New Device For Handling Elongated Members

Abstract

Device for handling rigid elongated members such as drill string elements by transferring the same from a horizontal storage location to a vertical position where they are assembled to the drill string or vice versa, comprising a carriage with gripping means for taking said elements from their storage position and holding them, rollers fastened to said carriage and cooperating with guiding paths, comprising upper rollers for driving the nearest end of said carriage with respect to said vertical position along a first inclined path terminating with a vertical portion in line with said vertical position, lower rollers for driving the farthest end of said carriage with respect to said vertical position along a generally horizontal path above the storage location and rollers at an intermediate level taking their bearing on a second inclined path with a smaller inclination as the first one, for driving an intermediate point of said carriage between said nearest end and said farthest end, substantially to said vertical position when the upper roller reaches said position.

Description

This invention relates to a device for handling elongated members and more particularly to a device adapted for equipping floating installations.

The elongated members may consist, for example of rigid elements from a drill string used in off-shore drilling from a floating installation, e.g., a drilling ship or barge and the following description will refer more particularly to such an example of use although the scope of the invention is not limited thereto.

During a drilling operation of the above-mentioned type the problem of handling the elements of the drill string on the way from their storage location to their place of use which is very close to the storage location, has to be considered.

According to the prior art some handling devices for elongated members consist essentially of articulated arms, comprising means for gripping the elements, for transporting the same from their horizontal storage position to their vertical position of use, i.e., of assembling. These devices suffer from the drawback of being bulky, particularly when used in the vicinity of the working area, and the movements of the handling articulated arms equipping a floating installation tends to change the equilibrium of said installation, this being detrimental to the assembling work, which is then difficult to perform.

Other handling devices consist of slope carriages, on each of which is loaded an elongated member, and which, by sliding on an inclined guiding rail, bring only one of the ends of said elements at the vertical of the position at which is performed the assembling of the various elements.

This end is then hooked to a lifting device which displaces the element from a substantially horizontal position to the desired vertical one.

These devices, when used on floating installations suffer from the serious inconvenience of being subjected to the waves' movements. In fact, during the lifting of the elongated member, the latter, which is held only at one end thereof, will oscillate thereby making practically impossible any assembling operation in normal conditions of safety.

It might be suggested, in order to solve the problem of handling an elongated member or element, particularly on board of a ship, to make use of a guiding path along which are displaceable two guiding members for the elongated element, such as rollers, spaced from each other and carried by transfer means which may consist of at least one carriage, receiving the elongated element.

Such a guiding path, comprising a first portion for placing the element in a fist position substantially parallel to its storage position and a second portion for placing the element in a second position substantially parallel to the position of use of said element, above the working platform, suffers from the drawback of encumbering the working platform since, if it is desired to hold the elongated element at least at two points thereof during the whole of its handling period, through guiding members, it is necessary that said first and second portions of the guiding path be extended up to the immediate vicinity of the working platform.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a device for handling elongated elements which avoids the above-mentioned drawbacks and particularly to provide a handling device whereby a cleared working area is obtained so as to make the work easier and to improve the safety conditions.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of small bulk for handling elements between their storage location and their place of use, which device is easily adaptable to a drilling ship.

These various objects are achieved according to the invention by means of a device simultaneously performing a translation of the elongated element in a substantially vertical plane oriented in the longitudinal direction of the element, and simultaneously a rotation or pivoting of said element obtained by imparting different displacement strokes to the ends of the elongated element, and different guidings to the respective ends of said element or movable carriers or transfer means therefor, during their displacement.

More particularly the invention provides a device for handling an elongated element, whereby it can be transferred from a storage position to a position of use forming with the storage position a substantial angle, said position of use being above a working area.

This device is characterized in that it includes in combination at least two guiding members, spaced from each other, such as rollers, carried on transfer means, which may consist of a slope carriage, guiding means formed of at least one guiding path adapted to receive said guiding members, said guiding means comprising a first guiding portion providing for the displacement of said transfer means in a plane substantially parallel to the storage position of the elongated element and a second guiding portion adapted to bring each element to a second position substantially parallel to its position of use, at least one intermediate portion, connected to at least one of said first and second portions, being provided for progressively guiding said transfer means from said first portion to said second portion of said guiding path, said intermediate portion of the guiding path being inclined with respect to the storage position and to the position of use of the elongated element, and being spaced from the working area so as to clear the same.

