Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02231930 1998-03-11
SUCKER ROD CRADLE APPARATUS
Field of the Invention
This invention relates in general to sucker rods used in oil well recovery and
more particularly to a sucker rod cradle apparatus for handling, storing and
transporting sucker rods.
Backf;round of the Invention
Sucker rods are typical:ly used in oil well pumping operations to stroke or
drive the pump located near thel bottom of the well bore and subsequently
facilitate the
withdi-awa1 of oil from the production zone or reservoir. Several such rods
must be
coupled together to form a sucker rod string and therefore, dependent on the
depth,
large numbers of such rods must be handled, stored and transported to various
oil well
sites on a regular basis.
A common method for the handling, storage and transporting of sucker rods
comprises layering and stacking the sucker rods between wooden boards
approximately 2.5" wide by 30" in length with each board having grooves to
space
and hold a capacity of 15 rods. The boards are spaced at five standardized
increments
along the length of a sucker rod. which is typically 25 feet. Subsequent
layers or tiers
of 15 irods each are then added by using another five boards along the length
of the rod
directly above the lower five boards. A typical bundle of 60 sucker rods
comprising
four layers or tiers of 15 rods each is produced in this manner. The final
step is the
addition of a fifth top board to each column of boards in such a manner that
the 15
grooves fit into the top tier of rods. The five columns of five boards each
are then
strapped together using steel banding.
While such a method is widely used for bundling, handling, storing and
transporting sucker rods, bundling the rods in this manner does little to
protect the
suckei- rods from damage. The ends of the sucker rods have no protection other
than
to the threaded areas, which have thread protectors, and are particularly
prone to
bending because of their projection through the end of the bundle.
Furthermore, this
method is labor intensive, requires specialty equipment is required to move,
load or
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CA 02231930 2006-05-19
unload the sucker rods and does not provide a means to contain contaminants
which drip off any used rods being removed from the well.
Another method for bundling, handling, storing and transporting sucker
rods is without the use of any type of spacers. In this method 25 to 50 plain
rods
are simply bundled together. This method does not work well if guides or
scrapers
have been molded onto the rod body. Although this method minimizes the
potential of bending a plain rod, it is also prone to the same problems and
disadvantages encountered by the banding method employing wooden boards as
described previously. In addition, the metal to metal contact between the
sucker
rods themselves can cause damage.
It is therefore an object of an aspect of the present invention to obviate or
mitigate at least one of the aforesaid disadvantages that are associated with
the
currently known and used methods for handling, storing and transporting any
new,
used or reconditioned sucker rods.
Summary of the Invention
According to the present invention a novel apparatus has been developed
for the handling, storage and transporting of sucker rods. The apparatus
overcomes
the disadvantages of the previously used methods for bundling, handling,
storing
and transporting sucker rods. The present apparatus significantly enhances the
protection of all sucker rods placed within from damage and also provides a
level
of contamination containment far greater than is currently being practised by
the
oil industry in general when removing used rods from a well. Although the
apparatus of the present invention allows for the use of steel banding to make
individual bundles of rods, it is not necessary to band the rods. As a result
the
apparatus makes it possible to store, add or remove and transport sucker rods
without the need to unbundle or rebundle any rods. This significantly reduces
the
amount of labour and related costs currently required to handle the rods.
According to an aspect of the present invention a sucker rod cradle is
provided for the storage, handling and transportation of rods, the apparatus
comprises in combination:
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CA 02231930 2006-05-19
- a base frame comprising a pocket means for engagement by
corresponding fork means of a forklift for handling and moving of said
cradle apparatus;
- a plurality of paired upright cradle arms spaced at intervals on opposed
sides along the length of the base frame, the cradle arms extending
substantially perpendicular to the base frame rods stacked therein;
- wherein each pair of upright cradle arms has continuous elongate vertical
channels open towards each other for receiving sucker rod spacer means
to individually space and layer the rods and to receive bundle spacer
means for spacing bundles of rods.
