U.S. patent number 3,859,877 [Application Number 05/265,656] was granted by the patent office on 1975-01-14 for inside pipe cutter apparatus.
This patent grant is currently assigned to DND Corporation. Invention is credited to Russell M. Foyle, C. Richard Sherer.
United States Patent |
3,859,877 |
Sherer , et al. |
January 14, 1975 |
INSIDE PIPE CUTTER APPARATUS
Abstract
Inside pipe cutter apparatus which is particularly adapted for
cutting off pipe such as offshore platform legs from the inside
without requiring that personnel go down in the water outside of
the platform legs or inside of such legs. The apparatus is lowered
on a wireline or other suitable support and is actuated and
controlled from the platform itself or from a barge alongside the
platform.
Inventors: |
Sherer; C. Richard (Houston,
TX), Foyle; Russell M. (Houston, TX) |
Assignee: |
DND Corporation (Houston,
TX)
|
Family
ID: |
23011363 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/265,656 |
Filed: |
June 23, 1972 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
82/82; 82/100;
82/71 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B23B
29/02 (20130101); B23D 21/14 (20130101); E21B
29/005 (20130101); Y10T 82/16951 (20150115); Y10T
82/16459 (20150115); Y10T 82/16639 (20150115) |
Current International
Class: |
B23D
21/14 (20060101); B23B 29/00 (20060101); B23B
29/02 (20060101); B23D 21/00 (20060101); B23b
005/14 () |
Field of
Search: |
;166/55.6,55.7,55.8
;30/103,105 ;82/100,82,4C,35,71,20 ;83/54 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Juhasz; Andrew R.
Assistant Examiner: Briggs; W. R.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Pravel, Wilson & Matthews
Claims
We claim:
1. Pipe cutter apparatus for cutting pipe from the inside thereof
and adapted to be operated remotely from the point at which the
pipe is cut, comprising:
a frame assembly having means therewith for lowering same into the
inside of a pipe;
wall anchoring means mounted on said frame assembly at
longitudinally spaced apart locations for engaging the inside wall
of the pipe to be cut;
anchor actuating means mounted on said frame and operably connected
with said wall anchoring means for moving said anchoring means from
a retracted position out of contact with the inside wall of the
pipe to an anchoring position in engagement with the inside wall of
the pipe;
a rotatable cutting head mounted on said frame assembly for
rotation relative thereto;
gauge means mounted on said cutting head for engaging the inside
wall of the pipe at at least two circumferentially spaced points
for substantially centering the cutting assembly in the pipe;
and
cutter means mounted on at least one of said gauge means for
movement towards the inside wall of the pipe and relative to said
gauge means after said gauge means engages the wall of the pipe for
cutting through the wall of the pipe upon a rotation of said
cutting head and said gauge means and said cutter means
therewith.
2. The structure set forth in claim 1, including:
said gauge means being laterally movable relative to said frame
assembly; and
gauge actuating means mounted on said rotatable cutting head and
operably connected with said gauge means for moving same outwardly
from a first position out of contact with the pipe to a second
position in engagement with the inside wall of the pipe.
3. The structure set forth in claim 2, wherein said gauge actuating
means includes:
compensating means connected with said gauge actuating means for
urging all of said gauge means outwardly into engagement with the
pipe wall substantially simultaneously.
4. The structure set forth in claim 1, including:
cutter actuating means mounted on said rotatable cutting head and
operably connected to said cutter means for moving same relative to
said gauge means and towards the pipe wall for cutting
therethrough.
5. The structure set forth in claim 1, wherein:
said cutting head is a ring having internal gear teeth and an
external annular guide projection; and
support rollers mounted on said frame assembly for receiving said
annular guide projection on said ring for supporting said ring for
rotation relative to said frame assembly.
6. The structure set forth in claim 5, including:
power means mounted on said frame assembly and having a drive gear
operably engaged with said internal gear teeth on said ring for
rotating same.
7. Pipe cutter apparatus for cutting pipe from the inside thereof
and adapted to be operated remotely from the point at which the
pipe is cut, comprising:
a frame assembly having means therewith for lowering same into the
inside of a pipe;
wall anchoring means mounted on said frame assembly at
longitudinally spaced apart locations for engaging the inside wall
of the pipe to be cut wherein said wall anchoring means
includes:
a plurality of circumferentially spaced wall contact anchoring
shoes disposed at each longitudinally spaced location relative to
said frame assembly;
a lever arm for each of said shoes; and
pivot means disposed intermediate the length of said lever arm for
pivotally connecting each of said lever arms to said frame assembly
about said pivot means;
anchor actuating means mounted on said frame and operably connected
with said wall anchoring means for moving said anchoring means from
a retracted position out of contact with the inside wall of the
pipe to an anchoring position in engagement with the inside wall of
the pipe;
connector means connecting each of said lever arms to said anchor
actuating means for pivoting said lever arms to force said shoes to
pivot and move outwardly for binding anchoring engagement with the
inside wall of the pipe;
a rotatable cutting head mounted on said frame assembly for
rotation relative thereto;
gauge means mounted on said cutting head for engaging the inside
wall of the pipe at least two circumferentially spaced points for
substantially centering the cutting assembly in the pipe; and
cutter means mounted on at least one of said gauge means for
movement towards the inside wall of the pipe and relative to said
gauge means after said gauge means engages the wall of the pipe for
cutting through the wall of the pipe upon a rotation of said
cutting means and said gauge means and said cutter means
therewith.
8. The structure set forth in claim 7, wherein said connector means
for said lever arms includes:
a pair of links pivotally mounted on said frame assembly and
disposed between and slidably connected with a pair of said lever
arms which are diametrically disposed with respect to each other
for pivoting such pair of lever arms into anchoring contact with
the pipe wall substantially simultaneously.
9. The structure set forth in claim 7, wherein:
each of said lever arms is pivotally mounted so as to extend
downwardly when running into the pipe with the anchoring means in
the retracted position and to remain in a downwardly inclined
position but at a lesser angle with respect to the diameter of the
pipe when the anchoring means is moved to the anchoring position.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The field of this invention is apparatus for cutting pipe from the
inside, particularly offshore platform legs.
In recent years, many offshore platforms have been built using
pipes of relatively large inside diameters as the legs for such
platforms. For example, offshore platform legs commonly have inside
diameters of from 30 to 48 inches and these extend down from the
platform, which is above the water, into the soil beneath the
water. Although some efforts have been made to develop inside
diameter pipe cutter apparatus, such as illustrated by U.S. Pat.
Nos. 2,915,819 and 3,052,024, so far as is known, none of such
prior apparatus has been satisfactory for actually cutting off
platform legs. As a result, it has been common practice to send one
or more divers down in the water outside of the platform legs with
cutting torches for cutting off the platform legs. In some
instances, divers have even gone down inside of the platform legs
where the diameter of the legs is great enough to accommodate the
diver and his equipment. Such operations are inherently very
dangerous to the diver because of the danger of the leg shifting
during or upon completion of the cut therethrough, and the danger
is multiplied when the diver is inside of the pipe. Furthermore, it
is desirable, and sometimes even required by law, that the platform
legs be cut off at or below the bottom of the water so as not to
project upwardly from the bottom, which further increases the
difficulties of cutting of such legs, particularly from externally
of the legs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a new and improved pipe cutter
apparatus for cutting pipe from the inside thereof. The apparatus
is lowered on a wireline inside of the pipe to the point at which
the pipe is to be cut, the apparatus is then anchored to the inside
wall of the pipe, gauge means are actuated to engage the pipe for
positioning one or more cutter means in proximity to the inside
wall of the pipe and then the cutter means is actuated to cut
through the wall of the pipe as the cutter means is rotated. The
controls for the apparatus are located at the upper end of the pipe
or at any suitable location remote from the pipe which is
accessible to an operator so that it is unnecessary for anyone to
go down into the pipe or into the water outside of a pipe located
offshore.
BREIF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view, partly in elevation,
illustrating the apparatus of this invention disposed in a pipe,
with the anchoring means in anchoring engagement with the inside
wall of the pipe, and with the gauge means also in engagement with
the inside wall of the pipe, but with the cutter means
retracted;
FIG. 2 is a partial view of a portion of the apparatus illustrated
in FIG. 1, but showing the cutter means after it has been actuated
and has cut through the pipe;
FIG. 3 is a view taken on line 3--3 to illustrate further details
of one of the anchoring shoes and the mounting thereof;
FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4--4 to further illustrate
the adjustability of the anchoring shoes;
FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5--5 of FIG. 1 to
illustrate further details of the apparatus of this invention;
and
FIG. 6 is a general view in elevation of the preferred use of the
apparatus of this invention for cutting pipes which form the
platform legs on offshore platforms.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
In the drawings, the letter A designates generally the apparatus of
this invention which is adapted to be disposed in a pipe P (FIG. 1)
which may form the leg of an offshore platform W (FIG. 6). The
apparatus A is adapted to be lowered into a pipe such as platform
leg P, on a wireline or other flexible support C which is supported
by any suitable lowering and hoisting apparatus generally
designated H (FIG. 6) and which is adapted to be positioned on the
platform W. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the apparatus is adapted to
cut each of the pipes or platform legs P off at a point P' which is
below the ground G in a body of water B in which the offshore
platform W is located. After the apparatus A has cut one or more of
the platform pipes or legs P such as indicated at P', the well
platform W with the portions of the legs P extending therebelow are
preferably supported by and are movable with a relatively large
barge S which may have a boom or crane 10 therewith and which has
lines 11 extending therefrom to the platform W as illustrated in
FIG. 6. Thus, with the present invention, it is possible for all of
the pipes forming the platform legs to be cut off below the ground
level G in the body of water B, without an operator going down
inside of the pipes or legs P and without requiring a diver or any
other person to go down in the water B.
Considering now the details of the preferred form of the apparatus
A, such apparatus A includes a frame assembly 12 which is
preferably formed with a plurality of vertically extending frame
members or strips 12a which are arranged in spaced pairs (FIG. 3)
and are spaced circumferentially with respect to each other so that
at least two pairs of such frame members 12a are positioned
diametrically opposite from each other as best seen in FIG. 1. The
vertical frame members 12a are welded together or are
interconnected by any suitable means such as substantially
horizontally disposed bars or plates 14, 15, 16 and 17. It should
also be understood that there may be more vertical frame members
12a than those illustrated in the drawings and these would also be
circumferentially spaced with respect to those that are shown and
they would be welded or otherwise secured to the reinforcing frame
members or plates 14-17 so as to rigidify the complete frame
assembly A. An upper connecting bar or plate 18 is welded or is
otherwise secured to the vertical frame members 12a and it has a
plate 18 a for attachment to the cable or wireline C which is used
for supporting the apparatus A in the pipe P, as previously
noted.
For the purpose of anchoring the frame assembly 12 to the inside
wall or surface 20 of the pipe P, anchoring means, including a
plurality of anchoring shoes 25 are mounted with the frame assembly
12 in a manner to be hereinafter described. Each of the anchoring
shoes 25 is preferably formed with an arcuate external outer
surface 25a which is adapted to contact the inside wall surface 20
of the pipe P. The upper portion 25b of each shoe 25 is curved
inwardly away from the wall 20 so as to prevent such surface from
prematurely digging into the wall 20 when anchoring the shoes 25,
as will be more evident hereinafter.
Each of the contact or anchoring shoes 25 is adjustably mounted in
the outer end of a lever arm 26 which is disposed between a pair of
the vertical frame members 12a and which is pivotally mounted
thereto by a pivot bolt or pin 27 which extends through the pair of
vertical frame members 12a (FIG. 3). Each lever arm 26 has an
elongated slot 26a into which the pivot pin 27 extends (FIG. 1) for
a purpose to be hereinafter explained.
The adjustability of each shoe is accomplished in any suitable
manner such as by a telescoping stem 25c which slides in a recess
26b of the lever arm 26. Locking set screws 28 or other suitable
means are provided for holding each stem 25c in the selected
position relative to the lever arm 26 with which it is
connected.
Each lever arm 26 extends inwardly to a vertical guide plate 30
having a longitudinal slot 30a therein which receives a guide pin
26c on the inner end of the lever arm 26 so as to cause such inner
end of the lever arm 26 to move vertically in a predetermined path
defined by the slot 30a. Each pin 26c extends through the slot 30a
and into an elongated opening or slot 31a in a connecting link 31
which is pivoted at a pivot pin 31b to another vertical frame
member 32 which is welded or otherwise secured between either the
plates 14 and 15 or the plates 16 and 17 (FIG. 1). Thus, as shown
in FIG. 1, there are four of such lever arms 26 with a contact or
anchoring shoe 25 with each lever arm 26, and there are also four
of the connecting links 31. Each pair of the anchoring shoes 25 is
disposed in a longitudinally spaced relationship to the other pair
as seen in FIG. 1. Each pair of the shoes 25 are preferably
simultaneously actuated so as to pivot them from their downwardly
inclined retracted position out of contact with the wall 20 to
their gripping contact position shown in FIG. 1 wherein the lever
arms 26 are still downwardly and inclined, but at a lesser angle
than when they are retracted. For the purpose of moving such shoes
25 from the retracted position to the gripping or contact position
with the inside wall 20, an anchoring actuator means is provided
which includes for each pair of the lever arms 26, a piston 35 in a
cylinder 36 to which hydraulic fluid is circulated through lines
36a and 36b as will be well understood. The piston 35 has a piston
rod 35a therewith which has a connecting pin 35b extending
laterally therefrom through aligned slots 31c in the overlapping
inner ends of the links 31 so that each pair of links 31 is moved
at the same time by the movement of the piston 35 to thereby
simultaneously control the outward and inward pivotal movement of
the anchoring shoes 25 relative to the frame assembly 12 and the
pipe P. The lines 36a and 36b are flexible tubes which are placed
at any convenient locations and are extended upwardly to the upper
end of the pipe P, as indicated partially by the tubes 36a and 36b
shown in FIG. 1 in proximity to the wireline or cable C. Such lines
extend to a source of hydraulic fluid under pressure which is not
shown because it is conventional and is well understood by those
skilled in the art. Such hydraulic system is remotely located with
respect to the pipe P and it may be operated by an operator on the
platform W or even remotely from such platform W. When fluid is
introduced under pressure through line 36b connected to one or both
of the cylinders 36, the piston 35 is moved upwardly as viewed in
FIG. 1 and such upward movement causes a pivoting of the links 31
and a resultant pivoting of the lever arms 26 so as to force the
anchoring shoes 25 to move in an upward and outward arc for
applying extreme pressure to the inside wall 20 for securely
anchoring the apparatus A in the pipe P. Because of the pivotal
action of the lever arms 26, a tremendous mechanical advantage may
be developed and the pressure of the hydraulic fluid may be
extremely high so that the location of the apparatus A at a
predetermined point in the pipe P is assured. Upon reversing the
flow of the hydraulic fluid to the cylinders 36 so that the fluid
flows inwardly into the cylinders 36 from the lines 36a and returns
through the lines 36b, the shoes 25 are caused to swing downwardly
to a retracted position and are thus withdrawn for the purposes of
moving the apparatus A within the pipe P so that the shoes 25 do
not drag on the inside surface 20 during such movement.
It is to be noted that the cylinders 36 are welded or are otherwise
secured to the plates 15 and 17 and they preferably are centrally
disposed so that each cylinder 36 may be used as illustrated for a
pair of the anchoring shoes 25 as explained.
A rotatable head which is preferably composed of a substantially
circular plate 40 and a ring 41 secured thereto by any suitable
means such as machine bolts 40a is located at the lower end of the
frame assembly 12. The ring 41 has an annular guide projection 41a
which is adapted to fit into contact with circular guide surfaces
42a of a plurality of rollers 42. The rollers 42 are mounted in a
circular path around the ring 41 and are preferably supported by
roller spindles 43 which extend through upper and lower roller
support rings 44 and 45 which are welded or are otherwise secured
to the vertical frame members 12a. The ring 41 has internal gear
teeth 41b which are adapted to be engaged by a drive gear 46 driven
by a motor 47 which may be an electrical or hydraulic motor
supplied with electricity or hydraulic fluid through any suitable
lines such as 47a which extend to the surface of the platform W
along with the cable C. Thus, when the motor gear 46 rotates, it
drives the ring 41 and the circular plate 40 forming the rotatable
head so that the annular projection 41a is rotated and is supported
during rotation by the support rollers 42.
Gauge means which includes gauge rollers 50 for engagement with the
inside wall or surface 20 of the pipe P are provided below the
rotatable head or plate 40 for rotation therewith for
predetermining the position of cutter means as explained
hereinafter. Preferably, the gauge rollers 50 are mounted in
diametrically disposed pairs of rollers as illustrated in FIG. 1
and they are radially movable from an inward retracted position out
of contact with the wall surface 20 to a roller contact position
shown in FIG. 1. The gauge rollers are preferably mounted on a
gauge support body 51 (FIGS. 1 and 5), each of which has laterally
extending flanges 51a which are received in supporting strips 52
having guide recesses 52a (FIG. 5). The strips 52 are secured to
the lower part of the rotatable plate 40 by machine screws or bolts
52b or any other suitable attaching means. Thus, the gauge roller
support body 51 may move radially or inwardly and outwardly
relative to the pipe P as the flanges 51a slide in the guide
recesses 52a. The movement radially for the body 51 and thus the
gauge rollers 50 is accomplished in the preferred form of the
invention by a piston 52 connected to a stem or rod 52a which is
welded or is otherwise affixed to each of the gauge support bodies
51. Each piston 52 is disposed in a cylinder 53, and suitable fluid
pressure lines 53a and 53b are provided for controlling the fluid
pressure supply and return with respect to each cylinder 53 in the
known manner. Preferably, hydraulic fluid is supplied through a
common flexible hose or tube 54 through a pressure compensating
valve 54a to both of the inlet lines 53a to the cylinders 53 so
that the pressure to the pistons 52 for urging the gauge bodies 51
and the rollers 50 outwardly is substantially the same and causes
engagement of the rollers 50 with the inside surface 20
substantially simultaneously. The flexible tube or hose 54 is not
shown as extending to the surface, but it will be understood that
it will extend along side of the cable C to the platform W or at
any point which is conveniently accessible to an operator so that
the operator does not have to go down into the interior of the pipe
P.
The cutter means of this invention includes one or more cutter
blades 60 which are formed of tool steel or any suitable hard
material which is capable of cutting through the steel or other
material forming the wall of the pipe P. As illustrated in FIG. 1,
there are two of such cutter blades 60, each of which is mounted in
a cutter support 61 and is secured thereto by a releasable locking
screw 60a of any conventional construction. Each of the support
members 61 is supported for sliding movement in a radial direction
inwardly and outwardly with respect to the pipe P, as specifically
illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 5. Each support body 61 has side lips or
flanges 61a (FIG. 5) which fit into corresponding guide recesses
62a of support strips 62. Each support stip 62 is secured to the
lower surface of the gauge roller body 51 by machine screws or
bolts 62b or any other suitable securing means.
The radial or other inward and outward movements of the cutter
bodies 61 and the cutter blades 60 therewith is accomplished by
providing a piston 62 and a piston rod 62a therewith which is
connected to each of the cutter supports 61. Each piston 62 is
mounted in a cylinder 63 having hydraulic fluid tubes 63a and 63b
therewith. The tubes 63a and 63b are not shown as going to the
surface where the platform W is located, but it will be understood
that they do extend alongside of the cable C to the surface of the
platform W or at any other suitable location for operation by an
operator. The cutter blades 60 are forced outwardly to initially
engage the inside wall or surface 20 of the pipe P after the gauge
rollers 50 have thus been engaged, and thereafter, the continued
hydraulic pressure acting on the pistons 62 forces the cutter
blades 60 to cut through the wall of the pipe P as the cutter
blades 60 are rotated together with the ring 41 and the rest of the
cutter head 40. The extent of the cutting with the cutter blades 60
which is required depends upon the thickness of the wall of the
pipe P and may be regulated by the length of the cutter blade 60
and to the extent of the movement thereof so as to cut completely
through the wall of the pipe P as illustrated in FIG. 2, thereby
forming the cut P' which is also illustrated in FIG. 6.
In the use or operation of the apparatus A of this invention, it is
preferably lowered into the pipe P which is to be cut, by using a
cable or wireline C which is controlled by any suitable hoisting or
support mechanism H located at the upper end of the pipe P. When
the pipe P is an offshore platform leg as illustrated in FIG. 6,
the hoisting and control apparatus for the cable C is located on
the platform W or at any other suitable location. The apparatus A
may be lowered to a level in the pipe P which is below the bottom
or ground G in the body of water B, with the shoes 25, gauge
rollers 50 and cutter blades 60 all retracted so that they do not
drag as the apparatus A is lowered in the pipe P. When the
apparatus A has reached the desired elevation for beginning the cut
through the pipe wall, the lowering of the apparatus A is
discontinued and the apparatus A is then supported on the line or
cable C at the desired elevation. The operator then introduces
fluid pressure through the supply lines 36a and 36b to initially
cause a pivoting of the links 31 and the lever arms 26 to swing the
shoes 25 arcuately upwardly and outwardly for binding them and
locking them in anchoring engagement with the inside wall 20 of the
pipe P. The wedging action which is developed is tremendous and can
resist any subsequent tendency of the frame 12 to rotate or shift
in the pipe P. Thereafter, hydraulic fluid is introduced through
the line 54 from the surface so as to cause the gauge rollers 50 to
be moved outwardly into contact with the inside surface of the pipe
P as shown in FIG. 1 and such movement carries the cutter supports
61 and the cutter blades 60 therewith outwardly, but not to the
point of contact with the inside surface 20 as best seen in FIG. 1.
Thus, the gauge rollers 50 locate the blades 60 so that they are
only a short distance from beginning their cutting operation,
thereby making the full stroke of the pistons 62 available for the
cutting action with each of the cutting blades 60. The hydraulic
fluid is then introduced into the cylinders 63 to move the pistons
62 outwardly to engage the cutter blades 60 with the inside surface
20 of the pipe P and then the motor 47 is actuated to rotate the
drive gear 46 and the ring 41 which in turn rotates the rotatable
plate 40, the gauge rollers 50 and the cutter blades 60 relative to
the pipe P and the frame assembly 12. The continued hydraulic
pressure acting on the pistons 62 forces them outwardly and also
forces the cutter blades 60 outwardly as they are all rotated by
the motor 47 so that the blades 60 continue to cut into the wall of
the pipe P until the blades 60 have cut all of the way through such
walls of the pipe P as indicated in FIG. 2.
At that point, it is generally desirable to retract the blades 60
by reversing the flow of hydraulic fluid so that it is introduced
through the lines 63b to cause the piston 62 to move inwardly and
to pull the cutter blades 60 inwardly within the inside diameter 20
of the pipe P. The gauge rollers 50 are likewise retracted and then
the shoes 25 are retracted, all by reversing the flow of the
hydraulic fluid in their respective pistons and then the entire
apparatus A may be removed from the pipe P by lifting upwardly on
the cable C. The apparatus A may then be moved to another of the
platform legs or pipes P for a subsequent cut in the same manner
until all of the pipes P have been cut so that the platform can be
removed from its location by the use of the barge S or any other
suitable means.
The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention are
illustrative and explanatory thereof, and various changes in the
size, shape, and materials as well as in the details of the
illustrated construction may be made without departing from the
spirit of the invention.
* * * * *