Simplified well rig

Claim 2

A well servicing, drilling and/or pumping assembly comprising a fluid pressure lift device and a lift line operable by said lift device, said fluid pressure lift device comprising: a prime mover; pump means driven by said prime mover for providing fluid under pressure; and lift means powered by said fluid under pressure comprising at least a pair of reciprocable pistoncylinder fluid motors, said lift line operatively connected to the reciprocating components of said fluid motors, and means for selectively directing fluid under pressure to one or both of said fluid motors whereby said fluid under pressure is directed to one of said fluid motors, for relatively high speed/low power lift capacity, or to more than one of said fluid motors for relatively low speed/high power lift capacity said fluid under pressure comprising hydraulic fluid, said fluid pressure lift device further comprising a closed circuit hydraulic fluid system including said pump, powered by said prime mover, having a primary hydraulic outlet branched to said fluid motors, exhaust means from said outlet an accumulator tank for reserve fluid in fluid communication with said exhaust means, pump inlet means connecting said accumulator tank to said pump, thereby completing said circuit, and torque converter means, interposed between said prime mover and said pump, for reducing power input to said pump in response to increased pressure in said hydraulic system.

Claim 3

The assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said primary outlet includes check valve means therein for preventing fluid backflow to said pump.

Claim 4

The assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said pump comprises a constant displacement, rotary screw pump.

Claim 5

The assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said fluid exhaust means include a control valve to selectively direct fluid to said fluid motors and to said accumulator tank.

Claim 6

The assembly as recited in claim 4 wherein said control valve is a balanced rotary valve comprising an outer annular fluid chamber communicating with said exhaust line, a plurality of circumferentially spaced ports on the inner face of said annular chamber, a plug member coaxially disposed within said annular chamber and having a plurality of corresponding ports therethrough alignable with said annular chamber spaced ports, and means defining a hollow chamber within said plug member, communicated to said plug ports and to said exhaust line, said plug member being rotatable within and about the axis of said annular chamber to a fully open valve position with said ports aligned and to a fully closeD valve position with said chamber ports out of alignment with said plug ports.

Claim 7

The assembly as recited in claim 5 wherein each set of ports comprises four in number, each set of four ports being equally circumferentially spaced apart whereby said plug member is rotatable through a 45* arc in moving between fully open and fully closed limit positions.

Claim 8

The assembly as recited in claim 6 wherein said plug member and said annular chamber further include cooperating stop means for defining the end limits of said 45* arc movement.

Claim 9

The assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said hydraulic system exhaust means further comprise an auxiliary drive branch line, a hydraulically drive motor, driven by fluid under pressure from said auxiliary drive branch line, and a sand reel driven by said hydraulically driven motor.

Claim 10

The assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said prime mover further comprises an auxiliary motor, power take-off means from said prime mover to said auxiliary motor, said auxiliary motor comprising an air compressor and winch means driven from said air compressor, said winch means being a catline reel.

Claim 11

The assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said primary hydraulic outlet further comprises a primary branch line interposed between said outlet and said exhaust line, a first secondary branch line from said primary branch line to one of said fluid motors, and a second secondary branch line from said primary branch line to another of said fluid motors.

Claim 12

The assembly as recited in claim 10 wherein each said secondary branch line includes control means therein for independently selectively stopping flow to the fluid motor associated therewith.

Claim 13

The assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said reciprocable piston-cylinder fluid motors are each generally vertically disposed with said reciprocating components arranged to move in a generally vertical direction.

Claim 14

The assembly as recited in claim 2 wherein each fluid motor comprises a generally vertically disposed cylinder, a piston in said cylinder driven by said hydraulic fluid, and a piston rod above each piston driven by its piston and extending beyond the upper terminal end of its cylinder, said lift line being operatively connected to the extended upper ends of said piston rods.

Claim 15

The assembly as recited in claim 13 wherein each said piston is a free floating piston, driving its piston rod by abutting the lower end thereof.

Claim 16

The assembly as recited in claim 14 wherein each piston rod lower end includes an abutment plate having a convex contour arranged to contact said floating piston during upward drive by said piston.

Claim 17

The assembly as recited in claim 15 wherein each piston rod is a hollow piston rod throughout its length and further comprises breather means defined through the side walls and lower end thereof for preventing hydraulic locking of the piston rod within its cylinder.

Claim 18

The assembly as recited in claim 14 wherein each piston rod has an outside diameter less than the internal diameter of its cylinder, and includes a pair of anti-friction guide rings mounted therearound.

Claim 19

The assembly as recited in claim 17 wherein said guide rings are made of a polytetrafluoroethylene compound.

Claim 20

The assembly as recited in claim 17 wherein said guide rings are made of brass.

Claim 21

The assembly as recited in claim 14 wherein each said piston further comprises a plurality of piston rings located circumferentially therearound, and annular fluid pressure bleed means internally of said piston rings for draining fluid accumulated on said piston rings during movement of said piston to prevent hydraulic lock of said piston within its cylinder.

Claim 22

A well servicing, drilling, and/or pumping assembly comprising a fluid pressure lift device and lift line means operable by said lift device comprising: a prime mover; pump means driven by said prime mover for providing fluid under pressure; and lift means powered by said fluid under pressure cOmprising at least three reciprocable piston-cylinder fluid motors, said lift line means operatively connected to the reciprocating components of said fluid motors and means for selectively directing fluid under pressure to one of said fluid motors for relatively high speed/low power lift capacity, to two of said fluid motors for relatively intermediate speed and power lift capacity, and to at least three of said fluid motors for relatively low speed/high power lift capacity, said fluid under pressure comprising hydraulic fluid, said fluid motors being mounted in a side by side relationship, said means for selectively directing fluid under pressure to one or more of said fluid motors comprising a closed circuit hydraulic fluid system driven from said pump, including a primary hydraulic outlet, a first hydraulic branch in fluid communication with the centrally disposed fluid motor of said fluid motors, a second hydraulic branch in fluid communication with the fluid motors mounted outboard of said centrally disposed fluid motor, exhaust line means connected to said outlet line downstream of said first and second branches, an accumulator tank for reserve hydraulic fluid connected to said exhaust line means, pump inlet means connecting said accumulator tank to said pump, thereby completing said circuit, and torque converter means interposed between said prime mover and said pump, for reducing power input to said pump in response to increased pressure in said hydraulic system.

Claim 23

A well servicing, drilling, and/or pumping assembly comprising a fluid pressure lift device and lift line means operable by said lift device comprising: a prime mover; pump means driven by said prime mover for providing fluid under pressure; and lift means powered by said fluid under pressure cOmprising at least three reciprocable piston-cylinder fluid motors, said lift line means operatively connected to the reciprocating components of said fluid motors and means for selectively directing fluid under pressure to one of said fluid motors for relatively high speed/low power lift capacity, to two of said fluid motors for relatively intermediate speed and power lift capacity, and to at least three of said fluid motors for relatively low speed/high power lift capacity, said fluid under pressure comprising hydraulic fluid, said fluid motors being mounted in a side by side relationship, said means for selectively directing fluid under pressure to one or more of said fluid motors comprising a closed circuit hydraulic fluid system driven from said pump, including a primary hydraulic outlet, a first hydraulic branch in fluid communication with the centrally disposed fluid motor of said fluid motors, a second hydraulic branch in fluid communication with the fluid motors mounted outboard of said centrally disposed fluid motor, exhaust line means connected to said outlet line downstream of said first and second branches, an accumulator tank for reserve hydraulic fluid connected to said exhaust line means, pump inlet means connecting said accumulator tank to said pump, thereby completing said circuit, and torque converter means interposed between said prime mover and said pump, for reducing power input to said pump in response to increased pressure in said hydraulic system.

Claim 24

The assembly as recited in claim 21 wherein said exhaust line means includes a control valve for selectively directing fluid to said fluid motors and to said accumulator tank.

Claim 25

The assembly as recited in claim 23 wherein said control valve is a balanced rotary valve comprising an outer annular fluid chamber communicated to said exhaust line, a plurality of circumferentially spaced ports on the inner face of said annular chamber, a plug member coaxially disposed within said annular chamber and having a plurality of corresponding ports therethrough alignable with said annular chamber spaced ports, and means defining a hollow chamber within said plug member, communicated to said plug ports and to said exhaust line, said plug member being rotatable within and about the axis of said annular chamber to a fully open valve position with said ports aligned and to a fully closed valve position with said chamber ports out of alignment with said plug ports.

Claim 26

The assembly as recited in claim 23 wherein each set of ports comprises four in number, each set of four ports being equally circumferentially spaced apart whereby said plug member is rotatable through a 45* arc in moving between fully open and fully closed positions.

Claim 27

The assembly as recited in claim 24 wherein said plug member and said annular chamber further include cooperating stop means for defining the end limits of said 45* arc movement.

Claim 28

The assembly as recited in claim 21, wherein said primary hydraulic outlet includes check valve means therein for preventing fluid backflow to said pump.

Claim 29

The assembly as recited in claim 21 wherein each of said hydraulic branches further includes control means for independently selectively enabling fluid flow through the respective branch line.

Claim 30

The assembly as recited in claim 21 wherein each fluid motor comprises a generally vertically disposed cylinder, a piston in said cylinder driven by said hydraulic fluid, and a piston rod above each piston and extending beyond the upper terminal end of its cylinder, said lift line being operatively connected to the extended upper ends of said piston rods.