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sucker
rod
cradle apparatus for storage, handling and transportation of rods, the
apparatus
comprising:
- a base frame comprising parallel spaced apart interconnected beams
having pocket means in at least one of said beams for engagement with a
corresponding fork of a lift truck for handling and moving of said cradle
apparatus;
- a plurality of paired upright cradle arms spaced at intervals on opposed
sides along the length of the base frame, each pair of upright cradle arms
has continuous elongate vertical channels open towards each other to
receive sucker rod spacer means to individually space and layer the rods
and to receive bundle spacer means for spacig bundles of rods, the cradle
arms extending substantially perpendicular to the base frame to retain rods
stacked therein; and
- cradle transport means attached adjacent to each end of the base frame for
attachment of a lifting apparatus.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
sucker
rod cradle apparatus for storage, handling and transportation of rods, the
apparatus
comprising:
- a base frame comprising parallel spaced apart interconnected beams;
- a plurality of paired upright cradle arms spaced at intervals on opposed
sides along the length of the base frame, the cradle arms extending
substantially perpendicular to the base frame to retain rods stacked therein;
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CA 02231930 2006-05-19
each pair of upright cradle arms has continuous elongate vertical channels
open towards each other to receive sucker rod spacer means to individually
space and layer the rods and to receive bundle spacer means for spacing
bundles of rods; and
- collection means providing in the base frame to collect contaminants
dripping from rods positioned in said cradle.
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sucker
rod
cradle apparatus for the storage, handling and transportation of rods, the
apparatus
comprising in combination:
- a base frame comprising a pocket means for engagement by
corresponding fork means of a forklift for handling and moving of said
cradle apparatus;
- a plurality of paired upright cradle arms spaced at intervals on opposed
sides along the length of the base frame, the cradle arms extending
substantially perpendicular to the base frame to retain rods stacked therein;
- wherein each pair of upright cradle arms has continuous elongate vertical
channels open towards each other to receive sucker rod spacer means to
individually space and layer the rods and to receive bundle spacer means
for spacing bundles of rods, said bundle spacer means comprises a
substantially elongated rectangular shaped member having ends which fit
within the channels on the cradle arms, said bundle spacer means
additionally comprises a pair of horizontally opposed spaced apart flat bars
attached to said spacer to provide a gap through which a banding means
may be passed to band a bundle of sucker rods.
Brief Description of the Drawings
A detailed description of the preferred embodiments are provided herein
below with reference to the following drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a sucker rod cradle apparatus in
accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the apparatus in accordance with the
preferred embodiment of the present invention;
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CA 02231930 2006-05-19
Figure 3 is an vertical sectional view of the cradle anns, base frame and
drip pan profile in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present
invention;
Figures 4A and B are horizontal and vertical sectional views of the lifting
bars in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view of the interconnecting beam and the
cradle arm base pocket in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the
present invention;
Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional view of a cradle arm in accordance with
the preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 7 is a perspective view showing a sucker rod cradle apparatus in
accordance with the second embodiment of the invention;
Figure 8A is a side elevational view and detail of the apparatus in
accordance with the second embodiment of the invention;
Figure 8B is a detail side view of the fork lift pockets;
Figure 9 is a vertical sectional view of the cradle arms and base frame in
accordance with the second embodiment of the invention;
Figure 10 is a horizontal sectional view and detail of the loading apparatus
in accordance with the second embodiment of the invention;
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CA 02231930 1998-03-11
Figure 11 is a vertical sectional view of the interconnecting beam and the
cradle arm base pocket in accordance with the second embodiment of the
invention;
Figure 12 is a horizontal sectional view of a cradle arm in accordance with
the
second embodiment of the invention;
Figure 13 is a side elevational view of the sucker rod spacer in accordance
with both the first and second embodirnents of the invention;
Figure 14 is a horizontal sectional view of the bundle spacer in accordance
with both the present and second embodiments of the invention; and
Figure 15 is a partial pe:rspective view of rods stored in the cradle.
In the drawings, preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way
of example. It is to be expressly understood that the description and drawings
are
only for the purpose of illustrat:ion and as an aid to understanding and are
not intended
as a definition of the limits of the invention.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments
The sucker rod cradle apparatus 10 according to the present invention is shown
in Figures 1 and 2 . The apparatus comprises a base frame which in accordance
with
this particular embodiment has spaced apart parallel beams 12 and 14,
interconnected
by a plurality of cross members 24. It is appreciated that the base frame may
be
constructed in other ways to provide a base or platform on which the rods are
stacked.
The base frame may be slightly longer than the length of the sucker rods, this
being
approximately 25 feet. The base frame, in particular, the spaced apart beams
12 and
14 preferably have aligned pairs of pockets 16 and 18 within inverted channels
17
and 19. In this view the drip pans 15 are removed except for the one covering
channel 19. These pockets 16 and 18 are designed to engage with corresponding
forks
on a fork lift and provide a quick and easy method of handling and moving the
cradle.
