US2160320A - Bailer - Google Patents

Description

May 30, 1939.- D. c. WALKER BAILER 2 sheets-sheet 1 Filed Jan. 3, 1938 Vlr/zama A "AAH,

May 30, 1939. D. c, WALKER BAILER Filed Jan. 5, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 3o, 1939 BAILEB David clinton walker, um; neuh, cam., usignor to Bush-Ross Tool Company, Los Angoles, Calif., a corporation of California Application .mam-y s, 193s. sensing. 183.013

momma. (CL 16s-19) This invention relates to a well tool and relates more particularly to a bailer for introducing or delivering 'material to a'well. A general object of this invention is to provide a simple, practical 5 and effective dump bailer for use in wells.

Another object ofxihis invention is to provide a dump bailer for introducing' acid, cement slurry, and other materials into a well that may be unloaded or operated to discharge its contents at any selected point in the well. The dump bailer provided by the present invention may be unloaded at the bottom of the well or at any higher point in the well and its unloading may be effected without engaging it against the bottom wall of the wen.

Another object of this invention is to provide a bailer of the character mentioned that embodies a simple, dependable valve normally or initially held closed by the head pressure or the y weight of the material lcontained in the bailer body and by the weight of certain elements of the bailer structure.

Another object of this invention is to provide in the well by manipulation of the string or line carrying the bailer.

Another object of this invention is to provide a bailer of the character mentioned in which there is little or no possibility of the contents being accidentally discharged in the event that the lower element of the bailerstrikes an obstruction or projection in the well when the bailer is being lowered in the well.

Another object of this invention is to` provide a bailer of the character mentioned embodying novel and dependable latch means for latching the valve open to assure a full unloading of the material from the bailer body.

A further object of this invention is to provide a dump bailer of the charactermentioned that" is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and that is convenient to operate.\ y

The various objects and features of my invention will be fully understood from the following detailed description of atypical preferred form and application of the invention, throughout which description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

`Fig.`1 is a sideelevation of the lower portion of the improved bailer providedv by the present invention Ain a well with the parts in the normal positions. Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal detailed sectional view of the intermediate portion 55 of the bailer showing the valve closed. Fig. 3

is an enlarged longitudinal detailed sectional view ofthe lower end part of the bailer with the parts in the normal positions. Fig. 4 is a view similar toFig. 1 showing the parts in the partially operated positions. Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the valve open and one of the latches actuated, and Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical 'sectional view showing the other latch actuated.

The bailer provided by the present invention includes, generally, a body I0 adapted to contain material to be discharged into a well W, a valve II for governing the discharge of the ma,l terial from the body I0 and a control I2 for the valve II whereby the valve may be opened by movement or manipulation of the body I0 in the 'I'he bailer body I0 is an elongate hollow or tubular structure adapted to be lowered into the well W on a line or cable (not shown). The body I0 preferably includes an upper section I3 for containing the' material to be delivered to the well anda lower section I4. The upper section I3 ofthe body III may be of any desired length to contain the required amount of'material and the upper end of the section I3 is intended to be connected with the line for lowering the bailer into the well. 'I'he lower body section I4 is in the nature of a tubular extension on the lower endof the section I3. The sections I3 and I4 may be connected by a suitable coupling I5. A plug I6 is preferably provided for the lower end of the lower section I4.l The plug I6 may be threaded in the lower portion of the section I4 and is provided with a central longitudinal opening I'I. 'Ihe body III is proportioned to readily pass through the wellW or its casing.

The valve II is carried by the lower section I4 of the body I0 to normally retain or hold the material in the upper body section I3. The valve II includes a seat I8 on the interior of the lower body section I4. 'I'he seat I8 may be in the nature of a ringarranged in the upper portion of lthe section I4. The seat I8 may be secured in place in any suitable manner, for example, it may rest downwardly against a'shoulder I9on the interior of the section I4 and may be fixed to the section by welding 20. VThe seat I8 is preferably provided with a tapered surface 2| surrounding the upper portion of its opening 22. The surface 2| is annular and faces upwardly.

The valve II further includes a stem 23 arranged longitudinally through the lower -body section I4 and a head on the stem 23 for cooperating with the seat I8. Thestem 23 is slidable in the plug opening I1 and passes upwardly through the opening 22 in the seat I3. A portion 24 of reduced diameter is preferably provided on the upper end of the stem 23 and provides the stem with an upwardly facing annular shoulder 23. The above-mentioned valve head includes a tapered or frusto-conical member 23 on the reduced stem portion 24 and a nut 21 threaded on the portion 24. 'Ihe valve member 23 engaged downwardly against the shoulder 23 and the nut 21 cooperates with the upper end lof the member to hold the member in place. l The nut 21 may be tapered or conical and may belocked to the stem portion 24 by a pin 23. The valve member 23 is shaped and proportioned to t downwardly vagainst the surface 2| to completely close the opening 22 and thus trap or hold the material in the upper body section I3. When the bailer is to be employed to handle cement slurry and other non-corrosive materials the valve member 23 may be formed of steel or the like. When the bailer is to be employed to handle acid the valve member 23 is preferably formed of rubber, rubber composition or other material that is substantially unaffected by acid. The valve member 23 -must have suiilcient strength and rigidity to withstand the weight or head pressure of the column of nuid contained in the upper section I3 of the bailer body |3. It is to b e observed that the valve member 23 sealingy downwardly against the surface 2| is held in its closed position by the weight of the column of fluid in the body section I3.

A guide 23 may be provided in the lower body section I4 between the seat I3 and the plug I3 to assist in guiding the stem 23. 'The guide 23 may be welded to the interior of the section |4 and is provided with a central longitudinal opening which slidably passesthe stem 23. A stop collar 33 may be secured to the stem 23 to cooperate with the under side of the guide 23 to limit the upward movement of the stem 23 relative to the body I3. One or more discharge portsY 3| are provided in the wall of the body section I4. The ports 3| are located between the seat |3 and the guide 23 and in practice may be at or adjacent the upper side of the guide. The ports 3| are provided to discharge the acid, cement or material handled by the bailer and of course are controlled by the valve member 23 cooperating with the seat I3. A vent or drain port y32 may be provided in the plug I3 tomaintain the interior of the body section |4 between theplug and the guide I9 in rcommunication with the well.

The control I2 for the valve Il is an important feature of the invention and provides for the opening of the valve and the discharge of the fluid from the bailer body I3 at any selected point in the well W. In accordance with the invention the stem 23 extends a substantial distance downwardly beyond the plug |3 and its lower end preferably has a bull nose or guide 33. The control |2 includes a tailpiece A on the projecting lower portion of the stem 23. The tailpiece A is in the nature of ananchor and includes longitudinally spaced sleeves 34l and 3 3 shiftable on the stem 23 and leaf springs 33 extending between and secured to the sleeves. The springs 33 are bowed outwardly to have frictional contact with the wall 'of the well W or the well casing to resist movement ofthe tailpiece A in the well.

Means is preferably provided to yieldingly resist relative movement between the stem 23 and the tailpiece A in one direction so that the engisement of the guide 33 with an obstruction 1n the weu win not produce substantial relative movement between the stem 23 and the tailpiece .A. This means may consist of ahelical spring 31 surrounding the stem 23and arranged.

under compression between the upper side of the guide 33 and the lower side of the sleeve 33. lThe spring 31 serves to normally yieldingly hold the tailpiece A in a position where the upper end of the sleeve 34 is'adjacent or in engagement with the lower end of the plug I3.. It is to be understood that the tailpiece springs 33 cooperating with the wall of the well W oifer such resistance to movement of the tailpiece A that the stem 23 may be intentionally moved upwardly with the body I3 relative to the tailpiece A to compress erste with the sleeve 33 of the tailpiece A. A vertical slot 4| is provided in the stem 23 and a pin 42 passes transversely through the upper portion of the slot. The latch 43 is pivoted on the pin'42 and normally dependsin the slot 4|. A notch is formed in the lower outer corner of the latch 43 and provides the latch with a down-J wardly facing shoulder 43'and an outwardly facing shoulder'44. A plate 43 may be welded across the-lower vouter portion of the slot 4| and is engageable by the shoulder 4,4 to limit the outward pivoting of the latch 43. Spring means is provided to yieldingly urge the latch 43 outwardly. Aligned sockets 43 are provided in the opposing inner surfaces of the latch 43 and the slot 4| and a helical spring 41 is arranged under compression in the sockets 43 to urgethe latch 43 out- The parts4 are proportioned and related so that the outer side of the latch 43 cooperates with the wall of the opening 33l in thesleeve 33 when the member 23 is in sealing engagement with the surface 2|. The sleeve opening 33 is preferably of substantial length so that the latch 43 may move in the opening when there is limited relative longitudinal movement between the tailpiece A and the stem 23 when the bailer is run into the well. When the body I3 is moved upwardly with the parts of the bailer in the normal positions the stem 23 moves upwardly relative to the tailpiece A so that the latch 43 -moves upwardly through the opening 33 in the tailpiece sleeve 33. The latch V43 may move upwardly to a position where its shoulder 43v passes the upper end o f the sleeve 33 and the spring 41 pivots the latch outwardly to a position the vspring 31 against the lower end of the lower such as illustrated in Fig. 6 of the drawings wardly out of engagement with the valve member 23, thus opening the valve to permit the discharge of material from the bailer.

