 1964, and now abandoned.

This invention relates to apparatus for handling pipe in well operations such as drilling, completion, workover and servicing of wells. It is particularly directed to improvements in apparatus for raising and lowering pipe in such operations. While the present invention is adapted to handling strings of pipe and the like used in connection with many operations related to the making and servicing of holes, the invention will be described and illustrated in connection with handling drill pipe during drilling operations, it being understood that operations in handling other types of pipe are the same even though the size and character of the pipe and couplings therefor may be different.

In present drilling practice, a drill string consists of a plurality of sections or joints of drill pipe, having a length usually in the range of about to 40 feet convenient for its manufacture and transportation as well as for its use in the drilling operation. Each joint of drill pipe has threaded connections at each end so that the joints can be screwed together. These threaded parts are formed as standard API tool joints. The drill string is run into and out of the bore hole in multiple joint stands, each stand consisting of a number, usually two to four, of joints convenient for manipulation within the height of the derrick of a drilling rig.

When running the drill string into a bore hole, the drill string is lowered by a pipe elevator until the top of the drill string is near a drilling floor of the drilling rig. The pipe usually is then gripped by slips that wedge within a slip bowl of a master bushing, which in turn seats within a rotating part of a turntable in the rig. Dies having sharp teeth which are hardened so that pressure from wedging action causes them to bite into the pipe and insure a tight grip are included in the slips.

After the slips are engaged, the elevator is released so that it can be lifted in the derrick for connection with the next stand of drill pipe to be attached to the drill string and to support the stand while the lower end thereof is connected to the drill string in the bore holes. After the connection is made, the slips are released and the drilling string is again lowered in the bore hole until the added section is in position to be gripped by the slips to permit removal of the elevator for use in connecting another stand of drill pipe. These operations are continued until a sufficient number of stands have been added that a bit carried by a lowest stand makes contact with the bottom of the bore hole to continue with the drilling operation.

When drilling or other pipe rotating operation is to be resumed, the pipe elevator and usually bails suspending the elevator from the traveling block, are removed and a hook suitable for suspending a mud swivel having a bail is attached to the traveling block. A mud swivel connected to a kelly joint adapted to be driven by a turntable is suspended from the hook and connected to the upper end of the drill string. A suitable mud or well fluid is then pumped from drilling mud vats via stand pipe and hose connections to the mud swivel down through the kelly and drill string and the drill string is rotated by the turntable until the bit penetrates to a depth great enough that an additional joint of pipe is required. When this occurs the drill string is supported in slips, the kelly and mud swivel are disconnected, the hook is detached from the traveling block and bails for a pipe elevator are connected to the traveling block, the elevator is attached to the bails and the pipe is picked up and added to the drill string as described in going into the hole.

When it becomes necessary to pull the drill string from the bore hole, the mud swivel and kelly are disconnected from the traveling block, bails and a pipe elevator carried thereby are connected to the block in position to hoist the pipe and the elevator is moved into position to connect with the upper end of the drill string. The drill string is then raised in the derrick until the next lower stand of pipe is in position to be engaged by the slips to support the drill string while the first stand is uncoupled therefrom and carried by the elevator into racking position within the derrick. The elevator is then released and again lowered in the derrick to engage with the upper end of the following stand, to again raise the drilling string for support by the slips and permit uncoupling by the next stand of drill pipe. These operations are repeated until all of the drill pipe has been removed from the bore hole and the stands of pipe are racked Within the derrick.

It is obvious that during the drilling and operation of a well it will become necessary to attach and detach a hook for supporting the bail of the mud swivel and bails for supporting a pipe elevator many times. These objects are very heavy. A hook for example, weighs several hundred pounds and bails for a pipe elevator are comparable in weight. A great deal of time and labor is thus consumed in alternately attaching and detaching a hook and bails.

It is an object of this invention to provide improved apparatus for handling pipe in which the necessity for removing elevator bails or locking them out of line while the mud swivel is carried on the traveling block of a hoisting apparatus, is eliminated.

Another object is to provide such improved apparatus which reduces the time and labor required in shifting the hoisting apparatus from elevator to mud swivel.

Another object is to provide such apparatus having a single split hook assembly serving both as elevator bails and as hook for the mud swivel bail.

Another object is to provide such apparatus which is of simple construction, easy to operate and lower in cost than apparatus having both hook and elevator bails of similar strength.

Another object is to decrease the time required in changing from drilling operations to pipe running operations.

Other objects, advantages and features of this invention will be apparent to one skilled in the art upon a consideration of the written specification, the attached claims and the annexed drawings.

These objects are attained in the present invention by providing a split hook assembly carried by a traveling block of a hoisting mechanism which performs the functions both of bails for supporting a pipe elevator and a hook for supporting the bails of mud swivels. The split hook assembly includes a pair of upper links which may be either of solid link or spring link type, and means for attaching the upper links to the traveling block providing free movement of the lower ends of the links toward and away from each other.

A pair of opposed hook members are provided with each member pivoted adjacent an upper end thereof to a lower part of a corresponding one of said links so that the hook members are movable toward] and away from each other.

Since the upper links are themselves mounted for swinging movement on traveling block and the hooks are piva oted at the upper end to the lower end of the link members, the hook members may be brought into lateral contact with each other or swung widely apart so that there is sufiicient room for free movement of pipe between the hook members and remain substantially vertical during lateral movement.

The hook members have complementary surfaces fitting inside the topmost part of a mud swivel bail when the hook members are in lateral contact, and in this position therefore can perform the functions usually performed by a separate mud swivel hook. The pipe elevators used in this combination have lateral lifting ears diametrically opposite each other.

The lower surface of each of these ears is curved to fit upon one of the complementary bail engaging surfaces of a corresponding hook member. Each of the hook mem bers are provided with closing latches in conventional manner so that the latch has to be open before the member can be disconnected from the elevator or bail.

It will thus be seen that the operation in shifting from support of mud swivel for pipe rotating operations to support of a pipe elevator for running operations is greatly facilitated. To disconnect a pipe elevator latches of the hook member need only be opened by the members disconnected from the lifting ears of the pipe elevator. When the two hook members have been so disconnected they are merely pushed together to lateral contact and are immediately ready to hook on the bail of a mud swivel.

It is preferred that one of the hook members have associated with it a pivoted latch member in position to detachably engage a latch engaging member associated with the other hook member so that when the hook members are in lateral contact they may be latched in this position with no danger of separation during the hoisting operation. It is also preferred that the traveling block used with the split hook assembly of the present invention be side opening, that is, constructed with the groups of sheaves laterally spaced from each other at a distance to provide free movement of pipe laterally into and out of the block, and that the means for attaching the split hook assembly to the traveling block include a swivel having a side opening therein carried upon the lower end of the traveling block.

The invention may be best understood by consideration of the attached drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout,

In the drawings FIG. 1 illustrates diagrammatically one preferred type of split hook assembly of the present invention in elevation, partially broken away and shown attached to a pipe elevator.

FIG. 2 illustrates the same type of split hook assembly suspended from a traveling block of different construction and supporting a bail of a mud swivel.

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate a modification of a split hook assembly illustrating its attachment to a pipe elevator in FIG. 3 and to a bail of a mud swivel in FIG. 4.

FIG. 5 is a side elevation of the device shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 illustrates a preferred construction of an upper link of a split hook assembly of FIGS. 1 and 2 for rapid handling of heavy weights.

FIG. 7 illustrates diagrammtically a partially broken away elevation of a derrick or mast of a drill rig showing pipes being raised or lowered by the use of the split hook assembly of the present invention.

The split hook assembly illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 comprises a pair of upper links designated generally as 10 and 11 suspended from a traveling .block designated generally as 12. The traveling block of FIG. 1 includes a series of sheaves 13 and another series of sheaves 14 laterally spaced therefrom at a distance to allow free lateral insertion of pipe between the sets of sheaves. The body of the traveling block 12 extends downward and supports links 10 and 11 on pins 15 and 16. The upper links 10 and 1-1 are constructed in two parts, namely, upper members 17 and 18 and lower members 19 and 20. The upper members 17 and 18 have openings 21 and 22 therein and the pins 15 and 16 are inserted through the openings. The arrangement provides free swinging movement for the upper links 10 and 11 toward and away from each other.

The lower parts 19 and 20 of each of the upper links includes a cylinder 23 in which a resilient member, illustrated as spring 24, is disposed around upper member 17 so that load is transmitted from upper member 17 through piston head 25 and spring 24 to cylinder 23.

The assembly includes a pair of opposed hook members 26 and 27 shown in side view of FIG. 5. The hook members are substantially rnirror images of each other, that is, they bear the same general relationship to each other that a right hand glove resembles a left hand one, and the hook members have opposed substantially plane faces 28 facing each other.

