US2174911A - Sucker rod hook - Google Patents

Description

E. E. STEVENSON 2,174,911

SUCKER ROD HOOK Filed Sept. 18, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet l INNTOR BY a ATTORNEY w A 5 V w 5 m M 9% Oct. 3, 1939.

E. E. STEVENSON SUCKER ROD HOOK I Filed Sept. 18, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 L- 76 lr-v 42 I I 12 43 66 I 6] 15' I 67 Egg fa h/ard ffffye/zsozz INV TOR ATTOR N EY Patented Oct. 3, 1939 UNITED STATES SUCKER non HOOK Edward E. Stevenson,

Los Angeles, Calif., as-'- signor to Ems'co Derrick & Equipment Coma pany, Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California Application September 18, 1937, Serial No. 164,531

'10 Claims.

My invention relates to hooks of the general class suitable for use in the oil producing industry for various hoisting operations and isparticularly suitable for use as a sucker rod hook.

In the oil producing industry it is common practice to raiseor lower sucker rods by use of a sucker rod elevator which is connected to the string of sucker rods and which is engaged by a sucker rod hook, which hook is in turn connected to a suitable hoisting cable. It is common practice to provide such hooks with safety latches to prevent accidental unhooking of the elevator from the hook.

The hook of my present invention has been uniquely designed to embody numerous important features and advantages over the prior art which lend to its safety, efficiency, and convenience of use, which features and advantages will be pointed out in the course of the following description.

It is an object of my invention to provide a hook which includes a latch adapted to close the hook to prevent unhooking, which latch is slidably positioned in a latch chamber provided by the body of the hook.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a hook of the character pointed out in the preceding paragraph in which the latch is so positioned and in which the body is so formed that the metal of the body may be conveniently positioned or distributed to give a maximum strength.

It is a still further object of my invention to provide a hook of the character pointed out in the second preceding paragraph in which the latch is provided with a release means which is conveniently positioned for operation by the workman, and which is preferably positioned adjacent the handle of the hook so that the latch may be released while the workman has full control over the hook. This is possible due to the fact that the release is positioned so that it may be operated by the workmans thumb while he has his hand engaged with the handle of the hook.

It is a still further object of my invention to provide a hook in which the various parts are contained within the streamlined confines of the body in order that the hook will not catch on obstructions in the derrick.

It is a still further object of my invention to provide a hook which is cast with a latch chamber adjacent the hook-shaped portionof the body, and which is cast with an entrance-aper ture throughwhich the latch may be'inse'rted into the latch chamber. In the preferred form of my invention the latch chamber and the latch are preferably made in the shape of a quadrangular prism or parallelepipedon. in a stright line between latched and unlatched position, with the result that no machining of the latch or latch chamber is required.

A further object of my invention is to provide a hook in which the body is provided with a latch chamber and an entrance opening, and in which a release member which releasably holds the latch in latched position is installed after the latch has been installed in the body and obstructs the entrance aperture.

It is a still further object of my invention to provide a hookhaving a minimum amount of machining and in which the body is cast with a cavity which includes a latch chamber, a pocket for receiving a part of the supporting means for the hook, and an entrance aperture through which the latch and the part of the supporting means may be inserted into place.

I will now describe the details of construction and preferred form of my invention. It should be understood, however, that various alterations and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. The preferred form of my invention has been chosen because it aptly illustrates the various features and advantages of my invention, and a description thereof will instruct those skilled in the art as to how my invention may be practiced. I do not, however, Wish to be limited to the details of construction illustrated herein, but wish my invention to be broadly construed in accordance with the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of my invention:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view through the hook showing the latch in an unlatched position. Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the hook showing the latch in a latched position.

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line 55 of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings in detail, my invention provides a hook body generally designated by the numeral II. The hook body includes a body portion [2, to the upper end of which there is formed a shank l3, and to the lower side portion of which is formed a bill M. The body portion 12 and the bill M- cooperate to provide a The latch 1 moves recess l5 having a bottom rounded wall l6, an inner flat wall ll, an outer rounded wall l8, and an upper upwardly and outwardly inclined wall I9. Above the bill 44 there is provided a throat 20 through which the bail or other connecting means of a part to be supported by the hook may be extended to pass into the recess.

It will be seen that the body portion of the hook is streamlined in shape and that the metal is well distributed for strength. Adjacent the recess l5 and extending laterally outwardly and forming the inner wall ll are flanges 23 which provide broad faces or walls and also serve to strengthen the body. At the rearward or rightward part of the body portion of the hook body are flanges 23 which extend outwardly on opposite sides of the body portion, and which have rounded faces, as shown best at 24 in Fig. 4, so that this portion of the body portion provides an integral handle which may be engaged by the operators hand, as shown by light lines 25 in Fig. 2, so that the hookmay be conveniently moved during a hooking or an unhooking operation.

