Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR HANDLING DRILL PIPES
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application is a continuation-in-part of
pending U.S Patent Application Serial No. 08/392,072 filed
on February 22, 1995.
-~NlCAL FIELD OF THE lNv~.~lON
This invention relates to the handling of pipe
for a horizontal boring device.
R~Ra~OUND OF THE lNv~L~lON
In recent years, many utility lines have been
laid or replaced by use of a horizontal boring machine
which el;m;n~tes the need to dig a trench from the surface
to install or replace the utility. This technique has
generally come to be known as trenchless technology.
In a typical horizontal boring machine, a bore
hole will be formed with a steerable bit. The boring
~ h;ne will be mounted at the surface. One hydraulic
motor on the boring machine causes the drill bit and drill
string to rotate while another thrusts the drill bit and
drill string forward as the bore is formed. It is also
common to backream the bore with the machine, rotating a
backreaming tool while drawing back the drill string to the
boring machine.
The drill string is formed of a plurality of
individual drill string sections threaded together. As the
machine initially bores the hole, additional drill string
sections must be added as the bore is lengthened.
Similarly, when backreaming the bore, the individual drill
string sections must be removed. Traditionally, this
activity has been done by hand, with the assistance of
wrenches on the drilling machine. There has also been a
requirement to store the individual drill string sections
before and after use.
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The typical horizontal boring device requires a
three man crew. To increase efficiency and reduce cost, it
would be of great benefit to provide an automated system
for placing drill pipe sections in or removing drill pipe .
sections from the boring machine automatically during
operation. IdealIy, this would el;~;n~te the need for a
third man in the operation and permit the boring machine to
be operated with a crew of two. In addition to an increase
in efficiency and reduction of cost, eliminating the use of
an individual to ~nh~ndle the drill pipe sections would
reduce the chances for injury.
SUMMARY OF T~E lNv~ lON
In accordance with one aspect of the present
invention, an automatic pipe handling device for moving a
pipe section from a storage position to a spindle center
line position on a drill rig comprises a support frame
mounted on the drill rig. A member is pivotally mounted to
the support frame for pivotal motion about an axis
generally parallel the spindle center line between a first
position and a second position. At least one pipe gripper
extends from the member to grip a pipe section, the gripper
gripping the pipe section at a storage position when the
member is in the first position and gripping the pipe
section in the spindle center line position when the member
is in the second position. A hydraulic motor is used to
pivot the member between the first position and the second
position.
In accordance with another aspect of the present
invention, the automatic pipe handling device includes a
drill pipe rack. The drill pipe rack is mounted on the
support frame. The member is pivotally movable to a third
position, the member returning a pipe section to the drill
pipe rack at the third position and picking up a pipe
section from the drill pipe rack at the second position.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DR~WINGS
For a more complete understAnA;ng of the present
invention and for further advantages thereof, reference is
now made to the following description of the preferred
embodiment, taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings, in which.
FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an automatic
pipe handling device forming a first embodiment of the
present invention;
10FIGURE 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of
taken along view A in FIGURE 1;
FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of a modified pipe
rack for use with the device;
FIGURE 4 is a side view in cross-section of the
pipe rack of FIGURE 3;
FIGURE 4A is a detail view of the rack of FIGURE
4 illustrating the rubber straps cushioning the pipe
section movement;
FIGURE S is a partial cross-sectional view of the
pipe rack of FIGURE 3;
FIGURE 6 is a partial cross-sectional view of a
modification of the pipe rack of FIGURE 3;
FIGURE 7 is a perspective view illustrating
another modification of the automatic pipe handling device;
25FIGURE 8 is an end view of the device of FIGURE
7;
FIGURE 9 is an exploded view of a portion of the
device of FIGURE 7;
FIGURE 10 is an exploded view of a pipe loader
used in a pipe handling device forming a modification of
the invention;
FIGURE 11 is a side view of the extension frame
of the pipe loader;
FIGURE 12 is an end view of the extension frame;
35FIGURE 13 is a schematic view of hydraulic
circuits in the device;
FIGURE 14 is a top view of the pipe box used in
the device;
FIGURE 15 is a side view of the pipe box;
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FIGURE 16 is an end view of the pipe box;
FIGURE 17 is a perspective view of a cylinder
mount and rotation member mounted thereon for limited
pivotal motion;
FIGURE 18 is a plan view of a pivot adjust stop;
FIGURE 19 is a top view of the rotation arm;
FIGURE 20 is an end view of the rotation arm; and
FIGURE 21 is a perspective view of the end panel
on the pipe box.
DET~TT~n DESCRIPTION
With reference now to FIGURES 1 and 2, an
automatic pipe handling device 10 is illustrated which
forms a first embodiment of the present invention. The
device includes a support frame 12 which is permanently
attached to the drill rig 14. The drill rig 14 is not
illustrated in its entirety as it is a conventional and
well known device. A pipe rack 16 is removably attached to
the support frame 12 to store pipe sections 18 (see FIGURES
4, 5 and 6) when not in use by the drill rig.
The support frame 12 mounts a longitudinal shaft
20 which is mounted for rotation about an axis 22 which is
parallel the spindle axis 24 of the drill rig 14. The
spindle axis 24 is the axis along which the drill string
extends and is the axis of rotation of the drill string at
the drill rig. To insert a pipe section 18 within the
drill string, or remove the pipe section, the pipe section
must be laid along the spindle axis 24 or removed from the
spindle axis 24.
The longitudinal shaft 20 is rotatable by a
hydraulic drive motor 26. Two hydraulic cylinders 28 and
30 are mounted along the length of the shaft 20 and are
mounted perpendicular to the axis 22. At the end of the
piston of each of the cylinders 28 and 30 is mounted a
spring loaded pipe gripper 32. Grippers 32 include fixed
fingers 33 and spring loaded fingers 35 urged to grip the
pipe section by springs 37. The grippers 32 include guide
shafts 34 which slide within brackets 36 mounted on the
cylinders 28 and 30 so that the movement of the pipe
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grippers is only along an axis perpendicular to the axis
22.
The pipe rack 16 is formed of a frame weldment 38
including an upper bracket 40, a lower bracket 42 and side.
plates 44 and 46. Bars 60 and 62 extend between the side
plates as well. Eàch side plate mounts a lifting eye 48
and is provided with aperture 50 to attach the pipe rack 16
to the support frame 12. An elongated aperture 57, located
on bracket 56 of support frame 12, engages tab 59 located
on the base of pipe rack 16 as the pipe rack is loaded onto
support frame 12. Pins 52 are inserted through apertures
54 in brackets 56 on the support frame 12 and through the
apertures 50 in the side plates 44 and 46. The pins 52
have a through hole to receive a locking clip 58 to secure
the pipe rack on the support frame despite vibration or
movement of the boring machine. However, the pipe rack 16
can be relatively easily removed from the support frame 12
by removing the pins and lifting the pipe rack off the
frame.
Near each end plate of the pipe rack is mounted a
labyrinth track 64 which cooperates with a guide 66 mounted
on the inside surfaces of the side plates to form an S-
curve path 72 to guide drill pipe within the pipe rack from
a return position 68 formed at the top of the pipe rack to
a pick up position 70 formed at the bottom of the pipe
rack. Attached to each end plate is a guide strip made
from a low friction plastic such as UHMW (Ultra High
Molecular Weight) plastic, to permit the use of
shoulderless pipe in the pipe rack.
Assuming that pipe sections are to be added to
the drill string and are presently stored in the pipe rack
16, the pipe rack will first be attached to the support
frame 12. The drive motor 26 will then be activated to
cause the longitudinal shaft 20 to pivot so that the spring
loaded pipe grippers 32 are facing the pipe section at the
pick up position 70. The hydraulic cylinders 28 and 30 are
activated to extend the pistons thereof so that the pipe
grippers 32 move against and over the pipe at the pick up
position. The hydraulic cylinders 28 and 30 are then
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retracted, drawing the pipe seation from the pick up
position and out of the pipe rack. The hydraulic drive
motor 26 is then again activated to pivot the longitll~in~l
shaft ZO until the pipe grippers 32 are directed toward thet
spindle axis 24. The hydraulic cylinders 28 and 30 are
again activated to extend the pipe grippers to position the
pipe section along the spindle axis 24. The -~ch~n; ~ C of
the horizontal boring machine, not shown, then thread the
pipe section into the drill string. After the pipe section
is threaded, the cylinders 28 and 30 are retracted, pulling
the pipe grippers 32 off the pipe section just inserted in
the drill string.
If a plurality of pipe sections were stored in
the pipe rack 16, when the pipe section in the pick up
lS position 70 is removed by the pipe grippers, the r~m~;n;ng
pipe sections 18 in the pipe rack, guided by the S--curve
path 72 formed between the labyrinth track 64 and guides 66
at each end of the pipe rack, will move via gravity to urge
the next pipe section in line into the pick up position 70.
In this manner, each of the pipe sections in the pipe rack
16 can be individually rémoved from the pipe rack and
positioned on the spindle axis 24 to be made up as part of
the drill string. Block plates 74 on each of the side
plates prevent the pipe section in the pick up position 70
from simply falling out of the pipe rack.
