US 3,939,990 A · Automatic roughneck

Abstract

In conventional oil field operations there are men known as roughnecks whose job it is to receive each new section of pipe from a storage rack, position it on the center line of the rig, and join it to the existing pipe string beneath the rig. The apparatus described herein accomplishes this same function automatically and is capable of handling larger pipes faster than a manned operation. The apparatus also aids in returning a pipe section to the storage area. The apparatus has a pair of parallel tracks curved in a vertical direction extending laterally from the center line of a hoisting arrangement. A trolley rides on each track with the two trolleys mechanically synchronized to be driven together along the tracks by a hydraulic motor. Each trolley has a pivoted roller jaw for guiding the lower end of the pipe as it is swung into position. The jaws are caused to pivot at the proper location and in the proper direction by cams on the track. The pipe jaws are caused to pivot by the cams to open into a generally U-shaped opening away from the center line position for receiving a pipe and preventing it from swinging towards the center line position. Adjacent the center line position the cams cause the jaws to pivot to a generally O-shaped opening for holding the pipe. After the pipe section has been attached to an existing pipe string the cams open the jaws into a generally U-shaped opening in the opposite direction for clearing the pipe. The automatic roughneck is used for guiding the pipe to its center line stabbing position as pipe is added to a string and towards a lateral position as pipe is removed.

Claims17

Dependent claims

An apparatus for handling the lower end of a pipe during a portion of its travel between a horizontal storage position and a vertical use position comprising:

a pair of opposed jaws;
means for traversing the jaws in a generally horizontal direction between a center line position wherein a pipe is vertical for use and a lateral position wherein a pipe is tilted for transportation to or from storage the means for traversing including a pair of parallel tracks,
means for mounting one of the jaws on each track, and
means for traversing the jaws along the respective tracks in synchronism with each other;
means for opening the jaws into a generally U-shaped opening facing towards the lateral position for receiving a pipe in the opening and constraining it from uncontrolled lateral movement towards the center line position;
means for closing the jaws into a generally O-shaped opening adjacent the center line position for holding the pipe;
and
means for opening the jaws into a generally U-shaped opening facing away from the lateral position adjacent the center line position for clearing a pipe located in the center line position.

5 more elements

An automatic roughneck for guiding the lower end of an elevated pipe in a substantially horizontal direction between a lateral position wherein the pipe extends in a sloping direction and a center line position wherein the pipe extends in a substantially vertical direction without changing the elevation comprising:

a generally horizontally extending pair of tracks extending on either side of the center line position;
a pair of trolley means separately supported on each of the respective tracks for engaging and traversing along the tracks with the lower end of the pipe;
means on the trolley means for guiding the pipe adjacent the lateral position and preventing the lower end from uncontrollably swinging towards the center line position;
means on the trolley means for constraining the pipe from lateral movement in any direction when adjacent the center line position;
and
means for releasing the pipe constraining means from the pipe adjacent the center line position to permit the trolley means to be moved past the pipe when in the center line position.

3 more elements

a pair of parallel tracks positioned on either side of said center line position;
a separate trolley on each track;
means for moving the separate trolleys along the respective tracks on synchronism with each other;
and
jaw means on each trolley for cooperating with like jaw means on the other trolley, for
a. rotatably securing the lower end of a pipe in the center line position,
b. moving the pipe between the tracks in the lateral direction with the trolley means from the sloping position to the vertical position;
and alternatively
c. clearing the pipe in the center line position for moving the trolleys back towards the lateral direction without the pipe.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Automatic roughneck

Life of this patent

Automatic roughneck

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims17