US2872933A - Air-inflated drilling rig cover - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 10, 1959 w. H. MACKEY 2,872,933

- AIR-INFLATED DRILLING RIG COVER.

Filed Aug. 5, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 I TIE-a]- 9 26 ZZ HIHHEY 1 I EH llPll 22 l 1 22 7 7 .INVENTOR B wily/ aw 9- 91214454.

ATTORNEY Feb. 10, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 5, 1957 Feb. 10, 1959 'w. H. MACKEY 2,872,933

AIR-INFLATED DRILLING RIG COVER Filed Aug. 5, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR BY IIE- 5 6 ATTORNEY United States' Patent '0 AIR-INFLATED DRILLING RIG COVER William H. Mackey, Libertyville, Ill., assignor to Cid Air Structures Company, Chicago, III., a corporation of Illinois Application August 5, 1957, Serial No. 676,271

3 Claims. (Cl. 135-1) My invention relates broadly to oil drilling rigs and more particularly to a protective housing for oil drilling rigs.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a construction of protective housing for oil drilling rigs enabling operation to be carried on continuously at the oil drilling rig independently of conditions of weather or temperature or the forced spraying of oil from parts of the oil drilling system. 7

Another object of my invention is to provide a construction of inflatable enclosure for an oil drilling rig which may be maintained in erect position around the oil rig by the continuous pumping of air into the interior of the cover for conditioning the atmosphere around the rig and maintaining proper working conditions around" the oil drilling rig independently of the leakage of oil and gas prevalent around an oil well.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a construction of inflatable cover for an oil drilling rig which may be readily suspended from the top of the drilling rig and providedwith an intermediate brace disposed between the top and bottom of the cover wherein the cover is maintained in inflated position around the oil well rig by one or more blowers for continuously supplying streams of air into the interior of the cover for maintaining the cover in an inflated erect position around the oil Well drilling rig.

Other and further objects of my invention reside in an arrangement of stabilizer connecting cap for the cover of an oil well drilling rig and an arrangement of expander band for the drilling rig cover and an associated base seal enabling the cover to be maintained in an erect inflated position around an oil well rig by means of a continuous supply of air from pressure blower means connected with the interior of the cover as set forth more fully in the specification hereinafter following by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view showing a typical oil well rig with the protective cover of my invention as initially applied thereto and shown in a deflated condition and with the ballast seal open just prior to the conditioning of the cover for the operation of the blower equipment for inflating the cover around the oil well drilling rig;

Fig. 2 shows the arrangement of the cover of my invention with respect to the oil well drilling rig where the ballast seal is filled and the'cover is inflated to an expanded position for protection of the drilling rig and the working area surrounding the rig, the view being taken substantially on line 2-2 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on line 33 of Fig. 2 and illustrating the layout of the multiplicity of blowers which I employ for sup plying air continuously to the interior of the protective cover around the oil well drilling rig;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view looking down on the top of the inflated structure of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the drilling 2,872,933 Patented Feb. 10, 1959 2 rig cover showing the connection between the bottom cylindrical section and the top dome-shaped section thereof and indicating particularly the arrangement of the expander band intermediate the top and bottom of the cover;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view through one of the blower tubes for inflating the drilling rig cover and showing particularly the detachable connection between the cover and the blower tube; and

Fig. 7 is a schematic view illustrating one method of erecting or installing the drilling rig cover in deflated condition with respect to the drilling rig.

My invention is directed to an inflatable cover for housing a drilling tower for an oil well drilling rig to enable operations to be carried on independently of prevailing temperature and weather conditions and to protect the oil well equipment and those at work on the rig. The cover of my invention is particularly applicable to offshore drilling rigs where an attack from salt spray results in corrosion and deterioration of the parts of the equipment. The protective cover of my invention provides means for maintaining the continuity of operations around the oil well drilling rig'regardless of changes in weather and temperature and serves as a protective means against detrimental sprays from adjacent oil well operations which often produce such gumming and congealing of foreign matter around the oil well drilling equipment as to make frequent cleaning and maintenance essential. The cover of my invention is constructed according to the principles set forth in my co-pending application Serial No. 670,996 filed July 10, 1957, for air-inflated building structures. I utilize an airtight fabric which'is impervious to moisture as the enclosing material. I employ various kinds of airtight materials such as vinyl-coated nylon fabric of great strength that withstands both extreme warm and cold temperatures, or a laminated fabric in lieu of the coated fabric may be used. The material is weather proof and airtight and has a life expectancy sufficient to perform all of the functions intended by the instant invention. The flexible fabric of my invention in the instant case, however, is formed by seamed strips contoured in the form of a dome or an igloo which is provided at the top with a stabilizer cap adapted to be centered upon and fitted over the top of the oil well drilling rig hoisting pole. This stabilizer cap is cemented to the fabric of the cover forming a substantially airtight connection supportable at the top of the oil well drilling rig. At approximately the base of the dome or the igloo shaped portion of the cover I provide an expander band forming a peripheral belt disposed vertically in the wall of the cover and forming means for shaping the cover substantially midway of the height of the drilling rig. The lower portion of the cover extending below the expander band is substantially cylindrical, disposed on a vertical axis. This lower portion 'of the cover terminates in a ballast tube which forms a seal with the surface around the drilling rig. Where this surface is irregular such as the ground around the drilling rig, the ballast tube makes an ideal seal with respect to the surface of the earth by virtue of the conformance of the ballast tube with the irregular surface of the earth as explained more fully in my aforesaid co-pending application. Where the drilling rig is associated with the deck of a barge, the ballast tube insures a tight seal therewith. For purposes of conditioning the atmosphere about the drilling rig equipment and also inflating the drilling rig cover I provide a multiplicity of blowers arranged to continuously deliver streams of air to the interior of the cover around the oil drilling rig. Where the base of the cover, that is the portion which surrounds the base of the oil drilling rig,

