Polish rod clamping device
AssigneeStream-Flo Industries Ltd.
InventorTony M. Lam
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A polish rod clamping device, for use as part of a wellhead production pumping tree to secure a polish rod. The device includes a pressure-containing body forming a central vertical and opposed first and second side bores. A pair of clamping rams are positioned in the side bores for sliding movement therealong, each clamping ram having a front and a rear end, the front ends of the clamping rams being configured to accommodate at least a portion of the polish rod between their front ends when the clamping rams are advanced across the central bore. The front end of at least one of the clamping rams is configured with a vertical V-groove for gripping the polish rod. The invention extends to the V-groove rams themselves and to composite wellhead assemblies containing the V-groove clamping device.
Claims34
A clamping device for use as part of a wellhead to secure a tubular member, comprising:
- a pressure-containing body forming a central bore, which extends vertically through the body and through which the tubular member may extend, and opposed side bores extending radially outwardly in opposite directions through the body and intersecting the central bore;
- a pair of clamping rams positioned in the side bores for sliding movement therealong, each clamping ram having a front and a rear end, the front ends of the clamping rams being configured to accommodate at least a portion of the circumference of the tubular member between their front ends when the clamping rams are advanced across the central bore;
- the front end of at least one of the clamping rams being configured with a vertical V-groove for gripping the tubular member such that a portion of the circumference of the tubular member is accommodated within the V-groove at contact points in the V-groove;
- and
- an actuator connected to the rear end of each clamping ram for advancing and withdrawing the ram in the side bore, between a gripping position when the rams are advanced across the central bore into contact with the tubular member with the portion of the circumference of the tubular member accommodated within the V-groove, and a releasing position when the rams are withdrawn from the tubular member.
A polish rod clamping device, for use as part of a wellhead production pumping tree to secure a polish rod forming the upper end of a rod string extending through a vertical bore formed by the pumping tree, comprising:
- a pressure-containing body forming a central bore, which extends vertically through the body and through which the polish rod may extend, and opposed side bores extending radially outwardly in opposite directions through the body and intersecting the central bore;
- a pair of clamping rams positioned in the side bores for sliding movement therealong, each clamping ram having a front and a rear end, the front ends of the clamping rams being configured to accommodate at least a portion of the circumference of the polish rod between their front ends when the clamping rams are advanced across the central bore;
- the front end of one or both of the clamping rams being configured with a vertical V-groove for gripping the polish rod such that a portion of the circumference of the polish rod is accommodated within the V-groove at contact points in the V-groove;
- and
- an actuator connected to the rear end of each clamping ram for advancing and withdrawing the ram in the side bore, between a polish rod gripping position when the rams are advanced across the central bore into contact with the polish rod with the portion of the circumference of the polish rod accommodated within the V-groove, and a polish rod releasing position when the rams are withdrawn from the polish rod.
A composite wellhead assembly including, between a top connector and a bottom connector, a clamping device together with one or more of the following wellhead components, in any sequence:
- adapter, valve, gate valve, flow tee, and blowout preventer, said clamping device comprising:
- a pressure-containing body forming a central bore, which extends vertically through the body and through which the polish rod may extend, and opposed side bores extending radially outwardly in opposite directions through the body and intersecting the central bore;
- a pair of clamping rams positioned in the side bores for sliding movement therealong, each clamping ram having a front and a rear end, the front ends of the clamping rams being configured to accommodate at least a portion of the circumference of the polish rod between their front ends when the clamping rams are advanced across the central bore;
- the front end of one or both of the clamping rams being configured with a vertical V-groove for gripping the polish rod such that a portion of the circumference of the polish rod is accommodated within the V-groove at contact points in the V-groove;
- and
- an actuator connected to the rear end of each clamping ram for advancing and withdrawing the ram in the side bore, between a polish rod gripping position when the rams are advanced across the central bore into contact with the polish rod with the portion of the circumference of the polish rod accommodated within the V-groove, and a polish rod releasing position when the rams are withdrawn from the polish rod.
A clamping ram, for use as part of a wellhead production pumping tree to secure a polish rod forming the upper end of a rod string extending through a vertical bore formed by the pumping tree, the pumping tree providing a pressure-containing body forming a central bore, which extends vertically through the body and through which the polish rod may extend, and opposed side bores extending radially outwardly in opposite directions through the body and intersecting the central bore, the clamping ram comprising;
- a clamping ram adapted to be positioned in one of the side bores for sliding movement therealong, the clamping ram having a front and a rear end, the front end being configured to accommodate, with an opposing clamping ram, at least a portion of the circumference of the polish rod when the clamping ram and the opposing clamping ram are advanced across the central bore, and the front end being configured with a vertical V-groove for gripping the polish rod such that a portion of the circumference of the polish rod is accommodated within the V-groove at contact points in the V-groove.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.