U.S. patent application number 14/391070 was filed with the patent office on 2015-03-19 for mechancial roughneck positioner.
The applicant listed for this patent is McCoy Corporation. Invention is credited to Murray C. Gerwing, Steven Hargreaves, Bin Ma.
Application Number | 20150075814 14/391070 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 49482058 |
Filed Date | 2015-03-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150075814 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Gerwing; Murray C. ; et
al. |
March 19, 2015 |
MECHANCIAL ROUGHNECK POSITIONER
Abstract
A device is taught for positioning drill pipe make up or break
out equipment on a rig floor. The device comprises a forward arm
connectable at a first end to the drill pipe make up or break out
equipment, an upper rearward arm and a lower rearward arm,
pivotably connectable between the forward arm and a column, said
lower rearward arm further being axially movable along said column.
The device further comprises means for maintaining the upper
rearward arm in parallel relationship with the lower rearward arm
and means for axially moving said lower rearward arm. Axial
movement of said lower rearward arm acts to extend or retract said
forward arm, while maintaining a constant axial position of the
make up or break out equipment. A method is also provided for
positioning drill pipe make up or break out equipment by connecting
the make up or break out equipment to a forward arm of a
positioning device and horizontally extending or retracting said
forward arm while maintaining a constant vertical position of the
equipment.
Inventors: |
Gerwing; Murray C.;
(Edmonton, CA) ; Hargreaves; Steven; (Edmonton,
CA) ; Ma; Bin; (Edmonton, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
McCoy Corporation |
Edmonton |
|
CA |
|
|
Family ID: |
49482058 |
Appl. No.: |
14/391070 |
Filed: |
April 18, 2013 |
PCT Filed: |
April 18, 2013 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/CA2013/000377 |
371 Date: |
October 7, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61637566 |
Apr 24, 2012 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
166/382 ;
166/77.51 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E21B 19/14 20130101;
E21B 19/165 20130101; E21B 17/1078 20130101; E21B 19/16
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
166/382 ;
166/77.51 |
International
Class: |
E21B 19/14 20060101
E21B019/14; E21B 17/10 20060101 E21B017/10 |
Claims
1. A device for positioning drill pipe make up or break out
equipment on a rig floor, said device comprising: a) a forward arm
connectable at a first end to the drill pipe make up or break out
equipment; b) an upper rearward arm and a lower rearward arm,
pivotably connectable between the forward arm and a column, said
lower rearward arm further being axially movable along said column;
c) means for maintaining the upper rearward arm in parallel
relationship with the lower rearward arm; and d) means for axially
moving said lower rearward arm; wherein axial movement of said
lower rearward arm acts to extend or retract said forward arm and
said make up or break out equipment, while maintaining a constant
axial position of the make up or break out equipment.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein the upper rearward arm and lower
rearward arm are pivotably connected to the column via a column
guide.
3. The device of claim 2, wherein the column guide is axially
movable along said column to set a vertical position of the make up
or break out equipment.
4. The device of claim 3, further comprising a lift cylinder to
actuate axial movement of the column guide.
5. The device of claim 1, wherein the upper rearward arm is
pivotably connected at a first upper arm end to the forward arm at
a second forward arm end and the lower rearward arm pivotably
connects at a first lower arm end to the forward arm at a point
spaced in from the second forward arm end.
6. The device of claim 4, further comprising an extend cylinder to
actuate axial movement of the lower rearward arm at a second lower
arm end.
7. The device of claim 1, wherein the means for maintaining the
upper rearward arm in parallel relationship with the lower rearward
arm comprises a rigid link pivotably connectable between the upper
rearward arm end at a second upper arm end and the lower rearward
arm at a point spaced inward to the second lower arm end.
8. The device of claim 7, wherein the upper rearward arm, the lower
rearward arm, the rigid link and the upper and lower rearward arm
connections to the forward arm form a parallelogram.
9. The device of claim 6, wherein the lift cylinder and the extend
cylinder are hydraulically actuated.
10. The device of claim 9, wherein hydraulic actuation of the lift
cylinder and the extend cylinder is controlled by a local control
system located at the rig floor.
11. The device of claim 1, wherein the column is mounted into the
rig floor.
12. A method of positioning drill pipe make up or break out
equipment, said method comprising the steps of: a) connecting the
make up or break out equipment to a first end of a forward arm of a
positioning device; and b) horizontally extending or retracting
said forward arm while maintaining a constant vertical position of
the equipment.
13. The method of claim 12, further comprising: a) connecting the
forward arm to an upper rearward arm and a lower rearward arm, said
upper rearward arm and lower rearward arm being in parallel
relationship with one another; and b) extending or retracting the
an upper rearward arm and the lower rearward arm to extend or
retract the forward arm.
14. The method of claim 13, further comprising; a) axially moving
said lower rearward arm to extend or retract the upper rearward arm
and lower rearward arm.
15. The method of claim 14, further comprising: a) linking said
upper rearward arm to said lower rearward arm in parallel
relationship by means of a rigid link, such that axial movement of
the lower rearward arm extends or retracts said rigid link, which
in turn extends or retracts said upper rearward arm.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a device and a system for
positioning drill pipe making up and breaking out equipment.
BACKGROUND
[0002] In down-hole drilling and extraction processes drill pipe is
run down the wellbore for the purposes of drilling and performing
wellbore operations. Drill pipe is made up by connecting multiple
threaded drill pipe sections together and feeding them into the
wellbore. A variety of equipment may be used to make up drill pipe
sections including power tongs and mechanical roughnecks Power
tongs are also used in making up casing strings or tubular
sections, and mechanical roughnecks are most commonly used to make
up drill pipe.
[0003] In the process of making up or breaking out a drill pipe
connection, the equipment must be positioned at the correct height
relative to the pipe string, and must be horizontally moved into
position around the drill string to thereby grasp the drill string.
Positioners are typically used for this purpose. A positioner must
be able to move both vertically and horizontally, supporting the
weight of the make up equipment, while being fully supported on the
rig floor. Typically, positioners are made up of multiple pairs of
parallel arms, numerous linking plates and segments and multiple
actuators that work together in a complex manner to move the make
up equipment into position around the drill string. As well, in
many positioners known in the art, further vertical positioning is
required once the positioner is extended horizontally towards a
piping string.
[0004] A need and interest therefore exists in the art to develop
improved mechanical roughneck positioning devices and methods for
extending and retracting mechanical roughnecks for drill pipe
makeup and breakout operations.
SUMMARY
[0005] A device is taught for positioning drill pipe make up or
break out equipment on a rig floor. The device comprises a forward
arm connectable at a first end to the drill pipe make up or break
out equipment, an upper rearward arm and a lower rearward arm,
pivotably connectable between the forward arm and a column, said
lower rearward arm further being axially movable along said column.
The device further comprises means for maintaining the upper
rearward arm in parallel relationship with the lower rearward arm
and means for axially moving said lower rearward arm. Axial
movement of said lower rearward arm acts to extend or retract said
forward arm and said make up or break out equipment, while
maintaining a constant axial position of the make up or break out
equipment.
[0006] A method is also provided for positioning drill pipe make up
or break out equipment. The method comprises the steps of
connecting the make up or break out equipment to a first end of a
forward arm of a positioning device and horizontally extending or
retracting said forward arm while maintaining a constant vertical
position of the equipment.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] The present invention will now be described in greater
detail, with reference to the following drawings, in which:
[0008] FIG. 1 is perspective view of one embodiment of the present
positioning device in a retracted position;
[0009] FIG. 2 is perspective view of one embodiment of the present
positioning device in an extended position; and
[0010] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram depicting the present
positioner in a retracted position; and
[0011] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram depicting the present
positioner in an extended position; and
[0012] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of one method of the present
invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0013] The present invention relates to a device and system for
positioning drill pipe or tubular make up and break out equipment.
More specifically, the present invention relates to a positioner
for a mechanical roughneck, power tong or similar equipment. The
positioning device of present invention can be extended towards a
pipe string or retracted therefrom without altering its axial
position relative the pipe string. The present positioning device
does not require axial position adjustment subsequent to being
extended or retracted.
[0014] An example of a positioner of the present invention is shown
in FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 depicts the positioner in a retracted
position and FIG. 2 depicts the positioner in an extended position.
With reference to these figures, the positioner 2 comprises a
column 4 that is directly or indirectly connected into the rig
floor 6. A column guide 8 travels axially along the column 4 to set
the vertical position of the positioner 2, as required to position
the make up equipment for the make up or break up operation to be
conducted. An optional lift cylinder 10 preferably actuates
movement of the column guide 8. Alternatively, the column guide 8
may be axially moved by manual means or by use of a separate
lifting device.
[0015] The positioner preferably comprises a single forward arm 12
and a two-part reward arm 14. (I don't see #14 called out on any of
your drawings?? OK 14 is 16 and 18 together) The reward arm 14 is
preferably made up of an upper arm 16 and lower arm 18. The forward
arm is connectable at a first end 20 to a make up and break out
tool. The first end 20 may connect to the make up and break out
tool in any number of ways and it is also possible for the second
end 20 to be fitted with different connectors to allow a single
positioning device to connect to a variety of tools by a variety of
means.
[0016] A second end 22 of the forward arm is pivotably connected to
a first upper arm end 24. A first lower arm end 26 further
pivotably connects to the forward arm 12 at a point spaced in from
the second end 22.
[0017] The upper arm 16 is pivotably connected at a second upper
arm end 28 to the column guide 8. The lower arm 18 is further
connected at a second lower arm end 30 to the column guide 8 in an
arrangement that allows both pivotal and axial movement of the
second lower arm end 30 relative to the column guide 8. Axial
movement of the second lower arm end 30 is preferably actuated by
an extend cylinder 32, although it may also be manually moved or
moved by means of an external tool or equipment. In a most
preferred embodiment, the pivotable connection of the second lower
arm end is received in an elongated slot 36 formed on the column
guide 8, and moves axial within said slot 36.
[0018] A rigid link 34 pivotably connects the second upper arm end
28 to the lower arm 18 at a point spaced inward to the second lower
arm end 30. The length of the rigid link 34 is similar to the
spacing between the second upper arm end 28 connection and the
second lower arm end 30 connection to thereby form a parallelogram
between the upper arm 16, the lower arm 18, the rigid link 34 and
the rearward arm connections to the forward arm 12.
[0019] With reference to FIGS. 3, when the positioning device is in
a retracted position, the second lower arm end 30 is at its lowest
axial position. This is preferably effected by retracting the
extend cylinder 32. Rigid link 34 is in turn pulled down into a
nearly vertical position and in parallel, pivotal connections of
the upper arm 16 and lower arm 18 to the forward arm 12 are
approximately axially aligned, thereby retracting the forward arm
in towards the column 4.
[0020] With reference to FIG. 4, the second lower arm end 30 is
moved axially upwardly along the column guide. The movement is
preferably actuated by the extend cylinder 32. Axial movement of
the second lower arm end 30 pushes rigid link 34 outwardly away
from the column 4 thereby widening the space between parallel upper
arm 16 and lower arm 18. In parallel, the pivotal connection point
of the first lower arm end 26 is axially extended beyond the
pivotal connection point of the first upper arm end 24, to thereby
extend the forward arm 12 axially away from the column 4. As
forward arm 12 extends from a retracted position to an extended
position, it maintains a constant axial height. This advantageously
allows for axial positioning of the positioning device 2 to be set
only once, preferably by means of the lift cylinder 10, without
requiring further height adjustment to compensate for axial
movement during extension.
[0021] The lift cylinder 10 and extend cylinder 32 can be actuated
hydraulically or pneumatically. The lift cylinder 10 and extend
cylinder 32 may be controlled by a local control system located at
the rig floor 6, or by a remote control system. Alternatively, the
control system may be mounted to a movable console that can be
moved around the rig floor 6.
[0022] The column 4 may be directly mounted into the rig floor 6,
or via a flange at the base of the column 4 and thereby bolted
directly to the rig floor 6, or alternatively on a movable device
to position the column 4 in numerous locations on the rig floor 6.
The column 4 is depicted in the figures as preferably having a
rectilinear shape and column guide 8 is shown as a rectilinear
frame around said column 4. However a number of other shapes for
the column 4 such as for example cylindrical, angular or conical
and corresponding shapes for the column guide 8 are all possible
without departing from the scope of the present invention.
[0023] The pivotal connections of the second upper arm end 28 and
the second lower arm end 30, as well as the extend cylinder 32 are
all shown as being part of a flanged segment of the column guide 8.
It would, however, be understood by a person of skill in the art
that these may be housed on a separate housing connected to and
movable with the column guide 8.
[0024] Although a single forward arm 12 is shown in the figures, it
would be well understood by a person of skill in the art that such
forward arm 12 could take any number of forms while not departing
from the scope of the present invention.
[0025] Furthermore, the rigid link 34 is depicted as a rigid strip,
although it could also take the form of a rigid rod with pivot
points at either end, or a rigid plate of any shape having pivot
points spaced equidistant to the spacing of first upper arm end 24
and first lower arm end 26 connections.
[0026] The present invention allows for horizontal extension of a
positioning device to position a make up or break out tool, while
maintaining the tool's vertical position relative to a drill pipe
or casing string to be engaged. The present invention also provides
a positioning device with minimal arms, linkages and without the
need for gears to synchronize movement between the arms. This
simplifies operation of the positioning device, as well as on-site
maintenance. The present device is also less expensive to
manufacture and less weight to transport.
[0027] In the foregoing specification, the invention has been
described with a specific embodiment thereof; however, it will be
evident that various modifications and changes may be made thereto
without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the
invention.
* * * * *