As shown best in Figs. 1, 3, 4, and 5, the body II is provided with a cast recess which is divided into a number of connecting parts. Formed in the leftward part of the body portion l2 and the I rightward portion of the bill I4 is a latch chamber 36 which, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, is of substantially rectangular shape in transverse crosssection and which, as shown in Fig. 3, is of rectangular shape in a vertical transverse crosssection, and which also is substantially rectangular in shape in vertical longitudinal cross-section, as shown in Fig. 1. The latch chamber 30 has vertical side walls 3| which are fiat as shown, a bottom 32 which also is fiat as shown, and a front wall 33 which is likewise flat. Where the various walls 3| to 33 connect together the corners are rounded so that casting of the body may be conveniently done. It will be seen from an inspection of the drawings that the latch chamber 30 extends through the recess l5 and throat 20 and is directly connected thereto above, below, and on the front and rear edges thereof.

Formed to the rear of thelatch chamber 30 is a spring cavity 35 which extends upward from the bottom of the latch chamber 36 along the rearward edge thereof terminating at its upper end at a point where an aperture entrance 36 formed in the body H is connected to the latch chamber 30. Formed in the lower part of the shank I3 is a pocket 31 which is defined by a front wall 38, side walls 39, and an upper spherical shaped wall 40. This pocket 31 is connected at its rearward part to the upper part of the entrance aperture 36 and at its lower part to the upper end of the latch chamber 30.

The number 42 represents the latch of my invention which is of the shape of a quadrangular prism or parallelepipedon. It is fitted to freely slide in the chamber 3|] along a vertical axis A--A thereof between an unlatched position, as shown in Fig. 1, downwardly into a latched position, as shown in the other views of the drawings. The latch 42 is provided with a slot 43 which is formed inwardly from the front side thereof and which aligns with the upper part of the recess [5 and throat 26 when in unlatched position. When in latched position, however, the portion 44 of the latch resting directly above the recess 43 obstructs the throat 20, as shown in Fig. 2, and thus prevents the part held in the recess from moving outwardly therefrom through the throat.

For the purpose of resiliently retaining the latch in unlatched position my invention provides a compression spring 46 which is compressed in the spring cavity 35, its upper end engaging a lug 41 extending rearwardly from the latch 42. The lower end of the spring engages a retaining member 48 which retains the lower part of the spring in the cavity 35.

The entrance aperture 36, being positioned in the upper part of the body portion and the lower part of the shank l3, permits the latch 42 to be inserted therethrough and into the latch chamber 30, the latch passing through a position indicated by broken lines 50 in Fig. 1. Before the latch member is lowered completely into the latch chamber 30 the spring and retainer 46 and 48 may be installed. The latch may then be moved downwardly against the action of the spring 46 into the position shown in Fig. 1.

After the latch has been installed it is convenient to install the supporting means for the book. This supporting means includes an eye 52 and a downwardly extending trunnion or shaft 53 which extends downwardly through a bearing opening 54 formed in the shank I3, the lower end thereof projecting into the pocket 31. A portion of the supporting means rests in the pocket 3'! and includes a nut 55 adapted to be threaded on the lower threaded end of the shaft 53. Positioned between the nut 55 and the upper wall 40 of the pocket 31 is a bearing means 56 which includes a roller bearing 51, a conical seat 58, and a retainer 59 which retains grease in the bearing. The bearing means 56 and nut 55 are placed in the pocket 31 after the latch 42 has been installed. These parts, therefore, act as a stop for the latch 42 against which the latch is held by the spring 46 when the latch is in unlatched position. The nut and bearing means 55 and 56 may be inserted into place through the upper part of the entrance aperture 36 which is widened as shown in Fig. 3.

My invention also provides a release means whereby the latch may be releasably held in latched position. To accommodate the release means the upper part of the body portion I2 is provided with cross-passages: 60 and 6| which are in alignment with each other and which extend transversely of the entrance aperture 36. Connected to the outer end of the passage 60 and extending forwardly therefrom is a cavity 62 which is provided in an enlarged portion 63 provided by the body portion [2. Secured vertically where the passage 60 and cavity 62 connect is a pivot 64 which pivotally supports in a horizontal plane a release means 65. The release means 65 extends horizontally through the passage 66, the entrance aperture 36, and the passage 6|. The extending end thereof has a stop 66 and an engageable lug 61 which is positioned adjacent the handle 23 for convenient operation by the thumb of the workman, which thumb is indicated at 63 in Fig. 2, while the workman has his hand engaging the handle 23. Extending forwardly from the pivoted end of the release member 65 is an arm 10, and compressed between the arm and a small depression 1| formed in the recess 62 is a spring 72 which exerts a force tending to move the release means in a clockwise direction when looking downwardly on it, as in Fig. 4. As shown best in Fig. l, the latch 42 has a rearwardly extending lock lug having a shoulder 16 at its upper end. The release means 65 is yieldably forced against the lug l5, and when the latch is moved into depressed position the release means moves forwardly so as to engage the shoulder I6 and thus retain the latch. in latched position. The latch cannot move from latched position thereafter until the, release means is. moved in an anti-clockwise direction so that the shoulder 16 is, disengaged.

In the use of thehook of my invention the operator engages the handle 23 so that. the hook may be moved. as desired. The hook and the bail, or other part of the elevator or device to be supported by the hook, are relatively moved so that the bail moves through the throat and into the recess. The hook is then moved upwardly relative to the bail so that the weight of the device to. be supported is applied to the latch. This moves the latch downwardly relative to the body of the hook until the bail is supported by the hook body. At that time the release means moves into latching position and the latch 42 is held in latched position until manually released. This prevents the bail of the elevator from being inadvertently unhooked from the hook of my invention.

During the course of the preceding description various important details of construction of the preferred form of my invention have been pointed out. Likewise, in the introduction or statement of invention the essential features and objects of my invention have been emphasized. In the appended claims my inventionis broadly defined in accordance with the true scope of my invention and the claims cover various modifications in which my invention may be embodied.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a hook, the combination including: a hook-shaped body formed to provide a recess and a throat connecting therewith, and having a latch chamber with an entrance aperture at its upper rearward part, which entrance aperture leads outwardly through the rear wall of said body; a latch insertable into said latch chamber through said entrance aperture and being located wholly within said latch chamber and being slidable in a rectilinear movement in said latch chamber from an unlatched position in which said throat is open into a latched position in which said throat is closed; and release means supported by said body and extending transversely through at least a part of said entrance aperture for releasably holding said latch in latched position.

2. In a hook, the combination including: a body providing a hook-shaped portion having a recess and throat, and a shank extending from said hook-shaped portion, there being formed in said body a cavity which includes a latch chamber in said hook-shaped portion, a pocket in said shank, and an entrance aperture formed in said body; a latch adapted to be inserted through said entrance aperture into said latch chamber, said latch having an unlatched position and a latched position; a supporting means for said body engageable with said shank and including a portion resting in said pocket which acts as a stop for said latch when said latch is in unlatched position; and release means supported by said body for releasably holding said latch in latched position.

3. A body for use in a hook consisting of a hook-shaped portion having a recess and throat, and a shank extending from said hook-shaped portion, there being formed in said body a cavity which includes a latch chamber formed in said hook-shaped body in communication with said recess and throat and adapted to receive a latch said chamber having front, rear, side, and bottom walls defining substantialy a parallelepipedon and extending substantialy vertically and having its upper limit. above said throat and its lower limit below said recess, a pocket formed in said shank above and in communication with said latch chamber through the upper open end thereof and in back of the front wall of said body which forms the upper limit of said throat adapted to receive a portion of a supporting means, and an entrance aperture at the rear of said body and in communication with said latch chamber and: said pocket, said entrance aperture being of sufficient size to allow a latch and said portion of a supporting means to be inserted therethrough.

4. In a hook, the combination including: a body providing a: hook-shaped portion having a recess and throat, and a shank extending from said hook-shaped portion, and said body having a cavity which includes a latch chamber in said hook-shaped. portion which has its upper limit above said throat and its lower limit below said recess, and an entrance aperture leading from the, upper rearward part of said latch chamber outward through the back wall of said body; a latch adapted to be inserted through said entrance aperture into said latch chamber, said latch being supported in said latch chamber for vertical rectilinear movement, and having a slot which is aligned with said throat when in unlatched position; and manually releasable release means situated partly in said cavity and releasably engageable with said latch for holding said latch in latched position.

5. In a hook, the combination including: a body providing a hook-shaped portion having a recess and throat, and a shank extending from said hook-shaped portion, and said body having a cavity which includes a latch chamber in said hook-shaped portion which has its upper limit above said throat and its lower limit below said recess, a pocket above said latch member, and an entrance aperture leading from the upper rearward part of said latch chamber and from said pocket outward through the back wall of said body; a latch adapted to be inserted through said entrance aperture into said latch chamber, said latch being supported in said latch chamber for vertical rectilinear movement, and having a slot which is aligned with said throat when in unlatched position; means insertable through said entrance aperture into said pocket, said means serving as an upper Wall of said latch chamber; and manually releasable release means situated partly in said cavity and releasably engageable with said latch for holding said latch in latched position.

6. In a hook, the combination including: a body providing a hook-shaped portion having a recess and throat, and a shank extending from said hook-shaped portion, and said body having a cavity which includes a latch chamber in said hook-shaped portion which has its upper limit above said throat and its lower limit below said recess, and an entrance aperture leading from the upper reaward part of said latch chamber outward through the back wall of said body; a latch adapted to be inserted through said entrance aperture into said latch chamber, said latch being supported in said latch chamber for vertical rectilinear movement, and having a slot which is aligned with said throat when in unlatched position; manually releasably release means situated partly in said cavity and releasably engageable with said latch for holding said latch in latched position; and resilient means in said latch cham- 75 ber to the rear of said latch for resiliently holding said latch in unlatched position.

7. In a hook, the combination including: a body providing a hook-shaped portion having a recess and throat, and a shank extending from said hook-shaped portion, and said body having a cavity which includes a latch chamber of substantially parallelepipedon shape in said hookshaped portion which has its upper limit above said throat and its lower limit below said recess, and an entrance aperture leading from the upper rearward part of said latch chamber outward through the back wall of said body; a latch of substantially parallelepipedon shape adapted to be inserted through said entrance aperture into said latch chamber, said latch being shorter than said latch chamber but being of nearly the same cross-sectional size so that the side Walls of said latch chamber permit only a vertical rectilinear movement of said latch, and having a slot which is aligned with said throat when in unlatched position; and manually releasable release means situated partly in said cavity and releasably engageable with said latch for holding said latch in latched position.

8. In a hook, the combination including: a body providing a hook-shaped portion having a recess and throat, and a shank extending from said hook-shaped portion, and said body having a cavity which includes a latch chamber of substantially parallelepipedon shape in said hookshaped portion which has its upper limit above said throat and its lower limit below said recess, a pocket above said latch chamber, and an entrance aperture leading from the upper rearward part of said latch chamber and from said pocket outward through the back wall of said body; a latch of substantially parallelepipedon shape adapted to be inserted through said entrance aperture into said latch chamber, said latch being shorter than said latch chamber but being of nearly the same cross-sectional size so that the side walls of said latch chamber permit only a vertical rectilinear movement of said latch, and having a slot which is aligned with said throat when in unlatched position; means insertable through said entrance aperture into said pocket, said means serving as an upper wall of said latch chamber; and manually releasable release means situated partly in said cavity and releasably engageable with said latch for holding said latch in latched position.

9. In a hook, the combination including: a

body providing a hook-shaped portion having a recess and throat, and a shank extending from said hook-shaped portion, and said body having a cavity which includes a latch chamber in said hook-shaped portion which has its upper limit above said throat and its lower limit below said recess, a pocket above said latch chamber, and an entrance aperture leading from the upper rearward part of said latch chamber and from said pocket outward through the back wall of said body; a latch adapted to be inserted through said entrance aperture into said latch chamber, said latch being supported in said latch chamber for Vertical rectilinear movement, and having a slot which is aligned with said throat when in unlatched position; supporting means for said body extending through said shank and including means insertable through said entrance aperture into said pocket, said means serving as an upper wall of said latch chamber; and manually releasable release means situated partly in said cavity and releasably engageable with said latch for holding said latch in latched position.

10. In a hook, the combination including: a body providing a hook-shaped portion having a recess and throat, and a shank extending from said hook-shaped portion, and said body having a cavity which includes a latch chamber of sub-,

stantially parallelepipedon shape in said hookshaped portion which has its upper limit above said throat and its lower limit below said recess, a pocket above said latch chamber, and an entrance aperture leading from the upper rearward part of said latch chamber and from said pocket outward through the back wall of said body; a latch of substantially parallelepipedon shape adapted to be inserted through said entrance aperture into said latch chamber, said latch being shorter than said latch chamber but being of nearly the same cross-sectional size so that the side walls of said latch chamber permit only a vertical rectilinear movement of said latch, and having a slot which is aligned with said throat when in unlatched position; supporting means for said body extending through said shank and including means insertable through said entrance aperture into said pocket, said means serving as an upper wall of said latch chamber; and manually releasable release means situated partly in said cavity and releasably engageable with said latch for holding said latch in latched position.

EDWARD E. STEVENSON.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 2;17L ,911.' Octoberfi, 19 9.

EDWARD E. STEVENSON.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 5 sec- 0nd column, line L O, claim 5, for the word "member" read chamber; line 65, claim 6, for "reaward" read rearward; line 72, same claim, for releasably" read releasable; and that the said Letters Patent shouldbe read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 5th day of December, A. D. 1959.

Henry Van Arsdale,

(Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

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