When the boring has been completed, and pipe
sections are to be removed from the drill string, the
device works essentially in reverse. The longitll~; n;~1
shaft 20 will be pivoted by hydraulic drive motor 26 to
grasp a pipe section 18 on the spindle axis 24. However,
instead of being pivoted to the pick up position 70, the
longitl~ l shaft 20 is rotated by hydraulic drive motor
26 so that the pipe grippers 32 face the return position
68. The hydraulic cylinders 28 and 30 are then extended to
move the pipe section 18 into the return position 68. The
shaft 20 Will then be rotated slightly to move the pipe
section inside a portion of the tracks 64 so that when the
hydraulic cylinders 28 and 30 are retracted, the pipe
section will be held in place by the track plus the end
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guides 64 and the pipe grippers 32 will be removed from the
pipe section. Alternatively, a reverse stop 65 (see FIGURE
4) can be mounted on the pipe rack which pivots out of the
way to allow the pipe section to be inserted in the return ,
position but then pivots back by gravity to block the pipe
section from falli~g out of the pipe rack. once removed,
the pipe section will fall by gravity along the S-curve
path 72 between the tracks 64 and guides 66 until it
contacts the next previous pipe section inserted into the
pipe rack. As pipe sections are removed from the drill
string, these steps can be repeated until the pipe rack is
completely full of pipe sections and ready to be used again
to form another bore. If the drill string contains more
pipe sections than pipe rack 16 can hold, the full rack is
simply removed and replaced by an empty rack to continue
the process.
If heavier pipe sections are used, the spring
loaded pipe grippers 32 can be replaced by pipe grippers
actuated by hydraulic cylinders.
~ A detent device 73 on one end of the shaft 20 can
assist in indexing the shaft in the positions described
above.
The use of the S-curve path and the end guides
permit straight, shouldered, bottlenecked, shoulderless or
any other style of pipe sections to be used. A number of
rubber straps 126 can be mounted within the pipe rack 16 to
slow the fall of pipe sections within the rack as seen in
FIGURE 4A.
The sequence of operations of the device
illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2 would be for the load
sequence to move pipe sections from the rack to the drill
string:
1. extend grippers toward pick up position
of rack;
2. grip pipe section in pick up position;
3. retract grippers to remove gripped pipe
section from pick up position;
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4. rotate grippers with pipe section
toward spindle axis and extend
grippers;
5. retract grippers to release grippers t
from pipe section;
6. ' rotate to pick up position; and
7. extend grippers to next pipe section.
The unload sequence moving pipe sections from the
drill string to storage in the rack would be as follows:
1. rotate grippers to spindle center line;
2. extend grippers to grip pipe section to
be removed from drill string;
3. rotate grippers and removed pipe
section to the return position; and
4. retract grippers from pipe section in
return position of rack.
The pipe section will then fall by gravity to the
pick up position through the S-curve path.
With reference now to FIGURES 3 and 4, a modified
pipe rack 80 will be described. The pipe rack 80 includes
a number of elements identical to pipe rack 16, including
brackets 40 and 42, side plates 44 and 46, lifting eyes 48,
apertures 50 and bars 60 and 62. It will be clear from
this that pipe rack 80 can be mounted directly on the
support frame 12 as a replacement for or substitute for the
pipe rack 16 and pipe racks 16 and 80 are completely
interchangeable.
Pipe rack 80 has an outer track 82, an
intermediate track 8 4 and an inner track 8 6 mounted on the
inside of each of the side plates 44 and 46. The pipe rack
80 defines a return position 104 and pick up position 96.
A first vertical row 88 is formed between track 82 and
track 84. A second vertical row 90 is formed between the
intermediate track 84 and the inner track 86. A third
vertical row 92 is formed between the inner track 86 and a
guide 94 extending from the upper bracket 40 downward
toward the lower bracket 42 and then forward to the pick up
position 96 at the bottom front of the pipe rack. Block
plates 98 are mounted on the plates to prevent pipe
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sections in the pipe rack from falling out because of
gravity.
Manual upper row selectors 100 and 102 (seen in
FIGURE 4) can be positioned to select which row a pipe
section will enter after being placed in the return
position 104. The manual upper row selectors 100 and 102
are located at each end of the pipe rack 80 at a pivot
point lOOc. Selector 100 selects the third vertical row 92
and rests, when in the receiving position (as seen in
FIGURE 4), on stop lOOd. Selector 102 selects the second
vertical row 90 and rests on stop lOOe. The first vertical
row 88 is selected by rotation of both manual upper row
selectors 100 and 102 about pivot points lOOc and into a
position as shown at lOOf (where selector 102 is shown in
FIGURE 4). The top of the rack is open at the position of
selectors 100 and 102 so that, for example, selector 100,
seen in FIGURE 4 in the receiving position, can be pivoted
clockwise about pivot lOOc into position lOOf beside the
position of upper row selector 102 seen in FIGURE 4. Both
of the selectors 100 or 102 at each end of the pipe rack
must be selected in order for the pipe to enter the desired
vertical row. If selector 100 is selected at one end of
the pipe rack and selector 102 is selected at the opposite
end, the pipe will attempt to enter the second vertical row
90 and the third vertical row 92 simultaneously and become
jammed. Preferably, as pipe sections are returned, the
third row 92 will be filled up first, next the second row
90 and finally the first row 88.
Near the bottom of the pipe rack 80 are mounted
gate rods 106 and 108 which extend the entire length of the
pipe rack and are supported by the side plates ~or limited
pivotal motion. Handles 110 and 112 (seen in FIGURE 3) are
mounted on gate rods 106 and 108, respectively, to permit
manual pivotal motion of the rods. Mounted along gate rod
106 are a pair of gates 114. In the position shown in
FIGURE 4, the gates 114 prevent pipe sections from moving
out of the third row 92 into the pick up position 96.
Gates 114 can be seen to have an arcuate end 116 to engage
the lowermost pipe section in the third row. When the pipe
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sections in the third row 92 are to be used, the h~n~le liO
is manually moved to pivot rod 106 so that the gates 114
move in a direction away from the block plates 98 (counter-
clockwise in FIGURE 4), permitting the pipe sections in the
third row to fall onto the guide 94 for movement into the
pick up position g6 by gravity. Gates 114 can be seen to
have an actuate side 118 which assists the movement of the
pipe sections to the pick up position.
Gate rod 108 similarly supports a pair of gates
10 120 which can be used to prevent pipe sections from the
second row from moving into the pick up position 96. Gates
120 have a convex surface 122 which engages the pipe
sections in either the second row or those pipe sections
permitted to pass gates 114 from the third row to prevent
15 the pipe sections from moving into the pick up position.
However, if pipe sections from the second or third rows are
to be permitted to move to the pick up position, the handle
112 can be moved to pivot the rod 108 away from the block
plates 98 (counterclockwise in FIGURE 4) to move convex
20 surfaces 122 out of engagement with the pipe sections.
Gates 120 have actuate sides 124 to facilitate movement of
the pipe sections by gravity into the pick up position.
Either handle 110 or 112 can be manipulated to
stop supply of pipe sections from the second or third rows
25 even before the rows have been emptied by moving the
respective gate at least part way back to the blocking
position until the pipe sections between the gates and the
pick up position have been moved out of the pipe rack and
then moving the gates to the final blocking position, as
30 seen in FIGURE 4.
A number of rubber straps 126, as seen in FIGURES
4 and 4A, can be mounted within the pipe rack 80 to slow
the fall of pipe sections within the rows to prevent pipe
damage.
The pipe rack 80 has the same volume of space as
the pipe rack 16 but will carry a greater number of pipe
sections. In operation, pipe sections are delivered to the
return position 104 and directed by the manually positioned
selectors lOo and 102 to one of the three vertical rows 88,
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90, and 92. Gravity propels the pipe section to the bottom
of the row. When removing pipe from the rack, the
selection of a particular row to be used is accomplished by
the manual rotation of the handles 110 and 112 as noted.
The first row 88 connects directly with the pick up
position 96 and has no gates associated therewith. After
the pipe sections in the first row 88 are used, it is
preferable to move handle 112 to permit the pipe sections
in the second row 90 to next be used. Finally, the handle
110 is activated to allow the pipe sections in the third
row 9Z to be used. When all rows are emptied, the emptied
pipe rack 80 can be off loaded from the support frame 12
and a full rack installed. The process is reversed when
performing a backreaming or pullback function.
FIGURE S is a cross-sectional view of a pipe rack
130 which is a modification of pipe rack 80. Pipe rack 130
is identical with pipe rack 80 with the exception of the
use of gates 132 and 134 which each have convex ends 136 to
engage the pipe sections in the second and third rows to
prevent them from moving to the pick up position.
FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view of a pipe rack
140 which is a modification of pipe rack 80. In pipe rack
140, only two rows, rows 142 and 144 are used. This
requires the use of only a single pair of gates 146 with
convex ends 148.
FIGURES 5 and 6 permit the location of the
positioning and gripper location in a new position or
several different positions 150, 152, 154 in the case of
FIGURE 5 and 156 and 158 in the case of FIGURE 6 to permit
the loading and carrying of a greater number or quantity of
drill pipe.
For the embodiment shown in FIGURES 3-6, the
loading sequence to load pipe sections from the rack to the
drill string would be as follows:
1. extend gripper to pick up position in
rack;
2. pick up pipe section in pick up
position;
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3. retract grippers and gripped pipe
section;
4. rotate grippers and gripped pipe
section to spindle center line;
5. retract grippers after pipe section is
threaded into drill string; and
6. rotate grippers to pick up position to
pick up next pipe section.
To remove pipe from the drill string and return
it to the rack the unloading sequence would be:
1. rotate grippers to spindle center line;
2. extend grippers to grip pipe section to
be removed from drill string;
3. rotate grippers and gripped pipe
section to return position in rack; and
4. retract gripper from pipe section.
The pipe sections will fall by gravity to the
pick up position through the vertical rows.
With reference now to FIGURES 7 and 8, an
automatic pipe handling device 160 forming a second
embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. The
device 160 is mounted on drill rig 14 by bolting to a pair
of brackets 162 on the drill rig frame. Plates 162, in
turn, mount pipe rack brackets 166. A hydraulic motor 168
is bolted to the drill rig and rotates a longitudinal shaft
170 about an axis 172 which is parallel to the spindle axis
24. Mounted along the longitllAin~l shaft 170 are a pair of
hydraulic cylinders 28 and 30 as used in device 10,
including spring loaded pipe grippers with fixed fingers 33
and spring loaded fingers 35.
