WO1992018741A1

WO1992018741A1 - Wire line splitting and reassembling method and apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO1992018741A1
Application number: PCT/US1992/001888
Authority: WO
Inventors: Lowell M. Reed
Original assignee: Parco Mast And Substructures, Inc.
Priority date: 1991-04-15
Filing date: 1992-03-10
Publication date: 1992-10-29
Also published as: TW205521B

Abstract

A method of reducing the maximum weight per trip for transporting by helicopter the components required for outfitting a derrick for drilling an oil or gas well in which a major weight component is the line utilized with the derrick drawworks and in which the line is formed of a plurality of twisted together individual cables including, untwisting the line into separate cables and simultaneously winding the separate cables on individual spools, transporting the individual spools by helicopter to the location where a derrick with the required components is to be assembled for drilling an oil or gas well and at the derrick location retwisting the individual cables from the individual spools into a line to substantially reform the line as it originally existed. The method is accomplished with a machine for unwinding a line formed of a center cable and a plurality of outer cables wound about the center cable, the machine having a rotating splitter head with a central passageway therethrough for receiving the line center cable and a plurality of outer passageways each for receiving a line outer cable, a center cable spool spaced from the splitter head and positioned to receive and wind the center cable thereon, an array of outer cable spools supported on a spoke structure spaced from the splitter head, the spoke structure being rotated, there being an outer cable spool for each outer cable of the line, each outer cable spools having an axis of rotation, the center cable spool and each of the outer cable spools being about their individual axis of rotation to wind thereon the center and outer cables.

Description

WIRE LINE SPLITTING AND REASSEMBLING METHOD AND APPARATUS

Background of the Invention

It is frequently necessary to drill oil and gas wells, and particularly exploratory

wells in areas of the world where access to the locations where the well is to be

drilled is substantially non-existent. That is, the location is in an area where roads

are unavailable. In order to drill wells in inaccessible locations drilling rigs have been devised that are capable of being broken down into subcomponents, each of which

has a weight no greater than the maximum load that can be transported by

helicopter. These are called helicopter transportable drilling rigs. For an example

of information relating to helicopter transportable drilling rigs reference may be had to Patent No. 4,473,977, issued October 2, 1984 entitled "Erection Means For

Portable Drilling System." For further background relating to providing drilling rigs that can be transported by helicopter see the following United States Patents: 3,767,329, issued October 23, 1973 entitled "Deep Drilling Machine Demountable For

Helicopter Transport"; Patent No. 3,933,059 issued January 20, 1976 entitled "Deep

Drilling Machine Demountable For Helicopter Transport" and Patent No. 4,676,484 issued June 30, 1987 entitled "Helicopter Transportable Traveling Block."

One problem with breaking down the equipment necessary to transport the components of a drilling rig, particularly of the type necessary to drill deep wells, is that of transporting the line that serves to support the drill pipe, the casing and so

forth during the drilling operations. As is well known in the typical drilling rig, a

drawworks is a large drum on which a line is reeled. The line extends from the

drawworks up over a crown block and down to a traveling block and is tied off. The

line usually extends in several loops around the crown block and traveling block to provide mechanical advantage for lifting the heavy weights encountered in drilling

SUBSTITUTE SHEET operations, such as long strings of drill pipe or casing. This line is in the form of a plurality of lengths of cable twisted together. Each cable, in turn, is formed by a plurality of lengths of high tensile wire. The line must be able to withstand great

tensile loads while, at the same time, have a high degree of flexibility. The line cannot be spliced since it must run in sheaves in the crown block and the traveling block and, therefore, cannot have large diameter splicing devices. Heretofore, the entire length of line needed for the drilling operation has been transported as a single unit on a reel, and this has been one of the most difficult pieces of equipment to

reduce to a maximum weight that can be transported by a readily commercially

available helicopter.

Therefore, an objective of this invention is to provide a wire line splitting and

reassembling machine for splitting a line into a plurality of cables, each of which is wound on a separate reel so that the individual reels can be transported from an

accessible to an inaccessible location. At the inaccessible location the wire line

splitter and reassembly machine is used to reform the line from the plurality of

separate cables.

When the drilling operation is completed, the same line splitting and

reassembling machine can then be used to split the line again into its separate cables for transportation out of the inaccessible location by helicopter.

The line splitting and reassembling machine itself can be moved by helicopter

so that the same machine can be first used at an accessible location to split a line

into a plurality of separately wound cables, then the machine is transported by

helicopter to an inaccessible drilling location where the machine is utilized to

reassemble the line. After the drilling operation is over, the machine is used to again disassemble the line into its individual cables, and the cables and machine can be

SUBSTITUTE SHEET transported by helicopter back to an accessible location.

Summary of the Invention

The invention relates to a method of reducing the maximum weight per trip for

transporting the components required for outfitting a derrick for drilling an oil or gas

well, and, particularly to a wire line splitting and reassembling machine.

The invention herein includes a machine for disassemble of a line made up of a plurality of cables. The typical line as used in heavy industry, such as in a drilling

derrick, is formed of a center cable with a plurality of outer cables wound about the center cable. The machine includes a rotating splitter head having a central

passageway therethrough for receiving the line center cable. The splitter head has

a plurality of outer passageways spaced radially from the center passageway each for receiving a line outer cable, there being an outer passageway for each of the

outer cables making up the line. A center cable reel is spaced from the splitter head and is positioned to receive and wind thereon the center cable.

An array of outer cable reels is supported on a spoke structure spaced from

the splitter head. The spoke structure is rotated about a horizontal axis extending from the splitter head. An outer cable reel is provided for each outer cable of the

line, and each of the outer cable reels has an independent axis of rotation.

The spoke structure is supported for rotation in synchronization with and in

a common axis with the rotation of the splitter head.

As the spoke structure and splitter head are rotated the center cable and each

of the outer cable reels are simultaneously rotated about their individual axis of rotation to wind thereon the center and outer cables.

A plurality of line guides are supported for rotation with the spoke structure and arranged radially about the axis of rotation of the spoke structure and splitter

SUBSTITUTE SHEET head. A line guide is provided for each of the outer cables, the line guide being positioned between the splitter head and the array of outer cable reels to individually guide the outer cables from the splitter head in the direction toward the outer cable reels on which the cables are wound. An important aspect of the outer cable reels, as supported on the rotational

spoke structure, is the arrangement such that the axis of rotation of each of the outer cable reels remains unchanged with respect to the horizontal as the spoke structure is rotated.

A better understanding of the invention will be obtained from the following description and claims, taken in conjunction with the attached drawings.

SUBSTITUTE SH o

Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 is an elevational fragmentary view of a machine for disassembling a line formed of a center cable and plurality of outer cables. The machine is also a cable assembly machine when used for reassembling a line made up of a center

cable and a plurality of outer cables. Figure 2 is an elevational cross-sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of

Figure 1 showing the structure supporting the center cable reel and the mechanism

for rotating the reel as a line is either assembled or disassembled.

Figure 3 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 1 showing the method of connecting rotational power from a motor to the apparatus

drive shafts.

Figure 4 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 1 showing the arrangement wherein a sun drive stationary sprocket is maintained in a stationary position.

Figure 5 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of Figure 1 showing the relationship between the planet drive sprocket and stationary sprockets by which the sun drive sprockets are rotated.

Figure 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional elevational view of the splitter head portion of the machine.

Figure 7 is a partial elevational view taken along the line 7-7 of Figure 6 showing the front end view of the splitter head.

Figure 8 is a partial elevational cross-sectional view taken along the line 8-8 of Figure 6 showing the rearward end view of the splitter head.

Figure 9 is a partial elevational cross-sectional view taken along the line 9-9 of Figure 1 showing the cable guide tubes in cross-section and showing the rearward

SUBSTITUTE SHEET D end of the splitter head and illustrating the method of supporting the splitter head for rotation.

Figure 10 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along the line 10-10 of Figure 1 showing the manner in which the cable guide tubes are supported on the main drive spindle.

Figure 11 is a partial elevational view as taken along the line 11-11 of Figure 1 showing the spoke structure that supports the thimbles that receive the separate cables.

Figure 12 is a partial plan view taken along the line 12-12 of Figure 11 and substantially enlarged, showing the relationship between the main drive spindle and a thimble spindle as supported by one arm of a star structure by which the thimble spindle is rotated.

Figure 13 is a front partial elevational view of a thimble spindle and a thimble supported thereon by which one cable of a multiple cable line is wound as a line is assembled or disassembled.

