US2163178A - Well head - Google Patents

Description

June zo, Y1939.

H. c. oTls WELL HEAD Filed June 18, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 WELL HEAD Y Filed June 18, 1956 i 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /9/55 Z9 I /5 v I f Z6 A Z9 '-1- v Patented June 20, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in well heads.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved well head, Aparticularly adapted for drilling and well operations, and arranged to pack off around a drill stem or tubing so as to permit the vertical passage of couplings without the loss of pressure; as well as being provided with pressure operating means and manual ram operating and fastening means.

An important object of the invention is to provide an improved well head including packing members yieldable to permit the passage of objects therebetween without the loss of pressure, together with uid `pressure operating means arranged to be active in closing the rams, but inactive in the opening of the rams, whereby the rams may be closed by fluidk pressure and opened either by the well 'pressure or by` tools passing between said rams.

Another object of the invention is to provide animproved well head which is arranged to be operated either manually or by pressure fluid and including yieldable packings on the rams permitting the passagey of objects without the loss of pressure, whereby the rams may be quickly moved into packing position by the pressure fluid, and held or xed in closed position by the manually operated means, thus notl depending upon the fluid pressure to maintain said rams `in their closed positions.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved well head wherein the rams are closed by fluid pressure,v which pressure is inactive in the opening of said rams, whereby well pressure or tool is utilized'to open the rams, and the fluid pressure may be reduced to act as a cushioning or shock Vabsorbing means during the opening operation, which makes for smooth retraction of the rams A construction designed to carry out the invention will be' hereinafter described,y together with other features of the invention.

'I'he invention will 'be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which an example ofthe invention is shown, and

wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a well head constructed in accordance with the invention,

Figure 2 isan enlarged, transverse, vertical,

y sectional view of a portion of the device and thev chamber.

showing the ram operating means in position for manual operation,

Figure 4 is a horizontal, cross-sectional View taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2, and

Figure 5 is an isometric view of one of the pack- 5 ing members.

In the drawings, the numeral I0 designates an elongate metallic housing having a vertical bore II at 'its central portion. An upwardly extending collar I2 surrounds the upper end of the bore, whilea similar, depending collar I3 surrounds the lower end of the bore. The collars are preferably made integral with the housing and are internally screw-threaded as shown. The lower collar I3 may be screwed onto the well casing, or other support, whereby the housing is readily mounted in working position.

The housing is formed with a pair of 'opposed packing chambers I4, rectangular in cross-section, and located in horizontal alignment with each other.` The inner end of each chamber is open to the vertical Abore Il, while the outer end of said chamber is closed by a plate or cap I5, which is bolted, or otherwise secured to a periphf eral flange I 0 provided at the outer end of the housing. Although each chamber is shown as rectangular in cross-section, it is obvious that its shape may vary.

An elastic packing member I 6 is slidable or reciprocable in each chamber and this member is formed of rubber, rubber compound, or other A suitable material. The packing member is molded, or otherwise secured to a follower I1, which follower is preferably constructed of suitable metal. The elastic packing member has a 35 sliding fit within the housing, while the follower is formed with an extended shank I8 which slides within a guide ring I9 located centrally within The ring is supported by suitable webs I9'. With this arrangement it is obvious 40 that the follower and packing member form a ram which may be reciprocated within the cham ber, whereby the face of the packing member' may be moved into the vertical bore II of the housing. 45

The construction of the face of each packing member is a feature of the invention and is clearly shown in Figure 5, this inner'face has a general semi-circular shape in cross-section, whereby when the member is moved into the bore II, said face will snugly engage the outer surface of the drill stem, tubing, or other element B extending through said bore. The members are so constructed that when both members engage the element B, they provide an annular packing and holds said yokein place.

are disposed through the entire, vertical lengthA of the inner face 'of the member, and it is obvious that when both the packing members are moved into engagement with the element B extending through the bore said lips engage the surface of said element to pack oi therearound. It will be obvious that the lips may be distorted either upwardly or downwardly. to permit passage of couplings, or other enlargements on the element B without breaking the packing seal. The lips may alsobe deflected in any radial direction due to such movement of the element, while still maintaining the seal. f

For manually operating the packing members I 6 to move them into and out of engagement with the element B, the shank |8 of each follower is provided with a central, horizontally extending bore 25. This bore has the inner end of an elongate operating rod 26 threaded therein. The outer end of the rod extends through an opening 21 in the plate I5 which closes the outer end of the chamber I 4. A pressure packing ring 28 surrounds the rod, being `located within the plate, and serves to prevent escape of pressure around the rod from within the housing I4. The extreme outer end of the rod has a suitable operating handle 29 fastened thereon, whereby the rod may be readily rotated.

The rod ls formed with an integral collar 3|)r which is located at substantially its mid-portion. This collar is adapted to engage the inner wall of the plate I5, as shown in Figure 3, and when.

said collar is engaging the plate the handle 29 is spaced some distance. from the plate. 3| is arranged to be placed over the outer end of the rod between the handle 29 and plate I5.V

Av pin 32 passes through the yoke and handle It is obvious that when said yoke is in position, the rod 26 is immovable with relation to the housing, although it may be rotated. Such rotation will cause the follower and packing member molded thereto, which form a ram, to be reciprocated or slid within the housing, and thus, a manual control of the rams is had.

For operating the rams by fluid, or other pressure, a pressure fluid line 33 is connected into the outer end of one chamber I 4, whereby fluid under pressure may be admitted behind each ram to move the same into engagement with the elementl B. The line 33 has a four Way T 34 connected to its upper end and a fluid inlet pipe 35 leading from a source of supply is attached to one side of the T. A suitable control valve 36 is connected in the pipe. A pipe 33 leads from the T to the other chamber I4. A fluid outlet pipe 31 is also connected to the T and is provided with a control valve 38.

