May 12, 1942- ,

`J. D; sPALDlNG
BRAKE FOR DRAwwORKs

2,282,615

May 12, 1942-

J. D. sFfALDlNG

2,282,615'

BRAKE FOR DRAWWORKS

Filed July 24, 1939

3 Sheecs--Shee'I 2 _

May 12, 1942.

J. D. SPALDING

2,282,615

BRAKE'FOR DRAwwoRKs

Filed July 24, 1959

3 Sheets-Sheet 5

Patented May 12,1942

.
. ~2,282,615

UNITED STAT-Es PATE NT oFFlCE j

2,282,615
BRAKE FOR DRAW WORKS

John VD. Spalding, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor

to The National Supply Company, Pittsburgh,

__

Pa., a. corporation of Pennsylvania

Application `luly 24, 1939, Serial No. 28.6,098

.17 Claims. (CL 18S-451)
'I'his invention relates to drilling apparatus of
the type employed in `drilling oil, gas, water, or
other wells, and is more particularly directed to
an improvement in the drawworks thereof and a

means provided for operating brakes of such

' drawworks.

In the drilling of Wells, the drawworks is usu

ally constructed witha spooling drum for the

sequent restoration of the iiuid pressure to above'

the minimum quantity required for the Safe 0p
eration thereof.
Another object of this invention is to provide
brake apparatus for a drawworks'which is sus
ceptible of either manual or u'id pressure oper
ation and wherein thev change from one type of

operation to the other may be easily and quickly

line and one or more band-type friction brakes `

~for restraining rotation -of the drum. These

brakes are ordinarily controlled by a brake- lever

manually actuated by the driller. In keeping

pace with increasing requirements of such'drill

ing apparatus. the drawworks have been steadily

increased in size with the consequent increase in
size of the brake bands and brake rims in order

to enable the drawworks to handle the greatly

increased weight and operating requirements as
occasioned in deeper drilling and the constant
demand for increase in speed of drilling opera
tions.

The brakes of the drawworks have always of

fered a major problem in drilling apparatus as
these brakes are requiredvto sustain loads of

great magnitude in controlling the spooling of

Other objects and advantages of this invention

it is believed will be apparent from the following
detailed description in its preferred forms as il- l

lustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view partially in horizontal

section and illustrating certain parts broken

away for clarity.
Figure 2 is a fragmental front elevation
thereof on a reduced scale.
Figure 3 is a fragmental sectional detail of a
control pedal therefor.

Figure 4 is a sectional elevation taken> substan

tially on the line 6_4 of Figure 1.
Figure 5 is a detail partly in vertical section of
a manual control lever illustrating the same in

-the line on the drum. The-manual operation of

these brakes has always presented a major prob- .

operative position.

lemin the drilling of wells and the effective con

trol of the entire drilling apparatus is to a con

trol lever illustrating the same in released posi

siderable degree dependent upon the degree of -

control with which the driller is enabled to exert

over the operation of the-brakes.

'

'

As the brakes have increased in size, as neces

sitated by the deeper drilling, the control of the

operation of the brakes has become a very diiii
cult physical operation so that nicety of control

is rendered almost impossible. It is therefore

an object of this invention to provide a means '

Figure 6 is a similar detail of the manual con

tion.

'

'

Figure '7 is a fragmental sectional view taken

substantially on the line 'l-l of Figure 5.
Figure 8 is apartial plan view of a modified
V form of construction embodying my invention.

Figure 9 is a- front elevation of the structure

, illustrated in Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a fragmental sectional view taken

substantially on the line lll-_l0 of Figure 9.l
In illustrating my invention I have chosen to

whereby the brakes of a drawworks may be con

illustrate the same as adapted. to the conven
trolled accurately and positively and without the 40 tional form of drawworks as the same is now
exertion of great physical effort upon the part of
utilized in the drilling of wells and have chosen
the driller or the consequent danger of physical
this _illustration merely for the purpose-of en
fatigue to the driller.
'
abling the same to befully understood by those
Another object of this invention is to provide
skilled in the art, but'it is to be understoodv thatv
apparatus for operating the brakes of_ a draw
my invention is in no wayi'limited in its adapt
works by means of iiuid under pressure wherein
abilityto any particular form or construction
there is included means which will act to set the
of drawworks as is obviously susceptible of use
brakes in the event of failure of the fluid pres
in connection with any hoisting- apparatus as
sure or that the magnitude of the fluid pressure
the same are, or may be, particularly adapted for~
falls below a safe limit.
the control of the pipe as it is run in or-out o'fa
Another object of this invention is to provide a
well.
'
means for controlling the operation of the brakes
InAthe form of drawworks as illustrated, thel'
of a drawworks wherein there is provided means
spooling drum l is mounted upon a drum shaiftf
for preventing the release of brakes in the event
2 between supports 3. As illustrated, the spool-E
of failure of adequate iiuid pressure and the sub- 55 ing drum I carries at its opposed ends brake rims

aaeaeis
mum,` and is likewise provided with a means
wherein engagement of the clutch as thus de
scribed is at all times assured when pressure ex
shaft -6 which is adapted to drive through suit
ceeding that minimum is maintained in the pres
able chain and sprocket arrangements illustrated
sure reservoir I1 and wherein when the pressure
at 1 and 8 the drum I and shaft 2. As there is
in the reservoir falls.be1ow that safe minimum
usually more than one such chain and sprocket
the master valve 20 is actuated to a closed posi
drive, clutches 9 are ordinarily provided for re
non.
,
fl im
leasably clutching in or out these transmission
In order to provide for this safety operation.
drives.
.
\
The drive shaft 6 is normally driven by a suit 10 there is provided a clutch control cylinder 34
having therein a piston 31 connected to a piston
able form of prime mover (not illustrated) and
rod 38 with a crank 39 carried on a clutch op
operatively connected with the transmission
erating shaft 40. 'I'he piston rod 38 passes freely
sprocket I0. The brake bands 5 are illustrated
4 on which brake bands 5 are mounted. The
form of ldrawworks illustrated includes a drive

as of the form where the fixed, or dead end, of

each band 5 is anchored to the frame of the draw
works through the medium of anchoring bars II
which, as is customary in such constructions, are

through a bore formed in the swivel Asleeve 4I

carried by the crank 39 and is provided with a

5 are pivotally connected to a crank I3 of the

is connected by means of crank arms 43 of a

nut 42 adiustably threaded on the rod 38 so that .

when the piston 31 is moved under the inuence

of fluid pressure, the adjustable stop nut 42 en
provided with adjusting means I2 whereby the
gages the end of the sleeve 4| to rotate lthe clutch
bands 5 may be individually adjusted to the rims
4. The opposed, or live, ends of >each brake band 20 operating shaft 40. The clutch operating shaft 40

crank sleeve 44 with a clutch ring 45. The sleeve

>44 is non-rotatably secured to the shaft 40. The
clutch ring 45 is secured to the clutch sleeve 33.
herein illustrated is formed of two sections cou
pled together as indicated at I5 so that the two 25 Mounted in the cylinder 34 is a spring 46 which
normally acts to move the piston 31 to such posi
sections operate as an integral solid shaft.
tion as to permit the opening of the clutchv jaws.
Spaced bearings I5 secured to the drawworks
The spring is balanced against the fluid pres
frame provide rotatable supports for the operat
sure so that when the fluid pressure exceeds the
ing shaft I4.
In order to operate under fluid pressure and 30 minimum, the piston 31 is moved in position to
, hold the clutch in engagement. 'I'he clutch may
to likewise enable selectively the manual opera
be released through the medium of a clutch op
tion of the operating shaft I4, I have provided
erating pedal 41 suitably journaled on a supportfI
interlocking, manual and fluid pressure means

brake operating shaft I4. The shaft I4 may be

of any suitable or desirable construction and as

ing shaft 48 carried by the drawworks frame.

for operating the shaft I4 which include as to the

'

reservoir I1 which is operatively connected by

The pedal 41 is connected through arm 48 with

a clutch operating rod 50, which rod 50 is in turn

means of a -conduit I8 with any suitable or de

connected to arm 5I carried by a sleeve 52 se

fluid pressure operating mechanism a pressure 35

cured to the clutch operating shaft 40.

>When it is desired to manually' operate the

sirable source of fluid under pressure.

-The fluid utilized may be any suitable or de

sirable fluid, but I prefer to utilize compressed 40 brake system, means are provided for maintain
ing the clutch disengaged, which means include a
air. The reservoir I1 is connected through a con
latch 53 carried by the clutch pedal 41. The
duit I9 with a,master control valve 20 which
latch 53 is adapted to engage the frame of the
master control valve 20 connects with the con
drawworks to hold the latch pedal 41 down, thus
trol conduit 2I in which the operating valve 22

is mounted. Extending from the valve 22 is the 45 holding- the clutch disengaged. A spring 54
serves to hold the latch 53 in engagement.
fluid pressure conduit 23 which connects to the
In order to automatically set the brake bands
operating cylinder 24.
.
5 against the brake rims 4 when the fluid pres
The valve 22 is preferably of the self-lapping"
sure in the system falls below the allowable mini
type such as that shown in the E._K.- Lynn et al.,

Patent No. 2,042,112, issued May 26, 1936.

50 mum, the following means are provided:

Mounted in the cylinder 24 is a spring 55 which

acts to normally urge the piston 25 to the brake
releasing position. Thus the spring 55 acts to
retrieve the piston 25 -when the air pressure in
the pipe 23 is reduced or shut oil?~ entirely.
Mounted adjacent the cylinder 24 is a brake
The crank arm 29 is formed on the sleeve 33
setting cylinder 58 which carries a piston 51 hav
which is rotatably mounted upon the brake op
ing a piston rod 58.
erating shaft I4. The sleeve 33 carries clutch
The piston 51 is normally urged in a position
jaws 3| complementary to clutch jaws 32 carried
by a second clutch sleeve 33 splined upon the 60 to move the piston rod 58 against the piston 25
to overcome the effects of the spring 55 and to
shaft I4 whereby the clutch sleeve may move
set the brake bands 5 against the brake rim 4.
longitudinally of the shaft I4 but is restrained
For this purpose-a relatively strong spring..or _
from relative rotational movement. Thus, the
series of springs, 59 is provided which is inter
piston 25 of the operating cylinder 24 is releas
posed between t_he piston 51 and the cylinder 55,
ably clutched to the operating shaft I4. Upon
and the springs 58 are powerful enough in op
release of this clutch, it will be obvious that the
eration to set the brake bands 5 when fluid pres
operating shaft I4 is released from operative
sure falls below the required minimum and the
connection with the fluid pressure operating
pressure of the fluid in the cylinder 55 is ex
means whereby manual operation of the brakes
'
70 hausted therefrom.
is permitted.
The piston rod 58 extends _from both ends of the
The fluid pressure operating means is provided
cylinder 58 through suitable stufhng boxes and at
with a safety means wherein automatic actuation
one end extendsr into the cylinder 24 to engage
of the brakes to a full braking position is pro
the piston 25 and at its opposite end it is pro- ^
vided in the event the pressure in the reservoir
I1 falls below a previously determined safe mini 75 vided with a latch element 60. The latch element

The operating cylinder 24 contains -a piston

25 carrying a piston rod 26. The piston rod 28
is in turn connected through a coupling 21 with
the brake operating arm 28. The arm 28 is piv
otally connected to the crank arm 29.
65

2,282,015

il is adapted to engage a pivoted latch element

Il carried by the valve operating arm 32 5i' the
master valve 2a, so that when the piston rod
is moved under the influence oi the spring 59
latch yelement B0 engages the latchlelement 3| to
rotate the master valve 20 to a closedposition.
As the latch element 5I is pivotallyicarried by the
valve arm 62, piston rod 58 is moved in a reverse

22. A release handle 3l is provided near the outer

end oi' the brake lever 23 to enable the driller to
vrelease the latch 32 from the bar 82 when desired;

5 .

An extension 88 on the rear ofthe latch 83 is

Yprovided with a lug 31 which is adapted to engage
.the complementary recess Il formed` on the under
face of the bracket 83 secured to the dra'wworks
frame.

direction without again opening the master valve,

The brake lever 3S is maintained in-its released
which may then be only opened manually, thus 10 position by interengagement of the lug 81 with
assuring that when pressure of the required mag
nitude is again established in the reservoir Il_the
master valve 20 will not be opened to immediately

` the recess 88 and the latch 83 is released at the

same time.
-' The operating valve 22, as is customary inl
release the brake bands 3.
,
'such structures. is provided with a vent 90
In order to exhaust the air pressure fromgthe 15 whereby theair under pressure may be exhaust
cylinder 58 to permit the springs 59 to set the
ed into the atmosphere to permit the spring 55
brake bands 5, an exhaust valve 63 is provided.
to return the piston 25, thereby releasing brake
The exhaust valve 83 includes a cylinder 64 with
bands 5 from the brake drums d.
in which a piston 65 is mounted. The _cylinder 6B
The operation of this modification ofmy in
-is connected with the pressure conduit 2| by 20 vention is that with the master valve 20 open
means of a pressure conduit S3. 'I'he conduit
to admit air under pressure into the conduit
is connected to the cylinder 64 in such position
2l, and assumingI that the clutch jaws 3i and
as to bring the lfluid under pressure below the
32 are engaged, and that the manual control
piston 65 normally urging the same upward' to a
lever 36 is in the inoperative position illustrated
position to close the exhaust vent 61. The piston 25 in Figure 6, air under pressure may be supplied
to the brake setting cylinder 5t through the
65 is moved ln the reverse direction by means of
a balancing spring 38 set tov operate when the
exhaust valve t3, compressing the spring 59 to
pressure in the conduit 2l falls below the allow
hold the piston rod 53 in its -rear or cocked"
able minimum.
,
t
position. 'I'he driller may then actuate the
The cylinder St is connected by means of a 30 valve 22 to control movement of the brake shaft
conduit S9 with the cylinder 56 so that pressure
it by admitting fluid under pressure into the
is normally admitted below the piston 51 through
cylinder 26. >During such movement of the
the conduit 65 cylinder 64 and line 59. When the
brakes by 'fluid pressure, the manual control
piston 65 is moved in the reverse direction under
lever 36 does not follow the movement of the
the influence of the spring 38, the same seats on 35 brake shaft la because it is disconnected there
closure seat 1?closing this communication and
from as illustrated in Figure 6. Thus danger of
opening communication from the, conduit 69l
injury to _the driller or .other members of the
through the port 1l and exhaust passage 31,
drilling crew is avoided. The releasev of the

thereby exhausting the fluid under pressure with

brake bands 5 is accomplished by moving con
in the cylinder 5t permitting the spring 59 to 40 trol valve 22 to the oi" position whereby the
air line 23 is vented to the atmosphere through
move the piston rod 53 downward against the
piston 25 to move the brake arm 28 in a direction
the exhaust port 9G and the spring 55 retrieves
to set the brake bands E.

the piston rod 26.

