Pipe hanger

Claim 2

A hanger for Suspending a pipe string within a well, comprising: a tubular body member and a support ring mounted around said body member for axial movement thereon, said body member being adapted for connection at its upper end to a handling string and at its lower end to a pipe string, said body member having a reduced outside diameter mid-portion, a larger diameter back-up portion above said mid-portion, a downwardly facing upper stop shoulder at the upper end of said back-up portion and a downwardly facing intermediate stop shoulder at the upper end of said mid-portion, said support ring being axially split along one side thereof, said ring being contractable from an unrestrained position to a collapsed position and selfexpandable from said collapsed position to said unrestrained position; release means on said ring and said body member holding said ring around said mid-portion and preventing axial movement of said ring from said mid-portion to said back-up portion, and abutment means including a downwardly directed surface to effect disengagement of said release means upon said abutment means encountering an abutment resisting further downward movement of said abutment means when said pipe string is lowered into the well, said release means being disengageable to allow said ring to move upwardly relative to said body member and around said back-up portion in its unrestrained position until said ring contacts said upper stop shoulder, said back-up portion locking said ring in said unrestrained position and preventing downward movement of said body member relative to said support ring.

Claim 3

A pipe hanger as set forth in claim 1 characterized in that said intermediate stop shoulder is connected to said back-up portion by a downwardly facing frusto-conical surface, the upper end of said ring having an upwardly facing frustoconical surface at its inner periphery.

Claim 4

A hanger for suspending a pipe string within a well, comprising: a tubular body member and a support ring mounted around said body member for axial movement thereon, said body member being adapted for connection at its upper end to a handling string and at its lower end to a pipe string, said body member having a reduced outside diameter mid-portion, a larger diameter back-up portion above said mid-portion, a downardly facing upper stop shoulder at the upper end of said back-up portion and a downwardly facing intermediate stop shoulder at the upper end of said mid-portion said support ring being axially split along one side thereof, said ring being contractable from an unrestrained position to a collapsed position and self-expandable from said collapsed position to said unrestrained position; release means on said ring and said body member holding said ring around said mid-portion and preventing axial movement of said ring from said mid-portion to said back-up portion, said release means being disengageable to allow said ring to move upwardly relative to said body member and around said back-up portion in its unrestrained position until said ring contacts said upper stop shoulder, said back-up portion locking said ring in said unrestrained position and preventing downward movement of said body member relative to said support ring, characterized in that said release means comprises an inwardly projecting lip on the exterior of said body member in engagement with an outwardly projecting lip on said ring, said lips being disengageable on contraction of said ring to permit movement of said ring to said locked position around said back-up portion.

Claim 5

A hanger for suspending a pipe string within a well, comprising: a tubular body member and a support ring mounted around said body member for axial movement thereon, said body member being adapted for connection at its upper end to a handling string and at its lower end to a pipe string, said body member having a reduced outside diameter mid-portion, a larger diameter back-up portion above said mid-portion, a downardly facing upper stop shoulder at the upper end of said back-up portion and a downwardly facing intermediate stop shoulder at the upper end of said mid-portion said support ring being axially split along one side thereof, said ring being contractable from an unrestrained position to a collapsed position and self-expandable from said collapsed position to said unrestrained position; release means on said ring and said body member holding said ring around said mid-portion and preventing axial movement of said ring from said mid-portion to said back-up portion, said release means being disengageable to allow said ring to move upwardly relative to said body member and around said back-up portion in its unrestrained position until said ring contacts said upper stop shoulder, said back-up portion locking said ring in said unrestrained position and preventing downward movement of said body member relative to said support ring, characterized in that said release means comprises an inwardly projecting lip on the exterior of said body member in engagement with an outwardly projecting lip on said ring, said lips being disengageable on contraction of said ring to permit movement of said ring to said locked position around said back-up portion.

Claim 6

A hanger for suspending a pipe string within a well, comprising: a tubular body member and a support ring mounted around said body member for axial movement thereon, said body member being adapted for connection at its upper end to a handling string and at its lower end to a pipe string, said body member having a reduced outside diameter mid-portion, a larger diameter back-up portion above said mid-portion, a downwardly facing upper stop shoulder at the upper end of said back-up portion and a downwardly facing intermediate stop shoulder at the upper end of said mid-portion, said support ring being axially split along one side thereof, said ring being contractable from an unrestrained position to a collapsed position and self-expandable from said collapsed position to said unrestrained position; release means on said ring and said body member holding said ring around said mid-portion and preventing axial movement of said ring from said mid-portion to said back-up portion, said release means being disengageable to allow said ring to move upwardly relative to said body member and around said back-up portion in its unrestrained position until said ring contacts said upper stop shoulder, said back-up portion locking said ring in said unrestrained position and preventing downward movement of said body member relative to said support ring, characterized in that the length of said mid-portion of said body member is substantially greater than the axial length of said ring permitting, when said release means is disengaged, limited axial movement of said ring on said mid-portion to a point where said release means is non-engageable.

