Control system for winch and capstan
AssigneeSchlumberger Technology Corporation
InventorsStephane Michel Breard, Stephane Georget, Aurelien Delanez
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A winch controller for a hoisting apparatus for a wireline operation operates as a closed loop controller. The winch controller is adapted to control a winch or, if included, a winch and a capstan in a coordinated manner. The winch controller may utilize process variables including the tension of the cable between the winch and the capstan. The controller is coupled to a power pack adapted to power the winch and capstan. The power pack and controller are configured such that the capstan may be selectively removed from the system when it is not needed.
Claims18
A hoisting apparatus comprising:
- a winch, the winch including a drum adapted to extend or retract a cable wrapped therearound;
- a capstan, the capstan including one or more pulleys engaged with the cable and adapted to move the cable by a corresponding rotation of the pulleys;
- a tension sensor adapted to measure the tension of the cable;
- one or more sensors adapted to measure one or more process variables;
- a power pack adapted to drive the winch and the capstan;
- and
- a winch control system adapted to control the power pack at least partially in response to command signals, readings collected by the tension sensor, and the one or more process variables such that the movements of the winch and capstan are coordinated;
- wherein the tension sensor is positioned between the winch and the capstan.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.