According to a specially preferred embodiment of the device of the invention, providing for the maximum clearance of the working area, with a guiding path of small bulk, without change in the safety conditions of the handling, said second portion of the guiding path comprises, above the working area, an inclined part amply clearing said working area, said first guiding portion terminates at one end in the vicinity of said working area and a third portion of the guiding path, comprising an inclined part, and placed above said second portion of the guiding path, at a height which is compatible with a sufficient clearing of the working area, this third portion of the guiding path being adapted to support a third guiding member for the elongated element, placed in an intermediate position with respect to said two above-mentioned guiding members, when, during its transportation, said element reaches the end of said first guiding portion, thereby providing for the continuous holding of the elongated element by the guiding path during the transfer of said element.

The invention will be described more in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings given by way of illustrative example only, and relating to the handling of elongated elements between a storage plane, substantially horizontal and a plane of use, substantially vertical.

In these drawings:

FIG. 1A diagrammatically illustrates one embodiment of the handling device according to the invention, equipping a drilling ship.

FIG. 1B is a diagrammatic cross-section along line I--I of the device shown in FIG. 1A.

FIG. 1C shows a variant of the embodiment of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 1D illustrates another embodiment of the device according to the invention.

FIG. 1E is a general perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, equipping a drilling ship.

FIG. 2 is a front view of an embodiment of the transfer means for the elongated elements, comprising a main carriage and a secondary carriage.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view along line A--A of the transfer means shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 illustrates one embodiment of means for gripping the elongated element, said means being rigidly locked to the main carriage.

FIG. 5 is a detailed view, in the direction of arrow B of FIG. 4, of the gripping means shown therein.

FIG. 6 illustrates one embodiment of the secondary carriage.

FIG. 7 is a view from below of part of the transfer means shown in FIG. 2.

FIGS. 8A to 8G diagrammatically illustrate the operation of the device of the invention.

In the non-limitative examples shown, the elongated elements to be handled are stored in horizontal position and have to be transferred to a vertical position at their place of use, although any change in the position of storage and/or use is fully intended to be within the scope of the invention.

FIG. 1A diagrammatically illustrates one embodiment of the handling device according to this invention equipping a drilling ship (not shown). Rigid elongated elements 3 which are in a horizontal position at a storage place 4 have to be transferred to a vertical position in line with the axis of orifice 57 of the working platform 2, where they are, for example, assembled to one another so as to form a drill string.

For the handling of elements 3, the ship is equipped with a transfer means 5, such as a carriage, adapted to grip the elongated element 3 at its storage position and comprising members 15, such as rollers, providing for the displacement of the transfer means 5 along a guiding path 7 solid with the drilling ship. A cable 11 having one end secured to the transfer means 5 and passing over a lazy pulley 12, is wound up on the winch 10 which thus controls the displacement of the transfer means 5 along the guiding path 6.

FIG. 1B is a diagrammatic cross-section along line I--I of FIG. 1. The guiding path 7 consists, in this embodiment, of two guiding rails 7a and 7b, with a U-shaped section and receiving the rolling members 15 such as rollers, mounted on the transfer means 5.

As shown in FIG. 1A, the guiding path 7 comprises three essential portions:

a. a first portion AB in a plane substantially parallel to that of the storage location 4 of the rigid elongated elements 3,

b. a second portion CD driving the transfer means to a position substantially parallel to the position of use of the elongated elements 3, i.e., a vertical position in the present case,

c. a third incurved portion BC for progressive displacement of the transfer means 5 from said first portion AB to said second portion CD of the guiding path.

The curvature and the shape of the portion BC may be different from those shown in the drawings as they depend essentially on the distance between the storage location 4 and the place of use 2 of the elongated element 3. In the example illustrated in FIG. 1A, it is clearly apparent that a substantial force F is required for displacing the transfer means 5 from its horizontal position. For this reason it is preferred, as shown in FIG. 1C, to have the portion BC of the guiding path 7 in the form of a straight inclined ramp substantially parallel to the driving cable 11. By this way, in the course of its displacement the device 5 will be properly maintained by its own weight, on the guiding path.