Claim 7

A hanger for suspending a pipe string within a well, comprising: a tubular body member and a support ring mounted around said body member for axial movement thereon, said body member being adapted for connection at its upper end to a handling string and at its lower end to a pipe string, said body member having a reduced outside diameter mid-portion, a larger diameter back-up portion above said mid-portion, a downwardly facing upper stop shoulder at the upper end of said back-up portion and a downwardly facing intermediate stop shoulder at the upper end of said mid-portion, said support ring being axially split along one side thereof, said ring being contractable from an unrestrained position to a collapsed position and self-expandable from said collapsed position to said unrestrained position; release means on said ring and said body member holding said ring around said mid-portion and preventing axial movement of said ring from said mid-portion to said back-up portion, said release means being disengageable to allow said ring to move upwardly relative to said body member and around said back-up portion in its unrestrained position until said ring contacts said upper stop shoulder, said back-up portion locking said ring in said unrestrained position and preventing downward movement of said body member relative to said support ring, characterized in that the length of said mid-portion of said body member is substantially greater than the axial length of said ring permitting, when said release means is disengaged, limited axial movement of said ring on said mid-portion to a point where said release means is non-engageable.

Claim 8

A pipe hanger as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that said release means comprises restraining means engaging said ring and holding said ring in a collapsed position around said mid-portion, said restraining means being disengageable from said ring to permit expansion and movement of said ring to said unrestrained and locked position around said back-up portion, said restraining means comprising elements engageable with said ring by downward movement of said restraining means relative to said ring and disengageable from said ring by upward movement of said restraining means relative to said ring.

Claim 9

A pipe hanger as set forth in claim 5, characterized in that said restraining means comprises pins mounted in a housing member, said pins engaging holes in one edge of said support ring, said housing member being mounted on said body member and attached thereto by shear means, said housing member and said pins being moveable on said body member on shearing of shear means for said disengagement from said ring to permit said expansion and movement of said ring to said unrestrained and locked position.

Claim 10

A hanger for suspending a pipe string within a well, comprising: a tubular body member and a support ring mounted around said body member for axial movement thereon, said body member being adapted for connection to a handling string at its upper-end and a pipe string at its lower end, said body member having a reduced outside diameter portion, a larger diameter back-up portion above said reduced portion, a downwardly facing upper stop shoulder at the upper end of said back-up portion and a downwardly facing intermediate stop shoulder at the upper end of said reduced diameter portion and an upwardly facing stop shoulder at the lower end of said reduced diameter portion, said support ring being axially split along one side thereof to permit contraction of said ring from an unrestrained position to a collapsed position and self-expansion from said collapsed position to said unrestrained position, release means on said ring and said body member holding said ring in a position wherein it is disposed around said reduced diameter portion and preventing axial movement thereon, said release means comprising elements on said ring and body engageable upon expansion of said ring from said collapsed position and disengageable upon contraction of said ring from the position achieved by said expansion, and cam means connected to said ring to effect said contraction of said ring and disengagement of said release means upon said cam means encountering an abutment preventing further downward movement of said cam means when said pipe string is lowered into the well, said ring upon disengagement of said release means being free for limited axial movement of said ring from said lower stop shoulder to contact with saiD intermediate stop shoulder and, on self-expansion of said ring, from said intermediate stop shoulder to contact with said upper stop shoulder and around said back-up portion, said upper stop shoulder and said back-up portion locking said ring in said unrestrained position and preventing downward movement of said body member relative to said support ring.

Claim 11

A hanger for suspending a pipe string within a well, comprising: a tubular body member and a support ring mounted around said body member for axial movement thereon, said body member being adapted for connection to a handling string at its upper-end and a pipe string at its lower end, said body member having a reduced outside diameter portion, a larger diameter back-up portion above said reduced portion, a downwardly facing upper stop shoulder at the upper end of said back-up portion and a downwardly facing intermediate stop shoulder at the upper end of said reduced diameter portion and an upwardly facing stop shoulder at the lower end of said reduced diameter portion, said support ring being axially split along one side thereof to permit contraction of said ring from an unrestrained position to a collapsed position and self-expansion from said collapsed position to said unrestrained position, release means on said ring and said body member holding said ring in a position wherein it is disposed around said reduced diameter portion and preventing axial movement thereon, said release means comprising elements on said ring and body engageable upon expansion of said ring from said collapsed position and disengageable upon contraction of said ring from the position achieved by said expansion, and cam means connected to said ring to effect said contraction of said ring and disengagement of said release means upon said cam means encountering an abutment preventing further downward movement of said cam means when said pipe string is lowered into the well, said ring upon disengagement of said release means being free for limited axial movement of said ring from said lower stop shoulder to contact with saiD intermediate stop shoulder and, on self-expansion of said ring, from said intermediate stop shoulder to contact with said upper stop shoulder and around said back-up portion, said upper stop shoulder and said back-up portion locking said ring in said unrestrained position and preventing downward movement of said body member relative to said support ring.

Claim 12

A pipe hanger as set forth in claim 7, characterized in that passage means are formed in said support ring in communication with the interior and exterior thereof.

Claim 13

A pipe hanger as set forth in claim 7, characterized in that said release means comprises a lip around the lower edge of said support ring in engagement with a lip around said body member near the lower end of said mid-portion, said lips preventing axial movement of said ring on said body member but being disengageable on said contraction to permit said limited axial movement thereof.

Claim 14

A pipe hanger as set forth in claim 9, characterized in that the length of said mid-portion is greater than the axial length of said support ring so that said lips are non-engageable when said support ring is in contact with said intermediate stop shoulder.

Claim 15

A pipe hanger as set forth in claim 7 and a surrounding tubular member for supporting said pipe hanger therein, said supporting member having annular recesses on the interior thereof corresponding with the exterior of said support ring in the unrestrained position, said back-up portion being adapted to lock said ring in said recesses to prevent downward movement of said hanger therein but allowing upward movement of said hanger.

Claim 16

A hanger for suspending a pipe string within a well, comprising: a tubular body member and a support ring mounted around said body member for axial movement thereon, said body member being adapted for connection at its upper end to a handling string and at its lower end to a pipe string, said body member having a reduced outside diameter mid-portion and a downwardly facing upper stop shoulder at the upper end of said back-up portion, said support ring being axially split along one side thereof providing spaced apart opposing end surfaces to permit contraction of said ring from an unrestrained position to a collapsed position and self expansion from said collapsed position to said unrestrained position, release means on said ring and said body holding said ring around said mid-portion in a collapsed position, said release means being disengageable to allow expansion of said ring to said unrestrained position and to allow upward movement of said ring around said back-up portion until said ring contacts said upper stop shoulder so that said back-up portion locks said ring in said unrestrained position and prevents downward movement of said body member relative to said support ring, and abutment means including a downwardly directed surface to effect disengagement of said release means upon said abutment means encountering an abutment preventing further downward movement of said abutment means when said pipe string is lowered into the well.

Claim 17

A hanger for suspending a pipe string within a well, comprising: a tubular body member and a support ring mounted around said body member for axial movement thereon, said body member being adapted for connection at its upper end to a handling string and at its lower end to a pipe string, said body member having a reduced outside diameter mid-portion and a downwardly facing upper stop shoulder at the upper end of said back-up portion, said support ring being axially split along one side thereof providing spaced apart opposing end surfaces to permit contraction of said ring from an unrestrained position to a collapsed position and self expansion from said collapsed position to said unrestrained position, release means on said ring and said body holding said ring around said mid-portion in a collapsed position, said release means being disengageable to allow expansion of said ring to said unrestrained position and to allow upward movement of said ring around said back-up portion until said ring contacts said upper stop shoulder so that said back-up portion locks said ring in said unrestrained position and prevents downward movement of said body member relative to said support ring, and abutment means including a downwardly directed surface to effect disengagement of said release means upon said abutment means encountering an abutment preventing further downward movement of said abutment means when said pipe string is lowered into the well.

Claim 18

A pipe hanger as set forth in claim 12, characterized in that said release means comprises restraining means engaging said ring at the upper edge thereof near said opposing end surfaces and holding said ring in said collapsed position around said mid-portion.

Claim 19

A pipe hanger as set forth in claim 13, characterized in that said restraining means comprises pins engaging holes in said upper edge of said support ring, said pins being mounted on carrier means disposed above said ring for longitudinal upward movement relative to said ring to release said ring for said expansion to said unrestrained position.

Claim 20

A pipe hanger as set forth in claim 14, characterized in that said abutment means comprises a latch member attached to said carrier means and extending below said carrier means between said end surfaces of said ring, said downwardly directed surface of said abutment means being disposed on said latch member below saId carrier means and being adapted for engagement with an abutment provided by annular recess means in a surrounding tubular member to release said carrier means for said longitudinal movement.

Claim 21

A pipe hanger as set forth in claim 15, characterized in that said latch is an elongate member pivotally attached at its upper end to said carrier means, the lower end being biased outwardly from said body member by spring means.

Claim 22

Apparatus for suspending a pipe string within a well comprising: a pipe hanger and a surrounding tubular support member having a pair of annular recess means therein defining therebetween inwardly directed radial flange means, said pipe hanger comprising a tubular body member and a support ring mounted around said body member for axial movement thereon, said body member being adapted for connection at its upper end to a handling string and at its lower end to said pipe string for suspension in said well and having a reduced outside diameter mid-portion, a larger diameter back-up portion adjacent said mid-portion and a horizontal annular stop shoulder at one end of said back-up portion, said support ring being axially split along one side thereof providing spaced apart opposing end surfaces to permit contraction of said ring from an unrestrained position to a collapsed position and self-expansion from said collapsed position to said unrestrained position, the outer surface of said ring in said unrestrained position corresponding to the shape of said annular recess means and including annular groove means to receive said radial flange means, release means on said ring and said body holding said ring around said mid-portion in a collapsed position, said release means being disengageable to allow expansion of said ring to said unrestrained position and to allow axial movement of said ring around said back-up portion until said ring contacts said stop shoulder so that said back-up portion locks said ring in said unrestrained position in full engagement with said recess means and radial flange means, preventing downward movement of said pipe hanger and its supported pipe string relative to said tubular support member, and abutment means including a downwardly directed surface to effect disengagement of said release means upon said abutment means encountering said radial flange means preventing further downward movement of said abutment means when said pipe string is lowered into the well, said abutment means corresponding to the shape of said annular recess means and including groove means to receive said radial flange means.

Claim 23

Apparatus for suspending a pipe string within a well comprising: a pipe hanger and a surrounding tubular support member having a pair of annular recess means therein defining therebetween inwardly directed radial flange means, said pipe hanger comprising a tubular body member and a support ring mounted around said body member for axial movement thereon, said body member being adapted for connection at its upper end to a handling string and at its lower end to said pipe string for suspension in said well and having a reduced outside diameter mid-portion, a larger diameter back-up portion adjacent said mid-portion and a horizontal annular stop shoulder at one end of said back-up portion, said support ring being axially split along one side thereof providing spaced apart opposing end surfaces to permit contraction of said ring from an unrestrained position to a collapsed position and self-expansion from said collapsed position to said unrestrained position, the outer surface of said ring in said unrestrained position corresponding to the shape of said annular recess means and including annular groove means to receive said radial flange means, release means on said ring and said body holding said ring around said mid-portion in a collapsed position, said release means being disengageable to allow expansion of said ring to said unrestrained position and to allow axial movement of said ring around said back-up portion until said ring contacts said stop shoulder so that said back-up portion locks said ring in said unrestrained position in full engagement with said recess means and radial flange means, preventing downward movement of said pipe hanger and its supported pipe string relative to said tubular support member, and abutment means including a downwardly directed surface to effect disengagement of said release means upon said abutment means encountering said radial flange means preventing further downward movement of said abutment means when said pipe string is lowered into the well, said abutment means corresponding to the shape of said annular recess means and including groove means to receive said radial flange means.

Claim 24

Suspension apparatus as set forth in claim 17, characterized in that said release means comprises restraining means engaging said ring at the upper end thereof near said opposing end surfaces and holding said ring in said collapsed position around said mid-portion.

Claim 25

Suspension apparatus as set forth in claim 18, characterized in that said abutment means comprises carrier means disposed above said ring and a latch member mounted on said carrier means and extending below said carrier means between said end surfaces of said ring, said downwardly directed surface of said abutment means being disposed on said latch member below said carrier means, said latch member being biased outwardly from said body member for engagement with said annular recess means and said radial flange to release said restraining means on axial movement of said body member relative to said tubular support member to release said ring for said expansion to said unrestrained position.

Claim 26

Suspension apparatus as set forth in claim 19, characterized in that said annular recess means comprises at least two pairs of annular recesses each with annular radial flange means therebetween, said pairs being axially displaced from one another, said latch member being adapted for engagement with one pair but non-engageable with the other pair.

Claim 27

Suspension apparatus as set forth in claim 19 characterized in that said restraining means comprIses pins attached to and extending downwardly from said carrier engaging holes in said upper edge of said support ring, said carrier holding said pins in said engagement with said holes, said carrier means being attached to said body member by shear means shearable on said engagement of said latch member and downward axial movement of said body member to allow upward axial movement of said carrier and said pins relative to said body member to release said ring for said expansion to said unrestrained position.

Claim 28

Suspension apparatus as set forth in claim 21 characterized in that said latch member is pivotally attached at its upper end to said carrier, the lower end being provided with a tapered leading edge to prevent premature engagement of said latch member prior to engagement with said recess means.