Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
I
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
During borehole forming operations, it is necessary
to make up and break down long strings of tubular goods such as
drill pipe. The string of pipe may be thousands of feet long,
and it is therefore necessary to transport pipe joints (approxi-
mately 33 feet in length) from a pipe rack located away from the
rig up to the rig floor. The pipe is vertically supported with-
in the derrick so that it can be connected to the pipe string
located in the borehole. In coming out of the hole, the opposite
sequence of events must take place.
The handling of oilwell pipe is one of the most dan-
gerous jobs on a drilling rig. Some of the pipe weighs thousands
of pounds, and it is difficult to move the pipe from a horizontal
position below and away from the rig into a vertical position
overlying the turntable within the rig.
Others skilled in the art have proposed various dif-
ferent apparatus by which pipe can be transported between a pipe
rack and a rig floor, as for example, Don Beck, U.S. Patent No.
3,713,547 issued January 30, 1973, and James E. Smart, U.S. Pat-
ent No. 3,4947483 issued February 10, 1970,
It would be desirable to have made available a pipe
racking apparatus which is predominantly ground supported, and
which additionally is supported at the rig floor so that as the
heavy pipe is transported to and from the pipe rack, there is no
danger of the pipe or the pipe racking apparatus falling and in-
juring property and personnel. It would furthermore be desirable
if the apparatus could position the pipe at an inclined location
with the box end of the pipe overhanging the rig floor in ready
access to the elevators. Such an apparatus is the subject of the
3Q present in~ention.
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SU~ARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a pipe racking apparatus in
combination with a drilling rig and a pipe rack. The pipe rack-
ing apparatus has a main, ground-supported frame member from
which there upwardly extends an inclined ramp. The upper end of
the ramp is attached to the rig floor and includes a track means
thereon.
A boom is attached to the ramp and to the main frame
in such a manner that the boom can be retracted into the main
frame member, and is extensible into an elevated, inclined posi-
tion.
A pipe containing stinger is telescopingly received
within the boom and is extensible therefrom in a manner whereby
, a pipe can be placed within the stinger and elevated by the boom
into an inclined position, the stinger is then telescopingly ex-
tended from the boom, thereby positioning the box end of the pipe
in overlying relationship to the rig floor and in close proximity
to the rotating center of the drilling rig,
The remote end of the boom is journaled to a marginal,
remote end of the main structure by a swing arm assembly. The
swing arm assembly has a journaled end about which the arm can
swing. The near end of the boom includes a boom guide which
travels within the aforementioned track. When the boom guide
is lifted such that it travels upwardly along the inclined track,
the swing arms pivotally extend from the main structure, thereby
elevating the boom, while at the same time, the boom moves toward
the rig floor such that the boom and stinger are positioned at an
inclined angle towards the rig floor, with the upper end of the
boom being in proximity and slightly above the rig floor. When
3Q the stinger is telescoped out of the boom, a marginal end of t-he
1 ~ 3~
pipe is presented to the workmen.
Pipe can be mo~ed from the rig floor, back down ~o the
pipe rack b~ re~ersing the above procedure.
Accordingly, the primary object of the present inven-
tion is the provision of impro~ed method and apparatus by which
joints of pipe can be transported between a pipe racX and a rig
floor, and vice versa.
Another object of the invention is to provide a pipe
racking machine in combination with a drilling rig which is
ground supported and, at the same time, stabilized by rig struc-
ture.
~ further object of this invention is tv disclose and
provide apparatus for transporting pipe between a rig f1OOT and
a pipe rack by lifting the pipe vertically upwards and towards
the rig floor until the pipe has a marginal end extended in
overlying relationship to the rig floor so that the plpe can be
safely manipulated as a pipe string is made up or broke out.
A still further object of ~his inVention is to provxde
apparatus having a ground-supported main structure, a ramp, a
2Q swing arm, and a boom which for~ the sides of a polygon, wherein
the boom is rctractible int~ the main structure, and is exten
sible such that it is inclined at an elevated position so that a
pipe can be extended into o~erl~ing relationship respective to
the rig floor.
Another and still further object o the present inven-
tion is the provisi~on of pipe~handling apparatus in combination
with a drilling rig which includes a ground~supported main
structure and a ramp attached to the drilling rig so that a boom
having one end guidably~ received by~the ramp and the other end
3~ attached to a sw~ng arm assembly can be manipulated from a
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retracted into an extended position, whereupon the pipe is ex-
tended from the boom and into proximity of the rig floor.
