U.S. patent application number 11/231288 was filed with the patent office on 2007-03-22 for support link for wellbore apparatus.
Invention is credited to Pieter Dekker, Bob DePont, Anton Drijnen, Mike Schats.
Application Number | 20070062688 11/231288 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37398869 |
Filed Date | 2007-03-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070062688 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Schats; Mike ; et
al. |
March 22, 2007 |
Support link for wellbore apparatus
Abstract
A link for supporting a wellbore apparatus, the link in one
aspect, having a link body with a first end spaced-apart from a
second end, a handle on the first end.
Inventors: |
Schats; Mike; (Eindnoven,
NL) ; DePont; Bob; (Dongen, NL) ; Dekker;
Pieter; (Badrland, NL) ; Drijnen; Anton;
(Klundfrt, NL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Guy McClung
PMB 347
16690 Champion Forest Drive
Spring
TX
77379-7023
US
|
Family ID: |
37398869 |
Appl. No.: |
11/231288 |
Filed: |
September 20, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
166/77.51 ;
166/85.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E21B 19/06 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
166/077.51 ;
166/085.1 |
International
Class: |
E21B 19/18 20060101
E21B019/18 |
Claims
1. A link for supporting a wellbore apparatus, the link comprising
a link body with a first end spaced-apart from a second end, and a
handle on the first end.
2. The link of claim 1 further comprising a first eye at the first
end of the link body.
3. The link of claim 2 further comprising a second eye at the
second end of the link body.
4. The link of claim 1 wherein the handle is located on the link
body to facilitate movement of a door of an elevator by
personnel.
5. The link of claim 1 wherein the handle is formed integrally of
the link body.
6. The link of claim 1 wherein the handle is located adjacent the
first eye.
7. The link of claim 1 wherein the handle is releasably secured to
a portion of the link body.
8. The link of claim 1 wherein the handle comprises a first part, a
second part, the second part positionable adjacent the first part
with a portion of the link body therebetween, and the first part
securable to the second part to secure the handle to the link
body.
9. The link of claim 1 wherein the handle has an opening
therethrough so that a portion of the handle is manually
graspable.
10. The link of claim 8 wherein the first part has an opening
therethrough so that a portion of the handle is manually
graspable.
11. The link of claim 7 wherein the wellbore apparatus has a part
about which the handle is securable, said part having an exterior
part shape, the handle having a portion with an interior handle
shape corresponding to said exterior part shape, the handle
positioned with the exterior part shape adjacent the interior
handle shape.
12. A link for supporting a wellbore apparatus, the link comprising
a link body with a first end spaced-apart from a second end, a
handle on the first end, a first eye at the first end of the link
body, wherein the handle is located adjacent the first eye, wherein
the handle is releasably secured to a portion of the link body, and
wherein the handle has an opening therethrough so that a portion of
the handle is manually graspable.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention is related to: supports, links, and
bails, e.g., for wellbore apparatus; elevator systems; elevators
for wellbore operations; and method of their use.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art
[0004] Wellbore operations often involve tubulars (e.g. pipe,
tubing, and casing) and strings of tubulars which are run into and
out of boreholes. Elevators are used in such operations to hold,
lift, and lower tubulars.
[0005] Several typical prior art elevators have heavy hinged clamps
attached to a hook and traveling block by bail-like arms, or
"bails". Elevators often may have one or more doors which close
around a tubular. There are single-door and split-door types. One
type hinges to open to admit or eject pipe. In hoisting a joint of
drill pipe, the elevators are latched onto the pipe just below the
tool joint (coupling) which prevents the drill pipe from slipping
through the elevator. In lifting casing or tubing, the sections of
such tubulars either have an upset end, or they are joined together
with an enlarged collar. When the elevator is in a closed position,
i.e., when the one or two doors are closed shut, the internal
diameter of the elevator is less than the outer diameter of the end
of the enlarged tool joint, upset, or collar, preventing the
tubular from slipping through the elevator.
[0006] In many methods used in handling very large pipe, each
section of pipe is picked up from a horizontal or non-vertical
position and swung to a vertical position for stabbing into the
connection of the assembled tubular string. Certain prior art
elevators are placed on the pipe and pivot to orient an elevator
throat opening downward with the door or doors swinging on
hinge(s). The doors on a large elevator, which must be closed
around the pipe, may weigh several hundred pounds. An elevator with
door(s) needs clearance for the door(s) to swing in an arc under
the pipe being engaged. The pipe has to be elevated, or clearance
otherwise provided, for such swinging doors.
