Drill String Rotation Brake
AssigneeThe Charles Machine Works, Inc.
InventorsMax A. Metcalf, Philip J. Wosmek, Harry Bendure, Rick E. Barrett
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A rotation brake for stopping rotation of a spindle assembly on a horizontal directional drill. The rotation brake comprises a brake lock that is actuated by a cylinder and spring to interact with a non-rotating brake cap and a rotating pinion, thereby stopping rotation of the pinion. The brake lock is removed from the pinion by applying pressurized fluid to a cylinder such that a cylinder rod moves the brake lock out of a cavity between the brake cap and the pinion. Upon removing fluid pressure from the cylinder, a compressed spring moves the brake lock back to into the cavity, preventing rotation.
Claims20
An apparatus for making up and breaking out a pipe segment from a drill string comprising:
- a motor;
- a pinion rotationally driven by the motor;
- a spindle rotationally driven by the motor and rotationally locked to the pinion, wherein the spindle is connectible to a pipe segment;
- and,
- a brake assembly comprising:
- a brake lock wherein the brake lock at least partially conforms to the pinion;
- and
- an actuator to move the brake lock between a first position and a second position;
- wherein the brake lock and pinion are not in contact when the brake lock is in the first position and wherein the brake lock and pinion are rotationally locked when the brake lock is in the second position.
A method of stopping rotation of a spindle assembly for use with a horizontal directional drill, the spindle assembly comprising a spindle, a motor for driving rotation of the spindle, and a pinion rotationally fixed to the spindle, the method comprising:
- rotating the spindle and the pinion;
- providing a brake lock movable from a first position to a second position, wherein the brake lock is capable of interacting with the pinion and stopping its rotation in the second position;
- and
- moving the brake lock from the first position to a second position such that the brake lock interacts with the pinion and stops its rotation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.