US3742562A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Well pipe supporting unit
Assignee: Varco International Inc
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Filing: 1971-10-04
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Granted: 1973-07-03
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Expires: 1991-10-04
Abstract
Abstract A unit for supporting a well pipe and including a body structure carrying a plurality of pipe gripping slips which are supported by individual vertically movable carriers preferably taking the form of upwardly projecting and vertically moveable posts. These carriers are actuable by an essentially annular cam which is shiftable arcuately about the axis of the gripped pipe by power actuated means. The slips are suspended from the carriers in a manner enabling the slips to move radially outwardly to laterally retracted positions as they are shifted upwardly.
Inventors
- 👤 G Haby
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 09:44
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B19/00; E21B19/02; E21B19/06; E21B19/07
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
183 words
A well pipe supporting unit comprising a body structure to extend about a pipe, a plurality of slips movable upwardly and downwardly relative to said body structure between lower active pipe gripping positions and upper retracted positions, inclined surfaces for deflecting said slips inwardly against a pipe upon downward movement of the slips, an actuating structure extending generally arcuately about the axis of said pipe and mounted to turn about said axis relative to said body structure and said slips, a plurality of generally vertical slip carrier posts mounted to said body structure at circularly spaced locations for longitudinal upward and downward movement relative to the body structure along individual axes, coacting cam means on said posts and said actuating structure operable to cam the posts upwardly and downwardly in response to turning movement of the actuating structure about said pipe axis, and a plurality of connections suspending upper portions of said slips from said different posts respectively for upward and downward movement therewith and for radially outward and inward movement relative to said posts upon said upward and downward movements respectively. Pg,17
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
183 words
A well pipe supporting unit comprising a body structure to extend about a pipe, a plurality of slips movable upwardly and downwardly relative to said body structure between lower active pipe gripping positions and upper retracted positions, inclined surfaces for deflecting said slips inwardly against a pipe upon downward movement of the slips, an actuating structure extending generally arcuately about the axis of said pipe and mounted to turn about said axis relative to said body structure and said slips, a plurality of generally vertical slip carrier posts mounted to said body structure at circularly spaced locations for longitudinal upward and downward movement relative to the body structure along individual axes, coacting cam means on said posts and said actuating structure operable to cam the posts upwardly and downwardly in response to turning movement of the actuating structure about said pipe axis, and a plurality of connections suspending upper portions of said slips from said different posts respectively for upward and downward movement therewith and for radially outward and inward movement relative to said posts upon said upward and downward movements respectively. Pg,17
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A well pipe supporting unit as recited in claim 1, including power operated means for moving said actuating structure essentially arcuately about said axis of the pipe.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
A well pipe supporting unit as recited in claim 1, including means yieldingly urging said slip carrier posts upwardly relative to said body structure.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
71 words
A well pipe supporting unit as recited in claim 1, in which said actuating structure is essentially annular, said cam means including a plurality of inclined cam slots in said actuating structure which advance vertically as they advance circularly about said axis, and a plurality of cam follower rollers mounted rotatably to said posts and received in said slots for actuation upwardly and downwardly upon rotary movement of the actuating structure.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
61 words
A well pipe supporting unit as recited in claim 1, including projections on said posts extending laterally with respect to said individual axes of the posts, and a plurality of guideways receiving said projections in a relation enabling upward and downward movement of the posts relative to the body structure but restraining the posts against turning movement about said individual axes.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
92 words
A well pipe supporting unit as recited in claim 1, in which said body structure contains a plurality of circularly spaced socket recesses slidably receiving said posts and guiding them for said upward and downward movement along said individual axes, there being a plurality of rollers mounted rotatably to said posts respectively to turn about generally horizontally axes, and generally vertical guideways carried by the body structure and movably receiving said rollers in a relation allowing upward and downward movement thereof while restraining turning movement of the posts about their individual axes.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
A well pipe supporting unit as recited in claim 1, in which said connections include inclined track means carried by said posts, and hangers projecting upwardly from and suspending said slips and engaging and suspended by and movable along said track means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
88 words
A well pipe supporting unit as recited in claim 1, in which said body structure includes a plurality of complementary body sections relatively movable to an open condition enabling movement of the body structure from about the pipe, said actuating structure being essentially annular and including a plurality of complementary essentially arcuate sections carried by said body sections respectively for relative opening movement therewith, there being a plurality of powered mechanisms carried by said body sections respectively for moving said sections of the actuating structure arcuately relative thereto.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
145 words
A well pipe supporting unit as recited in claim 1, in which said posts have lower portions mounted within circularly spaced socket recesses in said body structure and guided thereby for said upward and downward movement relative to the body structure, there being springs yieldingly urging said posts upwardly, each of said connections including an arm structure projecting generally radially inwardly from an upper portion of one of said posts and forming track means, and a bracket attached to the associated one of said slips and projecting upwardly therefrom and having roller means movable generally radially inwardly and outwardly in said track means, said track means being inclined to urge said roller means and suspended slip radially outwardly along said track means by gravity in response to the downward forces exerted by the weight of said slip when the posts and slips are raised upwardly.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
94 words
A well pipe supporting unit as recited in claim 9, in which said body structure is formed of two complementary halves interconnected for relative opening movement to enable removal of the well pipe supporting unit from about a well pipe, said actuating structure being essentially annular and formed of two complementary halves movably carried by said two body halves respectively and relatively openable therewith, there being two piston and cylinder mecHanisms carried by said two body halves respectively for moving said two halves respectively of the actuating structure relative to the associated body halves.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
110 words
A well pipe supporting unit as recited in claim 10, in which said actuating structure is located at a radially inner side of said posts and beneath said inwardly projecting arm structures, said cam means including a cam follower roller carried at a radially inner side of each of said posts and engaging a coacting cam slot formed in said actuating structure, there being a second roller carried at the radially outer side of each of said posts, and guideways carried by the body structure and receiving said last mentioned rollers in a relation permitting upward and downward movement thereof while preventing turning of the posts about their individual axes.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
93 words
A well pipe supporting unit as recited in claim 1, in which said cam means include a plurality of inclined cam surfaces and engaging followers, said cam surfaces having first portions of relatively abrupt inclination acting upon initial arcuate movement said actuating structure to cause movement of the slips downwardly and inwardly at a relatively rapid rate, and said cam surfaces having second portions of less abrupt inclination acting to then automatically convert to a slower rate of downward and inward movement of the slips upon further downward movement of the actuating structure.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
185 words
A well pipe supporting unit comprising a body structure to extend about a pipe, a plurality of slips movable upwardly and downwardly relative to said body structure between lower active pipe gripping positions and upper retracted positions, inclined surfaces for deflecting said slips inwardly against the pipe upon downward movement of the slips, an actuating structure mounted for movement generally horizontally relative to said body structure, and cam means associated with said actuating structure and at least one of said slips for effecting downward movement of said slip upon said generally horizontal movement of the actuating structure, said cam means including an inclined cam surface and a cam follower engaging said cam surface, said cam surface having a first portion of relatively abrupt inclination acting upon initial horizontal movement of said actuating structure to cause movement of said one slip downwardly and inwardly at a relatively rapid rate, and said cam surface having a second portion of less abrupt inclination acting to then automatically convert to a slower rate of downward and inward movement of said one slip upon further movement of the actuating structure.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
185 words
A well pipe supporting unit comprising a body structure to extend about a pipe, a plurality of slips movable upwardly and downwardly relative to said body structure between lower active pipe gripping positions and upper retracted positions, inclined surfaces for deflecting said slips inwardly against the pipe upon downward movement of the slips, an actuating structure mounted for movement generally horizontally relative to said body structure, and cam means associated with said actuating structure and at least one of said slips for effecting downward movement of said slip upon said generally horizontal movement of the actuating structure, said cam means including an inclined cam surface and a cam follower engaging said cam surface, said cam surface having a first portion of relatively abrupt inclination acting upon initial horizontal movement of said actuating structure to cause movement of said one slip downwardly and inwardly at a relatively rapid rate, and said cam surface having a second portion of less abrupt inclination acting to then automatically convert to a slower rate of downward and inward movement of said one slip upon further movement of the actuating structure.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
45 words
A well pipe supporting unit as recited in claim 13, in which said actuating structure extends essentially arcuately about the axis of said pipe and has said camming surface formed thereon, said cam follower being connected to said one of the slips for movement therewith.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
38 words
A well pipe supporting unit as recited in claim 14, in which said actuating structure has a detent notch engageable by said follower in a relation releasably retaining said follower in an uppermost setting of the associated slip.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
117 words
A well pipe supporting unit as recited in claim 13, in which said actuating structure extends generally annularly about the axis of said pipe and has a plurality of inclined cam slots engaging and actuating a plurality of said cam followers connected to said slips respectively, there being a plurality of said inclined camming surfaces defining upper edges of said slots respectively and each having a first portion of relatively great inclination and a lower end portion of reduced inclination, there being surfaces at undersides of the slots having generally horizontal portions at the upper ends of the slots defining upwardly facing detent notches in which said followers are releasably retained in upper positions of the slips.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-07-02 | 1977-01-01 | 1977-07-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-07-02 | 1981-01-01 | 1981-07-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-07-02 | 1985-01-01 | 1985-07-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |