Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
Ref. No.: RUSTEC-1
PIPE HANDLING APPARATUS
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a pipe handling apparatus and, in
particular, relates to an apparatus for tailing in and racking pipe on a drill
rig.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A conventional land based drilling rig comprises an elevated platform
having four primary sides; the front, the back, the drillers side, and the off-
drillers
side. Generally, the drilling rig equipment buildings are located on ground
level
on the back side (or backyard), the driller's cabin or doghouse, fluid pumps
buildings and other associated buildings are on the driller's side, and
drilling fluid
tanks are on the off-drillers side. The front side is usually free of
equipment,
buildings, etc.
Most land based drilling rigs use a pipe conveying system for moving
tubulars from a horizontal position to a vertical position on the drill floor.
This
system is conventionally positioned along the front side of the rig. The pipe
is
moved to the rig floor using a V-door ramp and catwalk system. An elevator is
used to lift one end of the tubular pipe. The pipe can then be positioned over
well center for drilling or set back in the fingerboard for later use. When
the
upper end of the pipe is lifted by the elevator, the lower end of the pipe is
hanging freely and unsupported. Guide ropes or the like can be used by rig
personnel to manually position the lower end of the pipe. Alternatively, a
tailing
1
CA 3008298 2018-06-15
arm (sometimes called a tail-in arm) can be used to guide the lower portion of
the pipe.
Tailing arms are used to guide the lower end of the pipes while they are
raised by the elevator. Prior art tailing arms are positioned either on the
rig floor
or on the catwalk near the V-door. They generally move by pivoting, sliding,
or
both in one direction, i.e., the direction from the V-door to well center.
Those
tailing arms positioned on the rig floor take up space and present a tripping
hazard for rig personnel. The limited movement of the tailing arms, whether on
the rig floor or the catwalk means they cannot be used to guide the lower ends
of
pipes in the setback or in other pipe handling operations not located over
well
center.
- 2 -
CA 3008298 2018-06-15
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect, the present invention relates to a tailing arm mountable on
a rig mast for guiding pipe to well center.
In another aspect, the present invention relates to a rotatable tailing arm
mountable on a rig mast for guiding pipe from the front side or the drillers
side of
the rig to well center.
In yet another aspect, the present invention relates to a rotatable tailing
arm mountable on a rig mast for guiding pipe to well center and racking pipe
in
the setback.
These and further features and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent from the following detailed description, wherein reference is
made to the figures in the accompanying drawings.
- 3 -
CA 3008298 2018-06-15
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of one embodiment of the tailing arm of
the present invention in one position.
Fig. 2 is a top view of the tailing arm of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the tailing arm of Fig 1.
Fig. 4 is a front elevational view of the tailing arm shown in Fig. 3.
Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines 5-5 of Fig. 1.
Fig. 6 is an elevational view, partly in section of the rotation assemblies of
the tailing arm of the present invention.
Fig. 7 is an environmental view showing the tailing arm of Fig. 1 on a rig
mast in the position for transportation of the rig.
Fig. 8 is a view taken along the lines 8-8 of Fig. 7.
Fig. 9 is an environmental view showing the tailing arm of Fig. 1 in position
for receiving pipe from the drillers side of the rig.
Fig. 10 is a view taken along the lines 10-10 of Fig. 9.
Fig. 11 is an environmental view showing the tailing arm of Fig. 1 in
position for receiving pipe from the front side of the rig.
Fig. 12 is a view taken along the lines 12-12 of Fig. 11. The dotted lines
show the tailing arm in a position for racking pipe.
Fig. 13 is an environmental view showing the tailing arm of Fig. 1 in
position for non-pipe handling operations.
Fig. 14 is a view taken along the lines 14-14 of Fig. 13.
- 4 -
CA 3008298 2018-06-15
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
As used herein, the term "pipe" will be used to refer generally to any
tubular member which may be handled on a rig during drilling, completing
and/or
production operations, including drill pipe, tubing, and casing.
Turning to Fig. 1 there is shown one embodiment of the tailing arm of the
present invention. The tailing arm assembly, shown generally as 10, includes a
housing 12, a mount 14 for attaching the tailing arm assembly 10 to the mast
of
a drill rig, and an arm assembly 20. Housing 12 has upper wall 11, lower wall
13,
and holds first and second rotation assemblies, the details and operation of
which will be described more fully hereafter.
Arm assembly 20 is generally made up of first arm 22, second arm 24,
and third arm or wrist 26. First arm 22 is rotatably connected to housing 12.
There is an elbow joint 28 between first arm 22 and second arm 24. As shown in
Fig. 2, elbow 28 comprises two spaced plates 28A and 28B. Plates 28A and
28B are pivotally connected to first arm 22 by pin 29. A first piston/cylinder
assembly 30 is disposed between first arm 22 proximate housing 12 and elbow
joint 28. As seen in Fig. 3, piston rod 32 of first piston assembly 30 extends
and
retracts to pivot second arm 24 relative to first arm 22. In a preferred
embodiment, piston rod 32 is pivotally connected to elbow 28 by pin 31. It
will be
understood that piston rod 32 may be connected directly to second arm 24 by
means well known to those skilled in the art. Piston assembly 30 is connected
at
its upper end to first arm 22 via bracket 33 and pin 35.
- 5 -
CA 3008298 2018-06-15
In a preferred embodiment, and as shown in Fig. 1, second arm 24
comprises a telescoping arm with inner arm 25 extending out of second arm 24.
A second piston/cylinder assembly 34 is connected to second arm 24 and inner
arm 25 by means well known to those of skill in the art. Piston rod 36 of
piston
assembly 34 is connected to and operative to extend and retract inner arm 25.
Figs 3, 7, and 13 show arm assembly 20 with inner arm 25 in the fully
retracted
position. As shown in Fig. 1, while the telescoping of second arm 24 is
accomplished with a single inner arm 25, the same may be accomplished with a
plurality of decreasingly sized arms / arm segments which telescopically nest
in
one another.
First and second piston assemblies 30 and 34 can be hydraulic,
pneumatic, or mechanically operated in a manner well known to those skilled in
the art. In a preferred embodiment, first and second piston assemblies 30 and
34
are hydraulic.
Wrist 26 is pivotally connected to inner arm 25 of arm assembly 20. It will
be understood that in an embodiment in which arm 24 does not telescope, wrist
26 would be pivotally connected to arm 24. Wrist 26 pivots around pin 39 by
means of a hydraulic rotary actuator shown generally as 38.
As seen in Fig. 5, a roller 40 is mounted on the end of wrist 26. Roller 40
has a cylinder in which is disposed rod 42. Roller 40 is supported on rod 42
by a
plurality of radial bearings 45 which allow roller 40 to rotate freely about
rod 42.
Rod 42 is connected to wrist 26 by connection rod 27. Alternatively, rod 42
may
- 6 -
CA 3008298 2018-06-15
connect directly to wrist 26. The outer surface of roller 40 is generally
hourglass
shaped to accommodate and cradle the pipes as they are lifted.
Turning now to Fig. 2, there is shown the range of rotation of arm 22. Arm
22 can rotate to move arm assembly 20 through 1800 of rotation. While the arm
position is shown in phantom at points 900 apart, it will be understood that
the
rotation can stop anywhere along the 180 travel path. Similarly, wrist 26 can
pivot through a full 180 range relative to arm 24.
Turning to Figs. 3 and 4, there is shown the tailing arm assembly 10 with
piston rod 32 extended and piston rod 36 retracted. It will be understood that
arm assembly 20 can be pivoted further in the direction of arrow A by pivoting
piston assembly 30 downwardly while extending piston rod 32.
Fig. 6 shows first and second rotation or drive assemblies 60 and 90,
respectively. First rotation assembly 60 drives the rotation of arm 22 of arm
assembly 20. Second rotation assembly 90 drives the rotation of housing 12.
Positioned above housing 12 is motor box 65 having a motor (not shown) of a
type well known to those skilled in the art.
First rotation assembly 60 includes first drive shaft 62 which extends
through upper wall 11 of housing 12 into motor box 65, and down through lower
wall 13 of housing 12 into first gear housing 64. First gear housing 64 can be
affixed to lower wall 13 by welding or other well known means. Disposed within
first gear housing 64 are gear 66 and slewing ring 68. Slewing ring 68 is made
up of outer ring 68A and inner ring 68B. There are a plurality of
circumferentially
spaced ball bearings 68C between outer ring 68A and inner ring 68B. A
plurality
- 7 -
CA 3008298 2018-06-15
of circumferentially spaced bolts 69 extend through inner ring 68B and through
lower wall 13 of housing 12.
Positioned below first gear housing 64 is first plate 70. Plate 70 is
connected to outer ring 68A by a plurality of screws 72 which extend through
bores 74 in plate 70 and into threaded blind bores 76 in outer ring 68A.
Washers or other spacers 78 may be positioned between plate 70 and outer ring
68A. First arm 22 is affixed to plate 70 by welding or other means well known
to
those skilled in the art.
To rotate arm 22, the motor (not shown) turns drive shaft 62 and first gear
66 which in turn, engages with and drives outer ring 68A. As outer ring 68A
rotates, plate 70, and thus arm 22 are rotated. Inner ring 68B is held in
place by
bolts 69. In preferred embodiments, first rotation assembly 60 includes an
encoder 80 which tracks the rotational position of arm 22 to improve the
control
and precision of the operation.
It will be appreciated that the embodiment shown in Fig. 6 of the first
rotation assembly is a preferred embodiment. Slewing ring 68 may be replaced
with a single gear which is held by bolts 72 and which rotates plate 70 and
arm
22 when engaged by first gear 66.
Second rotation assembly 90 is similar in some respects to first rotation
assembly 60. Drive shaft 92 extends through upper and lower walls 11 and 13 of
housing 12 into second gear housing 94. Third gear 96 and fourth gear or
slewing ring 98 are disposed in housing 94. Slewing ring 98 is made up of
outer
ring 98A and inner ring 98B. There is a plurality of circumferentially spaced
ball
- 8 -
CA 3008298 2018-06-15
bearings 98C positioned between rings 98A and 98B. Below gear housing 94 is
a second plate 100 which is connected to outer ring 98A by screws 102 which
extend through bores 104 in plate 100 and into threaded blind bores 106 in
outer
ring 98A. Washers or other spacers 107 may separate plate 100 from outer ring
98A. There are a plurality of circumferentially spaced bolts 99 which extend
through inner ring 98B and through lower wall 13 of housing 12.
Plate 100 has an annular opening 109 through which extends piston
chamber 110. Piston chamber can be affixed to plate 100 by welding or other
means. Piston assembly 120 includes piston rod 122 and piston 124. Piston
124 has a plurality of circumferentially spaced bores 126 through which extend
pins 128. Inner ring 98B and lower wall 13 of housing 12 each have bores in
register with bores 126. When piston rod 122 is extended, piston 124 is pushed
up and pins 128 pass through the bores in inner ring 98B and wall 13 into
housing 12.
To rotate housing 12, piston 124 is first lowered so that pins 128 are
retracted down into piston chamber 110. The motor (not shown) turns drive
shaft
92 and first gear 96 which in turn, engages with and drives outer ring 98A.
Unlike in the first rotation assembly, outer ring 98A is connected to plate
100
which does not rotate. Screws 102 hold outer ring 98A in position relative to
fixed plate 100. Because outer ring 98A is not free to turn, instead inner
ring
98B turns. Bolts 99 which extend through inner ring 98B and lower wall 13 of
housing 12 cause housing 12 to turn along with inner ring 98B. Once housing 12
is rotated into position, piston 124 can be activated again to raise pins 128
to
- 9 -
CA 3008298 2018-06-15
extend through inner ring 98B and lower wall 13 of housing 12. In this
position,
pins 128 prevent further rotation of inner ring 98B and housing 12.
In a preferred embodiment, piston 124 has four pins 128 spaced
symmetrically 900 from each other. With this configuration, housing 12 can
move 90 and then be locked in position again. The invention is not so limited
though and can include varying number of pins such that housing 12 can be
locked in position at different angles.
In preferred embodiments, second rotation assembly 90 includes an
encoder 130 to track the rotational position of housing 12 and improve the
control and precision of the operation.
Turning now to Figs. 7-14, there is shown the tailing arm 10 of the present
invention mounted on a rig mast M. The various orientations/configurations of
the tailing arm 10 are shown. It will be appreciated that in the various views
of
Figs. 7-14, the tailing arm 10 is always mounted in the same position on the
mast. The drillers side D, front side F, and off-drillers side OD are labeled
for
clarification. In Figs. 7 and 8, the tailing arm 10 is shown in a
configuration for
transportation. Housing 12 is rotated to extend toward the drillers side D of
the
rig. Arm assembly 20 is rotated to be positioned generally over well center.
Piston rod 32 is extended so that arm assembly 20 extends substantially
straight
down.
In Figs. 9 and 10, the tailing arm 10 is shown in a position to receive pipe
from the drillers side D of the rig. Housing 12 is rotated to extend toward
the
front side F of the rig. Arm assembly 20 extends toward the drillers side D.
As
- 10 -
CA 3008298 2018-06-15
best seen in Fig. 9, piston rod 32 is retracted while piston rod 36 is
extended.
The catwalk (not shown) would be positioned on the drillers side D. In
operation,
pipe lifted by the elevator (not shown) passes over tailing arm 10, in
particular
over roller 40. When the elevator has lifted the pipe to a desired height, and
the
pipe is resting on roller 40, piston rod 32 extends to pivot arm assembly 20
downwardly and thereby guide the lower end of pipe until the pipe is in a
generally vertical position. By guiding the lower end of the pipe downward,
the
tailing arm prevents the pipe from swinging freely and causing damage or
injury
to the rig or personnel, respectively. It will be understood that the starting
position shown in Fig. 9 is one such example. The exact angle and rotation of
the tailing arm can be adjusted as needed.
Turning to Figs. 11 and 12 there is shown the tailing arm 10 in position for
receiving pipe from the front side F of the rig. Housing 12 is rotated to
extend
toward the drillers side D. Arm assembly 20 extends toward front side F.
Again,
when the pipe is lifted to the desired height, piston rod 32 extends to pivot
arm
assembly downward and guide the pipe on roller 40 into a generally vertical
position. Fig. 12 also shows in phantom how arm assembly 20 can be rotated by
first rotation assembly 60 to guide the pipe resting on roller 40 to the
setback
area to be racked. It will be appreciated that Fig. 12 is showing one example
of
using the tailing arm for racking pipe in a setback. The orientation /
configuration
of the tailing arm 10 can be changed as needed.
Finally, turning to Figs. 13 and 14, there is shown the tailing arm 10 in a
stored position for rig operations which do not require pipe handling. Unlike
prior
-11 -
-
CA 3008298 2018-06-15
art tailing arms which are positioned on the rig floor, the tailing arm 10 of
the
present invention can be moved out of the way of the rig floor. Thus, housing
12
extends out over the off-drillers side OD. Both piston rods 32 and 36 are
fully
retracted, thereby pulling the arm up and in to its smallest configuration.
This
allows rig personnel to undertake various activities on the rig floor without
interference from tailing arm 10.
Although not shown in the Figures, it will be appreciated that the various
parts of the tailing arm assembly of the present invention can be connected to
and controlled by a programmable logic controller (PLC), remotely controlled
system, or other control system well known to those skilled in the art.
Although specific embodiments of the invention have been described
herein in some detail, this has been done solely for the purposes of
explaining
the various aspects of the invention, and is not intended to limit the scope
of the
invention as defined in the claims which follow. Those skilled in the art will
understand that the embodiment shown and described is exemplary, and various
other substitutions, alterations and modifications, including but not limited
to
those design alternatives specifically discussed herein, may be made in the
practice of the invention without departing from its scope.
- 12 -
CA 3008298 2018-06-15