Another embodiment of the device of the invention is diagrammatically shown in FIG. 1D.

The transfer means 5 are provided with rolling members 15 and 17 placed in different planes and cooperating respectively with the two guiding paths 6 and 7. The first guiding path 7 then comprises two portions:

a. an inclined portion B'C for progressively driving the device 5 from the horizontal position to the substantially vertical position of use,

b. a rectilinear portion CD substantially vertical and of small length.

The second guiding path 6 comprises three portions:

a. a horizontal portion AB substantially parallel to the rigid elements at their storage position,

b. a portion BC' having, with respect to a horizontal line, an inclination lower than that of portion B'C of path 7, in order to accelerate the pivoting movement of the device 5 in the plane of the figure, to drive it quickly from the horizontal to the vertical position,

c. a substantially vertical portion C'D' of small length ensuring, in cooperation with portion CD of the guiding path 7, the maintenance of device 5 in its position of use, as shown in dotted line on FIG. 1D.

It is clear that during the displacement, along the guiding paths, of the device 5, the weight thereof will have the effect of maintaining it on the guiding path in spite of the ship movements and to prevent any oscillatory movement of this device with respect to the ship.

FIG. 1E is a perspective view of the assembly, according to a preferred embodiment, of the device of the invention equipping a drilling ship 1 wherein is provided a well, not shown in the figure, surmounted by a working platform 2, provided with an orifice 57 for the passage of the drill string. This preferred embodiment has the advantage of clearing the space above the working plane while keeping for the guiding path an acceptable height h. The ship is equipped with a structure or derrick 9 and a traction winch which may be of any known types.

Rigid elongated elements 3, which are placed in a horizontal position at the storage location 4 must be driven to a vertical position coaxially with orifice 57 of the working platform 2 where they are, for example, assembled so as to constitute a drill string. For the handling of the elements 3, the ship 1 is equipped with a transfer means 5. This means, which will be described later more in detail, may be displaced along guiding paths 6,7 and 8, solid with the drilling ship 1. A cable 11 having one end fastened to the transfer means 5 and passing over a lazy pulley 12, mounted at the top of the structure 9, is wound on a winch 10 which thus controls the displacement of the transfer means 5 along the guiding paths.

As it can be seen on the figure there is no moveable device of heavy mass which might unbalance the ship during the handling of the elongated elements 3. Otherwise the device of the invention provides for a quite free working space on platform 2, which makes easier the manipulations and thereby is a factor of increased safety.

One embodiment of the transfer means 5 for the elongated elements is shown in FIG. 2. It comprises a main carriage 13 and a secondary carriage 14 adapted to roll along the main carriage.

The main carriage 13 is assembled by welding of streamlined elements, which provides for a good rigidity of the assembly with a minimum weight. It comprises a gripping device 18 for seizing an elongated element 3. Three guiding members 15, 16 and 17 consisting of rollers placed in three different horizontal planes, are fastened laterally to the main carriage 13.

The secondary carriage 14 carries a second gripping device 19 (FIG. 2) for the elongated element and guiding members 20 (FIG. 3) consisting of rollers ensuring the displacement of the carriage 14 along the guiding paths 21 (FIG. 3) solid with the main carriage 13. An operating pulley 22 is secured at the end of the secondary carriage 14. A stop member, solid with the main carriage, limits the displacement of the secondary carriage 14 towards the left of FIG. 2, in the shown position.

One embodiment of the gripping device 18 is illustrated in FIG. 4. It comprises two jaws 23 and 24, articulated on axes 27 and 28, solid with the main carriage 13. The jaws are maintained in open position by spring 25 and 26 respectively. One end of each spring is secured to the main carriage 13, whereas the other end is fastened to the corresponding jaw. In open position the spacing of jaws 23 and 24 is such as to permit a free passage of the secondary carriage between the jaws 23, 24, for reasons explained hereinafter. The chops 44, 45 of the jaws 23 and 24 have a circular shape so that, in closed position, they can surround the elongated element, while having their internal diameter greater than the diameter of the elongated element so that the latter can slide therethrough.