When it is desired tooperate the rams by fluid pressure, the yoke 3| is removed from the rod 26, whereby the rod becomes movable with relation to the housing I0.

The outlet valve 38 is closed and the inlet valve 36 is opened which directs fluid under pressure into each chamber A 'yoke I4 through the pipes 33 and 33' behind the ram therein. The inner edge of each packing member I6 is formed with lips |8' whereby pressure within the chamber cannot by-pass the ram. As the fluid pressure is entered into each chamber, the ram is moved against the well pressure into engagement with the element B. The rod 26, being fastened in the follower, of course, moves with the ram,"sliding through the opening 2l in the plate I5. Leakage of pressure through this opening is prevented by the pressure ring 28.

It is especially desirable to employ the fluid pressure for operating the rams when the head is used in operating a well under pressure, for it is vobvious that since the rams must be moved against the well pressure, it would be difficult to reciprocate them manually. After the faces of the packing members have engaged the element B, the packing seal is affected. Due to the blunt-nose lips 23 which are capable of distortion and deflection in anydirection, couplings, or other enlargements on the element B may be passed therethrough without losing the well pressure. Y

After the packingV members have engaged the element B, they may remain in their packing position for some time, and` it is not desirable to maintain them in such position by the fluid pressure from the lines 33 and 33. Therefore, it is possible to replace the yoke 3| on the rod and properly adjust said rod to hold the members in engagement with the element. 'I'he fluid pressure in the chamber may then be depleted and the rams are locked in .their engaged position.

In retracting the rams, it is advantageous to do so without the manually operable rod 26, and therefore, the yoke 3| is not used. Assuming that pressure from the lines 33 and 33 is holding the rams in position, the valve 36 is closed and the valve 38opened. 'I'his latter valve ls opened in accordance with the amount of the well pressure so that as thewell pressure forces the rams inwardly, the fluid pressurev is allowed to escape through the outlet pipe 31. In some instances, an enlargement, such as a conical coupling collar (not shown), on the element B will force the rams inwardly to move them to an open position. In either case, by properly adjusting the valve 38, the pressure fluid acts as a cushion or shock absorber, and smooth retraction of the rams is assured.

From the above, it will be seen that the rams may be actuated either'by fluid pressure, or by the manually rotatable rod. l The rod is utilized to lock the rams in their engaged or packing position, and the change from manual to fluid operation may be accomplished quickly and easily. 'Ihe provision of the blunt-nosed flexible lips 23 permits couplings on the element B to readily pass through the packing members without any loss of Well pressure. The projections 2|! and grooves 2| on the vertical engaging edges of 'packing vmembers angular in cross-section each having a sliding ilt in said chambers and held yscrew-threaded engagement in the threads of the followers, projections on the rods engaging fixed portions of the head memberfor limiting the outward sliding movement of said rods, whereby rotation of said rods causes the packing members to slide inwardly to embrace a drill stem, and uid. pressure means for sliding said packing members inwardly against well pressure and into contact with a drill stem, said fluid pressure acting against the outer sides of said packing members to seal them in the chambers against the escape ofv well pressure.

2. A well head including,- a head member arranged to be attached to a well casing and provided with a vertical passage therethrough ample to permit the passage of a well drill, opposed chambers angular in cross-section on each side of the passage of said head, a pair of elastic packing members angular in cross-section each having a sliding fit in said chambers and held against rotation by their angular shape, said packing members having elastic faces arranged to engage and pack oi a drill stem extending through the passage of said head member, but being amply yieldable to permit the passage of a drill collar therebetween with substantially no loss of well pressure thereacross, followers extending outwardly from the packing members and having internal screw threads, stationary guides for said followers in the head member, operating rods slidable in the head and having screwthreaded engagement in the threads of the followers, projections on the rods engaging ilxed portions of the head member for limiting the outward sliding movement oi' said rods, whereby rotation of said rods causes the packing members to slide inwardly to embrace a drill stem, fluid pressure means for sliding said packing members inwardly against well pressure and into contact with a drill stem, said iiuid pressure acting against the outer sides of said packing members to seal them in the chambers against the g escape oi.' well pressure, and means manually operated for locking'the rods and packing members against sliding.

3. A well head including, a head member arranged to be attached to a well easing and provided vwith a vertical passage therethrough ample to permit the passage of a well drill, opposed chambers on each side of the passage of said head, a pair of elastic packing members held against rotation and each having a sliding tit in one of the chambers and a continuous elastic contact with the surrounding walls ofthe chamber, said packing members having elastic faces arranged to engage and pack oi a drill stem extending through the passage of said head member, but being amply yieldable to permit the passage of a drill collar therebetween with substantially no loss of well pressure thereacross, iluid pressure means for supplying a iluid pressure to the rear sides of said packing members to displace them into sealing contact with a drill stem and for expanding the rear edges of the elastic packing members into sealing contact with the walls of the chambers, manually operated means for sliding the elastic packing members in the chambers, land means for positively holding the rods against sliding inwardly when manually operated.

4. A well head including, a head member arranged to be attached to a well casing and provided with a vertical passage therethrough ample to permit the passage of a well drill, opposed chambers' on each side of the passage oi.' said head, a pair of elastic packing members held against rotation and each having a sliding fit in one of the chambers and a continuous elastic contact with the surrounding walls of the chamber, said packing members having elastic faces arranged to engage and pack oil.' a drill stem extending through the passage of said head mem' ber, but being amply yieldable to permit the passage of a drill collar therebetween with substan- HERBERT C. OTIB.

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