The apparatus has a plui-ality of upright cradle arms 20 spaced at
substantially
regular intervals along the length of and connected to the base frame. The
cradle arms
20 extend perpendicular from the beams 12 and 14 preferably at the cross
members
24, and are designed to contain the vertical columns of sucker rods spacers 30
and
optional bundle spacers 28 of Figures 13 and 14. The cradle arms 20 have
opposing
channels 22 for receiving the erids of corresponding sucker rod spacers 30 and
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CA 02231930 1998-03-11
optior.ial bundle spacers 28. The chamiels allow one to slide the spacers down
through
the opposing members and capture the spacer ends as rods are placed thereon.
This
arrangement is described in more detail with regard to Figure 15.
As seen in Figure 3, the vertical cradle arms 20 have a horizontal reinforcing
base member 24, a plurality of vertically opposing channel members 22, and a
pluralLity of horizontally opposing chaimel members 25 on top of which and
within
which the first rod spacer and subsequently the first layer or tier of sucker
rods is
placecl. The horizontal base members 24 are located between and preferably
welded
to beams 12 and 14. The horizontally opposing channel members 25 are located
at the
1o base of, between and adjacent to the vertical cradle arms 20 and directly
below the
vertically opposing channels 22 forming the base pocket. In addition a drip
pan 15,
as also shown in Figure 1, is located in a recessed position between and
adjacent
beams 12 and 14 and within each segmented length created by the plurality of
horizontal base members 24. T'he pan has a plugged drain hole 13.
As shown in Figure 1, tl:ie drip pan 15 is recessed between and along the
length
of beams 12 and 14 and acts to help contain any contaminating material that
may drip
from iised rods when placed in the cradle apparatus. Such contaminating
materials
include but are not limited to oil and oil derivatives. The drip pans 15 can
be of
various widths and lengths in order to be mounted to the cradle apparatus. It
is
understood by those skilled in the art, that several drip pans in succession
can be
positioned between arms 20 alang the entire length of the cradle apparatus.
Alternatively, a single elongated drip pan can be mounted to the cradle
apparatus.
Each pan has a plugged drain hole 13 shown also in Figure 3 to permit draining
of any
liquid contaminants into a suitable reservoir.
As seen in Figures 4A and B, the pivoting U-shaped lifting arms 23 or 26 is
mounted through and to the outside of beams 12 and 14 to permit in the
alternative,
moving the cradle with a crane. Each respective lifting bars 23 and 26 can
rotate
toward the center of the cradle apparatus in order to be easily attached to a
crane or
picker using relatively short cables or slings. 'The pivoting lifting bars 23
and 26 can
also rotate out, over and past the ends of the cradle apparatus in order to
facilitate the
placerrient of, or removal of sucker rocis and in this position provide
additional
protection to the ends of the rods. Each dependent arm 29 of the U-shaped
lifting bars
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CA 02231930 1998-03-11
is anchored pivotally to the beams 12 and 14 by pins 27 which pass through
independent sleeves 32 and 39 permanently fastened within their respective
members.
Each pin 27 is then held in place using a nut, bolt and washer assembly 33.
As seen in Figure 5, the horizontal reinforcing base member 24 has
horizontally opposing channel inembers 25 in which the first sucker rod spacer
30 is
placed. The horizontally opposing channels 25 can accommodate banding (if
desired)
by passing the banding beneath the spacer 30 and through the depressed portion
or
banding gap 27.
Figure 6 illustrates the banding slot 21 located between the cradle arms 20
and
1o the opposing channels 22.
Referring now to Figure 14, a bundle spacer 28 is illustrated. The bundle
spacer is a substantially elongated rectangular shaped member having ends
which fit
into the vertically opposing channels 22 on the cradle arms 20. The bundle
spacer 28
also iricludes flat bars 35 welded spaced apart in the base of the spacer so
when sucker
rod spacer is positioned in the bundle spacer 28, the flat bars 35 provide a
gap through
which banding may pass when fabricating a bundle. These bundle spacer can be
used
to separate an appropriate number of tiers of sucker rods if desired. The
number of
tiers of rods being typically twelve to sixteen as capacity for each cradle.
Figure 13 shows a sucker rod spacer 30 which is also elongated and
2o rectangular and designed to fit within the vertically opposing channels 22
of the cradle
arms 20 and as well in the base of the bundle spacer 28. The sucker rod spacer
30 has
a plurality of grooves 32 along one longitudinal surface in which the sucker
rods are
set resulting in even placement and spacing so that the sucker rods are
independently
spaced and therefore do not touch each other. In this manner they are not
damaged.
Preferably, the sucker rod spacer has 15 grooves in which an equivalent number
of
sucker rods can be placed. However, it is understood by those skilled in the
art that
the sucker rod spacer can be made with larger diameter or smaller diameter
grooves to
accommodate a fewer or a greater number of rods per tier.
