US2610026A - Rotary drilling rig - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 9, 1952 J. a. PICARD 2,610,026

ROTARY DRILLING RIG Filed April 12, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 [IUUUUUEIU [JEIEIEIUUUU UUEIUEIUEIU IN V EN TOR.

flr TOR/YEKS Sept. 9, 1952 J. B. PICARD 2,610,026

ROTARY DRILLING RIG Filed April 12, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. JOHN .5 P/CHFZZ? Sept. 9, 1952 J. B. PICARD 2,610,026

ROTARY DRILLING RIG Filed April 12, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet s Ill- IN VEN TOR. J/m/ .5 l /CflFfD Sept. 9, 1952 J. B. PICARD ROTARY DRILLING RIG Filed April 12, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. JH/v B P/cn PD BY 6W6 Patented Sept. 9, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE i i i V 2,610,026 V ROTARY DRILLING RIG John B. Picard, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to The National Supply Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application April 12, 1949, Serial No. 86,875

This invention relates to drilling apparatus of the type-employed in connection with the drilling of oil, gas, water and other wells, and is particularly directed toimprovements in the power plant and drawworks portions of such rotary drill rigs.

Among the objects of my invention is to provide a heavy duty, high capacity rotary drilling rig incorporating a plurality of prime mover units, which rig is unusually flexible in its operation so that the power of the prime mover units may be divided between the pumps and rotary machine or may be compounded to drive the drawworks or anyone of the pumps.

Another object is to provide a multiple speed air controlled change speed transmission of novel design driven by one of the prime mover units and positioned on the same skid frame there with, the transmission being adapted to drive a drawworks.

Another object is to provide a plurality of prime mover units mounted on separate skid frames and positioned in side-by-side relationship, each of the prime mover units having a change speed transmission associated therewith and arranged to drive a driven mechanism, together with power compounding means whereby the combined power of any combination of prime mover units may be delivered to any one of the driven mechanisms.

Another object is to provide a rotary drilling rig having a drawworks provided with a divided jackshaft, one jackshaft section being arranged to drive the spooling drum of the drawworks and the'other jackshaft section being arranged to drive the rotary machine, the latter jackshaft sectionalso being adapted to drive a feed-off drilling control for the spooling drum by way of a speed reduction unit Other and more detailed objects and tages will appear hereinafter.

In the drawings:

Figure'l is a plan View showing a preferre embodiment of my invention in diagrammatic form.

Figure 2-is an enlarged view, partly in section and partly broken away, illustrating the preferred drawworks construction embodying features of my invention.

Figure 3 is a side elevation, partly broken away, showing the drawworks unit.

Figure 4 is asectional elevation taken substantially on the finest-4 as viewed infFigure12.

Figure 5 is a sectional plan view showing details of construction of the change speed transmission on the No. 3 prime mover frame.

advan- 9 Claims. (Cl. 254-487) Figure 6 is a sectional plan view showing details of construction of the change speed transmission mounted on the No. l prime mover frame.

Referring to the drawings, the rotary drilling rig embodying my invention and shown diagrammatically in Figure 1 includes a shaft driven rotary machine 10, a drawworks unit generally designated l I, a power plant generally designated 12 and a pair of power driven slush pumps l3 and l4.

The draw-works unit ll includes a pair of skid frames l5 and it connected together along the juncture line [1. These skid frames together with the supporting structure carried thereon is hereinafter referred to as the drawworks frame 48. A spooling d rum It provided with the-usual brake rims 20 is fixed on a drum shaft 21-. This drum shaft is supported on axially spaced bearings 22. These bearings, as well as other bearings hereinafter described, are supported by elements of the frame l8 omitted in Figure 2 for purposes of clarity of illustration.

A low speed drive sprocket 23 is rotatably mounted onthe drum shaft 21 and is adapted to be connected in driving relationship with the drum shaft 2| by means of the air operated friction clutch 24. The high speed drive sprocket 25 is fixedon the drum shaft 2| and is provided with jaws 26 for connection with mating jaws 21 on the clutch 28. The clutch 2-8 is splined to the brake shaft 29 for operating the auxiliary brake 30. A line shaft 3| rotatably supported in axially spaced bearings 32 carried by the frame It, is provided with a high speed drive sprocket 33 rotati is arranged to drive the sprocket 23 through the drive chain 31.

A jackshaft assembly generally designated 38 includes a pair of aligned jackshaft sections 39 and. 40 rotatably supported in axially spaced bearings .41 and 42. These hearings are carried by thedrawworks frame IS. A driving sprocket 43, rota-tably mountedlon the jackshaft section 39, is connected by a chain 44 to drive the sprocket 45 fixed to the line shaft 3 l Means are provided for driving the jac'kshaft section 39 and asshown on the drawings, this means includes a power receiving sprocket 4.6 driven by a chain 41. The sprocket 46 is fixed to. a sleeve 48 rotatably mounted on the jackshaft section 39. An axially shiftable clutch 419 is provided with splined teeth 58 on one end and a gear 5| on the other end. The member 49 may be shifted to engage the splined teeth 58 with similar splined teeth (not shown) within the sleeve 48, thereby connecting the sleeve 48 in driving relationship with the sleeve 52. The sleeve 52 is rotatably mounted on the jackshaft section 39.

A splined clutch 53 may be shifted axially of the sleeve 52 to connect its inner splined teeth (not shown) with the splined ring 54 fixed on the sprocket 43. Thus, the sprocket may be driven in a forward direction and the splined clutch 53 engages the splined ring 54 when the splined clutch 49- engages the sleeve 48.

A reverse drive is provided for rotating the J'ackshaft section 39 in a reverse direction when required. This reverse drive includes a double sprocket 55 fixed on the sleeve 48 and connected by chain to drive the sprocket 56 fixed on the countershaft sleeve 51. The countershaft sleeve 51 is mounted on suitable bearings (not shown) and is provided with a driving gear 58 fixed thereon. The countershaft sleeve 5'! is constantly rotated with the power receiving sprocket 46, but it merely idles under normal driving conditions. When a reverse drive is required the clutch 49 is moved axially to place the gears 5I and 58 into mesh, thereby disengaging the splined teeth 58. The sleeve 52 is then driven in a reverse direction and upon closing of the splined clutch 53 the sprocket 43 and jackshaft section 39 are rotated in a reverse direction.

An air operated friction clutch assembly generally designated '59 is provided for connecting the adjacent ends of the jackshaft sections 39 and 48. This clutch assembly 59 includes a ring 68 fixedto the jackshaft section 39 and a housing 6| fixed to the jackshaft section 48. An inflatable rubber-like ring 62 on the housing 6I carries friction shoes 83 adapted to contact the periphery of the drum 64 formed on the ring 68. From this description it will be understood that inflation of the annular ring 62 serves to efiect a driving engagement whereby the jackshaft assembly 48 is driven from the jackshaft section 39. When the inflatable ring 62 is deflated the shoes 63'move out of engagement with the drum 64, with the result that the driving connection is interrupted. An inertia brake assembly 65 may be provided for holding the jackshaft section 48 from rotation when desired.

Means are provided on the jackshaft section 48 for driving the rotary machine I8 at a plurality of speeds. As shown on the drawings, this means includes a pair of driving sprockets 66 and 61, which are fixed on the jackshaft assembly 40. A countershaft 68 rotatably supported by the axially spaced bearings 69 carries a pair of sprockets 18 and II connected'by chains I2 and 13 to be driven from sprockets 66 and 6! respectively. The driven sprockets I8 and II are rotatably mounted on the countershaft 68 and either may be connected in driving relationship with the countershaft 68 by means of the axially shiftpower transmission shaft 82. This latter shaft 82 extends under a guard 83 and is connected to rotate the drive shaft of the rotary machine I8.

