JPH0256474B2 - - Google Patents

Description

Claim 1: In a tube handling machine for transferring tubular bodies P to and from the floor of a drilling rig D, a stationary gutter 34 and a movable gutter 4 arranged straight to each other in plan view.
0, the movable gutter 40 having one end 42 thereof adjacent to the floor of the drilling rig D, and the other end 4
4, the stationary gutter 34 is supported so as to be movable up and down by a support means 46 disposed at one end 38, and when the movable gutter 40 is lowered, the other end of the movable gutter 40 44 is the stationary gutter 34
The tubular body P can be transferred between the movable gutter 40 and the stationary gutter 34 along which the tubular body P is moved along its length. The movable gutter 40 has a conveying member 53 for moving the tubular body P in its longitudinal direction along which the movable gutter 40 has a conveying member 50 for moving the tubular body P in the longitudinal direction. A holding means 52 for holding the tubular body P during movement along the stationary gutter 34, along the movable gutter 40, and between the stationary gutter 34 and the movable gutter 40. , a pipe processing machine characterized by being arranged so as to be able to come into contact with the transfer member 50 and to be hooked on the transfer member 53.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to machines for handling pipe and similar tubular products between a drilling rig and a pipe rack. More particularly, the invention relates to a tube handler that is not only suitable for use on land, but also can be easily disassembled and transported between sites with drilling rigs;
and regarding machines that can be reassembled at a new site.

In the prior art, various methods and devices have been proposed for lifting and moving tubes around the floor of tube racks and elevated drilling rigs. One such method is simply to attach a wire cable to the tube and pull the cable by a hydraulic winch mounted on a truck, often parked near the rig. Cranes and fluid-driven chains were also used to lift and move the tubes. These methods have been found to be extremely slow and therefore very expensive. Additionally, this method required extra personnel to handle the pipe both on-site at the drilling rig and at the pipe rack. When pipes are being transferred, they often become disengaged from the pipe lifting structure or swing around, resulting in injury to personnel or
damage to pipes or adjacent structures.

More recent machines have been manufactured to solve these problems. However, these machines were also found to be slow, cumbersome, and unsafe.

In the past, machines have been manufactured that have a fixed trough, a device for moving the tube from the tube rack to the fixed trough, a transfer device for moving the tube from the fixed trough to the movable trough, and a device for transferring the tube from the movable trough to the floor of the drilling rig. However, as mentioned above, these machines were cumbersome and slow to operate.

In addition, one positioned on each side of the stationary trough
Twin tube racking arms were used. A length of chain is passed around a suitable sprocket,
These sprockets connect tube support lugs on legs on opposite sides of the stationary trough. A similar chain and lug assembly was provided on the other opposing pair of arms.
Heavy, expensive motors and large single-shaft drives were utilized to rotate the sprockets. Therefore,
As the shaft rotates, both support lugs on one side of the stationary trough move upwards, while the support lug on the other side of the trough moves downwards. Often this operation has been found to be unnecessary and unsafe because only one or the other arm of the trough is used at a time.

A loading and unloading trough was used to move the tube from the stationary trough to the racking arm. This device is
It has a trough portion that is tiltable by two pairs of fluid cylinders positioned at opposite ends of the trough.
Such a device was found to be extremely fragile because the pivot point of the unloading trough section was at one end of the fluid cylinder and the fluid cylinder had to lift the entire trough section and tube. .

The operating stations in conventional machines were separate units connected by appropriate control lines. This unit was difficult to lift onto the transport vehicle when transported between drilling rig sites and had to be lifted separately from the trough.

Another problem encountered with prior art machines is that no suitable method has been developed for moving the tube between a fixed trough and an inclined trough and then transferring the tube from the inclined trough to the floor of the drilling rig. This was not the case. Furthermore, some prior devices required a human being located adjacent to the movable trough to engage the tube with the appropriate lifting device. This, of course, proved slow, expensive, and dangerous. The mechanical devices used to transport the tubes were slow to operate and often mechanically complex. They also impacted the tube and damaged its pin ends or the drive chain of the tube handler.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION Therefore, the main object of the invention is to transport pipes between a pipe rack and the floor of a drilling rig, and vice versa, from the floor of a drilling rig in other sequences of drilling operations. An object of the present invention is to provide an improved machine for transferring tubes to.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tube handler that can be easily moved to and from flatbed trucks and workways without the need for a crane or similar hoisting equipment.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tube handler that eliminates the need for both tube lacing arms to be extended when only one of them is used.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a tube handler that allows the tube latching arm to be easily pivoted in a position adjacent to and parallel to the stationary trough to more easily transport the machine. The goal is to provide opportunities.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tube handling machine in which the attached operating station can be folded to facilitate transportation of the machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pipe handling machine that is capable of transferring pipe from a pipe rack to a drilling rig in short cycles.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a tube handler that allows the tube end to be brought close to the center of the drilling rig at a level of operation so simple as to make the tube easier to handle.

Another object of this invention is to provide a tube handling machine having an improved tube tilting device for transferring tubes from a fixed trough to a tube racking arm.

Another object of this invention is to provide a tube handler having an improved tube tilting device that pivots about a fixed point on a stationary trough.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tube handling machine that smoothly transfers tubes along and between horizontal fixed troughs and mutually inclined troughs to the floor of a drilling rig without damaging the tubes. That's true.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become more apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus embodying the invention for use in the field with a drilling rig.

2 is a plan view of the stationary trough of FIG. 1; FIG.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the stationary trough of FIG. 2;
The front end of the movable trough is shown in dashed lines in its lower position.

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of the tilting arms of the stationary trough of FIG. 1, with the pair of tilting arms shown in dashed lines in their raised or tilted positions, and the racking arms shown in dashed lines in their lower positions; has been done.

FIG. 5 is a partial side view of the inclined arm of FIGS. 1 and 4. FIG.

6 is a side view of the tilting arms of FIG. 5, with one tilting arm shown in phantom in its raised or tilted position; FIG.

7 is a plan view of the stationary trough of FIG. 2 showing the tilting arms of FIGS. 5 and 6; FIG.

8 is a bottom view of the stationary trough of FIG. 7; FIG.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 9--9 of FIG.

FIG. 10 is a side view of one of the arm members of the tilting arm of FIG. 6, shown separately for clarity.

11 is a partially cutaway side view of one of the racking arms of FIG. 1; FIG.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 12--12 of the 11th, with the movement of the support lug shown in dashed lines.

Figure 13 shows the first line corresponding to line 13-13 in Figure 12.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the racking arm of FIG. 2;

FIG. 14 is a side view of the transfer member in the stationary trough of FIG. 1, showing movement of the transfer member as the tube is pushed along the stationary trough;

FIG. 15 is a view similar to FIG. 14, further illustrating the tube holding shovel assembly that engages and rides on the movable trough.

FIG. 16 is a plan view taken along line 16--16 in FIG. 14.

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 17--17 of FIG. 16.

FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 18--18 of the sixteenth part.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the carriage of FIGS. 1 and 14.

FIG. 20 is a partial perspective view of one embodiment of the invention showing the shovel members as they move toward the lower end of the movable trough of FIG. Indicated by location.

FIG. 21 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 20, showing the arm in a closed position during movement of a length of tube supported on and along the movable trough.

FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the invention showing the lower end of the movable trough in the lower position.

FIG. 23 is a view similar to FIG. 22, with the shovel member shown engaged with the carriage of the movable trough.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION General Description Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown an embodiment of the invention, generally designated 30, for handling pipes P and other tubular bodies. Generally, the device includes a main support frame 32 positioned in a narrow passageway C, ends 36, 38 resting on and supported by the frame 32.
a stationary trough 34 (stationary gutter) having one end 42 connected to a drilling rig (drilling rig) D, and the other end 44 connected to a pair of masts (supporting means for the static gutter)
It has a movable trough 40 supported by 46, 46. Masts 46, 46 are mounted on opposite sides of stationary trough end 38. A mast drive, generally designated 48, raises and lowers the movable trough end 44 between the masts 46,46.
When the movable trough end 44 is raised to its upper position,
The movable trough 42 is slid further towards the floor D of the drilling rig and is caused to be positioned at a generally lower position relative to the floor D of the drilling rig, thereby removing a length of tubing from the movable trough 40. It is made to be easily removable. When movable trough end 44 is in its lower position, movable trough 40 and stationary trough 36 are aligned adjacent to each other so that the tube can slide therebetween.

The invention also provides an end 36 of the stationary trough 34,
A transfer member 50 is also provided which is driven between stationary troughs 34 between 38. Transfer member 50 engages a shovel member 52 adapted to hold one end of a length of tube P. The shovel member 52 can also engage a carriage or similar device (conveying member) 53 positioned on the movable trough 40. The carriage 53 similarly connects the ends 42, 44 of the movable trough 40.
The movable trough 40 is driven to move along the movable trough 40 between. Additionally, the carriage 53 can similarly engage the shovel member 52, thereby allowing the shovel member 52 to engage with the shovel member 52.
The tube P held at can be moved along the movable trough 40 between the stationary trough 34 and the floor D of the drilling rig. When the movable trough end 44 is in its lower position, the shovel member 52 holding the tube P can be moved between the two troughs.

