US3629927A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Mouse hole chuck
Assignee: Jackson Memorial Hospital
•
Filing: 1970-03-30
•
Granted: 1971-12-28
•
Expires: 1990-03-30
Abstract
Abstract A chuck assembly for making up and breaking out threaded connections between a drill pipe single disposed in a mouse hole and a Kelly suspended above the mouse hole, in which a lower chuck subassembly is fixedly mounted at the top of the mouse hole, and an upper chuck subassembly is pivotally mounted on the lower chuck subassembly, a fluid pressure operated actuator being interconnected with the chuck subassemblies to effect pivotal movement of the upper chuck subassembly, the chuck subassemblies respectively having opposing jaws actuatable into gripping engagement with the joint part at the upper end of the single of drill pipe and at the lower end of the Kelly saver sub to effect rotation of one joint part relative to the other upon angular movement of the upper chuck subassembly. Such a mouse hole chuck in which a centering device engages the pipe to substantially center its tool joint part with respect to the axis of relative rotation of the chuck subassemblies.
Inventors
- 👤 Melvin J Palmer
- 👤 Michael A Seitz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 22:12
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B19/00; E21B19/16; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/53; Y10T29/53687
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
144 words
In apparatus for threadedly connecting a Kelly to a length of drill pipe in a mouse hole below the floor of a well drilling rig, a mouse hole chuck assembly, mounting means for supporting said assembly at the top of the mouse hole, said chuck assembly including a lower pipe gripping subassembly having gripping means operable to releasably grip the upper end of said pipe, an upper gripping subassembly having gripping means operable to releasably grip the lower end of said Kelly, means pivotally mounting said upper gripping subassembly on said lower gripping subassembly for pivotal movement about an axis extending through said gripping means, means for relatively pivotally moving said upper gripping subassembly and said lower gripping subassembly about said axis, and said mouse hole chuck assembly including centering means beneath said lower gripping subassembly for positioning said pipe substantially on said axis.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
144 words
In apparatus for threadedly connecting a Kelly to a length of drill pipe in a mouse hole below the floor of a well drilling rig, a mouse hole chuck assembly, mounting means for supporting said assembly at the top of the mouse hole, said chuck assembly including a lower pipe gripping subassembly having gripping means operable to releasably grip the upper end of said pipe, an upper gripping subassembly having gripping means operable to releasably grip the lower end of said Kelly, means pivotally mounting said upper gripping subassembly on said lower gripping subassembly for pivotal movement about an axis extending through said gripping means, means for relatively pivotally moving said upper gripping subassembly and said lower gripping subassembly about said axis, and said mouse hole chuck assembly including centering means beneath said lower gripping subassembly for positioning said pipe substantially on said axis.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
In apparatus as defined in claim 1, each of said gripping means including a pair of gripping jaws spaced on opposite sides of said axis in opposed relation to one another, and means for moving said jaws toward and away from one another.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
65 words
In apparatus as defined in claim 1, each of said gripping means including a pair of gripping jaws spaced on opposite sides of said axis in opposed relation to one another, means for moving said jaws towards and away from one another, and regulating means connected to said jaws for holding said jaws substantially equally spaced relative to said axis during movement of said jaws.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
73 words
In apparatus as defined in claim 1, said centering means including a frame structure, a pair of pads slidable in said frame structure towards and away from one another at opposite sides of said axis, said frame having stop means for limiting movement of said pads towards And away from said axis, and actuator means for shifting said pads into engagement with said stop means to position said pipe substantially on said axis.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
In apparatus as defined in claim 4, said stop means comprising blocks at opposite sides of said frame structure and centered with respect to a transverse plane intersecting said axis.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
62 words
In apparatus, as defined in claim 4, said stop means comprising blocks at opposite sides of said frame structure and centered with respect to a transverse plane intersection said axis, and means removably mounting said blocks on said frame structure, whereby blocks of different sizes mounted on said frame structure vary the distance between said pads to accommodate pipe of different sizes.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
87 words
In apparatus as defined in claim 1, said centering means including a frame structure, a first centering pad and a yoke spaced apart in said frame structure, a pair of tie rods interconnecting said first centering pad and said yoke, means slidably supporting said tie rods on said frame structure, a second centering pad, means slidably supporting said second centering pad on said tie rods, and actuator means interposed between said yoke and said second centering pad to move said pads toward and away from one another.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
In apparatus as defined in claim 7, said actuator means including a pressure operated cylinder and rod, said cylinder being connected to one and said rod being connected to the other of said yoke and said second pad.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
82 words
In apparatus as defined in claim 1, each of said gripping subassemblies including a frame structure, each of said gripping means including a first jaw and said yoke, tie rods interconnecting said first jaw and said yoke, a second jaw slidable with respect to said tie rods, means supporting said jaws and said yoke for movement of said jaws in said frame structure towards and away from another, and actuator means between said yoke and said second jaw for moving said jaws.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
In apparatus as defined in claim 9, said actuator means including a pressure operated cylinder and rod, said cylinder being connected to one and said rod being connected to the other of said yoke and said second jaw.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
45 words
In apparatus as defined in claim 9, regulator means connected to said case and to said yoke and said second jaw for positioning said jaws in substantially equally spaced opposed relation at opposite sides of the axis of relative angular movement of said gripping subassemblies.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
85 words
In apparatus as defined in claim 9, regulator means connected to said case and to said yoke and said second jaw for positioning said jaws in substantially equally spaced opposed relation at opposite sides of the axis of relative angular movement of said gripping subassemblies, said regulating means including a pair of levers, means pivotally mounting said levers on said frame structure between the ends of said levers, and links interconnected between the respective ends of said levers and said yoke and said second jaw.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
In apparatus as defined in claim 1, said means pivotally mounting said upper gripping assembly on said lower gripping subassembly including mating cylindrical walls on said subassemblies, and means for preventing axial separation of said cylindrical walls.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
92 words
In apparatus as defined in claim 1, said means pivotally mounting said upper gripping assembly on said lower gripping subassembly including mating cylindrical walls on said subassemblies, means for preventing axial separation of said cylindrical walls, and said means for relatively pivotally moving said upper gripping subassembly and said lower gripping subassembly includes a lever projecting laterally from one of said cylindrical walls and an actuator cylinder and rod, said cylinder being connected to one and said rod being connected to the other of said lever and one of said gripping subassemblies.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
84 words
In apparatus as defined in claim 1, said means pivotally mounting said upper gripping assembly on said lower gripping subassembly including mating cYlindrical walls on said subassemblies, means for preventing axial separation of said cylindrical walls, and means to prevent cocking of said subassemblies on said means pivotally mounting said upper gripping subassembly on lower gripping subassembly, including an arcuate rail on one of said subassemblies spaced from said cylindrical walls, and plate means on the other of said subassemblies overlying said arcuate rail.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-12-27 | 1975-06-28 | 1975-12-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-12-27 | 1979-06-28 | 1979-12-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-12-27 | 1983-06-28 | 1983-12-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |