U.S. patent number 3,913,753 [Application Number 05/501,732] was granted by the patent office on 1975-10-21 for drill pipe handling and storage device.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Driltech, Inc.. Invention is credited to James M. Bowe, Richard J. Pearce, Richard H. Swartz.
United States Patent |
3,913,753 |
Swartz , et al. |
October 21, 1975 |
Drill pipe handling and storage device
Abstract
Apparatus for drilling wells including a magazine swingably
mounted on a mast for moving a section of drill pipe into alignment
with a string of drill pipes having a cutter at the lower end. The
magazine contains a plurality of drill pipe sections and includes
mechanism for maintaining the drill pipes in the magazine as well
as mechanism for rotating the magazine so that a drill pipe section
can be removed from or added to the magazine.
Inventors: |
Swartz; Richard H.
(Gainesville, FL), Pearce; Richard J. (Gainesville, FL),
Bowe; James M. (Gainesville, FL) |
Assignee: |
Driltech, Inc. (Gainesville,
FL)
|
Family
ID: |
23994803 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/501,732 |
Filed: |
August 29, 1974 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
414/22.66;
175/52; 211/70.4; 175/85 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E21B
19/146 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
E21B
19/00 (20060101); E21B 19/14 (20060101); E21B
019/14 () |
Field of
Search: |
;214/1P,2.5 ;175/52,85
;211/6R,6S,163 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Werner; Frank E.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Dowell, Jr.; A. Yates
Claims
We claim:
1. Apparatus for handling and storing a plurality of drill pipe
sections for use with a well drilling rig having an upright mast
and a rotary driving member mounted for movement along said mast,
said apparatus comprising a hanger shaft swingably mounted on said
mast, a pair of spaced support arms carried by said hanger shaft
and extending outwardly therefrom, a magazine having a shaft
rotatably mounted on said support arms, an index plate fixed to
said magazine shaft, collar means rotatably mounted on said
magazine shaft adjacent to said index plate, means for selectively
connecting said collar means to said index plate, means for
partially rotating said collar means to cause partial rotation of
said magazine shaft when said connecting means engages said index
plate, a seat plate fixed to the lower portion of said magazine
shaft, said seat plate having a plurality of non-circular openings,
each of said openings being of a configuration to received a
non-circular end of a drill pipe section, latch means mounted on
said magazine shaft in spaced relationship to said index plate,
said latch means having a plurality of C-shaped openings, each of
said C-shaped openings having a mouth communicating with the
periphery of said latch means, a latch member rotatably associated
with each C-shaped opening of the latch means, each latch member
having a U-shaped opening which can be selectively aligned with the
mouth of a C-shaped opening, said U-shaped opening being of a size
to receive the upper portion of a drill pipe section, and means for
swinging sais hanger shaft about a generally vertical axis to move
said magazine from a retracted position to an operative position,
whereby said magazine can be selectively aligned with the rotary
driving member.
2. A magazine for handling and storing at least one elongated drill
pipe section having at least one first flattened portion at the
lower end and at least one second flattened portion spaced from
said first flattened portion and being out of axial alignment
therewith, said magazine comprising a shaft, a seat plate mounted
on said shaft, said seat plate having an opening complementary to
the lower end of said drill pipe section, latch means mounted on
said shaft and spaced from said seat plate a distance substantially
corresponding to the distance between the first and second
flattened portions of the drill pipe section, said latch means
having a generally C-shaped opening communicating with the
periphery thereof, a latch member rotatably associated with said
C-shaped opening of said latch means, said latch member having a
normally open slot for complementarily receiving the second
flattened portion of said drill pipe section, whereby the second
flattened portion of a drill pipe section is introduced into the
slot of said latch member after which the drill pipe section and
the latch member are rotated to close the latch member slot and
align the first flattened portion of the drill pipe section with
the opening of the seat plate so that the drill pipe section may be
received therein.
3. The structure of claim 2 including an index plate fixed to said
shaft, collar means rotatably mounted on said shaft adjacent to
said index plate, means for selectively connecting said collar
means to said index plate, and means for moving said collar means
to cause partial rotation of said magazine shaft when said collar
means and said index plate are connected to each other.