The present invention provides a system generally designated 54 for moving tubes between tube racks R, R and stationary trough 32.
It also has a racking arm assembly shown in FIG. Pipe racks R, R are positioned on either side of stationary trough 32, and although shown in FIG. 1 as having a triangular structure, any suitable rack shape may be used. The racking assembly 54 can be positioned on one or both sides of the stationary trough 34, as will be explained in more detail below. Also provided is a tilt arm assembly, generally designated 56. This assembly 56 is adapted to move the tube between the stationary trough 34 and a racking arm assembly, generally designated 54. Each of these latching arms is 2
A pivoting mounting 57 is provided to allow pivoting movement in the direction so that the arm can be positioned alongside the stationary trough for easy transport of the device 30 and if a particular arm is used. be able to.

Thus, as will be easily understood, the tube can be moved by the device 30 between the tube racks R, R and the floor of the drilling rig in one smooth operation. The tube on the floor D of the drilling rig is positioned in a movable trough 40 and held there by a shovel member 52, which has a movable trough end 44 connected to the mast 46,
46 and is moved downwardly by the mast drive 48 with respect to the stationary trough end 38 , so that it is moved below the movable trough 40 by the carriage 53 . When movable trough end 44 is in its lower position, shovel member 52 disengages from carriage 53 and engages transfer member 50 . Therefore, the transfer member 5
0 moves on the stationary trough 34 towards its end 36, the tube P moves with the transfer member 50 until it reaches a position beyond the inclined arm assembly 56.
The tilting arm assembly 56 then tilts toward the racking arm assembly 54, as will be explained in more detail below. At this time, the tube is moved downwardly by the racking arm assembly until it is supported on the tube rack R. A similar reverse action is performed by tube rack R.
It is used to move the tube from R to floor D of the drilling rig.

Only one operator is required to operate all of the aforementioned systems of apparatus 30. The present invention provides a worker station or cab 58 for such a worker and a suitable control panel thereon. A cab 58 is attached to the stationary trough end 36. As best shown in FIG. 3, the cab mounting 59 has a pivoting device by which the cab 58 is pivoted until it lies on the stationary trough 34, allowing the equipment 30 to be used for cargo handling or transportation. It is designed so that it can be carried out easily.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The mast drive system shown generally at 62 in FIG. It is illustrated and described in more detail in Application No. PCT/US81/01552, which description is incorporated herein in its entirety. However, to put it simply, the mast drive device 62
has a chain 45 connected at one end to a movable trough end 44 and at the other end to a fluid cylinder assembly;
The fluid cylinder assembly in the preferred embodiment includes two parallel fluid cylinders positioned adjacently and between the masts 46,46. When the cylinder is pressurized, the chain moves to the movable trough end 4
Lift up 4. The masts 46, 46 are also controlled by a fluid lift device, generally indicated at 64.
It can be rotated between a vertical position and a horizontal position located approximately on the trough 34. Device 64 causes masts 46, 46 to pivot at 65 as indicated by the arrows and dashed lines in FIG.

Transfer member 50 has a projecting back portion 66 that projects from transfer member 50 and extends into a slot 68 provided along the center of stationary trough 34, as best shown in FIG. . Referring to FIG. 3, the endless chain 70 has a projecting back 66 at each end thereof.
and is driven to move the transfer member 50 along the stationary trough. Buffer mechanism 72
are provided along the chain 70 to absorb impact forces as the tube P moves from the movable trough 40 to the stationary trough 34.

A tilt arm assembly 56 is shown in FIGS. 4-10. The tilt arm assembly 56 has two sets of tilt arms 74, each of which forms a Y-shape, as best seen in FIG. This Y-shape is the arm part 76,7
8 and hands 80 and 82. The hand surfaces 84, 86 are configured to lie flush with the plane of the stationary trough 34 when the tilt arm is in the down or non-tilt position as seen in FIG. Furthermore, the arm has holes 88, 89 forming a pivot connection.

