The Indianapolis journal., 1903-11-15
THE PORTABLE DERRICK.
Recent Invention That In Likely to
Transform Oil Fields.
philadelphia Record.

Philadelphia Record.
Some very interesting new types OF der
ricks and cranes have recently made their
appearance I'm the industrial and engineer
ing world. One of the most novel OF these
is portable safety steel derrick for pull
ing casing, tubing and rods. AS will be ap-
preciated by persons I'm the oil regions OF
Pennsylvania and elsewhere. the erection
and maintenance of wooden derricks over
oil or gas wells, the only purpose Of which
Is the pulling Of wells when necessary is q
very considerable item of cost OF operation.
Moreover, a wooden derrick is likely TO
blow down. or decay, and even IN the for
mer event considerable expense is necessi-
tated in its re-erection. Operators have
long sought means whereby pulling could
be done by portable derrfcks but IL Is only
recently that practical solution has been
supplied through the ingenuity Of Erwin
Weaver. an experienced oil man. who has
invented a safety steel derrick, pulling
machine. as 1t is called. The new portable
steel derrick is composed entirely Of steel
is mounted on steel trucks and has a bull
wheel with brakes attachment to prevent
the dropping Of tubing or rods. The total
pulling height Of the machine is about forty
feet. The whole machine. including the
trucks, weighs only about $500 pounds, and
Is easily transported from well to well
The operation OF the machine IS very
simple. After the trucks are put in place
at the well the derrick is easily raised per-
pendicular by the aid OF the bull wheel.
The legs or uprights OF the derrick. two In
number, then rest two-inch plank.
one foot wide by six or eight feet long.
Two braces are attached 20 the center Of
C4l l.-lx -
forming firm and solid base for the der
rick. a single guy rope attached to the
top of the derrick is made fast TO a stake
about ten feet In advance or the wagon
tongue. A few preliminaries. including rum
ming UP the extension to it's full height by
the MD OF q crank, can be attended to in .
very brief interval and, indeed the whole
time Of getting the truck in working order
after arrival at well does not exceed
twenty minutes.
In the pulling Of rods only one man and
the teamster are needed, but II tubing r.
to be pulled an additional hand In required.
In replacing rods an economical system 10
employed. While a rod Is being lowered IN
the well another rod Ii being pulled into
place by means OF an extra pulley I'm the
top of the derrick, thus saving much time
is completed the derrick Is easily folded
back on the trucks by the aid Of the bull
to h the next mex we'll. The whole time OF rais- i
ing and <olejDS seldom exceeds ten minutes.
Engineers who have experimented with tho
new aI apparatus assert = that "a, as an an economic
safety steel derrick is second only in TIM
portance to the gas engine;
In the field OF continual development--
crane manufacture-the latest advance ap-
pears to be In pneumatic apparatus. Much
has been heard OF late years regarding
the new electric cranes which have made
their appearances in America, but evidently
they will fnd serious rivals IN some Of the
new cranes operated by compressed air.
Particularly IS this the case with some
cranes.
These novelties in the realm Of powerful
One type Of revolving crane has q capac.
az hook % Int iiSt of ppI Twelve feet % SIX Il inches ana
total height from the rail TO the top Of tho
class of cranes are OF similar design. but
OF larger capacity. and are made fn 2.0oQ
pacity, with a standard reach of twelve feet,
q standard hook lift Of twelve feet sin
inches and total height from the ran 70
the top Of the boom Of fifteen feet eight
inches.
All cranes Of this style are built mounted
on standard cars and arranged for stand
ever, the new cranes are being mounted
on special hand trucks for convenienct In
moving about in storerooms. warehouses or
with a set OF rail clamps. which secure the
car to the rail- TO prevent tipping when
lifting the load. The machines within them
selves are not nedVy enough 10 prevent
tipping when lifting the load. without being
anchored In some instances cranes are
being furnished with counter-baIance on the
turnfable which obviates the necessity for
the use of the rail clamps. The cars ars
extra heavy. and the crane base Is boited
directly to the car. AT the upper edge Is
a machined ball race containing 1ss ground
steel balls.
The hoisting cylinder is securely fastened
10 the turntable, and TO this cylinder II
applied the air for hoisting. The booms
are made OF heavy channels stiffened by
top truss rods Gables are ordinarily made
In two parts for hook lift OF twelve feet
six inches. but may. OF course. be modi-
fed TO suit the hook lift required. The
air Is applied In such way as 10 enable
the operator 10 stand on top Of the turn
table and handle the crane for all move
ments without changing his position Some
OF these new air-power cranes are being
ntted with horizontal boom with trolley.
which racks In and out OF the boom, thus
giving four applications OF power. Each
crane Is furnished with motor for travers-
ing the up and down the track The
new cranes bid fair TO prove very successful
In loading freight cars, In coaling locomo-
uves and in all situations where heavy
lifting IS required