US4037662A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automated bailing apparatus in flexible combination for bailing shallow wells
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1976-08-30
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Granted: 1977-07-26
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Expires: 1996-08-30
Abstract
Abstract On a portable frame skid base, a receiving tank is mountable and centered to engage therein a production casing of a well to be bailed. A sectional frame hoisting tower is mountable over the tank for suspending a pipe bailer therein and in alignment with the production casing. The bailer is bottom operated by means of a ball valve and downwardly extending `stinger` in frictional cooperation with engaging rolls mounted in the tower. A wire line drum has an adjustable flange for the proper spooling of a range of sizes of wire line connected to bailer. An electric motor and reduction gear is mountable on the skid base adjacent the drum for driving it in reversible rotation as directed by automated motor controls and safety controls operable by mechanical feedback from drum and apparatus to continuously or intermittently bail a well in accordance with establishable parameters, and to shut it down in case of malfunction. The tank and tower can be enclosed to make them gas-proof for use with gassy wells, and lined with non-corroding material for use with sour wells.
Inventors
- 👤 Leslie Bowling
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 23:07
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B33/00; E21B33/02; E21B33/03; E21B33/068; E21B33/072; E21B19/00; E21B19/22; E21B27/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
299 words
In an automated bailing apparatus, flexible in ranges of sizes of structure and material, and adjustable in operating parameters, for bailing shallow wells comprising in combination: a. portable base means for installing over and around a shallow well production casing end extending above ground and said portable base means; b. stationary tank assembly means, having sides, an enclosed top defining an opening, and a closed bottom defining a sleeved hole extending upwardly therein and in alignment with said top opening, mountable on said base means and adapted to receive in said sleeved hole said production casing end, fluid tight; c. hoisting tackle means having in combination a hoisting tower with hoisting line mounted in and over said tank assembly means and in alignment with said top opening, and a drum or windlass mounted on said base means adjacent said tank assembly means, for raising and lowering a free end of said hoisting line through said aligned top opening and into said tank assembly means and shallow well production casing: d. bailer means secured to the free end of said line of the hoisting tackle means for raising liquid from said shallow well and discharging it above and into said tank assembly means; and e. control assembly means, having operating control means for actuating said hoisting tackle means and bailer means to travel full speed for a part of each trip from bottom of said shallow well to above said tank assembly means and return and half speed for a predetermined distance as the respective extremities of travel are approached, and adjustable to automatically bail any shallow well continuously for any period, depth, and desirable range of rates of bailing, and safety control means for cutting-off power in case of malfunction, separately or together, of any of the preceeding means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
299 words
In an automated bailing apparatus, flexible in ranges of sizes of structure and material, and adjustable in operating parameters, for bailing shallow wells comprising in combination: a. portable base means for installing over and around a shallow well production casing end extending above ground and said portable base means; b. stationary tank assembly means, having sides, an enclosed top defining an opening, and a closed bottom defining a sleeved hole extending upwardly therein and in alignment with said top opening, mountable on said base means and adapted to receive in said sleeved hole said production casing end, fluid tight; c. hoisting tackle means having in combination a hoisting tower with hoisting line mounted in and over said tank assembly means and in alignment with said top opening, and a drum or windlass mounted on said base means adjacent said tank assembly means, for raising and lowering a free end of said hoisting line through said aligned top opening and into said tank assembly means and shallow well production casing: d. bailer means secured to the free end of said line of the hoisting tackle means for raising liquid from said shallow well and discharging it above and into said tank assembly means; and e. control assembly means, having operating control means for actuating said hoisting tackle means and bailer means to travel full speed for a part of each trip from bottom of said shallow well to above said tank assembly means and return and half speed for a predetermined distance as the respective extremities of travel are approached, and adjustable to automatically bail any shallow well continuously for any period, depth, and desirable range of rates of bailing, and safety control means for cutting-off power in case of malfunction, separately or together, of any of the preceeding means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
66 words
An automated bailing apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said tank assembly means comprises: a. a tank having a bottom, and sides defining a discharge hole in a side adjacent said bottom; and b. a liquid pump mounted on said portable base means adjacent said tank and connected to said discharge orifice for evacuating the tank, said pump being actuated by a tank float switch.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
224 words
