US 7,461,700 B2 · Apparatus and method for a C-plate used in a cable guided fishing assembly

Abstract

A C-plate assembly for use in a cable-guided fishing assembly is disclosed. The disclosed invention provides a C-plate assembly in which a closure member is slidable from an open position, which allows a wellbore tubular or other item to be positioned in the cut-out section of the C-plate base, to a closed position, which closes the opening to the cut-out section and thereby prevents the wellbore tubular or other item from being unintentionally knocked free from the cut-out section during a fishing operation. The closure member is locked in place in the closed position by inserting the ends of a movable handle extending off of one side of the C-plate base into openings in the C-plate base. The ends of the movable handle are spring loaded to allow for the ends to be pulled out of the openings in the C-plate base such that the closure member can be “unlocked” and moved from a closed position to an open position during operation.

Claims48

Dependent claims

A C-plate apparatus comprising:

a base section having an opening that extends inwardly from an outer edge of the base section;
a closure member adapted for movement around the outer edge of the base section;
and
a plurality of handles, the plurality of handles including a movable handle that is movable in relation to the base section, wherein at least one of the plurality of handles is immovably secured to the base section;
and
a plurality of housings extending from the base section, the at least one of the plurality of handles immovably secured to the base section being secured within the plurality of housings.

3 more elements

A method of securing a tubular within a C-plate apparatus, the method comprising:

providing a base section with an opening that extends inwardly from an outer edge of the base section and a plurality of holes in an outer portion of the base section;
providing a fixed handle connected to the base section;
providing a movable handle that is movable in relation to the base section, the movable handle comprising a plurality of ends;
providing a closure member adapted for movement round an outer portion of the base section through movement of the movable handle, the closure member having a bottom section and a top section, wherein the bottom section comprises a plurality of holes in an outer surface of the bottom section adapted to allow the plurality of ends of the movable handle to pass through the bottom section;
providing a plurality of housings extending outwardly from the closure member, the plurality of housings operatively connecting the movable handle to the closure member, and each of the plurality of housings containing a compression spring that surrounds a portion of the movable handle;
exerting a force on the movable handle such that the movable handle moves in a direction away from the base section, thereby compressing the compression springs and thereby moving the ends of the movable handle out of the plurality of holes in the outer portion of the base section;
moving the movable handle such that the closure member moves around the outer portion of the base section until the closure member no longer blocks the opening in the base section;
positioning the C-plate apparatus around a tubular such that the tubular resides within the opening in the base section;
moving the movable handle such that the closure member moves round the outer portion of the base section until the closure member blocks the opening in the base section;
releasing the force on the movable handle such that the compression springs force the movable handle inwardly toward the base section, thereby moving the ends of the movable handle into the plurality of holes in the outer portion of the base section.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Apparatus and method for a C-plate used in a cable guided fishing assembly

Life of this patent

Apparatus and method for a C-plate used in a cable guided fishing assembly

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims48