Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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BACKGROUND OF T~IE INVENI'ION
When pipe i5 transferred from one geographical
location to another, the threads thereof must be protected
against damage which might result from handling and from the
deleterious effects of the ambient. Oilfield pipe, especially
drill pipe and production tubing, may be handled many times
during its life, and the removal and replacement of the thread
protectors at each end of the pipe joints requires a substan-
tial amount of labor.
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,
When the joints of pipe are transferred longitudinally
along the axial centerline thereoE; for example, as the pipe is
being manufactured, or as the pipe is being electronically in-
spected; the e~ds of the pipe are disposecl such that ready access
may be had to the protector device locatecl on either end thereof.
It would therefore be desirable to be able to economically and
eE:Eiciently remove or attach the protectors from either end of
the pipe~ as the pipe is being conveyed during either o-f these
processes.
It would also be desirable to clean the threaded box
and pin ends of the pipe during the above process, and there-
after measure the uniformity of the interior of the pipe to
assure that the inside diameter is of a minimum value.
Such a desirable expedient is the subject o-f this in-
vention.
SUMMARY OF THE IN~ENTION
A tool for rotating co-acting threaded members to en-
able the mcmbers to be made up and broken out respective to one
another. The tool comprises a plurality of circumferentially
; 20 spaced-apart jaw means for releasably engaging and rotating one
of the co-acting threaded members.
A first and a second plurality of arm members are
arranged for moving the ja~ means radially towards one another
and into gripping contact ~ith the threaded member. The arm
members are attached to first and second rotatable mount members
which impart rotational motion into the jaw members. The -~irst
and second rotatable mount members are movable tow~rds and away
from one another.
One end of each arm member is journaled to one o$ the
jaw means. The other end of the first plurality of arm me~bers
A ~
is journaled to the first rotatable mount member, while the
other end of the second plurality of jaw members is journaled to
the seconcl rotatable mount member. The first and second rota-
table members are mounted to the marginal end o-f a motor-driven
rotatable shaft~ with the first mount member being arranged to
be reciprocated along a marginal, medial portion o-f the shaft.
Means attached to structure associated with the motor moves the
first rotatable member towarcls and away from the second rotatable
member, thereby causing the arms to move the jaws toward and
a~ay from one another.
In a more specific form, the first plurality of arms
are arranged such that parallel pairs of arms have the ends
thereof connected between the second mount member and the jaws~
thereby causing the jaws to remain orientated in the same direc-
tion as the jaws move toward and away from one another. An-
other arm interconnects the jaws to the first rotatable member
so that movement between the -first and second rotatable members
imparts pivotal motion into the parallel arms.
In another embodiment of the invention, the main frame
is connected to be moved laterally a~ay from the longitudinally
traveling pipe and then the tool is rotated 180 in a vertical
plane which lies along the longitudinal axial centerllne of the
pipe. The tool is thereby repositioned to engage and remove
the remaining protector from the pin end of the pipe.
In still another embodiment of the invention, a clean-
ing head is mounted in cooperative relationship respective to
the main frame with the cleaning head being axially aligned
with the end of one pipe while the jaws of the tool are aligned
with the end of an adjacent pipe. The cleaning head engages
and cleans the threads of one pipe end simultaneously with the
removal of a protector device from the end of an adjacent pipe.
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~ ~ ~ s ~
In still a further embodiment of the invention, a
gauging tool is positioned to be telescopingly received within
a pipe as the pipe travels away from the tool, thereby assuring
that the pipe interior is of a predetermined minimum value.
AccoTdingly, a primary object of the prevention inven-
tion is the provision of apparatus for rotating co-acting
threaded members to enable the members to be made up and broken
out respective to one another.
A ~urther object of the present invention is the provi-
sion of method and apparatus by which couplings and pipe protec-
tors and the like may be removed from or threadedly made up to
the end o:E a joint o-f pipe while simultaneously cleaning the
threaded pipe ends.
A still further object of this invention is the provi-
sion of a machine for releasably engaging and turning a threaded
member.
Another and still further object of the present inven-
tion is the provision of method and apparatus by which a thread-
ed member can be removed from either end of a joint of pipe,
while another threaded end of a pipe is being cleaned.
An additional object of this invention is the provi-
sion of an apparatus for removing pipe protectors from the
threaded ends of a joint of pipe,
A further object of this invention is the provision
of a machîne having a shaft-mounted, rotating head assembly
with radially-spaced jaws being moved towards and away from one
another by manipulation of the head assembly so that the jaws
can releasably engage and rotate a rotatable member.
These and various other oBjects and advan~ages of the
invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the
~ 5~
art upon reading the following detailed description and claims
and by referring to the accompanying drawings.
The above objects are attained in accordance with the
present invention by the provision of a combination of elements
which are fabricated in a manner substantially as described in
the above abstract and summary.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWII~GS
Figure 1 diagrammatically sets forth a flow sheet
which illustrates one -form o-f the utility of the present inven-
tion;
Figure 2 is a part diagrammatical, part schematical,
side view of apparatus made in accordance with the present in-
vention, with some parts being broken away therefrom in order to
better disclose the details thereof;
Figure 3 is a top perspective view which further il-
lustrates the details of the apparatus disclosed in Figure 2;
Figure ~ is a perspective, exploded detail of part of
the machine illustrated in the foregoing figures;
Figure 5 shows the apparatus of Figure ~ in assembled
configuration;
Figures 6 and 7 are partially disassembled, perspec-
~; tive views of part of the apparatus located on the opposite side
of the apparatus disclosed in Figure 5;
Figure 8 is a front perspective view of part of the
apparatus disclosed in Figures 2 and 3;
Figure 9 is a rear perspective vie~ of part of the
apparatus disclosed in Figure 3;
Figures 10 and 11 are enlarged~ frag~ented 7 perspec~
tive views illLIstrating the operation o part of the apparatus
disclosed in some of the foregoing figures;
;
,.
Figure 12 is a front plan view which is simil~er to the
illustratlon o-f Figure 8;
Figure 13 is a diagrammatical illustration of another
form of the present invention;
Figure 1~ is a detailed, side elevational view of
part of the apparatus seen in Figure 13;
Figure 15 is a cross sectional view taken alon~ line
15~15 of Figure 14; and,
Figure 16 is a cross~sectional view taken along line
16-16 o-f Figure 1~.
DE!TAILED D~SCRIPTIOl~ OF THE PR~F~RRED BMBODIM~NTS
In the embodiment of Figure 1, the tool 10 of the pre-
sent invention is seen to be positioned such that it obstructs
a continual flow of longitudinally aligned pipe 12 traveling to
or from a pipe rack 11. Pipe protectors are placed on opposed
pipe ends 13 and 14.
The tool engages end 13 of the pipe to remove a pro-
tector therefrom. The tool is mounted to be moved along track
20~ 72 laterally a~ay from the pipe as seen at 10', thereby enabling
the pipe 12' to be conveyed past the tool. The tool is rotated
180 and repositioned a~ 10" to engage the other end 1~ of the
pipe at 12'7.
As seen in Figure 2, the tool 10 includes an air motor
15 and is pro~ided with a conventional gear reducer ~hich drives
a shaft 16. The shaft may be splined, as for example, an SAE 10
spline shaft, or may be square as noted in the drawings. ~ ro-
ta-ting head assembly 17 is provided for releasably gripping one
of the two co-acting threaded members of the pipe, such as pipe
thread protectors or pipe couplings 7 i~n arder that the co-acting
threaded members may be made up and broken out respective to one
~l~55~
another. I'he threaded member illustrated herein is the before
mentioned pipe and pipe pro-tector.
As seen in Figures 2 and 3, a ~i.rst mount member, in
the form of a large mount plate 19, is spaced from a second
mount member is the orm o-f a small mount plate 18. A traveling
bearing means 20 is affixed to a non-ro~ating mount member 21.
The mount member i.s reciprocatingly moved in a slidable manner
respective to the rotatable sha:Et and with respect to structure
22, which ~orms part of the main frame of the tool.
The motor is suitably mounted within the framework 22
and supported by a base 23. l'he base includes a lug 2~ by which
the entire machine can be rotated within a vertical plane and
about an axis lying normal to the longitudinal axis of the shaft
and pipe, thereby positioning the tool in either of the illustra-
ted positions 10 or 10" of Figure 1.
As seen in Figures 2, 3, and 9, spaced hydraulically-
actuated cylinder assemblies include a piston 25 having the free
end thereof attached to opposed sides of the reciprocating, non-
rotatable mount member 21, while the cylinders 26 thereof are
attached to a stationary plate 35, with the last named plate
being attached to the main frame member 22, Hence, the hydrau-
lic cylinders are mounted to move plate members 21 and 35toward
and away ~rom one another as best seen illustrated in Figures 2
and 9.
As best seen in Figures 1~ and 11, together with other
figures of the drawingsi, one of a plurality of claw and arm
assemblies 27 form the forward part of the rotating head assem-
bly. The claw assembly includes a plurality of radially spaced
jaws 28 to which there is connected an actuating arm 29 and a
pair of idler arms 30~ also hereinater referred to a~ a first
and a second plurality of ar~s,
~ 5~L~
As seen in Figures 6~ 7, 8, and 12, in conjunction
wi~h other f:Lgures oE the drawings, a block 31 is boltecl onto
one sicle o:E the plate 19 in spaced relationship to other similar
blocks WhiC}l are circumferentially spaced about the outer mar-
ginal, peripheral edge portion of the plate. Each block accepts
a pin 32, thereby ~orming a journal means for one end o~ each o~
the be~ore mentioned arms 29. It will be noted that arm 2g in
the figures o: the drawings comprises a pair of arms positioned
on either side of the jaw and bloc~, and the pair of arms are
considered to fall within the comprehension of "an arml'. The
opposed end of arm 29 is journaled to the ja~ at 33. The paral-
lel arms 30 are journaled to the jaw at 33 and 34 with pin 33
being mutually shared by the outer end portion of arms 29 and 30
As seen in Figures 2, 3, and 9, a bearing means 37 is
supported from the before mentioned plate member 35 in spaced
relationship respective to the traveling bearing housing 20.
Bearing housing 37 includes a rotating inner bearing part 44.
Coupling 38 interconnects the gear reduction output shat to the
square drive shaft 16.
Looking now to Figures 4-8, ~hich disclose the details
of the large plate member 19 ancl the associated slidable bearing
housing 20, there is seen a hub member 39 which is affixed to
plate 19 and which slidabl~ receives a medial marginal length of
the po~er output sha-ft 16. Bearing 4Q admits low friction turn-
ing between the sha-ft and the outer housing 36 of the bearing
means. In Figures 4 and 5, apertures 41 are placed 120 apart
for recel~ing block 31. Figure 6 dlscloses the opposed side of
the large plate member and the location of the blocks 31.
As seen in Figures 3, 7, and 8, the s~ll p:late membe~
18 is similarly provided with rad~all~ s~aced bloc~s 42 so that
the parallel arm assemblies can be journalecl thereto.
In operation, the apparatus 10 for removing protective
members from the threaded ends 13 and 14 of the pipe joints 12
comprises a main frame member 22 to which a motor lS is affixed
to enable the shaft 16 to be rotated. The sha-ft has a splined
connection at 39. The term "splined shaft" is intended to de-
note "a shaft having an irregular outer surface area", as for
example, the illustrated square shaft.
The square shaft imparts rotation into a :first mount
member 19, which is illustrated as being in circular form, and
which can assume other geometrical con-figurations, so long as
the radially spaced-apart actuating arms 29 are attached to and
move therewith. The first mount member is slidably supported on
the shaft. A second mount member 18, which is illustrated as
being of a circular configuration, ~ut which can take on several
different forms so long as the central axis thereof is attached
to the terminal end oE the power output shaft and moves there-
with.
