U.S. patent application number 14/237013 was filed with the patent office on 2014-10-16 for device for activation of gripping jaws in continuously rotating torque tongs for use under pulling and opening of threaded connections.
The applicant listed for this patent is Per Olav Haughom. Invention is credited to Per Olav Haughom.
Application Number | 20140305265 14/237013 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47668689 |
Filed Date | 2014-10-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140305265 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Haughom; Per Olav |
October 16, 2014 |
DEVICE FOR ACTIVATION OF GRIPPING JAWS IN CONTINUOUSLY ROTATING
TORQUE TONGS FOR USE UNDER PULLING AND OPENING OF THREADED
CONNECTIONS
Abstract
Continuously rotating power tong for making the threaded
connections (2) of pipes, primarily used for drilling for oil and
gas in the petroleum industry. The power tong comprising radially
movable jaw sections (22), connected to a driving disc (12), where
hydraulic pumps (16, 17) are mounted, the pumps (16, 17) being
driven by an endless chain (15) through gears (35) and the chain
(15) being driven by motors (18, 19) through gears (27, 28).
Inventors: |
Haughom; Per Olav; (Tonstad,
NO) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Haughom; Per Olav |
Tonstad |
|
NO |
|
|
Family ID: |
47668689 |
Appl. No.: |
14/237013 |
Filed: |
August 7, 2012 |
PCT Filed: |
August 7, 2012 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/NO2012/050144 |
371 Date: |
February 19, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
81/57.11 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E21B 19/164
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
81/57.11 |
International
Class: |
E21B 19/16 20060101
E21B019/16 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 19, 2011 |
NO |
20111144 |
Claims
1. A torque tong for assembling pipes with threaded connections for
use in subterranean drilling, as known from the petroleum industry,
the torque tong comprising a radial opening for inserting and/or
removing pipe or threaded connections and a drive ring
non-rotatably supported in surrounding structures, wherein the
drive ring is connected to a structure arranged with radially
displaceable gripping jaws, and wherein the transfer of power for
operating pumps disposed on the rotary drive ring with the radial
opening is accomplished through an endless chain driven by motors,
wherein the motors are rotationally rigidly synchronized by means
of a synchronization chain via gear wheels, and the chain drives a
gear wheel or wheels connected to the hydraulic pumps, with a
clutch having a backstop being provided between the pumps and the
gear wheels.
2. The torque tong of claim 1, further comprising a clutch between
the motors, the clutch being configured for activating and
deactivating rotation.
3. The torque tong of claim 2, wherein the motors are connected to
and disconnected from the gear wheels by means of the clutch, so
that the drive ring is able to rotate with no influence from the
motors.
4. The torque tong of claim 2, wherein the clutch comprises splined
input and output shafts connected by a shiftable sleeve operated by
hydraulic or electrical signals.
5. The torque tong of claim 1, wherein between the pumps a sequence
valve is disposed controlling the oil flow depending on the
direction of rotation of the pumps.
6. The torque tong of claim 1, wherein the backstop further
comprises a spring.
7. The torque tong of claim 1, wherein the drive ring is provided
with a cogging engaging the motors via a gear wheel.
8. The torque tong of claim 7, wherein the motors are rotationally
rigidly synchronized with a gear wheel, so that, when the rotation
passes by the radial opening, proper engagement with the cogging of
the drive ring is maintained.
9. The torque tong of claim 1, wherein the endless chain runs over
end rollers on each side of the radial opening.
10. The torque tong of claim 1, further comprising guides mounted
on the drive ring, wherein the guides are for keeping the chain in
a correct position relative to the center of rotation.
11. The torque tong of claim 1, wherein the pump is a variable
hydraulic pump which down-regulates the volume when the pressure
increases.
12. The torque tong of claim 1, wherein the pump is a fixed volume
pump which is activated to supply pressure when the gripping jaws
are to be pulled away from the pipe wall.
13. The torque tong of claim 1, wherein the gripping jaws comprise
an inner piston connected to the outer steel structure through an
adapter.
14. The torque tong of claim 1, further comprising a hydraulic unit
mounted on the rotary drive ring, the hydraulic unit being provided
with separate hydraulic tank and piping.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to torque tongs. More
particularly, it relates to a continuous rotation torque tong
having a radial opening for inserting and removing threaded
connections to be tightened or released.
