US2574614A - Rotary table - Google Patents

Description

A. H. BELL ROTARY TABLE Nov. 13, 1951 Filed May 6, 1946 9- INVENTOR. ALEXANDER H.BELL

BY 04W Y'IWd/M ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 13, 1951 UITED STATES OFFICE ROTARY TABLE Alexander H. Bell, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to Continental ()il Company, Ponca Gity, Okla, a corporation of Delaware Application May 6, 1946, Serial No. 667,705

12 Claims.

' and by which the drill stem and the bit at the lower end thereof are rotated.

During the normal drilling operation it frequently becomes necessary to pull the drilling string, this being accomplished by stepwise elevating the drill string, uncoupling the lengths thereof progressively exposed by such stepwise elevation, and then finally removing the bit itself. During such pulling operation it becomes necessary to hold the drill string suspended in the hole while a length just pulled is uncoupled.

It is a principal object of my invention to provide a rotary table structure having a bushing assembly therein which may be changed by a mere manipulation of levers, first to securely and non-rotatably engage the kelly so that as the table is rotated the drill string is rotated; second to engage and hold the drill string during the pulling operation referred to; and third to provide sufiicient clearance so that when the drill string has been pulled, the bushing will provide suflicient clearance for the bit or other accouterments attached to the drill string such as couplings and the like.

Other objects of my invention will appear as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention then comprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description and the annexed drawing setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these being indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principle of the invention may be employed.

In said annexed drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view partially in section of an apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view of one of the cylindrical bushing members forming a part of the structure shown in Fig. 1 and positioned so as to show one of the faces thereof in a full front view;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view of the member illustrated in Fig. 2, taken on a plane substantially indicated by the line 33;

Fig. 4 is a view of the same element shown in Fig. 2 but with a different face thereof presented as a full front view;

Fig. 5 is still another view of the element illustrated in Fig. 2 with yet another of its faces presented as a full front view;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged part sectional view of the forward face of the structure illustrated in Fig. 5 showing the mode of mounting the slips present in such face;

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view of that portion of the structure illustrated in Fig. 6 taken on a plane substantially indicated by the line 1-1; and

Fig. 8 is a part section part plan view of the right-hand end of the two cylindrical members as illustrated in Fig. 1, showing particularly the construction of the locking mechanism associated therewith.

Referring now more specifically to the drawing and more especially to Fig. 1, the assembly here illustrated comprises a stationary base generally indicated at I and which is adapted to be supported on the ground or on a platform over the area within which the well is to be drilled. On the upper surface of such base I there is a ballrace 2 in which will be positioned a plurality of roller bearings (not shown) by which the rotary body 3 of the table is supported on the base I. The rotary body 3 is provided with a depending annular skirt 4 which has close fitting engagement with the inner periphery of a complementary skirt 5 on the base I and by which the member 3 is maintained centrally of the base I.

The base I will have mounted thereon a power plant or driving mechanism generally indicated at 6 which has driving communication with the member 3 through gear teeth formed at an appropriate place on the outside of the member 3.

At this point it should be noted that so much of the construction which has been described thus far is conventional rotary table construction, and forms no part of the present invention.

The member 3 is provided with a polygonal opening generally indicated at 1, such opening having an offset as at 8 and on which is mounted a block 9 having a contour or shape so as to closely fit in the opening I in the member 3. The block 9 is provided with a circular opening l0 centrally thereof, and in the walls of the block 9, surrounding such opening, are rotatably supported two horizontally disposed cylinders l l and I2. These cylinders have trunnions such as l3 projecting axially thereof and by which they are rotatably supported in bearing openings in the block 9. The cylindrical members II and I2 have meshing spur gears such as I4 on one end so that as one of the members is rotated, the other member will rotate synchronously therewith but in the opposite direction. 7

One of the members such as II has a bevel gear I5 secured thereto and which is in mesh with a segmental bevel pinion I6 carried by the lower end of a vertically extending shaft II. It will be observed that as the shaft I1 is rotated, the member II will be rotated in a selected direction and then through the meshing spur gears I4 the other member I2 will be rotated a similar amount but in the opposite direction.

The cylindrical members I I and I2 are mounted so as to be substantially in contact. Each of such members has provided on its face three relieved areas. These relieved areas extend chordwise of the cylindrical bodies and are formed in complementary pairs, one each of such pairs being on the member II and theo ther of such pair being on the member I2. The location of such complementary pairs on the peripheries of the members II and I2 is such that as the cylindrical members are rotated under the influence of the shaft II, such pairs of complementary relieved areas are progressively and sequentially brought into opposition so as to define an opening through the bushing depending upon the cross-sectional configuration of the relieved areas.

The relieved area indicated at I8 and shown in full front face view in Fig. 2 on the member II is, in the illustrated embodiment of my invention, cylindrical in cross-section with a diameter or radius sufficiently great so that when the two such relieved areas are in opposition a cylindrical opening is provided through the bushing of sufficient size so as to permit the passage therethrough of the drill bit or other accouterments carried by the drill string.

The relieved area I9 on member I I shown most clearly in Fig. 4 is triangular so that when the two relieved areas I9 are brought into opposition they will define a rectangular or square opening of such size as to closely embrace the Kelly stem.

The fiat faces of each of the triangular relieved areas I9 may have rollers such as mounted thereon so as to facilitate movement downwardly of the Kelly stem during rotation of the table and as the depth of the well increases.

The openings 2I, one of which is shown in member I I in Fig. 5, are likewise preferably semicylindrical in form so that when opposed they define a cylindrical opening. However, on the wells of the members II and I2 defining the relieved areas 2| there are mounted toothed slip members 22 which are held slidably by means of a dove-tailed block 23 and prevented from becoming disassembled by means of a stop block 24. In cross section, and as most clearly illustrated in Fig. 6, the slips 22 are arcuate so that when they move axially of the opening in the bushing provided by the relieved areas 2| their inclined faces will move axially toward the drill stem with the serrated faces thereof in engagement with the stem so as to hold the latter in a suspended position during the uncoupling step previously referred to.

Each of the members II and I2 is provided on its outer surface at its end opposite the gear I4 with a plurality of notches 25. These notches are arranged on the transverse center line of each of the openings I8, I9 and 2| respectively. In other words, when the members II and I2 are rotated so as to bring a selected pair of relieved areas into opposition, there will also be brought into opposition a pair of notches 25.

In the wall of the block 9, diametrically opposite the area wherein are supported the trunnions I3 adjacent the gears I4, is mounted a slide block 1 2B of such size as to closely fit in the notches 25. When the slide block 26 is moved into an opposed pair of notches 25, the cylindrical members II and I2 will be locked in that position.

The latch bar 26 carries a pin 27 which extends into a slotted hole into an arm 28 secured to a vertically disposed shaft 29 which extends upwardly out of the block 9.

The various parts such as the cylindrical members II and I2 and the associated mechanism just described may be assembled in the block 9 by having the latter made sectional, the division occurring preferably on a central parting line generally indicated at 30 in Fig. l. The parting line 39 will intersect the opening It] so that the block 9 and the mechanism associated therewith may beassembled prior to the block 9 being dropped into th polygonal opening 21.

When in use, the improved rotary table comprising my invention may be utilized as follows: Let it first be assumed that a Well has been drilled to an incomplete depth and the drilling string has been removed and the rotary table is in position on the drilling platform. The rod 29 will be rotated in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 8 so as to retract the latch bar 26. The shaft I1 is then rotated effecting a rotation of the cylindrical members I I and I2 until visual inspection shows that the larger relieved areas I8 are opposite each other whereupon the shaft 29 will be rotated in a clockwise direction moving the latch bar 25 into the aligned openings on the contacting faces of the members II and I2. There is now provided an opening through the rotary table bushing sufficient to admit the drill bit and the drilling string, which will be lowered through the bushing by means of the usual derrick apparatus. As soon as the first length of drill string has been thus lowered in position and it becomes necessary to couple a new length thereto and take a new hitch on the derrick, the latch bar 26 is retracted so asto permit the shaft I! to rotate the cylindrical members II and I2 until the relieved areas 2|, or more specifically the slips 22, are brought into engagement with the drill string. When this has been done, the cylindrical members II and I2 are again latched by means of the latch bar 26 and in this position the bushing will hold suspended the drill string permitting a new length to be coupled thereto and a new hitch to be made between the new length and the derrick.

This operation is repeated as many times as necessary and then, during the final step, the Kelly stem is attached. After the Kelly stem has been attached, the cylindrical members I! and I2 are rotated to bring the opposed relieved areas I9 into opposition, i. e. into engagement with the opposite sides of the Kelly stem, whereupon the cylindrical members II and I2 will be latched by the bar 26, and then the drilling operation can be resumed by rotating the rotary table or more specifically the ring 3 thereof.

When pulling a drilling string either during the drilling operation or at the completion of the drilling operation, the procedural steps just outlined will, of course, be performed in the reverse order.

It will be observed that it is within the contemplation of my invention to provide power means for the rotation of shaft IT by which the cylindrical members II and I2 may be rotated.

Similarly if desired, power means may be applied to the shaft 29 for power actuation of the locking bar 26.

Other modes of applying the principle of the invention may be employed, change being made as regards the details described, provided the features stated in any of the following claims or the equivalent of such be employed.

I, therefore, particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. In well drilling apparatus, horizontal rotatable members, means for mounting and surrounding the same including a rotary table assembly therewith, the whole not substantially higher than the rotatable members, and means for rotating said members to position the same for interlocking relation with the opposite sides of an elongated member subsequently inserted therebetween.

2. In well drilling apparatus, horizontal rotatable members, means for mounting and surrounding the same including a rotary table assembly therewith, the whole not substantially higher than the rotatable members, said rotatable members respectively provided on their peripheries with a plurality of complementary relieved areas of different configuration and means for rotating said members to sequentially position said complementary relieved areas into opposition and accordingly selectively provide different openings through said body of significantly different cross-sections.

3. In well drilling apparatus, horizontal rotatable members, means for mounting and surrounding the same including a rotary table assembly therewith, the whole not substantially higher than the rotatable members, said rotatable members respectively provided On their peripheries with a plurality of complementary relieved areas of different configuration and means for rotating said members to sequentially position said complementary relieved areas into opposition and accordingly selectively provide different openings through said body of significantly different cross-sections, one such crosssection being a polygon.

4. In well drilling apparatus, horizontal rotatable members, means for mounting and surrounding the same including a rotary table assembly therewith, the whole not substantially higher than the rotatable members, said rotatable members respectively provided on their peripheries with a plurality of complementary relieved areas of different configuration and means for rotating said members to sequentially position said complementary relieved areas into opposition and accordingly selectively provide different openings through said body of significantly different cross-section, one such crosssection being a circle.

5. In well drilling apparatus, horizontal rotatable members, means for mounting and surrounding the same including a rotary table assembly therewith, the whole not substantially higher than the rotatable members, said rotatable members respectively provided on their peripheries with a plurality of complementary relieved areas of different configuration and means for rotating said members to sequentially position said complementary relieved areas into opposition and accordingly selectively provide different openings through said body of significantly diiferent cross-sections, one such crosssection being a polygon and another such crosssection being a circle.

6. In well drilling apparatus, horizontal rotatable members, means for mounting and surrounding the same including a rotary table assembly therewith, the whole not substantially higher than the rotatable members, said rotatable members respectively provided on their peripheries with a plurality of complementary relieved areas of different configuration, means for rotating said members to sequentially position said complementary relieved areas into opposition and accordingly selectively provide dif-' ferent openings through said body of significantly different cross-sections, and serrated work engaging jaws supported on the opposed faces of said rotatable members forming one of said openings.

'7. A rotary tablet useful in well drilling comprising a stationary base member, a rotatable body movably supported on said base for rotation about a vertical axis, a vertical opening extending coaxially through said body, a pair of rotat able members supported in and lying within the vertical thickness of and being surrounded by said body with the axes thereof respectively on opposite sides of the vertical axis of said vertical opening, parallel to each other, and substantially at right angles to said vertical axis, the peripheries of said rotatable members provided with a plurality of pairs of complementary faces extending chordwise thereof and when brought into 0pposed relation upon relative rotational positions of said rotatable members, defining vertical passages of significantly different cross-sections respectively, and means for rotating said rotatable members to sequentially bring said pairs of faces into opposed relation.

