NL8120357A - Pipe handling system with apron and stacking arms - transfers pipe between pipe rack and pipe handling apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

A system is for transferring lengths of pipe laterally between a pipe rack and pipe handling apparatus, and consists of two spaced apart arms to one side of the pipe handling appts., next to the rack. Each arm has one end pivotally connected to a support (29) so that its opposite end may move up and down. The arms are in line for pivotal movement about parallel axes. A trough capable of supporting a length of pipe is pivotally coupled to the arms at their opposite ends. Tilting mechanisms are provided for tilting the trough laterally in opposite directions. The apparatus can be used under varying weather conditions on offshore units with tubulars of various diameters. It has an automatic pipe feeder and can readily be moved to different locations. Also, pipe can be transferred from racks on one side of the apparatus to the other side without necessitating the use of additional equipment. Further, handling does not damage the pin ends which do not require protective caps.

Description

PCT / N / 30929-tM / f. 812 O 3 5 Z

S Pipe handling system with plate and stacking arms.

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FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a: i! pipe handling equipment with the pipe transfer system | according to the present invention, located on one side of | j the device next to a pipe rack. ί 5! Fig. 2 is a side view of the pipe over; | delivery system of fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged end view of the tilting mechanism for the stacking and destacking trough of the j! pipe transfer system of fig. 1 and 2. j 10 Fig. 4 is an enlarged side view of the tilting mechanism for the stacking and destacking trough of the : pipe transfer system of fig. 1 and 2.

Fig. 5 is an end view of the pipe transfer system of FIGS. 1 and 2 with its stacking and de-stacking trough, depicted in various heights and positions.

Fig. 6 illustrates a hydraulic system for operating the pipe transfer system of FIGS. 1-5:

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the vertical; swiveled trough of the pipe handling device of Fig. 1.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the vertically swiveled trough of the pipe handling device of FIG. 1. j I i

Fig. 9 is a side view of the vertically pivoted trough of the pipe handling device of FIG. 1 and shows the trough pivoted in an inclined position by hydraulic cylinders.

! Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. ; : taken along lines 10-10.

Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 8. taken along lines 11-11 thereof.

: 30 | Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 8 taken along lines 12-12 thereof.

! Fig. 13 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 8 taken along lines 13-13 thereof.

Fig. 14 is a plan view of a slidable plate attachable to the pipe moving member of the pipe handling apparatus of FIG. 1.

Fig. 15 is a side view of the plate and the pipe moving member of FIG. 14.

8120357 -2-. ..............-............................. ...... ..-..... .................-............... ......... ........................................... .......

Fig. 16 is an end view of the pipe movement 7 I. i

| | organ of fig. 14 and 15. I

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I:! DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED APPLICATION | I VERSIONS,: ί | 5 | Referring to the drawings first. | pipe handling device 21 will be described for lifting pipes P, such as moving, drilling pipes, collars j! or pipes up to a drilling rig floor 25 of a drilling device (not shown) and for removing the pipes P from the drilling rig floor 25. The pipes P are stored in racks 27 on both sides of the device 21.

; | The device 21 includes an elongated frame 29, which supports a trough: 31, which can be pivoted upwardly into an inclined position in line with a fixed trough 33, as shown in I-15; healed in fig. 1 and 9 or down to a horizontal position:! as shown in Figures 5 and 10-13. Hydraulic cylinders 34 are provided to swing the trough 31 up or down. The cylinders are pivotally connected to the frame 29 and their pistons are pivotally connected to the trough 31.

The rear end of the trough 31 is pivotally coupled to it; ; frame 29 at 35. The fixed trough 33 is supported in an inclined position by the drilling rig floor 25 and support construction 36. The trough 31 comprises elongated frame parts 37A-37D, which support a V-shaped floor 39, along which the pipe P 25 slips. An intermediate portion 39A of the V-shaped floor 39 can be tilted sideways in any direction, when the trough 31 is horizontal, around pipes on either side of the device; 21 for storage in the racks 27. The intermediate part 39A is tiltable by hydraulic cylinders 30 41. The lower ends of the cylinders 41 are pivotally coupled to a structure 43 which is connected to frame parts 37A and 37B and their pistons 41A are pivotally coupled to the intermediate portion 39A. Fig. 12 illustrates the intermediate portion 39A tilted sideways to the left.

