Universal, portable, concrete slab base for pump jacks

A universal, portable base for heavy equipment, such as pump jacks, has a substantially rectangular slab of reinforced concrete with three rails extending longitudinally from end-to-end thereof substantially equally spaced apart. Anchor slides fit over the rails and can be moved along the rails to appropriate positions for receiving tie-down devices for securing heavy equipment to the base. The base includes networks of reinforcing steel bars extending longitudinally and transversally of the base intermediate its thickness with one network being secured to the longitudinal rails.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field 
The invention is in the field of concrete slab supporting bases for 
receiving and anchoring heavy power-driven equipment, specifically pump 
jacks as placed adjacent to oil wells. 
2. State of the Art 
Portable concrete slab bases for receiving and anchoring pump jacks have 
been developed in the past and have been used extensively. One of the 
drawbacks to these has been the fact that they have been built so that 
each accommodates only a single or a limited number of different sizes and 
types of pump jacks. There has been no universally applicable pump jack 
base. 
3. Objective 
A principal objective in the making of the invention was to provide a 
concrete slab base for pump jacks that can accommodate practically any of 
the sizes and types of commercially available pump jacks, so that, during 
production from a given oil well by pumping, a larger size pump and pump 
jack can be installed when necessary without first removing the original 
base, followed by installation of a new base specially made for the larger 
pump jack, and so that a single base has universal application as to pump 
types, either with respect to all lengths or with respect to different 
types of pumps within a given length, i.e. twenty-four feet, twenty-eight 
feet, or forty feet in length. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In accordance with the invention, a reinforced concrete base for transport 
to the required site is cast top-side-up at a production plant in a form 
structure that is easily removed after the concrete is set. The resulting 
base is provided with three equally-spaced-apart rails in the form of 
I-beams or equivalent structural lengths extending longitudinally from 
end-to-end of the base, with the lower flanges and lower part of the web 
firmly embedded in the concrete and the upper flanges and upper part of 
the web free within respective longitudinal recesses opening into the 
upper face and into the opposite end faces of the concrete slab. The upper 
flanges of the I-beams are substantially flush with or slightly lower than 
the upper face of the slab and their opposite ends are exposed at the 
opposite open ends of the longitudinal recesses, so as to receive 
anchoring slides. Such slides are provided with longitudinal slots at and 
centrally along their undersides, which slots are expanded laterally 
interiorly of the bodies of the slides for fitting onto and over the 
exposed rail portions of the I-beams, so as to slide therealong to 
selected adjusted positions conforming to the tie-down requirements of the 
particular pump jack. Each has an internally threaded opening extending 
downwardly from its upper surface for receiving an externally threaded 
tie-down element. 
Outboard of the three rails, intermediate the length of the slab and at the 
opposite sides thereof within corresponding recesses, are respective short 
rails for use when the pump jack is a Lufkin Air Balance. The recesses are 
sufficiently long to permit installation of anchor slides. 
The form structure is of rectangular formation open at the top and bottom 
and has end walls separable from longitudinal side walls. The usual form 
wedges are preferably used for fastening such walls together during the 
pouring and setting of the concrete and for freeing such walls from one 
another when the form is to be removed after the concrete is set. 
Means are provided for supporting the three I-beams in appropriate relative 
positions within the form during the concrete casting operation and the 
subseqent setting of the concrete, and for supporting paired lengths of 
angle irons in channel formation about the respective I-beams as form 
structure for the longitudinal recesses within which the upper portions of 
the I-beams are freely exposed. Such angle irons may remain as part of the 
slab base or may be loosened and removed with the remainder of the form 
structure after the concrete is set. 
The reinforcement for the concrete slab base is preferably made up of 
networks of reinforcing bars extending longitudinally and transversly of 
the interior of the form, a lower one being supported by blocks resting on 
the pouring surface on which the form is placed and an upper one being 
supported by and secured to the three I-beams, preferably by passing the 
transverse bars through holes in the webs of the three I-beams. 
Preferably, the pouring surface is provided by a permanently placed 
concrete slab deck of size sufficient to receive and support the form 
structure. Its upper surface, which receives the poured concrete, may be 
covered with a plastic film or other suitable material capable of 
providing for free parting of the cast slab therefrom. 
The form structure is placed top-side-up, with the upper flanges of the 
I-beams substantially flush or slightly below the open top of the form 
structure so that the finished base is top-side-up upon removal of the 
form structure. 
In providing for the relatively short, outboard rails at respectively 
opposite sides of the group of three rails, individual box forms are 
positioned about relatively short I-beam lengths supported on the pouring 
surface by suitable blocks. These blocks are preferably upstanding lengths 
of I-beams that remain in the concrete slab as cast. The short I-beams are 
also preferably secured to the upper network of reinforcing bars. 
To provide for drainage channels leading from the outboard recesses, 
lengths of pipe extend from the respective outboard form boxes to the 
respective side walls of the form structure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT 
In its illustrated form, the pump jack base comprises a reinforced concrete 
slab 10 of rectangular configuration, having a top side 10a for receiving 
a pump jack or similar equipment, opposite end faces 10b, respectively, 
and opposite side faces 10c, respectively. 
Equally spaced apart in slab 10 are three structural steel I-beams 
designated 11, respectively, extending longitudinally of the slab from 
end-to-end thereof. The upper surfaces of their upper flanges 11a are 
perferably slightly below (1/8-inch) slab top side 10a and serve as rails 
for slidably receiving anchor slides 12, FIGS. 3, 4, 6, and 7. Their 
bottom flanges 11b and lower portions of their webs 11c are embedded in 
the concrete of the slab, but the upper flanges 11a and upper portions of 
the webs 11c are freely exposed within respective longitudinal recesses 13 
that extend from end-to-end of the slab and open into the opposite end 
faces 10b of the slab. 
Each of the anchor slides 12 is formed to receive and slide back and forth 
on any one of the rails 11a and to be attached or detachable only by being 
slid on or off the rail at either end thereof. For this purpose, each is 
formed with longitudinal slot 14 at and extending centrally along its 
underside, which slot is expanded laterally interiorly of the body of the 
slide, as at 14a, so the slide will fit onto and over the exposed rail 
portion of an I-beam 11. It is preferably formed with an upstanding boss 
member 12a, which has an internally threaded opening 15 therethrough for 
receiving in screw engagement the lower end of an externally threaded 
tie-down element 16, FIG. 5, preferably a selected length of so-called 
"all thread" rod. 
For accommodating a Lufkin Air Balance, which has a wider tie-down 
structure in the form of outriggers at an intermediate location along its 
length than other pump jacks, the slab 10 is provided with a pair of 
relatively short (e.g., thirty inch) I-beams 17 located approximately 
centrally of its length outboard of the group of three rails 11 at 
opposite sides thereof between the outer rails and the side faces 10c of 
the slab. These have their lower flanges and lower portions of their webs 
embedded in the concrete and their upper flanges and upper portions of 
their webs freely exposed in short longitudinal recesses 18 in a manner 
similar to that of the I-beams 11, the recesses 18 being sufficently 
longer than the I-beams 17 at either or both ends thereof to provide for 
placing anchor slides 12 on the exposed rail portions thereof. Drainage 
from the otherwise closed box recesses 18 is provided for by drain pipes 
19 opening at respective side faces 10c of the slab. 
Concrete slab 10 is reinforced preferably by the usual reinforcing steel 
bars formed into networks 20 and 21, FIGS. 8, 10, and 11, of 
longitudinally and transversely extending bars, the network 20 being 
intermediate the thickness of the slab below I-beams 11, preferably made 
up in one foot squares, and the network 21 being immediately above the 
bottom flanges 11b of such I-beams, as shown in FIG. 10, with the 
transverse rods extending through holes drilled in the webs of the 
I-beams. The bars of the network are held in position relative to one 
another in the usual manner, by wire ties (not shown). 
The pump jack base of the invention should have a length of forty feet to 
be truly universal in accepting all sizes of pump jacks, but may be made 
in lengths of twenty-four or twenty-eight feet to conserve material in 
those instances in which it is unlikely that a longer length will ever by 
required. Its thickness will normally be one foot and its overall width 
eight feet, with the rails 11a twenty-eight inches apart center-to-center 
and symmetrically grouped on the slab. 
Pump jacks are of various dimensions and styles, the one shown partially 
(only the T-base frame of the pump jack is shown) in FIG. 5 as 22 being 
typical. So-called "tie-downs" are customarily employed for anchoring 
purposes. In accorance with the invention, elongate tie-downs 23 are 
fabricated from structural channels fastened together back-to-back with 
spacers at intervals therebetween leaving spaces through which the 
tie-down elements 16 are passed screwing into the bosses 12a of anchor 
slides 12. Washers 24, FIGS. 6 and 7, are placed on the upper ends of the 
elements and nuts 25 are cinched down tightly when the tie-downs are 
appropriately placed across pump jack structure, either transversely or 
longitudinally as shown in FIG. 5. 
A somewhat different form of tie-down is shown at 26, 23a indicative of 
what may be employed where something different is called for. As shown, 
the tie-downs may be secured to a single rail, to two of the rails, or to 
all three of the rails 11. 
The concrete for the slab 10 is poured into a rectangular form 26 prepared 
for the purpose, with the I-beams and reinforcement networks properly 
placed. Such form 26 preferably comprises longitudinal side walls 27, 
FIGS. 8, 9, and 10, and end walls 28 temporarily attached together in the 
usual manner, with form wedges (not shown) arranged to separate such walls 
following setting of the concrete. The form as so constituted, with open 
top and bottom, is placed top-side-up on a smooth supporting surface 29, 
usually the top of a supporting slab of concrete somewhat larger than the 
form structure, which is covered with a thin plastic film (not shown) or 
other material insuring parting of the cast slab from the surface on which 
it is cast. 
I-beams 11 are supported at proper positions in form 26 by short pieces 30, 
FIG. 8, of structural steel angle welded to the inner face of each form 
end wall 28. Corner plates 31 are welded in the opposite ends of pairs of 
structural steel angles 32 so that the angles can be secured to the frame 
by bolts 31a in confronting relationship at opposite sides of the webs 11c 
of respective I-beams 11 as forms for the recesses 13 to be left free of 
concrete during the pouring operation. The use of bolts 31a in the manner 
described strengthens the overall forms during the pouring and vibrating 
of the concrete, yet the angles 32 can be easily unbolted for the removal 
of the form and removal of the angles after the concrete has set. The 
I-beams are supported along their length as necessary to prevent sagging 
by short lengths of I-beams 11d standing on end. With a slab up to about 
twenty-eight feet in length, one such support 11d at about the center of 
each beam 11 has been found satisfactory. With longer bases, additional 
supports are necessary. The transverse pieces of reinforcing bar 21 pass 
through holes drilled in the webs of beams 11 and, preferably, at least 
about one-third of the reinforcing bars are welded to I-beams 11. The 
lower reinforcing network 20 is placed upon a number of blocks 33 to 
position it at the proper height within form 26. 
The relatively short I-beams 17 are made part of small box forms 34 which 
are dimensioned to provide the necessary free space around I-beams 17 for 
positioning of anchor slides 12 thereon. I-beams 17 may be arranged in 
various ways to insure proper anchorage of such I-beams in the concrete 
slab, for example, as shown, by passing several of the transverse pieces 
of reinforcing bars 21 through the web of such beams and welding or 
otherwise securely fastening them to the I-beams. Such box forms 34 are 
supported at the proper height within form 26 by blocks 35, FIG. 2, 
conveniently in the form of appropriate short lengths of I-beams standing 
on end. The steel angles 34a which form part of the forms 34 extend about 
two inches beyond the ends of I-beam 17 as shown in FIG. 11, with a block 
of material such as wood or styrofoam, shown at 34b, FIG. 8, inserted 
between the angles 34a at the ends of I-beam 17 to keep the concrete from 
such ends. Angles 34a can be spot-welded to the webs of I-beams 17 so that 
they can be easily removed after the concrete sets. 
To provide the drains 19 from the otherwise closed, box-like spaces within 
which are the rails 17, short lengths of pipe (usually one inch O.D.) 
extend through respective receiving openings at the bottoms of box forms 
34 and to the inner wall faces of the respective sidewalls 27 of form 26. 
A high-grade concrete mix is poured into form structure 26 and vibrated in 
suitable manner to insure a dense and strong body. The upper surface is 
screed in the usual manner, taking care to leave the protected recesses 
free of concrete. After the concrete is set and cured for a suitable time 
period, the side and end walls 27 and 28 are separated in the usual manner 
and removed, leaving the finished slab base as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The 
structural angles 32 may or may not be left as part of the finished slab 
base. As illustrated, they have been removed for use in forming other 
units. 
It should be noted that the finished base of the invention is top-side-up 
as cast and need merely be lifted onto the flat bed of a truck or rail car 
for transportation to the well site. 
Some pump jobs will require tie-down only to the center rail 11, others 
only to the outside rails, and others to only two mutually adjacent rails 
of the group of three provided by the base. 
Whereas this invention is here illustrated and described with specific 
reference to an embodiment thereof presently contemplated as the best mode 
of carrying out such invention in practice, it is to be understood that 
various changes may be made in adapting the invention to different 
embodiments without departing from the broader inventive concepts 
disclosed herein and comprehended by the claims that follow.