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US 10,801,275 B2Granted
Elevator system for supporting a tubular member
AssigneeForum US, Inc.
InventorsArno Gruess, Frederik Stoldt
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An elevator system that supports a tubular member includes an elevator movable between a first elevator position and a second elevator position. A mechanical signal mechanism is coupled to the elevator. A valve is coupled to the mechanical signal mechanism. The mechanical signal mechanism is configured to transmit a mechanical signal by a mechanical control cable to move the valve into a valve position to send a valve signal that the elevator is in the second elevator position.
Claims19
An elevator system for supporting a tubular member, comprising:
- an elevator movable between a first elevator position and a second elevator position;
- a clamp element;
- a first mechanical signal mechanism coupled to the elevator, the first mechanical signal mechanism having a first sensor located in an upper bore of a carrying structure, the first sensor located between the clamp element and the carrying structure;
- a second mechanical signal mechanism coupled to the elevator, the second mechanical signal mechanism having a second sensor located in a lower bore of the carrying structure, the second sensor located between the clamp element and the carrying structure;
- and
- a valve coupled to the first or second mechanical signal mechanism, wherein the first or second mechanical signal mechanism is configured to transmit a mechanical signal by a mechanical control cable to move the valve into a valve position to send a valve signal that the elevator is in the second elevator position.
3 more elements
An elevator system for supporting a tubular member, comprising:
- an elevator movable between a first elevator position and a second elevator position;
- a clamp element;
- a first mechanical signal mechanism coupled to the elevator, the first mechanical signal mechanism having a first sensor located in an upper bore of a carrying structure, the first sensor located between the clamp element and the carrying structure;
- a second mechanical signal mechanism coupled to the elevator, the second mechanical signal mechanism having a second sensor located in a lower bore of the carrying structure, the second sensor between the clamp element and the carrying structure;
- the first sensor or the second sensor being configured to make a sensor mechanism movement in response to the elevator moving from the first elevator position to the second elevator position;
- a mechanical control cable having a first cable end and a second cable end, wherein the first cable end is coupled to the first sensor or the second sensor;
- a trigger mechanism coupled to the second cable end of the mechanical control cable, wherein the mechanical control cable transmits the sensor mechanism movement of the first sensor or the second sensor to the trigger mechanism so that the trigger mechanism has a trigger movement;
- and
- a valve coupled to the trigger mechanism such that the trigger movement of the trigger mechanism is transmitted to the valve to move the valve into a position to send a valve signal that the elevator is in the second elevator position.
6 more elements
A method of signaling a position of an elevator for supporting a tubular member, comprising:
- supporting the tubular member with the elevator;
- moving the elevator from a first elevator position to a second elevator position, wherein the elevator has a central opening and a clamp element disposed adjacent the central opening, wherein the clamp element is in a non-activated position when the elevator is in the first elevator position and the clamp element is in an activated position when the elevator is in the second elevator position;
- activating one or more of a first sensor or a second sensor, wherein the first sensor is located in an upper bore of a carrying structure and between the clamp element and the carrying structure, and the second sensor is located in a lower bore of the carrying structure and between the clamp element and the carrying structure;
- and
- transmitting a mechanical signal by a mechanical control cable coupled to a valve to move the valve into a valve position to send a valve signal that the elevator is in the second elevator position, wherein the valve is a hydraulic valve, a pneumatic valve, or an electric valve.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.