Wireline catcher

An oil well wireline cable catcher apparatus comprising:

• a. a housing having a bore which passes vertically therethrough so that a wireline to be caught can pass vertically therethrough and then into the oil well bore;
• b. sensing means to monitor tension of the wireline;
• c. a pair of slips disposed within the housing on opposite side of the wireline between gripping and retracted position, each slip having a wireline engaging surface, the pair of respective surfaces facing one another so as to grip the wireline when the slips are actuated to the gripping position;
• d. a pair of springs mounted in the housing and respectively beneath each slip, the springs biasing the slips toward the retracted position so that the wireline is not engaged by the slip surfaces;
• e. slip actuator means carried by the housing and cooperatively connected to the sensing means for moving the slips together to grip the wireline responsive to a break in the wireline and attentive relaxation in wireline tension, further comprising a shaft carrying at one end portion thereof a pair of beveled surfaces angularly placed with respect to the slips, lateral movement in one direction of the shaft causing the slips to move toward the gripping position.

An oil well wireline cable catcher apparatus comprising:

• a. a housing having a bore which passes vertically therethrough so that a wireline to be caught can pass vertically therethrough and then into the oil well bore;
• b. sensing means to monitor the wireline comprising:
• i. a sheave engaging the wireline;
• ii. a trigger shaft assembly attached at one end to the sleeve and at the other being disposed within the housing;
• iii. a sleeve surrounding one end portion of the trigger shaft and forming a seal with the middle portion thereof;
• c. a pair of slips disposed within the housing on opposite sides of the wireline between gripping and retracted positions, each slip having a wireline engaging surface, the pair of respective surfaces facing one another so as to grip the wireline when the slips are actuated to the gripping position;
• d. a pair of springs mounted in the housing and respectively beneath each slip, the springs biasing the slips toward the retracted position so that the wireline is not engaged by the slip surfaces;
• and
• e. slip actuator means carried by the housing and cooperatively connected to the sensing means for moving the slips together to grip the wireline responsive to a break in the wireline and attentive relaxation in wireline tension.