US2187399A - Device for making drill pipe connections - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 16, 1940. L. J. HOPKIINS DEVICE FOR MAKING DRILL PIPE CONNECTIONS Filed Jan. 13, 1939 ATTORNE tted Jan. 16, 1940 STATES PATENT OFFICE DEVICE FOR MAKING DRILL PIPE CONNECTIONS pcraticn of Delaware Application January 13, 1939, Serial No. 250,766

4 Claims.

ltlly invention relates to a device for making drill pipe connections.

lin drilling oil wells, hollow drill pipe is employed, which is rotated by suitable means. The circulating fluid is pumped down through the hollow drilling pipe and out of the bit carried at the bottom thereof. The fluid flows upwardly between the drill pipe and the annular space thereabout, and is removed from the well for recirculation. As the Well becomes deeper, additional lengths of drill pipe are coupled to the drilling string already in the well. The drill pipe sections are provided with enlarged ends internally threaded for the female joint at one end, and externally threaded for the male portion of the joint at the other end.

Heretofore it has been customary to thread the section of drill pipe added to the drilling string already in the hole by means of an endless soft rope applied in coils around the pipe itself. Several turns of rope were takenand led to a cathead, or other powered means. Tension was taken on the rope and as the rope was pulled, friction between the coils around the drill pipe would cause it to turn to make the screw joint.

Lubricants and wear frequently cause the rope to slip badly, so that it was necessary to take an increasingly greater number of turns around the pipe. In order to assist in preventing the rope from slipping, it was necessary to hold the rope against the pipe. This frequently resulted in accidents and injury to personnel. A soft or hemp rope was required to obtain the necessary friction. This wore badly, requiring constant replacement.

One object of my invention is to provide a simple and expeditious device for making drill pipe connections, in which spinning in, or rotating the section of drill pipe to be connected by the screw joint is expedited, requiring reduced time and effort.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device for enabling drill pipe connections to be made in a manner presenting greater safety to personnel.

Other and further objects of my invention will appear from the following description.

In the accompanying drawing, which forms part of the instant specification, and which are to be read in conjunction therewith, and in which like reference numerals are used to indicate like parts in the various views;

Fig. l is a view of my device positioned about the female drill pipe coupling member at the upper end of a drilling string, held in place by slips, with the lower end of the drill pipe section to be joined to the drilling string in place above the drilling string.

Fig. 2 shows the position or". parts as at the end of the spinning in operation.

Fig.3 is a view taken along the line 3-3, Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4, Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5-5, Fig. 4.

Referring now to the drawing, a cylindrical body member l is formed with a lower flange 2, and provided with a radial slot 3. The inside diameter of the cylindrical body member I is slightly larger than the diameter of the drill pipe joint collar 4, around which it is to be positioned in use. The radial slot 3 is slightly smaller than the diameter of the drill pipe collar 4, but slightly larger than the diameter of the drill pipe 5 proper. To the upper end of the body member 2 is secured a yoke 6 carrying arms 1.

Counterbalanced suspending lines 8 are secured to the arms I so that the assembly will remain in any desired position to which it is moved. A radial gripping member 9 is positioned in the body member for radial movement. The member 9 is wider than the wall of the cylindrical body member I, and is provided along its inner edge with teeth In. A red I l is adapted to hold the gripping member 9 in position. A spring l2 normally urges the gripping member outwardly. The flange 2 is provided with an opening through which the end of a soft laid wire rope l5 may be secured by means of a knot B, or the like. A number of turns of the wire rope are passed around the body member I. These turns are adapted to move the gripping member 9 inwardly, enabling the teeth ID to grip the drill pipe collar.

In use the device is moved laterally around the projecting end of the drill pipe 5, it being understood that the drilling string is supported from the turntable I4 by slips, or in any other suitable manner known to the art. The slot 3 permits this lateral movement to take place. The assembly is then raised to the position shown in Fig. 1 around the drill pipe collar 4. The spinning line 5 is then wound around the body member l by rotating the body member. A section of drill pipe IE to be coupled is then lowered so that the male thread I! thereof will engage the female thread I8 of the drilling string. The assembly is then raised to the drill pipe joint collar l6 of the section of drill pipe Hi. The spinning rope I5 is then pulled by means of a cathead or any other suitable means. This pull tightens the coils of the rope I5 and forces the gripping member 9 into engagement with the drill pipe joint collar 56' against the action of the spring l2.

Pull on the line l5 will rotate a drill pipe section It, completing the joint. The yoke 6 is relatively rotatable with respect to the cylindrical body member i. The line I5 is then slackened and the spring I! will move the gripping member to a position disengaging the drill pipe joint collar. The device is then lowered to a position around the projecting end of the drilling string 5 and laterally removed fromthe assembly. The joint is finally tightened by tongs, the slips removed and drilling proceeds until another section of drill pipe is to be added.

It will be seen that my assembly facilitates spinning since the torque is applied along an increased radius as compared with the diameter of the pipe, enabling the spinning to proceed more rapidly and with less effort. Safetyin operation is assured as all men may stand clear rather than holding the rope against the pipe, as has heretofore been the practice. Excessive wear and replacement cost of the spinning rope is eliminated since wire rope maybe employed, rather than soft hemp rope. A predetermined number of turns may be takenaround my device, enabling each joint to be tightened with a proper degree of tightness.

It will be understood that certain features and sub-combinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and sub-combinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of my claims. It is further obvious that various changes may be made in aiszsee details within the scope of my claims without departing from the spirit of my invention. It is, therefore," to be understood that my invention is not to be limited to the specific details shown and described.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A device for making drill pipe connections including in combination a cylindrical body member, said body member being formed with a cutaway portion enabling it to be moved radially about a drill pipe, gripping means carried by said body member adapted to engage said drill pipe, said gripping means having a portion extending beyond'said body member, an elongated flexible member wound around the outside of said body member and contacting said extending portion of the gripping means, the construction being such that tension upon said elongated flexible member will actuate said gripping means to grip said drill pipe and to rotate said cylindrical body member to rotate the drill pipe.

2. A device as in claim 1, including in combination a yoke, and means for rotatably securing said yoke to said body member.

3. A device as in claim 1, adapted to be used with a drill pipe having a drill pipe joint collar of larger diameter than the drill pipe proper, said cutaway portion being larger than the diameter of the drill pipe and smaller than the diameter of said drill pipe joint collar.

4. A device as in claim 1 in which said body member is formed with means for securing the end of said elongated flexible member thereto.

LOUIS J. HOPKINS.

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