US2053522A - Turnbuckle - Google Patents

Description

S P 1936- w. J. GOURLEY ET AL 2,053,522

TURNBUCKLE Filed Aug. 5, 1954 mmnmmmmmmam,

1407090 .1 aar/ay Fred H Bar/may Patented Sept. 8, 1936 'UNlTED STATES TURNBUCKLE William J. Gourley and Fred H. Barney, Fort Worth, Tex.

Application August 3,

2 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in turnbuckles.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved turnbuckle, particularly adapted for use with rod lines of an oil well, and similar uses.

An important object of the invention is to'provide an improved turnbuckle having means for easily and convenientlyrotating the body of the buckle to readily loosen or tighten said buckle, Without the use of a wrench or other tool.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved means on the outer side of the body of a turnbuckle arranged to be engaged by a bar or rod to rotate said body, in such a manner that the bar or rod will not interfere with the travel of the screw members of the buckle.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved turnbuckle having means on its traveling screw members whereby said members may be held against rotation when the body of the buckle is revolved.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved turnbuckle having its traveling screws provided with rod heads at its outer ends, whereby the usual rod clamps may be employed to readily connect said buckle to the rod lines of an oil well.

A still further object of the invention is toprovide an improved turnbuckle having the outer ends of the traveling screws of said bucklemade integral with the turtleback of the usual rod line clamp, whereby the ends of rod lines may be readily clamped to said screws. Each turtleback of. the clamps may be provided with means whereby the screw may be held against rotation when the body of the buckle is rotated.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described, together with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a turnbuckle constructed in accordance with the invention,

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same,

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the same,

Figures 4 and 5 are enlarged views of one of the traveling screws of the buckle, showing different forms of means arranged to be engaged by a bar, or pipe to prevent rotation of said screws,

Figure 6 is an enlarged side elevation of a 1934, Serial No. 738,185

traveling screw having the turtleback of a rod clamp made integral with itsouter end,

Figure 7 is a plan view of the same,

Figure 8 is similar to Figure 7, showing a ro line clamped to the end of said screw,

Figure 9 is similar to Figure 8, showing a circular loop secured to the clamp instead of to the screw, and l Figure 10 is an enlarged view of another form of. the invention, wherein the loop is removable from the screw.

In the drawing, the numeral 10' designates the body or link of a turnbuckle, said body being of the usual type including a pair of side bars ll connected at their ends. Traveling screws l2 are threaded through bearing bosses l3 integral with the ends of the body. One of the screws is provided with right hand threads while the other is provided with left hand threads, whereby rotation of the body, while the screws are held against rotation, will cause either inward or outward travel of said screws.

Turnbuckles are used for various purposes and it has been found advantageous to use them in pull 'r'od lines which are used to connect the pumping power with'the pump jack of an oil well. These lines are constantly under strain and are sometimes a quarter of a mile in length. Varying weather conditions cause expansion and contraction of these lines and difficulty has been encountered in keeping said lines taut to get the full pumping stroke. The turnbucklesare employed to keep them taut at all times. Furtherfthese buckles must be adjusted frequently and due to the pull 'on' the lines, it has been necessary to insert a rod or bar between the side bars ll to obtain a leverage whereby the body of the buckle may be'rotated to adjust the buckle. Although this method provides suffi-' cie-nt leverage, the rod passing between the side bars 'Il as well asbetween theinner ends of the screws interferes with the travel of said screws within the body, and it is obvious that it would be impossible to move the screws to their innermost position with the bar therebetween.

At the same time that the body is rotated, it is necessary to hold the screws against rotation. The usual connection between each screw and the rod line is through a hook and eye which, although providing a direct connection, is loose and not at all satisfactory. The usual method is to clamp the outer end of the screws with a wrench or other tool to prevent their rotation when the body is being turned. It is difiicult to obtain a secure grip on the screws, and oftentimes the body and screw are constructed with wrench holds made integral therewith. Further, the workmen must at all times carry a wrench on his person and, should he find himself without one, he might have to travel onefourth of a mile to the tool house. This is not only inconvenient, but brings about an unnecessary waste of time.