Two locking hooks 29 and 30, respectively articulated on axes 31 and 32, solid with the main carriage 13, are provided for maintaining the jaws 23 and 24 in closed position. Two locking rods 33 and 34, solid with the jaws 23 and 24 respectively, cooperate with the hooks 29 and 30 to ensure the locking.

FIG. 5 is a partial view along arrow B of FIG. 4, illustrating one embodiment of the locking device of jaws 23 and 24. As shown in the figure, the hook 30, articulated on axis 32, solid with the main carriage 13, is held in locking position against a stop member 35 by spring 36. The hook is provided with a slot 37 wherein the locking rod 34 of jaw 24 can penetrate. During the closing operation, the rod 34 moves in the direction of arrow A from the position indicated in dashed line and, cooperating with the edge 38 of hook 30, causes the latter to rotate. When the rod 34 reaches the level of the slot 37, the spring 36 drives the hook in rotation to its locking position. The jaws are then maintained in closed position, shown in dashed line on FIG. 4.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show respectively a front view and a view from below of the secondary carriage 14 with pulley 22 mounted thereon, in the position of said carriage illustrated in FIG. 2. The carriage 14 comprises at both ends thereof rollers 20 for its displacement along the guiding rails 21, solid with the main carriage 13 (FIG. 3).

The working pulley 22 is mounted on bearings 39, solid with the carriage 14 and to which are secured hooks 40 (FIG. 7), located in a plane parallel to the carriage 14. The device 19 for gripping the elongated element is formed of two parts which can be joined by hand or by any known device and is provided, in a plane parallel to the carriage 14, with two hooks 41. Arms 42 interconnecting hooks 40 and 41 make possible a relative movement of the gripping device 19 with respect to carriage 14.

In this position the hooks 41 are held in position by means of a guiding device 43 (FIGS. 3 and 7), solid with the main carriage.

These devices 43 have a slot 60 (FIG. 7) wherein can slide hooks 40 and 41 during working operations (FIG. 3).

FIGS. 8A to 8F diagrammatically illustrate the different phases of the operation with the use of the handling device.

The rigid elements 3 are laid horizontally on a storage device, which may be of any known type, placed below the guiding path 6 (FIG. 1). It may comprise an apparatus 46 displaceable by translation for presenting successively each of the elements 3 along the axis of the transfer means 5 when the latter is in horizontal position.

In FIG. 8A the carriage is in a horizontal position, the gripping means 18 and 19 are in open position and one element 3 is placed along the axis and below the transfer means, by apparatus 46.

Two jacks 47 and 48, hydraulically actuated, lift the rigid element 3 and place it in the axis of the gripping devices 18 and 19. In this position, the jack 47 closes a switch, not shown and of any known type, which then actuates two jacks 49 and 50 (FIG. 4) which causes the closure of jaws 23 and 24 of the gripping device 18, said jaws being locked in closed position as above indicated. The gripping device 19 is closed by hand and forms a stop for the shoulder 51 of element 3, preventing any relative downward displacement of said element 3, when the transfer means 5 are lifted to a vertical position (FIG. 8E). The jacks 47 to 50 are then restored to their initial position. The working cable 11 having one end fastened to the main carriage 13, passes over the operating pulley 22 and the lazy pulley 12 and is wound on the control winch 10. By actuating the winch 10, the carriage 13 is displaced exclusively along the guiding paths 6 and 7 by means of the rollers 15 and 17 respectively.

An intermediate position of the carriage 5 is shown in FIG. 8B.

When carriage 5 reaches the position shown in FIG. 8C, the roller means 16 come into contact with the guiding path 8 while the roller means 15 are no longer on the guiding path 6. As shown in FIG. 8D, representing a position of the carriage 5 an instant after that corresponding to the position shown in FIG. 8C, the carriage 5 is than only guided by the rollers 16 and 17. The guiding path 8 has such an inclination as to favour a more rapid rotation of transfer means 5, in the plane of the figure, whereby the same can be transferred more quickly to its position of use and the required height of the guiding path reduced. When the carriage 13 reaches its vertical position shown in FIG. 8E, a mechanism 52 of any known type, rigidly locks the main carriage 13 to the drilling structure 9. This mechanism consists, for example, of jacks 58, solid with the structure 9 and whose pistons are housed in recesses 59 provided therefor in the main carriage 13.

By unwinding cable 11, as shown in FIG. 8F, the secondary carriage 14 is lowered and the elongated element 3 therewith. When the secondary carriage 14 comes close to the gripping device 18, a rectilinear cam 53 (FIG. 6) carried on the secondary carriage 14, rotates the locking hook 30 (FIG. 5), thereby resulting in the automatic opening of the gripping member 18 by rotation of the locking hooks 29, 30 about their respective axes 31 and 32. At this time, since the hooks 41 (FIG. 7) had been previously disengaged during the lowering of the secondary carriage 14, the gripping device 19 is maintained on the secondary carriage 14 only by means of arms 42, whereby the axis of the elongated element 3 (FIG. 8F) is brought in coincidence with the axis of element 3a, already solid with the drill string, and the assembling of elements 3 and 3a by any suitable process, e.g., by screwing is facilitated. After assembling the element 3 with rigid element 3a, the gripping device 19 is manually opened and the secondary carriage lifted again to its upper position. The main carriage 13 is then disassembled from structure 9 and the whole is lowered down to a horizontal position above the storage location by an operation in the reverse order to that already mentioned.

When it is desired to bring some rigid elements 3a (FIG. 8G) back to their storage location, the operations must be effected in the following order. The carriage 13 is placed in vertical position rigidly locked to structure 9 as shown in FIG. 8E. There is placed in the extension of the guiding paths 21, guiding rails 54 (FIG. 8G), rigidly locked to the working platform 2. The secondary carriage 14 is lowered along the main carriage 13, whereby the gripping member 18 is opened. As indicated in FIG. 4, the secondary carriage 14 may pass between the jaws 23 and 24 of the gripping member 18 and slide on the guiding rails 54 so that the gripping device 19 may reach the level of the upper end of element 3a as shown in FIG. 8G.

After having closed the device 19 and disassembled the element 3a from the lower part of the drill string, the carriage 14 is lifted up again to its initial position. Two jacks 55 and 56, diagrammatically shown in FIG. 8G and rigidly locked to the guiding paths 8, close up jaws 23 and 24.

The above-described operations are thus performed to bring the assembly 5 again to a horizontal position above the storage location. In this position, the jacks 47 and 48 (FIG. 8A) actuated for taking again element 3a, whereas other jacks, not shown in the figure rotate the locking hooks 29 and 30 of jaws 23 and 24 so as to obtain the opening thereof. The gripping member 19 is opened by hand and the jacks 47 and 48 lay down the rigid element 3a onto the apparatus 46.

As it might be observed from the foregoing description, the handling device according to this invention can be used, for example, on a drilling ship, without requiring substantial modifications thereof.

Besides, the displaced elements are always held by at least two points during their displacement and the transfer means 5 are maintained by their own weight on the guiding paths so that the assembly is not subjected to oscillatory movements with respect to the floating installation, which results in an increased safety of the working.

Various changes and modifications of the invention can be made to adapt it to various usages and conditions, without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

For example the gripping members 18 and 19 for the elongated elements may be both carried by the secondary carriage, slidably mounted in the main carriage 13. Said main carriage may be designed as a telescopic carriage which will assume the same functions as the guiding rails 54. It could also be possible to withdraw the working platform 2 and take up or lay down the rigid elements on a lower floor. The shape of the gripping members may be adapted to seize any other rigid element such as an apparatus for driving, by vibrations, elongated members into the seabed. The gripping members may be all of the type of member 18, so as to obtain a wholly automatic control of the handling device, etc.

Consequently such changes and modifications are properly, equitably and intended to be within the full range of equivalence of the following claims.

Claims

We claim:

1. A device for handling an elongated element, whereby the same can be transferred between a first plane parallel to a storage position and a second plane parallel to a position of use, said two planes forming therebetween a substantial angle, said device comprising in combination at least two guiding members spaced from one another and carried by transfer means, at least two separate guiding paths for said transfer means, a first of said paths having a substantially rectilinear inclined portion progressively guiding a first of said members substantially from the level of said first plane up to a first level in said second plane, a second of said paths having a portion adjacent to said first plane and a substantially rectilinear inclined portion guiding the second of said members substantially between the level of said first and a second level in said second plane different from said first level, and means for driving said transfer means along said guiding paths.

2. A device for handling an elongated element, whereby the same can be transferred between a first plane parallel to a storage position and a position of use contained in a second plane forming with the first one a substantial angle, said position of use being above a working plane, said device comprising in combination at least three guiding members laterally fastened to transfer means, at least three separate guiding paths, a first of said paths having vertical portion in said second plane in the extension of a substantially rectilinear inclined portion guiding a first of said members substantially from the level of said first plane up to a first level in said second plane, a second of said paths, placed substantially in a plane parallel to said first plane guiding said transfer means from said first plane up to a plane having an inclination intermediate between those of said first and second planes, by means of a second of said guiding members, and a third of said guiding paths, the lower end of which is at such a height as to clear the working plane, guiding said transfer means from said plane of intermediate inclination up to a second level in said second plane by means of a third of said members, and means for driving said transfer means along said guiding paths.

3. A device according to claim 2 wherein said first guiding path has a direction substantially parallel to that taken by the driving side of said cable fastened to said main carriage, when said main carriage is located above said storage location.

4. A device according to claim 2, wherein said transfer means consist of a moveable carriage means provided with means for gripping said rigid element and at least three roller means, each of said roller means cooperating with only one of said guiding paths during the displacement of said moveable carriage.

5. A device according to claim 4 and wherein the means for driving the moveable carriage means consist of an operating cable fastened by one end thereof to said carriage and wound by its other end on an operating winch, said carriage means comprising a main carriage to which are fastened rolling means and a secondary carriage provided with an operating pulley and adapted to be displaced along said main carriage, said main carriage being provided with stop means adapted to limit, at least in one direction, the displacement of the secondary carriage and said operating cable, fastened to the main carriage, passing over said operating pulley, solid with said secondary carriage.

6. A device according to claim 4 wherein at least one of said gripping means is solid with the main carriage and at least another one of said gripping means is solid with said secondary carriage.

7. Device according to claim 6, wherein said gripping means solid with said secondary carriage is connected to said carriage through arms which provide for a relative displacement of said gripping means with respect to said carriage.

8. A device according to claim 6, wherein a cam integral with the secondary carriage controls the opening of said gripping member solid with the main carriage.

9. A device according to claim 4 comprising means for rigidly locking said main carriage to said first guiding path at said place of use.

10. A device for handling rigid elongated members by transferring the same from storage location to a non-horizontal position of use comprising a carriage with gripping means for taking said elements from their storage position and holding them, rollers fastened to said carriage and cooperating with guiding paths, comprising upper rollers for driving the nearest end of said carriage with respect to said position of use along a first inclined path terminating with portion in line with said position of use, lower rollers for driving the farthest end of said carriage with respect to said position of use along a path above the storage location and rollers at an intermediate level taking their bearing on a second inclined path less inclined than the first one, for driving an intermediate point of said carriage between said nearest end and said farthest end, substantially to said position of use when the upper roller reaches said position.

11. A device for handling an elongated element, whereby the same can be transferred between a storage position and a position of use forming therebetween a substantial angle, said position of use being above a working plane, and comprising in combination at least three guiding members spaced from one another and carried by transfer means, guiding means consisting of at least one guiding path adapted to receive said guiding members, said guiding means comprising a first guiding portion, having one end in the vicinity of the working plane, ensuring the displacement of said transfer means in a plane substantially parallel to said storage position, a second guiding portion including an inclined portion above and amply clearing the working plane adapted to place said transfer means in a position parallel to said position of use, and at least one intermediate portion connected to at least one of said first and second portions, for progressively guiding said transfer means from said first portion to said second portion of said guiding means, said intermediate portion of the guiding means including a part inclined with respect to both the storage position and the position of use of the elongated member and placed above said second portion of the guiding means at a height compatible with a sufficient clearing of the working plane, and means for driving said transfer means along said guide means, said intermediate portion of said guiding means being adapted to carry at least a third guiding member placed in a position intermediate between at least two other guide members so that during the driving thereof, the elongated element reaches the end of the guiding portion in the vicinity of the working plane, whereby the elongated element takes continuously its bearing on the guiding path during the transfer thereof.