US2009164A - Tubing catcher - Google Patents

Description

July 23, 1935. A. J. COLMERAUER TUBING CATCHER Filed Jan. 29, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 23, 19 35.

' A. J. COLMERAUER TUBING CATCHER Filed Jan. 29, 1934 3 SheetsSheet 2 July 23, 1935. A. J. COLMERAUER 2,009,164

TUBING CATCHER Filed Jan. 29, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Z3 99 f gm & Inventor l By M 7 Allorneys Patented July 23, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TUBING CATCHER 7 Andrew .lr Colmerauer, Iios'Angeles, Calif., as-

signor to Byron Jackson (30., Los Angeles, Calif a corporation of Delaware, 1 Application'January 29, 1934, Serial No. 708,324

10 Claims. (Chloe-s19) This invention relates to tubing catchers and has particular reference to. a device for autoe matically arresting theiall of, oil well tubing by expanding the device to cause the same to grip the wall of the well casing, through which the tubing passes, with a wedging action.

Automatic tubing catchers as heretofore made have been characterized by the use of a com pressed spring or springs supporting all or a part of the weight of the wedge shaped slip members when the Wedges are in the inoperative position.

In the event that the tubing should drop unexpectedly, the eiiect of the force of gravity keeping the slips in the retracted or inoperative position is lessened and the force exertedby the compressed springbecomes effective to prevent the slips from dropping as rapidly asthe slip seats, thereby causing the slips to ride up on their seats and engagethe well casing with a wedging action, thus arresting the fall of the tubing. An illustration of one such tubing catcher now in common use may be seen in United States Patent No. 1,921,547, issued August 8th, 1933, to N. K. Smith and R. K. I-Iertel. In this type of tubing catcher with the weight of slips supported .on a'coilspring, it is obvious that the catcher will be ,rather long because of the end-to-end position of the spring andslips.

Some oil wells contain bent casing in which it is difficult to run a long tubing catcher which, oi necessity, must be but little smaller in diameter than the inside diameter of the well casing.

Attempts have been made heretofore to make short catchers to overcome thedifficulityset forth in the preceding paragraph. One such construction for short catchers has been to eliminate the spring which supports the slips, as is shown in United States Patent No. l,706,779, issued March 26th, 1929, to H. 'E. [Grau and A. J. Colmerauer.

The trouble with such catchers is that, lacking a spring, they cannot always be depended upon to operate 'successfullyin case of an unexpected drop.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a short tubing catcher having spring actuated slips. Y

Another object is to provide a tubing catcher having spring actuated slips, but in which the weight of the slips is not directly supported by 50 the spring.

Another catcher therein depicted comprises a tubular nipple l threaded at each end to receive pipe enlarged head 4' which maybe an integral part of catcher shown having three such seats. Each of object is to provide a tubing catcher in which each slip is actuatednby. a separate of tubing catcher in accordance with. my inventionin which the springs are positioned behind the slips; V

Fig. 2 is an elevation view, partly in section, of the same device shown in Fig. 1, taken at a 10 different angle; Y

Fig. 3 is'a cross section of the device-taken in the plane IIIIII of Fig. 2; I Fig. 4; is a cross section taken in the IV IV of'Fig. 2; Y

Fig. 5 is an elevation view of a modified form of tubing catcher in which the slip actuating springs are mounted below the slips;

Fig. Gis an elevation View, partly in section, of the same device shown in'Fig. 5*taken from a plane different angle;

Fig. '7 an elevation view of still another modification of the invention in which a spiral spring is employed with a rein to actuate the s p: r r 25 Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view showing the construction of the catcher illustrated in Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is an elevation view of still another em-- bodiment of the invention, in which the slip is suspended from a spring actuated-rein; and

Fig. 10 is a detail sectional view illustrating the construction of the tubing catcher shown in elevation in Fig. 9. i

Referring first to Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, the tubing couplings 2 and 3, respectively, which are'adapted to connect the tubing catcher'into a string of tubinghnotshcwn. The'nipple i is provided with an the nipple or may be a separate member, as shown, wldedor otherwise rigidly secured to the nipple. The head 4 is provided with one or more, and preferably three or four, tapered seats 5; the

the seats has its surface taperedinwardly-and downwardly. The tapered surfaces of the seats may have any desired configuration although I have chosen to show the arrangement more fully set forth in United States Patent No. 1,921,547, as 50. it permitsthe use of slips having a greater length and greater gripping area than other arrangements. The principal feature of this construe:- tion is that the seats 5 aretapered both inwardly and downwardly,the angle of taper being such that the length of that portion of the seat indicated at :v in Fig. 2 intersects the outer surface of the nipple I so that the lower ends 6 of the seats extend around the outer surface of the nipple.

Each of the seats 5 is adapted to receive a wedge shaped slip 'I having an arcuate outer face provided with serrations or teeth 3 adapted to engage the inner surface of a well casing. Each slip has at its lower end an inwardly and downwardly inclined outer surface 9 which seats against a complementary inclined surface I0 formed in the head of the catcher. The upper end of each slip is provided with means for retaining the slip from falling completely out of the seat comprising, in the present instance, an upwardly extending finger I I having a pair of laterally extending lugs I2 which engage a recess in an actuator I5 to be described. Associated with each slip is a flat bow spring I3 adapted to bear against the inner face of the slip to normally urge the slip outwardly against a well casing. For convenience and to save space, I prefer to provide each slip with a longitudinal recess I I in the rear face thereof to receive the bow spring I3. The lower end of spring I3 bears against an abutment 22 formed on the lower inner face of the slip and the upper end of the spring is supported and bowed by the actuator I5.

Actuator I5 is a tubular member adapted to slide up and down on the nipple I and is provided with relatively thick walls to give it considerable weight. The slips I are individually connected to the actuator I 5 by means of the fingers I I having the lugs l2 thereon, which lugs are supported in enlarged recesses I6 in the actuator, which recesses are at the ends of the slots I I which receive the fingers II. This provides a loose connection between the slips and the actuator so that the slips can move outwardly from the nipple as they ride up on the slip seats. The actuator is provided with slots I8 aligned with the slots I1 but higher up on the actuator to receive the ends of'the springs I3, which ends are 'bent outwardly as shown at I9. In order to bow the springs I3 whereby they exert an outwardly directedforce upon the lower ends of the slips, the vertical passages 2| in the actuator I5, through which the springs pass, have their lower rear walls spaced outwardly from the nipple I to provide abutments 2Ia which serve as fulcrums for the springs I3, the lower ends of the springs bearing against the abutments 22 on the slips and the upper ends bearing against the actuator just below the slots I8. It will be apparent that with the'construction described the springs are held at their'upper ends and bowed outwardly at their lower ends, whereby they press outwardly against the abutments 22 on the lower ends of the slips. When the device shown'in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 is to be used as an automatic tubing catcher, it is connected in a string of tubing in the usual manner and lowered into the well. Under normal conditions the slips I remain in their lower and innermost positions, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, since although the springs I3 are under tension, the weight of the slips and actuator is sufficient to prevent the springs from pushing the slips up along the tapered seats I0 and out against the well casing. However, if the tubing should part above the catcher or drop unexpectedly, the pressure of theslips and actuator against the seat I0 isreduced suficiently (as a result of the downward acceleration of the catcher) to permit the springs [3 to force the slips up and outwardly along the tapered seats I0 and into engagement with the well casing, thereby setting the catcher.

Although the invention has been disclosed in an automatic catcher, it is to be understood that by suitable modifications it can be used to anchor the tubing by providing the catcher shown with an anchor mechanism of any well known type. Thus the catcher shown in the drawings will accommodate the-type of anchor shown in Patent No. 1,921,547, which anchor comprises a set of bow springs positioned between upper and lower collars slidably mounted on a lower extension to the nipple I. The bow springs are adapted to drag in the well casing. The upper collar is provided with a series of upstanding fingers adapted to engage a downwardly depending finger 23 (Figs. 1 and 2) at the bottom of each slip. The catcher is provided with a skirt 24 which is rigidly secured to the nipple I and may be an integral part of the head 4, as shown. The skirt 24 is provided with a series of alternating grooves 25 and pockets 25. The grooves 25 receive the fingers 23 on the slips. The pockets 26 are adapted to receive the upstanding fingers on an anchor of the type described in the aforementioned patent when the anchor is in the inoperative position. To anchor the catcher, as equipped with an anchor of the type referred to, the tubing would be raised a few inches, rotated to the left a portion of a turn and then lowered. This action would move the upstanding fingers of the anchor out of the pockets 26 and into the grooves 25 where they would be operative to push the slips up into engagement with the well casing. It is to be understood that any other suitable form of anchor may be used in place of that described, the anchor forming no part of this invention.

The tubing catcher disclosed i'nFigs. 5 and 6 is in general similar to that described in connection with Figs. 1 to 4. Thus, it comprises a nipple 30 having a head 3| rigidly attached thereto and an actuator 32 slidably mounted on the nipple below the head 3|. Slips 33 are mounted in seats in the head 3| substantially as described in connection with Figs. 1 to 4. In this instance, howeventhe slips are slidably held at their upper ends in dovetailed grooves 34, thereby restraining the upper ends. of the slips from'move ment outwardly away from their seatswhile permitting free outward movement of the lower ends of the slips. In Figs. 5 and 6 the slips 33 are connected to the actuator 32 by flat springs 35 which also serve as connecting reins between the actuator and the slips. Thus the upper end of each spring 35 is coiledaround a pivot pin 35 on the lower end of the associated slip and the lower end is secured between an outer abutment 31 and an inner abutment 31a positioned thereabove on the actuator 32. The reins are secured against vertical movement with respect to the actuator by turning out the lower ends of the springs, which ends engage in recesses 38 provided there for in the actuator. It will be observed that the springs 35 exert a constant outward force on the lower end of each slip, which force is normally resisted by the abutment 39 on the head which bears against the downwardly and inwardly tapered face 40 on the slip. However, downward "acceleration of the catcher reduces the force and gravity acting upon the slips and actuator, thereby permitting the slips to be moved upwardly and outwardly by the springs 35.

The embodiment shown in Figs. '7 and 8 is very similar to that just described in connection with Figs. 5 and 6. It differs therefrom essentially only in the manner in which the upper ends of the slips are restrain'ed'from outward movement and in the construction of the reins and springs. Thus, it will be observed that the upper end of each slipis provided with a finger 480. which is tipped outwardly at its upper end and normally engages an abutment ll on the head of the catcher. It will be observed that upward movement of the slip permits the inclined outer face of the finger tea to slide outwardly and upwardly'past'the abutment 41'."

The slip'and actuator connecting'mechanism shown in Figs. '7 and 8 comprises reins 42, each of which is pivotally mounted at its lower end by a pin et to the actuator and is provided at its upper end with a projection 4e, which engages apin 35 in the lower end or the associated slip. Constant spring pressure is exerted on each rein 42 by an associated coil spring 26 which'surrounds the pivot 33 on each side of the rain 42. The coil spring is provided at its center with a U-shaped arm ll which bears against the inner side of the associated rein, and the free ends of the spring it are supported in grooves 48 provided therefor in the actuator. The operation of the catcher shown in Figs. 7 and 8 is substantially the same as that of the catcher described in connection with Figs. 5 and 6. v I

Referring now to Figs. .9 and 10, a modification of the invention is disclosed in which the individual slips are suspended from an actuator mounted thereabove by spring actuated reins. Thus, slips 5!] are mounted in slip seats on a head substantially as previously described but the lower ends of the slips are provided with fingers 5i which extend into recesses 52 in the head and prevent outward movement of the lower end of the slip when the latter is in its lowermost position as shown. Each slip 5% is provided adjacent its upper end with a recess 53 into which hooks the lower'end of a rein 54, the upper end of which is hooked onto a shoulder 55 in an actuator 56 slidably positioned upon the nipple 51 above the head 58 in which the slips are mounted. Each rein 54 is normally urged outwardly by a spiral spring 59 of the general construction described in connection with Figs. 7 and 8.

In the construction described in Figs. 9 and 10,

each rein 5B is tensioned by its associated spring 553 so that it tends to throw the upper end of the slip suspended thereon outwardly away from the slip seat. However, the spring tension is so proportioned that it is insufiicient under normal con ditions to overcome the weight of the slip which, therefore, remains in its lower position as shown in the drawing. However, if the catcher is accelerated downwardly at a substantial rate, the apparent decrease in the weight of the slips is sufficient to permit the springs 59 to deflect the upper ends of the slips outwardly into engagement with the well easing, whereupon the slips engage the casing and anchor the tubing.

'Although the drawings disclose a weighted actuator attached to the slips, I wish to point out that in some instances the slips themselves will be heavy enough without the added weight of an actuator to normally hold them in an inoperative position against spring pressure. The word actuator istherefore used to define a connecting member which moves all of the slips in unison and which may or may not be a weight member. If the catcher is of the single slip type with a heavy slip, even a connector is unnecessary.

It is to be understood that the essential feaspring means for urging the slip directly outwardly, means for maintaining said slip inwardly against its seat when the slip is in lowermost position, said last mentionedmea-ns releasing said slip for outward movement away from its seat in response'to upward movement of said slip with respect to said member.

2. A tubing catcher as described in claim 1 in which said means for maintaing said slip inwardly against its seat comprises an upwardly and cut wardly inclined bearing face on the outer surface of said slip and a cooperating element secured to said member for contacting said bearing face; 3. In a tubing catcher, a member adapted to be connected into and constitute a-po'rtion of a string of tubing and having a plurality of up wardly and outwardly inclined slip seats positioned thereon, a slip slidable. longitudinally on each seat, an actuator slidably supported on said member and connected to said slips for vertical movement therewith, an individual spring means associated with each slip for urging that slip directly outwardly away from its seat, means for maintaining said slips in their inner positions against their seats when in lowermost position, said last mentioned means releasing said slips for outward movement away from their seats in response to upward movement of saids'lips with respect to said member.

I 4. In a tubing catcher, a member adapted to be connected into and constitute a portion of a string of tubing and having an upwardly and outwardly inclined slip seat thereon, a slip slidable longitudinally on said seat, an actuator slidably supported on said member above said slip seat and connected to the upper end of said slip for vertical movement therewith, spring means supported by said actuator and bearing against the lower end of said slip for directly urging the lower end of said slip outwardly, means for main.- taining said slip inwardly against said seat when the slip is in lowermost position, said last mentioned means including a member bearing against the outer side of the lower end of said slip, whereby the lower end of said slip is released for outward movement in response to said spring force upon upward movement of said slip relative to said member.

5. A tubing catcher as described in claim 4 in,

which said spring means comprises a flat bow spring extending from the actuator down back of the slip and contacting with the slip only at its lower end. 7

6. In a tubing catcher, a member adapted to be connected into and constitute a portion of a string of tubing and having an upwardly and inwardly against its seat when the slipis in its lowermost position and releasing the lower end of the slip foroutward movement away from its seat in response to upward movement of the slip along its seat.

7. A tubing catcher as described in claim 6 in which an actuator is slidably mounted on said member below said slip and in which said spring means comprises a flat bow spring linking said slip to said actuator.

8. In a tubing catcher, a member adapted to be connected into and constitute a portion of a string of tubing and having an upwardly and outwardly inclined slip seat thereon, a slip slidable on said seat, spring means for urging said slip directly outwardly away from said seat, and means for slidably holding the slip against its seat, the active force exerted outwardly on'said slip by the said spring means being normally opposed and balanced by the active force of gravity on said slip acting in conjunction with said means for slidably holding the slip against its seat, whereby said spring means moves said slip outwardly in response to downward acceleration of said catcher in excess of a predetermined rate.

means against the lower portion of said slip seat when said slidable means is in lowermost position, spring means for urging said slip directly outwardly from said seat, and means for slidably holding the slip against its seat, said spring means exerting insufficient force to move said slip away from said seat against the normal force of gravity on said slip acting in conjunction with said means for slidablyholding the slip against its seat but suflicient to move the slip outwardly when the gravitational force acting thereon is in part neutralized by downward acceleration of said catcher in excess of a predetermined rate.

10. In a tubing catcher, a member adapted to be connected into and constitute a portion of a string of tubing and having an upwardly and outwardly inclined slip seat thereon, a slip slidable on said seat, an actuator slidably mounted on said member at a level vertically disposed from said slip seat, a link connecting said actuator to the adjacent end of said slip, said link including spring means for urging the slip end of said link directly outwardly, and means for slidably holding the slip against its seat, the active force exerted outwardly on said slip by said spring means and link being normally opposed and balanced by the active force of gravity on said slip acting in conjunction with said means for slidably holding the slip against its seat, whereby said spring means moves said slip outwardly in response to downward acceleration of said catcher in excess of a predetermined rate.

ANDREW J. COLMERAUER.

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