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US 10,371,562 B2Granted
Strain gauge span block for a drilling rig
AssigneeNabors Drilling Technologies USA, Inc.
InventorBrian Dale Dewald
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system includes a span block configured to couple with an extension from a top drive at a first end of the span block and configured to couple to a tubular at a second end of the span block. The system also includes a sensor block of the span block. The sensor block extends between the first end and the second end of the span block. Moreover, the sensor block is configured to provide an electronic indication of deformation of a portion of the sensor block in response to forces placed on the span block.
Claims17
A system, comprising:
- a sub configured to couple with an extension from a top drive at a first end region of the sub and configured to couple to a tubular at a second end region of the sub;
- a narrowed sub-section of the sub disposed between and extending continuously between the first and second end regions, wherein the narrowed sub-section is directly and integrally formed with both the first and second end regions at the narrowed sub-section;
- and
- a plurality of sensor blocks extending between the first end region and the second end region of the sub, wherein each sensor block of the plurality of sensor blocks is configured to provide an electronic indication of deformation of a portion of the sensor block in response to torsional forces placed on the sub, wherein the plurality of sensor blocks is positioned circumferentially about the narrowed subsection of the sub, wherein the plurality of sensor blocks is spaced a distance from the narrowed sub-section, and wherein each sensor block of the plurality of sensor blocks is coupled directly to the sub, and wherein each sensor block of the plurality of sensor blocks comprises:
- a first portion at a first end of the sensor block;
- a second portion at a second end of the sensor block;
- and
- a reactive section positioned between the first portion and the second portion, wherein the reactive section is configured to couple the first portion to the second portion, and wherein the reactive section has a smaller width, a smaller thickness, and a smaller length as compared to widths, thicknesses, and lengths of each of the first and second portions.
5 more elements
An oilfield sub, comprising:
- a first end region;
- a second end region;
- a narrowed sub-section disposed between the first and second end regions, wherein the narrowed sub-section extends continuously between and is directly and integrally formed with both the first and second end regions;
- a sensor block, comprising:
- a first portion positioned at a first end of the sensor block;
- a second portion positioned at a second end of the sensor block;
- a reactive section rigidly coupling the first portion to the second portion, wherein the reactive section is configured to deform in response to torsional and longitudinal forces applied to the sensor block, and wherein the reactive section has a smaller width, a smaller thickness, and a smaller length as compared to widths, thicknesses, and lengths of each of the first and second portions;
- and
- a sensor component of the reactive section, wherein the sensor component is configured to output a signal indicative of deformation of the reactive section, and wherein the sensor block is configured to be coupled directly to the oilfield sub;
- and
- a control system configured to utilize the signal indicative of deformation to adjust rotational speed of the top drive.
8 more elements
A system, comprising,
- a top drive configured to drive rotation of a tubular;
- a sub positioned between the top drive and the tubular, wherein the sub is configured to receive a load applied to the top drive by the tubular;
- a plurality of sensor blocks positioned circumferentially about the sub, wherein the plurality of sensor blocks is spaced a distance from a narrowed shaft portion of the sub, wherein the narrowed shaft portion is directly and integrally formed with and extends continuously between both a first end region of the sub and a second end region of the sub;
- wherein each sensor block of the plurality of sensor blocks is configured to deform in response to a torsional force of the load applied to the top drive by the tubular, and each sensor block of the plurality of sensor blocks comprises a sensor configured to output a signal indicative of the torsional force of the load applied to the top drive by the tubular, wherein each sensor block of the plurality of sensor blocks is coupled directly to the sub, wherein each sensor block of the plurality of sensor blocks comprises:
- a first portion at a first end of the sensor block;
- a second portion at a second end of the sensor block;
- and
- a reactive section positioned between the first portion and the second portion,
- wherein the reactive section is configured to couple the first portion to the second portion, and wherein the reactive section has a smaller width, a smaller thickness, and a smaller length as compared to widths, thicknesses, and lengths of each of the first and second portions;
- and
- a controller communicatively coupled to each sensor and configured to control operation of the top drive based on the signal indicative of the load applied to the top drive.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.