Each of the pipe rack brackets 166 can be seen to
define an arcuate path 172 with a closed lower end 174 and
an open upper end 176. The actuate path 172 and the pipe
rack brackets 166 combine to form a curved row to receive
and store pipe sections 18. In the particular case
illustrated in FIGURES 7, 8 and 9, the pipe rack is capable
of storing ten pipe sections.
As will be apparent from FIGURE 7, the hydraulic
motor 168 is capable of pivoting the longitudinal shaft 170
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to position the spring loaded pipe grippers at any selected
position along an arc extending from a first position 178
for installing and retrieving pipe sections from the
spindle axis 24 to a final position 180 where the pipe
grippers are positioned to pick up the very last pipe
section in the pipe rack.
With reference to FIGURE 7, if the operator
begins with a full rack of pipe sections, the cylinders 28
and 30 are activated to retract the pipe grippers and the
hydraulic motor 168 pivots the longitudinal shaft to
position the pipe grippers in the pick up position 182
adjacent the first pipe section in the pipe rack. The
cylinders 28 and 30 are then activated to extend the pipe
grippers to grip the first pipe section in the pipe rack.
The hydraulic motor 168 is then activated to pivot the
longitudinal shaft 170 and pivot the pipe grippers and
gripped pipe section into the first position 178, where the
pipe section will be centered on the spindle axis 24 to be
threaded into the drill string. Once threaded into the
drill string, the cylinders 28 and 30 can be activated to
retract the pipe grippers away from the pipe section. The
hydraulic motor is then activated to pivot the longitudinal
shaft 170 to position the pipe grippers adjacent the next
pipe in the pipe rack. The pipe grippers will then be
extended by cylinders 28 and 30 to grasp the next pipe and
hydraulic motor 168 will be activated to move that pipe
section into alignment with the spindle axis 24. As can be
understood, the device will operate to remove each pipe
section in se~uence held on the pipe rack until the final
pipe section at the final position 180 is delivered for
insertion in the drill string.
As the drill string is being disassembled, the
operation of the device 160 is simply reversed. The pipe
grippers will grip the first section of pipe at the spindle
axis 24 and can move it to the next open position along
arcuate path 172 on pipe rack brackets 166 for storage
before retracting the cylinders 28 and 30 to move the pipe
grippers out of engagement with the pipe section. The
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operation will continue until all the pipe sections have
been replaced in the pipe rack.
The loading sequence of operation for the device
illustrated in FIGURES 7-8 will be for putting pipe
sections in the drill string:
1. extend grippers to top most pipe
section in rack;
2. pick up top most pipe section in rack;
~ 3. rotate grippers and gripped pipe
section to spindle center line to
install in drill string;
4. retract grippers; and
5. rotate grippers to next top most pipe
section in rack and r~peat above
sequence.
To remove pipe sections from the drill string and
return them to the rack the unloading sequence would be:
1. rotate grippers to spindle center line;,
2. extend grippers to grip pipe section in
drill string to be removed;
3. rotate grippers and gripped pipe
section to deposit the pipe section on
top of the top most pipe section
already in the rack, or the bottom of
the path 172 if this is the first pipe
section being returned;
4. retract grippers; and
5. rotate grippers to spindle center line
to pick up next pipe section to be
removed from the drill string.
With this device, the pipe sections are not
dropped by gravity but are placed on top of the previously
positioned pipe section or, if the first pipe section in
the rack, at the bottom of the path 172.
It will be appreciated that the adjustment plates
164 have elongated bolt holes 184 which will permit some
adjustment of the position of the pipe rack brackets 166
relative to the drill rig 14 and the spindle axis 24. As
seen in FIGURES 8 and 9, a stow lock 187 is pivotally
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mounted on each of the pipe rack brackets and can be
pivoted over the open upper end 176 of each bracket and
pinned in that position by pins 188. This will prevent
inadvertent removal of the pipe sections during transpOrt
of the drill rig.
The hyd~aulic motor 168 does not specifically
index the pipe grippers to any pick up position or return
position. The pipe sections are, however, picked up from
the top of the pipe rack brackets near the open upper end
176 to the bottom of the pipe rack brackets near the closed
lower ends 174 in sequence and are returned in opposite
order. It is preferable to move the pipe section along the
arcuate path 172 and into contact with the next adjacent
pipe section in the rack before removing the grippers to
avoid allowing the pipe sections to fall by gravity along
the arcuate path.
The device of the present invention can be
operated by a single individual with only two controls.
The first control will operate the hydraulic drive motor 26
or 168 and the second control will operate the hydraulic
cylinders 28 and 30 to grab the pipe sections with the pipe
grippers 32. The device therefore permits the operator to
automatically move drill pipe from the pipe rack carried on
the boring device to the spindle center line as the
drilling progresses. After completion of the pilot bore
and while backreaming and pulling back services, the device
will automatically unload the drill pipe from the spindle
center line and return the drill pipe to the pipe rack. By
designing the pipe racks to be readily installable on and
removable from the support frame 12, as many pipe sections
as required can be quickly provided. This design permits
the number of people in an operating crew for the boring
machine to be reduced from three to two.
The device also improves the function,
productivity and safety of the drill rigs used by the
guided boring industry. The operator, by moving two
hydraulic valve levers, has complete control of the pipe
loading and unloading operation. The device is easily
understood and easy to operate. The operator can remain at
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the console to operate the device. The smoothness of the
operation permits the operator to load and unload drill
pipe at the spindle very efficiently. This improved
smoothness and efficiency results in less time spent adding
to and removing drill pipe from the drill strïng, thus
reducing time spent on the job. The mechanical device
removes the need for another person on the crew to remove
drill pipe from a pipe box and load or unload at the
spindle. ~he safety aspects of the device remove the
possibility of injury by eliminating the need to lift and
load the drill pipe by hand and eliminating the need for an
additiona7 crew member to lift and load the drill pipe.
With reference now to FIGURES 10-21, a pipe
handling device 200 forming another embodiment of the
present invention is illustrated. With reference to
FIGURES 14-16, the device includes a pipe box 202 for
storage of pipe sections 18. Pipe box 202 is mounted to
the drill rig 14 at mounting points 204 and 206 so that the
elongate axis 208 of the pipe box is parallel to the
spindle axis 24. The pipe box includes a rectangular bar
210 with bottom plates 212 mounted thereon near eàch end of
the bar. Side plates 214 and 216 extend upwardly from
either side of the bottom plates and an end plate 218
connects the upper ends of the side plates at each end of
the box. Preferably, corner plates 220 (FIGURE 16) are
mounted between the bottom plate and each of the side
plates, as seen in FIGURE 16. The distance X between the
side plates is suf f icient to accommodate a number of pipe
sections 18 side by side, for example, three or four. The
pipe sections are preferably stored in a stack determined
manner. For example, the lowest row may be three pipe
sections side by side. The next or second row on top will
be four pipe sections wide, with the outer pipe sections of
the second row naturally fitting between the side walls and
the outer pipe sections just below in the lowest row. The
inner pipe sections on the second row naturally f it between
adjacent pipe sections in the lowest row. The third row
would then be three pipe sections wide, fitting between
adjacent pipe sections in the second row. such a
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configuration is illustrated in FIGURE 16. Simply put, as
a pipe section is placed in the pipe box on pipe sections
already there, it will naturally pick a stable position
nested between adjacent pipe sections in the next lower row,
S or between a side wall and the pipe section adjacent the
side wall in the rlext lower row. The height Y of the box
is sufficient to accommodate a number of pipe sections
vertically, for example, eight. In one embodiment, the
pipe sections are held in alternating rows of three and
10 four pipe sections from the bottom to the top of the box
along the Y direction. The pipe sections can enter and
leave the box through the top of the pipe box between the
side plates and end plates. The side plates prevent the
pipe sections from rolling out of the box. The bottom
15 plates support the lowest row of pipe sections. Typically,
the pipe sections used will be of a type having upset ends,
that is ends that have a larger diameter than the
intermediate portions of the pipe sections, providing
sufficient space between each pipe section for the pipe
20 section to be gripped in a manner discussed hereinafter.
As seen in FIGURE 21, removable end panels 219 at
either end of pipe box 20Z normally hold the pipe sections
from falling out the ends of the pipe box, but can be
removed by lifting out retaining pin 221 to allow access
25 for removal of thread and dust protective caps (not shown)
typically installed on the ends of each pipe section 18.
The bottom end panel 219, for the lower end of pipe box 202
when it is installed on an inclined boring unit 14, is
offset and reversible. Once reversed, the offset restrains
30 the pipe sections 18 from sliding down toward the lower end
of box 202 after the protective caps are removed. When the
bore is completed and the pipe box 202 is ready for
transport from the job site, the end panels can be removed
for installation of the protective caps. Bottom panel 219
35 is now reversed to its original (storage) position to clear
the added length of the protective caps.
With reference to FIGURES 10--13,the device 200
also includes a pipe loader 222 which is mounted on top of
the pipe box 202 and secured thereto. The pipe loader
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includes a rear pivot mount 224 and a front pivot mount
226. With reference to FIGURES 14 and 17, pivot mount 224
can be seen to have vertical rods 228 at each side thereof ,
which extend downwardly and are received within sockets 234
mounted on side plates 214 and 216 at the rear of the pipe
box. Similarly, the front pivot mount has rods 232 which
mount through sockets 230 on the side plates 214 and 216 at
the front of the pipe box.
A rotation member Z36 is mounted between the
pivot mounts 224 and 226 to pivot about pivot axis 238
which, when the pipe box 202 is mounted on the drill rig,
and the pipe loader 222 is mounted on the pipe box, is also
parallel the spindle axis 24. Mounted along the rotation
member 236 are a pair of lifting eyes 240 which permit the
pipe loader 222 to be lifted off of the pipe box. It is
preferable to do so before the pipe box is detached from
the rig.
