Tubing injector for variable diameter tubing
AssigneeHalliburton Energy Services, Inc.
InventorsRandy S. Rosine, Gerald Kierbow, Jim Dines
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A tubing injector apparatus for use with variable diameter tubing. The apparatus comprises a pair of carriages which may be moved transversely and pivotally with respect to one another by actuating hydraulic actuator cylinders. A hydraulic control system uses relief valves to maintain a substantially constant pressure in the actuator cylinders when a tapered connector in the tubing passes between the carriages. A gripper chain in each carriage has gripper blocks to grippingly engage the tubing. A linear beam supports the gripper chain and has a plurality of resiliently biased segments therein to help maintain better contact with the tubing when the tapered connector passes through.
Claims16
A tubing injector apparatus comprising:
- a pair of carriages that are transversely and pivotally movable with respect to one another, wherein the carriages are adapted for receiving a length of tubing therebetween;
- a gripper chain on each of the carriages;
- a linear beam supporting one of the gripper chains, the linear beam defining a recess therein;
- a plurality of resiliently biased beam segments disposed in the recess;
- a hydraulic actuator cylinder connected to the carriages for providing transverse movement thereof so that the gripper chains provide a lateral load on the tubing and thus gripping engagement of the tubing by the gripper chains;
- and
- a relief valve in communication with the hydraulic actuator cylinder to relieve pressure therein to prevent the lateral load from damaging the tubing as the diameter of the tubing increases.
A tubing injector apparatus comprising:
- a pair of carriages that are transversely and pivotally movable with respect to one another, wherein the carriages are adapted for receiving a length of tubing therebetween;
- a gripper chain on each of the carriages;
- a linear beam supporting one of the gripper chains, wherein the linear beam defines a recess therein;
- and
- a plurality of resiliently biased beam segments disposed in the recess.
A tubing injector apparatus comprising:
- a pair of carriages that are transversely and pivotally movable with respect to one another, wherein the carriages are adapted for receiving a length of tubing therebetween;
- a gripper chain on each of the carriages;
- a linear beam defining a recess therein supporting one of the gripper chains;
- a plurality of resiliently biased beam segments disposed in the recess;
- a hydraulic actuator cylinder connected to the carriages for providing transverse movement thereof so that the gripper chains provide a lateral load on the tubing and thus gripping engagement of the tubing by the gripper chains;
- and
- a hydraulic control system connected to the hydraulic actuator cylinder, wherein the hydraulic control system is adapted for maintaining a substantially constant pressure in the hydraulic actuator cylinder.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.