Figure 14 is a partial elevational view taken along the line 14-14 of Figure 12 showing a cable thimble and the means of rotation of the cable thimble to wind a cable thereon.

Figure 15 is a partial elevational view showing an end view of a cable thimble. Figure 16 is an enlarged partial elevational view of the forward end of the machine as taken along the line 16-16 of Figure 1 showing the means of maintaining

a predetermined force on a line being assembled or disassembled by which the rate

of feed of the line to the machine is controlled.

Figure 17 is an elevational view of the line feed mechanism as taken along the line 17-17 of Figure 16.

SUBSTITUTE SHEE Description of the Preferred Embodiment

Referring to the drawings, the basic elements of a machine for unwinding or winding a line for use in practicing the methods of this invention are illustrated.

Figure 1 shows the basic components of the machine in external elevational view.

The machine is supported on a base 10 and is substantially self-contained so that the machine can be moved as a unit, such as by helicopter, from an accessible to an inaccessible location for assembly or disassembly of a line in a manner to be hereinafter described.

Figure 1 will be described as it is used to disassemble a line, it being understood that to assemble a line the machine is operated in the opposite direction.

A line 12 is of the type utilized in derricks for drilling deep oil or gas wells.

Line 12 is typically formed of a plurality of cables wound to provide a unitary elongated flexible line for winding on the drawworks (not seen) of a derrick (not seen) and which line then extends over a crown block (not seen) and a traveling block (not seen) as typically used in drilling operations. Line 12 is formed of a plurality of cables and has, by example, a center cable 14 and six outer cables 16,

18, 20, 22, 24 and 26. The outer cables are wound around center cable 14 in closely spaced helical fashion. Each of the cables, in turn, is made of a plurality of individual wires that are wound together. Line 12, typically utilized in a derrick for drilling deep oil or gas wells, may weigh approximately three to five pounds per foot. A total

length of line of about 2500 feet is required in the typical drilling rig and when it is

considered that it is not feasible to splice a line, the total line for use in a drilling rig with a spool on which the line is wound, can weigh a total of as much as 20,000 to 30,000 pounds. Such weight exceeds that which can be safely transported by

SUBSTITUTE SHEET readily available commercial helicopters, and such weight is among the highest weight of components making up a typical helicopter transportable drilling rig. The purpose of the machine of Figure 1 is to separate line 12 into center cable 14 and

outer cables 16, 18, 20, 22, 24 and 26 that are wound on separate thimbles so that the separate thimbles can then be transported individually or, at least, as a part of other components to thereby limit the maximum weight per trip that a helicopter must make to transport all of the necessary components for a drilling rig from an accessible to an inaccessible location. The machine of Figure 1 includes a main drive spindle 28 that is tubular. One end of the main drive spindle is affixed to a splitter head 30. A vertical structure 32 extending uprightly from frame 12 supports rollers 34 and 36 (see Figure 9). The splitter head has an external circumferential surface that rolls on rollers 34 and 36, and thereby supports main drive spindle 28. A second vertical structure 38 supports pillow block bearing 40 adjacent the other end of main drive spindle 28. Thus, main drive spindle 28 is rotatably supported by structures 32 and 38.

Affixed to main drive spindle 28, adjacent pillow block bearing 40, is a sprocket 42. As shown in Figure 3 there is, positioned adjacent the base structure

12, a drive motor 44, a shaft 46 and a drive sprocket 48 thereon. By means of a chain 50 extending over sprocket 48 and sprocket 52 main drive spindle 28 is rotated.

Rotatably supported by frame 12 is a secondary drive shaft 52. Bearings 54A,

54B and 54C are secured to frame 12 to support secondary drive shaft 52. A

sprocket 56 is affixed to secondary drive shaft 52 and receives chain 50, as shown in Figures 1 and 3, so that the secondary drive shaft is driven in unison with and in controlled relation to the rotation of main drive spindle 28.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET Affixed to main drive spindle 28 is a sprocket structure 58 having radially outwardly extending arms, as best seen in Figure 11. Secured at the outer end at each of the arms is a spool, there being one spool for each of the outer cables 16, 18, 20, 22, 24 and 26, the spools being indicated by the numerals 60, 62, 64, 66, 68 and 70. Spool 60 winds outer cable 16 thereon; spool 62 winds outer cable 18

thereon; spool 64 winds outer cable 20 thereon, etc.

The method of supporting each of the spools 60, 62, 64, 66, 68 and 70 is best illustrated in Figure 12, which shows spool 66 as supported to an arm of spoke structure 58. Figure 12 does not show the portions that support spool 68 that would appear below it for purposes of clarity. Affixed to the outer end of arm 58 of the

spoke structure is a tubular bearing housing 72 that supports a shaft 74 therein. At one end of the shaft is a sprocket 76. The other end of shaft 74 supports a bracket 78 having a bearing housing 80 with a shaft 82, which shaft, in turn, rotatably supports spool 66. Shaft 82 has a sprocket 84 thereon that is connected by a chain 86 to a drive sprocket 88. Affixed to bracket 78 is a gear box 90 having a first shaft 92 receiving sprocket 94 thereon that is coupled by chain 96 to a drive sprocket 98 affixed to bearing housing 72. Sprocket 84 includes a slip clutch apparatus 100 that

serves to keep rotatable tension on spool 66.

Figure 11 does not show the cables wound on the spools, however, Figure 12 shows spool 66 having cable 22 wound on it.

A tubular member 102 is rotatably supported on the exterior of main drive spindle 28 adjacent the pillow block bearing 40 and has sprockets 104, 106, 108, and

110 thereon. Chain 112 is attached to a tie down point 114 secured to base

structure 10, as seen in Figures 1, 4 and 12. Chain 112 and sprocket 104 thereby retains tubular member 102 in a non-rotatable position on the drive spindle. Chain

SUBSTITUTE SHEET 116 extends from sprocket 108 and around sprocket 76 secured to shaft 74. Chain 116 also loops over a sprocket attached to a drive shaft which drives spool 64. Thus

sun drive 108 by way of chain 116, drives sprocket 76 and corresponding sprocket 98 affixed to shaft 74. Spool 64 is driven by a shaft 118, as seen in Figure 5. In like

manner, sun sprocket 106 has a chain 120 and shafts 122, and 124 which, in turn,

drives spools 60, 62 respectively in a manner as described with respect to Figure 12. Sun drive sprocket 110 has a chain 126 that drives sprockets affixed to shafts 128 and 130 as seen in Figure 5 which, in turn, drives spools 70 and 68 respectively. It can be seen that shafts 74, 118, 122, 124, 128 and 130 are rotated in planetary

fashion as the spoke structure 58 is rotated by main drive spindle 28. As previously described, splitter head 30 is positioned on one end of main drive spindle 28. The

splitter head serves as a point of separation of line 12 into its component center cable 14 and outer cables. The details of splitter head 30 are shown best in Figures 6, 7 and 8. The splitter head has a central axial opening 132 therein that receives center cable 14, the opening being larger than center cable 14 so that the splitter head can

rotate about center cable 14. Equally spaced from center opening 132 are six

oblique openings 134, 136, 138, 140, 142 and 144. The oblique openings are equally spaced from and adjacent center opening 132 on the splitter head forward surface

30A but are spaced further away from the center opening on the splitter head

rearward surface 30B. During disassembly line 12 is held in a non-rotating position

while splitter head 30 rotates with main drive spindle 28 to unwind the outer cables

16, 18, 20, 22, 24 and 26 from around center cable 14.

Supported around main drive spindle 28 and positioned between splitter head

30 and take up spools 60, 62, 64, 66, 68 and 70 are guide tubes 146, 148, 150, 152,

SUBSTITUTE SHEET 154 and 156 as seen in Figures 1, 6, 9 and 10. Guide tube 146 receives outer cable

16; guide tube 148 receives outer cable 18; guide tube 150 receives outer cable 20; etc. The guide tubes are secured to main drive spindle 28 by means of spokes 158,

as seen in Figure 10, and spokes 160 as seen in Figures 1 and 9. The function of

the guide tubes is to direct the outer cables as they are unwound and separated

from line 12 by splitter head 30 onto spools 60-70.

As seen in Figure 1, positioned on base 10 is a center cable take up spool

162 that functions to wind the center cable thereon as the line is disassembled concurrently with the winding of the outer cables on spools 60-70. As seen best in

Figure 2, spool 162 is supported by a shaft 164 rotatably extending from vertical

support post 166. Affixed to shaft 164 is a sprocket 168 that includes a slip mechanism 170 as a part thereof. Gear box 172 is supported to post 166. A

sprocket 174 is affixed to a shaft extending from the gear box. The gear box also has an output shaft 176 with a sprocket 178 thereon. A chain 180 connects sprocket 178 to sprocket 168. Figure 2 also shows sprocket 182 affixed to secondary drive

shaft 52. Chain 184 interconnects sprockets 182 and 174. Thus, as the secondary

drive shaft 52 is rotated in the manner previously described, spool 162 is rotated to

take up center cable 14.

Positioned in front of splitter head 30 is a line feed mechanism which is

supported on a post 186 extending upwardly from base 10. The line feed

mechanism is best seen in Figures 1 , 16 and 17. Post 186 rotatably supports shaft 188 having a sprocket 190 thereon. Secured to shaft 188 is a drive gear 192 and, in addition, a drive disc 194.

As seen in Figures 1 and 17, a bracket 196 extends from the top of post 186 and pivotally supports an arm 198. The outer end of the arm rotatably receives a

SUBSTITUTE SHEET shaft 200 having a gear 202 thereon that meshes with drive gear 192 by which shaft 200 is rotated. Also received on shaft 200 is a backup disc 204 that is co-planar with drive disc 194. Line 12 is received between drive disc 194 and back up disc 204. As these discs rotate, line 12 is fed in synchronization with the rotation of splitter

head 30. The speed of delivery of line 12 is coordinated with the rate of rotation of

splitter head 30 to unwind the line in coordination with the delivery of the line to the

splitter head.

To ensure accurate delivery of line 12 to the splitter head, the line must be securely held between drive disc 194 and back up disc 204. For this purpose,

means is provided to maintain tension applied by discs 194 and 204 to the line by applying compressive force on arm 198. This is achieved by means of a

compression spring 206 that bears against the upper surface of arm 198 and is

received on a vertically extended threaded shaft 208, the lower end of which is affixed

to bracket 196. An adjusting nut 210 having handle 212 can be used to regulate the amount of compression on spring 206 and to thereby vary the tension applied on line 12 by discs 194 and 204.

A gear box 214 is supported on post 186 and has a first shaft 216 extending

from it, the shaft having a pulley 218 thereon. The secondary drive shaft 52 has a

pulley 220 (see Figure 1) affixed to it in a plane of pulley 218 and by means of a belt

222 (see Fig. 1, not seen in Figures 16 and 17) gear box shaft 216 is rotated.

Also extending from gear box 214 is a second shaft 224 having a sprocket

226 which by means of a chain 228 drives the sprocket 190 to, in turn, rotate drive discs 194 and 204.

All of the mechanism is operated by a single power source to either unwind a line into its separate cables or reform a line that has previously been unwound, that

SUBSTITUTE SHEET is, drive motor 44 as seen in Figure 3. Power from the drive motor is supplie through main drive spindle 28 to unwind the line and, by way of secondary driv shaft 52, to rotate spool 162 to wind center cable 14 thereon, and simultaneously t control the delivery of line 61 to splitter head 30 by means of rotation of drive disc 194 and 204.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET Operation of the Mechanism

When an oil or gas well is to be drilled in a remote location, such as a jungle area or a remote mountainous area where roads are not available to transport the

components of a drilling rig, the means most commonly used at the present time for drilling in such remote inaccessible locations is by the use of helicopters. Helicopters are highly useful for transporting equipment except that the maximum loads they can transport are limited. For this reason, it is necessary to break a drilling rig down into components wherein the heaviest component has a weight that is below the maximum weight that can be safely transported by a helicopter. One of the heaviest

components is the line that extends from the drilling rig drawworks up over a crown block at the top of a derrick and down to a traveling block. The line is wound onto the drawworks to raise the traveling block and let off of the drawworks to lower the traveling block. The traveling block, in turn, has equipment to support casing, drill pipe, and so forth. When it is considered that oil or gas wells frequently are drilled to depths of 10,000 feet and greater and when the weight of a string of casing that

can reach such depths in an oil well is perceived, then the total weight that must be borne by the line is easy to appreciate. In addition, it is not feasible to splice a line. Therefore, a line must be transported as a unit. The present invention is a method and apparatus for reducing the total weight that is required to transport a line used in a drilling rig. Figure 1 shows a line 12 to be disassembled by the machine of Figure 1 as the machine is located in an accessible location where all equipment necessary can be transported by truck to such location. The line 12 passes through a feeder

mechanism that generally consists of those components having the numbers 186 through 228. The rotation of secondary drive shaft 52 rotates drive discs 194 and

SUBSTITUTE SHEET 204 having line 12 therebetween so as to advance the line at a preselected rate.

The line is split into its central cable and a plurality of outer cables, the central cable being indicated by the numeral 14 and the outer cables by the numerals 16-26, it being understood that the principles of the invention will function whether there are six outer cables as illustrated or more or less outer cables.

The splitter head 30 rotates to unwind line 12 at a rate coordinated with the delivery of the line by the feed mechanism so that the line is split into its component cables, that is, a central cable and a plurality of outer cables. The central cable 14 passes through the entire length of main drive spindle 28 and is wound onto spool 162.

The outer cables 16-26 are wound on spools 60-70. These spools rotate about main drive spindle 28 in the direction indicated by the arrow 230 in Figure 11. As the outer spools rotate they are maintained in uniform relationship relative to the horizontal, that is, the spools themselves rotate about main drive spindle 28 but the axii of the spools themselves do not rotate. This is achieved by the use of tubular member 102 which is held in non-rotatable position on the exterior of the main drive spindle and by sprockets 106, 108 and 110 in a sun/planetary gear arrangement.

As the shaft that supports spools 60-70 that collect the outer cables thereon rotates about main drive spindle 28 the shafts themselves, such as shaft 74 as shown in Figure 12, rotates relative to housing 72. This rotation is fed through gear box 90 to shaft 82 that supports spool 66, as shown in Figure 12, to thereby rotate

the spool to wind outer cable 22 thereon. Each of the collector spools 60-70 rotate about their own axii to wind the cable thereon after it has passed through splitter head 30, but the spool axii themselves do not rotate relative to the horizontal. After line 12 passes through splitter head 30 which divides it into its separate

SUBSTITUTE SHEET cable components, the outer cables are channeled through guide tubes 146-156 to

feed the cables onto collector spools 60-70.

After the entire line having a length as required for the drilling rig with which

it is to be used has passed through the machine, the line has been completely

disassembled and instead of being on one large spool is now on seven spools, that

is, spools 60-70 and spool 162 which has center cable 14 thereon. These spools may be separately transported, such as by helicopter, to a remote location. In addition, the machine itself as a total entity or, broken into components if necessary,

is then transported to the inaccessible location, such as by means of a helicopter.

At the inaccessible location where an oil or gas well is to be drilled, spools 60-70 and

162 are positioned back onto the machine to the configuration of Figure 1. The individual cables are then threaded back through main drive spindle 28 and guide tubes 146-156 and through splitter head 30. After the individual cables have been passed through the splitter head they are manually formed for a short length into a

reassembled length of cable and then the short length of reassembled cable is

inserted through the guide mechanism between drive discs 194 and 204. The

machine is then run in the rearward direction to reform line 12. The reformed line is wound onto a drum (not seen) or directly onto a drilling rig drawworks. The line is then reformed in its original condition as it is made up of a central cable and a

plurality of outer cables wound thereon.

After the oil or gas well is completed the line can then be disassembled as it

is removed from a drilling rig drawworks by passing the line through the machine in

the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 1 , which is the direction the line passes when it is being disassembled. When disassembled back onto spools 60-70 and 162

SUBSTITUTE SHEET the individual cables can be transported back to an accessible location. Th machine itself is then transported back from an inaccessible to an accessibl location. In this way, the machine can be reused as necessary to assemble an disassemble a line for helicopter transportable drilling rigs.

All of the action necessary for assembly or disassembly of a line is supplied

by one power source, that is, drive motor 44 as shown in Figure 3. To coordinate the interaction of various components speed adjustment mechanisms can be inserted in the machine where necessary. The use of slip clutches is employed to take care of the problem of devices that must at different times be rotated at different speeds, such as the speed of rotation of spools 60-70 and 162 as the line wound on the spools increases the winding diameter.

It must be remembered that when a line 12, as best illustrated in Figure 6, is manufactured the outer cables 16-26 take a form or set - that is, when they are unwound they are not straight. It is important that this set of the cables be undisturbed and that as the separated cables are wound on spools 60-70, the set in the cables remains. When the line is reassembled the outer cables are wound back on the center cable 14 in a manner so that the set therein conforms to the

finished cable. Therefore, the openings through splitter head 30 and through guide tubes 146-156 must be large enough to accommodate the set in the cables. The claims and the specification describe the invention presented and the

.terms that are employed in the claims draw their meaning from the use of such terms in the specification. The same terms employed in the prior art may be broader in meaning than specifically employed herein. Whenever there is a question between

the broader definition of such terms used in the prior art and the more specific use of the terms herein, the more specific meaning is meant.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET While the invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is manifest that many changes may be made in the details of construction and the arrangement of components without departing from the spirit and scope of this

disclosure. It is understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments set forth herein for purposes of exemplification, but is to be limited only by the scope of the attached claim or claims, including the full range of equivalency to which each element thereof is entitled.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A method of reducing the maximum weight per trip for transporting the

components required for outfitting a derrick for drilling oil or gas wells by means of a helicopter from an accessible to an inaccessible location in which a major weight component is the line utilized with the derrick drawworks,

crown block and traveling block and in which the line is formed of a plurality

of twisted together individual cables, comprising:

at the accessible location, untwisting the line into separate cables and

simultaneously winding the separate cables on individual spools; transporting the individual spools from the accessible location to the inaccessible location by helicopter where a derrick with the required

components is to be assembled for drilling an oil or gas well; and

at the inaccessible location retwisting the individual cables from individual spools into a line to substantially reform the line as it originally

existed at the accessible location.

2. A method according to claim 1 including means of removing the line from the

inaccessible location back to the accessible location comprising the steps of: at the inaccessible location, untwisting the cable and simultaneously

winding the separate cables on individual spools;

transporting the individual spools from the inaccessible location to an accessible location; and

at the accessible location, retwisting the individual cables from the individual spools into a line to substantially reform the line as it originally

existed.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein the step of untwisting the line includes passing the line into a machine having means to support a spool for each cable making up the line and in which at least a substantial portion of the spools are simultaneously rotated about an axis substantially coincident with the line being untwisted, each spool being simultaneously rotated about its axis to thereby untwist the line and wind the cables thereof on individual spools.

4. A method according to claim 3 wherein the line is formed of a center cable and a plurality of outer cables wound about the center cable and wherein the steps of untwisting the line comprises passing the line into a machine having means to support a center spool to receive the line center cable and outer spools to receive each of the line outer cables, the spools to receive the line outer cables being mounted for rotation substantially perpendicular to an axis

substantially coincident to the line being unwound, the outer spools and the center- spool each being rotated about its own axis to wind the center cable and outer cables on the individual center and outer spools.

5. For use with a line formed of a center cable and a plurality of outer cables

wound about the center cable, a machine for unwinding the line comprising: a rotating splitter head having a central passageway therethrough for receiving the line center cable and a plurality of outer passageways spaced radially from said center passageway each for receiving a line outer cable: a center cable spool spaced from said splitter head and positioned to receive and wind said center cable thereon, the center cable spool having an

SUBSTITUTE SHEET axis of rotation; an array of outer cable spools supported on a spoke structure spaced from said splitter head, the spoke structure being rotated about an axis extending from said splitter head, there being an outer cable spool for each

outer cable of said line, each outer cable spools having an axis of rotation;

means to rotate said spoke structure in synchronization with the rotation of said splitter head to untwist the line; and

means to rotate said center cable spool and each of said outer cable spools about their individual axis of rotation to wind thereon the center and outer cables.

6. A machine for unwinding a line according to claim 5 wherein said outer cable spools are positioned on said spoke structure radially about the axis of rotation of said spoke structure in substantially equally spaced-apart arrangement.

7. A machine for unwinding a line according to claim 5 including: a plurality of line guide means supported for rotation with said spoke structure and arranged radially about the axis of rotation of said spoke

structure, there being one line guide means for each line outer cables and therefor for each outer cable spools, the line guide means being positioned

between said splitter head and said array of outer cable spools.

8. A machine for unwinding a line according to claim 5 wherein said splitter head outer passageways are each in a plane askew to the plane of said center

SUBSTITUTE SHEET passageway.

9. A machine for unwinding a line according to claim 5 wherein said axis of rotation of each said outer cable spools remains unchanged with respect to

the horizontal as said spoke structure is rotated.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET