U.S. patent application number 15/235296 was filed with the patent office on 2017-02-16 for adjustable top guide.
The applicant listed for this patent is David L. Sipos. Invention is credited to David L. Sipos.
Application Number | 20170044855 15/235296 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 57995371 |
Filed Date | 2017-02-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170044855 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sipos; David L. |
February 16, 2017 |
Adjustable Top Guide
Abstract
A top guide having an extendable and retractable guide plate for
engaging and aligning lengths of pipe over a pipe gripping device
is described. The top guide employs a linear actuator such as a
hydraulic cylinder to extend and retract the guide plate into and
out of a protective housing. The guide plate has a bumper with a
V-shaped Stu face for engaging and aligning a pipe segment upon
extension of the guide plate. The guide plate has an adjustment
mechanism to allow the position of the guide plate to be changed to
accommodate pipe of varying diameters.
Inventors: |
Sipos; David L.;
(Youngsville, LA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Sipos; David L. |
Youngsville |
LA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
57995371 |
Appl. No.: |
15/235296 |
Filed: |
August 12, 2016 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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62204737 |
Aug 13, 2015 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E21B 19/07 20130101;
E21B 19/24 20130101; E21B 19/10 20130101; E21B 19/16 20130101 |
International
Class: |
E21B 19/24 20060101
E21B019/24; E21B 19/07 20060101 E21B019/07; E21B 19/16 20060101
E21B019/16; E21B 19/10 20060101 E21B019/10 |
Claims
1. A top guide for a rotary spider comprised of: (a) a protective
housing; (b) an elongated guide plate slidably positioned below
said protective housing; and a linear actuator having an extendable
and retractable actuator rod, said linear actuator connected to
said protective housing and to said guide plate, whereby extension
and retraction of said actuator rod will extend and retract said
guide plate with respect to said protective housing.
2. The top guide as recited in claim 1, wherein one end of said
guide plate is a bumper having a pipe contact surface.
3. The top guide as recited in claim 2, wherein said linear
actuator is adjustably mounted to said guide plate.
4. The top guide as recited in claim 3, wherein said guide plate
slidably engages with a shoulder on said protective housing.
5. The top guide as a recited in claim 3, wherein said guide plate
is coupled with a machine slide.
6. The top guide as a recited in claim 5, wherein said machine
slide includes a rail and a groove.
7. The top guide as a recited in claim 4, wherein said protective
housing is mounted on a rotary spider.
8. The top guide as recited in claim 4, wherein said protective
housing is mounted on a baseplate.
9. The top guide as a recited in claim 4, wherein said pipe contact
surface of said bumper is V-shaped.
10. The top guide as a recited in claim 5, said pipe contact
surface, of said bumper creates a recess wherein a pipe segment may
be received.
11. The top guide as recited in claim 10, wherein said protective
housing is mounted on a rotary spider.
12. The top guide as a recited in claim 10, wherein said protective
housing is mounted on a baseplate.
13. The top guide as recited in claim 12, wherein said baseplate is
mounted on a component of a pipe gripping device.
14. A pipe guide comprised of (a) a protective housing, said
protective housing having a top and sidewalls; (b) an elongated
guide plate, said elongated guide plate slidably positioned
parallel to and at least partially within said protective housing,
Wherein one end of said elongated guide plate includes a bumper
having a pipe contact surface; (c) a mount releasably attached to
said guide plate; and (d) a linear actuator having an extendable
and retractable actuator rod, said linear actuator pivotally
connected to said top of said protective housing and to said
adjustable mount on said guide plate, whereby extension and
retraction of said actuator rod will slidably extend and retract
said elongated guide plate from said protective housing and thereby
engage said bumper of said elongated guide plate with a suspended
pipe segment whereby said suspended pipe segment is moved and
oriented.
15. The pipe guide as recited in claim 14, further comprising a
machine slide along which said guide plate moves, Wherein said
machine slide includes a rail and a groove.
16. The pipe guide as recited in claim 15, wherein said pipe
contact surface of said bumper creates a recess wherein a pipe
segment may be received.
17. The pipe guide as a recited in claim 16, wherein said guide
plate slidably engages with a shoulder on said sidewalls of said
protective housing.
18. The pipe guide as recited in claim 17, wherein said mount and
said guide plate have slip resistant surfaces.
19. The pipe guide as a recited in claim 17, wherein said pipe
guide is mounted on a rotary spider.
20. The pipe guide as recited in claim 17, wherein said pipe guide
is mounted on a baseplate.
Description
PRIORITY
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. provisional
application Ser. No. 62/204,737 filed Aug. 13, 2015 entitled
"Actuating Adjustable Top Guide", the entire content of which is
hereby incorporated by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to a pipe guide for aligning and
positioning a length of pipe in a rotary spider during drilling of
an oil and gas well. More particularly, the invention relates to a
hydraulically or pneumatically actuated pipe guide for a rotary
spider.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Rotary drilling rigs are often employed to advance a
wellbore during the drilling of an oil and gas well. When drilling
long strings of pipe are strung together to form a drill string or
to form a casing string to line the wellbore. These pipe strings
are usually supported by rotary spiders that fit into or over the
opening of a rotary table on the drilling rig. Rotary spiders
typically have an inwardly tapered slip support surface called a
"slip bowl" that is positioned around central opening through the
rotary spider. The tapered slip bowl corresponds with a plurality
of tapered slips that are peripherally distributed around the
perimeter of the inwardly tapered slip bowl. The slips are
typically fitted with detachable dies having a plurality of teeth
which provide a pipe gripping surface to increase the grip of the
slips on the pipe string being supported by the rotary spider.
[0004] Spider slips are typically attached to a slip timing ring by
a linkage so that upward and downward movement of the slip timing
ring will simultaneously move the slips upward and downward in the
slip howl for engaging and releasing the pipe string, Powered
spiders have hydraulically or pneumatically powered cylinders with
extendable and retractable piston rods to raise and lower the slip
dining ring and attached slips. Retraction of the cylinder piston
rods moves the timing ring and thus the slips downward and radially
inward along the inwardly tapered slip bowl surface to grip the
pipe. Extension of the cylinder piston rods moves the timing ring
and thus the slips upward and radially outward along the tapered
slip bowl to release the pipe.
[0005] When a pipe segment is being added to a wellbore pipe
string, the rotary spider is typically used in conjunction with an
elevator that is suspended from a rig hook on a travelling block
supported by a hoisting system on the derrick of the drilling rig.
When a pipe segment is being added to the pipe string, the slips in
the central bore of the rotary spider are lowered to slide downward
along the tapered slip bowl to hold the pipe string in place in the
wellbore and the elevator is used to lift and position the pipe
section above the pipe string for threaded connection of the pipe
segment to the pipe string. After completing the threaded
connection, the elevator is used to pull the pipe, string upward to
release the pipe string front the slips of the rotary spider where
the pipe string may then be lowered the pipe string into the
wellbore, The slips of the rotary spider are again lowered to
engage and support the pipe string so that load of the pipe string
is transferred entirely to the rotary spider once again and the
elevator is then released from the pipe string and process is
repeated.
[0006] The pipe segment being added to the pipe string must be
suspended above the rotary spider by the elevator and placed in
axial alignment with the pipe string gripped by the rotary spider
before the connection is completed. Powered spiders often have a
cover that has a central opening at the top of the rotary spider
with rollers that serve as a guide for aligning the pipe segment to
be attached with the pipe string The timing ring at the top of the
rotary spider may also be used as a guide for aligning the
additional pipe segment with the pipe string held by the
spider.
[0007] Because the additional pipe segment is typically long and
heavy, it is often difficult to place the pipe segment into the
central opening of the rotary spider cover or timing ring. To make
this positioning easier, the diameter of the central opening in the
cover or timing ring is usually much greater than the diameter of
the pipe segment being placed for attachment to the pipe string.