Each of the hook members is pivoted at 29 and 30 to a corresponding one of said upper links so that the hook members may have substantially vertical position both when spread apart as shown in FIG. 1, or when moved into lateral contact with each other as shown in FIG. 2. It is preferred that each of the hook members have a pair of upper extending cars 31, shown only in FIG. 5, through which one of the pivots, such as 30 extends. Each of the hook members also have a pivoted closure member 32 attached thereto so that the hook cannot be disengaged when any weight is on elevator 34 or mud swivel bail 35. It is also preferred that each of the closure elements 32 are provided with a latch member 36 arranged in conventional manner so that the closure member cannot be opened until the latch member 36 is tripped by an operator.

It is preferred that one of the hook members have a pin 37 extending from a side thereof toward the other of the pair of hook members, which contains a recess 38 for receiving the pin when the hook members are placed in side by side contact as shown in FIG. 2. It is also preferred that one of the hook members have associated with it, as for example on pivot 30, a latch 39 adapted to engage a latch receiving member which is preferably the pivot shaft 29 associated with the opposite hook member. The hook members have complementary bail engaging surfaces 41 adapted to fit a topmost lower surface 42 of mud swivel bail 35 so that the lifting surface of each book member engages one half of the curved topmost lower surface of the bail.

Pipe elevator 34 has a pair of lifting ears 42 disposed diametrically opposite each other and each of these ears has a lower surface 43 adapted to fit a bail engaging surface 41 of a corresponding hook member. The lifting ears 42 also are provided with retaining members 44 so that the elevator may not be accidentally disengaged from the hook members when used therewith.

FIG. 2 illustrates the fact that this split hook assembly may be used with any type of traveling block since the block 45 shown therein includes a single group of sheaves 47 and the upper links 10 and 11 are suspended from hook members 48 suspended from the frame 49 of the traveling block by a swiveled connection 50.

A modification of the upper link members which is preferred when very heavy weights are rapidly handled is illustrated in FIG. 6. This modification is very similar to the members described under FIGS. 1 and 2 except that a ring 52 is provided for attaching to pins corresponding to 15 and 16 of FIG. 1 or the hook assembly 48 of FIG. 2 and that two cylinders 23a containing springs of 24a are provided. Also the upper and lower parts of the links are reversed from the position occupied by in FIGS. 1 and 2 in that the upper part of the link comprises the ring 52 and a rod 53 attached to a cross bar 54 movable vertically within housing 55 used to support the spring 24a. Members 56 attached to the body of the traveling block support the shaft 30 which serves to pivot a hook member 26 or 27 and to support the latch member 39. Latch member 39 in this modification as well as that described for FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 is adapted to engage the shaft 29 serving as pivot for hook member 26.

The modification of the split hook assembly shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 has upper link members a and 11a constructed as solid pieces. These upper members are curved at 1% and 11b adjacent their mid points so that they may be well out of the way of pipe handled by elevator 343a when the hook assembly is spread apart for engaging lifting ears of a pipe elevator. The split traveling block 124: shown in these figures is equipped with a swivel lower section 53 having lateral-1y extending ears 60 upon which the upper links Tea and 11a are carried. The elevator 34a is similar in construction to the elevator 34 shown in PEG. 1 in that it is side opening. This arrangement of traveling block including the swivel section 5% having a side opening 59 therein of suflicient width to freely admit a section of pipe being handled is particularly efficient in many operations where it is desired to place the elevator upon a pipe in a position where the pipe extends well above the traveling block. FIG. 4 illustrates the same type of traveling block, upper links and hook members as shown in FIG. 3 but in position to support a bail 35 of a mud swivel.

FIG. 3 illustrates schematically the installation of the apparatus of the present invention in a derrick of a drilling ring. The elevator 34a is shown closed around a stand of pipe 61 being raised or lowered into a well. The elevator 34a is supported by the hook assembly comprising upper links 10 and 11 and lower hook members 26 and 27, all supported by a travelling block 12 of a hoisting apparatus including lines 62 running over 'a crown block assembly 63. The mud swivel 64 having bail 35 is shown disconnected and in the usual position occupied by it during pipe running operations.