'

Means are provided whereby exhaust valve 63

may be actuated to rst set the brakes and close
the master valve 203, which means include a lever
12 pivotally mounted on the cylinder @ and car

If for any reason the >pressure in the reservoir

so that when the lever 12 is pulled to rotate the

cam 13 the lever it is forced downwardly, pulling

moves the piston rod 36 and brake arm 28 for

ward against the eiect of the relatively weak '
spring 55 to set the brakes. It will be noted.

l1 should fall below the minimum value at which

-the operating cylinder 23 can safely hold the
drum l under full load, the exhaust valve 63
rying a cam 13. The cam 13 engages a second
immediately exhausts to the atmosphere ~the
lever .1t pivotally mounted on the cylinder @e
pressure in> the brakesetting cylinder 53. 'I'he
through which lever 1t piston rod 15 extends. ' spring at this time forces the piston rod 58
The piston rod 1E is provided with a rod head 1S, 60 forward into contact with the piston 25 and

the piston 65 downwardly against the seat 19,

thereby closing of? communication of pressure of
that this action occurs automatically without
the conduit 66 and opening the exhaust vent. 55 assistance from the driller.
It will be observed that the failure of the air
This results, as heretofore set forth, in the setting`
pressure does not release the clutch members
3l and 32> and therefore the sleeve 30 remains
11 extending over direction Vpulley 18 to. the 60 operatively connected to the brake shaft is so
that the emergency spring 59 acts to set the
drillers position Where it is provided with an op
brakes. The clutch members 3l and 32 do not
erating handle 19. Once actuated, the nose of
disengage because the exhaust valve 63 causes
the cam 13 acts tormaintain the exhaust valve
of the brakes;`

The lever 12 is'connected by means of a cable

*I open, thereby rendering the pressure system in- i

the emergency spring 59 to- set the brakes be- `

operative as, of course, will be immediately done 65 fore the pressure in the auxiliary cylinder 34 is
reduced suiciently to permit the spring 46 to
by the closing of the master valve 20.
manuall operated brake lever 3S is po
retrieve the clutch 33. Furthermore, the pres

sit'ilz'arrlid intermxediate the spaced `hubs 80 of the

sure on the clutch Jaws 3| and 32 due to the

force of the emergency spring 59 prevents dis

yoke 8l which is in turn fixed to the shaft N.
Integrally connecting the spaced hubs 80 is an 70 engagement of the clutch jaws while the brakes
are in applied position. When the .brake setting
abutment bar B2 which the brake lever 36 is
piston rod 58 moves forward, the latch element
adapted to contact to turn the brake shaft i3.
60 engages the pivoted latch element 6| and
` A latch 83 is pivoted on the brake lever 36 and

closes the master valve.I Should adequate air

compression spring 84 is provided to hold the
latch 83 in engagement with the abutment bar 75 pressure subsequently be restored, the fact that

2,282,015

the master valve 20 is closed prevents air pres

sure from entering the brake pressure cylinder
55 through the exhaust valve 63 to release the
brakes. Thus the master valve 20 must be re-.
opened manually and then if adequate air pres-v
sure is available, the exhaust valve 63 admits

air under pressure to the cylinder 56, retrieving

the piston rod 58 and permitting control of the
brakes again through the >medium of the control
valve 22.
If for any reason it is desired~ to operate the

brakes manually as. for example, if adequate

air pressure is not available or it is desired to
rotate the drum I to raise the load after the
air pressure has failed, the manually operable
means for the brakes are connected and the
fluid pressure operating means are rendered in

operative.

of failure of the air pressure, but also> provides

an emergency means through which the brakes
_ may be set at any' time by any vmember of the
crew in case of any ,emergency arising. This
emergency setting of the brakes may be accom

plished by any member of the crew at any time

of any emergency 'by merely pulling upon the
_cable 19, which action, as heretofore set forth,
immediately exhausts the air pressure from cylin
10 der 56, permitting an immediate setting of the
Y brakes under the influence of spring 59. This is
an extremely valuable feature of this invention
qas it allows for an immediate setting of the
brakes at any time as is often required in drill
15 ingoperations to prevent dropping- of the load as
carried by the line _spooled on the drum I in case

This is accomplished by swinging

manual ycontrol lever 36 down and latching the

of failure of any other part of-the system.

In the- modied form of my invention as illus--y

trated in Figures 8, 9 and 10, similar parts have

' same in~ operative position with _respect to _the 20 been indicated with a similar numeral. with the
addition-of an exponent b" thereto.
brake shaft I4, as illustrated in Figure 5. The
The principal difference between this modified
brakes are then held in set position by means of
form of my invention and that as illustrated and
the lever 36 and at the same time another indi
described with respect to Figures 1 to 7, inclusive,
vidual of the drilling crew inserts a bar (not
illustrated) in the socket 9| of the sleeve 30 to 25 is that in this modification Iv have dispensed with
the clutch including the clutch jaws 3| and 32
relieve the pressure between the clutch jaws 3|
for the fluid pressure control systemtogether.
andv 32. The clutch pedal _41 is then actuatedV
withv the clutch -actuating cylinder 34 and the
to disengage the clutch jaws. If it is desired to

continue the manual operation, the clutch pedal

is locked down to the frame by means of the
latch 53.

"

On release of the sleeve 30 from the shaft I4,

the spring 59 merely moves the piston -51 for
wardly to the end of the cylinder 56.

If it is l

clutch shifter pedal 41 and their attendant

mechanisms. All other parts of the system re

main substantially as explained in connection
with the modification of Figures 1 to 7, inclusive.
In this modification the brake arm 28b islactu
ated by the fluid pressure cylinder the same as

desired to -lock the clutch pedal 41 in raised 55 in the first describedmodification. The brake
arm 2|!h is pivotally connected to a crank V|00
position to prevent the accidental disengage
formed on the sleeve |0I. This sleeve |0I is ro
ment of the clutch 32 when the uid pressure
tatably mounted upon the brake shaft I4h inter
actuating system of the brakes is being utilized,
mediate the side bars |02 of the yoke |03. The
there is provided on the arm 49 a latch arm
92 which is moved to a position in alignment
with a bracket 93 carried by the -frame.
Complementary holes are formed through the
elements 92 and 93 to receive a. lock, pin, bolt,

yoke |03 is secured to the brake shaft I4b as il

lustrated at |04. ' The side bars |02 are provided

with aligned rectangular openings through which

a bumper bar |05 is inserted. A latch member

|06 is pivotally mounted upon the crank |00 and
padlock, or the like, 94, thus holding the clutch `
jaws 3| and 32 in engagement against accidental 45 is adapted to engage the bumper bar |05. A
release.

'

If this precaution has been taken, it would,

of course, be necessary to remove the latch ele
ment 94 before attempting the manual operation.~ When it is desired to return to fluid pres

sure operation f_rom manual operation, the op-erator, through the medium of the manual lever
36, holds the brakes in applied position while
the master valve- 20 is manually opened. As-'
suming there is then ~sufcient pressure in the
reservoir I1, the exhaust valve 63 is moved im
mediately to close the exhaust vent and admit
pressure under the piston 51 to re-compress the
spring 59. 'I'he clutch control cylinder 34 then

>spring |01 is provided to maintain the latch

I member |06 in engaged position.

If desired, an

opening |08 may be provided in the bumper bar v

|05 through which a pin, latch, or other means
50 may be inserted to prevent untimely withdrawal
l of the bumper bar.

The operation of this form o'f my, invention is

similar to that heretofore described. In so far
as the manual control is concerned, it differs only
in the manner of the operative connections pro
vided between the brake arm 20h andthe brake
shaft I4". When the manual controllever 36h
is in its inoperative position and the brakes are
being operated by air pressure, the link 28b con
moves the piston 31 in the direction to re-engage 60 trols the movement of the brake shaft I4b through
the crank |00, bumper bar |05 and latch |06.
the clutch jaws 3| and 32, this movement being
In the event that the brake-setting cylinder 55
permitted by Jrelease of the latch member 53..
should come into play and set the brakes either
Re-engagement of the clutch jaws 3| and 32 is
because of yfailure >of air pressure or as a result
accomplished by actuation of the control valve
of actuation ofthe emergency cable 19, manual
22 to bring the said jaws into correct relative
control may be resorted to. Manual control is
position, at which time full engagement will
established by swinging the manual control lev
occur under the impulsel imparted to the jaw 32
ers 36b'downward into >operative position to hold
from the clutch cylinder 34. The driller may
the brake bands 5b in applied position and the
then hold the brake bands 5 in applied position
by means of the service valve 22 while he ac 70 connection between the brake actuating arm 28b
tuates the release 85 and swings the control and brake shaft I4b is disrupted by relieving `the
pressure between the crank arm |00 and the
lever 36 back to the inoperative position of
bumper bar |05 by inserting a bar (not shown)
Figure 6.
.
.
in the recess 9| b of the sleeve |0I. The pressure
The exhaust valve 63 not only provides an
thus relieved, the bumper> bar |05 is withdrawn
automatic means for setting the brakes in event