However, the chance of misaligning the pipe segment with the pipe
string increases when the diameter of the central opening in the
cover or the timing ring is greater than the diameter of the
additional pipe segment. When misalignment occurs, the pipe segment
must be moved into alignment with the pipe string. This alignment
is typically done by workers on the rig floor either by hand alone
or by hand with the assistance of tongs.
[0008] Because the pipe segments being added to the pipe string may
be long and heavy, considerable force may be required to move a
pipe segment into alignment with the pipe string. This poses a risk
of injury to the workers. Even if workers apply only minimal force
to move a pipe segment into alignment, workers in close proximity
to a pipe gripping spider and the suspended pipe segment are still
exposed to the risk of becoming caught by the closing slips of the
pipe gripping device.
[0009] There is a present need for a spider having a pipe guide
mechanism that will open to facilitate placement of a pipe segment
into the central opening of the rotary spider opening and that will
close to align the pipe segment for connection with the pipe string
held in the wellbore by the spider.
[0010] There is also a need for a spider having a mechanism that
will assist in alignment of a pipe segment with a pipe suing for
threadable attachment with minimal assistance from workers on the
rig floor.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] Applicant proposes a pipe or top guide for a rotary spider
of a drilling rig that moves in response to a linear actuator. The
top guide is to facilitate orientation and placement of pipe
segments into the central opening of the rotary spicier when making
up a pipe string in a wellbore. The top guide disclosed is
comprised of a protective housing mounted on the top of the rotary
spider, an extendable and retractable guide plate slidably mounted
within the protective housing, a double acting linear actuator
pivotally attached between the protective housing and the slidably
mounted guide plate; and an adjustable mount for releasable
attachment of the linear actuator to the guide plate whereby the
extension of the guide plate is may be adjusted. Preferably the
double acting linear actuator will be a hydraulic or pneumatic
cylinder having an extendable and retractable piston rod that will
extended and retracted the guide plate into and out of the
protective housing in response to hydraulic or pneumatic pressure
in the cylinder.
[0012] The adjustable guide plate has a gripping surface that
corresponds with a gripping surface on the mount. The adjustable
guide plate allows the range of extension of the guide plate from
within the protective housing to be adjusted to engage pipe
segments in desired a range of pipe diameters. This reduces the
need to adjust the pipe guide each time a pipe change is made in
the drill string. When the guide plate is adjusted as desired it is
held in place be a by a removable bolt or set screw. The protective
housing serves the dual purpose of providing a drive or anchor
surface for the actuating cylinder and a protective safety cover to
prevent or reduce injury to workers by the extending and retracting
guide plate.
[0013] Preferably the guide plate is a flat elongated plate with
one end that serves as a pipe bumper. Extending the guide plate by
actuation of the linear actuator will move the pipe bumper at the
end of the guide plate to push against a suspended pipe segment.
Preferably the pipe bumper at the end of the guide plate will have
an angled or V-shaped open surface, As the guide plate extends, the
V-shaped bumper of the guide plate will engage the suspended pipe
segment and guide the pipe segment along the angled surface of the
bumper to centrally align the pipe segment with the central opening
of the rotary spider. The V-shaped configuration of the bumper
allows for alignment of the suspended pipe segment even when the
suspended pipe segment is axially offset from the center of the
guide plate.
[0014] In operation, the top guide will preferably mounted in
opposing pairs to the top of a powered rotary spider that is
positioned within the rotary table opening of a drilling rig and
used in conjunction with an elevator that is suspending a pipe
segment for attachment to pipe string being held in a wellborn by
the rotary spider. The top guide may also be utilized as a pipe
alignment device on other types of pipe gripping devices such as
over the central opening of an elevator or over the central opening
of a tong.