As shown in FIG. 6, cylinder 90 is pivotally mounted at each of its ends, lower end 92 and upper piston rod end 94. The end 92 pivots about a pin 96 attached to an ear 98. The ears 98 are securely attached to the transverse members 100 of the frame 32. End 94 pivots about pin 102 passing through hole 89. member 74
not only rotates around pin 102, but also rotates around pin 104. A pin 104 passing through hole 88 is bolted to the stationary trough as best shown in FIG. Thus, when fluid cylinder 90 is pressurized with fluid, its piston rod 105 extends arm 74 upwardly and pivots it about pin 104.
As arm 74 pivots, it extends through opening 106 (best shown in FIG. 4) in stationary trough 34, and its surface 86 engages a length of tubing held in the stationary trough. It contacts P and acts to lift it from the stationary trough and roll it towards pipe rack R. The arms of each set are spaced apart by a distance less than the length of the tube, and the fluid cylinders for the arms are pressurized simultaneously;
The tube is lifted in a uniform horizontal position.

12 and 13, racking assembly 54 is shown. This assembly 54 basically consists of an arm 110, which
10 is pivotally mounted at its upper end to the stationary trough 34 by a pivot mount 57 and supported at its lower end to the ground or similar surface G. At its ends 114, 116, the fluid cylinder 112 has two
It is attached to an arm 110 having two interconnected box structures 111,111. A racking arm crosshead assembly 118 is attached to the end of the piston rod 120 of the fluid cylinder 112. Leaf chain 122 is connected to adjacent end 116 at one end and generally at 124 at the other end.
attached to the lifting lug assembly shown. The lifting lug assembly supports the tube P against the arm 110 and the assembly supports the leaf chain 1.
When pulled by 22, it is raised along the tube arm to the stationary trough 134. The racking arm crosshead assembly 118 has two parallel wheels 126, 126 which, when moved by the piston 120, roll within the arm 110 as best shown in FIG. leaf chains 122, 12 around the wheels.
2 runs. The lifting lug assembly 124 has two triangular plates 128, 128 connected at one corner thereof by a roller tube 130. A pair of U-link assemblies 132 , 132 connected by a leaf chain are welded to the roller tube 130 .
2,122 is installed. Roller shaft 13
4 also interconnects plates 128, 128 at its second corner. At both ends of the shaft 134 and the plate 12
There are two weight members 136,1 on the outside of 8,128.
36 are rotatably mounted, these weight members are pivotally mounted to and suspended from a shaft 134;
This provides the necessary weight to keep the leaf chain 122 taut at all times.
At the third corner of the triangular plates 128, 128, a cam follower 138 is rotatably mounted. As best shown in FIG. 12, when the lifting lug assembly is moved to the upper end of arm 110, cam follower 138 cams against stationary trough 34 at surface 139, thereby Assembly 124 is tilted toward stationary trough 34 to allow tube P to fall into the trough. When the fluid cylinder 112 is pressurized and the piston 120 is retracted accordingly, the lifting lug assembly 124 is moved toward the weight members 136, 136.
It falls downward along the arm 110 to the ground G beyond the end 116 while being assisted by the arm 110.
This causes the leaf chain 122 to move along the path from point 116 to point 114, which allows the latching arm assembly to not have to actuate the piston to extend the entire length of the arm member. do.

Referring to FIG. 1, it can be seen that there are two racking arm assemblies on either side of the stationary trough 34. Each of the assemblies on one side of the stationary trough, or in the preferred embodiment on both sides of the stationary trough, are of the same construction so that the fluid cylinders are pressurized in the same way in the same direction, so that the lifting lugs The assembly moves each arm at the same speed and the tubes move at the same height but horizontally. However, the racking arm assemblies on each side of the stationary trough are designed to operate independently of each other. Furthermore, when the lifting lugs on one side of the stationary trough are dropping the tube into the trough, the lifting lugs on the other side may be in their upper position. This forms a safety stop that prevents the tube from rolling out the other side of the trough if it is dropped onto one side of the trough by the lifting lug.

As previously discussed, the pivoting mount 57 of the racking arm assembly allows for pivoting movement of the arm 110 about two axes, as best shown in FIG. The pivot mount 57 has a plate member 138 attached to the side of the stationary trough 34 by a pivot assembly 140, which pivot assembly 140 has an axis 140a as shown in FIG.
Perform a rotational movement around. Plate 138 further includes two
It has a pair of ear members 142, 142, each having a hole 144, 144 extending therethrough.
Each pair of ear members 142, 142 are spaced apart to form a slot through the ear member in which a tab 145, 145 of the structure 111, 111 may be disposed. The tabs 145, 145 also have holes that may be parallel to the holes in the ear members 142, 142, and the pivot pin 14 is inserted through these holes.
6,146 is positioned. Arm 110 can pivot about pins 146, 146 or axis 146a. The arm 110 is thus movable between a lowered position lying on the ground and a horizontal or retracted position on a stationary trough.

As shown in FIG. 19, transfer member 50 has a projection 66 projecting therefrom that extends through a slot in stationary trough 34. As shown in FIG. Projection 66
Two sets of rotatably mounted wheel assemblies 150 are provided at opposite ends of opposite sides of the.
The wheel assembly 150 is adapted to ride on a passageway 151 that extends along and under the length of the stationary trough 34. Thus, the endless chain attached to each end of the projection will pull the transfer member 50, and the transfer member 50 will pull its wheel assembly 15.
Rolling over 0,150. Transfer member 50 also has a horizontal member 152, which has a bottom shape similar to that of the stationary trough. A vertical member 154 is attached to the trailing edge of member 152 perpendicular thereto;
Further, on the rear side of the member 154, there are two hooks 1 having hook portions extending beyond the top of the member 154.
56,156 is attached. Hook 15
6,156 engages with the shovel member 52.

As best shown in FIG. 20, shovel member 52 has a horizontal base member 160 that is configured to slide freely within stationary trough 34 and movable trough 40. There is. The forward end of member 160 has a diagonal notch 162 at the location of maximum impact or damaging contact forces, as best shown in FIG.
A striking plate 164 is vertically attached to the center of the member 160. Elastic material or covering member 166
is provided on the front surface of the plate 164. This covering member 166 forms an elastic surface against which the tube P can collide, thereby not only absorbing the impact force but also preventing damage to the pin end of the tube P. A rod 172 is attached to the arm member 170 at the rear edge of the member 160.
170, said bar 172 is mounted between arms 170, 170 and at their uppermost ends. This rod 172 is the shovel member 52
can be held by the hooks 156, 156 of the transfer member 50 when it is moved by the transfer member 50. Shovel member 52 further includes plate 16 between plate 164 and arm 170.
0 has a vertical protrusion 174 attached to the center. The protrusions 174 form the necessary structural supports. Thus, when the shovel member 52 is moved by the transfer member 50, the rod 172
It is held by a hook 156 as shown. Referring now to FIG. 15, when the transfer member 50 pushes the shovel member 52, and therefore the tube P, above the movable trough end 44, the shovel member 52 rotates about the edge 168 and the rod 172 is rotated downwardly out of engagement with hook 156 so that shovel member 52 can be moved above the movable trough. The invention provides two methods for holding shovel member 52 and moving it along movable trough 40.

One method is shown in FIGS. 20 and 21 and utilizes a bucket assembly generally designated 180. A more detailed description of the operation of one suitable bucket assembly 180 is provided in the aforementioned patent applications. However, simply speaking, the bucket assembly consists of the mast structure 182,
182 has a chain drive (not shown here). A number of arm pieces 184, 184 are attached to mast structure 182. Bucket assembly 180 further includes a mechanism (not shown herein) for opening and closing arm piece 184 when bucket 180 is adjacent movable trough end 44 . This mechanism works when the bucket assembly 180 is pulled away from the end 44 by the chain drive.
A cam action is provided to close the arm piece 184 and open the arm as the bucket assembly approaches the end 44. Arm piece 184 closes around plate 164 to retain shovel member 52 therein for transport along movable trough 40.

A second embodiment is shown in FIGS. 22 and 23. In this embodiment, carriage 186 has a continuous chain 1 passing around drive sprocket 189.
88 allows it to be driven along the length of the movable trough 40. This embodiment also has a slightly modified shovel member 190 that includes a longer forward plate member 192 and a first latch portion 192.
94, the latch portion 194 of which is connected to the plate 192.
protrudes from it in a forward position. The first latch portion 194 is connected to the second latch portion 194 attached to the carriage 186.
It is adapted to engage a mating latch portion 196. As shown in FIG.
6 is engaged when pulled above the movable trough 40 by the chain 188. This engagement and disengagement is effected by the action of the shovel member rotating about its edge 168 as described above as it moves between the two troughs.

As will be apparent from the foregoing detailed description, this invention is susceptible to many variations, adaptations and modifications, which will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains. . It is intended, however, that all such modifications that do not depart from the spirit of the invention are considered to be within the scope of the invention, which is limited only by the scope of the appended claims.