Cartridge tubular handling system
AssigneeFriede & Goldman Marketing B.V.
InventorsPaul Stephen Tetley, Daniel B. Holsberg, Calvin Vinal Norton
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A cartridge of tubulars may be removably positioned with a carriage, and the carriage may move the cartridge transversely, vertically, and/or rotationally to roll tubulars on an adjacent tubular receiving member using only gravity from a selected tier of tubulars without human contact. A single trolley disposed with the tubular receiving member both pushes and pulls tubulars toward or away from the drilling deck.
Claims21
A tubular handling system, comprising:
- a tubular receiving member;
- a carriage support member, said carriage support member disposed relative to said tubular receiving member;
- and
- a carriage comprising:
- a carriage first member,
- a carriage second member movable relative to said carriage first member, and
- a carriage third member movable relative to said carriage second member;
- wherein said carriage first member moveable relative to said carriage support member, said carriage moveable between a first tubular tier position and a second tubular tier position;
- wherein in said second tubular tier position said carriage positioned farther away from said tubular receiving member than in said first tubular tier position;
- wherein in said second tubular tier position said carriage second member positioned closer to said carriage first member than in said first tubular tier position;
- and
- wherein said carriage third member moveable relative to said carriage second member, said carriage third member moveable between a neutral position to an inclined position to move a tubular to said tubular receiving member.
A tubular storage and handling system for holding a plurality of tubulars, comprising:
- a cartridge having a first tier support member for supporting a first tier of tubulars;
- said cartridge having a first tier opening to allow tubulars to roll from said cartridge first tier supporting member;
- and
- a first tubular retaining member positioned with said first tier opening and moveable between a blocking position to block tubulars from moving through said first tier opening, and an unblocked position to allow tubulars to move through said first tier opening.
A method for loading a plurality of tubulars from a cartridge to a tubular receiving member, comprising the steps of:
- removably positioning a cartridge with a tiltable structural member;
- tilting said cartridge to an angle so that the tubulars roll towards a cartridge opening;
- and
- unblocking a first tubular on a first tier of said cartridge to allow the first tubular to roll through said cartridge opening to the tubular receiving member independent of a mechanical tubular moving member.
Apparatus for use with a track to move a tubular, comprising:
- a trolley having a shoulder member for pushing the tubular in a direction parallel to the track;
- a trolley arm moveably coupled to said trolley, said trolley arm moveable between a released position disengaged from the tubular and a pulling position for moving the tubular in a direction opposite to said trolley pushing direction;
- and
- a release device for moving said trolley arm to said released position when said trolley is at a predetermined position on the track.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.