A cat shaft 84 is rotatably mounted in axially spaced bearings 85 carried on the drawworks frame I8. This cat shaft may be provided with a cat head assembly 86 on each end thereof as shown in Figure 1. The cat shaft is provided with a driven sprocket 81 fixed thereon arranged to be driven from driving sprocket 88 rotatably mounted on the line shaft "3|. A chain 89 connects the sprockets 81 and 88. A sprocket I fixed on the jackshaft section 39 drives the sprocket 8 which is fixed to the sprocket 88.

In conventional drilling rigs the cable which is wound on the spooling drum I9 is payed out gradually in order to feed the drill string and bit into the formation. This feed-01f operation is accomplished conventionally by relaxing the brake bands (not shown) which are trained over the brake rims 28. The feed-off accomplished by relaxation of the brake bands is irregular and intermittent, and it is known that it does not act to maintain constant feeding pressure on the drill bit.

In accordance with a feature of my invention I provide feed-off control means which are controlled by the driller but which are independent of the feed available by relaxing the brakes. In accordance with my invention I provide a speed reduction unit 98 which may include a single or double worm gear reduction. The slow speed shaft 9| of this unit 98 is connected by means of sprocket 92 and chain 93 to the sprocket 94 which is rotatably mounted on one end of the line shaft 3I. A jaw clutch 95 is provided for releasably connecting the sprocket 94 in direct driving relationship with the line shaft 3|. The high speed shaft 96 on the unit 98 is connected by coupling 98 to a hydraulic motor 99. A hydraulic pump I88 is connected by coupling I8I in direct driving relationship with the jackshaft section 48. Hydraulic lines I82 and I83 connect the hydraulic motor 99 with the hydraulic pump" I88 so that the pump may drive the motor. A suitable control device I84 of conventional type is operatively positioned in the lines I82 and I83 or associated with the pump I88 for regulating the volume of flow of hydraulic fluid between the pump I88 and motor 99.

From this description it will be understood that the rotating jackshaft section 48 may drive the pump I88 which in turn drives the hydraulic motor 99. The motor 99 drives the shaft 96 at a relatively high speed, and the output shaft 9| turns at a very much slower speed. This slow speed drive is then communicated via sprockets 92, 94, 36 and 23 to turnthe spooling drum I9 very slowly in a direction to pay off or to unspool the cable for feeding the drill string. The control I94 may have remote actuating mechanism positioned at the drillers control panel I85 if desired. This control I84 may be set by the driller to provide a fixed rate of flow in the lines I 82 and I83 so that regardless of the speed of the jackshaft section 48 the pump 99 turns the shaft 96 at a rate to produce the desired rate of feedoff rotation for the spooling drum I9.

The provisions for supplying air to each of the air operated friction clutches and for supplying cooling water'for the. brake rims 28 of the drum I9 are largely omitted from the drawings for purposes of clarity of illustration. Similarly the lubricating connections, fittings, piping, etc., which convey lubricants'to the various bearings of the device are also omitted from the drawings.

The power plant I2 preferably includes a plurality of prime mover units IIO, III and II2, each mounted on an individual skid frame H3, H4 and H5, arranged in side-by-side relationship. Each of the prime mover units I I0 may comprise a single unit or multiple unit engine and each may deliver its power through a suitable hydraulic coupling I I6. This coupling is preferably of the type wherein the quantity of fluid in the working circuit may be varied under the control of the driller. Each of the hydraulic coupling H6 is arranged to drive a power output shaft, which is aligned with the prime mover unit on that particular skid frame. I I

. The power output shaft II1, which is driven by theprime mover unit I I0, forms one shaft in a change speed transmission assembly generally designated II8. This change speedtransmission assembly is entirely mounted and carried on the skid frame II3, which also supports the prime mover unit III'I. As shown clearly in Figure 6, the shaft H1 is rotatably supported on axially spaced bearings H9 and is provided with four sprockets I20, I2I, I22 and I23, each of which is fixed to the shaft II1. Driven sprockets I24, I25 and I26 are each rotatably mounted on the countershaft I21 of the transmission H8 and these sprockets are connected by chains I28 to the driving sprockets I2 I, I22 and I23 respectively.

A power take-off sprocket I29 is fixed on the countershaft I21. Clutch means are provided for releasably engaging any one of the driven sprockets I24, I25 and I26 to the countershaft I21 as desired. As shown in the drawings, air operated friction clutches I30, I3I and I32 are employed for accomplishing this purpose. Each of these clutches employs a pair of annular inflatable rings I33, which cause friction shoes I34 to engage the surface of a drum I35. The clutch I30 is effective to connect the sprocket 124-130 the shaft I21. The clutch I3I acts to connect thesprocket I25 to the shaft I21 and the clutch I32 connects the sprocket I26 to the shaft I21. In each of these clutches inflation of the annularring or sack I33 moves friction shoes I34 radially inwardly into driving contact with the inner ring or drum I35.

Clutches I3I and I30 may be provided with a common driving member and as shown in the drawings, this means includes a central hub I36 shrunk on the shaft I21 and having an annular disk I31 fixed thereto. The disk carries shell'assemblies I38 and I39, which rotate with the shaft I 21. In effect the air operated clutches I30 and I3I are placed back-to-back and provided with a common driving member. Air for operating the clutches I30, I3I and I32 is conveyed through passageways in the shaft (not shown) and connected by conventional piping systems to the annular rings I33. As shown, each of the individual air clutches employs a pair of inflatable rings I33. This increases the capacity of the clutch over that provided by a single inflatable ring without increasing the diameter. It will be understood that a single inflatable ring may be employed in each case if desired or, likewise, more than two inflatable rings may be incorporated into each clutch as-- sembly for increasing the capacity, if necessary. I

An air compressor I49 may be mounted on a suitable air receiver MI and arranged to be driven frorn a V-belt assembly I42 driven by a pulley I43 fixed on the shaft Ill.

The driven shaft I44, which is carried on the skid frame H4 and driven .by the prime mover unit III, carries a pair of sprockets I45 and I46. The sprocket I45 is fixed to the shaft I44 while the sprocket I46 is rotatable thereon and is arranged to be connected in driving relation therewith by means of an axially shiftable clutch I41. A chain I48 connects the sprockets I20 and I46. A change speed transmission assembly generally designated I49 is mounted on the skid frame H4 and is wholly carried thereby. The shaft I 44 forms the driving shaft of this change speed transmission and the countershaft I50 forms the driven shaft thereof. Axially spaced bearings I 5| support the shaft I44. On the overhanging end of the shaft I44 a driving sprocket I52 is mounted. An air operated friction clutch I53 is provided for connecting the sprocket I52 in driving relationship with the shaft I44. I

The driving sprocket I54 is fixed on the shaft I44 and is arranged to drive sprocket I55 through the chain I56. The sprocket I55 is rotatably mounted on the countershaft I50 and is arranged to be connected in driving relation therewith by means of the air operated friction clutch I56d, A chain I51 connects the driving sprocketl52 to the driven sprocket I51a, which is fixed on the countershaft I50. A power take-01f sprocket I50 is fixed on the countershaft I50 and drives the pump sprocket I59 by way of the chain I60. The pump I3 may be of any conventional design.

It will be observed that the sprocket I55 and clutch I56a are outside the bearings I6I, which support the shaft I50. The clutch I53 is similarly 'mounted on an overhanging end of its shaft I44. Accordingly, the clutches I53 and I56a are easily, available for disassembly in order to replace the friction elements when worn.

A change speed transmission generally designated I62 is mounted on the skid frame I I5 and is adapted to be driven by the prime mover'unit .I I2 by way of the hydraulic coupling II6. This transmission assembly I62 may be substantially the same as the transmission assembly I49 and may include a low speed drive through aligned sprockets I63 and I64 and a high speed drive through aligned sprockets I65 and I66. Sprockets I63 and I66 are fixed to the shafts I61 and I68 respectively, while sprockets I54 and I65 are rotatably mounted on their respective shafts and are arranged to be connected in driving relation therewith by means of air operated friction clutches I69 and I10 respectively. It will be observed that the clutches I and I19 are mounted on the overhanging ends of the shafts I68 and I61. A power take-off sprocket In is fixed on the countershaft I68 and is adapted to drive the pump sprocket I12 via chain I13.

The two-speed pump transmission assemblies I49 and I62 provide a very compact self-contained assembly which affords two speeds for each of the pumps I3 and I 4. These change speed transmissions are wholly supported on their respective skid frames I4 and H5, and are transportable with the prime mover unit a a complete subassembly. In a similar way the change speed transmission II8 mounted on the subframe H3 is transportable as a unit with th prime mover unit I I0.

Having fully described my invention, it is to be understood that I do not wish to be .limited to the details herein set forth, but my invention is of the full scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a rotary drilling rig, the combination of a drawworks having a spooling drum, a line shaft, power transmission connections including a releasable clutch whereby the line shaft may drive the drum, a divided jack shaft assembly including a pair of jack shaft sections rotatably mounted in axial alignment, a clutch operatively connecting the jack shaft sections for rotation as a unit, transmission connections whereby one of the jack shaft sections may drive the line shaft, means whereby said jack shaft section may be driven from a source of power, means whereby the second jack shaft section may drive a driven mechanism, a speed reduction unit, releasable means for connecting said unit to the line shaft, and means for driving the speed reduction unit from the second jack shaft section.

2. In a rotary drilling rig, the combination of a drawworks having a spooling drum, a line shaft, power transmission connections including a releasable clutch whereby the line shaft may drive the drum, the clutch being positioned coaxially of the drum, second power transmission connections including a clutch whereby the line shaft may drive the drum, the latter said clutch being positioned coaxially of the line shaft, a divided jack shaft assembly including a pair of jack shaft sections rotatably mounted in axial alignment, a clutch operatively connecting the jack shaft sections for rotation as a unit, transmission connections whereby one of the jack shaft sections may drive the line shaft, means whereby said jack shaft section may be driven from a source of power, means whereby the second jack shaft section may drive a driven mechanism, a speed reduction unit, releasable means for connecting said unit to the line shaft, and means for driving the speed reduction unit from the second jack shaft section. 3. In a rotary drilling rig, the combination of a drawworks having a spooling drum, a line shaft, power transmission connections including a releasable clutch whereby the line shaft may drive the drum, the clutch being positioned coaxially of the drum, a divided jack shaft assembly including a pair of jack shaft sections rotatably mounted in axial alignment, a clutch operatively connecting the jack shaft sections for rotation as a unit, transmission connections whereby one of the jack shaft sections may drive the line shaft, means whereby said jack shaft section may be driven from a source of power, means whereby the second jack shaft section may drive a driven mechanism, a worm gear speed reduction unit having a high speed shaft and a low speed shaft, releasable mean for connecting the low speed shaft of said unit to the line shaft, and variable speed drive means for driving the high speed shaft of the speed reduction unit from the second jack shaft section.

4. In a rotary drilling rig, the combination of a drawworks having a spooling drum, 2, line shaft, power transmission connections including a releasable clutch whereby the line shaft may drive the drum, the clutch being positioned coaxially of the drum, a divided jack shaft assembly including a pair of jack shaft sections rotatably mounted in axial alignment, a clutch operatively connecting the jack shaft sections for rotation as a unit, transmission connections whereby one of the jack shaft sections may drive the line shaft, means whereby said jack shaft section may be driven from a source of power, a speed reduction unit having a high speed shaft and a low speed shaft, releasable means for connecting the low speed shaft of said unit to the lineshaft, means for connecting the high speed shaft of the speed reduction unit to the second jack shaft section, said means including a hydraulic pump driven by the second jack shaft section andconnected to drive a hydraulic motor connected to the speed reduction unit.

5,-In a'rotary drilling rig, the combination of a drawworks having a spooling drum, a line shaft, power transmission connections including a releasable clutch whereby the line shaft may drive the drum, the clutch being positioned coaxially of the drum, second power transmission connections including a clutch whereby the line haft may drive the drum, the latter said clutch being positioned coaxially of the line shaft, a divided jack shaft assembly including a pair of jack shaft sections rotatably mounted'in axial alignment, a clutch operatively connecting the jack shaft sections for rotation as a unit, transmission connections including a clutch positioned coaxially of the line shaft whereby one of the jack shaft sections may drive the line shaft, means whereby said jack shaft section may be driven from a source of power, means whereby the second jack shaft section may drive a driven mechanism, a speed reduction unit, releasable means for connecting said unit to the line shaft, and 'means for driving the speed reduction unit from'the second jack shaft section.

6. In a rotary drilling rig, the combination of a drawworks having a spooling drum, a line shaft, power transmission connections including a releasable clutch whereby the line shaft may drive the drum, a divided jack shaft assembly including a pair of jack shaft sections rotatably mounted in axial alignment, a clutch operatively connecting the jack shaft sections for rotation as a unit, transmission connections whereby one of the jack shaft sections may drive the line shaft, means whereby said jack shaft section may be driven in either forward orreverse direction from a unidirectional source of power, a speed reduction unit, releasable means for connecting the low speed end of said unit to the line shaft, and a hydraulic transmission connecting the high speed end of the speed reduction unit to the second jack shaft section, said transmission including means for varying the relative speeds of the second jack shaft section and the speed reduction unit.

7. In a rotary drilling rig, the combination of a drawworks having a spooling drum, a line shaft, power transmission connections whereby the line shaft may drive the drum, a divided jackshaft assembly including a pair of jackshaft sections rotatably mounted in axial alignment, a clutch operatively connecting the jaokshaft sections for rotation as a unit, transmission connections whereby the first of the jackshaft sections may drive the lineshaft, means whereby the second jackshaft section may drive a driven mechanism, a power-receiving sprocket rotatably mounted on the first jackshaft section, a reverse shaft, means for driving the reverse shaft from the power-receiving sprocket, means including releasable clutch means for driving the first jackshaft section in a reverse direction from the reverse shaft, and releasable means for connecting the power receiving sprocket in direct driving relation with the first jackshaft section.

8. In a rotary drilling rig, the combination of a drawworks having a spooling drum, a line shaft, power transmission connections whereby the line shaft may drive the drum, a divided jackshaft assembly including a pair of jackshaft sections rotatably mounted in axial alignment, a clutch operatively connecting the jackshaft sections for rotation as a unit, transmission connections whereby the first of the jackshaft sectionsmay drive the lineshaft, means whereby the second jackshaft section may drive a driven mechanism, a power-receiving sprocket rotatably mounted on the first jackshaft section, a reverse shaft having a second sprocket and driving gear mounted for rotation as a unit, a third sprocket mounted for rotation with the power-receiving sprocket and arranged to drive the second sprocket, a driven gear rotatably mounted on the first jackshaft section and axially slidable into mesh with the driving gear, and selective clutch means for driving the first jackshaft section ina forward direction from said power-receiving sprocket and in a reverse direction through said gears.

'9. In a rotary drilling rig, the combination of a drawworks having a spooling drum, a divided jack shaft assembly including a pair of jack shaft sections rotatably mounted in axial alignment and in end-to-end relationship, a clutch operatively connecting the adjacent ends of said jack shaft sections for rotation as a unit, power transmission connections whereby the first of the jack shaft sections may be operatively connected to drive the drum, means whereby the second jack shaft section may drive a driven mechanism, a feed control device for controlling turning movement of the drum during drilling, said feed control device including a speed reduction unit,

means whereby one of said jack shaft sections REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,171,994 Riise Sept. 5, 1939 2,246,478 Guier June 17, 1941 2,258,785 Morgan .1 Oct. 14, 1941 2,342,507 Anderson Feb. 22, 1944 2,344,681 Deschner Mar. 21, 1944 2,354,235 Walton July 25, 1944

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