The mud swivel 64 and kelly joint 65 are normally placed at one side of the drilling floor 66 of trig of a derrick 67 while the pipe running operations are conducted. When operations involving rotation of the string of pipe are to be resumed, the elevator is, of course, disconnected from the upper end of the pipe and from the split hook assembly, and the hook members are moved into the position in lateral contact with each other illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4, and the traveling block and hook member assembly carried by the block is swung to one side to pick up the bail 35 of mud swivel 64. The lower end of the kelly joint is then connected to the upper end of the drill string 61 and is lowered into position to be turned by operation of the turntable 68.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all of the ends and objects hereinabove set forth, together with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the appa r-atus.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombin-ations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

We claim:

1. In a hoisting mechanism including a traveling block for handling pipe in well operations, the improvement which comprises; means adapted for alternately detecht5 ably supporting a mud swivel bail and a pipe elevator from the traveling block, said means including a pair of opposed members each having a lower portion and an upper portion including means for connecting the upper portion of each member to said traveling block for free swinging movement of the portions of said members below said connecting means toward and away from each other in one plane, each of said lower portions providing a hook in the form of an incomplete loop extending transversely of said plane and discontinuous along one side adapted when the members are swung toward each other, for the hook of each member to move laterally of said plane and through said discontinuous portion to engage a mud swivel bail and when swung apart, for the hook of each member to move laterally of said plane and through said discontinuous portion to engage opposite sides of a pipe elevator.

2. The mechanism of claim 1 in which each of said lower portions is pivoted adjacent an upper end to a lower part of a corresponding one of said upper portions.

3. The mechanism of claim 1 wherein the hooks are substantially mirror images of each other in configuration and have substantially fiat sides facing each other.

43. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a latch is associated with one of said opposed members in position to releasably engage the other opposed member when said opposed members are swung together.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the upper portion of each of said opposed members includes a cylinder having a resilient member therein and a lower member sup ported on said resilient member.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the resilient members are coil springs disposed to be compressed by downward movement of the lower member.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the traveling block has two sheave assemblies laterally spaced from each other at a distance to provide free lateral movement of pipe into the block, and the opposed members are supported upon a swivel having a matching side opening therein.

8. In an apparatus for handling pipe in well operations wherein there is provided a hoisting mechanism including a traveling block, a pipe elevator, a mud swivel, a bail on the mud swivel, that improvement which comprises a split hook assembly carried by the traveling block for alternately detachably supporting the mud swivel bail and pipe elevator, said assembly including a pair of opposed upper links, means attaching the upper links to the traveling block providing free movement of the lower ends of the links toward and away from each other; a pair of opposed hook members, each pivoted adjacent an upper end to a lower part of a corresponding one of said links and movable toward and away from each other, said hook members having a complimentary bail engaging surfaces adapted to fit the bail; and opposed lateral lifting ears on the pipe elevator, each of said lifting ears having a lower surface adapted to fit a bail engaging surface of a corresponding hook member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 506,585 10/ 1893 Downing 294 1,397,072 11/1921 Black 294-90 1,860,121 5/1932 Trout 292-82 3,061,356 10/1962 Grundmann 29490 3,193,116 7/1965 Kenneday 294-91 X GERALD M. FORLENZA, Primary Examiner. G. F. ABRAHAM, Assistant Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. IN A HOISTING MECHANISM INCLUDING A TRAVELING BLOCK FOR HANDLING PIPE IN WELL OPERATIONS, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES; MEANS ADAPTED FOR ALTERNATELY DETACHABLY SUPPORTING A MUD, SWIVEL BAIL AND A PIPE ELEVATOR FROM THE TRAVELING BLOCK, SAID MEANS INCLUDING A PAIR OF OPPOSED MEMBERS EACH HAVING A LOWER PORTION AND AN UPPER PORTION INCLUDING MEANS FOR CONNECTING THE UPPER PORTION OF EACH MEMBER TO SAID TRAVELING BLOCK FOR FREE SWINGING MOVEMENT OF THE PORTIONS OF SAID MEMBERS BELOW SAID CONNECTING MEANS TOWARD AND AWAY FROM EACH OTHER IN ONE PLANE, EACH OF SAID LOWER PORTIONS PROVIDING A HOOK IN THE FORM OF AN INCOMPLETE LOOP EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OF SAID PLANE AND DISCONTINUOUS ALONG ONE SIDE ADAPTED WHEN THE MEMBERS ARE SWUNG TOWARRD EACH OTHER, FOR THE HOOK OF EACH MEMBER TO MOVE LATERALLY OF SAID PLANE AND THROUGH SAID DISCONTINUOUS PORTION TO ENGAGE A MUD SWIVEL BAIL AND WHEN SWUNG APART, FOR THE HOOK OF EACH MEMBER TO MOVE LATERALLY OF SAID PLANE AND THROUGH SAID DISCONTINUOUS PORTION TO ENGAGE OPPOSITE SIDES OF A PIPE ELEVATOR.

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