GB2102476A - Angle drilling rig - Google Patents

Abstract

A mobile drilling rig has a mast (4) which is adapted to be connected to a fixed frame such that it is able to pivot about two axes (A, B) on said frame; rotation about the lower axis B placing the mast (4) in its angle drilling position and rotation about the upper axis A placing the mast (4) in its travel position, substantially parallel to the ground. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Angle drilling kit The present invention relates to a drill rig and in particular to a portable drill rig with an improved angle drilling pivot assembly.

When drilling, it is desirable to keep to a minimum the distance between the controls and working platform and the ground level to provide ease of access for operations.

The present invention provides a drill rig which satisfies this requirement while still allowing the masts to be transported in a substantially horizontal manner. Therefore in one broad form the invention provides a drill rig comprising a mast which is adapted to be connected to a fixed frame such that it is able to pivot about two axis on said frame; rotation about the lower axis placing the mast in its angle drilling position and rotation about the upper axis placing the mast in its travel position, substantially parailel to the ground.

This invention and its features and additional advantages will now be described with reference to the accompampanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an illustration of a mobile drilling rig according to one embodiment of the present invention set up in its drilling position; Figure 1 A is a schematic of a mobile drilling rig according to one embodiment of the present invention in its transportation position; Figure 1 B is a schematic of the embodiment of Figure 1 A in position for vertical drilling; Figure 1 C is a schematic of Figure 1 A set up for angle drilling; Figure 2 is a side view of the mast pivot assembly of the embodiment of Figure 11 and Figure 3 is a view of the support means for the rear set of masts showing the pivot assembly of the embodiment of Figure 1 with the masts removed for clarity.

When drilling, it is desirable to keep to a minimum the distance between the controls 1 and the working platform 2 of the mast bottom and ground level to provide ease of operation for operators. The embodiment of the present invention as shown in Figure 1, 2 and 3 is provided with two pivot points A and B for the mast 4 so as to produce a separate mast pivot for its travelling position and its angle drilling position.

When the mast is in its travelling position the mast is pivotted around the pivot point A such that the mast is in a horizontal position relative to the ground (Figure 1 A). The mast 4 is raised to its drilling position by two hydraulic cylinders 5 (Figure 2). The rig can be operated in either a vertical mode as shown in Figure 1 B or an angle drilling mode as shown in Figure 1 C.

To lock the mast 4 into vertical drilling mode the hydraulic cylinders 5 extend their rams 6 which are connected to the brackets 7 on the rearward mast member 8, pivoting the mast 4 about tha axis A. When the mast 4 is in the vertical position as shown in Figures 2 and 3 the bottom wedges 9 are inserted into the openings of the projections 1 9 which protrude through openings in a crossmember 11 which link the rear pair of mast members.

To return the mast to travel position the wedges 9 are removed allowing the support bracket 7 and the mast 4 to pivot about the axis A.

When angle drilling, the mast is first raised into the vertical position and bottom wedges 9 are inserted. The upper wedges 1 2 are removed freeing the frame 13 from the fixed frame 14, such that the frame 1 3 and hence the mast 4 can pivot about the axis B to the angle drilling position as shown in Figure 1 C. The mast is lowered to the desired angle by the hydraulic cylinder 5. Thus, this allows the base of the mast and hence the controls and the clamping mechanism to be kept as close to the ground as possible.

To return the mast to the travelling position the mast is raided to the vertical position and wedges 1 2 are reinserted and wedges 9 removed allowing the mast to pivot about axis A.

As shown in Figure 2 base frame 1 5 is located between the mast main support members 1 6 and 1 7 to transfer the load of the drill string from the centre of the mast base plate 1 8 out to between the two front main members 16 of the mast structure. Therefore no additional stiffening of the mast bottom plate 18 is required and as such the overall mast length can be kept to a minimum.

Claims

1. A mobile drilling rig having a mast (4) which is adapted to be connected to a fixed frame such that it is able to pivot about two axes (A, B) on said frame; rotation about the lower axis placing the mast (4) in its angle drilling position and rotation about the upper axis placing the mast (4) in its travel position, substantially parallel to the ground.

2. A drilling rig according to Claim 1, wherein there is provided a pivotal frame, hinged about said lower axis, and which contains the upper pivot axis, said mast being fixedly connected to the section of the frame which is pivotal about the upper pivot axis, wherein first affixing means are provided which connect the pivotal frame to the said fixed frame and second affixing means are provided which affix the mast to the pivotal frame between the upper and lower pivot axes, such that with the lower affixing means in place and the upper affixing means not affixed the mast can pivot about the lower axis, while the upper affixing means in place and the lower not affixed, the mast can pivot about the upper axis.