[0015] The guide plate of the top guide may be adjusted by
selective placement of the adjustable mount on the surface of the
guide plate to provide a desired range of movement of the guide
plate bumper toward and away from the central opening of the rotary
spider. This allows the top guide to be configured to engage pipe
segments in a desired range of pipe diameters. Once the position of
the adjustable mount on the surface of the guide plate is adjusted
as desired. A suspended pipe segment being held by an elevator may
be moved and oriented over the central opening of the rotary spider
for alignment with a wellbore pipe string by actuating the
hydraulic cylinder of the top guides to extend the guide plates
from within the protective housings to move the bumper of the guide
plates outward toward the central opening of the rotary spider.
[0016] As the guide plates are extended, the V-shaped surface of
the bumpers will contact a misaligned suspended pipe segment and
continued extension of the guide plates will move the suspended
pipe segment along the V-shaped surface of the bumper into
alignment with a wellbore pipe string being held by the rotary
spider. After the suspended pipe segment is properly oriented, the
piston rod of the hydraulic cylinder may then be reversed to move
the bumper of the guide plates out of engagement with the suspended
pipe segment and back toward the protective housing.
[0017] While preferably two or more opposing top guides will be
mounted to a rotary spider to orient and guide the suspended pipe
segment, a single top guide may also be used. The hydraulic or
pneumatic cylinders will preferably be operated by the same Or
similar hydraulic or pneumatic control systems that are currently
used to manipulate the hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders of powered
spiders.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the adjustable top guide
apparatus of Applicant's invention.
[0019] FIG. 2 is an isometric rear view of the adjustable top guide
apparatus of FIG. 1 with the protective housing omitted to shown
the guide plate and linear actuator configuration.
[0020] FIG. 3 is an isometric rear perspective view of the
adjustable top guide apparatus shown in FIG. 2 with the protective
housing in place.
[0021] FIG. 4 is an isometric front perspective view of the
adjustable top guide apparatus of FIG. 1 omitting the protective
housing as to provide sufficient view.
[0022] FIG. 5 is an isometric front perspective view of the
adjustable top guide apparatus of FIG. 1 including the protective
housing.
[0023] FIG. 6 is a schematic end view of the adjustable top guide
apparatus of FIG. 1.
[0024] FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate movement of the guide plate of the
top guide by extension and retraction of a linear actuator.
[0025] FIG. 9 is a schematic cross-section view of a pair of
opposing top guides as shown in FIG. 1 that are mounted on the
timing ring of a rotary spider positioned in the rotary table of a
drilling
[0026] These drawings omit features that are well established in
the art and do not bear upon points of novelty in the interest of
descriptive clarity. Such omitted features may include pneumatic or
hydraulic hoses, hose fittings, control valves, threaded junctures,
weld lines, sealing elements pins and brazed junctures.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0027] FIGS. 1-6 show the adjustable top guide (10) of Applicant's
invention The adjustable top guide (10) is comprised of an
extendable and retractable guide plate (12) that is extended from
and retracted into a protective housing (18) by a linear actuator
having an extending and retractable actuator rod such as a
hydraulic cylinder (15) having an extendable and retractable piston
rod (16). Other types of linear actuators could be used in place of
hydraulic cylinder (15) such as a double acting pneumatic cylinder
or a screw-type mechanical actuator.
[0028] Top guide (10) is intended to be mounted on the top of a
rotary spider such as to a timing ring or other component of a
rotary spider such as a cover or on the top of another type of pipe
gripping device such as a slip-type elevator or tong and preferably
in opposing pairs for orienting a suspended length of pipe with a
central opening of a rotary spider and with a wellbore pipe string
being held by a rotary spider. However, the top guide (10) may be
mounted on a rotary spider as a single top guide Of in groups of
two Of MOM arrayed around a central opening of a rotary spider.