These and various other objects and ad~antages of the
invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the
art upon reading the following detailed description and claiJns
and by referring to the accompanying drawings.
The above objects are attained in accordance with the
present invention by the provision of transporting pipe when
using the apparatus fabrlcated in a manneT substantially as de-
lQ scribed in the above abstract and summary.
BRIEF D~$C~IPTION ~ THE DRAWI~GS
Figure 1 is a perspecti~e view of a pipe handling
apparatus made in accordance with the present in~ention, illustra-
ted in co~bination with ~ rig floGr and a pipe rack;
Figure 2 is an enlarged, perspective view of the
apparatus disclosed in Figure 1, with the apparatus being illus-
trated in the extended configuration, with some parts being
broken away therefrom so as to illustrate additional details
thereof,
Figure 3 is a fragmented, top, detailed ~iew of part
of the apparatus disclosed in the foregoing figures;
Figure 4 is a ragmented, top, plan view of part of the
apparatus disclosed in Figures 1 and 2;
Figure 5 is a broken, side elevational view of part of
the apparatus disclosed in the foregoing figures;
Figure 6 is a broken, side elevational,part cross-
sec~ional, detailed view of part of the apparatus disclosed in
the foregoing figures; and,
, 30 Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view ta~en along line
; 7-7 of FiguTe 4.
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113~299
DBT~LED ~BSC~TPTION OF THE ~RB~RRED E~BQDI~ENT
rn Figure 1, there is disclosed a pipe~conveying
apparatus 10 for conveying pipe from a ground-supported pipe
rack 11 onto the floor 12 of a drilling rlg 14.
A ramp 15 interconnects a main structure 16 of the
apparatus with the floor of the drilling rig. The ramp includes
an inclined surface 18~ A plurality of pipe joints 20 are sup-
ported by the pipe rack, while one joint of pipe 120 is cradled
within a boom 22, the details of which will be more fully dis-
closed later on herein,
Spaced-apart cables 24 are roved about upper pulleys
25, and, as seen in Figure 2, the cables downwardly extend, as
indicated by numeral 26, and are roved about a pair of lower
pulleys 27, whereupon the cable continues longitudinally of the
main structure at 28, where a ~arginal end of the cable is wound
about a cable drum 29~ The opposed ends of cables 24 are
attached t~ the near end of boom 22. The ter~ ~near end~' ~s the
end of the boom attached to the ramp, while the "far end" of the
boom is the end opposite to the near end.
A swing arm assembly comprised of spaced hydraulically
extendable arms 30 are journaled at 31 to the far end of the
boom. The other end of the swing arm is journaled at 32 to the
main structure so that journal 31 pivotally swings about journal
32 such that the boom can be retracted into the main structure,
as illustrated in Figure 1, or extended in an arc Yert~cally up-
ward and horizontally toward the rig structure, as illustrated
in F~gure 2. The swing arms include piston 33 and cylinder 34.
Numeral 35 indicates a longitudinally extending upwardly opening
recess formed into the main structure for receiving the boom 22
in retracted con~iguration therew~.th.in, Hyd~aulic cylinder 36
i
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causes the piston 37 thereof to engage the ar end of the boom
to thereby initially assist the extension of the boom from the
retracted confi~uration.
The main structure includes opposed, parallel catwalks
38 and 39, along which workmen may walk and which serve to im-
pa~t the required structural rigidity into the main structure
for adequately supporting the elevated boom therefrom.
As seen in both Figures 1 and 2, together with other
figures of the drawings, the ramp includes parallel, spaced-
apart track members 40 and 41, which are hinged at 42 to the
main structure, while hinge pin 44 anchors the ramp to the rig
floor. Curved hinge member 45 elevates the axial centerline of
the spaced-apart hinge pins, one of which is seen at 42, an
amount to enable the ramp to be folded back onto catwalks 39
and 38 when links 43 and pins 44 are removed, thereby enabling
th.e ent~re pipe~conVey~ng apparatus to be folded into a com-
pact, skid-mounted package for transporting to the next drilling
site.
A boom guide 46 is rigidly affixed to the lower near
2Q end o the boom and includes opposed ends which are provi.ded
with rollers 48. The rollers are received in low-friction
captured relationship withIn the opposed track members 40 and
41, Wings 5Q are recei~ed within the complementary cutout 51
ormed in the near side of the main support structure ~hen the
boom is retracted therewithin.
A stinger 52 IS telesc~p~ngly received within the
boom and includes an upper surface area thereof formed into the
: configuration of the be~ore mentioned cradle so that a pipe 120
receiyed therein graVitates ~o a lowermo$t, centrally located
3a posit~on, as illustrated by the various figures of the drawings.
~3'~
The near end of the boom terminates at 54, while ~he near end
of the stinger terminates at 56. The stinger can be telescoped
so that one-half of its length is extended from the boom and
can be completely telescoped into the boom.
A pipe stop member 57 forrns the far marginal end of
the stinger and is provided with adjustable plate member 58.
The plate member has downwardly depending lugs which can be
received within any opposed pair of apertures 59 to compensate
for variation in pipe length~ Opposed longitudinal upper and
lower sides of the stinger are made into a configuration of out-
wardly directed guide me~bers 60, which guidably recei~e a
plurality of rollers 61 in l~w-friction relationship. The
rollers are spaced longitudinally along the interior sidewall
of the boom with the rcllers being captured wit~in the V-shaped
, grooves formed longitudinally along each opposed sidewall of
- ~ the stinger,
~ ydraulically-actuated stinger winch drum 62 IS pro-
vided with appropriate hydraulic flow condults (not shown).
Cables 63 and 65 are posItloned in underlying relatI,~nship re~
2Q spect~ve to the sti,nger and above the lowermost lateral me~bers
which tie the longitudinal sides of the boom together. The
cable 63 extends in a forward direction and is roved about
horizontally disposed pulley 64 and back at 65, where the end
of the cable is affixed by conventional means to the rnargina
far end of the stinger. Pulley 64, winch druln 6Z~ and cable end
66 are arranged respecti~e to one another whereby the length of
telescoplng`travel of the stinger ls equal to approximately one
half the length of the boom, while the boom is almost as long
as the entire main structure~
3Q
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~igure 3 discloses the near end of the main support
structure, and the pair of pulleys 27 which guidably receive
the pair of cables 26 for lifting the boo~ guide within the
spaced-apart tracks.
Pigure 4 shows the spaced-apart tracks 40 and 41
which recei~e the spaced-apart rollers 48 of the boom guide 46.
The boom 22 includes a plurality of opposed, spaced-apart pairs
of the befDre mentioned rollers 61 which telescopingly capture
the stinger in a slidable manner therewithin. The stinger in-
cludes the before mentioned V-shaped trough 53 which upwardly
opens so that a pipe gravitates into a centrally located posi-
tion therewithin.
Looking to the details of Figures 4, 6, and 7, there
is disclosed a pipe-dumping apparatus 68 and 68'. The pipe-
dumping apparatus is located at spaced-apart locations, as in-
dicated by n~merals 68, 168 in Figure 1, Only one pipe-dumping
appaTat~s 68 has been illustrated ~n Figures 4, 6, and 7. Dump~
ing arm 69 has an upper V-shaped surface 70 of limited width
wh.ich be~rs against the p~pe and coincldes with. the Vashaped,
2Q upper surface of the cradle, The dumping arm IS p~voted at 71
so that actuator 72 can move off~center pivot pin 73 to du~p the
pipe from the trough so that the pipe rolls toward the right as
viewed in Figure 7. Accordingly, as the boom is retracted into
the main structure, stationary lifter member 74 reciprocates
member 72, which in turn raises member 69 and dumps the pipe.
~ember 74 is hinged at its bas.e 75 so that one of the devices 68
or 68' can be rendered inoperati~e by folding down the appro-
priate member 74~ .
Each location 68 and 168 includes two dumping apparatus
30. 68 and 68 ~! ~ as ~es~ seèn illustrated ~n ~igures 6 and 7~ rt
~ q ~
will be noted that stationary lifter 74 has been positioned in
underlying relationship to actuator 72 of dumping member 69 and
there is no stationary lifter under member 72' of dumping
apparatus 69'. When it is desired to dump pipe to the left
(Figure 7) rather than to the right, member 74 is positioned
under dumping arm 72'.
As best seen in Figure 7, the stin~er 52 is seen to be
telescoped into the retracted configuration respective to the
boom 22, while the boom 22 is seen to be retracted into the main
support member ].6. The boom includes opposed paralle~ cantile-
~er arms 76 which are t~ed together by spaced apart lateral web
members 78, Attachment 80 secures the sp~ced pai.rs of rollers:
61 to the spaced apart, parallel, coextensi~e, cantile~er arms,
The stinger includes upper and lower rail members 82 and 84
which form opposite openlng longitudinal slots which capture
the rollers 61 therewithin so that the stinger is telescopingly
capt~red in a reciprocatIng manner withIn the boom~
In operation, the apparatus is delivered to the new
drillIng site along ~Yith the drilling rig, After the derrick
20. has been erected, the ramp 15 is unfolded into the operative
I position of Figure 1, with the pins 42, 43, and 44 holding the
! main structure in attached relationship respective to the floor
of the derrick. The pipe racks are assembled and positioned on
either side of the main structure 16 so that new pipe to be used
can be placed on one side of the apparatus while pipe ~hich
comes out of the hole can be placed on the opposed side of the
structure~ l~en the drilling operation commences, drill pipe,
or other tubular goods, are rolled from the pipe rack and into
the trough, The motor 85 energizes winch 29 which pulls the
3Q cables 24 at 28, thereby elevating the boom guide from the posi-
tion of Figure l into the position of Figure 2.
~ r
The assist cylinder 36 is actuated simultaneousl~ with
the motor 85 to reduce the ~nitial power requirement of the
motor 85 and winch 29.
When the boom gui`de has assumed the inclined configu-
ration of Figure 2, hydraulic winch 6Z is energized to pull
cable 63 which telescopes the stinger towards the rotating
center of the rig. The pistons 33 are extended from the cylin-
ders 34 as the boom guide approaches the end of upward travel
in order to reduce the elevation of the box end of the pipe re-
lQ spective to the floor 12, This action positions the marginal
box end of the drill pipe in close proximity to the elevators
which are latched onto the box end of the tubing~ The tubing
picked up towards the top of the derrick until it is vertically
disposed in axiall~ aligned relationship respective to the bore-
hole. The tubing is lowered into the rotating center so that
the pin end engages the ~ox end of the drill string, the power
tongs ~ake up the tubing, t~e kell~ is ~ated to the box end o~
the string. The drilling operation is resurned until ano~her
thi~t~.three feet of hole has been m~de, ~hereupon the operator
2a of the pipe ConveyIng apparatus will have alread~ transported
another joint of drill plpe from the pipe rack up onto the drIll
floor in the manner of Figure 2, The operation continues in this
i ~nanner with h.~le being ~ade at a rate which will dellght the most
demanding tool pusher,
l~hen time comes to make a trip into the hole with a new
or different drill string, the string is broke out in the usual
manner, As the elevator l~fts the Individual joints, the lower
end thereof is moved towards the boom until the pin end engages
the extended margInal end 56 of the stingerS ~he traveling block
3Q is lo~ered as the pipe slides down the trough and is received
~ 11 .~
113~
against stop 58 in the manner of ~igure 2, The stinger is
telescoped into the boom by actuating hydraulic winch 62. The
boom is next retracted into the main structure whereupon the
automatic pipe dumping apparatus 68 and 168 causes the joint of
pipe to move onto either of the before described pipe racks.
Selection of ~he direction of travel of the pipe is achieved
by placing stationary member 74 under either of the actuators
72 or 72', as in the before descrlbed manner,
When it is time to relocate the drilling rig, the pins
at link 43 and the pin 44 at the floor are removed, the ramp is
carefully folder about hinge pin 42, whereupon the entire
apparatus is winched up onto the tallgate of an oil1eld truck
and transported to the next drill site where it is again erected
in the before described manner~
The apparatus of the present in~ention preferably is a
per~anent pa~t of a drilling rig~ By grQund suppo~t~ng the main
structure and tyIn-g the upper free end of the ramp to the rig
; floor, there is virtually no manner in which the apparatus can
inadvertently assume any dangerous movement during the trans-
location of pipe between a pipe rack and the derrick floor,
. 30
12
