US3662842A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic coupling system
Assignee: National Oilwell Varco LP
•
Filing: 1970-04-14
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Granted: 1972-05-16
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Expires: 1990-04-14
Abstract
Abstract In an automatic coupling system, a threaded quill is connected to a rotating and advancing mechanism by a slip coupling and is biased toward a drill pipe by a spring. In the use of the system, the quill is advanced toward the drill pipe and is simultaneously rotated with respect to the pipe. When the quill engages the pipe, it slips relative to the advancing and rotating mechanism against the action of the spring until a quill advance terminating switch is closed. The rotation of the quill is continued until the torque on the quill reaches a predetermined limit.
Inventors
- 👤 Raymond J Bromell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 11:59
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B19/00; E21B19/16; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49826; Y10T29/53; Y10T29/53687
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
44 words
An automatic coupling apparatus comprising: a threaded member; means for supporting and rotating the threaded member; means for advancing the threaded member, and means responsive to contact between the threaded member and another threaded member for automatically terminating the operation of the advancing means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
44 words
An automatic coupling apparatus comprising: a threaded member; means for supporting and rotating the threaded member; means for advancing the threaded member, and means responsive to contact between the threaded member and another threaded member for automatically terminating the operation of the advancing means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
64 words
The automatic coupling apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the terminating means comprises: means for moving the threaded member relative to the supporting and rotating means upon contact between the threaded member and another threaded member, and means responsive to the predetermined amount of relative movement between the threaded member and the supporting and rotating means for terminating the advance of the threaded member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
The automatic coupling apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the means for moving the threaded member relative to the supporting and rotating means includes a slip coupling between the threaded member and the supporting anD rotating means and means for biasing the threaded member into engagement with another threaded member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
The automatic coupling apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the supporting and rotating means supports the threaded member for movement between an extended position and a retracted position and means for biasing the threaded member toward the extended position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
The automatic coupling apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the terminating means includes means responsive to movement of the threaded member toward the retracted position against the action of the biasing means for terminating the advance of the threaded member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The automatic coupling apparatus according to claim 1 further including means for terminating the rotation of the threaded member upon threaded interengagement between the threaded member and another threaded member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The automatic coupling apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the rotation terminating means is responsive to the torque imposed on the threaded member by the supporting and rotating means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
65 words
An automatic coupling apparatus comprising: a threaded quill; means for positioning a drill pipe for threaded connection to the quill; means for moving the quill into engagement with the drill pipe and for thereafter biasing the quill toward the drill pipe; and means for rotating the quill relative to the drill pipe and thereby forming a threaded connection between the drill pipe and the quill.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
65 words
An automatic coupling apparatus comprising: a threaded quill; means for positioning a drill pipe for threaded connection to the quill; means for moving the quill into engagement with the drill pipe and for thereafter biasing the quill toward the drill pipe; and means for rotating the quill relative to the drill pipe and thereby forming a threaded connection between the drill pipe and the quill.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The automatic coupling apparatus according to claim 8 further including means for terminating the rotation of the quill after the threaded connection is formed.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
The automatic coupling apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the quill and the rotating means are mounted on a drill head and wherein the moving and biasing means moves the drill head toward the drill pipe.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
The automatic coupling apparatus according to claim 10 further characterized by a spline coupling between the quill and the rotating means for permitting relative sliding motion therebetween while preventing relative rotation.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
54 words
The automatic coupling apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the quill is mounted on the drill head for sliding movement with respect thereto and wherein the biasing portion of the moving biasing means comprises a spring mounted between the drill head and the quill for urging the quill into engagement with the drill pipe.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
36 words
The automatic coupling apparatus according to claim 12 further including means for terminating the movement of the drill head toward the drill pipe in response to sliding movement of the quill relative to the drill head.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
The automatic coupling apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the movement terminating means includes switch means mounted for actuation upon relative movement between the quill and the drill head.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
88 words
A method of automatically coupling a threaded quill to a drill pipe comprising: advancing a spring loaded threaded quill toward a drill pipe and simultaneously rotating the quill relative to the pipe; engaging the quill with the drill pipe to compress the spring; actuating sensing means to terminate the advance of the quill after a predetermined amount of compression of the spring, and actuating sensing means to terminate the rotation of the quill relative to the drill pipe when the torque on the quill exceeds a predetermined level.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
88 words
A method of automatically coupling a threaded quill to a drill pipe comprising: advancing a spring loaded threaded quill toward a drill pipe and simultaneously rotating the quill relative to the pipe; engaging the quill with the drill pipe to compress the spring; actuating sensing means to terminate the advance of the quill after a predetermined amount of compression of the spring, and actuating sensing means to terminate the rotation of the quill relative to the drill pipe when the torque on the quill exceeds a predetermined level.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method according to claim 15 wherein the advancing and rotating step includes the steps of: positioning a drill pipe at a predetermined location, and moving a quill rotating mechanism toward the predetermined location.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method according to claim 16 wherein the terminating step includes the step of sensing relative movement between the quill and the rotating mechanism upon engagement of the quill with the drill pipe.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method according to claim 17 wherein the rotation terminating step includes the steps of: sensing the torque that is applIed to the quill by the rotating mechanism, and terminating the operation of the rotating mechanism when the torque applied to the quill exceeds the predetermined level.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-05-16 | 1975-11-15 | 1976-05-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-05-16 | 1979-11-15 | 1980-05-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-05-16 | 1983-11-15 | 1984-05-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |