Drill pipe protector having tapered latch

Claim 1

A device for preventing external wear on drill pipe caused by erosive rubbing contact between rotating drill Pipe and wall structure defining within which the drill pipe is rotated, said device comprising: a structural element adapted to be received in encircling relation about the drill pipe, said structural element being defined by opposed generally semicylindrical elements; hinge means connecting said semicylindrical elements on one side thereof; the opposite sides of each of said semicylindrical elements being reverse bent and defining opposed tabs, said tabs diverging downwardly and outwardly and defining angularly disposed cam surfaces; at least one body of yieldable material carried by each of said semicylindrical elements and presenting external surface means extending beyond the outer peripheral surfaces of the drill pipe to prevent contact between said drill pipe and the wall structure defining said bore; removable latch means engaging said opposed tabs and cooperating with said opposed tabs to lock said device in encircling assembly with said drill pipe with said opposed tabs properly spaced to establish proper frictional engagement between said device and said drill pipe, said latch means comprising an elongated tapered body portion having opposed camming tabs defined thereon, said camming tabs being disposed in angularly oriented spaced relation and engaging said opposed tabs to retain said device in encircling relation with said drill pipe; and locking means comprising locking recess means and locking projection means, said locking means interengaging to positively lock said latch means relative to said opposed tabs.

Claim 2

A device for preventing external wear on drill pipe caused by erosive rubbing contact between rotating drill Pipe and wall structure defining within which the drill pipe is rotated, said device comprising: a structural element adapted to be received in encircling relation about the drill pipe, said structural element being defined by opposed generally semicylindrical elements; hinge means connecting said semicylindrical elements on one side thereof; the opposite sides of each of said semicylindrical elements being reverse bent and defining opposed tabs, said tabs diverging downwardly and outwardly and defining angularly disposed cam surfaces; at least one body of yieldable material carried by each of said semicylindrical elements and presenting external surface means extending beyond the outer peripheral surfaces of the drill pipe to prevent contact between said drill pipe and the wall structure defining said bore; removable latch means engaging said opposed tabs and cooperating with said opposed tabs to lock said device in encircling assembly with said drill pipe with said opposed tabs properly spaced to establish proper frictional engagement between said device and said drill pipe, said latch means comprising an elongated tapered body portion having opposed camming tabs defined thereon, said camming tabs being disposed in angularly oriented spaced relation and engaging said opposed tabs to retain said device in encircling relation with said drill pipe; and locking means comprising locking recess means and locking projection means, said locking means interengaging to positively lock said latch means relative to said opposed tabs.

Claim 4

A device for preventing external wear on drill pipe caused by erosive rubbing contact between rotating drill pipe and wall structure defining a bore within which the drill pipe is rotated, said device comprising: a structural element adapted to be received in encircling relation about the drill pipe, said structural element being defined by opposed generally semicylindrical elements; hinge means connecting said semicylindrical elements on one side thereof; the opposite sides of each of said semicylindrical elements being reverse bent and defining opposed tabs, said tabs diverging downwardly and outwardly and defining angularly disposed cam surfaces; at least one body of yieldable material carried by each of said semicylindrical elements and presenting external surface means extending beyond the outer peripheral surfaces of the drill pipe to prevent contact between said drill pipe and the wall structure defining said bore; removable latch means engaging said opposed tabs and cooperating with said opposed tabs to lock said device in encircling assembly with said drill pipe with said opposed tabs properly spaced to establish proper frictional engagement between said device and said drill pipe, said latch means comprising an elongated tapered body portion having opposed camming tabs defined thereon, said camming tabs being disposed in angularly oriented spaced relation and engaging said opposed tabs to retain said device in encircling relation with said drill pipe; locking recess means being defined in said opposed tabs; and locking projection means being formed on said latch means and being received within said locking recess means to positively lock said latch means relative to said opposed tabs.

Claim 5

A device for preventing external wear on drill pipe caused by erosive rubbing contact between rotating drill pipe and wall structure defining a bore within which the drill pipe is rotated, said device comprising: a structural element adapted to be received in encircling relation about the drill pipe, said structural element being defined by opposed generally semicylindrical elements; hinge means connecting said semicylindrical elements on one side thereof; the opposite sides of each of said semicylindrical elements being reverse bent and defining opposed tabs, said tabs diverging downwardly and outwardly and defining angularly disposed cam surfaces; at least one body of yieldable material carried by each of said semicylindrical elements and presenting external surface means extending beyond the outer peripheral surfaces of the drill pipe to prevent contact between said drill pipe and the wall structure defining said bore; removable latch means engaging said opposed tabs and cooperating with said opposed tabs to lock said device in encircling assembly with said drill pipe with said opposed tabs properly spaced to establish proper frictional engagement between said device and said drill pipe, said latch means comprising an elongated tapered body portion having opposed camming tabs defined thereon, said camming tabs being disposed in angularly oriented spaced relation and engaging said opposed tabs to retain said device in encircling relation with said drill pipe; locking recess means being defined in said opposed tabs; and locking projection means being formed on said latch means and being received within said locking recess means to positively lock said latch means relative to said opposed tabs.

