Core tube handling device
AssigneeBly IP Inc.
InventorsThorsten Upmeier, Christof Kruse, Trevor Zwar
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A core tube handling device can be used with exploratory drilling rigs. The device can include a slew arm mounted on the rig's mast and a pivot arm mounted on the slew arm. When the slew arm is adjacent to the mast, clamping devices on the pivot arm can grasp and hold a core tube from the drill string. The slew arm can pivot away from the mast and align the pivot arm with a tray that receives and holds the tubes. The pivot arm can pivot to a position proximate the tray and release the tube. The tray can be rotatable and translatable to facilitate transfer of the tube from the pivot arm to the tray.
Claims25
A device for moving core tubes in a drilling apparatus having a mast supporting a drill string, said device comprising:
- a slew arm mountable on said mast in an orientation parallel thereto, said slew arm being pivotable toward and away from said mast about a first axis oriented parallel to said mast and offset therefrom;
- a pivot arm mounted on said slew arm, said pivot arm being movable between a first orientation parallel to said slew arm and a second orientation transverse thereto;
- and
- a core tube handling assembly mounted on said pivot arm and being movable lengthwise therealong, wherein the core tube handling assembly is configured to receive and lift a core tube from within a drill string.
A device for moving core tubes in a drilling apparatus having a mast supporting a drill string, said device comprising:
- a slew arm mountable on said mast in an orientation parallel thereto, said slew arm being pivotable toward and away from said mast about a first axis oriented parallel to said mast and offset therefrom;
- at least one bracket for attaching said slew arm to said mast, said at least one bracket comprising:
- a spar attachable to said mast;
- a swing arm having a first end pivotably attached to said spar, and a second end attached to said slew arm;
- and
- an actuator operating between said spar and said swing arm for effecting pivoting motion of said slew arm toward and away from said mast about said first axis;
- a pivot arm mounted on said slew arm, said pivot arm being movable between a first orientation parallel to said slew arm and a second orientation transverse thereto;
- and
- a core tube handling assembly mounted on said pivot arm and being movable lengthwise therealong, wherein the core tube handling assembly is configured to receive and lift a core tube.
A device for moving core tubes in a drilling apparatus having a mast supporting a drill string, said device comprising:
- a slew arm mountable on said mast in an orientation parallel thereto, said slew arm being pivotable toward and away from said mast about a first axis oriented parallel to said mast and offset therefrom;
- a pivot arm mounted on said slew arm, said pivot arm being movable between a first orientation parallel to said slew arm and a second orientation transverse thereto;
- and
- a core tube handling assembly mounted on said pivot arm and being movable lengthwise therealong, wherein the core tube handling assembly is configured to receive and lift a core tube,
- wherein the pivot arm is configured to be coupled to the slew arm so that the pivot arm is fixed an orientation that is substantially parallel to the slew arm.
A drilling rig using core tubes in exploration drilling, said drilling rig comprising:
- a mast;
- a slew arm mounted on said mast in an orientation parallel thereto, said slew arm being pivotable toward and away from said mast about a first axis oriented parallel to said mast and offset therefrom;
- a pivot arm mounted on said slew arm, said pivot arm being movable between a first orientation parallel to said slew arm and a second orientation transverse thereto;
- and
- a core tube handling assembly mounted on said pivot arm and being movable lengthwise therealong, wherein the core tube handling assembly is configured to receive and lift a core tube from within a drill string.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.