8. A rotary table useful in well drilling comprising a stationary base member, a rotatable body movably supported on said base for rotation about a vertical axis, a vertical opening extending coaxially through said body, a pair of rotatable members supported in and lying within the vertical thickness of and being surrounded by said body with the axes thereof respectively on opposite sides of the vertical axis of said vertical opening, parallel to each other, and substantially at right angles to said vertical axis, the peripheries of said. rotatable members provided with a plurality of pairs of complementary faces extending chordwise thereof and when brought into opposed relation upon relative rotational positions of said rotatable members, defining vertical passages of significantly different cross-sections respectively, means for rotating said rotatable members to sequentially bring said pairs of faces into opposed relation and means for locking said rotatable members against rotation at each relative position thereof when said pairs of faces are respectively in opposition.

9. .A rotary table useful in well drilling comprising a stationary base member, a rotatable body movably supported on said base for rotation about a vertical axis, a vertical opening extending coaxially through said body, a pair of substantially cylindrical members rota'tably supported in and lying within the vertical thickness of and being surrounded by said body with the axes thereof respectively on opposite sides of the vertical axis of said vertical opening, parallel to each other, substantially at right angles to said vertical axis and spaced so that their peripheral surfaces are substantially in contact, the peripheries of said cylindrical members provided with a plurality of pairs of complementary relieved areas extending chordwise thereof and when brought into opposed relation upon relative rotational positions of said cylindrical members, defining vertical passages respectively adapted to close fittingly accommodate a drill pipe, a Kelly stem and provide an opening for the passage therethrough of the various accouterments of a drill stern, means for rotating said cylindrical members to sequentially bring said pairs of relieved areas into opposed relation and means for locking said cylindrical members against rotation at each relative position thereof when said pairs of relieved areas are respectively in opposition.

10. In well-drilling apparatus for operation of a rotary drill, means for rotating the drill including a base member and a rotatable body thereon for rotation about a vertical axis, a vertical opening through said body, and a pair of rotatable members supported by and lying within the vertical thickness or" said body parallel to each other with their axes respectively on opposite sides of said vertical opening and substantially at right angles to said vertical axis, the peripheries of said parallel rotatable members having a plurality of pairs of complementary faces extending chord-wise thereof and when in opposed relation defining vertical passages of different cross section, one such pair of complementary faces forming a polygonal opening and carrying rollers to facilitate downward movement of the drill while being rotated.

11. In well-drilling apparatus for operation of a rotary drill, means for rotating and controlling the suspension of the drill including a base member and a rotatable body thereon for rotation about a vertical axis, a vertical opening through said body, and a pair of rotatable members supported by and lying within the vertical thickness of said body parallel to each other with their axes respectively on opposite sides of said vertical opening and substantially at right angles to said vertical axis, the peripheries of said parallel rotatable members having a plurality of pairs of complementary faces extending chord-wise thereof and when in opposed relation defining vertical passages of different cross section, one such pair of complementary faces forming a cylindrical opening, toothed slip members slidably held on the faces of said opening by dovetail mounting, and a stop block for preventing disassembly of each toothed slip member.

12. In well-drilling apparatus for operation of a rotary drill, means for rotating the drill including a base member and a rotatable body thereon for rotation about a vertical axis, a vertical opening through said body, and a pair of rotatable members supported by and lying within the vertical thickness of said body parallel to each other with their axes respectively on opposite sides of said vertical opening and substantially at right angles to said vertical axis, the peripheries of said parallel rotatable members having a plurality of pairs of complementary faces extending chord-wise thereof and when in opposed relation defining vertical passages of different cross section, one such pair of complementary faces forming a polygonal opening and carrying rollers to facilitate downward movement of the drill while being rotated, another such pair of complementary faces forming a cylindrical opening, toothed slip members slidaicly held on the faces of said opening by dovetail mounting, a stop block for preventing disassembly of each toothed slip member, and another pair of said complementary faces forming a cylindrical opening large enough to permit passage therethrough of the drill bit.

ALEXANDER H. BELL.

The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UBEITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 294,736 I-Iyle Mar. 4, 1884 1,067,330 Griffin July 15, 1913 1,508,590 Boykin, Jr. Sept. 16, 1924 1,749,809 Greve Mar. 11, 1930 1,936,139 Montgomery Nov. 21, 1933 1,938,019 Hild Dec. 5, 1933

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