In carrying out the invention, a pair of laterally directed loops are secured to the side bars ll of the turnbuckle body and extend approximately right angles to the plane of the body from opposite sides thereof. Those loops may beo'f any desired shape and are preferably constructed of the same material as the body 10. It is preferable, although not essential, to form the loops integral with the body. A rod or bar (not shown) may readily be slipped through one of the loops to provide sufiicient leverage for easily rotating the body. It is pointed out that although I have shown two loops, one on each side of the body, satisfactory results can 'be obtained with a single loop, the "two loops merely being provided for convenience.

A similar. loop '45 is secured to, being preferably made :integral with, each 'of the traveling screws 12. A suitable bar or red (not shown) may be passed through these loops, whereby the screws maybe easily held against rotation when the body 10 is rotated. The outer end of each screw is provided with a rod head 1-6, whereby the usual clamp I! may be employed to fasten said screws to the rod lines 1a. It is 'clear that the provision -of the :loops provides for quickly and conveniently adjusting the turnbuckle and .eliminatesthe necessity of forming wrench holds on the :parts. Any rod, bar -or"similar member which :may be lying near the buckle, may be inserted through the' loops. By forming the heads [-6 on the ends of the screws I 2, a positive connection may be had between said screw and the rod lines.

In Figures 4 and 5 I have shown 'a variation of the invention. ln Figure 4, an angular keeper 49 is substituted for'the-loop l5,-so that a scantling or any other lever can be readily swung under-said-keeper. In-Figure5, apin 20 which extends laterally -at approximately a right angle from the screw, being preferably integral therewith, -is iprovided and a :pipe or piece of tubing may easily be engaged over this pin 'to hold the screw against rotation. I 7

Figures '6, 7 and 8 show another form of the invention wherein the rod head I6 is eliminated from the'outer end of each screw. In this-form, the outer end of the screw is made integral with the turtleback H of the clamp 11. With this arrangement, the rod 18 is easily and quickly clamped to the screw. This form also has the loop 15. r

Figure '9 showsstill another form which is conmay readily be removed, if desired.

The description which has been given recites more "or less detail of a particular embodiment of the invention, which is set forth as new and useful; however, I desire it understood that the invention is not limited tosuch exact details of construction, because it is manifest that changes and modifications may be made, within the scope of the appended claims, without depanting from the spirit of the invention.

It is pointed out that in some :cas'es 'it may be found desirable to entirely eliminate the loops from either the body 'or the traveling screws. Therefore, it would he within the invention to provide loops son the traveling :screws without forming any loops on the body, and'vice versa.

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters-Pat'ent is:

1. A turnbucklecomprising a'body in the form of an Open link with two longitudinal side portions and "screw receiving ends, a pair of oppositely threaded screws inthe screw receivin'g ends of said body, and outwardly projecting loops on the side portions of the body extending transversely of the plane of and on opposite sides of the side portions -for rotating the body whereby an implement 'projected'through a loop on one side portion will engage theopposite side portion and have a lever action therewith in turning the body on the screws.

2. A turnbuckle comprising-a body in the form of :an open link with two longitudinal side portions and-screw receiving ends, a pair of oppositely threaded-screws -in the screw receiving-ends of said body, outwardly projecting loops on the side portions of the body extending transversely of the .-plane-of and on opposite-sides of the side portions for rotating the body whereby an implement projected through --a loop on 'one side portion will engage the opposite side portion and have a lever action therewith in turning the body on the screws, outwardly extending means on each screw for receiving an implement for holding the screws .against rotation, and separatemeans on the outer ends of the screws for connecting the turnbuckle in a rod line or the like.

WILLIAM J. GOURLEY. V FRED H. LBARNEY.

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