US3768663A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Control for well pipe racks and the like
Assignee: Jackson Memorial Hospital
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Filing: 1971-10-13
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Granted: 1973-10-30
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Expires: 1991-10-13
Abstract
Abstract Control means for a well pipe rack and the like wherein a plurality of fluid pressure operated devices are sequentially operated. The pipe rack includes a finger board having horizontal arms defining spaces for receiving lengths of well pipe, and fingers are pivotally mounted on the arms and actuatable by fluid pressure between upright or open positions and horizontal or closed positions bridging the spaces between the arms to confine the lengths of pipe in place. The control includes a step-by-step operable mechanism for sequentially shifting a number of valves to one position as the mechanism is operated in one direction, the valves returning to an initial position when the mechanism is operated in the other direction. The rack fingers are sequentially opened and closed responsive to shifting of the valves between the two positions.
Inventors
- 👤 J Turner
- 👤 Wormer R Van
- 👤 J Walling
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 07:15
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B19/00; E21B19/14; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/8593; Y10T137/86389; Y10T137/86445
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
205 words
In well drilling derrick apparatus having a pipe racking finger board in the derrick, said finger board having a plurality of elongated arms disposed in horizontally extended parallel relation to define elongated spaces for receiving pipe stands, said arms having a plurality of finger members pivotally mounted thereon for movement between open positions and horizontally extended closed positions to confine a pipe in positions between said arms, a double acting fluid pressure operated actuator for each finger member, double acting valve means operable for respectively directing pressure fluid from a source to the respective actuators to operate the latter, spaced valve shifters associated with each of said valve means for operating the same, means for sequentially operating said valve shifters including a valve shifter operating member movable into successive operating relationship with said valve shifters, biasing means for moving said valve shifter operating member as aforesaid, and escapement means associated with said operating member, said escapement means including releasable means normally restraining movement of said operating member and releasable to allow movement of said operating member, and stop means associated with said operating member and operable for limiting movements of said operating member to increments of movement corresponding to the spacing of said valve shifters.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
205 words
In well drilling derrick apparatus having a pipe racking finger board in the derrick, said finger board having a plurality of elongated arms disposed in horizontally extended parallel relation to define elongated spaces for receiving pipe stands, said arms having a plurality of finger members pivotally mounted thereon for movement between open positions and horizontally extended closed positions to confine a pipe in positions between said arms, a double acting fluid pressure operated actuator for each finger member, double acting valve means operable for respectively directing pressure fluid from a source to the respective actuators to operate the latter, spaced valve shifters associated with each of said valve means for operating the same, means for sequentially operating said valve shifters including a valve shifter operating member movable into successive operating relationship with said valve shifters, biasing means for moving said valve shifter operating member as aforesaid, and escapement means associated with said operating member, said escapement means including releasable means normally restraining movement of said operating member and releasable to allow movement of said operating member, and stop means associated with said operating member and operable for limiting movements of said operating member to increments of movement corresponding to the spacing of said valve shifters.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said stop means includes a first stop element connected to said valve shifter operating member and movable with the latter, a second stop element actuatable into and from engagement with the firSt stop element, and means for actuating said second stop element.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
66 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said stop means comprises a first stop member having spaced stop elements thereon, a second stop member having stop elements engageable with said stop elements on said first stop member, and means operable on said second stop member to shift the latter to effect engagement and release of the stop elements on said first and said second stop member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
53 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said stop means comprises a first stop member including an elongated rod having stop elements spaced therealong, a second stop member having stop elements thereon, and means operable on said second stop member to shift the latter to effect engagement and release of said stop elements.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
71 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said stop means comprises a first stop member connected to said valve shifter operating member and movable with the latter, a second stop member actuatable into and from engagement with the first stop member, said stop members including coengageable stop elements releasable when said second stop member is moved from engagement with said first stop member, and actuator means for said second stop member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