The control |2 further includes a latch 43 for latchingthestemtothebody I3 whenthe valve seat I8 is in its open position wlth respect to the valve member 26'to assure the complete discharge of the material from the bailer. In the form of the invention illustrated in the drawings the latch 48 is carried by the stem 23 and cooperates withthe plug I6. A longitudinal slot 50 is provided in the stem 23 and a pin-6l passes transversely through the upper portion of the slot 58. The latch 48 is pivoted on the pin 5I to depend in the slot 58. The lower outer corner of the latch 48 isnotched to have a downwardly facing shoulder 52 and an outwardly facing shoulder 53. A plate 54 maybe welded across the lower outer part of the slot 50. The plate 54 is engageable by the shoulder 53 to limit outward pivoting of the latch 48. Aligned sockets 55 are provided in the opposing surfaces of the latch 48 and the slot 50 and a spring 56 is arranged in the sockets 55 to yleldingly urge the latch 54 outwardly. When the valve member 26 is in its closed position in engagement with the seat I8 the latch 48 bears outwardly against the wall of the opening I1 in the plug I6 with its shoulder 52 some distance below the upper end of the plug. When the valve Il is opened by upward movement of the body I0 followed by downward movement of the body I8, as described above, the downward movement of the body with respect to the tailpiece A and the stem 23 brings the upper end of the plug I6 below the shoulder 52. When this occurs the spring 56 moves the latch 48 outwardly so that the shoulder 52 cooperates with the upper end of theplug I6 to definitely prevent downward movement of the stem 23 relative to the kbody Ill so that the seat I8 and the valve member 26 are maintained in spaced relation.

It is believed that the operation of the im-v proved dump bailer provided by this invention will be readily understood from the foregoing detailed description. 'I'he bailer may be assembled with the parts in the position illustrated in Figs. l, 2 and 3 of the drawingsand the material to be delivered into the well may be provided in the upper section I3 of thevbody I0. The bailer may be lowered or run into the well W on a line. It will be observed that the valve member 26 seals downwardly against the seat I8 to positively prevent the loss of the material from the bailer and to be held tightly closed by the weight of the column of material in the body section I3. The weight of the column of material in the section I3 and the pressure exerted by the spring 31 effectively resist opening of the valve member 26 in the event the guide 33 strikes a projection in the well when the bailer is being lowered in the bore. This action of the column of fluid and the spring 3l prevents accidental or premature unloading of the bailer. When the bailer has reached the selected position in the well the body I0 is raised or moved upwardly. The frictional contact of the springs 36 with the wall of the well W holds the tailpiece A against movement during upward shifting of the body I0 with the result that the stem 23 moves upwardly relative to the sleeve 35. This upward movement of the stem 23 brings the latch 40 to a position where its shoulder 43 latches into engagement with the upper end of the sleeve 35. Following the above described upward movement of the body I0 the body is moved downwardly or is allowed to settle. The springs 36 of the tailpiece A cooperating with the wall of the well W hold the tailpiece against movement and the latch 40 cooperating with the sieeveu as Just described holds the stem 2s against `movement withy the result that downwardvmovement of the body effects downward Vmovement of the seat I8 out of engagementv with the valve member 28. This, of course, allows the ,material in the upper section I3 of the body I0 to discharge through the opening 22 and the ports 3l to flow into the well. The opening of the valve II is accompanied by latching of thestem 23 to the body I0. The above described downward movement of the body I0 relative to the tailpiece A and the stem 23 brings the upper and of the plug I6 to a position where the latch 48 pivots outwardly to have its shoulder 52 engage the upper end of the plug. The latch 48 engaging the upper end of the plug I6 definitely prevents upward movement of the body I0 relative to the stem 23 and downward movement of the stem 23 relative to the body I0 and accordingly holds the valve II fully opened. Thus the contents of the upper body section I3 are free to completely discharge into the well. ing of the bailer the bailer may be withdrawn from the well on its line.

From the above description of operation of the bailer it will beapparent that the bailer maybe manipulated to discharge its contents at any selectedpoint in the well. Inthe event it is desired to discharge the bailer. immediately adjacent the bottom of the wellbore the bailer may be merely lowered into the weil to` engage the guide 33 against the bottom wall of the well. When this occurs the stem 23 and the valve member 26 are held against further downward movement 'and continuoued downward movement of the bailer body I0 moves the seat I8 downwardly away from the valve member 2li to permit the discharge of the contents from the section I3. The stop 30 on the stem 23 isengageable by the guide 28 to limit the downward rovement of the bailer body relative to the stem Having described only a typical preferred form and application of my invention, I do not wish to be limitedor restricted to the specific details herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any variations or modications that may appear to those skilled in the art or fall within the scope of the following claims. l

Having described my invention, I claim:

l. A bailer for introducing material into a well comprising a body for containing the material, l

they body having an outlet -for the material, a valve seating downwardly to close the outlet, and a control for the valve including a tailpiece frictionally cooperating with the'wall of the well and shiftably connected with the valve, and latch means for connecting the valve and tailpiece to latch the valve against downward movement relative to the tailpiece whereby downward movement of the body relative to the tailpiece opens the valve.

2. A bailer for introducing material into a well comprising a body for containing the material and having an outlet, valve means for the outlet comprising a seat on the body and a valve cooperable with the seat, and a control comprising two elements, one a stem on the valve, the other a unit shiftable on the stem and having parts frictionally engaging the wall of the well to resist its movement, and latch means engaged by movement of the stem with the body in one direction to connect the stem and unit against relative movement in the other direction whereby let comprising a seat on the body and a valve seating downwardly against the seat, a stem on the valve', and a control comprising a unit shiftable on the stem and comprising parts frictionally engaging thev wall of the well to resist its movement, and latch means engaged by upward movement of the stem with the body to connect the stem and theunit and prevent downward movement of the stem relative to the unitwhereby the unit holds the stem against downward movement during subsequent downward movement of the body to move the seat downwardly away from the valve. l

4. A bailer for introducing material into a well comprising a body for containing the material and having an outlet, valve means for the outlet comprising a seat on the body and a valve sealing downwardly on the seat, a stem on the valve and a control comprising a tailpiece shiftable on the stem and including parts irictionally engaging the wall of the well to resist its movement, and latch means operable by upward movement of the stem with the body to connect the stem with the tail-piece whereby the tailpiece holds the valve against downward movement during subsequent downward movement-of the seat with" the body.

5. A bailer for introducing material into a well comprising a body for containing the mate- `rial and'having an outlet, valve means for the outlet comprising a seat on the body and a valve sealing downwardly on the seat, a stem on the valve and a control comprising a tailpiece shiftable on the stem and including parts i'rictionally engaging the wall of the well to resist its movement, latch means operable by upward movement of the stem with the body to connect'the stem with the tailpiece whereby the tail-piece holds the valve against downward movement during subsequent downward movement of,the seat with the body and latch means preventing subsequent downward movement of the stem relative to the body to prevent closing of the valve.

6. A bailer for introducing material into a well comprising a body forcontaining the material and having an outlet, valve means for the outlet comprising a seat on the body and a valve sealing downwardly against the seat, a stem on the valve, a tailpiece shiitable on the stem and including springs cooperable with the wall of the well to resist its movement, and a latch on the stem cooperable with the tailpiece to latch the stem against downward movement relative F1. A bauer ror'muoducing materiel into a, wen

compridhg ,a body for containing the material and haring an.outlet valvemeans for the outlet4 comprising a seat on the body and a valve sealing downwardly against the seat, 'a stem on the valve, a tailpiece shiitable on the stem and including springs.cooperable with the wall of the well to resist its movement,- means yieidingly resisting upward movement of the stem relative to the tailpiece, and a latch on the stem cooperable with the tailpiece to latch the stem against downward movement relative to the tailpiecey ,against downward movementrelative to the tailpiece whereby subsequent downward movement o! the body moves the seat down away from the valve, and a latch on the stem cooperable with the body to prevent downward movement of the stem relative to the body. 1

9. A bailer for'introducing material into a well comprising a body for containing the material and having an outlet, valve means for the outlet` comprising a seat on the body and a valve sealing downwardly against the seat, a stem on the valve, a tailpiece shii'table on the stem and including springs cooperable with the wall of the well to resist its movement, a guide member on the stem, a spring between the tailpiece and the guide member resisting upward movement of the stem, and a latch on the stem cooperable with the tailpiece to latch the stem against downward movement relative to the tailpiece whereby subsequent downward movement of the body moves the seat away from the valve.

10. A baiier for introducing material into a well comprising a body for containing the material and having an outlet, valve means for the outlet comprising a seaton the body and a valve sealing downwardly against the seat, a stemvon the valve, a tailpiece shiftable on the stem and including springs cooperable with the wall of the well to resist its movement. a guide member on the siem, a spring between the tailpiece and the guide member resisting upward movement of the stem, the weight oi the vmaterial in the body and said spring preventing 'opening of the valve in the event the guide encounters an object in the well, and latch means for latching the stem against downward movement relative to the tailpiece whereby subsequent downward movement of. the body eii'ects movement of the seat away from the valve.

DAVID CLINTON WALKER..

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