GB2307676A

GB2307676A - Handling Elongate Loads

Info

Publication number: GB2307676A
Application number: GB9524533A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert Brown Kennedy
Original assignee: Bridon PLC
Current assignee: Bridon PLC
Priority date: 1995-11-30
Filing date: 1995-11-30
Publication date: 1997-06-04
Also published as: GB9524533D0

Abstract

A frame 1 including a frame member 3 which is movable to allow a pack of mutually parallel elongate members (e.g. drill pipes) to be encompassed by the frame. The frame includes a cradle 2 comprising a base 6 and two uprights 4 having attachments 23 for lifting means. An upper cross-member 3 is releasably fixed to the cradle 2 e.g. by swing bolts 16. Preferably replaceable cushioning members 7, 9 are provided. Preferably the cross-member 3 is wider than the upright and has protecting flanges.

Description

HANDLING DEVICE FOR ELONGATE MEMBERS This invention relates to a device for facilitating the handling of a pack of mutually parallel elongate members.

What is desired in particular is a device to assist in the lifting of packs of up to sixteen or more drill pipes, which are usually arranged in a regular spaced array by means of spacers. However, a device would be desirable which could be used with different numbers of drill pipes or with packages or bundles of other elongate members such as pipes, rods, or bars.

The present invention provides a device comprising a frame including a frame member which is movable to allow a pack of mutually parallel elongate members to be encompassed by the frame.

In a preferred embodiment the device constitutes a demountable frame or frames which is or are semi-permanently attached to a package or bundle of elongate members for the purpose of quickly and securely attaching the package or bundle to a lifting or hoisting means in the course of its storage and transportation.

Preferred and optional features are set forth in the claims.

The invention will be described further, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a part cut-away exploded perspective view of a frame comprising a cradle and a cross-member; Figure 2 is a schematic side elevation of the frame, applied to a pack of elongate members shown in dotted line; Figure 3 is an enlarged view corresponding to the detail III shown in Figure 2; Figure 4 is a view on arrow IV in Figure 3; Figure 5 is a schematic plan view of part of the frame, seen from above; Figure 6 is a section through the cross-member; and Figure 7 is a perspective view of two frames encompassing a pack of drill pipes and being suspended from a lifting sling.

The frame 1 shown, in particular, in Figures 1 and 2 comprises a cradle 2 and an upper cross-member 3. The cradle 2 comprises two uprights 4 (which are mirror images of each other) and a base 6 in the form of a lower cross-member. The cradle 2 is fabricated by welding or by the use of other fixing means (e.g. bolts or rivets).

The inner surfaces of the uprights 4 are provided with replaceable wear pads 7 in the form of strips of plastics material (e.g. nylon) having good wear and frictional properties, to facilitate the fitting of the frame 1 to a pack of pipes 8. The upper surface of the base 6 is provided with a cushion 9 in the form of a strip of elastomeric material.

The cross-member 3 is fabricated from two angle sections 11 spaced apart by a distance slightly greater than the width of the uprights 4 (in the direction normal to the plane of the frame 1). The angle sections 11 are welded to a connecting plate 12 which forms the base of a trough for receiving spacer blocks, e.g. of timber (not shown), allowing packs of pipes to be stacked one on top of the another without any risk of damage. It will be seen that the cross-member 3 has horizontal flanges 13 which project on opposite sides of the frame 1. The lower surface of each flange 13 is provided with a cushion 14 in the form of a strip of elastomeric material.

The flanges 13 have apertures in the form of open-ended slots 16 for receiving bolts 17 which are pivoted on respective brackets 18 which are fixed at selected vertical positions to the uprights 4. The brackets 18 are connected in pairs by through-bolts 19 passing through selected ones of a series of holes 21 in the upright 4.

After the pack of pipes 8 has been placed in the cradle 2, the cross-member 3 is mounted on the uprights 4, with the cushions 14 resting on the upper row of pipes. The bolts 17 are pivoted upwards until they engage in the slots 16, and then nuts 22 on the bolts 17 are tightened. The bolts 17 and nuts 22 constitute pre-tensioning means for urging the cross-member 3 towards the pack of pipes, thereby putting the uprights 4 under tension while compressing the upper and lower cushions 14 and 9. The deformation of the cushions increases the area of contact with the pipes, thereby minimising the risk of damage as well as giving good frictional resistance to displacement of the frame 1 along the pipes during lifting.

The upper ends of the uprights 4 are provided with lugs having through-holes 24, for attachment to a four-part lifting sling 26 suspended from a crane hook 27 (Figure 7). The lugs 23 are approximately aligned with the perpendicular passing through the crane hook 27.

Consequently, the axes of the through-holes 24 are oblique to the plane of the respective frames 1, the angle being, for example, in the range from 10 to 45 degrees, preferably 10 to 30 degrees, in particular about 15 degrees.

It will be noted (in particular considering Figure 7) that the tensile forces acting on the sling 26 tend to pull the frames 1 towards each other. This pull is resisted by the fact that the tensile forces also tend to cause each frame to pivot about the lower cushion 9, thereby causing the inner one of the upper cushions 14 to press more strongly against the pack of pipes, increasing the frictional force for resisting movement of the frame.

The cross-member 3 also serves as a spreader bar resisting the inward bending moments imposed on the uprights 4 by the lifting sling 26.

The frames 1 and sling 26 are left attached to the pack of pipes 8 for the duration of its life, i. e. until the pack is broken down for use. The sling comprises wire ropes which are sheathed with plastics material in order to prevent abrasive damage to the pipes.

Claims

1. A device for facilitating the handling of a pack of mutually parallel elongate members, comprising a frame including a frame member which is movable to allow the pack to be encompassed by the frame.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, in which the movable frame member is fixable at a variable position.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the frame has replaceable wear pads on its inner surfaces.

4. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which an upper or lower frame member has at least one resilient cushion on its inner surface.

5. A device for facilitating the handling of a pack of mutually parallel elongate members, comprising a frame including a base and two upstanding members constituting a cradle, the upstanding members having attachments for lifting means, the frame also including an upper cross-member which is releasable from the cradle.

6. A device as claimed in claim 5, including means for urging the cross-member towards the pack.

7. A device as claimed in claim 5 or 6, in which the cross-member is wider than the cradle in the direction normal to the plane of the frame.

8. A device as claimed in any of claims 5 to 7, in which the lower surface of the cross-member is provided with at least one resilient cushion.

9. A device as claimed in any of claims 5 to 8, in which the upper surface of the base is provided with at least one resilient cushion.

10. A device as claimed in any of claims 5 to 9, in which the upstanding members are provided with replaceable wear pads on their inner surfaces.

11. A device as claimed in any of claims 5 to 10, in which the cross-member is fixable at a variable position relative to the cradle.

12. A device as claimed in any of claims 5 to 11, in which the cross-member has flanges which project on opposite sides of the frame in a substantially horizontal plane normal to the plane of the frame.

13. A device as claimed in claim 12, in which the cross-member is fixable to the cradle by bolts passing through the said flanges.

14. A device as claimed in any of claims 5 to 13, in which the said attachments have through-holes whose axes are oblique to the plane of the frame.

15. A device for facilitating the handling of a pack of mutually parallel elongate members, substantially as described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.

16. A pack of mutually parallel elongate members fitted with at least one device according to any preceding claim.

17. A pack as claimed in claim 16, fitted with two said devices mutually spaced apart.

18. A pack as claimed in claim 16 or 17, in which the elongate elements are spaced from one another.