4. The structure of claim 3 in which said index plate includes a
plurality of spaced openings, and said means for connecting said
collar means to said index plate includes pin means selectively
engageable with an opening of said index plate.
5. The structure of claim 2 including a retainer located at the
upper end of the said shaft, said retainer having a notch of a size
to permit the drill pipe section to be removed from said
magazine.
6. The structure of claim 2 including stop means to limit rotation
of the latch member in at least one direction.
7. The sturcture of claim 6 including resilient means normally
urging the slot of said latch member to an open position.
8. The structure of claim 2 in which said latch means includes a
latch plate, and said latch member having flanges overlying and
underlying said latch plate to permit rotation of said latch
member.
9. The structure of claim 2 in which said latch means includes a
pair of latch plates having vertically aligned C-shaped openings, a
bushing plate mounted between said latch plates, said bushing plate
having a C-shaped opening which is larger than the C-shaped
openings of said latch plates and is generally concentric
therewith, and said latch member is rotatably mounted within the
C-shaped opening of said bushing plate.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to boring holes into the earth and
relates particularly to apparatus for supplying and removing
sections of drill pipe to or from a drill string.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Heretofore many efforts have been made to provide apparatus for
boring holes into the earth and such apparatus has included an
upright mast with a drill table at the lower end and a rotary drive
mechanism reciprocably mounted for movement in a generally vertical
direction. Normally a cutter head or drill bit is mounted on the
lower end of a drill pipe which extends upwardly through a guide in
the drill table and the upper end of such pipe is connected to the
rotary drive member to rotate the drill pipe and the cutter head.
Simultaneously the cutter head is moved downwardly to penetrate the
earth. When most of the drill pipe has penetrated the earth, the
rotary drive member is disconnected from the upper end of the drill
pipe and raised to an elevated position so that another section of
drill pipe can be attached to the rotary drive member and
thereafter connected to the drill pipe already in the ground to
form a drill string which is rotated by the rotary drive member to
cause continued penetration of the earth by the cutter head. This
process continues until a desired depth has been reached at which
time the process is reversed to remove the drill string from the
hole.
In the past many efforts have been made to provide racks and
magazines located on or adjacent to the drill mast to provide a
convenient storage and handling mechanism for a plurality of drill
pipe sections. In these prior structures many mechanisms have been
suggested for holding the drill pipe sections on the rack or
magazine until such time as it is desired to release one of the
sections so that such section can be added to the drilll string.
Some examples of prior art structures are the U.S. Pat. Nos. to
Thornburg 2,869,826 and 2,972,388; Leven 3,025,918; Gyongyosi
3,157,286 and 3,493,061; and Klem 3,185,310.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is embodied in a drill pipe magazine
swingably mounted on the mast of a drill rig and movable from a
retracted position to a position where one of the drill pipe
sections carried by the magazine is substantially in alignment with
the drill string along the vertical axis of the bore hole.
Apparatus is provided for rotating the magazine one step at a time
in either direction so that any desired drill pipe may be
positioned along the axis of the bore hole. The magazine includes
apparatus adjacent the bottom for receiving one end of the drill
pipe sections while preventing rotation in either direction so that
the rotary driving head can be either connected to or disconnected
from a selected drill pipe section. Also apparatus is provided for
positively engaging the upper portions of the drill pipe sections
to prevent removal of the sections until the rotary driving member
is connected to or disconnected therefrom.
It is an object of the invention to provide a drill pipe handling
and storage magazine having apparatus for positively holding the
drill pipe sections adjacent opposite ends until the rotary driving
member is connected to or disconnected from the drill pipe
section.
Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus for
rotating the drill pipe magazine in either direction to locate a
desired drill pipe section in a position to be removed from the
magazine.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a side elevation illustrating one application of the
invention.
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective illustrating the magazine per
se.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged section on the line 3--3 of FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary section on the line 4--4 of FIG.
3.
FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective of the lower portion of the
magazine with portions broken away for clarity.
FIG. 6 is a section on the line 6--6 of FIG. 5.
FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective of one of the drill pipe
sections.
FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective of a bridle for loading drill
pipe sections into the magazine.
FIG. 9 is a side elevation of another embodiment of the
magazine.
FIG. 10 is an enlarged section on the line 10--10 of FIG. 9.
FIG. 11 is an enlarged section on the line 11--11 of FIG. 9.
FIG. 12 is an enlarged detail section on the line 12--12 of FIG.
10.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
With continued reference to the drawings, a vehicle 10 is provided
having an elongated mast 11 pivotally mounted thereon. The mast
normally is stored in a generally horizontal position while moving
from place to place and is swung to a substantially vertical
position by fluid cylinders 12 when the mast is to be used. In
order to provide a stable platform for the mast 11, the vehicle 10
may have two or more stabilizers 13 having telescoping feet 14
adapted to engage the earth. The feet are extended and retracted in
any conventional manner, as by fluid cylinders, screw jacks or the
like.
A drill table 15 is provided at the base of the mast 11 and such
table includes an opening (not shown) which functions as a guide
for a drill pipe 16 having a drill bit or cutter 17 attached to the
lower end therof. The upper end of the drill pipe 16 is releasably
connected to the bull shaft 18 of a rotary driving member 19 in any
desired manner, as by screw threads or the like. The rotary driving
member normally is mounted for generally vertical movement on a
frame which is movably supported by the mast 11 so that when the
rotary driving member is being operated such member can be moved
vertically of the mast to cause the drill bit 17 to penetrate the
earth and form a well or bore hole.
The frame on which the rotary driving member is mounted is power
raised and power lowered in any conventional manner, as by
providing an upper chain 20 having one end connected to the rotary
driving member frame and extending around sprockets 21 and 22 after
which its other end is fixed to the mast 11. A lower chain 23 has
one end secured to the rotary driving member frame and extends
around sprockets 24 and 25 after which the other end of the chain
is secured to the mast 11. The sprockets 22 and 25 are rotatably
mounted on a bracket 26 fixed to one end of the piston rod 27 of a
fluid cylinder 28 carried by the drill table 15 or other fixed
structure. Extension and retraction of the piston rod 27 causes the
rotary driving member frame to be raised and lowered along the mast
11. The structure thus far described is conventional in the art and
forms no part of the present invention.
When the vehicle 10 has been moved to a position where it is
desired to drill a hole into the earth and the mast 11 has been
raised to an upright position, the rotary driving member 19 is
operated to rotate the drill pipe 16 and the drill bit 17 after
which the piston rod 27 is extended to lower the rotary driving
member mounting frame along the mast 11 and cause the drill bit to
penetrate the earth. At the upper end of the stroke of the piston
rod 27, a conventional clamping mechanism carried by the drill
table 15 engages and clamps the drill pipe 16 to hold such drill
pipe in fixed position while the rotary driving member is driven in
a reverse direction to disengage the bull shaft 18 from the drill
pipe 16. Thereafter the piston rod 27 is retracted by the fluid
cylinder 28 to raise the rotary driving member frame to a position
adjacent to the upper end of the mast 11. In this position another
section of drill pipe is moved to a position directly below the
rotary driving member and is connected to the bull shaft 18 so that
the rotary driving member frame can be lowered until the lower end
of the drill pipe section engages and is connected to the upper end
of the drill pipe 16 which is being held by the drill string.
In order to sequentially move a plurality of drill pipe sections
into alignment with the rotary driving member 19 to form a drill
string, a magazine 33 is provided for holding a plurality of drill
pipe sections 34. As illustrated best in FIG. 7, each of the drill
pipes 34 is of hollow generally cylindrical configuration with an
internally threaded counterbore 35 at its lower end and an
externally threaded extension 36 at its upper end. The threaded
extension 36 and the counterbore 35 are complementary to each other
so that a plurality of drill pipes can be connected together in
end-to-end relationship. Each drill pipe section 34 is provided
with a pair of opposed lower flattened portions 37 extending
upwardly from the lower end and a pair of upper flattened portions
38 located adjacent the upper end thereof. As clearly shown in FIG.
7, the upper flattened portions 38 are oriented in a different
plane from the lower flattened portions 37 for a purpose which will
be described later.
With reference to FIG. 2, the magazine 33 normally is disposed in a
retracted position either within the mast 11 or exteriorly thereof
and if desired two or more magazines could be provided to increase
the number of drill pipe sections 34 which can be added to the
drill string. In order to mount the magazine on a fixed structure,
such as the mast 11, a pair of spaced generaly parallel arms 39 are
provided having one end welded or otherwise attached to the mast 11
and extending outwardly therefrom. The outer ends of the arms 39
are provided with bearings 40 for swingably supporting a hanger
shaft 41. If desired the lower end of the hanger shaft 41 can be
supported by a thrust bearing 42 fixed to the drill table 15.
In order to rotate the hanger shaft 41, a fluid cylinder 43 having
a piston rod 44 is provided in which the butt end of the cylinder
43 is pinned to a lug 45 carried by the mast 11 and the outer end
of the piston rod 44 is pinned to a lug 46 fixed to the hanger
shaft 41. The stroke of the piston rod 44 is arranged so that at
one extremity the magazine 33 is in a fully retracted position and
at the other extremity one of the drill pipes 34 carried by the
magazine 33 is substantially in vertical alignment with the rotary
driving member 19 and the bore hole.
An upper support arm 50 is welded or otherwise attached to the
hanger shaft 41 adjacent the upper end and a lower support arm 51
is welded or otherwise attached to the lower portion of the hanger
shaft 41 in spaced substantially parallel relationship with the
upper arm 50. A bearing 52 is mounted in the outer end of the upper
arm 50 and in vertical alignment with a bearing 53 carried by the
outer end of the lower arm 51 and such bearings rotatably receive
opposite ends of a magazine shaft 54.
With particular reference to FIGS. 2, 5 and 6, the magazine 33 is
adapted to be rotated in either direction so that one of the drill
pipe sections 34 carried by the magazine is located substantially
in vertical alignment with the rotary driving member 19 and with
the bore hole. In order to rotate the magazine, a sleeve or collar
55 is rotatably mounted on the magazine shaft 54 adjacent to the
lower bearing 53 and such collar is provided with an outwardly
extending lug 56 connected by a pivot 57 to a fork 58 fixed to one
end of a piston rod 59. The piston rod 59 is carried by a fluid
cylinder 60 which is connected by a pivot 61 to one end of a
mounting bracket 62 the opposite end of which is welded or
otherwise secured to the hanger shaft 41.
The collar 55 has an enlargement 63 spaced from the lug 56 and
through which a generally vertically disposed guide opening 64
extends. A pin 65 is slidably received within the opening 64 and
such pin is adapted to be extended and retracted by the piston rod
66 of a fluid cylinder 67 mounted below the enlargement 63 of the
collar. An index plate 68 having a plurality of openings 69, which
are spaced apart a predetemined distance, is fixed to the magazine
shaft 54 above the collar 55.
When it is desired to rotate the magazine shaft 54 in a
counterclockwise direction when the apparatusis in the position
illustrated in FIG. 5, fluid under pressure is introduced into the
cylinder 67 to cause the piston rod 66 to be extended and swing the
collar 55 about the magazine shaft 54. Since the pin 65 connects
the collar 55 to the index plate 68, such index plate likewise will
swing an equal amount to partially rotate the magazine shaft 54.
When the magazine shaft 54 has been rotated, the pin 65 is
retracted from the opening 69 in the index plate 68 after which the
fluid cylinder 60 is operated in the reverse direction to swing the
collar 55 without rotating the magazine shaft. At the end of the
stroke of the cylinder 60, the pin 65 again is extended by the
fluid cylinder 67 and is received in the next successive opening of
the index plate.
When it is desired to rotate the magazine shaft in a clockwise
direction, the pin 65 initially is retracted from the opening 69 of
the index plate after which the piston rod 59 is extended to cause
the collar 55 to rotate about the magazine shaft so that the pin 65
is located below the next opening in the index plate 68. Thereafter
when the piston rod 59 is retracted within the cylinder 60, the
collar 55 and the index plate are moved in a clockwise
direction.
A seat plate 72 is mounted on the magazine shaft 54 adjacent to but
above the index plate 68. Such seat plate has a plurality of
openings 73 with generally parallel side walls 74 and of a
configuraion complementary to the lower flattened portions 37 of
the drill pipe sections 34. Each of the openings 73 has a slot 75
providing communication between the opening and the periphery of
the seat plate 72 for a purpose which will be described later. A
generally cylindrical upstanding flange 76 is welded or otherwise
attached to the upper surface of the seat plate 72 about each of
the openings 73. The inner periphery of each flange 76 is slightly
larger than the diameter of the drill pipe sections 34 and is
adapted to receive and guide the lower end thereof. Each of the
flanges 76 is provided with a slot 77 substantially in alignment
with the slots 75 in the seat plate 72. The major axis of each of
the openings 73 is disposed radially of the seat plate so that the
drill pipe section must be oriented so that the lower flattened
portions 37 are in alignment with the side walls 74 before the
drill pipe sections can be seated.
In order to secure the drill pipe sections within the magazine 33,
an upper latch plate 78 is mounted on the magazine shaft 54 and
such latch plate is spaced from the seat plate 72 a distance
corresponding to the distance between flattened portions 37 and 38
of the drill pipe sections. The latch plate 78 is provided with a
plurality of generally C-shaped openings 79 of a size slightly
larger than the diameter of the drill pipe sections 34. Each of the
openings 79 is located about a center spaced inwardly from the
periphery of the plate and has a passageway or mouth providing
communication between the opening 79 and the periphery of the latch
plate. Such passageway or mouth is wider than the distance between
the flattened portions 38 of the drill pipe sections 34. Within
each of the openings 79 a latch member 80 is provided having a
generally C-shaped central portion 81 which is rotatably received
within such openings. The latch member 80 has an upper flange 82
adapted to overlie the latch plate 78 and a lower flange 83 adapted
to underlie such latch plate.
Each of the latch members 80 is provided with an inwardly extending
generally U-shaped opening 84 of a size to receive the upper
flattened portions 38 of the drill pipe. Each latch member is
rotatably received within a cooperating opening 79 of the latch
plate so that the U-shaped openings 84 can be aligned with the
mouth of such opening to locate the latch members 80 in an open
position.
In order to maintain the latch members in open position, an
upwardly extending stop 85 is welded or otherwise attached to the
upper surface of the latch plate 78 and an outwardly extending lug
for finger 86 is welded or otherwise attached to the upper flange
82 of the latch member. The finger 86 is located in a position such
that when the U-shaped opening of the latch member and the mouth of
the latch plate opening are in alignment the finger 83 is in
abutting relationship with the stop 85. Preferably a plurality of
resilient members such as springs 87 or the like are provided with
one end of each spring being attached to the magazine shaft 54 and
the opposite end of such spring being connected to an appropriate
latch 80 to urge such latch toward open position.
After a drill pipe section has been inserted within the U-shaped
opening of the latch members, such latch members can be rotated to
close the mouth of the openings 79 and prevent accidental removal
of the drill pipe section therefrom. In order to limit the amount
of rotation of the latch members, each latch member has an
enlargement 88 which is adapted to abut some other structure, such
as the magazine shaft 54 or the next adjacent latch member 80.
A generally circular retainer 89 is welded or otherwise attached to
the upper support arm 50 to prevent longitudinal movement of the
drill pipe sections within the magazine 33, particularly when the
magazine is being stored in a generally horizontal position. The
retainer 89 has a cutout or notch 90 extending inwardly from one
edge to permit the bull shank 18 of the rotary driving member to
engage the threaded extension 36 of the drill pipe section which is
disposed along the axis of the drill string.
With particular reference to FIGS. 1 and 8, when it is desired to
load or unload the magazine 33, a loading cable 93 is provided,
which is coiled on a reversible motor driven reel 94, and extends
upwardly through a guide 95 mounted on top of the mast 11 and
terminates at a hook 96. A bridle 97 is adapted to be engaged by
the hook 96 and such bridle includes an upper bracket 98 having a
hook-receiving opening 99 at one end of a downwardly extending arm
100 at the opposite end. A flexible cable 101 has one end connected
to the upper bracket 98 adjacent to the openiing 99 and the
opposite end of such cable is connected to a lower bracket 102
having an upstanding arm 103.
To load a drill pipe section into the magazine 33, the upstanding
arm 103 of the lower bracket is inserted into the counterbore 35 of
the drill pipe section after which the arm 100 of the upper bracket
98 is inserted within the extension 36 at the opposite end of the
drill pipe section. Thereafter the hook 96 is inserted through the
opening 99 of the upper bracket and the reel 94 is operated to lift
the bridle 97 and the drill pipe section carried thereby to a
position such that the lower end of the drill pipe section is
located slightly above the flange 76 of the seat plate 72. In this
position the drill pipe section is oriented so that the upper
flattened portions 38 are substantially in alignment with the
U-shaped opening 34 of the latch member 80 and the loweer bracket
102 of the bridle 97 is substantially in alignment with the slots
75 and 77 of the seat 72 and flange 76, respectively.
The drill pipe section carried by the bridle then is moved toward
the magazine 33 so that the upper flattened portions 38 are
received within U-shaped opening of the latch member 80. In this
position the lower flattened portions 37 of the drill pipe section
are out of alignment with the side walls 74 of the seat plate
opening 73 and therefore the drill pipe section must be rotated
until the lower flattened portions 37 and the side walls 74 are in
alignment. The bridle 97 then is lowered until the drill pipe
section is supported by the seat plate 72.
In rotating the drill pipe section to align the lower flattened
portions thereof with the side walls 74, the upper portion of the
drill pipe section causes the latch member 80 to be rotated to
close the mouth of the openings 79 in the latch plate 78 to prevent
accidental removal of the upper portion of the drill pipe section.
When the drill pipe section is fully supported by the seat plate
72, the loading cable 93 is extended to provide slack in the bridle
cable 101 so that the lower bracket 102 can be removed and
thereafter the reel 94 is operated to take up the loading cable and
remove the arm 100 of the upper bracket 98 from the upper end of
the drill pipe section.
With particular reference to FIGS. 9-12, another embodiment of the
invention is provided which accommodates a greater number of drill
pipe sections 34 than the embodiment previously described. In this
embodiment the magazine shaft 54 has a seat plate 72 located
adjacent to the lower end and a latch mechanism 105 mounted in
spaced relationship thereto. The seat plate 72 includes openings 73
having generally parallel side walls 74 and a slot 75 as well as an
upstanding flange 76, as previously described.
The latch mechanism 105 includes a pair of substantially identical
upper and lower latch plates 106 and 107 with a bushing plate 108
sandwiched between the same and welded or otherwise attached
thereto. Each of the latch plates 106 and 107 includes a plurality
of generally C-shaped openings 109 each of which has a passageway
or mouth 110 connecting the C-shaped opening to the periphery of
the latch plate and providing access into the opening. As
illustrated best in FIG. 10, each of the latch plates 106 and 107
is provided with a pair of bumpers or stops 111 disposed on
opposite sides of the C-shaped opening 109 and arranged in a manner
to engage the upper flattened portions 38 of the drill pipe
sections 34 when the drill pipe sections have been rotated a
predetermined amount.
The intermediate bushing plate 108 has a plurality of C-shaped
openings 112 which are larger in diameter than the C-shaped
openings 109 of the latch plates and are generally concentric
therewith. Each of the C-shaped openings 112 rotatably receives a
latch member 113 having a gererally U-shaped opening 114 which is
adapted to be aligned with the mouth 110 of the latch plate.
The upper flattened portions 38 of a drill pipe section are
inserted into the U-shaped opening 114 of the latch member 113 and
thereafter the drill pipe section is rotated until the upper
flattened portions 38 abut the stops 111 to prevent further
rotation of the drill section. Rotation of the drill pipe section
causes the latch member 113 to be rotated and at least partially
close the mouth 110 of the latch plates 106 and 107 and prevent
outward movement of the upper portion of the drill pipe section.
When the uppper flattened portions 38 of the drill pipe section are
in engagement with the stops 111, the lower flattened portions 37
are substantially in alignment with the side walls 74 of the seat
plate openings so that when the drill pipe section is lowered, the
lower end of the drill pipe section is received within an opening
73 of the seat plate.
It is noted that the upper flattened portions 38 have a vertical
length greater than the distance required for inserting the upper
flattened portions into the latch mechanism and lowering the drill
pipe section into the openings 73 of the seat plate. If desired, a
support ring 115 may be welded or otherwise attached to the lower
surface of the seat plate 72 and extend across the openings 73 to
support the weight of the drill pipe sections when such sections
are seated in the seat plate 72.
In the operation of the device, the vehicle 10 is driven to a
drilling site and the mast 11 is raised to a substantially vertical
position and is stabilized by the stabilizers 13. A drill pipe 16
having a drill bit 17 connected to one end and a rotary driving
member 19 connected to the oppposite end is already in position so
that when the rotary driving member is operated and the piston rod
27 of the fluid cylinder 28 is extended, the drill bit 17
penetrates the earth. This operation continues until the upper end
of the drill pipe 16 is located just above the drill table 15. In
this position the drill pipe is clamped and the rotary driving
member 19 is operated in a reverse direction to detach the bull
shaft 18 from the drill pipe 16. The piston rod 27 then is lowered
to raise the rotary driving member 19 to a position adjacent the
upper end of the mast 11. The fluid cylinder 43 is operated to
cause rotation of the hanger shaft 41 and swing the magazine 33
from a retracted position to an operative postion in which one of
the drill pipe sections 34 carried by the magazine is substantially
in alignment with the notch 90 in the retainer 89 and in spaced
vertical alignment with the bull shaft 18 of the rotary driving
member 19. The rotary driving member is lowered until the bull
shaft 18 threadedly engages the extension 36 of the drill pipe
section and the rotary driving member is operated to connect the
bull shaft to the drill pipe section. During this operation the
drill pipe section is prevented from rotating due to the lower
flattened portions 37 being located within the opening 73 of the
seat plate.
When the bull shaft is connected to the drill pipe section, the
rotary driving member is raised to remove the lower flattened
portions 37 of the drill pipe section from the opening 73 in the
seat plate and the drill pipe section is rotated substantially
90.degree. to cause the U-shaped opening of the latch member 80 or
113 to be aligned with the mouth of the C-shaped opening 79 in the
latch plate 78 or the C-shaped openings 109 in the latch plates 106
and 107. The fluid cylinder 43 then is operated to return the
magazine 33 to the retracted position, while the drill pipe section
which has been connected to the rotary driving member, is removed
from the magazine. The rotary driving member 19 then is lowered
until the counterbore 35 of the drill pipe section engages the
threaded extension of the drill pipe 16 and is connected thereto by
rotation of the driving member 19. Thereafter the latches holding
the drill pipe 16 are released so that operation of the driving
member 19 causes further penetration of the drill bit 17.
When the magazine 33 is returned to retracted position, the fluid
cylinder 60 is operated to cause rotation of the collar 55 and the
index plate 68 so that another drill pipe section is disposed in
alignment with the notch 90 of the retainer 89 so that when the
magazine again is swung to an operative position, another drill
pipe section is in position to be engaged by the rotary driving
member 19.
After the drill bit 17 has penetrated the earth to a desired depth,
it is necessary to disassemble the drill string and this is done by
raising the rotary driving member until uppermost drill pipe
section is located above the drill table 16 and the upper flattened
portions 38 of the next uppermost pipe section are substantially in
alignment with the latches carried by the drill table. As the
latches engage the next uppermost drill pipe section, the rotary
driving member is operated to break connection between the two
uppermost sections and then the rotary driving member is raised
until the lower end of the drill pipe section carried thereby is
located slightly above the seat plate 72 of the magazine. While the
drill pipe section is being held in this position, the magazine 33
is rotated from a retracted position to an operative position and
the drill pipe section is loaded into the magazine and lowered so
that the lower flattened portions 37 are received within the
opening 73 of the seat plate. Thereafter the rotary driving member
is disconnected from the threaded extension 36 of the drill pipe
section and the magazine 33 is returned to retracted position. The
rotary driving member 19 is lowered and connected to the next drill
pipe section which is being held by the drill table and the process
is repeated until the drill bit 17 is removed from the bore
hole.
* * * * *