Racking board retention system
AssigneeNabors Drilling Technologies USA, Inc.
InventorAlex Kunec
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fingerboard that includes a first finger having a longitudinal axis and proximal and distal ends, a latch assembly mounted on the distal end of the finger, the latch assembly including first and second opposed bearing faces defining a first gap therebetween, a latch having first and second latch ends, the first latch end being pivotably mounted in the first gap so as to allow the latch to pivot between open and closed positions in a plane normal to the longitudinal axis of the first finger, and third and fourth opposed bearing faces defining a second gap therebetween, the second longitudinal space positioned to receive the second end of corresponding latch on an adjacent finger. The latch assembly may be detachably mounted on the finger.
Claims24
A fingerboard, comprising:
- a first finger having a longitudinal axis and proximal and distal ends;
- a latch assembly mounted on the distal end of the finger, the latch assembly comprising:
- first and second opposed bearing faces defining a first gap therebetween;
- a latch having first and second latch ends, the first latch end being pivotably mounted in the first gap so as to allow the latch to pivot between open and closed positions;
- and
- third and fourth opposed bearing faces defining a second gap therebetween, the second gap positioned to receive an end of a second latch.
A fingerboard, comprising:
- a first finger having a longitudinal axis, a pin, and first and second opposed bearing faces, the pin extending between the first and second bearing faces;
- a first latch having first and second latch ends, the first latch end including a bore and being pivotably mounted between the first and second bearing faces by engagement of the pin with the bore so as to allow the latch to pivot between open and closed positions, the distance between the first and second bearing faces being greater than the longitudinal dimension of the first latch end;
- a second finger parallel to the first finger and defining a slot therewith, the second finger including third and fourth bearing faces positioned such that when the latch is in a closed position the second latch end lies between the third and fourth bearing faces;
- a control system;
- and
- a latch actuator connected to the latch such that when latch actuator is actuated, it causes the latch to move to an open position.
A method for storing tubulars at a drill site, comprising:
- providing a fingerboard comprising:
- a first finger having a longitudinal axis;
- a latch having first and second latch ends, the first latch end being pivotably mounted on the first finger so as to allow the latch to pivot between open and closed positions;
- a second finger parallel to the first finger and defining a slot therebetween, the second finger including bearing faces defining a second gap therebetween and positioned such that when the latch is in a closed position the second latch end lies in the second gap;
- opening the latch;
- inserting one end of a tubular into the slot between the first and second fingers;
- and closing the latch.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.