Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
104~485
Background of the Invention. In the production of hy-
drocarbons from underground formatlons located in Alaska, Canada,
Peru, Indonesia, and any region where ground transportation is re-
stricted or non-existent during all or part of the year, and in
drilling for oil from offshore locations, and in remote ~ungle lo-
cations, it often becomes necessary to transport by air the mate-
rials and equipment needed to drill and explore for the oil.
Due to the cumbersome size and weight of the equipment
comprising the average drilling rig, much of the rig must be tedi-
ously disassembled piece-by-piece and flown in by large air trans-
port. This normally requires disassembly of the heavy chain drive
units, the final drive unit, and the drawworks for movement to the
drilling site. This requires a timely and expensive reassembly at
the site with a complicated realignment of the reassembled machin-
ery. It often necessitates disassembly of each of the chain case
assemblies which means draining of the oil and extensive protection
to prevent contamination of the chains and sprockets with dirt,
water, and other debris. Then the chain cases must be reassembled
on site, often a task near impossible in subzero blizzard conditions
or during heavy storms at sea.
Even though the art has progressed enough to place many
individual components each on their own portable skid, these must
be moved by ship to offshore locations or by large air transport to
northern regions because of their extreme weight.
When weather conditions or lack of roads and airfields
prevent the use of ships or airplanes, the driller must resort to
helicopter transportation of the rigs which requires that each of
the usual skid packages must be broken down even further due to the
relatively light carrying capacity of the helicopters available.
This cancels the portability advantage of the normal skid units
since reassembly of their components requires almost as much time
as that of the older rigs did. ~
- 1048485
The present invention overcomes the limitations
of the prior devices by providing a portable drilling rig
engine and transmission compound, comprising: a plurality
of prime movers arranged in a plurality of sets of sub-
stantially parallel units; a skid unit for each of the
prime movers, with the skid unit having requisite cooling,
fuel, and power transmission means thereon operably con-
nectable to said prime mover; the prime movers being dis-
connectable from each of the associated skid units to
facilitate separate movement thereof by helicopter, and the
prime movers and the skid units each being easi.ly discon-
nectable, transportable and reconnectable as portable sub-
components; a plurality of power transfer systems each being
an integral self-contained unit having power input means,
power output means, and power transfer means between the
input and output means, each of the power transfer systems
being easily mountable components positionable between
associated skid units and interconnectable for use with at
least one of the power transmission means and arranged to
receive power from at least one transmission means through
the power input means and operable to transmit it ~hrough
- the power output means; the plurality of power transfer
systems being easily removable from the associated skid units,
disconnectable from the drilling rig compound such that the
plurality of power transfer systems can be transported as
self-contained units by helicopter and easily remounted and
reconnected for use; the plurality of power transfer systems
being arranged to transfer power from the plurality of prime
movers to a single output station for operation of a drilling
rig drawworks.
-~ ~ mb/ ~ -
. ~.. .
1~48485
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a plan view of the drilling rig layout;
Figure 2 is a side view of the main drum assembly;
Figure 3 is an end view of the main drum assembly
and a portion of the power drive assembly;
Figure 4 is an axial end view of the main brake
assembly;
Figure 5 is a front view of the main brake equalizing
linkage;
Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the main drum
brake assembly;
. Figure 7 is a partially cut-away view of the align-
ment mechanism on the chain case assemblies.
.... . ... ..... . ... ... . . .. . . .. . . . . .. .
DES~RIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODI~ENTS
- .
The present invention comprises a drilling rig
comprised of component packages each of which i6 an integral
unit transportable by helicopter to the
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mb/~ - 2a -
104848S
drilling site and easily reassimilated into a drilling rig of al-
most any capacity desirable. The number of prime movers may be in-
creased or decreased without difficulty and without changing the
portability of the unit.
Figure 1 illustrates the unique structure and layout of
the compound 10 and the drawworks and the components making up
these assemblies. In the figure, a compound is shown utilizing
six internal combustion engines for power, arranged in a unique
compact arrangement particularly suited for offshore rigs and
mountainous areas or any place where space is at a premium.
