U.S. patent application number 12/120697 was filed with the patent office on 2008-11-20 for safety net for a drill rig.
This patent application is currently assigned to BBJ TOOLS INC.. Invention is credited to Bradley R. Cote.
Application Number | 20080283303 12/120697 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40026373 |
Filed Date | 2008-11-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080283303 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Cote; Bradley R. |
November 20, 2008 |
SAFETY NET FOR A DRILL RIG
Abstract
A safety net for a top drive including: a body having an upper
end and a lower end, the upper end including fasteners for
connecting the upper end of the safety net to the top drive and the
lower end including an inwardly directed return for extending
inwardly beneath the underside of the top drive; and an opening
through the body for accessing the top drive from outside the
net.
Inventors: |
Cote; Bradley R.; (Calgary,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BENNETT JONES;C/O MS ROSEANN CALDWELL
4500 BANKERS HALL EAST, 855 - 2ND STREET, SW
CALGARY
AB
T2P 4K7
CA
|
Assignee: |
BBJ TOOLS INC.
Calgary
CA
|
Family ID: |
40026373 |
Appl. No.: |
12/120697 |
Filed: |
May 15, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60938891 |
May 18, 2007 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
175/219 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E21B 41/0021
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
175/219 |
International
Class: |
E21B 41/00 20060101
E21B041/00 |
Claims
1. A safety net for a top drive, the safety net comprising: a body
having an upper end and a lower end, the upper end including
fasteners for connecting the upper end of the safety net to the top
drive and the lower end including an inwardly directed return for
extending inwardly beneath the underside of the top drive; and an
opening through the body for accessing the top drive from outside
the net.
2. The safety net of claim 1 further comprising fasteners on the
lower end for the lower end of the safety net to the top drive.
3. The safety net of claim 1 comprising at least one mesh section
and reinforcements secured to the at least one mesh section.
4. The safety net of claim 1 wherein the fasteners include
straps.
5. The safety net of claim 1 further comprising bolt receiving
eyelets along the lower end.
6. The safety net of claim 1 including materials resistant to
breakdown by heat and oil.
7. The safety net of claim 1 further comprising a second net part
including a top end supported by the bottom end and a necked
portion extending from the top end.
8. The safety net of claim 7 wherein the lower end includes an
annular, inwardly directed flange defining the limits of a lower
opening and wherein the second net part includes an annular
radially outwardly extending flange on its top end formed to be
supported on the annular, inwardly directed flange, while the
necked portion extends downwardly through the lower opening.
9. The safety net of claim 1 further comprising bolt receiving
eyelets along the lower end.
10. The safety net of claim 1 wherein the annular, inwardly
directed flange and the annular radially outwardly extending flange
coact to allow the second net part to swivel about a long axis
passing through the plane of the lower opening.
11. A top drive installation comprising: a top drive supported in a
rig, the top drive including a motor housing including a top end,
an underside and a quill extending from the underside; a safety net
installed on the top drive, the safety net including an upper end;
a lower end including an inwardly directed extension for extending
inwardly beneath the underside of the top drive; and fasteners for
connecting the safety net to the top drive.
12. The top drive installation of claim 11 wherein the safety net
is installed about the motor housing.
13. The top drive installation of claim 11 wherein the safety net
is installed below the motor housing.
14. The top drive installation of claim 11 wherein the safety net
is installed about the back up wrench.
15. The top drive installation of claim 11 wherein the safety net
includes a first part installed about the motor housing and a
second part installed below the motor housing.
16. The top drive installation of claim 15 wherein the second part
is secured to rotate with components below the motor housing, while
the first part is fixed to the motor housing.
17. The top drive installation of claim 15 wherein the second part
is rotatable about the axis of rotation of the quill
18. The top drive installation of claim 17 wherein the second part
is supported by and rotates relative to the first part.
19. The top drive installation of claim 15 wherein the first part
is affixed at its bottom end to the motor housing by the lower
motor housing bolts.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] Top drives are used in drill rigs also called derricks for
wellbore operations.
[0002] During use top drives are hoisted above the drill floor of a
rig sometimes well above personnel working below. It sometimes
occurs that parts fall off a top drive during operations and may
fall onto the drill floor below. This may cause a safety concern
for workers on the rig.
SUMMARY
[0003] In accordance with a broad aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a safety net for a top drive, the safety net
comprising: a body having an upper end and a lower end, the upper
end including fasteners for connecting the upper end of the safety
net to the top drive and the lower end including an inwardly
directed return for extending inwardly beneath the underside of the
top drive; and an opening through the body for accessing the top
drive from outside the net.
