SE2151141A1 - Iron roughneck apparatus and holding device attachable an iron roughneck apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to an iron roughneck apparatus (1) arranged to connect and disconnect pipe segments (2). The iron roughneck apparatus (1) comprises at least a first and a second jaw unit (3) having a first and a second holding device (10) connected thereto, each holding device (10) being adapted to hold at least one pipe contacting element (11). Further the apparatus (1) comprises a motor arrangement (15). The holding device (10) comprises a locking portion (13) and a variable locking means (14) jointly arranged to secure said pipe contacting element (11). Moreover, the holding device (10) comprises a biasing means (17). Furthermore, the variable locking means (14) is movable between a locking state, to prevent that said pipe contacting element (11) is moved to and from said locking portion, and a releasing state, allowing that said pipe contacting element (11) is moved to and from said receiving surface (12).

Description

1 IRON ROUGHNECK APPARATUS AND HOLDING DEVICE ATTACHABLE AN IRON ROUGHNECK APPARATUS TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates to an iron roughneck apparatus and a holding device attachable to an iron roughneck apparatus. BACKGROUND ART Iron roughneck apparatuses are machinery, usually hydraulic, that are used to operate with segments of pipe in drilling rigs. I\/|ore specifically they are used to connect and disconnect segments of pipe. The segments can further be manipulated as they are hoisted into and out of a borehole.

There are different types of iron roughnecks, but generally, the iron roughneck apparatuses clamp a pipe segment by providing torque, while a spinning or rotary wrench turns the other segment of pipe. The pipe segments that are to be connected or disconnected usually comprise a male segment having inside threads and a female segment having outside threads.

Iron roughneck apparatus apply a large force for connecting or disconnecting the pipe segments. Conventionally, the iron roughneck apparatuses comprise a holding device that holds a pipe contacting element (also referred to as a die) which are arranged to contact the pipe segments from different directions to grip it and operate it. After a while, the dies become worn and needs replacement. The replacing of the dies is a process which takes a long time. The average time to change a plurality of dies in an iron roughneck apparatus is several hours.

Based on the above, there is in the present art room for improvements in order to have iron roughneck apparatuses that can operate more smoothly.

Thus, there is room for iron roughneck apparatuses in the present art to explore the domain of providing improved apparatuses that enables for a rapid and convenient replacement of worn dies. 2 Even though some currently known solutions work well in some situations it would be desirable to provide an iron roughneck apparatus that specifically fulfils requirements relating to efficiency and convenience in a die changing process.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION lt is therefore an object of the present disclosure to provide an iron roughneck apparatus and a holding device to mitigate, alleviate or eliminate one or more of the above-identified deficiencies and disadva ntages.

This object is achieved by means of an iron roughneck apparatus and a holding device as defined in the appended claims 1 and 9.

The present disclosure is at least partly based on the insight that by providing an improved iron roughneck apparatus and holding device, that comprise means for allowing efficient and rapid insertion/removal of pipe contacting elements (dies), the iron roughneck apparatus will operate in a more efficient and time-saving manner.

The present disclosure provides an iron roughneck apparatus arranged to connect and disconnect pipe segments, the iron roughneck apparatus comprises at least a first and a second jaw unit, each arranged to grip a pipe segment. Each ofthe jaw units comprises at least a first and a second holding device connected thereto. Each holding device is adapted to hold/contact at least one pipe contacting element. Moreover, the iron roughneck apparatus comprises a motor arrangement configured to transfer timmer at least one of said java tmits causírig it to conawect or disconnect said gaipe segments. Fairther, eatth holding device comprises a receiving surface having a locking portion and a variable locking means jointly arranged to secure said pipe contacting element to said holding device. Further, the variable locking means comprises a biasing means, the biasing means being arranged within a cavity on said receiving surface, wherein the variable locking means is movable between a locking state, in which the variable locking means protrudes from said receiving surface to prevent that said pipe contacting element is moved to and from said locking portion, and a releasing state, in which the variable locking means is recessed into said cavity to allow that said pipe contacting element is moved to and from said locking portion, and wherein said biasing means is arranged to bias said variable locking means towards said locking state. 3 An advantage with the iron roughneck apparatus is that since the variable locking means has two positions which are selectively moveable by operating the biasing means, allows it to be conveniently managed when aiming to insert or remove a pipe contacting element. Thus, allowing for an operator of the apparatus to conveniently change pipe contacting means without any significant time loss. Further, the variable locking means is conveniently structured, resulting in a cheap and fast manufacturing ofthe variable locking means. Furthermore, by allowing having the variable locking means partly in a cavity, it provides a COmpaCt StFUCtUFe. lt should be noted that in the releasing state the variable locking means may be partially, or fully recessed into said cavity, preferably fully recessed. Further, a distance between the variable locking means and the locking portion may correspond to a length of a pipe contacting element so to allow securing.

The locking portion may be formed as a protrusion on said receiving surface, thus facilitating a secure attachment of a pipe contacting element to the holding device.

Further, the biasing means may comprise a spring structure. The spring structure may be arranged with a spring constant allowing a user to conveniently recess the variable locking means into said cavity. The spring structure may have a helical spring.

The variable locking means may comprises a top surface, the top surface having a convex shape. The convex shape allowing for a user to glide a pipe contacting element towards, and onto the receiving surface without having to manually press the whole protruding height of the variable locking means into the cavity prior to initiating such a move, since the pipe contacting element can glide along the convex surface and the motion towards the receiving surface will simultaneously recess it into the cavity.

The locking portion and at least part ofthe variable locking means may be positioned along longitudinal end portions of the holding device. Thus, allowing for holding a pipe contacting element from two opposing portions, resulting in a more secure attachment.

Further, the variable locking means may be positioned at an upper longitudinal end portion of the holding device, and at least a part ofthe locking portion is positioned at a lower longitudinal end portion ofthe holding device, the upper longitudinal end portion having a 4 greater distance to an standing surface of the iron roughneck apparatus compared to the lower longitudinal end portion.

An advantage of this is that it allows a user to more conveniently manage the variable locking means as a user can attach/remove a pipe contacting element from above. Further, this reduces the risk of dropping the pipe contacting element during operation.

The locking portion may comprise a vertical protrusion and a first and a second longitudinal protrusion, preventing movement of an attached contacting element along at least a first and a second direction of the holding device. ln other words, the locking portion may be arranged to at least partially surround an attached pipe contacting element.

Furthermore, the locking portion may comprise an elastic element. The elastic element be arranged to be in contact with a part of a pipe contacting element. Thus, the elastic element allows, by cooperation with the variable locking portion, for the pipe contacting element to be secured.

There is also provided a holding device attachable to an iron roughneck apparatus arranged to connect and disconnect pipe segments, the holding device comprising a receiving surface having a locking portion and a variable locking means jointly arranged to secure said pipe contacting element to said holding device. Further, the variable locking means comprises a biasing means, the biasing means being arranged within a cavity on said receiving surface. Further, the variable locking means is movable between a locking state, in which the variable locking means protrudes from said receiving surface to prevent that said pipe contacting element is moved to and from said locking portion, and a releasing state, in which the variable locking means is recessed into said cavity to allow that said pipe contacting element is moved to and from said locking portion. Furthermore, said biasing means is arranged to bias said variable locking means towards said locking state.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS ln the following the disclosure will be described in a non-limiting way and in more detail with reference to exemplary embodiments illustrated in the enclosed drawings, in which: Figure 1A 5 Figure 1B Figure 2A 10 Figure 2B Figure 3A Figure 3B Figures 4A-4C illustrates a top view of an iron roughneck apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; illustrates a side view of an iron roughneck apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; illustrates an objective view of a holding device in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; illustrates an objective view of a holding device in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; illustrates a side cut-out cross-sectional view of a variable locking means, wherein a pipe contacting element moves over a variable locking means to be secured by the holding device, wherein the variable locking means is partly recessed in a cavity; illustrates a side cross-sectional view of a holding device in a locking state; and sequentially illustrates the removal of a pipe contacting element from a holding device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION ln the following detailed description, some embodiments of the present disclosure will be described. However, it is to be understood that features of the different embodiments are exchangeable between the embodiments and may be combined in different ways, unless anything else is specifically indicated. Even though in the following description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a more thorough understanding of the provided apparatus and device, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the apparatus and device may be realized without these details. ln other instances, well known constructions or functions are not described in detail, so as not to obscure the present disclosure.

Figure 1A illustrates a top view of an iron roughneck apparatus 1 arranged to connect and disconnect pipe segments 2. The iron roughneck apparatus 1 comprises at least a first and a second jaw unit 3, 3' (in Figure 1A, only a first jaw unit 3 is seen. Figure 1B illustrates both) each arranged to grip a pipe segment 2. Each jaw unit 3 having a first and a second holding device 10 connected thereto, each holding device 10 being adapted to hold at least one pipe contacting element 11. Further, the apparatus 1 comprises a motor arrangement 15 confšgured to transfer power at least one of said java units causing it to connect or disconnect said pipe segments The motor arrangement may be a hydraulic motor arrangement or any other suitable motor arrangement. The iron roughneck apparatus 1 may during operation be arranged so that each jaw 3, 3' grips a respective pipe segment 2 so to connect or disconnect said segments 2 to/from each other. The pipe contacting element 11 may comprise any durable material, e.g. alloy steel. Further, the pipe contacting element 11 may have a radius adapted to a radius of a pipe.

Figure 1B illustrates the iron roughneck apparatus from a side view, showing the first and the second jaw unit 3, 3' gripping respective pipe segments 2.

Figure 2A and 2B illustrates the holding device 10 attached to the iron roughneck apparatus in Figure 1A and 1B from objective views. As illustrated in Figures 2A and 2B, the holding device 10 comprises a receiving surface 12 having a locking portion 13 and a variable locking means 14 jointly arranged to secure said pipe contacting element 11 to said holding device 10. Further, the variable locking means 14 comprises a biasing means 17 (seen in Figure 2A), the biasing means 17 being arranged within a cavity 16 (the cavity 16 is seen in Figure 2A) on said 7 receiving surface 12. The variable locking means 14 is movable between a locking state, in which the variable locking means 14 protrudes from said receiving surface 12 to prevent that said pipe contacting element 11 is moved to and from said locking portion, and a releasing state, in which the variable locking means 14 is (preferably fully) recessed into said cavity 16 to allow that said pipe contacting element 11 is moved to and from said receiving surface 12, and wherein said biasing means 17 is arranged to bias said variable locking means 14 towards said locking state.

Figure 2A-2B illustrates that the variable locking means 14 is in a locking state, thus protruding from the receiving surface 12. Further, it's illustrated in Figures 2A-2B that the pipe contacting element 11 is attached to said receiving surface 12 jointly by said locking portion 13 and said variable locking means 14. As illustrated, the pipe contacting element 11 may be squeezed intermediate the locking means 14 and the locking portion 13.

As seen in Figures 2A and 2B, the locking portion 13 may form a protrusion/edge on said receiving surface 12 which is seen in Figures 2A and 2B. Further, as shown in Figure 2B, the locking portion 13 may comprise a vertical protrusion 13' and a first and a second longitudinal protrusion 13", preventing movement of an attached contacting element along at least a first and a second direction x, y of the holding device 10.

Further 2B show that the locking portion 13 and at least part ofthe variable locking means 14 may be positioned along longitudinal end portions 19, 20 of the holding device 10.