The arms 30 are arranged in spaced parallel pairs to
provide four arms for each jaw, The arms have one of the opposed
ends thereof journaled to the second mount member and the other
end journaled to the jaw. The actuating arm members 29 are
pivotally connected to the innermost pivot pin of the jaw; and
therefore, a common pin ties one end of the arms 29 and one end
of one pair of the arms 30 to the jaw.
As the second member 18 i5 moved towards and away from
the first mem~er lg, the jaws move towards and away ~rom one an-
other, and the parallel relatIonship of the palr of arms 30
maintain the jaw orientated in the same general direction as the
jaws move toward and away from one another.
~ g
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In the illustrated embodiment of Figure 1, the appara-
tus is moved on a laterally disposed track, with the jaws con-
celltrically arranged respective to the axial centerline of the
~ipe 12. The hydraulic cylinders 26 ~orce the pistons 25 to e~-
tend therefrom, thereby moving the ~irst ~ount member 19 towards
the second mount member 18 to close the jaws about the protector.
The air motor 15 is ~upplied with a suitable source of compressed
air for causing the power shaft to rotate the entire head assem-
bly, which rotates the pipe protector therewith, there~y remov-
ing the protector from the pipe end. The piston is next retracted within the cylinder~ thereby movi.ng plate members 18 and
19 apart, which cause the jaws to move radially away from one
another, whereupon the protector is released and may be dropped
onto a moving conveyor (not shown) located below the pipe.
The apparatus 10 moves laterally a~ay ~rom the pipe
12, 12', so that the pipe can continue at 12' on to station 12"
as the apparatus is pivoted at 24 from the position seen at lQ
into a second position la". The apparatus lQ' is repositioned
at 10" into axially aligned relationship respective to the pipe
so that the rotating head assembly can engage and remove the re-
maining protector from the other end of the pipeO
In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in
Figure 13, pipe 12 is stored on pipe rack 11 and conveyed at 12'
toward a tool llO made in accordance with the present invention.
The tool 110 includes apparatus la made in accordance with the
first embodiment of the invention, and additionally includes a
thread cleaning apparatus 80 mounted on the same framework
therewith. The tool 10 removes a pipe protector from pipe end
13 while the tool 80 is cleaning the threads at pi~e end 14' and
~ice versa. The apparatus llO can be retracted away from the
- 10 '
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line of travel oE the pipe as the pipe moves from 12' to 12".
T}le apparatus 110 is rotatable 180 in a vcrtical plane in order
to reverse the rela-tionship of the tools 10 and 80.
After the protectors have been removed from each end
of the pipe, and the threads have been cleaned, the pipe con-
tinues along its longitudinal axial centerline causing a drit
indicator 81 to telescopingly receive the pipe thereabout as
indicated by numeral 12"'. Numeral 82 indicates a cantilever
arm which supports the drift apparatus 81 in a manner to enable
the apparatus to travel along the entire length of the pipe.
Apparatus 81 is a commercially available dri-fting device which
determines the minimum inside diameter of the pipe.
After the pipe has been drifted, it is returned to
position 12" and then moved laterally onto pipe rack 111.
In F'igure ~, the tool 10 is schematically illustrated
mounted on main framework 22 as in the before described manner
of Figures 1-12. Apparatus 24 rotates the entire framework to
describe a vertical plane which lies along the longitudinal
axial centerline of pipe 12', 12'l, 12"'~ Hence, the tools lQ
and 80 change their relative position in order that each tool
can sequentially work on each end of the pipe in the above de-
scribed manner.
As seen in Figure 14, the cleaning tool 8Q includes a
hydraulically actuated motor 83 which concurrently rotates
plate members 84 and 85 about the centers thereo. ~otor s~p;
port 86 rotatably mounts motor 83 to the mai:n frame so that
when shaft 87 is rotated 180 by motor 88 ? plate members 84 and
85 change their relative positions. Stated differently, shaft
87 is rotatably received within housing 86 and rotates motor 83
within a plane which coincides ~ith the axial centerline of pipe
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joints 12' and 12". The centers o-f plates 8~ and 85 are axially
aligned and coincide with the center of the shaft of tool 10
when the cleaning tool 80 is in either of the above described
alternant positions.
Radially spaced brushes 89 are adjustably afixed to
and extend from the outer face of plate member 85, while radially
spaced brushes 90 are adjustable affixed to the oute~ face of
plate member 8~. The outer faces of the plates are diametrically
opposed to one another.
As seen in Figure 1~, the motor 83 has opposed shaft
ends, one of which is seen at 91 in ~igure 15. Radially arranged
slots 92 adjustably receive the brush members 90. A fastener
means 93 is received through the slot by which the brushes 90 are
fastened to the plate member 8~ along any desired circumference
measured radially from the shaft 91, The cleaning surface 97 of
the brushes 90 is arranged to frictionally engage the lnside
threaded wall surface 97' of the end of a pipe joint; that is,
the box end of the pipe joint.
In Figure 16, the radially spaced brushes 89 are ad-
justably attached to plate member g5 by means of fastener 95 re-
ceived through radially arranged slot 9~. The brushes may be
moved to~ard and away from one another to position the cleaning
surface 96 thereof along a circumference 96' so that the clean-
ing surface of the brushes can frictionally engage the outer
threaded surface of *he pipe joint; that is, the pin end of the
pipe joint.
In operation, joints of pipe are racked at 11 and
transferred in series relationship by a conventional con~e~or
system towards the apparatus 110. The toQl 10 engages the pipe
protector at pipe end 13, unscrews the protector, and drops it
- 12 -
onto an underlying moving conveyor ~not shown). The pipe ends
are moved apart, t'he tool 110 reversed 180, the pipe ends are
moved towards one another, ~hereupon the tool 10 engages the
protector at pin end 14', and the protector is dropped onto the
conveyor.
Simultaneously with the removal o-~ the protector :~rom
pipe end 14', the cleaning tool sa engages and cleans thc
thTeads of pipe end 13. The tool 110 is again rotated 180 and
the remaining end 14' is cleaned,
After the protectors are removed and the threads of
the pipe ends have been properly cleaned, the apparatus 110
moves laterally away from the longitudinal axial centerline of
the pipe supported upon the conveyor, and the pipe 12" is moved
by the conveyor to telescopingly recei~e the drifter 81 to assure
that the inside diameter is of a minimum value. The pipe is
moved Erom 12'r' back to position 12" and then moved laterally
onto the pipe rack 111. Meanl~hile, pipe 12 and 12' are posi-
tioned at 12' and 12".
F.ach time the main :Erame 22 is rotated 180 by appa-
ratus 24, sha,ft 87 is sîmultaneously rotated 18Q to change the
operative relationship oE the brushes 89 and 90 respective to
one another. Thus, the cleaning device o~ the apparatus 110 is
reposi~ioned to properly receive the box or pin end of the next
adjacent joint oE pipe.
It is considered ~ithin the comprehension of the pre-
sent invention to utilize the action of apparatus 24 rotating
the main frame 180Q in order to impart 18Q of rotation into
shaft member 87. This can be achieved by~ a s~ationary sprocket
associated ~ith rigid structure adjacent to motor 24, or alter-
natively, linkage and bell cranks can ~e connected t~ achieve
~ 13 -
lSO of rotational motion of shaft 87 each time the main frame
is rotatecl by apl)aratus 24.
I\loIeover it i.s corlsiclerecl withill tlle comprehension of
this invention to ~ ize a drive -train from the motor of tool
10 in order to rotate shaft end.s 91 and 98 of the cleaning tool
~0 .
Ihe apparatus of the present invention enables a sin-
gle operator to remove threacled mernbers frorn the ends of pipe
clean the threaded ends of the pipe drift the interior of the
pipe and therea:fter move the pipe to a storage rack.
. .
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