[0004] In accordance with another broad aspect of the present
invention, there is provided a top drive installation comprising: a
top drive supported in a rig, the top drive including a motor
housing including a top end, an underside and a quill extending
from the underside; a safety net installed on the top drive, the
safety net including an upper end; a lower end including an
inwardly directed extension for extending inwardly beneath the
underside of the top drive; and fasteners for connecting the safety
net to the top drive.
[0005] It is to be understood that other aspects of the present
invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art
from the following detailed description, wherein various
embodiments of the invention are shown and described by way of
illustration. As will be realized, the invention is capable for
other and different embodiments and its several details are capable
of modification in various other respects, all without departing
from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly the
drawings and detailed description are to be regarded as
illustrative in nature and not as restrictive.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] Referring to the drawings, several aspects of the present
invention are illustrated by way of example, and not by way of
limitation, in detail in the figures, wherein:
[0007] FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a top drive and a
drill rig system including a safety net.
[0008] FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a top drive including
a safety net installed thereon.
[0009] FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective drawing of an upper part
of a safety net.
[0010] FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective drawing of a lower part of
a safety net.
[0011] FIG. 5 is a sectional view through flanges of an upper part
and a lower part.
[0012] FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective drawing of a back up
wrench net.
DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS
[0013] The detailed description set forth below in connection with
the appended drawings is intended as a description of various
embodiments of the present invention and is not intended to
represent the only embodiments contemplated by the inventor. The
detailed description includes specific details for the purpose of
providing a comprehensive understanding of the present invention.
However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the
present invention may be practiced without these specific
details.
[0014] A safety net has been invented for preventing material from
falling from a top drive to a drill floor therebelow. In one
embodiment, a drill rig system for onshore or offshore operations
is provided including a rig frame, a top drive suspended in the rig
on a block, and a safety net secured about the top drive and
extending therebelow to block at least some of the open access
below the top drive, such that materials falling by gravity from
the top drive may be caught in the net.
[0015] Top drives vary in form, configuration and size, depending
on various parameters, such as their power rating, manufacturer,
power source, mode of operation, etc. However, top drives do have
several features in common. For example, with reference to FIG. 1,
a top drive 10 is generally suspended in a rig 12 above the drill
floor 13 usually by means of a block and hook 14. Top drive 10
generally includes a swivel 10a, a main housing 10b that
accommodates the gear box and motor, hydraulics and a quill 10d.
Quill 10d extends out from the underside of the main housing and is
driven to rotate by the components in the main housing. A top drive
often is also secured through a lateral connection to a torque
track arrangement 16. A top drive has numerous items thereon such
as caps, covers, bolts, connectors, pins, to name a few, that can
work loose, break off, etc. and may drop onto the drill floor.
[0016] A safety device includes a net 20 with an upper end 20a, a
lower end 20b and, possibly if the net is rectangularly formed,
sides. The safety device further includes fasteners 24 integrated
in or separate from the net for securing the net to a top drive.
Fasteners 24 may include one or more of straps, belts, hook and
loop connectors, bolts, ties, flanges, catches, etc. Fasteners 24
may be durable and releasable to allow for removable
installation.
[0017] The net may be formed to cover various parts of the top
drive including the main housing, components below the main
housing, etc. Net 20, in the illustrated embodiment, covers at
least a portion of the main housing 10b of a top drive. The net may
be secured by fasteners 24 to extend down over the top drive main
housing and with lower end 20b coming in below the housing to close
off at least some of the openings below the housing. For example,
net 20 may be secured as by, and only stated for example, tying off
upper end 20a of the net above, and lower end 20b of the net below,
the top drive main housing 10b. For example, net 20a can be formed
to extend from a position below block 14 or, possibly, below swivel
10a and can include a bottom return as by gathering, tapering,
forming, fastening, etc. that extends a distance around and beneath
the underside of the top drive main housing 10b.
[0018] A top drive generates significant heat during operation. The
net may allow ventilation of the top drive and may be heat and oil
resistant such that it is not adversely affected by the heat and
operational conditions from the top drive. For example, the net may
include a plurality of small openings to allow the flow of air
therethrough into the top drive. In one embodiment, the net
includes a heat resistant, flexible mesh formed of strands
interconnected, interlaced, woven or knit to form openings of less
than one inch in diameter. For example, a mesh with regular and
numerous 1/2 or 1/4 inch openings may be useful to form all or a
portion of the net. Such a mesh may catch very small objects such
as pins, nuts and bolts while allowing heat to easily dissipate
from the top drive.
[0019] Net 20 may include access openings 26, such as slots or
windows positioned as necessary for access to the top drive, for
example for inspection, routine servicing, changing filters,
etc.
[0020] Access openings 26 may, if desired, include closures 27 such
as fasteners, flaps, covers, etc. to close off the openings when
access is not required.
[0021] Net 20 may further include holes for connections of external
parts to the top drive such as, for example, including the
connection of hydraulic lines, connection to the torque track,
extension therethrough of the quill, pipe handler bails, bail rams,
etc. For example, the sides can be formed to create an opening
therebetween such that the net can be wrapped around main housing
10b and secured thereabout but leave a hole between the sides for
connection of the top drive to the torque track. Holes can include
fittable (i.e. elastomeric, gatherable, etc.) and/or fixed opening
sizes.
[0022] Referring to FIGS. 2 to 5, another embodiment of a net is
shown. The illustrated net includes a plurality of parts such that
the parts of the net can be installed on various portions of the
top drive and can be interconnected but allow movement
therebetween. For example, one net part can be installed in a fixed
position on the top drive housing 110b, while a second net part can
be installed on a moveable part of the top drive to move therewith.
A connection may be provided between the parts of the net to permit
relative movement therebetween.
[0023] For example, as shown, the net may include an upper part 150
and a lower part 162. Upper part 150 includes an upper end 151,
sides 152, a lower end 153 and fasteners 156 for securing the net
in place on a top drive. Upper part 150 is sized and formed to fit
about a motor housing 110b of a top drive. Upper end 151 may be
gathered, tapered or otherwise formed if desired to reduce the size
thereof. Lower end 153 is gathered as at 153a, tapered or otherwise
formed to neck in around the underside of the motor housing. Sides
152 are selected to be of a length to extend down along the motor
housing from upper end 151 to lower end 153.
[0024] Lower end 153 further includes an annular flange 158
encircling a lower opening. Flange 158 defines the outer limits of
opening 160 and is selected to hold its shape although it may be
resilient to allow flex thereof, after which it returns to its
original annular shape. Flange 158 forms a swivel support for an
upper end of lower part 162 of the net. Flange 158 may include a
swivel track 164 thereon and/or a low friction surface, such as may
include a low friction upper surface coating such as may include a
polytetrafluoroethylene or a polymer with similar properties.
[0025] Lower part 162 includes an upper end, a lower end and
fasteners 166 for securing the net in place on a top drive. Lower
part 162 is sized and formed to fit below motor housing 110b, and
in particular, about the pipe handler, rotary manifold and upper
quill sections 110d of a top drive. As will be appreciated, in some
top drives, the pipe handler, rotary manifold and upper quill
sections 110d of some top drives may rotate slightly relative to
the top drives motor housing 110b. Lower part 162 may be configured
to allow for such rotation relative to upper part 150, which is
secured to motor housing 110b.
[0026] For example, the upper end of lower part 162 may be formed
to be supported on annular flange 158 of the upper part 150. In
particular, the upper end may include an outwardly extending flange
178 and a body 179 extending downwardly therefrom. Body 179 fits
through opening 160 and flange 178 rests on and is supported by
flange 158. Flanges 158 and 178 may be formed to coact to allow
rotation of the lower part flange 178 on the upper part flange 158
and therefore body 179 within opening 160. Flange 178 may include a
swivel track 182 thereon that fits into or engages on swivel track
162 and/or a low friction surface, such as may include a low
friction surface coating such as may include a
polytetrafluoroethylene or a polymer with similar properties.
[0027] Lower part 162 may, therefore, be fixed to the pipe handler
and upper quill 110d to move with them, while remaining connected
to, but able to move relative to, upper part 150. Lower part 162
may be fixed to the pipe handler and quill sections in various
ways. For example, lower part 162 may include a lower necked region
184 that fits tightly about upper quill 110d. The tight fit allows
the necked region to be substantially secured to move with the
quill 110d. Lower part 162 may further include openings 186, 187
through which the bails 188 or bail ears and bail rams 189,
respectively, can be inserted for extension therethrough. Openings
186 may include elastomeric, pleated, etc. forms to ensure that the
net is able to move with the parts and allows some flexibility in
fit, while seeking to close off gaps therebetween.
[0028] Lower part 162 can be formed for installation by pulling up
over the parts or may include installation slits 190 and fasteners
190a to secure the net about the underside components of the top
drive. In one embodiment, lower part 162 includes a full length
opening defined by sides 191 to allow the net to be installed by
wrapping the sides about the top drive components and fitting the
bails and bail rams into their openings 186, 187 through slits 190.
In such an embodiment, flange 178 may be formed as a c-shaped
structure, which can be opened to fit about the top drive
components but then return into its annular shape. Flange 178 may
therefore be formed of materials that allow it to flex, when force
is applied but is resilient to return to its annular shape.
[0029] In one possible embodiment, a third part 192 may be provided
to fit about a back up wrench 193 of a top drive. Third part 192
may be used separately from or together with parts 150 and 162.
Third part 192 may be formed as a sleeve that may be fit over the
back up wrench and may include an open upper end 194 including
fasteners 195 for securing the net to the upper end of back up
wrench 193 and a formed end 196 to fit over the lower, acting end
of wrench 193. Formed end 196 may include an opening 197 for
passage therethrough of quill 110d. Opening 197 may include a pair
of aligned apertures sized to correspond to the inner diameter
through the back up wrench. The body of part 192 between ends 194,
196, may include a slack region 198 to allow for extension of the
back wrench therewithin, while ends 194, 196 remain in place on the
back up wrench. Slack region 198 may include pleats and/or
elastomeric sections to allow the net to extend with the
wrench.
[0030] Fasteners 156, 166, 195 may take various forms, as noted
previously in reference to FIG. 1, and may include more than one
form on any particular net part. Some fasteners, such as fasteners
166 may include snaps, catches, bolts, hook and loop-type fasteners
to secure two parts of the net together. Alternately or in
addition, some other fasteners, for example, fasteners 156 and 195
may include strap or belt forms that permit the net to be secured
by wrapping the strap about a point on the top drive. In another
embodiment, reinforced eyelets 156a may be provided to permit
bolts, such as bottom housing bolts 199 of the top drive, to be
inserted to hold the net in place on a component of the top drive.
Referring particularly to the illustrated net's upper part 150, it
may include straps 156 for securing the upper end of the upper part
150 to the wash pipe, swivel and/or upper tubes of the traction
motor frame. The lower end of the upper part 150 may include
reinforced eyelets 156a positioned to align with and fit over
bottom housing bolts 199. The reinforcement 157 about the eyelets
156a may extend between eyelets and/or to attach to flange 158 such
that the flange is firmly supported with eyelets 156a on bolts
199.
[0031] Openings 156 may be provided through the body of the net in
any one of the parts to provide access to the top drive
therethrough.
[0032] To install the upper part 150, the straps 156 may be
installed by wrapping and securing about their mounting points and
then lower end can be fit about the lower end of the housing 110b.
Nuts on bolts 199 can be removed, eyelets 156a can be fit over
bolts 199 and the nuts reinstalled such that the net is held
pinched between the housing and the nuts on bolts 199. In this way,
the upper part of net is affixed to the motor housing, without the
ability of the upper part net to twist on the housing.
[0033] Lower part 162 may be fit over the pipe handler, rotary
manifold and quill sections, as for example, by wrapping the net
about the parts, as noted previously, and securing the necked
region tightly about the quill. The flange 178 is then interfit
onto flange 158 for support and relative rotation therebetween.
[0034] If used, third part 192 can be fit over the back up wrench
by pulling upper end 194 of the net up over the working end and
along the telescoping region and securing straps 195 about the
wrench upper end. Openings 197 can be adjusted to align with the
opening of the working end.
[0035] Net parts 150, 162, 192 can be formed to include mesh
sections, as described hereinbefore with respect to FIG. 1. The
mesh may be formed of heat and oil resistant materials such that
they are able to withstand the conditions about the top drive.
Materials such as nitrites, polyvinylchloride, etc. may be useful.
Mesh sections may be secured to fasteners, edge reinforcements,
reinforcements 157, flanges 158, 178, etc. by various means. For
example, connections may be by stitching, polymer welding, forming,
deformation, etc.
[0036] The previous description of the disclosed embodiments is
provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the
present invention. Various modifications to those embodiments will
be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic
principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments
without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus,
the present invention is not intended to be limited to the
embodiments shown herein, but is to be accorded the full scope
consistent with the claims, wherein reference to an element in the
singular, such as by use of the article "a" or "an" is not intended
to mean "one and only one" unless specifically so stated, but
rather "one or more". All structural and functional equivalents to
the elements of the various embodiments described throughout the
disclosure that are know or later come to be known to those of
ordinary skill in the art are intended to be encompassed by the
elements of the claims. Moreover, nothing disclosed herein is
intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether such
disclosure is explicitly recited in the claims. No claim element is
to be construed under the provisions of 35 USC 112, sixth
paragraph, unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase
"means for" or "step for".
* * * * *