Claim 7

A device for preventing external wear on drill pipe caused by abrasive contact between rotating drill pipe and structure defining a bore within which the drill pipe is rotated, said device comprising: an annular structural element adapted to be received in encircling relation about the drill pipe, said structural element being defined by two generally semicylindrical structural sections; hinge means hingedly connecting said structural sections; a pair of yieldable bodies of wear resistant material being carried one by each of said structural sections and cooperating to define an internal generally cylindrical portion for frictional engagement with said drill pipe and an external portion for rubbing engagement with the wall structure defining the bore; each of said structural sections being reverse bent to define hook-like opposed tabs each having cam surfaces disposed in downwardly and outwardly diverging relation; latch means comprising an elongated tapered body portion having opposed camming tabs formed thereon, said camming tabs being disposed in angularly oriented spaced relation and having cam engaging surface means defined thereon engaging said opposed tabs to lock said device to said drill pipe and causing said cam engaging surface means to engage said cam surfaces and maintain said opposed tabs in controlled spaced relation and to maintain the internal portion of said bodies in controlled deformed engagement with said drill pipe; and locking means comprising locking recess means and locking projection means, said locking means interengaging to positively lock said latch means relative to said opposed tabs.

Claim 8

A device for preventing external wear on drill pipe caused by abrasive contact between rotating drill pipe and structure defining a bore within which the drill pipe is rotated, said device comprising: an annular structural element adapted to be received in encircling relation about the drill pipe, said structural element being defined by two generally semicylindrical structural sections; hinge means hingedly connecting said structural sections; a pair of yieldable bodies of wear resistant material being carried one by each of said structural sections and cooperating to define an internal generally cylindrical portion for frictional engagement with said drill pipe and an external portion for rubbing engagement with the wall structure defining the bore; each of said structural sections being reverse bent to define hook-like opposed tabs each having cam surfaces disposed in downwardly and outwardly diverging relation; latch means comprising an elongated tapered body portion having opposed camming tabs formed thereon, said camming tabs being disposed in angularly oriented spaced relation and having cam engaging surface means defined thereon engaging said opposed tabs to lock said device to said drill pipe and causing said cam engaging surface means to engage said cam surfaces and maintain said opposed tabs in controlled spaced relation and to maintain the internal portion of said bodies in controlled deformed engagement with said drill pipe; and locking means comprising locking recess means and locking projection means, said locking means interengaging to positively lock said latch means relative to said opposed tabs.

Claim 10

A device for preventing external wear on drill pipe caused by abrasive contact between rotating drill pipe and structure defining a bore within which the drill pipe is rotated, said device comprising: an annular structural element adapted to be received in encircling relation about the drill pipe, said structural element being defined by two generally semicylindrical structural sections; hinge means hingedly connecting said structural sections; a pair of yieldable bodies of wear resistant material being carried one by each of said structural sections and cooperating to define an internal generally cylindrical portion for frictional engagement with said drill pipe and an external portion for rubbing engagement with the wall structure defining the bore; each of said structural sections being reverse bent to define opposed tab means each being tapered and defining diverging cam surface means; latch means comprising an elongated tapered body portion having opposed camming tabs formed thereon, said camming tabs being disposed in angularly oriented spaced relation and having cam engaging surface means defined thereon engaging said opposed tab means to lock said device to said drill pipe and causing said cam engaging surface means to engage said cam surface means and maintain said tab means in controlled spaced relation and to maintain the internal portion of said bodies in controlled deformed engagement with said drill pipe; locking recess means being formed in said opposed tab means; and lOcking projection means being formed on said latch means and interengaging with said locking recess means to establish locking relation therebetween.

Claim 11

A device for preventing external wear on drill pipe caused by abrasive contact between rotating drill pipe and structure defining a bore within which the drill pipe is rotated, said device comprising: an annular structural element adapted to be received in encircling relation about the drill pipe, said structural element being defined by two generally semicylindrical structural sections; hinge means hingedly connecting said structural sections; a pair of yieldable bodies of wear resistant material being carried one by each of said structural sections and cooperating to define an internal generally cylindrical portion for frictional engagement with said drill pipe and an external portion for rubbing engagement with the wall structure defining the bore; each of said structural sections being reverse bent to define opposed tab means each being tapered and defining diverging cam surface means; latch means comprising an elongated tapered body portion having opposed camming tabs formed thereon, said camming tabs being disposed in angularly oriented spaced relation and having cam engaging surface means defined thereon engaging said opposed tab means to lock said device to said drill pipe and causing said cam engaging surface means to engage said cam surface means and maintain said tab means in controlled spaced relation and to maintain the internal portion of said bodies in controlled deformed engagement with said drill pipe; locking recess means being formed in said opposed tab means; and lOcking projection means being formed on said latch means and interengaging with said locking recess means to establish locking relation therebetween.