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US 2024/0191584 A1Published application
Compensating rig elevator
OwnerShane Triche, Heath Lawrence Tricheinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A compensating rig elevator is provided to eliminate set-down weight from threaded connectors during make-up of a pipe stand and thereby provide an ability to reduce the risk of thread galling and cross-threading. The elevator may comprise one or more hoist assemblies with bail arms that deflect as the compensating rig elevator is suspended by the bail arms and a tubular is placed in the compensating rig elevator. The bail arms actuate a locking mechanism to secure the compensating rig elevator in a closed position around the tubular. The compensating rig elevator can also have compensating rams and a slip system to positively engage the tubular and bear the weight of multiple tubulars.
Claims20
A compensating rig elevator, comprising:
- a first upper portion rotatable about a hinge axis relative to a second upper portion, wherein the first upper portion is rotatable between an open position and a closed position;
- a first lower portion rotatable about the hinge axis relative to a second lower portion, wherein the first lower portion is rotatable between the open position and the closed position;
- a first hoist assembly connected to the first upper portion and connected to the first lower portion, and a second hoist assembly connected to the second upper portion and connected to the second lower portion, each hoist assembly comprising:
- a hoist rod having an upper part connected to the upper portion and a lower part connected to the lower portion;
- a bail arm positioned about the upper part of the hoist rod;
- and
- a spring operably connected to the bail arm and operably connected to the upper portion to dampen motion of the bail arm toward the upper portions along a compensation axis that is substantially parallel to the hinge axis.
4 more elements
A method of assembling tubulars using a compensating rig elevator, comprising:
- providing the compensating rig elevator having:
- a first upper portion rotatable about a hinge axis relative to a second upper portion, wherein the first upper portion is rotatable between an open position and a closed position;
- a first lower portion rotatable about the hinge axis relative to a second lower portion, wherein the first lower portion is rotatable between the open position and the closed position;
- a first hoist assembly connected to the first upper portion and connected to the first lower portion, and a second hoist assembly connected to the second upper portion and connected to the second lower portion, wherein the hoist assemblies are configured to dampen motion of bail arms of the hoist assemblies toward the upper portions along a compensation axis that is substantially parallel to the hinge axis;
- a first middle portion rotatable about the hinge axis relative to a second middle portion, wherein the first middle portion is rotatable between the open position and the closed position, and where the middle portions are connected to the lower portions;
- a plurality of rollers connected to the middle portions;
- suspending the compensating rig elevator by the bail arms;
- positioning at least one tubular in the compensating rig elevator such that the at least one tubular contacts the plurality of rollers to deflect the bail arms along the compensation axis;
- and
- freely rotating the at least one tubular relative to the compensating rig elevator to start a selective interconnection between a pin end of the at least one tubular and a box end of another tubular.
7 more elements
A compensating rig elevator, comprising:
- a first upper portion rotatable about a hinge axis relative to a second upper portion, wherein the first upper portion is rotatable between an open position and a closed position;
- a first lower portion rotatable about the hinge axis relative to a second lower portion, wherein the first lower portion is rotatable between the open position and the closed position;
- at least one hoist rod connecting the upper portions to the lower portions;
- a first middle portion rotatable about the hinge axis relative to a second middle portion, wherein the first middle portion is rotatable between the open position and the closed position;
- at least one compensating ram connecting the middle portions to the lower portions, the at least one compensating ram configured to vary a distance between the middle portions and the lower portions;
- and
- a plurality of slip rods connected to the middle portions, each slip rod having a slip positioned at a distal end, wherein the plurality of slips form an initial inner diameter when the middle portions are an initial distance from the lower portions, and wherein the plurality of slips form a final inner diameter when the middle portions are a final distance from the lower portions such that the final inner diameter is smaller than the initial inner diameter.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.