acacia p

laterally from the openings in the side bars 102,

said emergency` control cylinder including a spring l

thus disconnecting the fluid pressure system from

acting in a direction to vapply the brake and
the brake shaft Mb.
pressure responsive means adapted to oppose such
Having fully described my invention, it is to
action of the spring, means interposed between
be understood that I do not wish to be limited 5 the uid pressure supply conduit and the emer
to the details herein set forth, but my invention
gency control cylinder adapted to de-energize the
is of the full scope of the appended claims.
pressure responsive means upon the vpressure in
Iclaim:
_
the supply conduit falling below a predeter
l. In a device for operating a friction brake,
mined magnitude, whereby the spring may ac
the combination of a brake shaft, connecting
tuate the crank to apply the, brake.
means whereby the brake shaft may actuate said
4. Ina device for operatingv a friction brake,
friction brake, a supply conduit adapted 'to de
. the combination of a' brake shaft, connecting
liver fluld under pressure, a master valve in saidv _means whereby the brake shaft may actuate said
conduit, a service control cylinder responsive to
friction brake, a supply conduit adapted to de
fluid pressure and adapted to actuate said brake 15 liver fiuid under pressure, -a crank rotatably
shaft, a service valve operatively interposed be
mounted' on said brake shaft, releasable means
tween said master valve and said service control
selectivelyy operable to connect the crank with
cylinder and adapted to regulate iiuid pressure in
said brake shaft, a` service control cylinder re
the latter when the former is in open position,
sponsive to fluid pressure and adapted to actu
emergency control means adaptedto actuate said 20 ate said crank, a service valve- operatively inter- _
brake shaft including resilient means acting in a
posed between said supply conduit and- said serv
direction to set the brake and pressure responsive
ice control cylinder and adapted to regulate fluid
means 'acting to oppose such action by the- re
pressure in the latter, an emergency control cyl
silient means, a protective valve operatively in
inder positioned inl tandem relation with respect
'terposed between the master valve andthe pres 25 to said service control cylinder and adapted to
sure responsive means for the emergency control
actuate said crank, means associated with said
means, said protective valve acting to de-energize
emergency control cylinder including a spring
the pressure responsive means for the emergency
acting in a direction to apply the brake and pres
control means upon the uid pressure in the pro

sure responsive means adapted to oppose such

tective valve falling below a predetermined value, 30 action of the spring, means interposed between
and thereby permit the resilient means to actu
the fluid pressure supply conduit and the emer
ate the brake shaft to apply the brake, and means
gency control cylinder adapted to de-energize
associated with said emergency control means
the pressure responsive means upon the pressure
adapted to- close the master valve upon move
in the supply conduit falling below a predeter
ment of the emergency control means to apply
mined magnitude, whereby the spring may actu
the brake.

- -

ate the crank to apply the brake.

2. In a device for operating a friction brake, o

5. In a device foroperating a friction brake,

the combination of a brake shaft, connecting
the combination- of a brake shaft, connecting
means whereby -the brake shaft may actuate said
means whereby the brake shaft may actuate said
friction brake, a supply conduit adapted to de 40 friction brake,'a fluid pressure supply conduit, a
liver uid under pressure, service control means
master valve in said conduit, a service cylinder
for said brake shaft including pressurerespon
having a service piston and rod therein, operaf
sive means adapted to actuate said brake shaft,
tive connections whereby the service piston rod
a passage connecting the supply conduit and -the
may actuate the brake shaft, a service valve op
service control means, a service valve operatively
eratively interposed between the master valve and
interposed in said passage and adapted to regu
y the service cylinder and adapted to regulate the
late the degree of fluid pressure acting on said
degree of iuid pressure acting against the service
pressure responsive means, an emergency control
piston and rod when the master valve is in open
means for said brake shaft including resilient - position, >an emergency cylinder having an amer-_
means acting in a direction to set the brake and 50 gency piston and rod therein and positioned ad-l
pressure responsive means normally acting to op
, jacent the service lcylinder whereby the emer
pose such action by the resilient means, a protec
gency piston rod may contact the service piston,
tive valve operatively interposed between the sup
a spring associated with said emergency cylin
' ply conduit and the pressure responsive means
der adapted to move said emergency piston rod
for the emergency control means, said protec
toward said service piston, fluid pressure supply
tive valve acting to de-energize the pressure re
means connecting said emergency cylinder to said
sponsive means for the emergency control means
conduit, the pressure in said emergency cylinder
upon the Afluid pressure in theprotective valve
normally acting to oppose the force of the spring

falling below a predetermined value, whereby the

to maintain the emergency piston and rod in

resilient means may actuate the brake shaft to 60 inoperative position, a protective valve associated
set the brake.
with said fluid pressure supply means and adapted
3. In a device for operating a friction brake,
to exhaust the pressure in the emergency cylin
the combination of a brake shaft, connecting
der upon the fluid pressure in the said conduit
means whereby the brake shaft may actuate said
falling below a predetermined value, the spring
friction brake, a supply conduit adapted to de
automatically forcing the emergency piston rod
liver uid under pressure, a crank operatively
to movey the service- piston and'rod to' apply the
connected to said brake shaft, a service control
brake u_pon exhaust of the emergency cylinder, '
cylinder responsive to uid pressure and adapted
and means adapted to close the master valve upon
to actuate said crank, a service valve operatively
movement of the emergency piston rod to apply
interposed between said supply conduit and said
the brake.
`
\
service control cylinder and adapted to regulate
6. In a fluid pressure device for operating the
uid pressure in the latter, an emergency con
brakes of a drawworks, the combination of a
trol cylinder positioned in tandem relation with
brake shaft, a -member rotatably mounted rela
respect to said service control cylinder and adapt
tive to the brake shaft, pressure responsive means;
ed to actuate said crank, means associated with
operativelyy connected to actuate said member, a

'

.>

afstaan;`

uid pressure supply conduit communicating with

emergency control may be manually- de-ener

said pressure responsive means, a vvalve asso

gized in case of emergency, said resilient means

ciated with said conduit adapted to control the

operation of said pressure responsive means, re

tion being effected.

acting to- apply the brake upon such de-energiza

'

10. In a drilling rig including a drawworks

leasable means to connect said member with the 5
having a spooling drum and a friction brake'for
brake shaft in non-rotatable relation, and aux
said spooling drum, the combination of a brake
iliary pressure responsive means connected to said
shaft, connecting means whereby the brake shaft
conduit and acting to maintain said releasable
may actuate said friction brake, a supply con
means in engaged position.
,
7. In a device for operating a friction brake. 10 duit adapted to deliver uid under pressure, serv
ice control means for said brake shaft includ
the combination of a brake shaft, connecting
ing pressure. responsive means adapted to ac
means whereby the brake shaft may actuate said
tuate said brake shaft, a service valve opera
friction brake, a supply conduit adapted t6" de
tively interposed between said supply conduit
liver fluid under pressure, al master valve in said
conduit, a member rotatably mounted on said -15 and said service control means and adapted to
regulate operation of the latter, a manually op
i ` brake shaft, releasable clutch means selectively
eratedcontrol lever for said service valve', an
operable 4to engage said member with said brake
emergency control means for said brake shaft in
shaft, an auxiliary cylinder responsive to iluid
cluding a cylinder having a piston therein and
pressure and operatively interposed between said
master valve and> said clutch means, said aux 20 a rod for` said piston, spring means acting to
iliary cylinder acting to maintainv said clutch- -move saidrod in a direction to apply the brake,

means to' admit fluid pressure 'from said conduit

- ` means in engaged position while said master valve

. is in open position, a'service control cylinder re- ,Y -

into >said- ,cylinder whereby the piston normally

sponsive to iluid ypressure and operatively con-T acts-to oppose such movement of the rod, and
nected to actuate said member, a, service valve 25 manually operable means adapted to exhaust
the pressure in said cylinder to permit the spring
i -operatively inte?osed between said master valve
to apply the brake, said manually operable means
and said _service control cylinder and adapted to
control the operation of the latter,vand means .- including an emergency cable which may be ac
tuated in emergency from any one of a plurality
acting automatically to close said master vaive

upon the pressurein the 'supply conduit falling 30 of locations remote- from said service valve con
below a predetermined magnitude.

trol lever.

11. In a drawworks having a spooling drum and

r 8. In 'a fluid pressure device for operating the
a friction brake for said spooling drum, the com
brakes of a drawworks, the combination of a
bination of a lbrake shaft, connecting means
?uid pressure supply conduit, a brake shaft, a
lever on said shaft whereby the brakes may be 35 .whereby the brake shaft may aCctuate the fric
tion brake, a pair of crank members secured on
manually operated, a member rotatably mounted
said brake shaft in fixed angular relation, a
on said brake shaft, releasable clutch means
lever associated with each o'f said crank mem
adapted to operatively connect lthe member to

bers and pivotally mounted upon said brake shaft,

the brake shaft, pressure responsive means
adapted to actuate said member to control the 40 an abutment element operatively interposed be- v
tween each crank member and its respective lever
-operation of the brakes, valve means operatively
whereby movement of either lever in one direc
interposed between said supply conduit and said
tion acts to turn the brake shaft in that direc
pressure responsive means and adapted to con
tion, a releasable latch operatively interposed
trol the operation of the latter, auxiliary uid
,.pressure means connected to said supply conduit 5 _between one of said crank members and its re
spective lever whereby movement'of said lever
normally acting to maintain said clutch means
in the other direction acts to turn the brake shaft
in engagement, and shifter means manually -op
iny the other direction, the abutment element for
_erable to release said clutch means.
the otherlof said crank members being removable
9. In a rotary drawworks having a spooling
drum and a friction brake for said spooling drum, 50 to permit operation of the brake shaft inde
pendently of the lever associated therewith, the
the combination of a brake shaft, connecting
lever having the latch being adapted for manual
means whereby the brake shaft may actuate said
operation, and fiuid pressure means operatively
friction brake, a supply conduit adapted to de
connected to operate the other lever.
liver fiuid under pressure, service control means
12, In a device for operating _a friction brake,
for said brake shaft including pressure respon
the combination of an actuating element, means
sive means adapted to actuate said brake shaft,
whereby the actuating element may operate the
a service valve operatively interposed between
friction brake, resilient means acting on said ac