[0029] The guide plate (12) is an elongated plate having an upper
surface (22). One end of the guide plate (12) serves as a bumper
(23) that has a pipe contact surface 24). The cylinder (15) is
adjustably attached to the upper surface (22) surface of guide
plate (12) by a releasably attached clevis or mount (14). At least
one removable set screw or removable bolt (20) is provided to
releasably fix the mount (14) in a desired position On the guide
plate (12). Hydraulic cylinder (15) is pivotally mounted to pivot
blocks (13) on a protective housing (18) and the extendable and
retractable piston rod (16) is pivotally mounted to mount (14).
Protective housing (18) is positioned above and parallel to the
guide plate (12) and covers the cylinder (15) and at least
partially the guide plate (12). The protective housing (18) serves
both as a housing or cover for cylinder (15) and the extending and
retracting guide plate (12) and as a buttress or foundation for
cylinder (15) during extension and retraction of guide plate (12)
into and out of engagement with a pipe segment (not pictured). In
the embodiment shown in the drawings, protective housing (18) has a
top (19), with an under surface (2)), that is supported by a pair
of sidewalls (17).
[0030] The protective housing (18) of top guide (10) may be mounted
above a central opening of a rotary spider on any suitable mounting
surface. A suitable surface for mounting the protective housing
(18) may be a cover on a rotary spider, a timing ring of a rotary
spider or, as shown in FIG. 6, a baseplate (34) that may be mounted
on a rotary spider such as on a cover or tuning ring (42) of a
rotary spider.
[0031] Mount (14) has a flange (26) for pivotal attachment of the
piston rod (16) by means of pivot pin (28). Similarly, pivot blocks
(13) are mounted to the under surface (21) of the top (19)
protective housing (18) for pivotal attachment of the cylinder (15)
by pivot pin (29) allowing pivotal movement of cylinder (15) during
extension and retraction of the guide plate (12).
[0032] The guide plate 12) has upper surface) having a slip
resistant surface (33), such as a toothed, scored, or abraded
surface, that corresponded with a slip resistant (31) on the bottom
of mount (14). With mount (14) secured to the guide plate (12) by
removable bolt (20) and by slip resistant surface (31) upon slip
resistant surface (33), retraction and extension of piston rod (16)
of cylinder (15) will result in extension and retraction of (12)
along shoulder (18a) and shoulder (18b) into and out of protective
housing (18).
[0033] The guide plate (12) may also be slidably mounted on or
slidably coupled with a machine slide (39). As shown in FIG. 6, in
one embodiment guide plate (12) is slidably coupled with machine
slide (39) comprised of a machine slide groove (15) in the guide
plate (12) and a machine slide rail (37) on the baseplate (34)
mounted on timing ring (42) of a rotary spider. The position of the
groove (35) and the rail (37) comprising machine slide (39) may be
reversed so that the groove (35) is on the baseplate (34) and the
rail (37) is on the guide plate (12). The baseplate (34) could also
be eliminated and the machine slide rail (37) or the machine slide
groove 35) could be placed on the timing ring (42) of the rotary
spider. Machine slide rail (37, and groove (35) insure proper
alignment as the guide plate (12) is slidably extended and
retracted.
[0034] Shoulder (18a) and shoulder (18b) on the sidewalls (17) also
serve to guide and support the guide plate (12) along the
protective housing (18) in a manner similar to machine slide (39).
Shoulder (18a) and shoulder (18b) slidingly interact with the upper
surface (22) of guide plate (12) as the guide plate (12) slides
along sidewalls (17) of the protective housing (18) by the
extension and retraction of piston rod (16) of cylinder (15).
[0035] The pipe contact surface (24) of bumper (23) of guide plate
(12) is preferable comprised of guide surface (24a) and a guide
surface (24b) that intersect to create a V-shaped central recess
(25) within which a length of pipe may be engaged and directed. A
bumper (23) having V-shaped pipe contact surface allows for the
engagement and centering of misaligned pipe segments by extension
of the guide plate (12). The guide surfaces (24a, 24b) forming the
V-shaped pipe contact surface (24) could also be curved to create a
C-shaped or U-shaped pipe contact surface having a central recess
(25).
[0036] FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 illustrate the retraction and extension of
guide plate (12) of top guide (10) mounted on the surface of the
timing ring (42) of a rotary spider. As shown, the protective
housing (18) of the top guide (10) is fixedly attached to the top
surface of the timing ring (42) and the machine slide grove (35) of
guide plate (12) is slidably engaged with machine slide rail ($7)
that is fixedly attached on the timing ring (42). Mount (14) is
positioned upon the slip resistant surface (33) on upper surface
(22) of guide plate (12) to provide a desired extension of guide
plate (12) and secured by removable bolt (20). With mount (44)
grippingly engaged to ,t) guided plate (12) and pivotally affixed
to piston rod (16) and with pivot blocks (13) of protective housing
18) pivotally affixed to cylinder (15), guide plate (12) will
extend and retract with respect to protective housing (18) by the
extension and retraction of piston rod (16). The extension of
piston rod (16) will push the guide plate (12) inward into
protective housing (18). Similarly, the retraction of piston rod
(16) into cylinder (15) will pull the guide plate (12) outward from
the protective housing (18).
[0037] Extension of guide plate (12) will engage an angled guide
surface (24a) or guide surface (24b), or both, on pipe contact
surface (24) of bumper (23) with a suspended pipe segment that is
offset from the central recess (25) of the V-shaped pipe contact
surface (24) of bumper (23) and gradually drive the suspended pipe
segment into central recess (25) and into alignment with the guide
plate (12).
[0038] FIG. 9 shows schematic cross-section diagram of a rotary
spider (40) mounted in the opening (O) of rotary table (R) of a
drilling rig In this depiction the rotary spider (40) has a timing
ring (42), tapered slip supports shown as slip bowl (41), and
tapered slips (46) slidably mounted on the slip bowl (41) around a
central opening (44) that support a pipe string (PS) in a wellbore.
A pair of opposing top guides (10) are shown mourned of the timing
ring (42) of the rotary spider (40) adjacent the central opening
(44) of the rotary spider.
[0039] The guide plate (12) of each top guide (10) is shown pulled
outward from die protective housing (18) by retraction of the
extendable and retractable piston rod (16) to a position over the
central opening (44) of the rotary spider (40) and the surrounding
tapered slips (46). In this position the V-shaped pipe contact
surface (24) of bumpers (23) of each guide plate (12) has engaged
the outer surfaces of suspended pipe segment (P) that extends
longitudinally above the rotary spider (40) from an elevator not
shown).
[0040] When each guide plate (12) is extended to engage a bumper
(23) with the suspended pipe segment (P), the bumper (23) will
thereby move the pipe segment (P) toward the central opening (44)
of the rotary spider (40) and it into alignment with and connection
to pipe string (PS) retained by the rotary spider (40). The guide
plates (12) may then retracted away from the central opening (44)
by extending the piston rod (16) to allow for insertion of another
pipe segment (P). Use of top guide (10) will increase the safety of
rig workers by reducing the need to manually move the (P) to force
it into alignment with the pipe string (PS).
[0041] The piston rod (16) of each cylinder (15), whether hydraulic
or pneumatic, is extended and retracted as desired by moving a
pressurized fluid or gas, through pressure lines, into and out of
each cylinder (15) at fluid inlet and exit ports positioned above
and below a cylinder piston connected to each piston rod (16). The
flow of pressurized fluid or gas into and out of each cylinder (15)
will be provided and controlled by a conventional manifold system
comprised of flow lines, pumps, reservoirs, control valves and
switches. Preferably the movement of the piston rod (16) of each
cylinder (15) will be synchronized but the manifold system may be
configured to move the piston rod (16) of each cylinder (15)
independently of the other.
[0042] Having thus described exemplary embodiments of the present
in it should be noted by those skilled in the art that the within
disclosures are exemplary only, and that various other
alternatives, adaptations, and modifications may be made within the
scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the present invention
is not limited to the specific embodiments as illustrated herein,
but is limited only by the following claims.
* * * * *