[0002] The torque tong is particularly well suited for being used
for assembling pipe joints during drilling, as known, for example,
from petroleum recovery operations.
[0003] The torque tong is provided with an encircling mechanical
hydraulic chain arrangement which transfers and supplies
pressurized hydraulic fluid to the gripping jaws thereof while the
torque tong rotates about the longitudinal axis of the pipe.
[0004] From the petroleum recovery industry, among other fields, it
is known to use torque tongs for assembling and disassembling pipe
joints for drilling operations.
[0005] It is common to use mechanized pipe tongs, referred to as
Iron Roughnecks in the field.
[0006] Various configurations of torque tongs exist, with the most
common being provided with a fixed radial opening for radial
movement in the horizontal plane when the tongs are engaged with or
removed from the pipe string. Generally, the torque tongs are
provided with a spinner assembly which, after the pipe joints have
been centered relative to each other, effects a rapid rotation of
the pipe connection to a limited make-up torque. Thereafter, a
hydraulic jacking means is actuated to torque the threaded
connection to the desired make-up torque in multiple sequences.
[0007] Torque tongs having no radial opening, no spinner, and with
continuous rotation to a desired make-up torque also exist.
[0008] Torque tongs for which the radial opening can be opened and
closed are also available, but the mechanical design becomes very
complex and this design, therefore, has not gained widespread
use.
[0009] Obviously, a variable radial opening of this type in torque
tongs which must be able to rotate continuously about the
longitudinal axis of the pipe adds complexity to the torque tong
design.
[0010] In most drilling operations, it is desirable to be able to
pull the torque tong radially outward to allow space for special
operations, or to remove the tongs in the case of failure, so that
an alternative screw tool can be used. In many operations,
especially on floating drilling platforms, safety considerations
necessitate the use of torque tongs with radial movement.
[0011] The object of the invention is to overcome, or at least
reduce, one or more of the drawbacks of the prior art.
[0012] The object is achieved according to the invention by the
features set forth in the description below and in the following
patent claims.
[0013] According to the invention, the torque tong is provided with
a drive ring having a cogging encircling the vertical axis of the
pipe. The drive ring has a permanently open radial opening out from
the centre of rotation. The drive ring is rotatably supported in
the torque tong housing, and is driven in a known manner by means
of hydraulic or electrical motors.
[0014] In the drive ring, at least 3 fluid-operated radially
displaceable clamping devices (gripping jaws) are disposed. The
gripping jaws are provided with replaceable grippers in order to
maintain a good friction between the pipe wall and gripping
jaws.
[0015] Pressurized fluid for operating the gripping jaws is
generated locally on the drive ring, on which the necessary
hydraulic components with pumps, valves, piping and oil tank for
fluid are arranged.
[0016] The supply of power to the hydraulic system of the rotary
drive ring is accomplished through an endless rotatable chain
supported on drive rings with turning wheels on both sides of the
radial opening and circularly about the centre of rotation. Two
motors on the non-rotary part of the torque tong can impart
rotation to the chain, which is received by two pumps on the rotary
drive ring. The motors are positioned with a spacing that is larger
than the radial opening and provided with a separate
synchronization chain, so that the engagement is not affected when
the radial opening rotates by. The motors are also each provided
with a clutch, so that the engagement with the chain is only
activated when power is to be transferred to the drive ring.
[0017] On the drive ring, the pumps are each provided with a
respective backstop, so that rotation of the chain in one direction
activates the one pump to open the gripping jaws whereas rotation
of the chain in the opposite direction activates the other pump to
close the gripping jaws.
[0018] The motors for rotating the drive ring are provided with
synchronization wheels, so that the engagement with the cogging is
maintained when the wheels pass by the radial opening.
[0019] In a preferred embodiment, the torque tong consists of an
upper torque tong having a rotary drive ring assembled with an
underlying, fixed holding tong. The assembly is, by means of a
vertical structure, connected to a displaceable base for horizontal
movement of the torque tong. The torque and holding tongs are
normally mutually displaceable in order to be able to compensate
for displacement during tightening of the threaded connection and
for maintenance access.