Also mounted on rotation member 236 are a pair of
cylinder mount tubes 242 which each mount a double acting
20 extension cylinder 244. A pair of guide tubes 246 are also
mounted on the rotation member and receive the guides 248
of an extension frame 250. The ends of the pistons of
extension cylinders 244 are mounted to the extension frame
at points 251.
At each end of the extension frame is mounted a
pipe gripper 256 which includes a fixed finger 258 and
pivoting finger 260. The finger 260 is pivoted by the
piston of a double acting gripper cylinder 262. The
cylinder 262 is supported on the extension frame 250 at the
30 outer ends of the cylinder supports 252 and 254 mounted to
frame 250.
With reference to FIGURES 17-20, the rear end of
the rotation member 236 has a pair of stop pins 264 mounted
thereon. A pivot adjustment stop 266 is mounted to the
35 rear pivot mount 224 by bolts. The bolt holes 267 in the
stop allow for limited pivotal motion about the axis 238
before tightening the bolts. The pivot adjustment stop has
stop surfaces 268 and 269 which engage the stop pins 264 to
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confine the pivotal motion of the rotation member to a
predetermined angle, for example 65 degrees.
A double-acting pivot cylinder 270 is pivotally
mounted to the rear pivot mount 224 on pivot 272. The
piston 276 of cylinder 270 is pivotally mounted to one end
277 of a rotation arm 278. The other end of rotation arm
278 has a pin 279 ext~;ng in the end of rotation member
236 which is secured to the end of the rotation member 236
by a key. Thus, extension and retraction of the piston 276
within the cylinder 270 will cause pivotal motion of the
member 236 between the limits permitted by the pivot
adjustment stop 266.
With reference to FIGURE 13, the hydraulic
connections in the pipe handling device 200 can be
described. The hydraulics will normally be powered from a
hydraulic pump on an accessory power system (not shown),
but can be powered from another source. Also, hydraulic
operation can be replaced by compressed air operation or
other suitable drive mechAn;~. A control valve assembly
280 is provided which includes at least three control
valves 282, 284 and 286 controlled respectively by control
handles 288, 290 and 292. Valve 282 is connected through
lines 294 and 296 to the double-acting rotation or pivot
cylinder 270. The lines 294 and 296 pass through a check
valve unit 298. Thus, activation of the h~n~le 288 in
opposite directions will cause the piston of cylinder 270
to extend and retract, pivoting the rotation member with
the pipe grippers mounted thereon. When the rotation
member has been pivoted to the desired position, the check
valve 298 will maintain the member in that position when
the handle is released.
Lines 300 and 302 extend from the valve 284 to
the double-acting extension cylinders 244 to extend or
retract the extension frame 250 relative the rotation
member 236. A check valve 304 is utilized to maintain the
position of the extension frame 260 after lever 290 is
released. A flow divider 306 is preferably utilized to
insure uniform motion of the pistons in the cylinders 244
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so that the extension frame 2 50 does not jam as it is mov~d
relative the rotation member 236.
Lines 308 and 310 extend from the valve 286 to
the gripper cylinders 262. Thus, activation of the handle
292 will alternatively open the grippers or close-the
grippers about a pipe section. A check valve 312 maintains
the position of the grippers when the handle is released.
The pipe handling device 200 enables the operator
to move pipe joints or segments from the pipe box 202 to
the drill unit for the purpose of adding pipe segments to
the drill string as the boring operation progresses. Once
the initial boring process or pilot bore is complete, the
pipe handling device 200 enables the operator to
sequentially remove pipe from the drill string and return
lS it to the pipe box 202.
When boring or drilling the initial pilot hole
with the drill unit, the operator must sequentially add
more drill pipe segments to the drill string as it advances
in the ground. This involves operations known in the art
such as drilling forward, breaking connection with the
drill string, retracting the drill unit carriage, adding
another pipe segment to the drill string, and resuming the
boring process. The pipe handling device 200 assists in
the operation of obt~;n;ng and positioning the added pipe
segments so that it can be threaded into the drill string.
Once the bore is completed, the pipe handling device 200
assists in the operation of moving the pipe segments back
to the pipe box.
In the drilling process, to load another pipe,
the operator operates the three valves 282, 284 and 286 in
sequence or in combination. The pivot cylinder 270 is used
to rotate the rotation member and pipe grippers toward the
desired pipe section in the pipe box. The extension
cylinders 244 are used to telescope the extension frame 250
with the pipe grippers toward the selected pipe segment
within the pipe box. The gripper cylinders 262 are
actuated to close the gripping fingers 258 and 260 around
the selected pipe section. The device can grasp any pipe
section in the top row of the pipe box, although the
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operator will generally choose the one most accessible,
typically the one closest to the drill unit. The stroke of
extension cylinders 244 Will be long enough to grasp pipe
sections at the bottom of the pipe box.
s Once the pipe section is gripped, it is moved
above the pipe box by a combination of rotation of the
member 236 by the pivot cylinder 270 and retraction of the
extension cylinders 244 so that the pipe section at least
clears the top of the side plates. With the pipe section
10 now above the pipe box, the pivot cy;inder 270 is actuated
to pivot the rotation member into alignment with the
spindle axis 24. This alignment can be set by the pivot
adjustment stop 266. Assuming the drill unit is ready to
receive another pipe section, the operator can extend the
15 extension cylinders 244 to move the gripped pipe section
into coincidence with the spindle axis 24. The operator
then moves the carriage of the drill unit forward so that
the spindle engages the top hole end of the pipe section
and begins to rotate the spindle to thread the connection
20 together. Then the spindle is advanced, sliding the pipe
section through the grippers to engage the other end of the
pipe section with the drill string, and make that
connection. The gripper cylinders 262 are then actuated to
release the pipe section and the extension cylinders are
25 actuated to move the extension frame 250 away from the
instàlled pipe section. The pivot cylinder 270 can then
pivot the rotation member 236 to pick up the next pipe
section in the pipe box. If the bore is longer than the
amount of pipe in the pipe box, the pipe loader 222 can
simply be released from and lifted off the empty pipe box
and a loaded pipe box is substituted. The pipe loader 222
can then be lowered onto and secured to the full pipe box
to continue the drilling operation.
The unloading process is essentially the reverse
of the loading process. The pipe box will be at least
partially empty. The carriage on the drill unit is moved
back to pull the drill string from the hole, and the first
pipe section in the drill string is broken free of the
string. The pipe handling device 200 is positioned so that
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the pipe grippers 256 will engage that pipe section. Thi~
engagement can be done before the threaded connections are
broken or after. The carriage is moved back enough to
disengage the bottom threads of the pipe section, if
necessary, sliding the pipe section through the grippers a
short distance. The spindle is further rotated and
retracted to disengage from the top end of the pipe
section. Then the operator can move the pipe section back
to the pipe box in the reverse motion from installation.
This is done first ~y retraction of the extension cylinders
244 and followed by actuation of the pivoting cylir~ r 270
to pivot the rotation member and suspend the pipe section
above the pipe box. The extension cylinders 244 are then
extended to lower the pipe section into the box to the
position selected by the operator. The gripper cylinders
262 are actuated to release the pipe section and the pipe
will drop in place within the box as determined by the
stack of pipe already there. Preferably, the operator will
not drop the pipe from too high above the existing stack of
pipe so that the released pipe section does not become
diagonally wedged inside instead of conforming to the
stack. The process continues until the last pipe section
has been withdrawn from the borehole.
In pipe handling device 200, the operator is
involved in the process of deciding which pipe to pick up
and where to return it. The operator also has to exercise
judgment on how far to extend the extension cylinders 244
in order to line up the pipe with the spindle axis,
although rotation to that position with the pivoting
cylinder is controlled by the pivot adjustment stop 266.
Thus, the device is less of an automatic pipe handling
device and performs primarily as a mechanical aid to reduce
the manual labor involved in the drilling process. The
pipe handling device 200, while disclosed to be mounted on
the drill unit, could be supported separately from the
drill unit. Further, the pipe loader 222 can, itself, be
supported separately from the pipe box 202. For example,
pipe handling device 200 might be mounted on a pipe trailer
positioned next to the drill unit. One can also appreciate
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that there are multiple ways to implement the rotation and
extension/retraction actions performed by cylinders 244 and
270. For example, the two extension cylinders 244 can use
the flow divider 306 to cause them to extend equally. This,
could be accomplished with a pair of timed ball screws,
rack and pinion or the like.
In addition, supports can be mounted on the drill
unit itself to receive the pipe sections from pipe handling
device 200. These supports would be positioned on the
spindle axis to align the pipe section directly. These can
be configured to swing away or retract when the carriage on
the drill unit advances in the drilling process. This
would make alignment of axes 24 and 238 less critical and
facilitate mounting the device 200 or loader 222 separate
from the drill unit.
Among the significant advantages of pipe handling
device 200 is its ability to pick up and return a pipe
section to any location within the pipe box. The pipe
loader 222 is also easily movable from one pipe box to
another, an important factor when longer distance boreholes
are drilled. Pipe loader 222 can also be used
independently of pipe box 202 if a source of pipe sections
within reach of the pipe grippers is provided. Further,
the pipe handling device 200 lends itself to retrofitting
on older arill units already in service. Also, the use of
the pivot adjustment stop 266 insures that the extension of
cylinders 244, occurring in a single plane approximately
intersecting and parallel to the spindle axis 24 means that
the operator need only operate this single function to
achieve alignment with the spindle axis. This makes the
process easier to accomplish. Typically, the extension
cylinders will have to have sufficient capability to extend
further than the spindle axis because this extended reach
is necessary to reach the bottom row of pipe sections in
the pipe box.
Although the present invention has been described
with respect to a specific preferred embodiment thereof,
various changes and modifications may be suggested to one
skilled in the art, and it is intended that the present
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invention encompass such changes and modifications as fall
within the scope of the appended claims.
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