[0007] "Non-slip" prior art elevators have generally been
constructed with doors (generally, one or two) which open to allow
the insertion or removal of the tubulars; doors which traditionally
are heavy, slow in operation, difficult to handle and can present a
considerable safety hazard to the operator. With very heavy
tubulars, for example, large casing, the tubular is initially in a
horizontal or non-vertical position, laying in place on or near the
floor beneath a derrick. The hinged door elevator is lowered near
the point of attachment to the tubular. The door or doors, which
may weigh several hundred pounds, much then be opened to allow the
elevator to be placed over the tubular. Because the door or doors
must close around the tubular, the tubular end around which the
elevator is located is often above the derrick floor.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0008] The present invention discloses, in certain aspects, a link
for supporting a wellbore apparatus, the link having a link body
with a first end spaced-apart from a second end, and a handle on
the first end; a first eye at the first end of the link body; a
second eye at the second end of the link body; wherein the handle
is located on the link body to facilitate movement of a door of an
elevator by personnel; wherein the handle is formed integrally of
the link body; wherein the handle is located adjacent the first
eye; wherein the handle is releasably secured to a portion of the
link body; wherein the handle includes a first part, a second part,
the second part positionable adjacent the first part with a portion
of the link body therebetween, and the first part securable to the
second part to secure the handle to the link body; and/or wherein
the handle has an opening therethrough so that a portion of the
handle is manually graspable.
[0009] The present invention teaches an elevator with an elevator
body, an open throat in the body; a door pivotably connected to the
body; and a latch apparatus on the door which latches onto a
lockbar on the body. A locking mechanism locks the door shut. In
one particular aspect, the present invention discloses an elevator
including: an elevator body for releasably supporting a tubular,
the elevator body having two opposed ends and an elevator opening
in the body, a tubular passable through the elevator opening; a
door pivotably mounted to the body for selectively closing off the
elevator opening; a lock bar on the elevator body; door latch
apparatus on the door including a movable member to selectively and
releasably latch onto the lockbar, and locking apparatus for
selectively locking the door in position.
[0010] In certain aspects, such an elevator has a locking mechanism
which locks the door shut following latching of the door.
Optionally, one or more compression springs urges part of the
locking mechanism into a locking configuration to hold the latch
apparatus in a latched position and to selectively lock the door in
position.
[0011] In certain aspects, a handle projecting from the door and/or
a handle projecting from a link or bail supporting the elevator
facilitate elevator opening and closing operations. The present
invention provides a link or bail with a handle formed integrally
thereof or releasably attached thereto for facilitating operations
and for facilitating operation of an elevator according to the
present invention.
[0012] In certain aspects, both the latch mechanism and the locking
mechanism are primary load bearing structures.
[0013] The present invention also provides methods for using an
elevator according to the present invention.
[0014] Certain embodiments of this invention are not limited to any
particular individual feature disclosed here, but include
combinations of them distinguished from the prior art in their
structures, functions, and/or results achieved. Features of the
invention have been broadly described so that the detailed
descriptions that follow may be better understood, and in order
that the contributions of this invention to the arts may be better
appreciated. There are, of course, additional aspects of the
invention described below and which may be included in the subject
matter of the claims to this invention. Those skilled in the art
who have the benefit of this invention, its teachings, and
suggestions will appreciate that the conceptions of this disclosure
may be used as a creative basis for designing other structures,
methods and systems for carrying out and practicing the present
invention. The claims of this invention are to be read to include
any legally equivalent devices or methods which do not depart from
the spirit and scope of the present invention.
[0015] The present invention recognizes and addresses the
previously-mentioned problems and long-felt needs and provides a
solution to those problems and a satisfactory meeting of those
needs in its various possible embodiments and equivalents thereof.
To one of skill in this art who has the benefits of this
invention's realizations, teachings, disclosures, and suggestions,
other purposes and advantages will be appreciated from the
following description of certain preferred embodiments, given for
the purpose of disclosure, when taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings. The detail in these descriptions is not
intended to thwart this patent's object to claim this invention no
matter how others may later disguise it by variations in form,
changes, or additions of further improvements.
[0016] The Abstract that is part hereof is to enable the U.S.
Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and
scientists, engineers, researchers, and practitioners in the art
who are not familiar with patent terms or legal terms of
phraseology to determine quickly from a cursory inspection or
review the nature and general area of the disclosure of this
invention. The Abstract is neither intended to define the
invention, which is done by the claims, nor is it intended to be
limiting of the scope of the invention in any way.
[0017] It will be understood that the various embodiments of the
present invention may include one, some, or all of the disclosed,
described, and/or enumerated improvements and/or technical
advantages and/or elements in claims to this invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] A more particular description of embodiments of the
invention briefly summarized above may be had by references to the
embodiments which are shown in the drawings which form a part of
this specification. These drawings illustrate certain preferred
embodiments and are not to be used to improperly limit the scope of
the invention which may have other equally effective or legally
equivalent embodiments.
[0019] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an elevator system according
to the present invention.
[0020] FIG. 2 is a side view of the system of FIG. 1.
[0021] FIG. 3 is a front view of the system of FIG. 1.
[0022] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an elevator according to the
present invention.
[0023] FIG. 5 is a cross-section view of the elevator of FIG.
4.
[0024] FIG. 6 is a cross-section view of the elevator of FIG. 4
showing various positions for its door.
[0025] FIG. 7 is a side view of an elevator according to the
present invention with links according to the present
invention.
[0026] FIG. 8 is an enlargement of part of the apparatus shown in
FIG. 7.
[0027] FIG. 9 is a top view of part of the apparatus shown in FIG.
7.
[0028] FIG. 10 is a front view of part of the apparatus shown in
FIG. 7.
[0029] FIG. 11 is a front perspective view of part of the apparatus
shown in FIG. 7.
[0030] FIG. 12 is a cross-section view along line 12-12 of FIG.
8.
[0031] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a handle for a link
according to the present invention.
[0032] FIG. 14 is a top view of the handle of FIG. 13.
[0033] FIG. 15 is a bottom view of the handle of FIG. 13.
[0034] FIG. 16 is a perspective view, partially exploded, of a
verification lock mechanism according to the present invention for
an elevator according to the present invention.
[0035] FIG. 17 is a side view of the handle of FIG. 13.
[0036] FIG. 18 is a front view of the mechanism of FIG. 16.
[0037] FIG. 19 is a top view of the mechanism of FIG. 16.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS PREFERRED AT THE TIME OF FILING FOR THIS
PATENT
[0038] FIGS. 1-6 show an elevator system 8 which has an elevator 10
according to the present invention supported by bails 11. Openings
13 in the bottom of the bails 11 encircle eyes 25 projecting from
sides of a body 20 of the elevator 10. Eye latches 26, pinned to
the eyes 25 with pins 28 are movable to permit the bails 11 to be
connected to the eyes. Optional lower links 27 are on sides of the
body 20, movably connected with pins 31 to projections 33 of the
body 20. Using appropriate bails, links, or other supports another
item or apparatus, (e.g., but not limited to, an elevator, a single
joint elevator, a pipe gripper or a torque head can be suspended
from the body 20.
[0039] A door 40 is movably connected to the body 20 with a pin 44
so that the door is movable to open and close-off a pathway for a
tubular (e.g. a tubular 6) into and out of a throat 22. Optionally,
a ridge 24 for shouldering a tubular projects up from the body 20.
Optionally, a solid projection or a handle 14 with an optional
opening 15 is connected to or formed integrally of one of the bails
11 to provide a structure which can be held or pushed-off from
moving the door 40. It is within the scope of this invention to
provide such a projection or handle on both bails 11, on any known
bail, and on any known support link.
[0040] A handle 80 projects from and is formed integrally of a body
72 of a locking apparatus 70 of the door 40. The locking apparatus
70 pivots on a shaft 75 which extends through a hole 73 in the body
72 and holes 77 (one shown in FIG. 4) in the body 42. A compression
spring 74 with one end in a recess 75 in the body 72 and the other
end in a recess 82 in the body 42 urges the handle 80 away form a
lip 46 of the door 40. The handle 80 may, optionally, be a separate
item releasably connected to the body 72. It is within the scope of
the present invention to provide a handle 80 on any known link or
bail.
[0041] The locking apparatus 70 is positioned for selective
interaction with a latch 50 which is movable to engage and
disengage a lockbar 29 connected to and projecting from the body
20. The latch 50 rotates about a shaft 54 which extends through
holes 45 (top one shown, FIG. 4; bottom hole beneath top hole) in
the body 42 and through a hole 55 through a latch body 52.
[0042] The latch 50 is rotatable so that a lip 51 and lockbar
recess 58 are movable to selectively encircle or release the
lockbar 29. The handle 80 is movable so that a lip 76 projecting
from the body 72 can enter a handle lip recess 60 in the body 52 of
the latch 50 to lock the latch in position. The handle 80 is also
movable so that the lip 76 can enter and reside in a second handle
lip recess 62 to releasably hold the latch 50 in a position
suitable for initially engaging the lock bar 29 upon appropriate
movement of the door 20. The lock may have a grease nipple (add
grease nipple to one of the drawings) from which channels 63, 64,
and 65 provide grease to parts of the apparatus, e.g. the shaft 54
and adjacent parts. A grease nipple 79 is used to apply grease to
the shaft 75. A handle recess 78 is located for receipt therein of
a latch body lip 53 and co-acting surfaces of this lip 53 and the
handle lip 76 are angled (e.g. a negative angle of seven degrees
providing a locking function) so that the lip 76 (and thus the
handle 80) can move with respect to the latch body lip 53. The lip
76 can move along a curved surface 59 of the lip 53. The recess 62
is between the lip 53 and a lip 51 and is sized in such a way that
it does not pass the lip 76 to overcome further rotating of the
latch 50 (see position of FIG. 6) and so that rotation of the latch
50 is not impeded by the lip 76 once the handle 80 is moved away
from the latch 50 to free the latch from the lockbar 29, permitting
the latch 50 to rotate away from engagement with the lockbar
29.
[0043] FIG. 6 shows several positions, I, II, III, of the door 20
in various stages of operation.
[0044] In position I, the door 40 is latched and locked. The recess
58 is around the lockbar 29 and the lip 76 of the handle 80 is held
in the recess 60 by the force of the spring 74. Two springs 74 may
be used, one above the other.
[0045] To open the door 40, to begin to move it to position II, the
handle 80 is pulled, moving it against the spring 74, until an end
86 of the handle abuts the body 42. A lip 46 inhibits items such as
wirelines or cables from entering the space between the door 40 and
the handle 80. Movement of the handle 80 releases the lip 76 from
the latch recess 60, releasing the locking apparatus 70 from the
latch 50 so that the latch 50 can rotate. Once the handle 80 is
free of the latch 50, further pulling on the handle 80 pulls the
door 40 away from the body 20 and also results in the rotation of
the latch 50 with respect to the lockbar 29 and the disengagement
of the lockbar 29 from the latch 50. After this, the door 40 is
moved to position II with the lip 76 contacting the lip 51 (this
contact with the lip 51 assists in disengaging the latch 50 from
the lockbar 29 and to overcome further rotation of the latch 50).
The lip 51 moves to abut the lip 76 to stop rotation of the latch
50.
[0046] When the handle 80 is pulled, in position I, against the
force of the spring 74, this action loads the spring 74 which tries
to urge the handle 80 back to the position of position I. This
force maintains the lip 76 of the handle 80 against the lip 51 of
the latch 50 (as shown in position II).
[0047] As shown in position III, the door 40 is open and an end
part thereof has moved to abut and be stopped by door endstop 39.
The spring 74 has moved the lip 76 into the recess 62. The door 40
is open and a tubular, e.g. the tubular 6, can be moved into and
out of the body 20 of the elevator 10.
[0048] FIGS. 7-12 show an elevator 100 according to the present
invention, with a body 102 and a door 40a (like the door 40) like
the elevators previously described herein according to the present
invention and like the elevator 8 described above. The elevator 100
is shown supporting a tubular 150. Bails 110 are similar to the
bails as described above. The bails 110 have a body 112 with an
upper opening 114 and a lower opening 116 through which passes part
of eyes 125 (like the eyes 25 described above).
[0049] A handle 140 is releasably secured around part of the body
112. The handle 140 is located so that personnel operating the
elevator 100 can grip the handle 140 to provide stability and to
facilitate operation of the elevator 140. Additionally such a
handle connected as shown or, according to the present invention,
connected at any desirable location on a link or bail can
facilitate manipulation, movement, and/or transport of a bail or
link.
[0050] As shown in FIGS. 12-19 the handle 140 has two parts, part
142 and part 144 which are held around part of the bail body 112 by
bolts, screws, or fasteners passing through holes 142a, 144a and
142b, 144b (bolts 140a as shown in FIGS. 13-19). The handle 140 may
be connected to the bail 110 by any suitable known item, device,
apparatus, substance (e.g., but not limited to, epoxy adhesive) or
method. Optionally the part 142 alone is bolted directly or
otherwise secured to the body of the bail 112 (with or without the
portions with the holes 142a, 142b), e.g., but not limited to, with
one or more bolts or screws through the part 142 into the bail 112,
or formed integrally thereof. An optional opening 146 through the
handle facilitates gripping of the handle. The opening 146 may be
deleted (as may be the opening 15 of the handle 14, FIG. 2).
[0051] Optionally, an elevator according to the present invention
may have a verification lock which provides a visual indication
that the elevator is latched and locked and which provides further
structure to maintain the elevator in a locked configuration. In
one embodiment a verification lock has a portion which projects
against a part of the handle (e.g. the handle 14 or 80) and is
rotatable with respect thereto. To open an elevator in a locked and
latched position as in position I, FIG. 6, the verification lock is
rotated clockwise (e.g. about sixty degrees) to permit opening of
the elevator. Upon closing of the elevator and latching and locking
thereof, the verification lock is turned (e.g. about sixty degrees)
counterclockwise to lock it in place, preventing movement of the
handle.
[0052] FIGS. 16-19 illustrate one embodiment of a verification lock
apparatus 160 according to the present invention. Such an apparatus
may be used adjacent a movable handle of any elevator. The
apparatus 160 has a body 162 with a handle 164 and a shaft 166
projecting from the body 162. The shaft 166 extends into a hole 168
in the door 40a and is brought under spring load tension by a
spring 176 adjacent a ring 177 and retained in place by a retainer
pin 172. The pin 172 through the door 40a and through a hole 174 in
the shaft 166 releasably holds the body 162 in position. The spring
176 holds the body 162 in a desired position (door-locked or
door-unlockable) with a cam projection 178 in place in a space 186
adjacent portion 182 of the door 40a. Turning the handle 164
clockwise moves the cam projection 178 into a space 188 adjacent a
projection 184 of the door 40a so that the handle 164 can be held
in a door-unlockable position--see, e.g. FIG. 19. FIG. 18 shows the
handle 164 in a door-locked position with the handle 164 abutting a
lower portion 80a of the handle 80. The door-unlockable position is
illustrated in outline in FIG. 18. Manually moving the handle 164
provides sufficient force to overcome the spring 176 and move the
cam projection 178 into or out of the spaces 186 or 188.
[0053] In one particular embodiment, e.g. as shown in one aspect in
FIG. 7, an elevator according to the present invention has a
turning angle of plus-or-minus 60 degrees "turning angle" is the
angle between a vertical centerline of the shaft of a support link
and the vertical center line of the elevator and measures the
rotation of the elevator with respect to the link. As shown, an
elevator according to the present invention may have a tilt angle
of 20 degrees or more. "Tilt angle" is the out-of-vertical position
of the link center line and measures the rotation of the link with
respect to "the world."
[0054] The present invention, therefore, provides in some, but not
in necessarily all, embodiments a link for supporting a wellbore
apparatus, the link having a link body with a first end
spaced-apart from a second end, and a handle on the first end. Such
a link may have one or some, in any possible combination, of the
following: a first eye at the first end of the link body; a second
eye at the second end of the link body; wherein the handle is
located on the link body to facilitate movement of a door of an
elevator by personnel; wherein the handle is formed integrally of
the link body; wherein the handle is located adjacent the first
eye; wherein the handle is releasably secured to a portion of the
link body; wherein the handle includes a first part, a second part,
the second part positionable adjacent the first part with a portion
of the link body therebetween, the first part securable to the
second part to secure the handle to the link body; wherein the
handle has an opening therethrough so that a portion of the handle
is manually graspable; wherein the first part has an opening
therethrough so that a portion of the handle is manually graspable'
and/or wherein the wellbore apparatus has a part about which the
handle is securable, said part having an exterior part shape, the
handle having a portion with an interior handle shape corresponding
to said exterior part shape, the handle positioned with the
exterior part shape adjacent the interior handle shape.
[0055] The present invention, therefore, provides in some, but not
in necessarily all, embodiments a link for supporting a wellbore
apparatus, the link having a link body with a first end
spaced-apart from a second end, a handle on the first end, a first
eye at the first end of the link body, wherein the handle is
located adjacent the first eye, wherein the handle is releasably
secured to a portion of the link body or formed integrally of the
link body, and wherein the handle has an opening therethrough so
that a portion of the handle is manually graspable.
[0056] The present invention, therefore, provides in some, but not
in necessarily all, embodiments an elevator with an elevator body
for releasably supporting a tubular, the elevator body having two
opposed ends and an elevator opening in the body, a tubular
passable through the elevator opening, a door pivotably mounted to
the body for selectively closing off the elevator opening, a lock
bar on the elevator body, door latch apparatus on the door
including a movable member to selectively and releasably latch onto
the lockbar, and locking apparatus for selectively locking the door
in position. Such an elevator may have one or some, in any possible
combination, of the following: the door latch apparatus having a
latch body, a recess in the latch body for selectively receiving
and selectively disengaging from the lockbar, and the latch body
pivotably mounted to the door; the locking apparatus having a lock
body movably mounted to the door for co-action with the latch body,
the lock body selectively movable to hold the latch body in place
in engagement with the lockbar, and the lock body selectively
movable to move the latch body out of engagement with the lockbar
to unlatch the door for pivoting movement of the door to permit a
tubular to pass through the elevator opening; the latch body having
a first latch recess therein, the lock body having a lock body
projection projecting therefrom, and the first latch recess located
for releasably receiving the lock body projection so that with the
lock body projection in the first latch recess the door is locked;
spring apparatus connected to and between the door and the locking
apparatus to bias the locking apparatus into a locking position;
the locking apparatus having handle apparatus on the lock body for
facilitating gripping of the lock body and movement thereof; a lip
on the door for inhibiting movement of an item into a space between
the door and the locking apparatus; the elevator body having two
opposed support eyes projecting from the elevator body, the support
eyes for receiving a part of a support bail; two support bails, one
each of the two support bails having a portion passing through a
corresponding one of the support eyes; handle apparatus on at least
one of the two support bails, the handle apparatus sized, located,
and configured for manual handling by personnel; the handle
apparatus located on the at least one of the two support bails to
facilitate movement of the door of the elevator by personnel; the
handle apparatus formed integrally of the at least one bail; the
handle apparatus releasably secured to a portion of the at least
one bail; verification apparatus for releasably maintaining the
locking apparatus in a door-locked position; the verification
apparatus including a primary body movably mounted to the door, a
primary handle projecting from the body, the primary handle movable
to an abutment position to abut part of the locking apparatus and
movable out of said abutment position; and/or spring apparatus
biased between the door and the primary body for releasably holding
the verification apparatus in a door-locked or a door-unlockable
position.
[0057] The present invention, therefore, provides in some, but not
in necessarily all, embodiments a method for gripping a tubular,
the method including positioning an elevator adjacent a tubular,
the elevator as any disclosed herein according to the present
invention, and releasing a door latch apparatus to unlatch the
door, releasing a locking apparatus to unlock the door, moving the
door to expose one elevator opening, moving the tubular into the
elevator, and closing the door, latching the door shut, and locking
the door. Such an elevator may have one or some, in any possible
combination, of the following:. wherein the elevator includes
verification apparatus for releasably maintaining the locking
apparatus in a door-locked position, the method including
releasably maintaining with the verification apparatus the door in
a door-locked position; wherein the elevator includes the
verification apparatus including a primary body movably mounted to
the door, a primary handle projecting from the body, the primary
handle movable to an abutment position to abut part of the locking
apparatus and movable out of said abutment position, the method
including moving the primary handle to abut part of the door to
maintain the door in a door-locked position; and/or wherein the
elevator includes spring apparatus biased between the door and the
primary body for releasably holding the verification apparatus in a
door-locked or a door-unlockable position, the method including
releasably holding the verification apparatus in position.
[0058] In conclusion, therefore, it is seen that the present
invention and the embodiments disclosed herein and those covered by
the appended claims are well adapted to carry out the objectives
and obtain the ends set forth. Certain changes can be made in the
subject matter without departing from the spirit and the scope of
this invention. It is realized that changes are possible within the
scope of this invention and it is further intended that each
element or step recited in any of the following claims is to be
understood as referring to the step literally and/or to all
equivalent elements or steps. The following claims are intended to
cover the invention as broadly as legally possible in whatever form
it may be utilized. The invention claimed herein is new and novel
in accordance with 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 102 and satisfies the
conditions for patentability in .sctn. 102. The invention claimed
herein is not obvious in accordance with 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 103 and
satisfies the conditions for patentability in .sctn. 103. This
specification and the claims that follow are in accordance with all
of the requirements of 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 112. The inventors may rely
on the Doctrine of Equivalents to determine and assess the scope of
their invention and of the claims that follow as they may pertain
to apparatus not materially departing from, but outside of, the
literal scope of the invention as set forth in the following
claims. All patents and applications identified herein are
incorporated fully herein for all purposes.
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