has a diameter of the order of'90 feet and where the height-of the cover is of the order of feet I find it desirable to employ four continuously driven blowers located in opposite diametrical positions and capable of supplying quantities of air at therate of 5000 cubic feet per minute with the blowers operating simultaneously .and continuously.

ilte'ferr'ing vtoflthe drawings in more detail reference characterltdesignatesan oil .well drilling rig erected .on the surface 2 and terminating at its top in the hoisting poleindicatcdat 3. Such oil welldrilling rig-may have avheightof approximately 75 feet and the area reserved for .operaiionsabout the.oil well equipment may haven diameter .o'fapproximately SOYfeet. Itis in this area that I .erectthe protective cover.of,my invention which cons'ists of the stabilizer cap 4 which .is:centered over the hoisting pole 3 as represented in Fig. .1. The material constituting the covetiis shown. at Sand maybenshcretofore explained .vinylecoated nylon fabric of great strength thatrwithstandshothextrenie warm and .cold temperatures or-alarninated fabricintlieuof the coated fabric-may be used. Ihe materialis waterproof and airtight and will withstand the pressure .of sprays directed against the surface of the material when the building structureconstituted bythernaterial is in inflated condition. The upper portion ofthe cover .isformed by stripscf the flexible materialseamed .andstitched .to provide nirtightseams and form :a substantially seinhs'pherical dome .origlooshaped topindicatedat.fiinEig. 2. Thelowerportiou of the cover 5 isshaped to constitute a vertically extending extremity of .theflexible wall 7 and terminating in the ballast tube 8 as explained .more fully in my aforesaid co;pending application. Theballast tube 3 forms a seal againstthesurface .2. intermediate the cylindrical portion 7 and the dome-shaped portion 6 of the cover 5 Iprovidean expander band-9 whichis suitably attached to the interior of the surface ofthe material of cover 5. The band9 is formed from aluminum and is extremely lightin.weight-hutis guiteIigid-Jnits vertical section-and provides adequate reinforcement for the material 5 intermediate the cylindrical section *Tand the-donte-snaped sectionfi. ,I;preferably cement the expander band interiorlyof thematerialS forming a division betweenthe domesshaped .portion .7 and the cylindrical portion 7 ot the coverat which position the strips forming'the taped sections indicated at .6a,-6b, 60, etc. are seamed to the upper-.endsof the vertically extending strips 711, 7b, 70, etc. .oftheeylindrical section 7 of;the cover.

:In order to .maintain the cover in inflated condition around the .oil .well drilling .rig, I position air delivery tubes'inthcside .wall ofthe cylindrical portion 7 ,of the cover .asrepreseutedat 11, 1'2, .13 and 14 connected to niotor'driven fan blower unitsrepresented at 15, i6, 17 and .118. Thesefan blower .units supply air to the interior areao'f the coveratihe vrate.of-.approximately 5690 cubic a'feetper .minute which is adequate to maintain the coverS .in inflated condition about the .oil drilling rig taking into account leakage which is bound to occur at certain of the seams, suchas Qtfiior 2 2, between the Seal Sandthe surface ..2;.and.around the hoisting pole 3 at the top of the oibdrillingtig. The seam .21 is stitched at.22.and .is cemented .or glued tothe expander band 9 as represented bythelayer of adhesive ati3' i. This joint serves .to so stiffen the connection between the domesliaped section 6.and the cylindrical section 7 that .installationof .thecover over an ,oil rigorremoval or the cover .for installation on .anotheroil rig is considerably simplified. In Big. 7 J have illustrated one method of installing .orremovingthe cover with respect to the oil rig. ..A .relativelyf.lighticrane 241ml} be .uscdhaving a boom .over which the Enable system .26 vruns ior sue pending the stabilizer cap .4 .with the covers -connected thereto. ".The stabilizer can A :is provided .with certain cyelettconnectors 27 .through which equalizer .cables in the .form 10f aslingextend and are symmetrically connected .to .the end-of. the; cabletsystem .26 .thrQlt h eye 28. Operationtof cranefl t.pt'ovides-a-v simple means donetfech ing and removing the drilling rig cover, but other methods may be employed. The drilling rig cover is sufficiently light in weight to enable the stabilizing cap 4 to be maneuvered into position over the hoisting pole 3 by working from within the cover on the rig 1. When the cover is initially placed in position the ballast tube 8 is completely open as represented in Figs. 1 and 7 so that rthe'cover is notsubjected to the mass provided by the weight of the ballast tube. When the cover is maneuvered'into-position'the ballast ttibe'ti is filled with sand or "sand "bags :represented at 29 in -Fig. 2 and-the ballast tube closed for sealing the cover against the surface 2.

In Fig. 6 I have represented the blower unit 16 in association with the air delivery tube 12. The air delivery tube 12 is detachably connected to the dome-shaped section 6 through an arrangement of annular sealing rings 3d and 31 which 'clamp the material-of the cylindrical portion 7 1 or the. cover .and maintain such cylindrical portion in tight engagement with the annularly extending flange 32. of mean-delivery tube 12. Detachable clamping-bolts 153 secure the cylindrical .wall 7 of the cover with:respect.toztheblowentube .12 by the clamped joint between the material .of the cylindrical portion 7 i of the cover, the rings 5i) and 31 and flange 32.013 the blowver tube '12.

, .Undertcertain--.conditions\of weather and outside .at H'ZOSPhEIiClICH'lPEIfi-llll'fl it may be necessary to condition the air beforeitis pumped intozthe interiorlof the cover by utilizing-theyrinciples set forth inmy copending applicatioinSc-rial.Nurnber67lh934, filed July :10, 1957, for Airslnflated .Roof Structure for facilitating ithe continuous .work of personnel =.0n the oil'drilling trig regardless of weather conditions.

- Lipon .conclusion of ioperationson one drilling rig' the cover ;an d blower equipment of :my .invention -is readily removableandis portablein character-so thatit mayibe readily .installed on another drilling rig for continued operation.

While 1 .havedescribcdmyinvention incertain of its preferred embodiments .I realize that modifications may hermadeand -I desire that it .be understood -that;no -1irnirations upon my invention are :intended other than may be imposed by the scope of the appended claims.

What -Lelaim;as new.and desirc'to secure by Letters Patent of the iUnitedStates .is as follows:

-l. Anlaininfiatcdtdrillingrigeovcrcomprising a cover materialsubstantialiyimpervious to air'and moisture and havinga substantiallycircular contour terminating .ina sealladaptcd to cstabiish substantially airtight sealing connections with the :surface surrounding an 'oil well drilling rig adapted to be protected by said material, means for dividing said cover materialinto-adomefshaped section and a cylindrical section andimeans-for continuously supplying airiunder pressurethrough said cylindrical section for inflating {both of said sectionsdn :a position around .iitCzOll well drilling-rig, .whereinthe'dome-shaped section of said .cover material :has :a stabilizer cap cemented to the center'of saidtmaterial, said stabilizercap including means for effecting connection 'with the top of the oil well drilling rig for distributing the cover material uniformly .around :the rig.

2. .Anaioinfiated drillingrigcovereotnprisingacover material substantially.impervious to-ait' and-'rnoisturc and having ,a substantially circular contour terminating in a seal adapted to establish substantially 'aimight sealing connections with the surface surrounding an .oil vwell drilling .rig adapted to be protected by said material, means.for-dividingrsaid cover materialiintoa do1neshaped sectionhndaeylindrical sectionnnd means for continuouslysupplying air under pressure:through-saidcylindrical section for inflating hoth=of said sections in -.a position around the .oil well drilling rig, .wherein the means for dividing said cover nrateria-l :intma tdomeeshapedsection and 2a cylindrical sectionzincludes. a'iv erticallyextending belt of metallic material fastened to the interior of both of said sections.

3. An air-inflated drilling rig cover comprising a cover material substantially impervious to air and moisture and having a substantially circular contour terminating in a seal adapted to establish substantially air-tight sealing connections with the surface surrounding an oil well drilling rig adapted to be protected by said material, means for dividing said cover material into a dome-shaped section and a cylindrical section and means for continuously supplying air under pressure through said cylindrical section for inflating both of said sections in a position around the oil well drilling rig, wherein said means for dividing said cover material into a domeshaped section and a cylindrical section includes a vertically extending belt of material which is substantially rigid and conforms with the surface of said cover material, and means for fastening said belt to the interior of both of said sections.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

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