3. A mobile drilling rig substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (3)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Angle drilling kit The present invention relates to a drill rig and in particular to a portable drill rig with an improved angle drilling pivot assembly. When drilling, it is desirable to keep to a minimum the distance between the controls and working platform and the ground level to provide ease of access for operations. The present invention provides a drill rig which satisfies this requirement while still allowing the masts to be transported in a substantially horizontal manner. Therefore in one broad form the invention provides a drill rig comprising a mast which is adapted to be connected to a fixed frame such that it is able to pivot about two axis on said frame; rotation about the lower axis placing the mast in its angle drilling position and rotation about the upper axis placing the mast in its travel position, substantially parailel to the ground. This invention and its features and additional advantages will now be described with reference to the accompampanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an illustration of a mobile drilling rig according to one embodiment of the present invention set up in its drilling position; Figure 1 A is a schematic of a mobile drilling rig according to one embodiment of the present invention in its transportation position; Figure 1 B is a schematic of the embodiment of Figure 1 A in position for vertical drilling; Figure 1 C is a schematic of Figure 1 A set up for angle drilling; Figure 2 is a side view of the mast pivot assembly of the embodiment of Figure 11 and Figure 3 is a view of the support means for the rear set of masts showing the pivot assembly of the embodiment of Figure 1 with the masts removed for clarity. When drilling, it is desirable to keep to a minimum the distance between the controls 1 and the working platform 2 of the mast bottom and ground level to provide ease of operation for operators. The embodiment of the present invention as shown in Figure 1, 2 and 3 is provided with two pivot points A and B for the mast 4 so as to produce a separate mast pivot for its travelling position and its angle drilling position. When the mast is in its travelling position the mast is pivotted around the pivot point A such that the mast is in a horizontal position relative to the ground (Figure 1 A). The mast 4 is raised to its drilling position by two hydraulic cylinders 5 (Figure 2). The rig can be operated in either a vertical mode as shown in Figure 1 B or an angle drilling mode as shown in Figure 1 C. To lock the mast 4 into vertical drilling mode the hydraulic cylinders 5 extend their rams 6 which are connected to the brackets 7 on the rearward mast member 8, pivoting the mast 4 about tha axis A. When the mast 4 is in the vertical position as shown in Figures 2 and 3 the bottom wedges 9 are inserted into the openings of the projections 1 9 which protrude through openings in a crossmember 11 which link the rear pair of mast members. To return the mast to travel position the wedges 9 are removed allowing the support bracket 7 and the mast 4 to pivot about the axis A. When angle drilling, the mast is first raised into the vertical position and bottom wedges 9 are inserted. The upper wedges 1 2 are removed freeing the frame 13 from the fixed frame 14, such that the frame 1 3 and hence the mast 4 can pivot about the axis B to the angle drilling position as shown in Figure 1 C. The mast is lowered to the desired angle by the hydraulic cylinder 5. Thus, this allows the base of the mast and hence the controls and the clamping mechanism to be kept as close to the ground as possible. To return the mast to the travelling position the mast is raided to the vertical position and wedges 1 2 are reinserted and wedges 9 removed allowing the mast to pivot about axis A. As shown in Figure 2 base frame 1 5 is located between the mast main support members 1 6 and 1 7 to transfer the load of the drill string from the centre of the mast base plate 1 8 out to between the two front main members 16 of the mast structure. Therefore no additional stiffening of the mast bottom plate 18 is required and as such the overall mast length can be kept to a minimum. Claims

1. A mobile drilling rig having a mast (4) which is adapted to be connected to a fixed frame such that it is able to pivot about two axes (A, B) on said frame; rotation about the lower axis placing the mast (4) in its angle drilling position and rotation about the upper axis placing the mast (4) in its travel position, substantially parallel to the ground.

2. A drilling rig according to Claim 1, wherein there is provided a pivotal frame, hinged about said lower axis, and which contains the upper pivot axis, said mast being fixedly connected to the section of the frame which is pivotal about the upper pivot axis, wherein first affixing means are provided which connect the pivotal frame to the said fixed frame and second affixing means are provided which affix the mast to the pivotal frame between the upper and lower pivot axes, such that with the lower affixing means in place and the upper affixing means not affixed the mast can pivot about the lower axis, while the upper affixing means in place and the lower not affixed, the mast can pivot about the upper axis.

3. A mobile drilling rig substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.