Dual elevators

Abstract

This invention relates to an improved elevator as used in the drilling industry for latching onto and transporting drill pipe. The improvements are particularly adaptable for elevators used in a dual automatic elevator system as described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,063,509. The improvements include: (a) an arrangement wherein an elevator base may be utilized to accept a variety of different sizes of drilling pipe with a variety of different shoulder configurations on the tool joint end of the drilling pipe; (b) an elevator having a removable base so that the elevator may be utilized either for the dual automatic system of U.S. Pat. No. 3,063,509 or as an elevator as used in the commonly practiced single elevator drilling system; (c) an elevator having means for remotely unlatching the door when it is desired to remove the elevator from engagement with a drill pipe without requiring manual unlatching of the door; and (d) means of adjusting the angle of tilt of the elevator suspended by bails so that the elevator is properly orientated for engaging a drill pipe. These advantages and improvements are accomplished utilizing a removable bushing to accept different sizes of pipe, in conjunction with a replaceable door to match with each bushing, and the other improvements include removable lower plate, a pivotally adjustable counterweight for changing the angle of suspension of the elevator and hydraulically controlled linkage means for unlatching the elevator door by remote application of fluid pressure.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An elevator apparatus handling stands of drill pipe in a mast or derrick, comprising: a. an elevator body having a central opening;   b. a hinged door at the front of said body to close said opening;   c. a shaft journalled in said body in a direction from front to back;   d. a latch arm affixed to the front end of said shaft, the latch arm being movable from a first position where it overlaps a portion of said door to latch it in the closed position to a second position where it is clear of said door to unlatch it by rotation of said shaft;   e. an operating means affixed to said shaft at the back of said elevator; and   f. piston cylinder means connected between said operating means and said elevator body for latching and unlatching said door.   
     
     
       2. An elevator as in claim 1 wherein said elevator body central opening has an internal shoulder and including: a bushing of a selected internal diameter and seating surface suited to the specific diameter of the drill pipe to be carried and of the same shape of the tool joint, the bushing having an external diameter and configuration to match said body central opening and to engage said internal shoulder, said central opening and central bushing having a sector cut away as a door opening on the front side; and   the inner surface of said door matching the inner surface of said bushing such that when said door is closed, the contour of the inner surface of said bushing and door are symmetrical.   
     
     
       3. An elevator as in claim 1 including: adjustable counterweight means attached to said elevator providing means of adjusting the angle of tilt of the elevator when pivotally suspended from supporting bails.   
     
     
       4. An elevator as in claim 1 including: a vertical arm adjustably supported to said body; and   a counterweight adjustably supported to said vertical arm.   
     
     
       5. An elevator according to claim 1 including: a base removably affixed to the lower portion of said body.   
     
     
       6. An elevator according to claim 5 wherein: said base includes opposed planar surfaces adaptable to slidably support the elevator on parallel tracks.   
     
     
       7. An elevator according to claim 5 wherein: said base has opposed ends each having means of receiving a bail retainer thereto and wherein said body has integral opposed outwardly extending bail receiving hooks, a portion of each having a means of receiving a bail retainer therein; and   a bail retainer removably attached to said body hook portion and said base opposed ends to retain bails received beneath said hook portions.   
     
     
       8. An elevator for removably attaching to drill pipe for lifting and transporting the same, comprising: an elevator body having a central vertical drill pipe receiving opening therethrough and opposed horizontally extending bail receiving hook portions, the body having a door opening in the front side thereof providing an opening of sufficient width to receive drill pipe therethrough;   a door pivotally affixed about a vertical axis to said body and movable between an open position exposing said door opening of said body and a closed position;   a shaft journaled in said body from front to back;   a latch arm affixed to the front of said shaft and movable from a first position engaging and retaining said door in the closed position to a second position permitting said door to open;   an operating arm depending from said shaft at the back of said body; and   a cylinder piston member connected between said operating arm and said elevator body to selectably move said latch from said first to said second position in response to fluid pressure.   
     
     
       9. An elevator for removably attaching to drill pipe for lifting and transporting the same, comprising: an elevator body having a central vertical drill pipe receiving opening therethrough and opposed horizontally extending bail receiving hook portions, the elevator body being pivotally suspended about a horizontal axis through said hook portions, the body having a door opening in the front side thereof providing an opening of sufficient width to receive drill pipe therethrough;   a door pivotally affixed about a vertical axis to said body and movable between an open position exposing said door opening of said body and a closed position; and   an adjustable counterweight attached to said elevator providing means of adjusting the angle of tilt of the elevator about said horizontal axis.   
     
     
       10. An elevator according to claim 9 including: an arm having an inner end and an outer end, the inner end being pivotally affixed to said body and the arm being pivotally adjustable in a plane perpendicular to said horizontal suspension axis, said counterweight being affixed to the outer end of said vertical arm.   
     
     
       11. An elevator according to claim 10 wherein said counterweight is longitudinally positionable on said vertical arm. .Iadd. 12. An elevator apparatus for handling strands of drill pipe in a drilling mast, comprising: an elevator body having a vertical central passageway therethrough, the body having an upper end and a lower end, and having a side opening in one side thereof communicating with the central passageway, the side opening being of sufficient width to receive drill pipe therethrough;   a pair of integral, opposed hooks extending from opposite sides of said body to either side of said side opening providing means of receiving bail links whereby the elevator body and pipe supported thereby may be raised or lowered in the mast;   a door pivotally supported about a vertical axis to said body and pivotal to an open position to fully expose said side opening to permit pipe to be moved in or out of said body central passageway, and pivotal to a closed position to retain pipe within said central passageway;   an elevator base having a base central passageway therethrough of diameter at least equal said body central passageway and having a pipe receiving side opening in one side thereof communicating with said base central passageway, the elevator base having opposed ends;   means of detachably securing said base to said body wherein said passageways and side openings are in alignment and said base opposed ends and said body integral hooks are in a common vertical plane;   means removably interposed between said elevator base opposed ends and said body hooks for removably maintaining bail links in engagement with said body hooks. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 13. An elevator apparatus for handling strands of drill pipe in a drilling mast according to claim 12 wherein said means removably interposed between said elevator base opposed ends and said body hooks includes a locking member pivotally secured to each elevator base opposed end, each locking member configured to extend in one position towards said body hook to prevent bail links from moving out of engagement with said hooks and pivotal in another direction to permit bail links to pass freely into or out of engagement with said hooks;   and including spring means between said elevator base and each said locking member normally urging said locking members in positions to prevent bail links from disengaging contact with said body hooks. .Iaddend..Iadd. 14. An elevator apparatus for handling strands of drill pipe in a drilling mast according to claim 12 wherein said body central passageway has a larger upper diameter and a smaller lower diameter presenting an upper facing internal shoulder, and including;   a bushing of internal diameter and seating surface suited to a preselected diameter and shape of a drill pipe tool joint, with said bushing having an external diameter and configuration to match said body central passageway and to engage said internal shoulder, said bushing having a cutaway as a side opening of sufficient width to receive a drill pipe therethrough, said bushing being positionable in said body with said body side opening, said base side opening and the bushing side opening in registry, and wherein the inner surface of said door matches the inner surface of the bushing such that when said door is closed the inner surfaces of said bushing and door are symmetrical. .Iaddend.