In the compound 10, half of the engines (11, 12, and 13)
are aligned adjacent to each other and the other half of the engines
(14, 15, and 16) lie ad~acent to each other opposite engines 11, 12,
and 13. As pictured, the engines will provide rotary power through
transmissions attached thereto, with the transmissions lla, 12a,
and 13a engaged in forward speeds while the transmissions 14a, 15a
and 16a are engaged in reverse. Since all the engines rotate in
the same direction initially, by having half of them opposed to the
other half, three of the transmissions must run in reverse to ob-
tain all final rotation in the same direction.
Engines 11 and 12, working through their transmissions,
drive propeller shafts llb and 12b which, acting through disconnect-
able couplings llc and 12c, turn sprocket shafts lld and 12d. The
sprocket shafts are permanently mounted in bearings 17 which in
turn are secured in the side of the chain case 18. The sprocket
shafts lld and 12d extend laterally through the chain case 18
through bearings 19 securedly attached in the opposite wall of the
chain case. Each of the shafts lld and 12d carry chain drive
sprockets 20 and 21 thereon inside the chain case 18. The chain
drive sprockets 20 on shaft lld are drivably connected to the
sprockets 21 on shaft 12d by roller drive chains 22.
104848S
Sprocket shaft lld extends through a bearing 19 and has
keyed thereon a multiple V-belt drive pulley or sheaves 23 for
driving V-belts to mudpumps elsewhere on the rig (not shown). A
clutch 24 is located at the end of the shaft lld to engage and dis-
engage the mudpumps from shaft lld.
Shaft 12d extends through a chain case bearing 19 andcarries at its end a disconnectable coupling 25 also connected to
an intermediate propeller shaft 26 which in turn is attached to a
disconnectable clutch 27.
The location, assembly and operation of engines 14 and
15, and chain case 28 is an identical mirror image of that of
engines 11 and 12 except for the direction of rotation which is
reversed in transmissions 14a and 15a to correspond to the rota-
tional direction of engines 11 and 12. A similar mudpump drive
assembly 29 is also driven from engine 14. Likewise, chain case 28
drives through an intermediate shaft 30 and clutch 31 to work with
shaft 26 and drive a sprocket shaft 32 extending through chain case
33 in side-wall bearings 34 similar to bearings 17 and 19.
Thus, it can be seen that, other than the power take-off
to the mudpumps through sheaves 23 and 29, the combined power out-
put of engines 11, 12, 14, and 15 ends up driving sprocket shaft 32
in chain case 33. This in turn drives a sprocket shaft 35 in chain
case 33 which shaft is also driven by engine 13 through transmission
13a and propeller shaft 36. At the opposite end of sprocket shaft
35' which shaft turns in bearings 37 secured in the side of case 33,
is connected an intermediate propeller shaft 38 coupled to another
sprocket shaft 39 which is held by bearings 40 in an input chain
case 41. The power from engines 11 through 15 is coupled through
the propeller shaft 42 with the power of engine 16 and transmitted
from sprocket shaft 39 via roller chains in the input case 41 to
the input drive shaft 43 passing through case 41 in sidewall bear-
ings 44.
1C~4848S
The total power flow from all of the prime movers 11-16,
except that which is provided through the power take-off to the
mudpumps, is routed to the input shaft 43 in chain case 41 from
whence it moves through a split transmission into the drum drive
5 case 45 to power the main drum assembly 46.
The split transmission comprises a high speed transmis-
sion 47 driven off one end of shaft 43 and a low speed transmission
48 driven off of the opposite end of shaft 43. The two transmis-
sions 47 and 48 operating through clutches 49 and 50, respectively,
are connected to the drum drive shaft 51 which is connected via rol-
ler chains in case 45 to main drive shaft 52, shown in phantom in
figure 1.
Main drive shaft 52 is coupled through coupling 53 to
auxiliary brake shaft 54 containing auxiliary brake 55. The op-
15 posite end of main shaft 52 is coupled via coupling 56 to drumshaft 57. Main shaft 52 is supported in sidewall bearings in case
45 just as is drum drive shaft 51. The high speed transmission 47
also drives through auxiliary shaft 58 a catworks drive assembly 59
having a right angle gear box 60 connected by propeller shaft 61 to
20 the catworks, usually located above the drawworks.
The main drum assembly 46 has a main drawworks drum 62,
a drum housing 63, a main drum brake assembly 64, (shown in phantom
in figure 1) and may have an optional auxiliary brake assembly 65.
In operation, the prime-mover motive power accumulates in
25 chain case 41 and is routed either through the high speed transmis-
sion 47 and clutch 49 or the low speed transmission 48 and clutch
50 to the drum drive case 45. There the power is transferred to
main shaft 52 which in turn is connected to auxiliary brake assem-
bly 55 and to the drum drive shaft 57 which turns the main draw-
30 works drum 62. Rotation of the drum can be controlled by the var-
ious clutches in the above described system as well as by the main
drum brake 64 and auxiliary brakes 55 and 65.
lOg8485
The catworks is driven through the high speed transmis-
sion input shaft 47a in case 47. Figures 2 and 3 illustrate ground
level views of the main drum assembly and the catworks drive assem-
bly, respectively.
Figure 4 illustrates an axial end view of the main brake
assembly 64 inside the drum housing 63 and operating on the main
drum shaft 57.
The main brake assembly comprises a central hub 66 on
shaft 57 securedly attached thereto, a radial web 67 integrally
formed on the outer perimeter of hub 66, and the brake drum 69
attached peripherally to web 67 by means of a radially inward pro-
jecting flange 68 connected to web 67 by means of fasteners 70 or
by other means such as welding. The brake shoe comprises a plural-
ity of arcuate brake pads 71 of suitable material such as asbestos
aligned in a double row peripherally around the drum 69 and con-
tactable therewith. Arcuate brake bands 72 and 73 pass around each
row of the brake pads 71 in order to clamp the pads against the
drum when braking is desirable. The pads preferably are bonded or
riveted to the inside surface of the brake bands. A suitable link-
age 74 is attached to bands 72 and 73 to allow tightening of the
bands at the operator's command.
Ad~ustable turnbolts 75, 76, and 77 and links 78 and 79
serve to equalize the amount of braking attained from the two brake
pad assemblies. Also, the brake assembly is designed so that with
the normal counterclockwise rotation of the drum the brakes are
self-energizing, meaning that the brakes utilize the rotation of
the drum to add increasing pressure to the brake pads against the
drum. This cuts down greatly the amount of force required from the
operator working the brake controls.
Rollers 80 and threaded rods 81 attached to the drum
housing supply support and alignment to the brake pad assemblies
particularly while the brakes are not in use.
1~)4~48~
Disa`sse'mb'ly of the`'Rig. When the drilling rig is to be
moved to the drilling site by helicopter, the entire rig is quickly
S~,~c~p-~c.,~s
broken down into integral ~pon~nb~ each below the maximum weight
transportable by helicopter. Reinstalling the rig on site requires
i,--~
~no complicated reassembly or adjustment. The rig of this invention
S~Cor~ Q~
is designed so that all the e~mF-n~=~~ are placed easily and quickly
back into alignment and in operable condition almost ins~antaneously
with setting them down on the rig floor.
Referring to figure 7, a detailed close-up of apparatus
for alignment of the chain cases is disclosed. As previously des-
cribed, each chain case is a separable, integral unit in itself and
can be moved by helicopter from one site to another without disturb-
ing the alignment of the chains or chain sprockets, without having
to drain the lubricant therefrom, and without exposing the workings
therein to contaminants or the environment.
Each chain case preferably has a plurality of "ears" 82
extending outward from several locations on the lowermost edges of
the case, consisting of flat plates or angle iron.
Likewise, the skid or platform receiving or supporting
each chain case has a corresponding "fence" 83 or rail attached
thereto sized and located to receive the "ears" of the chain cases.
Each fence may comprise a rectangular or other shaped receptacle
having vertically extending sides and enclosing all of the exposed
sides of the "ears" on the chain cases. The fences are preferably
f the same general shape and slightly larger than the ears of the
chain cases. Different chain cases could have different sized or
shaped ears with matching fences to differentiate from the other
units and insure the same location for each unit respective to the
others when moving from one site to the next.
Each chain case generally has two sprocket shafts passing
transversely therethrough, generally in parallel alignment, each
being journaled in sidewall bearings in each side of the case and
104~4~S
each carrying chain sprockets. A plurality of chains transfer
power between the two sprockets carried by the shafts in each case.
The cases themselves are self-contained and fluid tight and the
sidewall bearings and sprocket shafts passing therethrough are
fluid tight in the case walls.
When the rig is being transported, the lift cable from
the helicopter is usually hooked or tied in an eyebolt or similar
attachment secured to the top of each case after the couplings or
clutches at each end of the sprocket shafts have been disconnected.
Then the case can be lifted straight up and transported to the new
site intact, whereupon it is set down in its proper place with the
case ears sliding into the guide fences and the unit is ready to
go upon reconnection o~ the various propeller shafts to the sprocket
shafts. The above operation applies generally to all of the chain
cases 18, 28, 33, 41, and 45 as well as to the transmissions 47 and
48.
The individual engines 11-16 are provided with eyebolts
or other hook receptacle means and are helicopter transportable in-
dependently of their transmissions, radiators, and skids. Each
engine is unbolted from the skid and transmission and disconnected
from fuel lines and coolant lines and picked up by the helicopter.
The skid, transmission, and fuel and coolant systems for each engine
then travel as a single unit by helicopter.
The particular arrangement of engines is unique in that
it allows the maximum number of engines with the minimum amount of
space and the minimum number of power transferrance units such as
chain drives and pully drives. This compact layout allows for
greater use of the limited amount of room on offshore rigs and the
shortest exposure time to operating and maintenance personnel in
northern regions.
In addition to the compact design of the compound further
novelty resides in the layout and design of drawworks drive system
and of the main drum assembly.
10~4~S
In the drawworks drive system a unique split-transmission
arrangement to receive the accumulated prime mover force and trans-
mit it to the drawworks utilizes two compact transportable trans-
missions as opposed to the old single unit two-speed transmission
system. The single unit, two-speed transmission is entirely too
heavy and cumbersome to be transported by helicopter, whereas each
of the transmissions of this system are compact and light enough
to be moved by any means, including helicopter. The split trans-
mission includes a high speed unit and a low speed unit, each with
its own clutch control into the drum drive case.
A power take-off from the high speed transmission also
powers the catworks via a propeller shaft and right angle gear box.
Since the high speed transmission has a clutch between it and the
drum drive, the catworks may be driven whether or not the drum drive
is being driven by the high speed or the low speed transmission.
The main drum assembly is also novel in that it allows
quick, clean dissembly of the brake system from the main drum with-
out disturbing the adjustment or assembly of the individual brake
parts. The entire braking system is removed from the main drum
assembly intact and as a system rather than in pieces.
This is possible because of the design of the main drum
which places both brake assemblies at one end of the drum rather
than having one brake at each end of the drum as the prior devices
have.
Also, the design of the brake system with the brake bands,
pads, linkage and brake drum all remaining in one package, complete-
ly assembled but separable from the main drawworks drum, means that
the brake assembly can be moved by helicopter separate from the main
drum and later quickly reunited therewith. This also lightens the
main drum to the point that it can be similarly transported.
The auxiliary brakes preferably are both hydraulic retard-
ing mechanisms used to partially brake the drum drive. Each is
1~)4t~485
separately helicopter transportable.
Although a specific preferred embodiment of the present
invention has been described in the detailed description above,
the description is not intended to limit the invention to the par-
ticular forms of embodiments disclosed therein since they are tobe recognized as illustrative rather than restrictive and it will
be obvious to those skilled in the art that the invention is not
so limited. For instance, the prime movers may be of internal com-
bustion type as shown or some other type such as electric powered
or turbines. Also the number of such engines could be more or less
than that shown. Furthermore, in some instances belt drives could
be used in place of the chain drives, and vice versa. Also the cat-
works could be driven by belt drive or chain drive or could be
electrically operated~ rather than gear and propeller shaft driven.
Thus, the invention is declared to cover all changes and modifica-
tions of the specific example of the invention herein disclosed for
purposes of illustration which do not constitute departures from
the spirit and scope of the invention.
