Boring or penetrating the earth – With above-ground means to feed tool
Patent
1995-10-30
1997-09-16
Neuder, William P.
Boring or penetrating the earth
With above-ground means to feed tool
81 5735, E21B 1914
Patent
active
056670265
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to a positioning apparatus for moving a power tong between an operative and an inoperative position in a drilling rig.
Power tongs are used to connect and disconnect threaded tubulars used in the construction of oil and gas wells.
Typically, for example as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3 799 009, power tongs are suspended by a cable attached to a support member high in the drilling tower. When it is desired to connect or disconnect two threaded tubulars the power tong is manually swung into position and closed circumjacent the tubulars. When the operation is completed the power tong is released and allowed to swing back into an inoperative position.
Manoeuvring the power tong requires considerable strength and is very difficult when the power tong is designed for handling large diameter tubulars and is thus very heavy.
In EP-A-0 593 803 (which was not published until after the priority date of this application) the Applicants describe a positioning apparatus for assisting in the positioning of power tongs. Whilst this positioning apparatus allows a power tong to be easily manipulated it is still desirable to have a rig hand in the immediate vicinity of the tubulars to ensure that the power tong is correctly placed on the tubulars.
The present invention, at least in its preferred embodiments, aims to obviate the need for a rig hand in the immediate vicinity of the power tong.
According to the present invention there is provided a positioning apparatus for moving a power tong between an operative and an inoperative position in a drilling tower, which positioning apparatus comprises a first arm and a second arm, one end of said first arm being pivotally mounted to one end of said second arm and the other end of both said first arm and said second arm being pivotally mountable on said drilling tower with said first arm and said second arm converging towards one another, and means for extending and retracting said first arm and said second arm.
Preferably, the positioning apparatus includes a beam and the other end of both said first arm and said second arm are pivotally mounted on said beam.
Advantageously, the positioning apparatus includes means for extending and retracting said first arm and said second arm in unison.
In one embodiment, at least one of said first and second arms is formed by the interconnection of two chains the links of one of which chains are provided with blocking members which can co-operate with the links of the other chain to form said arm.
In another embodiment at least one of said first and second arms is formed by a piston and cylinder which is preferably double acting.
In a further embodiment, at least one of said first and second arms comprises a rack which can be moved by rotation of a pinion or a worm drive engaged therewith.
Preferably, the positioning apparatus includes a cable for supporting said first arm and said second arm in a generally horizontal plane.
The present invention also provides a drilling tower provided with a positioning apparatus in accordance with the present invention.
Preferably, said first arm and said second arm are supported in a generally horizontal plane.
Advantageously, said one ends of said first arm and said second arm are pivotally mounted together about a generally vertical axis and said other ends of said first arm and said second arm are pivotally mounted about a generally vertical axis.
Preferably, said other ends of said first arm and said second arm are pivotally mounted for movement about a generally horizontal axis.
Advantageously, said drilling tower includes a power tong supported by said positioning apparatus.
Preferably, said power tong is supported via two support members which are attached one to either side of said power tong and are attached to respective ends of said arms to either side of the pivotal connection thereof.
For a better understanding of the present invention reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of a positioning
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"Ridig Pushing Chains," Serapid USA, Inc., 1992.
Lorenz Jorg
Schulze-Beckinghausen Joerg-Erich
McClung Guy
Neuder William P.
Weatherford / Lamb, Inc.
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