Well pipe extractor and installer

Claim 1

An apparatus for both extracting and installing a well pipe respectively from and into the ground, comprising a vertically disposed support structure, a first well pipe gripping device fixedly mounted on said structure near the lower end thereof, a second well pipe gripping device mounted on said structure for vertical movement therealong, means for moving said second device toward and away from said first device, said devices each including a pair of opposed jaws having gripping teeth thereon, said jaws being eccentrically mounted for pivotal movement toward and away from one another, spring means resiliently urging said jaws into a closing and pipe gripping position toward one another, said jaws being respectively mounted on axles having sprocket wheels thereon, a sprocket chain having free opposite ends and engaging said wheels, said spring means connecting one of said ends to a portion of each of said devices, and means actuating said sprocket wheels for moving said jaws into an open position away from one another, said jaws having arcuately shaped free ends closely adjacent one another with gripping teeth thereon for clamping the well pipe against relative movement causing said jaws to close, whereby extraction of the well pipe is effected upon upward movement of said second device while clamping the pipe with its jaws, said jaw of said first device permitting relative upward movement of the pipe and effecting a clamping action of the pipe as said second device is moved downwardly to again grip the pipe, and whereby a lowering of the well pipe is effected under its own weight upon downward movement of said second device while clamping the pipe with its jaws, said jaws of said first device being moved away from one another by said moving means to permit lowering of the pipe below said first device.

Claim 2

An apparatus for both extracting and installing a well pipe respectively from and into the ground, comprising a vertically disposed support structure, a first well pipe gripping device fixedly mounted on said structure near the lower end thereof, a second well pipe gripping device mounted on said structure for vertical movement therealong, means for moving said second device toward and away from said first device, said devices each including a pair of opposed jaws having gripping teeth thereon, said jaws being eccentrically mounted for pivotal movement toward and away from one another, spring means resiliently urging said jaws into a closing and pipe gripping position toward one another, said jaws being respectively mounted on axles having sprocket wheels thereon, a sprocket chain having free opposite ends and engaging said wheels, said spring means connecting one of said ends to a portion of each of said devices, and means actuating said sprocket wheels for moving said jaws into an open position away from one another, said jaws having arcuately shaped free ends closely adjacent one another with gripping teeth thereon for clamping the well pipe against relative movement causing said jaws to close, whereby extraction of the well pipe is effected upon upward movement of said second device while clamping the pipe with its jaws, said jaw of said first device permitting relative upward movement of the pipe and effecting a clamping action of the pipe as said second device is moved downwardly to again grip the pipe, and whereby a lowering of the well pipe is effected under its own weight upon downward movement of said second device while clamping the pipe with its jaws, said jaws of said first device being moved away from one another by said moving means to permit lowering of the pipe below said first device.

Claim 4

An apparatus for both extracting and installing a well pipe respectively from and into the ground, comprising a vertical support structure, first and second well pipe gripping devices respectively mounted fixedly and for vertical sliding movement on said structure, said first device being located near the lower end of said structure, said devices each including a pair of opposing gripping jaws having outer free ends defining cooperating well pipe gripping surfaces having gripping teeth thereon for clamping the well pipe, said jaws being eccentrically mounted for pivotal movement of said gripping teeth on said opposing jaws between a closed position gripping the pipe and an open position, said jaws acting to clamp the pipe against relative movement causing said jaws to close, spring means for normally urging said jaws into a closed position, said jaws being respectively mounted on axles having sprocket wheels thereon, a sprocket chain having free opposite ends and engaging said wheels, said spring means connecting one of said ends to a portion of each of said devices, means actuating said sprocket wheels for moving said jaws into an open position against the force of said spring means, and means for moving said second device vertically along said structure, whereby extraction of the well pipe is effected upon upward movement of said second device with said jaws thereof gripping the pipe, said jaws of said first device gripping the pipe against downward movement as said second device is moved downwardly to again grip the pipe for further extraction, and whereby the well pipe may be installed into the ground as it lowers under its own weight upon movement of said jaws of said first device away from one another during downward movement of said second device.

Claim 5

An apparatus for both extracting and installing a well pipe respectively from and into the ground, comprising a vertical support structure, first and second well pipe gripping devices respectively mounted fixedly and for vertical sliding movement on said structure, said first device being located near the lower end of said structure, said devices each including a pair of opposing gripping jaws having outer free ends defining cooperating well pipe gripping surfaces having gripping teeth thereon for clamping the well pipe, said jaws being eccentrically mounted for pivotal movement of said gripping teeth on said opposing jaws between a closed position gripping the pipe and an open position, said jaws acting to clamp the pipe against relative movement causing said jaws to close, spring means for normally urging said jaws into a closed position, said jaws being respectively mounted on axles having sprocket wheels thereon, a sprocket chain having free opposite ends and engaging said wheels, said spring means connecting one of said ends to a portion of each of said devices, means actuating said sprocket wheels for moving said jaws into an open position against the force of said spring means, and means for moving said second device vertically along said structure, whereby extraction of the well pipe is effected upon upward movement of said second device with said jaws thereof gripping the pipe, said jaws of said first device gripping the pipe against downward movement as said second device is moved downwardly to again grip the pipe for further extraction, and whereby the well pipe may be installed into the ground as it lowers under its own weight upon movement of said jaws of said first device away from one another during downward movement of said second device.