said supply conduit and said service control means

tuating element to apply the friction brake, pres-

and adapted to regulate operation of the latter,

an emergency cont'rol means for said brake shaft 60 sure responsive means .associated with said ac- `

tuating element .and adapted to' oppose such ac

tion of the resilient means, means adapted to
supply fluid under pressure to said pressure re
sponsive means, and means operable independently of the pressure responsive means and adapted
to vent the fluid pressure in the pressure respon

including resilient means acting in a direction to

. set the brake and pressure responsive means nor

mally acting to oppose such action by the resil

` ient means, a protective valve operatively inter

posed between the supply conduit and >the pres

sure responsive means for the emergency con
- - trol means, said protective valve being operable

sive means upon said pressure falling below a

predetermined value, whereby the resilient means

may move the actuating element to apply the
and adapted to automatically de-energize the
_ pressure responsive means for the emergency con 70 friction brake.
independently of the emergency control means
trol means upon the fluid pressure in said con

duit falling below a predetermined magnitude,

13. In adevice for operating a friction brake,

the combination of an actuating element. con

necting means'whereby the actuating element

'may operate the friction brake, resilient means
ergency cable connected to _said protective valve
whereby the pressure responsive means for the 75 acting on said actuating element to apply the
and manually operable means including an em

y 2,282,615

friction brake, pressure responsive means associ

ated with said actuating element and adapted to

7 '

tion brakeresiiient means acting to urge said '

duit adapted to supply fluid under pressure to-

element in a direction to apply the brake, means

adapted to supply air under pressure to said
emergency control cylinder whereby such action

said pressure responsive means, a valve in said

of the resilient means may be pneumatically op

conduit means adapted to vent the fluid pressure V

in the pressure responsive means upon said'pres
" sure falling below a predetermined value, where
by the resilient means may move the actuating
element to apply the friction brake, and means 10

posed, and a protective valve automatically and

oppose such action of the resilient means, a con

associated with said actuating element adapted ,

to close the valve upon movement of the actu

ating element to apply the friction brake.
14. In a device for operating a friction brake,
the combination oi- a. cylinder having a piston
slidably mounted therein, a piston rod secured
to said piston, connecting means whereby the
piston rod may actuate the friction brake, resili
ent means acting to urge said piston rod in a

direction to apply the friction brake, means in

cluding a conduit to supply fluid under pressure
to said piston and cylinder whereby such action
of the resilient means maybe pneumatically op
posed, and a protective valve operable independ
ently of said piston and adapted to vent the
cylinder to atmosphere in the event the fluid

independently operable in the event that the air

pressure available for actuating the service con
trol cylinder falls below a predetermined value
and adapted to vent the emergency control cylin-der toatmosphere, whereby the resilient means
may move said element to apply the friction

brake.
16. In

a device for actuating a friction brake,

the combination of spring means reslliently act
ing to apply the brake, pressure responsive means
normally acting to oppose the spring means. a
fluid pressure supply line for said pressure re
sponsive means, and means automatically oper
vaisle independently of the pressure responsive
means adapted upon decrease in availablesup~
ply line pressure to reduce the pressure in the
pressure responsive means to a value below that
in the supply line.

17. In a device for actuating a friction brake,

the combination of pressure responsive means

pressure therein falls below a predetermined

value, whereby the resilient means may move the

.adapted for service operation of the brake, a>

piston rod to apply the friction brake;

means for applying the brake upon failure or re

pressure supply line for said means, emergency

15. In a device for operating a friction brake, 30 duction of supply line pressure including a spring
acting in a> direction to apply the brake and a
sponsive to air pressure `and operatively con
second pressure responsive means for opposing

` the combination of a service control cylinder re

nected to actuate the friction brake, means

the spring, and means automatically operable in- -

adapted to deliver air under pressure to said

dependently of the pressure- responsive means

adapted to vent said second pressure responsive

service control cylinder, a self lapping valve op

eratively associated with said means and adapted
to regulate the degree of pressure in said service
control cylinder, an emergency control cylinder
having an element adapted to actuate the fric

means upon reduction of supply line pressure

whereby the spring may apply the brake.

JOHN D. SPALDING.