An automated bailing apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said hoisting tackle means comprises: a. said hoisting tower has a bottom section fixed in said tank assembly means to extend thereabove, in alignment with said top opening and additional tower sections mounted sequentially thereon as desired; b. A crown block mounted at the top of said hoisting tower and adapted to suspend said hoisting line in alignment with said tower and top opening, and bottom sleeved opening of said tank assembly means; c. a mechanical safety stop suspended from said tower and adjacent said top of tower and thethered therein by line restrained springs for preventing bailer means attached to said hoisting line from being pulled through said crown block; d. and said drum or windlass having an axially adjustable peripheral flange for evenly spooling a plurality of sizes of hoisting line, said windlass or drum being adapted to spool said hoisting line over said crownblock down said tower and in and out of the tank assembly means and production casing extending therein; and e. reversible power means operably connected to said drum or windlass for rotating said drum in both directions of rotation to spool said hoisting line thereon and off directly and without clutch and brake, said power means being mounted on said portable base means adjacent said windlass or drum.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
A hoisting tower as described in claim 3 wherein said tower sections above said tank assembly means have enclosed sides and a stuffing box mounted at the tower top through which said hoisting line extends for gas proofing said tower.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
A tower as described in claim 4 wherein the interior of said tower is glassed for use with acid or "sour" wells.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
123 words
An automated bailing apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said bailer means comprises: a. a pipe bail having a bottom valve operable to open by fluid flow and close by gravity, and having a downwardly extending rod or "stinger" fixed thereto for additionally opening the bottom valve; and b. friction rolls mounted over said top opening in said tank assembly means and adapted to frictionally receive said downwardly extending rod or stinger therebetween, said rolls being pivotally mounted to pivot away from each other to allow said pipe bailer to pass therebetween, and to pivot toward each other to engage said rod or stinger for opening the bottom valve of said pipe bailer and dump the contents into said tank assembly means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
151 words
An automated bailing apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said safety control means comprise: a. a normally closed overflow switch means mounted in and adjacent to the top of said tank assembly means and responsive to a rise of the contents therein short of overflow to open, said overflow switch being connected in series across power lines to said operating control means for stopping bailing operation before tank overflow; b. a normally closed strain switch mounted in said hoisting tackle means and responsive to a minimum and a maximum loads thereon to open, said strain switch being connected in series with said overflow switch across said power lines; and c. a normally closed top limit switch mounted in said hoisting tackle means and responsive to an excessive raising of said bailer means to open, said switch being connected in series with said overflow and strain switches across said power lines.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
132 words
An automated bailing apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said operating control means comprises: a. a threaded rod mounted for rotation by said windlass or drum in both directions of rotation; b. a traveling nut having threads complementary to the threads of said threaded rod and adapted to travel thereon in synchronization with said bailer means as it travels in bailing and as said threaded rod is rotated; c. an arm, adapted to operate limit switches, fixed to said traveling nut; d. a plurality of limit switches adapted to start, stop, reverse and slow said windlass or drum adjustably mounted along a line of travel of said traveling nut and arm and to be engaged thereby to automate the control of said hoisting tackle means and bailing means in bailing operation.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
159 words
Method of bailing a shallow well comprising the steps of: a. concentrically ensleeving with an open ended sleeve an upper end of a well production casing of a shallow well in a fluid tight receiving tank having a top opening in alignment said production casing and sleeve; b. suspending for vertical movement from a tower in alignment with said tank opening and sleeve, a pipe bail having a downward projection stinger that is adapted to remain, at least partially, in said well production casing; c. initially actuating said vertical movement by hand switch; d. continuing said vertical motion in bailing operation by mechanical feed back to automatically actuate limit switches that are positioned synchronously with respect to said bailing operation to continue it; and e. actuating said stinger to empty by engaging between friction rolls mounted above said tank, said rolls being pivoted to swing upward apart and downward closer for frictionally engaging said stinger to empty said bailer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
159 words
Method of bailing a shallow well comprising the steps of: a. concentrically ensleeving with an open ended sleeve an upper end of a well production casing of a shallow well in a fluid tight receiving tank having a top opening in alignment said production casing and sleeve; b. suspending for vertical movement from a tower in alignment with said tank opening and sleeve, a pipe bail having a downward projection stinger that is adapted to remain, at least partially, in said well production casing; c. initially actuating said vertical movement by hand switch; d. continuing said vertical motion in bailing operation by mechanical feed back to automatically actuate limit switches that are positioned synchronously with respect to said bailing operation to continue it; and e. actuating said stinger to empty by engaging between friction rolls mounted above said tank, said rolls being pivoted to swing upward apart and downward closer for frictionally engaging said stinger to empty said bailer.
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) | 1980-07-25 | 1981-01-24 | 1981-07-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-07-25 | 1985-01-24 | 1985-07-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-07-25 | 1989-01-24 | 1989-07-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |