CABIN LIFT LOCKING MECHANISM

MECANISME DE VERROUILLAGE DE CABINE DE LEVAGE

English Abstract

A cabin unit mounted on a horizontal platform includes a mechanism for locking the cabin unit when in a raised position above the horizontal platform. The locking mechanism includes an articulated member attached between the cabin unit and the horizontal platform, the articulated member including an upper support arm and a lower support arm coupled at a joint and a cylinder attached between the horizontal support and the articulated member. A cylinder arm is retracted to move the joint of the articulated member to a locked position while the cabin is in a raised position.

French Abstract

L'invention concerne une unité de cabine montée sur une plate-forme horizontale, l'unité comprenant un mécanisme de verrouillage de l'unité de cabine lorsqu'elle se trouve dans une position relevée au-dessus de la plate-forme horizontale. Le mécanisme de verrouillage comprend un élément articulé fixé entre l'unité de cabine et la plate-forme horizontale, l'élément articulé comprenant un bras de support supérieur et un bras de support inférieur couplé au niveau d'une articulation, et un cylindre fixé entre le support horizontal et l'élément articulé. Un bras de cylindre est rétracté afin de faire passer l'articulation de l'élément articulé dans une position verrouillée lorsque la cabine est dans une position relevée.

Claims

8
CLAIMS
1. A coiled tubing unit comprising:
a cabin unit capable of being raised or lowered by a first mechanism relative
to a
horizontal platform of the coiled tubing unit; and
a second mechanism for locking the cabin unit in a raised position above the
horizontal
platform, wherein the second mechanism is operable independent of the first
mechanism, the
second mechanism comprising:
an articulated member attached between the cabin unit and the horizontal
platform, the
articulated member including an upper support arm and a lower support arm
coupled at a joint;
and
a cylinder attached between the horizontal support and the articulated member,
wherein an arm of the cylinder is retracted to move the joint of the
articulated member to
a locked position while the cabin unit is in a raised position.
2. The coiled tubing unit of claim 1, wherein the cylinder of the second
mechanism is
pneumatic.
3. The coiled tubing unit of claim 1, wherein the cylinder of the second
mechanism is
mechanical.
4. The coiled tubing unit of claim 1, wherein the cylinder of the second
mechanism is
hydraulic.
5. The coiled tubing unit of claim 1, wherein the first mechanism comprises
hydraulic
cylinders operable to raise and lower the cabin unit relative to the
horizontal platform.

Description

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CABIN LIFT LOCKING MECHANISM
FIELD
[0001] Embodiments disclosed herein relate to a coiled tubing unit, more
particularly,
a cabin lift locking mechanism.
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY
[0002] A coiled tubing unit dispenses coiled tubing into and out of a wellbore
from a
reel unit. The coiled tubing unit also includes a control center where an
operator is located to
operate the reel unit as coiled tubing is inserted into or taken out of the
wellbore. In certain
instances, the control center is a cabin unit mounted at or near a front end
of the coiled tubing
unit, e.g., a trailer, and the cabin unit is raised to provide the operator a
"birds eye" view of
the operations.
[0003] In one aspect, embodiments disclosed herein relate to a cabin unit
mounted on
a horizontal platform and a mechanism for locking the cabin unit in a raised
position above
the horizontal platform, the mechanism comprising an articulated member
attached between
the cabin unit and the horizontal platform, the articulated member including
an upper support
arm and a lower support arm coupled at a joint, and a cylinder attached
between the
horizontal support and the articulated member, wherein an arm of the cylinder
is retracted to
move the joint of the articulated member to a locked position while the cabin
is in a raised
position.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein,
[0005] Figure 1 illustrates a coiled tubing unit.
[0006] Figure 2A illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of a cabin
unit
locking mechanism in a semi-collapsed position;

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[0007] Figure 2B illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of a cabin
unit
locking mechanism in a locked position;
[0008] Figures 3A-C illustrate side views of multiple positions of a cabin
unit locking
mechanism.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0009] A cabin unit locking mechanism is disclosed. The cabin unit locking
mechanism may be on a coiled tubing unit, for example, as shown in Figure 1.
The coiled
tubing unit may include a complete set of equipment necessary to perform
standard
continuous-length tubing operations in the field. For example, the coiled
tubing unit may
comprise a reel for storage and transport of coiled tubing, an injector head
to provide surface
drive force to run and retrieve coiled tubing, a control cabin from which an
equipment
operator may monitor and control the coiled tubing, and a power pack to
generate hydraulic
and pneumatic power required to operate the coiled tubing unit. The coiled
tubing unit may
further comprise other equipment for continuous-length or coiled tubing
operations in the
field. Moreover, in certain embodiments the coiled tubing unit may comprise
onshore coiled
tubing units such as a truck mounted coiled tubing unit or larger trailer
mounted coiled tubing
units. Still further, in other embodiments the coiled tubing unit may comprise
offshore coiled
tubing units such as those mounted on a lift boat, barge, offshore platform or
any other
offshore structure. The locking mechanism disclosed herein may be used with
any lifting
mechanism on any type of coiled tubing equipment that is or may be raised and
lowered,
including but not limited to, support trailers, offshore cabin skids, and
pumping units.
[0010] A cabin unit may be mounted on or above a horizontal platform mounted
on a
truck or trailer. The locking mechanism disclosed herein is associated with
raising and
lowering of the cabin unit relative to the horizontal platform with hydraulic
cylinders for use
or transport. In the event hydraulic cylinders are used to raise the cabin
unit, the locking

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mechanism fully supports the weight of the cabin unit without the need for
hydraulic pressure
in the lifting cylinders. Thus, a loss of hydraulic power does not adversely
affect the system.
100111 The locking mechanism includes an articulated member. The articulated
member may have a joint coupling first and second arms of the member. For
example, the
joint may include a pin inserted through holes in the arms of the articulated
member, or any
other type of joint. The first arm may be connected to a pivot point (e.g.,
pinned or
otherwise) on the cabin unit at an end opposite the joint. The second arm may
be connected
to a pivot point (e.g., pinned or otherwise) on the horizontal platform at an
end opposite the
joint.
100121 The locking mechanism further includes a cylinder having an extendable
arm.
The cylinder may be attached between the horizontal platform and the
articulated member.
For example, the cylinder may be attached at a pivot point (e.g., pinned or
otherwise) of the
horizontal platform and a pivot point (e.g., pinned or otherwise) on the
second arm of the
articulated member. Alternatively, the cylinder could be attached at a pivot
point (not shown)
on the first arm. In one embodiment, the cylinder may be a hydraulic cylinder
in fluid
communication at any pressure with a hydraulic fluid source. In other
embodiments, the
cylinder may be pneumatic or electric. In yet other embodiments, the cylinder
may be
mechanical. The locking mechanism may include one or more extendable cylinders
and
articulated members on each side of the cabin unit.
100131 Figures 2A-B illustrate perspective views of an embodiment of a cabin
unit
locking mechanism 100. A cabin unit 50 is mounted on or above a horizontal
platform 101
or any commonly known weldment or structure by any means. The locking
mechanism 100
includes an upper arm 102 and a lower arm 104 coupled together, and a cylinder
108 attached
to at least one of the arms. A cabin lift system may include hydraulic
cylinders 55 operable
to raise and lower the cabin unit 50 relative to the horizontal platform 101.
During transport

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or at other times of nonuse, the cabin unit 50 is in the collapsed position
resting on the
horizontal platform 101. Prior to beginning the coiled tubing operations, the
cabin unit is
raised to provide the operator a "birds eye" view of the operations.
[0014] Figures 3A-D illustrate more detailed side views of an embodiment of
the
cabin unit locking mechanism 100 in Figures 2A-B. The locking mechanism 100
includes a
first or upper support arm 102 and a second or lower support arm 104 coupled
at a joint 106.
For example, the joint 106 may include a pin inserted through holes in the
arms of the
articulated member, or any other type of joint. The upper support arm 102 is
connected to a
pivot point 103 (e.g., pinned or otherwise) on the cabin unit at an end
opposite the joint 106.
The lower support arm 104 is connected to a pivot point 105 (e.g., pinned or
otherwise) on
the horizontal platform 101 at an end opposite the joint 106.
[0015] The locking mechanism 100 further includes a cylinder 108 having an
extendable arm 110. The cylinder 108 may be attached between the horizontal
platform 101
and one of the upper arm 102 or the lower arm 104. For example, the cylinder
108 may be
attached at a pivot point 111 (e.g., pinned or otherwise) of the horizontal
platform 101 and a
pivot point 109 (e.g., pinned or otherwise) on the lower arm 104.
Alternatively, the cylinder
108 could be attached at a pivot point (not shown) on the upper arm 102. In
one
embodiment, the cylinder 108 may be a pneumatic cylinder. In other
embodiments, the
cylinder 108 may be hydraulic or electric. In yet other embodiments, the
cylinder 108 may
be mechanical, e.g., a threaded extendable rod. The locking mechanism 100 may
include one
or more extendable cylinders and articulated members on each side of the cabin
unit.
[0016] Figure 3A illustrates a fully collapsed position of the locking
mechanism 100.
The cylinder arm 110 of the cylinder 108 is fully extended and the upper and
lower arms 102,
104 are mechanically folded together in a compact manner. Figure 3B
illustrates a partially
unfolded or extended position of the locking mechanism 100 as the cabin unit
50 is raised by

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the cylinders 55 (Figures 2A-B) of the cabin lift system. As the cabin unit 50
is raised, the
upper and lower arms 102, 104 unfold, and the cylinder arm 110 of the cylinder
108 is
retracted. The cylinder 108 may include an internal spring (not shown) that
increases a
pulling force on the joint 109 to unfold and extend upper and lower arms of
the locking
mechanism 100.
[0017] Figure 3C illustrates a fully unfolded, extended and locked position of
the
locking mechanism 100. When the cabin unit is fully raised, the cylinder arm
110 is fully
retracted and pulls joint 106 between the upper and lower support arms 102,
104 past a
centerline "C" formed along a length of the fully extended upper and lower arm
supports. In
the "over center" position, the upper support arm 102 mechanically engages an
upper end 114
of the lower support arm 104. In the view shown in Figure 3C, the joint 106 is
to the left of
the centerline C in the locked, over center position. With the upper and lower
support arms
locked in place over center, the cabin unit rests on the locking mechanism
joint rather than
the hydraulic lift system used to raise the cabin unit.
[0018] To unlock the locking mechanism, the hydraulic cylinders 55 are
actuated to
raise the cabin unit slightly, and the cylinder arm 110 attached to the upper
and lower support
arms is extended slightly until the joint 106 of the locking mechanism passes
the centerline
"C" (in the direction of arrow "A" in Figure 3C) and the locking mechanism
begins to
mechanically fold. That is, in the view shown in Figure 3C, the joint 106
moves to the right
of the centerline C. The operator then actuates the cabin lift system to lower
the cabin unit.
[0019] Advantageously, embodiments disclosed herein provide a safe and
efficient
automatic locking mechanism to allow the cabin unit to be locked in place
without relying on
the methods or means that were used to raise the cabin. For example, in prior
systems, the
hydraulic lift system, that is hydraulic cylinders, used to raise the cabin
unit also support the
cabin unit while in the raised position. In the event of a hydraulic pressure
loss, the hydraulic

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lift system would no longer support the cabin unit, and the cabin unit may
fall. In another
example of prior systems, the safety locks are rotating steel plates that have
to be manually
positioned after the cabin unit is raised. If the manual mechanical locks are
forgotten and not
moved into position then, in the event of a hydraulic pressure loss, the
hydraulic lift system
no longer supports the cabin unit, and the cabin unit may fall.
[0020] The claimed subject matter is not to be limited in scope by the
specific
embodiments described herein. Indeed, various modifications of the invention
in addition to
those described herein will become apparent to those skilled in the art from
the foregoing
description. Such modifications are intended to fall within the scope of the
appended claims.

Representative Drawing