Claim 31

The assembly as recited in claim 28 wherein each said piston is a free floating piston, driving its piston rod by abutting the lower end thereof.

Claim 32

The assembly as recited in claim 29 wherein each piston rod lower end includes a convex abutment plate arranged to contact the top of said floating piston during upward movement thereof.

Claim 33

The assembly as reCited in claim 29 wherein each piston rod is hollow throughout its length and further comprises breather means defined through the side walls and lower end thereof for preventing hydraulic locking of said piston rod within its cylinder.

Claim 34

The assembly as recited in claim 31 wherein each piston rod has an outside diameter less than the internal diameter of its cylinder and includes a pair of anti-friction guide rings mounted therearound.

Claim 35

The assembly as recited in claim 32 wherein said guide rings are made of a polytetrafluoroethylene compound.

Claim 36

The assembly as recited in claim 32 wherein said guide rings are made of brass.

Claim 37

The assembly as recited in claim 28 wherein each said piston includes a plurality of piston rings located circumferentially therearound, and annular fluid pressure bleed means internally of said piston rings for draining fluid accumulated on said piston rings during movement of said piston to prevent hydraulic lock of said piston within its cylinder.

Claim 38

The assembly as recited in claim 28 wherein said lift line means is secured at one end to said assembly, said rod upper ends including sheave means over which said lift line means are trained, the free end of said lift line arranged to depend vertically therefrom over a well head, whereby vertical movement of said rods through a given distance imparts a movement of twice said given distance to the free end of said lift line.

Claim 39

The assembly as recited in claim 36 wherein said sheave means comprise axle means mounted across said piston rod upper ends, and a pair of sheaves rotatably mounted by said axle means, said lift line means comprising a pair of generally flat belts secured to a stationary part of said assembly on one side of said three cylinders and being trained over said sheaves with lift means secured to said lift line means free end.

Claim 40

The assembly as recited in claim 21 wherein said assembly further comprises a wheeled transporter and pivotal mounting means for said fluid motors arranged to mount said fluid motors on said transporter in a generally horizontal disposition for transport, and to raise and position said fluid motors in a generally vertical disposition, over a well head, for drilling, pumping, and/or servicing of a well.

Claim 41

The assembly as recited in claim 38 wherein said pivotal mounting means comprises a horizontal pivot structure mounted adjacent one end of said transporter, and bracing and frame means securing said fluid motors together as a unitary structure, said bracing and frame means being mounted on said horizontal pivot structure.

Claim 42

The assembly as recited in claim 39 wherein said bracing and frame means further comprise a racking platform, mounted mesially of said fluid motors, said platform being pivotal to a horizontal storage position over said fluid motors.

Claim 43

The assembly as recited in claim 39 wherein said bracing and frame means further include a derrick cage surrounding and mounting said fluid motors as a unitary structure, and extending above said fluid motors a distance at least equal to the effective stroke distance of said fluid motor reciprocating members, the upper ends of said reciprocating members including sheave means over which said lift line means are trained, and sheave support means joining said upper ends together, and guide means in the upper portion of said derrick cage for stabilizing movement of said reciprocating members, said sheave support means and said sheave means during operation of said assembly.

Claim 44

The assembly as recited in claim 41 wherein said guide means comprise a plurality of guide tracks formed in said derrick cage adjacent said sheave support means, a pair of outboard guide braces secured to the outer ends of said sheave support means, and anti-friction guide means on each guide brace joined to said guide tracks to stabilize vertical movement of said upper ends within said derrick cage upper portion.

Claim 45

The assembly as recited in claim 42 wherein each of said anti-friction guiDe means comprise a pair of slide blocks mounted on each outer free end of said outboard guide braces.

Claim 46

The assembly as recited in claim 42 wherein each of said anti-friction guide means comprise a pair of freely rotatable wheels mounted on each outer free end of said outboard guide braces.

Claim 47

The assembly as recited in claim 41 wherein said derrick cage upper portion includes a pair of upper, terminal wing members foldable into a storage position when said assembly is disposed for transport, thereby reducing the overall length of said derrick cage.

Claim 48

The assembly as recited in claim 41 wherein said bracing and frame means further comprise a pair of folding outrigger struts, adjacent said horizontal pivot structure, arranged to be positioned in spaced apart relationship on the side of a well head opposite the disposition of said transporter to balance said assembly during operation.

Claim 49

The assembly as recited in claim 39 wherein said bracing and frame means further comprise lift means for raising said fluid motors from a horizontal transport position to a vertical, operational disposition.

Claim 50

The assembly as recited in claim 39 wherein said bracing and frame means include closed end support means for the ends of said fluid motors.

Claim 51

The assembly as recited in claim 39 wherein said bracing and frame means are located entirely beneath the upper ends of said fluid motors.