Mechanized stand handling apparatus for drilling rigs
OwnerPaul S. Putnam, Charles F. Cowgill +1inventors
InventorsPaul S. Putnam, Charles F. Cowgill, Frank J. Di Bella
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Apparatus for the handling of drill collar and pipe stands and comprised of a hydraulically mechanized "Derrickman" and "Derrick Floor Hand" and associated fingerboard lock bars and all of which are adapted to remote control in the placement of the stands in a derrick, both in alignment with the rotary table and fully placed within the racking fingers, the stand handling mechanism being characterized by articulated arms extensible by actuator apparatus housed entirely within the confines thereof for compactness.
Claims22
Apparatus for racking stands in a derrick, and including;
- a turret mounting means disposed to turn on a vertical axis trunnion within the derrick and in spaced relation to said stands, actuating means to turn the turret mounting means on said vertical axis trunnion, an inner arm swinging from the turret mounting means on a first horizontal axis bearing fixedly related to the turret mounting means to turn therewith, an outer arm swinging from the end of the inner arm remote from the first mentioned horizontal axis bearing and on a second horizontal axis bearing fixedly related to the inner arm to swing therewith, actuating means within one of said arms and comprising a double acting means simultaneously shifting spaced racks engaged with primary and secondary gears positively driving the inner and outer arms respectively to angularly displace the inner arm from said vertical axis of the trunnion at a rate of movement and to angularly displace the outer arm from parallel relation to the said inner arm at a rate of movement twice that of said rate of movement of the said inner arm, a gripper head means engageable with said stands and pivoting at the end of the outer arm remote from the second mentioned horizontal axis bearing on a third horizontal axis bearing fixedly related to the outer arm to swing therewith, said first second and third horizontal axes being parallel one with the other, and means to maintain the gripper head means normal to a vertical axis in parallel relation to the vertical turret mounting means axis trunnion.
A "Derrick Floor Hand" for moving stands between the operational axis and stand racking area on a derrick floor, and including;
- a pedestal disposed within the derrick to project vertically from the floor in spaced relation to the operational axis and stand racking area respectively, a turret mounting means disposed to turn on a vertical axis trunnion rotatably supported at the head of the pedestal, actuating means to turn the turret mounting means on said vertical axis trunnion, an inner arm swinging from the turret mounting means on a first horizontal axis bearing fixedly related to the turret mounting means to turn therewith, an outer arm swinging from the end of the inner arm remote from the first mentioned horizontal axis bearing and on a second horizontal axis bearing fixedly related to the inner arm to swing therewith, actuating means within one of said arms and comprising a double acting means simultaneously shifting spaced racks engaged with primary and secondary gears positionably driving the inner and outer arms respectively to angularly displace the inner arm from said vertical axis of the trunnion at a rate of movement and to angularly displace the outer arm from parallel relation to the said inner arm at a rate of movement twice that of said rate of movement of the said inner arm, a gripper head means engageable with said stands and pivoting at the end of the outer arm remote from the second mentioned horizontal axis bearing on a third horizontal axis bearing fixedly related to the outer arm to swing therewith, said first second and third horizontal axes being parallel one with the other, and means to maintain the gripper head means normal to a vertical axis in parallel relation to the vertical turret mounting means axis trunnion.
A "Derrickman" for moving stands between the operational axis and into the fingerboard slots at either side of the monkeyboard in a derrick platform and including;
- a carriage means movable within the derrick coextensively beneath the monkeyboard, actuating means to move the carriage means beneath the monkeyboard on excursions to and from adjacency to said operational axis, a turret mounting means supported by the carriage and disposed to turn on a vertical axis trunnion in spaced relation to said stands, actuating means to turn the turret mounting means on said vertical axis trunnion, an inner arm swinging from the turret mounting means on a first horizontal axis bearing fixedly related to the turret mounting means to turn therewith, an outer arm swinging from the end of the inner arm remote from the first mentioned horizontal axis bearing and on a second horizontal axis bearing fixedly related to the inner arm to swing therewith, actuating means within one of said arms to angularly displace the inner arm from said vertical axis of the trunnion at a rate of movement and to angularly displace the outer arm from parallel relation to the said inner arm at rate of movement twice that of said rate of movement of the said inner arm, a gripper head means engageable with said stands and pivoting at the end of the outer arm remote from the second mentioned horizontal axis bearing on a third horizontal axis bearing fixedly related to the outer arm to swing therewith, said first second and third horizontal axes being parallel one with the other, and means to maintain the gripper head means normal to a vertical axis in parallel relation to the vertical turret mounting means axis trunnion.
The "Derrickman" as set forth in clam 9, wherein the actuating means to angularly displace the inner and outer arms is carried within the inner arm and comprises a double acting means simultaneously shifting spaced racks engaged with a primary reduction gear meshed with a segment gear supporting the first mentioned horizontal axis bearing and a secondary gear meshed with a driven segment on the second mentioned horizontal axis bearing and positionably coupled to the outer arm.
In combination with a "Derrickman" for moving stands between the operational axis and into the fingerboard slots at either side of the monkeyboard in a derrick platform, there being a plurality of adjacently parallel fingers extending from the side of the platform in a row terminating short of the monkeyboard in normal relation thereto to establish said slots and an alley at one side at least of said monkeyboard, spaced lock bars extending transversely between and dividing adjacently parallel fingers into a multiplicity of pockets for the individual retainment of the stands therein, pairs of bearing blocks and one at each of said adjacently parallel fingers and having upwardly open slots disposed in transverse alignment to receive a lock bar pivoted in the bearing block slot at one finger to swing into abutted releasable engagement with a lock bar pivoted within the bearing block slot at the next adjacently parallel finger, and actuating means to selectively lift the lock bars individually and in groups.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.