[0020] As compared with the prior art, the time spent on assembling
and disassembling pipe joints is significantly reduced in that the
torque tong performs both the spinner function and torquing in a
continuous operation. By avoiding a variable opening and
eliminating the need for closing a radial opening, the torque tong
is given a simple and robust design with improved operational
reliability and simplified maintenance.
[0021] In the following, an exemplary preferred embodiment is
described and illustrated in the description below and in the
drawings, in which:
[0022] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a torque tong assembled with
a holding tong and a base;
[0023] FIG. 2 shows a torque tong including a rotary drive ring and
associated drive motors and pumps and motors for transferring power
to the rotary drive ring;
[0024] FIG. 3 shows a sectional view of the torque tong;
[0025] FIG. 4 shows a detailed view of rotary gripping jaws;
[0026] FIG. 5 shows an arrangement for transferring power between a
fixed part and a rotary drive ring with gripping jaws;
[0027] FIG. 6 shows a principle of synchronizing and connecting
motors using an endless chain transmission;
[0028] FIG. 7 shows a principle of a hydraulic system on a rotary
drive ring.
[0029] In the drawings, reference number 1 denotes a drill pipe
with a threaded tool-joint 2 for joining two drill pipes. The
torque tong, with surrounding steel structures 7 and 11 as well as
drive motors 6, are connected to a structure 4 displaceable along a
vertical beam 10. The holding tong, with a surrounding steel
structure 8, is connected to a structure 5 which is also vertically
displaceable along beam 10. Beam 10 is connected to a base 3 which
is radially displaceable relative to the vertical axis of pipe 1,
so that the entire tong structure can be pulled away from the pipe
centre.
[0030] The torque tong itself is constructed around an outer
housing consisting of outer housing plate structures 8 and 11.
Drive ring 12 is non-rotatably supported in housing 11 and provided
with a cogging engaging four motors 6 via gear wheels 46. The
motors 6 are rotationally rigidly synchronized with gear wheels 14,
so that when the rotation passes by opening 45, proper engagement
is maintained with the cogging of drive ring 12.
[0031] Mounted on drive ring 12 is an endless chain 15 running over
end rollers 20 on each side of the radial opening 45. Also mounted
on drive ring 12 are guides 50 keeping chain 15 in a correct
position relative to the centre of rotation.
[0032] Chain 15 can be made to rotate using motors 18 and 19, which
are connected to chain 15 via gear wheels 27, 28. Motors 18 and 19
may be rotationally rigidly synchronized by way of an endless chain
29 and a gear wheel 43 connected to a motor output shaft 41. By way
of clutch 30, the motors can be engaged with and disengaged from
gear wheels 27, 28 so that drive ring 12 is able to rotate with no
influence from motors 18 and 19. The motors are only engaged when
the drive ring is stationary and the gripping jaws are to be
activated.
[0033] The clutch 30 is comprised of splined input and output
shafts 41 and 42 connected to a shiftable or moveable sleeve 40
operated by hydraulic or electrical signals 31.
[0034] When gripping jaws 22, 24 are to be activated, drive ring 12
is stationary. Motors 18 and 19 are engaged with gear wheels 27, 28
when clutch 30 is actuated.
[0035] Gear wheels 27, 28 engage chain 15, which is made to rotate
and drives gear wheels 35. Gear wheels 35 are each connected to a
respective hydraulic pump 16 and 17 through a backstop 33 including
a spring 34. Depending on the direction of rotation 37, 38 (shown
in FIG. 7) of chain 12 (i.e. chain 15 on drive ring 12), one of
pumps 16 or 17 will be actuated to supply pressurized fluid.
[0036] The pump 16 is a variable hydraulic pump which
down-regulates the volume when the pressure increases. This pump,
through the automatic actuation of valve 36, is connected to the
side of gripping jaws 22 which exerts a clamping force against the
pipe wall. Pump 17 is a fixed volume pump which is actuated to
supply pressure when the gripping jaws are to be pulled away from
the pipe wall.
[0037] Gripping jaws 22 comprise an inner piston 23 connected to
the outer steel structure 21 through a fitting piece 26.
[0038] A hydraulic unit, arranged on the rotary drive ring 12, is
provided with separate hydraulic tank 32 and piping(s) 39.
* * * * *