Device and method for clamping a top drive saver sub
AssigneeQuality Technical Group AS
InventorAudun Sjursaether
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A tool is for clamping a saver sub assembly of the drive shaft of a top drive drilling machine, in which a tong, which is arranged to fixedly hold the saver sub assembly by releasable abutment against a portion of the saver sub assembly, is arranged on an upper portion of a frame which, in a position of use, is rotationally rigidly fixed to and projects from a support, the frame being provided with a through-going center opening arranged to receive a substantial portion of the saver sub assembly. A method of replacing a saver sub assembly on the drive shaft of a top drive drilling machine is described as well.
Claims10
A tool for clamping a saver sub assembly adapted for releasable connection with the drive shaft of a top drive drilling machine, the tool comprising:
- a tong arranged to hold the saver sub assembly fixed by releasable abutment against a portion of the saver sub assembly, wherein the tool is arranged on an upper portion of a frame which, in a position of use, is rotationally rigidly fixed to and projects from a support, the frame being provided with a through-going center opening arranged to receive a substantial portion of the saver sub assembly, wherein, in the position of use, the frame, extends through an opening in the support such that a lower portion of the frame extends beneath the support, wherein, in a longitudinal direction and remotely from the tong, a bottom abutment is positioned within the center opening in the lower portion of the frame, and configured for engaging and supporting a lowermost end of the saver sub assembly upon release thereof from the drive shaft.
A method of replacing a saver sub assembly on the drive shaft of a top drive drilling machine, the method comprising:
- a) fixing a tool to a support, a vertically arranged center axis of the tool being inside the work range of the drilling machine;
- b) positioning a bottom abutment within a center opening of the tool;
- c) lowering the drilling machine until a substantial portion of the saver sub assembly has been inserted into the center opening in the tool such that the saver sub assembly engages and is supported by the bottom abutment;
- d) moving a tong into fixing abutment against a portion of the saver sub assembly;
- e) rotating the drive shaft of the drilling machine until the connection between the saver sub assembly and drive shaft has ceased to exist;
- f) pulling the drilling machine away from the tool;
- and
- g) disengaging the tong from the saver sub assembly and removing the saver sub assembly from the tool.
A tool for clamping a saver sub assembly adapted for releasable connection with the drive shaft of a top drive drilling machine, the tool comprising:
- a tong arranged to hold the saver sub assembly fixed by releasable abutment against a portion of the saver sub assembly, wherein the tool is arranged on an upper portion of a frame which, in a position of use, is rotationally rigidly fixed to and projects from a support, the frame being provided with a through-going center opening arranged to receive a substantial portion of the saver sub assembly, wherein, in the position of use, the frame extends through an opening in the support such that a lower portion of the frame extends beneath the support, wherein, in a longitudinal direction and remotely from the tong, a bottom abutment, wherein the bottom abutment is dampingly connected within the frame by one or more shock absorbers adapted such that strains on the tool during use are reduced.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.