The cylinders 49 move up and down with the trough 31 while it is tilted up and down.

A movable member 49 is also provided which is driven by an endless chain 51 to move along the trough 31 in both directions between its ends 8120357-3; 3ΙΑ and 31Β. The bottom 53 of the movable part 49 is V-shaped and slides along the floor 39. The bottom of the floor j! ! ! 39 has an elongated slot 53 formed therethrough. A lip 55 with a thin neck 56 extends from the; : 5 | bottom of the movable part 49. The neck 56 extends through the slot 53 and the lip 55 is connected to the chain 51 under the floor 39. A means (not shown) is provided to secure the chain 51 in both directions. to float.! When it is desired to raise the pipe from each of the racks 27 up to the drilling rig floor; the following operations take place. The trough 31 is placed in its horizontal position and the movable part 49 is placed at the rear end 3IA of the trough 31. The pipe length is transferred from one of the racks j; : 15 27 in the trough 31 where it rests on the V-shaped floor 39.

j The trough 31 is then swung up in alignment! with the fixed trough 33. The endless chain 51 is driven to move the part 49 up along the trough 31 to its end 31B. The front end 49A of the part 49 20 engages the lower end of the pipe P and pushes the pipe P I

I:; ; up into the troughs 31 and 33 until the pipe is above the drilling rig floor. The pipe is then raised in the drilling rig by cable hoists and / or lifting devices. The member 49 is withdrawn to the rear end 31A of the trough 31; the trough 31 is lowered to a horizontal position and the process is repeated.

As pipe moves downward from the drilling rig floor 25, the trough 31 is moved upwardly in alignment with the fixed trough 33 and the member 49 is moved to an upward position along the trough 31. The cable hoist; organ places a pipe length in troughs 33 and 31 and the | part 49 is moved down to the lower end of the trough 31 to slide the pipe down into the trough 31 i; to place the pipe on the intermediate part 39A of the floor 39. The trough 31 is then lowered to a horizontal position and the intermediate part 39A is tilted sideways to deposit the pipe on one side of the device 21 for storage in one of the racks 27.

The pipe transfer system for transferring pipes between the racks 27 and the pipe handling 8 1 2 0 3 5 7 -4 -1 ..... ....... '........ ... ........................................ ....... ..................... ...... ....................... ...........................

j direction 21 includes a pair of aligned arms 61 and 63, which i | lie on the side of the pipe handling device 21 and [next to one of the pipe racks 27. In Fig. 1 is a pair of amen; 61 and 63 tilted on the right side of the device 21 |

Ej next to the right rack 27. The ends 6IA and 63A of the arms I

i. 61 and 63 are pivotally coupled to the frame 29 at 65 and 67. The opposite ends 61B and 63B of the arms! ! 61 and 63 can lift to an upper position above the walking path 69 and to a lower position below the walking path 69! As shown in Figures 1, 2 and 5. In Figure 2, the arms are ; 61 and 63 are shown in dashed lines in their top position! ! Pine tree.

A hydraulic system is used to join the ends 61B and 63B of the amen 61 and 6 3 together! I 15 roads to the top or bottom position or to a level; in between. The hydraulic system includes a pair of cylinders 71 and 73, the ends of which are pivotally coupled to the frame 29 at 75 and 77. The pistons 81 and 83 of the cylinders 71 and 73 are pivotally coupled to the amen 61 and j ; 63. In Fig. 2, the pistons 81 and 83 are pivotally coupled j; shown at 85 and 87 with ears 89 and 91, which are connected: i with amen 61 and resp. 6 3. When the pistons 81 and 83 are out; their cylinders are pressed, the ends 61B and 63B of the arms 61 and 63 are moved upward and when the pistons 81 and 83 are moved into their cylinders, the ends 61B and 63B of the arms 61 and 63 are moved downward. Referring to Fig. 6, the hydraulic system includes operating; of the cylinders 71 and 73, an oil reservoir 93, a pump 95, a four-way control valve 97, and suitable flow lines.