84 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said stop means comprises a first stop member connected to said valve shifter operating member and movable with the latter, a second stop member actuatable into and from engagement with the first stop member, said stop members including coengageable stop elements releasable when said second stop member is moved from engagement with said first stop member, and actuator means for said second stop member, said biasing means adapted to move said first stop member in opposite directions.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
190 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said stop means comprises a first stop member connected to said valve shifter operating member and movable with the latter, said first stop member having alternate notches and projections spaced thereon at opposite sides thereof, with a notch on one side opposite to a projection on the other side of said first stop member, a second stop member having opposed stop projections, said second stop member being actuatable to move the stop projections thereon alternately towards and away from opposite sides of said first stop member to alternately engage one stop projection of said second stop member in notches at opposite sides of said first stop member and to dispose the other stop projection on said second stop member for abutting engagement with a projection on said first stop member to position said one stop projection for engagement in a notch in said first stop member, and said biasing means adapted to move said valve shifter operating member and said first stop member relative to said second stop member when said stop projections on said second stop member are free of said notches.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
193 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said stop means comprises a first stop member connected to said valve shifter operating member and movable with the latter, said first stop member having alternate notches and projections spaced thereon at opposite sides thereof, with a notch on one side opposite to a projection on the other side of said first stop member, a second stop member having opposed stop projections, said second stop member being actuatable to move the stop projections thereon alternately towards and away from opposite sides of said first stop member to alternately engage one stop projection of said second stop member in notches at opposite sides of said first stop member and to dispose the other stop projection on said second stop member for abutting engagement with a projection on said first stop member to position said one stop projection for engagement in a notch in said first stop member, and said biasing means adapted to move said valve shifter operating member and said first stop member in opposite directions relative to said second stop member when said stop projections on said second stop member are free of said notches.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
118 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said stop means comprises an elongated rod connected at one end to said valve shifter operating member, said rod having stop elements spaced therealong at opposite longitudinal sides thereof with the stop elements on one side spaced longitudinally from the stop elements on the opposite side a distance equal to the distance said valve shifter operating member moves to cause actuation of successive valve shifters, a slide having an opening through which said rod extends, said slide having stop elements at opposite sides of said opening alternately engageable with the stop elements on opposite sides of said rod responsive to reciprocation of said slide, and actuator means for reciprocating said slide.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said actuator means for reciprocating said slide comprises a double acting fluid pressure operated actuator, and valve means for directing pressure fluid in alternate directions to said fluid pressure operated actuator to reciprocate said slide.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
64 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said actuator means for reciprocating said slide comprises a cam plate shiftable in opposite directions at a right angle to the direction of reciprocation of said slide, cooperative cam means on said slide and said plate for reciprocating said slide upon movement of said cam plate in opposite directions, and actuator means for shifting said cam plate.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
88 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said actuator means for reciprocating said slide comprises a cam plate shiftable in opposite directions at a right angle to the direction of reciprocation of said slide, one of said cam plate and said slide having a cam pin and the other of said cam plate and said slide having a cam slot having offset end portions and an angular intermediate connecting portion in which said pin is disposed for reciprocating said slide, and actuator means for shifting said cam plate.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
67 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said stop elements on said rod comprise a plurality of alternate projections and notches on opposite sides of said rod, with each projection on one side opposed by a notch on the other side of said rod, and said stop elements on said slide comprise opposing stop projections alternately engageable with said stop projections and said notches of said rod.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
83 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 9, comprising an elongated support for said valve shifters and said valve shifter operating means, said valve means comprising a plurality of two position valves having valve shifters spaced along said support, spring means biasing each of said valve shifters to one position, said valve shifter operating means comprising an elongated member shiftable longitudinally of said support and engageable with successive valve shifters upon movement of said elongated member to shift said valve shifters to a second position.
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) | 1976-10-29 | 1977-04-30 | 1977-10-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-29 | 1981-04-30 | 1981-10-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-29 | 1985-04-30 | 1985-10-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |