SAFETY DEVICE FOR HANDLING CASING
A safety tool that removes thread protectors from casing and handles the casing while on a rig floor, for example, oil field casing, as the casing is being installed. It is a safety device because it allows the user to handle the moving end of a long length of casing and align that end with casing that it is being threaded to.
This application is a utility application from provisional application Ser. No. 62/476,110, filed Mar. 24, 2017 from which priority is claimed.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe device of the instant invention is a safety tool for removing thread protectors while handling casing, for example, oil field casing, as the casing is being installed. It is a safety device because it allows the user to handle the moving end of a long length of casing and align that end with the casing that is already installed. It removes thread protectors safely and rapidly and it handles casing when boxing the joint thus keeping hands and body safe from pinches and amputations when the two pieces of pipe are being joined. A search in the United States Patent and Trademark Office regarding such devices did not yield any prior art devices that are used for the same end use.
THE INVENTIONWhat is disclosed and claimed herein is a safety device for handling threaded casing. The device comprises a cylindrical housing comprising two, separate, essentially identical, one-half clam shell configurations having vertical edges.
The cylindrical housing has a first end and a second end, each of the first end and second end are larger in diameter than the diameter of the cylindrical housing.
Each of the one-half clam shell configurations has fixedly attached thereto, near an edge, one-half of a hinge mechanism. Each of the one-half clam shell configuration has a gripping handle fixedly attached to it near the edge opposite the handle, the gripping handles being closely adjacent to each other.
In addition, it is contemplated within the scope of this invention to claim a device as set forth Supra, wherein the hinges are tab hinges and one-half of the hinges on the edge of the one-half clam shell configuration are both inside the location of the other one-half of the hinges on the separate, essentially identical, one-half clam shell configuration.
Referring now to
It has been shown through testing, that the tab hinges 6 and 6′ can have any arrangement on the surface of the housing 1, but the best arrangement seems to be two inside tabs and two outside tabs as show in
With regard to door hinges 12 as shown in
It should also be noted that the upper end 13 and the lower end 14 (there is actually no upper and lower ends in this device as it is exactly the same configuration on both ends) are fluted 15, or otherwise extended beyond the diameter of the housing wall. (see
In operation, as casing is being fitted into the drilling hole, and segments of casing are being added incrementally by threading one casing to another, the casing that is to be joined is lifted from a storage pile of such casings and lifted by cable towards and up to the in-place casing. Sometime during this transition, the worker is able to open the device of this invention and arrange it around the moving casing above the threaded, capped end.
Because of this encompassing action by the worker, the worker is now able to guide and direct the casing towards the in-place casing and help place the threaded end of the transferred casing on the in-place casing using the handles provided on the device of this invention (boxing the joint is the term used for this maneuver).
Prior to engaging the moving casing with the in-place casing, the worker slidably draws the device of this invention rapidly down towards the protecting cover on the casing, and thereby is able to remove the covering from the threads. The worker then gently maneuvers the clean threaded end of the casing over to and unto the in-place casing to bring the threads in alignment.
The safety tool is removed and a power tong is then attached to the new casing and the device of this invention is removed and the power tong drives the threaded pieces together.
By being able to handle the transferred casing by the use of the inventive device, the worker is not subjected to wildly moving casing and the device works as a safety device.
In prior art methods of providing casing in this manner, it takes about 60 seconds to draw the new casing into place, aligning it with the threaded ends, and starting to engage the threads with the in-place casing. Using the device of this invention, this can be accomplished in less than 10 seconds. It increases productivity by up to 600 percent.
The device of this invention generally weighs less than 20 pounds and is therefore easily handled by a workman. Further, it should be obvious that the diameter of the housing of this invention is slightly larger than the casing on which it is to be used such that it will tentatively grip the casing, but will be able, when necessary, to slide down the casing and remove the thread protector.
The device of this invention is generally manufactured from metal, such as steel or iron, or it can be manufactured from hard plastic. Hard plastic is any plastic that can remove the thread protector from the casing without damaging the hard plastic.
Claims
1. A safety device for handling threaded casing said device comprising:
- a cylindrical housing comprising two, separate, essentially identical, one-half clam shell configurations having vertical edges;
- said cylindrical housing having a first end and a second end, each of said first end and second end being larger in diameter than the diameter of the cylindrical housing;
- each one-half clam shell configuration having fixedly attached thereto, near an edge, one-half of a hinge mechanism, wherein said hinge mechanisms are hardware hinges;
- each one-half clam shell configuration having a vertical gripping handle fixedly attached thereto near the edge opposite said hinge, said gripping handles being closely adjacent to each other.
2. (canceled)
3. (canceled)
4. (canceled)
5. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein there are two said hinge mechanisms.
6. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein there are three said hinge mechanisms.
7. (canceled)
8. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the device is manufactured from metal.
9. A device as claimed in claim 8 wherein the metal is steel.
10. A device as claimed in claim 8 wherein the metal is iron.
11. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the device is manufactured from hard plastic.
12. A device as claimed in claim 11 wherein the hard plastic is cross-linked polyethylene.
13. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one said first end is fluted.
14. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first end and the said second end are fluted.
Type: Application
Filed: May 8, 2017
Publication Date: Sep 27, 2018
Inventor: TYRONE JONES (Mt.Pleasant, MI)
Application Number: 15/588,797