Pivotally coupled to the ends 61B and 63B of the arms 61 and 63 is a stacking and de-stacking trough 101 for transporting pipes between the rack 21 and the pipe handling device 21. The trough 101 can be pivoted sideways in either direction to pipe to and from the trough 101. Referring to FIGS. 2-6, the mechanisms for coupling the trough 101 to the ends 61B and 63B of the arms 61 and 63 and tilting the trough 101 will be described. Tilting mechanisms 103 and 105 are mounted "40" at each end of the trough 101. The ends 61B and 8120357-563B of the arms 61 and 63 have tabs 107 and 108 which remain. ; j j are attached to it and projecting sideways; me and. The lips 107 and 108 are rotatably coupled to the; i tilting mechanisms 103 resp. 105, making arms 61 and 63! ! | 5 | can move up or down together and the length of the! bring trough 101 into a horizontal position. Each of the tilt mechanisms 103 and 105 is the same. The tilting mechanism j | 103 will be described in detail. * The lip 107 is rotatable ! ; Placed in an opening 109 formed by a 10 'bearing member 111. The member 111 is rotatably mounted to an upper shaft 113, which is supported by two mounting! members 115 and 117 fixedly attached to the trough 101.

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The shaft 113 protrudes freely through openings 115A and 117A, which j i 'i; ; are formed by the mounting members 115 and 117 and by an opening 11IA formed by the member 111 allowing the mounting members 115 and 117 to rotate about the axis 113 and the axis 113 to rotate relative to the member 111.

A rotatable actuator 121 is fixedly mounted on the trough 191 by means of a plate 123 mounted on the actuator 121 and on the trough 101. The actuator 121 has a lower shaft 125 which can be rotated in opposite directions. The lower shaft 125 I is fixedly attached to a link 127 coupled to; the shaft 113. The link 127 has an opening 127A, which receives the axis 113 freely, allowing the link to rotate about the axis 113. When the actuator 121 rotates its axis 125 in one direction, the link 127 is rotated, whereby the link rotates about the axis 113 and therefore tilts the operating member 121 and the trough 101. In Fig. 3, the trough 101 is 30! shown sideways in opposite directions 1 in dashed lines. In Fig. 3, the actuator 121 | not shown tilting with the trough for clarity.

The rotary actuator 121 is a commercially available hydraulically actuated actuator; 1:35 I organ. Referring to Fig. 6, it comprises a cylinder 129 with two pistons 131 and 133 and with a rack 135 connected between the pistons 1. The rack 135 engages a pinion 139. The shaft 125 is a projection of the pinion 139. When pressure exerted on one side of the cylinder 40, it drives the piston and rack in an 8120357 direction to rotate the pinion 139 and thus the shaft 125. On ; the pressure on the opposite side of the cylinder is released. In Fig. 6, the part 140 is the cylinder for the j; rotary actuator 141 for the tilt mechanism 105.

; The actuator 141 is the same as the actuator: i: | j go 121. The cylinder 140 has two pistons 142 and 143 and j; I | | a rack 145 connected between the pistons to rotate a pinion j146, from which a shaft similar to the shaft 107 | I protrude. Both actuators of mechanisms 103, 10 and 105 are operated simultaneously by hydraulic fluid from reservoir 93 and pump 95 to drive their shafts in the same direction for tilting trough 101. A four-way valve 143 is used to control the direction in which the two actuators 121 and 141 rotate their axes, thus the direction in which the trough 121 is tilted.

J The arms 61 and 63 and the trough 101 work up; | the following way to transfer pipes between the rack | 27 and the pipe handling device 21. Assume that a pipe! It must be transferred from the device 21 up to the rack 27. The arms 61 and 63 will be positioned so that the trough 101 is just below the walkway 69 in an un-tilted position, so that the V of the trough 101 is upright . In this position, the top edge of the trough 101 is close to the walkway 69 with very little space between the trough edge and the walkway 69, so that a pipe rolling outward on the walkway 69 will roll into the trough 101. The intermediate portion 139A of the floor 39 of the trough 31 is tilted sideways to deposit a pipe length on the walkway 69. From the; walkway the pipe will roll into the trough 101. Arms 61 and 63; j30 are then simultaneously moved upwardly to raise the trough 101 keeping the trough in a non-tilted position. As the trough is moved upwards, its length will be kept horizontal. Thus, the trough will pick up and raise the pipe without longitudinal movement of the pipe in the trough 101. Thus, the pipe cannot roll off the trough nor slide in the longitudinal direction of the trough. When the trough! 101 reaches the top of the rack 27, the upward movement of the arms 61 and 63 will be terminated and the trough 101 will be tilted sideways in a direction to deposit the pipe length 40 on the top of the rack 27. The trough 101 8.12 0 3 5 7 -7-; will be moved in a non-tilted position and the arms j | 61 and 63 and the trough 101 will be moved down to the]! repeat the process. I 1

To transfer a pipe from the rack j! i 5! 27 to the pipe handling device 21 the arms 61 and | act 63 and the trough 101 in the following manner. Assume that a | ; pipe must be transferred from an upper pipe row on the rack 27 to the pipe handling device 21. The arms 61 and; ! | ! 63 will be placed in such a way that the trough 101 is just below the bottom. the top row of pipes on the rack 27 is with the trough 101 in a non-tilted position, so that the V of the trough 101 | will stand upright. The pipe length will be pushed into the I trough 101. The arms 61 and 63 will then be lowered simultaneously. the moved with the trough 101, which the pipe length in a horizontal: 15; zontal position down. When the trough 101 reaches the level j of the walkway 69, the downward movement of the arms 61 and 63 will be terminated and the trough 101 will be tilted sideways in a direction to extend the pipe length; deposit on the walkway 69 where it will roll into the trough 31. The trough 101 will be moved to an un-tilted position and the arms 61 and 63 and the trough 101 will be moved upward to repeat the process.

A pair of arms 61 and 63 and a side-tilting trough 101 as described above will be placed on both sides of the device 21 to transfer pipes between each rack 27 and the device 21.

When the slope of the troughs 31 and 33 is small, the pipe cannot slide down the trough from the drilling rig floor under the influence of gravity. Referring now to Figures 1, 7, 8, 11, 12, and 14-16, a sliding plate 151 will be described which can be detachably attached to the pipe moving member 49 of the pipe handling device 21 to transport pipes from the drilling rig floor 25. down along the troughs 31 and 33, 35 when there is little or no height difference between the drill bits; sloping floor 25 and the frame 29 of the pipe handling device 21. The plate 151 includes a V-shaped part that is slidable on the floor 39 of the trough 31. An opening 153 is formed near the rear end 151A of the plate 40 151, in which a triangular fastening part 155 is attached. 8120357-8 I ...... '............. - -: j I brought up, protruding from a forward extension! j of the neck 56 of the part 49. The opening 153 extends! does not extend all the way to the rear end 151A of the plate 151, but is a short distance therefrom. The part i 5i 155 slopes down to its front end, making the part! 155 can be inserted into the opening 153 by moving the part 49 forward, while the plate 151 will rise up! i! | walking on part 155 as it moves forward until i |

! it reaches the full length of the opening 153, at which | AI time the plate will drop with the part 155 I located in the opening 153. When the part 49 is forward | moved forward by the chain, its front end will be 49A

grasp the back end 151A of the plate and the plate 151; ! push forward along the trough 31. To pull a pipe off the drilling rig floor, the plate 151 will be pushed onto the fixed trough 33. A pipe length will be loaded on! the plate 151 and the part 49 will be moved backwards1 by the chain 51 and the plate 151 and thus pull the pipe back, allowing the pipe to be loaded onto the rack 27.

When the part 49 moves backward, the rear end 155A of the part 155 engages the rear end 153B:! j! of the opening 153 and retracts the plate 151. Like | ! can be seen in fig. 7, 11 and 12, the intermediate or! discharge part 39A from the floor 39 of the trough 31 two elongated plate retaining strips. 161 and 163 formed along its upper outer edges. When the plate 151 is pulled on the intermediate portion 39A, the outer edges 151B and 151C of the plate slide under the strips 161 and 163, thereby holding the plate on the intermediate portion. ! 3d or discharge part 39A. Thus, when the trough 31 is lowered to a horizontal position and the discharge part 39A is pivoted sideways, the plate 151 will also tilt sideways, allowing the pipe to be deposited onto the walkway 69 for loading on a rack 27 adjacent the establishment 21.

During deposition by the discharge part 39A, the part 49 will lie above the discharge part 39A. When the plate 151 is tilted sideways by the discharge part 39A, its opening 153 is moved above the part 155. However, when the plate is moved back into place by the discharge part 39A, the opening 153 will pass around the part .155 8120357 - 9- through which the movable part 49 can push the plate: along the trough 31 to the fixed trough 33. ii!

Although record 151 is in first place! used to pull a pipe from the drilling rig floor to j 5 | it will be obvious that this | | could be used to pipe a pipe from the rack 27

| move to the drilling rig floor. Plate 151 also has I.

J the advantage that it protects the main troughs 31 and 33 from wear. A Teflon-like coating can be applied! j! 10! applied to the bottom of the plate 151 to reduce friction.

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When the height difference between the drilling | shelf floor 25 and frame 29 is sufficient for the pipe to: slide under gravity along the I15 troughs 33 and 31, the plate 151 can be removed as well as the fastening part 155. The part 155 can detach; are secured to the front protrusion of the neck 56 of the member 49 by bolts.

In place of the strips 61 and 63 used to hold the plate 151 on the discharge part 39A, the plate 151 may have a thin neck projecting down from its bottom with an enlarged lip attached to the thin neck . The thin neck will protrude through the slot 53, the enlarged lip being under the floor 39. This arrangement allows the plate 151 to slide on the floor 39, but keeps the plate 151 on the discharge part when it is tilted for the discharge. In this embodiment, the plate 151 can be coupled to the part 49 by attaching the part 155 to the front protrusion 30 of the neck 56 of the part 49 through the opening 153 of the plate 151 when the opening 153 of the plate 151 is above the forward protrusion of the neck. The plate 151 can be removed by removing the part 155 and sliding the plate forward when the trough 31 is in a slightly inclined position to remove the bottom thin neck of the plate from the slot 53 at the front end of the trough 31.

Preferably, the plate 151 will be longer than the pipe length it will carry.

8120357

Claims (11)

1. Device for transferring pipes or the like between the floor of a drilling device and a pipe rack, provided with an elongated head support frame, I: I! ! i that can be placed close to the pipe rack, a long! 5-throw swiveling trough, one end of which is swiveling; i: j · with the head restraint frame so that the swiveling trough falls over can be swiveled high in an inclined position! j of the head restraint and down in a general | horizontal position, means for adjusting the swiveling trough; j 1Ó between the inclined position and the generally horizon-j! in a tilted position, wherein the pivotable trough is provided with elongated construction means, which have opposite elongated side walls and are supported by a support structure, movable means which are supported for movement along the elongated construction means I! for moving the movable means along the elongated construction means, a movable elongated structure having opposed elongated side walls and supported to slide longitudinally on the elongated construction means of the trough along its | length, means for releasably coupling the moving; movable elongated structure to the movable means so that the movable means can move the movable elongated structure on the elongated construction means. Length of the trough along its length, the movable elongated construction means being adapted to receive and feed a pipe as it is moved by the movable means on the elongated construction means! of the trough along its length. Apparatus according to claim 1, comprising an elongated slot formed by the bottom portion of the elongated construction means of the trough along its length, the means for moving the movable means along the length of the trough provided with a continuous chain, which lies beneath the elongated slot and extends along its length, means for driving the continuous chain, and a lip protruding through the elongated slot and attached to the 8120357-11 chain and on the movable means so that the movement of the continuous chain moves the lip and therefore the movable means. | i The device of claim 1, wherein the 5! elongated construction means of the swiveling trough are i i | provided with first and second opposite ends,] the second end lying so that it moves upwards! 1 when the swiveling trough is swung up to the hell In a standing position, a fixed trough, which is supported on the floor of the drilling device in an inclined position, so that! one end extending downwardly toward the headrest frame, the elongated construction means of the pivotable trough in line with the solid trough, the second i i. ; 1 end of the elongate construction means of the pivoting trough is at one end of the fixed trough, when j | the swiveling trough has moved into its inclined position, where! | when the movable elongated construction means are movable on the fixed trough, when the elongated construction means of the swing trough is in line with the fixed trough. | 20 4. Device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, provided with means for tilting the elongated construction means of the pivotal trough laterally in view of it! retaining means when the pivotal trough is in the generally horizontal position; Holding the movable elongated structure on the elongated construction means of the swing trough, so that the movable elongated construction can tilt with the elongated construction means of the swing trough, the retaining means allowing the movable elongated structure to slide in the longitudinal direction the elongated construction means of the slewing trough. The device of claim 1, wherein the elongate construction means of the slewing trough are front; seeing first and second opposite end portions and an intermediate portion, means for tilting the intermediate portion laterally to the first and second opposite end portions and laterally to the support structure when the pivotal trough is in the generally horizontal position retaining means 40 for retaining the movable elongated structure at 8120357 0K; 0; -vi.C-12-i! The intermediate part, when the movable elongated structure overlaps the intermediate part to allow the movable elongated structure to tilt with the intermediate part, the retaining means allowing, j 5; that the movable elongated structure engages longitudinally with respect to the intermediate portion. The device of claim 1, wherein the means for releasably coupling the movable; | Elongated construction on the movable means are provided with an opening formed by the bottom of the movable elongated structure at one end thereof. ! and fasteners connected to the moving parts! ; movable means and protruding upward, with the attachment means; means are configured to become detachable 15; arranged in the opening of under the bottom of the movable elongated structure. 7. Device as claimed in claim 6, provided with means for securing the elongated construction means of the j! pivoting trough laterally relative to the support structure, when the pivoting trough is in the generally horizontal position, holding means about the holding movable elongated structure on the elongated construction means of the swiveling trough to allow the movable elongated structure to tilt I25 with the elongated construction means of the swiveling | trough, the retaining means allowing the movable elongated structure to slide in the longitudinal direction! o relative to the elongated construction means of the swiveling trough. 8. Device for transferring pipes or the like between the floor of a drilling device and a; pipe rack, provided with an elongated support frame, which can be placed near the pipe rack, a trough, which is | supported by the support frame and provided with elongated construction means with opposite elongated side walls, movable means supported to move along the length of the elongated construction means, means for moving the movable means along the length of the elongated construction means , a 40 movable elongated construction with opposite 8T20357 -13-! elongated side walls, which are supported for longitudinal | | sliding direction on the elongated construction means varying the trough along its length, means for releasably coupling the movable elongated structure to the movable means for allowing the movable means to move the movable; ; movable elongated construction moves on elongated construction means of the trough along its length, the movable elongated construction means being able to receive and transport a pipe when it is moved by the movable! 10 | means on the elongated construction means of the trough! along its length. 1 y: 9. Device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the means for movably coupling the movable! elongated construction on the movable means are provided with an opening formed by the bottom of i i the movable elongated structure at one end thereof and j | ; fasteners connected to the movable! means and protruding upward, the fasteners being adapted to be detachably mounted in the opening of under the bottom of the movable elongated structure. 10. System for transferring pipe lengths sideways between a pipe rack and a pipe handling device, wherein the pipe handling device is provided with an elongated frame, the pipe rack lying on one side! of the elongated frame, which system includes two: i spaced pivotally supported arms; one lying on one side of the frame adjacent to the pipe rack, each arm having an end pivotally coupled to support means so that its opposite end can move up and down, the two arms; generally aligned with each other for a pivot; weighting generally parallel respective pivot axes, wherein a trough is pivotally coupled to the arms 35 in the opposite ends, so that the trough will move up and down with the opposite ends of the arms, the trough being able to be a pipe length supports, means for tilting the trough sideways in opposite directions and means for moving the arms about their respective 140 axes about the opposite ends of the arms 8120357 ¥ 4-14-; and moving the trough up and down. | The system of claim 10, wherein the trough is pivotally coupled to the opposite end; of the arms, so that the length of the trough is generally kept horizontal, while the opposite is! i ends of the arms are moved up and down, where | j '| the trough is supported to be tilted sideways in opposite directions about an axis transverse to it; shafts. ί 1; I j! 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