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US 10,479,644 B2Granted
Elevator system and method with elevator link having integrated control lines
AssigneeForum US, Inc.
InventorAndre Vierke
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An elevator system for supporting tubulars having one or more elevator links with internal passages disposed through the elevator links to provide communication to and from the elevator.
Claims25
An elevator system for supporting a tubular member, comprising:
- an elevator;
- a first elevator link connected to the elevator for supporting the elevator, comprising:
- a shaft having an upper shaft end and a lower shaft end;
- an upper eye coupled to the upper shaft end and having an upper eye body defining an upper eye opening;
- a lower eye coupled to the lower shaft end and having a lower eye body defining a lower eye opening;
- a first upper port and a first lower port disposed on the first elevator link;
- a first internal passage extending through at least a portion of the shaft and in communication with the first upper port and the first lower port;
- a first control line having an upper line section coupled to and in communication with the first upper port and a lower line section coupled to and in communication with the first lower port, wherein the first internal passage and the first control line form a first fluid flowpath;
- and
- a second elevator link connected to the elevator for supporting the elevator.
7 more elements
An elevator link configured to couple an elevator to a top drive for supporting a tubular member, comprising:
- a shaft having an upper shaft end and a lower shaft end;
- an upper eye coupled to the upper shaft end and having an upper eye body defining an upper eye opening;
- a lower eye coupled to the lower shaft end and having a lower eye body defining a lower eye opening;
- a first upper port and a first lower port disposed on the elevator link;
- a first internal passage extending through at least a portion of the shaft and in communication with the first upper port and the first lower port;
- and
- a first control line having an upper line section coupled to and in communication with the first upper port and a lower line section coupled to and in communication with the first lower port, wherein the first internal passage and the first control line form a first fluid flowpath.
4 more elements
A method of supporting a tubular member with an elevator system, comprising:
- coupling a first control line to a first elevator link of the elevator system, wherein the first elevator link comprises a shaft, and a first upper port and a first lower port disposed on the elevator link, wherein a first internal passage extends through at least a portion of the shaft, and wherein the first internal passage is in communication with the first upper port and the first lower port;
- and
- pumping fluid through the first control line and through the first internal passage;
- and
- using the fluid as hydraulic power for the elevator system.
2 more elements
An elevator system for supporting a tubular member, comprising:
- an elevator;
- a first elevator link connected to the elevator for supporting the elevator, comprising:
- a shaft having an upper shaft end and a lower shaft end;
- an upper eye coupled to the upper shaft end and having an upper eye body defining an upper eye opening;
- a lower eye coupled to the lower shaft end and having a lower eye body defining a lower eye opening;
- a first upper port and a first lower port disposed on the first elevator link;
- a first internal passage extending through at least a portion of the shaft and in communication with the first upper port and the first lower port;
- and
- a first control line disposed within and extends through the first upper port, the first internal passage, and the first lower port;
- and
- a second elevator link connected to the elevator for supporting the elevator.
8 more elements
An elevator system for supporting a tubular member, comprising:
- an elevator;
- a first elevator link connected to the elevator for supporting the elevator, comprising:
- a shaft having an upper shaft end and a lower shaft end;
- an upper eye coupled to the upper shaft end and having an upper eye body defining an upper eye opening;
- a lower eye coupled to the lower shaft end and having a lower eye body defining a lower eye opening;
- a first upper port and a first lower port disposed on the first elevator link;
- a first internal passage extending through at least a portion of the shaft and in communication with the first upper port and the first lower port;
- wherein the first internal passage and the first control line form a first fluid flowpath;
- a second upper port and a second lower port disposed on the first elevator link;
- and
- a second internal passage extending between the second upper port and the second lower port;
- and
- a second elevator link connected to the elevator for supporting the elevator.
10 more elements
An elevator system for supporting a tubular member, comprising:
- an elevator;
- a first elevator link connected to the elevator for supporting the elevator, comprising:
- a shaft having an upper shaft end and a lower shaft end;
- an upper eye coupled to the upper shaft end and having an upper eye body defining an upper eye opening;
- a lower eye coupled to the lower shaft end and having a lower eye body defining a lower eye opening;
- a first upper port and a first lower port disposed on the first elevator link;
- a first internal passage extending through at least a portion of the shaft and in communication with the first upper port and the first lower port;
- and
- a second upper port and a second lower port disposed on the first elevator link, wherein the first internal passage is coupled to and in fluid communication with the second upper port and the second lower port;
- and
- a second elevator link connected to the elevator for supporting the elevator.
8 more elements
An elevator link configured to couple an elevator to a top drive for supporting a tubular member, comprising:
- a shaft having an upper shaft end and a lower shaft end;
- an upper eye coupled to the upper shaft end and having an upper eye body defining an upper eye opening;
- a lower eye coupled to the lower shaft end and having a lower eye body defining a lower eye opening;
- a first upper port and a first lower port disposed on the elevator link;
- a first internal passage extending through at least a portion of the shaft and in communication with the first upper port and the first lower port;
- and
- a first control line disposed within and extends through the first upper port, the first internal passage, and the first lower port.
4 more elements
An elevator link configured to couple an elevator to a top drive for supporting a tubular member, comprising:
- a shaft having an upper shaft end and a lower shaft end;
- an upper eye coupled to the upper shaft end and having an upper eye body defining an upper eye opening;
- a lower eye coupled to the lower shaft end and having a lower eye body defining a lower eye opening;
- a first upper port and a first lower port disposed on the elevator link, wherein the first lower port is disposed on the lower eye;
- and
- a first internal passage extending through at least a portion of the shaft and in communication with the first upper port and the first lower port.
3 more elements
An elevator link configured to couple an elevator to a top drive for supporting a tubular member, comprising:
- a shaft having an upper shaft end and a lower shaft end;
- an upper eye coupled to the upper shaft end and having an upper eye body defining an upper eye opening;
- a lower eye coupled to the lower shaft end and having a lower eye body defining a lower eye opening;
- a first upper port and a first lower port disposed on the elevator link;
- a first internal passage extending through at least a portion of the shaft and in communication with the first upper port and the first lower port;
- and
- a second upper port and a second lower port disposed on the elevator link, wherein the first internal passage is coupled to and in fluid communication with the second upper port and the second lower port.
4 more elements
An elevator link configured to couple an elevator to a top drive for supporting a tubular member, comprising:
- a shaft having an upper shaft end and a lower shaft end;
- an upper eye coupled to the upper shaft end and having an upper eye body defining an upper eye opening;
- a lower eye coupled to the lower shaft end and having a lower eye body defining a lower eye opening;
- a first upper port and a first lower port disposed on the elevator link;
- a first internal passage extending through at least a portion of the shaft and in communication with the first upper port and the first lower port;
- a second upper port and a second lower port disposed on the elevator link;
- and
- a second internal passage extending between the second upper port and the second lower port.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.