A second embodiment of the invention is shown in Figure 7. In this
embodiment the base frame has beams made from interconnected spaced apart
members 34 and 36 as shown again in Figure 8A. The spaced apart members 34 and
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CA 02231930 1998-03-11
36 have aligned pairs of pockets 16 and 18 within inverted channels 17 and 19
as
detailed in Figure 8B.
As seen in Figure 9, the cradle arms 20 have a pair of spaced apart horizontal
reinforcing base members 40 and 42 on top of which the first sucker rod spacer
and
subsequent first tier of sucker rods is placed. 'These spaced apart horizontal
reinforcing base members are themselves reinforced with a vertical spacer
member 46
located substantially at the center of base members 40 and 42.
As seen in Figure 10A, there are no pivoting arms mounted on the outside of
the beams 34 and 36. Instead,l:he ends of the beams 34 and 36 are integral and
connected by a bracket 41 as per Figure l OB to a horizontal bar 38 onto which
a
lifting apparatus such as a winch line can be attached. The bracket 41 has a
rounded
recess 43 and brace 45 welded to bar 38 to complete the connection. The
horizontal
bar projects beyond the rod ends to protect the ends of the sucker rods
stacked within
the apparatus.
As seen in Figure 11, the horizontal reinforcing base member 40 is an upright
channel member in which the first sucker rod spacer 30 is inserted. The
upright
channel accommodates banding (if desired) by passing the banding beneath the
spacer
30 and through opening 41 defined by spaced apart flat bar 49.
Figure 12 illustrates the banding slot 21 contained within the cradle arm 20
of
the second embodiment.
In operation and with reference to Figure 15, a first layer of sucker rods
rest on
spacer 30 with grooves 32 facirig up, are positioned one into each of the five
base
pockets on top of each cross member 25 and between the vertical channels 22
created
by the cradle arms incrementally positioned along the entire length of the
beams. A
first laryer 50 or tier comprising fifteen sucker rods in total is placed into
the grooves
of each of the five sucker rod spacers 30. Another layer of sucker rod spacers
30, also
with the grooves 32 facing up, are then positioned between the channels 22 of
the
cradle arms 20 on top of the firat tier of rods. A second layer 52 or tier of
sucker rods
is theri set into the grooves of the second layer of sucker rod spacers 30.
This process
is repeated until the cradle reaches its capacity of 180 to 240 sucker rods.
If desired
option.al bundle spacers 28 may be inserted after the completion of every
fourth layer
or tier of sucker rods in a similar fashion as the sucker rod spacers so as to
facilitate
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CA 02231930 1998-03-11
the capability of bundling. A total of three to four bundles 54 comprising 60
sucker
rods each can be placed within the cradle arms.
Although the apparatus of the present invention is designed to stack and hold
approximately 180 to 240 rods, it is understood by those skilled in the art
that the
apparatus can be made larger oi- smaller to accommodate a fewer or greater
number of
rods or accommodate shorter oi-longer types of rods. It is also understood by
those
skilleci in the art that the apparatus can hold a variety of rods including
plain, coated,
guided or tapered rods all with the same efficiency, ease and protection.
The apparatus can be made of any type of metal or metal alloy. It is preferred
1o that the apparatus be made of sl:eel or similar material. The beams, cradle
arms, lifting
arms and all of the other elements of the apparatus are preferably welded
together in
order for the apparatus to be strong and sturdy.
In summary, the novel sucker rod cradle apparatus of the present invention is
consiclered to be in accordance with the recommendations and specifications
contained in the American Petroleum Institutes manuals A.P.I. 11-B and 11-BR
for
the ca:re and handling of oilfield sucker rods and should therefore be
considered as a
unique, device for handling, stoi:-ing and transporting sucker rods. The
design of the
apparatus provides protection to both the sucker rods and the environment,
from
damage and contamination respectively, and has the engineered capacity to hold
and
transport at one time up to four times the normal number of rods without the
risk of
damage to any rods. In addition, the apparatus has built-in methods by which
it can
be moved, loaded or unloaded, thus eliminating the need for additional
specialized
handling equipment. This unique apparatus eliminates the need to bundle rods
which
in turn makes the handling of the rods easier, faster and more cost efficient.
The
apparatus however does, if required, allow for the creation of bundles all of
which will
be to the same standard spacing and dimensions. As a result any bundles of
rods
removed from the apparatus will be stackable in the preferred "board on board"
method when stacking bundles.
While embodiments of ithe present invention have been illustrated and
described in detail it will be evident to those skilled in the art that
variations and
modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit or scope
of the
invention or the claims appended hereto.
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