As illustrates in Figures 2A and 2B the variable locking means 14 and the locking portion 13 are arranged to, when said holding device 10 is in a locking state, secure a pipe contacting element 11, preventing it to move in the first and second direction x, y. Further, also preventing it from moving in a third direction z, perpendicular to the first and second direction X, Referring back to Figure 1B, the longitudinal end portions 19, 20 may be an upper longitudinal end portion 19 and lower longitudinal end portion 20, the upper longitudinal end portion 19 having a greater distance to a standing surface 21 of the iron roughneck apparatus 1 compared to the lower longitudinal end portion 20. Preferably, the variable locking means 14 is positioned at the upper longitudinal end portion 19 making it more efficient to remove and 8 attach pipe Contacting elements 11 to said holding device 10 for an operator. Standing surface 21 refers to the ground that the iron roughneck is standing upon.

Figure 3A illustrates a cut-out side view of a pipe contacting element 11 and a locking portion 13, where the pipe contacting element 11 is being moved towards the variable locking portion 13 to be jointly secured by the locking portion 13 and the variable locking means 14 (not shown in the cut-out of Figure 3A).

As illustrated in Figure 3A, the variable locking means 14 may comprises a top surface 18 having a convex/curved shape so to facilitate the pressing of the variable locking means 14 into the cavity 16 allowing for a more rapid securing of a pipe contacting element. As seen in Figure 3A, the curve shape results in that the variable locking means 14 does not need to be fully recessed into the cavity 16 in order to start sliding the pipe contacting element 11 across the locking means 14 to secure it jointly by the locking portion 13 and the locking means 14. ln other words a part of the moving the variable locking means 14 from the locking state to the releasing state may be performed by the engagement with the pipe element 11 as illustrated in Figure 3A. The curve may have an uneven steepness across the surface 18 so to facilitate attachment of the element 11 but still allowing it to be fully secured. As seen in Figures 2A-2B the variable locking means 14 may have a top surface 18 that is flat and has edges i.e. delimited by edges. ln other words it may have any suitable form such as a cube, 3D rectangle, or as in the Figures 2A-2B, a 3D rectangle with rounded corners, or any other polygonal form. lt should be noted that the variable locking means 14 may have any suitable shape and the illustrations in Figures 2A-3B does not limit the shape or form of the variable locking means 14. A purpose of the variable locking means 14 is to, when in a locking state jointly with the locking portion 13 safely secure a pipe contacting element 11 to the receiving surface 12.

Thus, it may have any suitable shape that facilitates this.

Figure 3B illustrates a cross-sectional view of a holding device 10. Figures 3A and 3B both illustrate that the biasing means 14 may comprises a spring structure. The spring structure may be arranged so that an operator can push it in by hand-force so to easily insert a pipe contacting element 11. Since, the variable locking means 14 is biased by said biasing means 17 towards said locking state, the variable locking means 14 will return to a locking position after releasing force from the variable locking means 14. 9 Furthermore, Figures 2B and 3B illustrate that the locking portion 13 may comprises an elastic element 22. Allowing for an improved and more secured holding of the pipe contacting element 11. The elastic element 22 may contact the pipe contacting element 11 and partly deform to allow it to be tightly secured. Reference letter 'A' in Figure 3B denotes an enlarged view ofthe variable locking means 14 when in a locking position i.e. protruding from said receiving surface.

Figures 4A-4C illustrates from a side cross-sectional view the holding device 10 in scenarios when a pipe contacting element 11 is being removed from a holding device 10 e.g. for changing of a worn pipe contacting element 11. ln Figure 4A, the holding device 10 is in a locking state where the variable locking means 14 protrudes from said receiving surface and the pipe contacting element 11 is jointly secured by the variable locking means 14 and the locking portion 13. ln Figure 4B the pipe contacting element 11 is being moved away from the locking portion 13 so to be removed. ln Figure 4B the holding device 10 is in a releasing state, where the variable locking means 14 is recessed in the cavity 16 (not shown in Fig 4B).

Figure 4C illustrates that the pipe contacting element is removed from the holding device 10, consequently the variable locking means is returned to a locking state in where it protrudes outwards from the receiving surface.

The present disclosure also relates to a holding device 10 as such being attachable to an iron roughneck apparatus, wherein the holding device 10 may have any of the features disclosed in the present disclosure. Thus, the holding device 10 may correspond to the holding device as disclosed in Figures 1A-4C.

Claims (1)

1. An iron roughneck apparatus (1) arranged to connect and disconnect pipe segments (2), the iron roughneck apparatus (1) comprising: - at least a first and a second jaw unit (3), each arranged to grip a pipe segment (2); - each jaw unit (3) having a first and a second holding device (10) connected thereto, each holding device (10) being adapted to hold at least one pipe contacting element (11); - a motor arrangement (15) configurecâ to transfer povver at least one of seaid _iaxfv Lmits (3, 33) causing it to connect or disconnect said pipe segments (2); wherein the holding device (10) comprises a receiving surface (12) having a locking portion (13) and a variable locking means (14) jointly arranged to secure said pipe contacting element (11) to said holding device (10); wherein the variable locking means (14) comprises a biasing means (17), the biasing means (17) being arranged within a cavity (16) on said receiving surface (12); wherein the variable locking means (14) is movable between a locking state, in which the variable locking means (14) protrudes from said receiving surface (12) to prevent that said pipe contacting element (11) is moved to and from said locking portion, and a releasing state, in which the variable locking means (14) is recessed into said cavity (16) to allow that said pipe contacting element (11) is moved to and from said receiving surface (12), and wherein said biasing means (17) is arranged to bias said variable locking means (14) towards said locking state. The iron roughneck apparatus (1) according to claim 1, wherein the locking portion (13) forms a protrusion on said receiving surface (12). The iron roughneck apparatus (1) according any one of the claims 1 or 2, wherein said biasing means (17) comprises a spring structure. The iron roughneck apparatus (1) according any one ofthe claims 1-3, wherein said variable locking means (14) comprises a top surface (18), the top surface (18) having aconvex shape. . The iron roughneck apparatus (1) according to any one ofthe claims 1-4, wherein the locking portion and at least part ofthe variable locking means (14) are positioned along longitudinal end portions (19, 20) of the receiving surface (12) of the holding device (10). . The iron roughneck apparatus (1) according to any one ofthe claims 1-5, wherein the variable locking means (14) is positioned at an upper longitudinal end portion (19) of the holding device (10), and at least a part ofthe locking portion (13) is positioned at a lower longitudinal end portion (20) of the holding device (10), the upper longitudinal end portion (19) having a greater distance to a standing surface (21) of the iron roughneck apparatus (1) compared to the lower longitudinal end portion (20). . The iron roughneck apparatus (1) according to any one ofthe claims 1-6, wherein the locking portion (13) comprise a vertical protrusion (13') and a first and a second longitudinal protrusion (13"), preventing movement of an attached contacting element (11) along at least a first and a second direction (x, y) of the holding device (10). . The iron roughneck apparatus (1) according to any one ofthe claims 1-7, wherein the locking portion (13) comprises an elastic element (22). A holding device (10) attachable to an iron roughneck apparatus (1) arranged to connect and disconnect pipe segments (2), the holding device (10) comprising: a receiving surface (12) having a locking portion (13) and a variable locking means (14) jointly arranged to secure said pipe contacting element (11) to said holding device (10); wherein the variable locking means (14) comprises a biasing means (17), the biasing means (17) being arranged within a cavity (16) on said receiving surface (12); wherein the variable locking means (14) is movable between a locking state, in which the variable locking means (14) protrudes from said receiving surface (12) to prevent that said pipe contacting element (11) is moved to and from said locking 12 portion, and a releasing state, in which the variable locking means (14) is recessed into said cavity (16) to allow that said pipe contacting element (11) is moved to and from said locking portion (13), and wherein said biasing means (16) is arranged to bias said variable locking means (14 ) towards said locking state.