GB2138471A

GB2138471A - Pipe transfer system

Info

Publication number: GB2138471A
Application number: GB08409801A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert Frias; Troy Dale Cain
Original assignee: Ingram Corp
Current assignee: Ingram Corp
Priority date: 1980-09-10
Filing date: 1984-04-16
Publication date: 1984-10-24
Also published as: GB8410009D0; GB2152114B; GB2093508A; NO160669B; EP0060295A1; DE3152304A1; EP0060295B1; EP0060295A4; EP0061473B1; DK207582A; BR8108785A; SE8202887L; GB8504058D0; NL8120358A; NO159199C; SE8202888L; DK207682A; EP0139237A1; GB8409801D0; DE3152309A1

Description

1

SPECIFICATION

Pipe handling system with apron and stacking arms Figure 1 is a perspective view of a pipe handling apparatus with the pipe transfer system of the present invention located on one side of the apparatus next to a pipe rack.

Figure 2 is a side view of the pipe transfer system of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged end view of thetilting mechanism forthe stacking and unstacking trough of 75 the pipetransfer system of Figures 1 and 2.

/Figure 4 is an enlarged side view of thetilting mechanism forthe stacking and unstacking trough of the pipe transfer system of Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 5 is an end viewof the pipe transfer system of Figures 1 and 2 with itsstacking and unstacking trough shown at different elevations and positions.

Figure 6 illustrates a hydraulic system for operating the pipe transfer system of Figures 1-5.

Fig ure 7 is a top view of the vertical, pivoted troug h of the pipe handling apparatus of Figure 1.

Figure 8 is a sideviewof the vertically pivoted trough of the pipe handling apparatus of Figure 1.

Figure 9 is a sideviewof the vertically pivoted trough of the pipe handling apparatus of Figure 1 showing the trough pivotedto an inclined position by hydraulic cylinders.

Figure 10 is a cross-section of Figure 8 taken along the lines 10-10 thereof.

Figure 11 is a cross-section of Figure 8taken along the lines 11 -11 thereof.

Figure 12 is a cross-section of Figure 8 taken along the lines 12-12 thereof.

Figure 13 is a cross-section of Figure 8 taken along the lines 13-13 thereof.

Figure 14 is atop view of a slidable apron attachable to the pipe moving device of the pipe handling apparatus of Figure 1.

Figure 15 is a sideviewof the apron and pipe moving device of Figure 14.

Figure 16 is an end view of the pipe moving device of Figures 14 and 15.

Referring to the drawings, there will bedescribed firstthe pipe handling apparatus 21 for raising pipe P such as casing, drill pipe, collars, ortubing up to a derrickfloor 25 of a drilling rig (not shown) and for removing the pipe P from the derrickfloor 25. The pipe P is stored in racks 27 on both sides of the apparatus 21. The apparatus 21 comprises an elongated frame 29 which supports a trough 31 which may be pivoted upward to an inclined position in alignmentwith a fixed trough 33 as shown in Figures 1 and 9 or downward to a horizontal position as shown in Figures 5 and 10-13. Hydraulic cylinders 34 are provided for pivoting the trough 31 upwardor downward. The cylinders are pivotally attached to the frame 29 and their pistons are pivotally attached to the trough31.The rearend ofthetrough 31 is pivotally coupled to the frame 29 at 35. The fixed trough 33 is supported in an inclined position bythederrickfloor 25 and support structure 36. The trough 31 comprises GB 2 138 471 A 1 elongated frame members 37A-37D which support a V-shaped floor 39 along which the pipe P slides. An intermediate portion 39A of the V-shaped floor 39 is tiltable laterally in either direction when thetrough 31 is horizontal, to dump pipe on either side of the apparatus 21 for storage in the racks 27. The in- termediate position 39A is tiltable by hydraulic cylinders 41. The cylinders 41 have their lower ends pivotally coupled to structure 43 which is connected to frame members 37A and 37B and their pistons 41A pivotally coupled to the intermediate portion 39A. Figure 12 illustrates the intermediate portion 39A beingtilted laterally to the left. The cylinders 49 move up and down with thetrough 31 as itis pivoted up and down.

Also provided is a movable member 49 driven by an endless chain 51 for movement along trough 31 in either direction between its ends 31 A and 31 B. The bottom 53 of the movable member49 is V-shaped and slides along thefloor39. The bottom of the floor 39 has an elongated slot 53 formed therethrough. A lug 55 having a thin neck 56 extends from the bottom of the movable member 49. The neck 56 extends through the slot 53 andthe lug 55 is connected to the chain 51 below the floor 39. Means, not shown, is provided for driving the chain 51 in either direction.

When it is desired to move pipe from either of the racks 27 upward to the derrickfloor, the following operations take place. The trough 31 is located in its horizontal position and the movable member 49 is located at the rear end 31 A of the trough 31. A length of pipe is transferred f rom one of the racks 27 into the trough 31 where it rests on the V-shaped floor 39. Trough 31 next is pivoted upward to be in alignment with the fixed trough 33. The endless chain 51 isdriven to move member49 up the trough 31 toitsend31B.

The front end 49A of member 49 engages the lower end of the pipe P and pushes the pipe P upward in the troughs 31 and 33 until the pipe overlies the derrick floor. The pipe then is lifted into the derrick by cable hoists and/or elevators. The member 49 is retracted to the rearend3lAofthetrough3l,thetrough 31 is lowered to a horizontal position; and the process is repeated.

In moving pipe downward from the derrickfloor25, thetrough3l is raised to be in alignment with the fixed trough 33 and member49 moved to an upward position along trough 31. The cable hoist locates a length of pipe in troughs 33 and 31 and member49 is moved downward to the lower end of trough 31 to allowthe pipe to slide downward in the trough 31 to position the pipe on the intermediate portion 39Aof thefloor 39. The trough 31 then is lowered to a horizontal position and intermediate position 39A is tilted laterallyto dump the pipe on either side of the apparatus 21 for storage in one of the racks 27.

The pipe transfer system fortransferring pipe between the racks 27 and the pipe handling apparatus 21 comprises a pair of aligned arms 61 and 63 located on the side of the pipe handling apparatus 21 and next to one of the pipe racks 27. In Figu re 1, one pair of arms 61 and 63 are shown on the right of the apparatus 21 next to the right rack 27. The ends 61 A and 63A of arms This print embodies corrections made under Section 117(1) of the Patents Act 1977.

2 GB 2 138 471 A 2 61 and 63are pivotally coupled to the frame 29 at 65 and 67.The opposite ends 61 B and 63B of arms 61 and 63 may move to an upper position above the catwalk 69 and to a lower position belowthe catwalk 69 as shown in Figures 1, 2, and 5. In Figure 2the arms61 and 63 are shown in dashed form in their upper positions.

A hydraulic system is employed for moving the ends 61 B and 63B of arms 61 and 63 togetherto upward or downward positions orto any level in between. The hydraulic system comprises a pair of cylinders 71 and 73 having their ends pivotal ly coupled to the frame 29 at 75 and 77. The pistons 81 and 83 of the cylinders 71 and 73 are pivotally coupled to arms 61 and 63. In Figu re 2, the pistons 81 and 83 are shown pivotally coupled at 85 and 87 to ea rs 89 and 91 which are connected to arms 61 and 63 respectively.

When the pistons 81 and 83 are forced outward of their cylinders, the ends 61 B and 63B of arms 61 and 63 are moved upward and when the pistons 81 and 83 are moved inside of their cylinders, the ends 61 B and 63B of arms 61 and 63 are moved downward. Referring to Figure 6, the hydraulicsystern for operating the cylinders 71 and 73 comprises an oil reservoir 93, a pump 95, a four-way directional control valve 97 and appropriate flow lines.

Pivotally coupled to the ends 61 B and 63B of arms 61 and 63 is a stacking and unstacking trough 101 for carrying pipe between the rack 21 and the pipe handling apparatus 21. The trough 101 can be pivoted 95 laterally in either direction to allow pipe to be loaded onto and from thetrough 101. Referring to Figu res 2-6, the mechanisms for coupling the trough 101 to the ends 61 B and 63B of the arms 61 and 63 and fortilting the trough 101 will be described. Tilting mechanisms 100 103 and 105 are provided at each end of the trough 101. The ends 61 B and 63B of arms 61 and 63 have Jugs 107 and 108 secured thereto respectively and which extend laterally outward. The lugs 107 and 108 are rotatably coupled to tilting mechanisms 103 and 105 105 respectively allowing the arms 61 and 63to move up or down together carrying the length of the trough 101 in a horizontal position. Each of tilting mechanisms 103 and 105 is the same. Tilting mechanism 103 will be described in detail. The lug 107 is rotatably located in 110 an aperture 109 formed through a bearing member 111. Member 111 is rotatably mounted on an upper shaft 113 which is supported bytwo mounts 115 and 117fixedly secured to thetrough 101. The shaft 113 freely extends through apertures 11 5A and 1 17A 115 formed through mounts 115 and 117 and through aperture 11 1Aformed through member 111 whereby the mounts 115 and 117 can rotate aboutthe shaft 113 andtheshaft113can rotate relativeto member 11 1.A rotary actuator 121 is fixedly secured to the trough 191 120 byway of a plate 123 which is secured to the actuator 121 and to thetrough 101. The actuator 121 has a lower shaft 125 which can be rotated in opposite directions. The lower shaft 125 is fixedly secured to a linkage 127 which is coupled to the shaft 113. The 125 linkage 127 has an aperture 127Awhich freely receives the shaft 113 whereby the linkage can rotate aboutthe shaft 113. When the actuator 121 rotates its shaft 125 in one direction, the linkage 127 is rotated causing the linkage to turn aboutthe shaft 113 and hence tilt the 130 actuator 121 and the trough 101. In Figure 3, the trough 101 is shown in dotted lines tilted laterally in opposite directions. In Figure 3,the actuator 121 is not shown tilting with the trough for purposes of clarity.

The rotary actuator 121 is a commercially available actuator hydraulically actuated. Referring to Fig ure 6, it comprises a cylinder 129 having two pistons 131 and 133, with a rack 135 connected between the pistons. The rack 133 engages a pinion 139. The shaft 125 is an extension of the pinion 139. When pressure is imposed on one side of the cylinder 129 it drives the piston and the rack in one direction to rotatethe pinion 139 and hence the shaft 125. On the opposite side of the cylinderthe pressure is released. In Figure 6, member 140 is the cylinderforthe rotary actuator 141 forthe tilting mechanism 105. Actuator 141 is the same as actuator 121. The cylinder 140 has two pistons 142 and 143 and a rack 145 connected between the pistons for rotating a pinion 146from which extends a shaft similar to shaft 107. Both actuators of mechanisms 103 and 105 are operated simultaneously by hydraulicfluid from reservoir93 and pump 95 for driving their shafts in the same direction fortilting the trough 101. Fourwayvalve 143 is employed for controlling the direction in which thetwo actuators 121 and 141 rotate their shafts and hencethe direction in which the trough 121 is tilted.

The arms 61 and 63 and trough 101 operate in the following mannerto transfer pipe between the rack 27 and the pipe handling apparatus 21. Assume that pipe is to be transferred from apparatus 21 upward to the rack 27. The arms 61 and 63 wil 1 be located such that the trough 101 will bejust belowthe catwalk 69 in a non-tilted position whereby the V of the trough 101 will be straight up. In this position, the upper edge of the trough 101 is located close to the catwalk 69 with very little space between the trough edge and the catwalk 69 such that pipe rolling outward on the catwalk 69 will rol 1 into the trough 101. The intermediate position 39A of the floor 39 of the trough 31 istilted laterally to dump a length of pipe onto the catwalk 69. From the catwalk, the pipe will roll into thetrough 101. Thearms61 and 63 then are raised simultaneouslyto raisethe trough 101 with thetrough held in a non-tilted position. As the trough is raised, its length will beheld horizontal. The trough thus will cradle and carry the pipe upward with no longitudinal movement ofthe pipe inthetrough 101. Thus the pipe cannot roll off of the trough, nor can it slide off of the trough longitudinally. When the trough 101 reachesthetopof the rack 27, upward movement of the arms 61 and63 will be terminated and the trough 101 will betilted laterally in a direction to dump the length of pipe onto thetop of the rack 27. Thetrough 101 willbemovedto a non-tilted position and the arms 61 and 63 and trough 101 moved downward to repeatthe process.

Fortransferring pipefrom the rack 27 to the pipe handling apparatus 21, the arms 61 and 63 and trough 101 operate in thefollowing manner. Assume that pipe Isto be transferred from an upper row of pipe on the rack27 to the pipe handling apparatus 21. The arms61 and 63 will be located such thatthe trough 101 will bejust belowthetop row of the pipe on the rack 27 with the trough 101 in a non-tilted position whereby the V of the trough 101 will be straight up. A L t t 3 GB 2 138 471 A 3 length of pipewill be pushed intothetrough 101.The arms 61 and 63willthen be lowered simultaneously withthetrough 101 carrying the length of pipe downward in a horizontal position. Whenthetrough 101 reachesthe level of the catwalk69, downward movementof the arms 61 and 63 will beterminated and thetrough 101 will betilted laterally in a direction to dumpthe length of pipe intothe catwalk69where it will roll intothetrough 31. Thetrough 101 will be moved to a non-tilted position and the arms 61 and 63 75 andtrough 101 moved upwardto repeatthe process.

A pairof arms 61 and 63and a laterally tiltable trough 101 asdescribed abovewill be located on both sides oftheapparatus 21 fortransferring pipe between either rack 27 and the apparatus 21. 80 When the incline of the troughs 31 and 33 is small, the pipe may not slide down the trough from the derrickfloor by gravity. Referring now to Figures 1, 7, 8,11,12, and 14-16, there will be described in slidable apron 151 removably attachable o the pipe moving device 49 of the pipe handling apparatus 21 for carrying pipe from the derrickfloor 25 down the troughs 33 and 31 when there is little or no height differential between the derrickfloor25 and theframe 29 of the pipe handling apparatus 21. The apron 151 comprises a V-shaped member slidable on the floor 39 of the trough 31. An aperture 153 is formed close to the rear end 151A of the apron 151 into which is fifted a triangular shaped securing member 155 which projects upward from a forward extension of the neck 56 of member49. The aperture 153 does not extend all of the wayto the rear end 151A of the apron 151 but is spaced therefrom a short distance. The member 153 slants downward toward its forward end where bythe member 155 may be inserted into the aperture 153 by moving the member49 forward while the apron 151 will ride upward on the member 155 as it moves forward until it reaches full length of the aperture 153 atwhich timethe apron will drop down with the member 155 located in the aperture 153.

When the member49 is moved forward bythe chain, its front end 49Awill engage the rear end 151A of the apron and push the apron 151 forward along the trough 31. For drawing pipefrom the derrickfloor, the apron 151 will be pushed onto the fixed trough 33. A length of pipe will be loaded onto the apron 151 and the member 49 wil I be moved backward by the chain 51 pulling the apron 151 and hence the pipe backward whereby the pipe maybe loaded onto the rack 27.

When the member 49 moves backward the rear end 155A of the member 155 engages the rear end 153B of the aperture 153, pulling the apron 151 backward. As seen in Figures 7, 11, and 12, the intermediate or dump portion 39A of the floor 39 of the trough 31 has two elongated apron holding strips 161 and 163 formed along its top outer edges. When the apron 151 is pulled onto the intermediate portion 39A, the outer edges 151 B and 151 C of the apron slide underthe strips 161 and 163 wherebythe apron is held to the intermediate or dump portion 39A. Thuswhen the trough 31 is lowered to a horizontal position and the dump portion 39A is pivoted laterally, the apron 151 also wil I be tilted laterally allowing the pipe to be dumped onto the catwalk 69 for loading onto a rack 27 next to the apparatus 21. During dumping operations bythe dump portion 39A, member 49 will not be located above the dump portion 39A. When the apron 151 istilted laterally bythe dump portion 39A, its aperture 153 is moved abovethe member 155.

However, when the apron is moved back in place by the dump portion 39A, the aperture 153 will fit around the member 155 wherebythe movable member 49 may push the apron along the trough 31 to the fixed trough 33.

Although the apron 151 is used primarilyfor drawing pipe from the derrickfloorfor loading on the rack, it isto be understood that it could be used for moving pipe from the rack27 to the derrickfloor. The apron 151 also has advantages in that it protectsthe main troughs 31 and 33from wear. Ateflon like coating may be applied to the underside of the apron 151 to minimize friction.

When the height differential between the derrick floor 25 and the frame 29 is sufficient such thatthe pipe will slide down troughs 33 and 31 bygravity,the apron151 maybe removed as well as the securing member 155. Member 155 may be removably secured to theforward extension of the neck 56 of member49 by bolts.

Instead of employing the strips 61 and 63to hold the apron 151 to the dump portion 39A, the apron 151 may have a thin neck extending down from its bottom with an enlarged lug attached to thethin neck. The thin neckwill extend through the slot 53 with the enlarged lug located belowthe floor39. This arrangment allows the apron 151 to slide on the floor39 yet holdsthe apron 151 to the dump portion when it is tilted for dumping purposes. In this embodiment, the apron 151 may be coupled to the member49 by securing member 155 to the forward extension of the neck 56 of member49 through the aperture 153 of the apron 151 when the aperture 153 of the apron 151 is overtheforward extension of the neck. The apron 151 may be removed by removing member 155 and by sliding the apron forward when the trough 31 is at a slightly inclined position to remove the lower thin neck of the apron from the slot 53 at the forward end of the trough 31.

Preferably the apron 151 will be longer than the

Claims

length of pipe it will carry. CLAIMS 1. A system for transferring lengths of pipe laterally between a pipe rack means and a pipe handling apparatus, said pipe handling apparatus comprising an elongated frame, said pipe rack means being located on one side of said elongated frame, said system comprising, two spaced apart pivotally supported arms located on said one side of said frame nextto said pipe rack means, eacharmhaving oneend pivotally coupled to support means such that its opposite end may move upward and downward, said two arms being located generally in line with each otherfor pivotal movement about generally parallel pivot axes respectively, trough means pivotally coupled to said arms at said opposite ends such that said trough means will move upward and downward with said opposite ends of said arms, 4 said trough means being capable of supporting a length of pipe, meansfortilting said trough means laterally in opposite directions and meansfor moving said arms abouttheir axes respectivelyfor moving said opposite ends of said arms and said trough means upward and downward. 2. The system of claim 1 wherein, said trough means is pivotally coupled to said opposite ends of said arms such that the length of said trough is held generally horizontal as said opposite ends of said arms are moved upward or downward, said trough means is supported to be tilted laterally in opposite directions about an axis transverse to said 80 axes. New or amended claims:

1. An apparatus fortransferring lengths of pipe 85 laterally between a pipe handling apparatus having an elongated frame and a pipe rack located on one side of said elongated frame comprising:

a first arm and a second arm positioned in spaced relation on said one side of said frame nextto said pipe rack, each said arm having first and second ends, a connection meansfor pivotally connecting each said first end to said framefor pivotal movement about generally parallel first and second pivot axes lying in generallythe same horizontal plane, a pivoting meansfor pivoting said first arm about said firstaxis and said second arm about said second axis, said pivoting means comprising a fluid actuated cylindermeans, said fluid actuated cylinder means comprising two cylinder means, each of said two cylinder means having first and second ends, each said first cylinder means being pivotally coupled to said frame at a location below said connection means, said second end of one of said cylinder means being pivotally coupled to saidfirst arm at a first coupling point positioned between said first and second ends of said first arm, said second end of the other of said cylinder means being pivotally coupled to said second arm at a second coupling point positioned between said first and second ends of said second arm, a trough means having a first end pivotally coupled to said second end of saidfirst arm and a second end pivotally coupled to said second end of said second arm, said trough means being capable of supporting a length of pipe, and a tilting means fortilting said trough means laterally in opposite directions.

2. The apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein said first coupling point is positioned on a lower surface of said first arm, said second coupling point is positioned on a lower surface of said second arm and, said pivoting means is capable of causing said trough means to move in a substantially vertical manner.

GB 2 138 471 A 4

3. The apparatus according to either of Claims 1 and 2 wherein said first end of said trough means is pivotally coupled directly to said second end of said first arm and said second end of said trough means is pivotally coupled directlyto said second end of said second arm.

4. The apparatus according to anyone of the preceding Claims wherein said tilting means cornprises a rotary actuator means.

5. The apparatus according to Claim 4 wherein said trough means comprises a pipe supportcradle having an axis positioned generally in the middle of said cradle, and said rotary actuator means is capable of causing said cradle to tilt in both directions about said axis.

6. The apparatus according to anyone of the preceding Claims wherein a maintaining means is connected to said second end of said first arm and said second end of said second arm for maintaining said first arm and said second arm in constant parallel relation as said pivoting means pivotssaid first arm and said second arm.

7. The apparatus according to anyone of the preceding Claims wherein said pivoting means is capable of moving said trough means between a position below said connection means and a position above said connection means.

8. The apparatus according to anyone of the preceding Claims wherein said trough means cornprises a pipe support cradle extending between and connected to said second end of said first arm and to said second end of said second arm.

t

9. The apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein said pivoting means is capable of moving said trough means in a generally vertical manner between a position below said connection means and a position above said connection means.

10. The apparatus according to Claim 9 wherein said first end of said trough means is pivotally coupled directly to said second end of said first arm and said second end of said trough means is pivotally coupled directlyto said second end of said second arm.

11. The apparatus according to either of Claims 9 and 1 Owherein said tilting means comprises a rotary actuator means.

12. The apparatus according to anyone of Claims 9to 11 wherein said trough means comprises a pipe support cradle having an axis position generally in the middle of said cradle and said rotary actuator means is capable of causing said cradle to tilt in both directions about said axis.

13. The apparatus according to anyone of Claims 9 to 12 wherein a maintaining means is connected to said second end of said first arm and said second end of said second arm for maintaining said first arm and, said second arm inconstant parallel relation as said pivoting means pivots said first arm and said second arm.

14. The apparatus according to anyone of Claims 9 to 13 wherein said trough means comprises a pipe support cradle extending between and connected to said second end of said first arm and to said second GB 2 138 471 A 5 end of said second arm.

15. An apparatus for transferring lengths of pipe laterally between a pipe handling apparatus having an elongated frame and a pipe rack located on one side of said elongated frame substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Printed in the United Kingdom for Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 8818935, 10184, 18996. Published at the Patent Office, 25 Southampton Buildings, London WC2A lAY, from which copies may be obtained.