Back to results
US 7,178,612 B2Granted
Automated arm for positioning of drilling tools such as an iron roughneck
AssigneeNational-Oilwell, L.P.
InventorJaroslav Belik
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention relates to an apparatus for moving an Iron Roughneck into position to allow making-up or breaking-out of threaded joints in a drill string. The apparatus may also be used to move other drilling equipment into position on the centerline of the well or at mouse holes. A self-balanced, dual synchronized parallelogram arm is utilized to accomplish the movement of the devices. Hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders are used for extension and retraction of the arm rather than to support the tool. The arm may hold the tool in any position without cylinder assistance. The linkage in the synchronized parallelogram may be accomplished by gears, links, slots, or rollers.
Claims48
An apparatus for moving drilling equipment comprising:
- a column attached to a drill floor;
- a column guide attached to the column;
- at least one parallelogram arm attached to the column guide at a first connection point;
- the at least one parallelogram arm comprising a tension link, a lower support arm, an upper support arm, a compression link, and a load transfer joint, wherein the upper support arm and lower support are connected by a synchronized link;
- and
- a drilling apparatus attached to the parallelogram arm at a second connection point.
3 more elements
A method of manipulating a drilling apparatus comprising:
- attaching a column to a drill floor;
- attaching a column guide to the column;
- attaching at least one parallelogram arm to the column guide at a first connection point, the at least one parallelogram arm comprising a tension link, a lower support arm, an upper support arm, a compression link, and a load transfer joint, wherein the upper support arm and lower support are connected by a synchronized link;
- attaching a drilling apparatus to the parallelogram arm at a second connection point;
- and
- extending and/or retracting the parallelogram arm to manipulate the drilling apparatus.
3 more elements
An apparatus for moving drilling equipment comprising:
- a column attached to a drill floor;
- a column guide attached to the column;
- at least one parallelogram arm attached to the column guide at a first connection point, the at least one parallelogram arm comprising a tension link, a lower support arm, an upper support arm, a compression link, and a load transfer joint, wherein the upper support arm and lower support are connected by a synchronized link;
- a drilling apparatus attached to the parallelogram arm at a second connection point;
- and
- means attached to the column guide and parallelogram arm for extending and/or retracting the parallelogram arm.
3 more elements
An apparatus for positioning an iron roughneck on a rig floor comprising:
- at least one dual parallelogram arm, the at least one dual parallelogram arm comprising at least one lower load support arm and at least one upper load support arm, wherein the at least one lower load support arm and at least one upper load support arm are connected by a synchronized link;
- a base connected to the rig floor and the arm;
- a horizontal adjustment cylinder for horizontal movement;
- a vertical adjustment cylinder for vertical movement;
- and
- a tool bracket.
3 more elements
An apparatus for positioning a drilling tool about the floor of a drilling rig comprising:
- at least one dual parallelogram arm, the at least one dual parallelogram arm comprising at least one lower load support arm and at least one upper load support arm, wherein the at least one lower load support arm and at least one upper load support arm are connected by a synchronized link;
- a base connected to the rig floor and the arm;
- means for initiating horizontal movement;
- means for initiating vertical movement;
- and
- a tool attachment means.
3 more elements
An apparatus for moving drilling equipment comprising:
- a column attached to a drill floor;
- a column guide attached to the column;
- at least one parallelogram arm attached to the column guide at a first connection point, the at least one parallelogram arm comprising a tension link, a lower support arm, an upper support arm, a compression link, and a load transfer joint, wherein the upper support arm and lower support are connected by a roller connection;
- and
- a drilling apparatus attached to the at least one parallelogram arm at a second connection point.
2 more elements
An apparatus for moving drilling equipment comprising:
- a column attached to a drill floor;
- a column guide attached to the column;
- at least one parallelogram arm attached to the column guide at a first connection point, the at least one parallelogram arm comprising a tension link, a lower support arm, an upper support arm, a compression link, and a load transfer joint, wherein the upper support arm and lower support are connected by a pin and slot connection;
- and
- a drilling apparatus attached to the at least one parallelogram arm at a second connection point.
2 more elements
A method of manipulating a drilling apparatus comprising:
- attaching a column to a drill floor;
- attaching a column guide to the column;
- attaching at least one parallelogram arm to the column guide at a first connection point, the at least one parallelogram arm comprising a tension link, a lower support arm, an upper support arm, a compression link, and a load transfer joint, wherein the upper support arm and lower support are connected by a roller connection;
- attaching a drilling apparatus to the at least one parallelogram arm at a second connection point;
- and
- extending and/or retracting the at least one parallelogram arm to manipulate the drilling apparatus.
3 more elements
A method of manipulating a drilling apparatus comprising:
- attaching a column to a drill floor;
- attaching a column guide to the column;
- attaching at least one parallelogram arm to the column guide at a first connection point, the at least one parallelogram arm comprising a tension link, a lower support arm, an upper support arm, a compression link, and a load transfer joint, wherein the upper support arm and lower support are connected by a pin and slot connection;
- attaching a drilling apparatus to the at least one parallelogram arm at a second connection point;
- and
- extending and/or retracting the at least one parallelogram arm to manipulate the drilling apparatus.
3 more elements
An apparatus for moving drilling equipment comprising:
- a column attached to a drill floor;
- a column guide attached to the column;
- at least one parallelogram arm attached to the column guide at a first connection point, the at least one parallelogram arm comprising a tension link, a lower support arm, an upper support arm, a compression link, and a load transfer joint, wherein the upper support arm and lower support are connected by a roller connection;
- a drilling apparatus attached to the parallelogram arm at a second connection point;
- and
- means attached to the column guide and parallelogram arm for extending and/or retracting the parallelogram arm.
3 more elements
An apparatus for moving drilling equipment comprising:
- a column attached to a drill floor;
- a column guide attached to the column;
- at least one parallelogram arm attached to the column guide at a first connection point, the at least one parallelogram arm comprising a tension link, a lower support arm, an upper support arm, a compression link, and a load transfer joint, wherein the upper support arm and lower support are connected by a pin and slot connection;
- a drilling apparatus attached to the parallelogram arm at a second connection point;
- and
- means attached to the column guide and parallelogram arm for extending and/or retracting the parallelogram arm.
3 more elements
An apparatus for moving drilling equipment comprising:
- a column attached to a derrick;
- a column guide attached to the column;
- at least one parallelogram arm attached to the column guide at a first connection point, the at least one parallelogram arm comprising a tension link, a lower support arm, an upper support arm, a compression link, and a load transfer joint, wherein the upper support arm and lower support are connected by a synchronized link;
- and
- a drilling apparatus attached to the at least one parallelogram arm at a second connection point.
2 more elements
A method of manipulating a drilling apparatus comprising:
- attaching a column to a derrick;
- attaching a column guide to the column;
- attaching at least one parallelogram arm to the column guide at a first connection point, the at least one parallelogram arm comprising a tension link, a lower support arm, an upper support arm, a compression link, and a load transfer joint, wherein the upper support arm and lower support are connected by a synchronized link;
- attaching a drilling apparatus to the at least one parallelogram arm at a second connection point;
- and
- extending and/or retracting the at least one parallelogram arm to manipulate the drilling apparatus.
3 more elements
An apparatus for moving drilling equipment comprising:
- a column attached to a derrick;
- a column guide attached to the column;
- at least one parallelogram arm attached to the column guide at a first connection point, the at least one parallelogram arm comprising a tension link, a lower support arm, an upper support arm, a compression link, and a load transfer joint, wherein the upper support arm and lower support are connected by a synchronized link;
- a drilling apparatus attached to the parallelogram arm at a second connection point;
- and
- means attached to the column guide and parallelogram arm for extending and/or retracting the parallelogram arm.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.