Material or article handling – Process
Reexamination Certificate
2001-02-22
2004-06-15
Bratlie, Steven A. (Department: 3652)
Material or article handling
Process
C414S626000, C414S620000, C294S081510, C294S081610, C294S090000, C294S106000, C294S117000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06749392
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to lifting devices and, more particularly, to a quick connect/disconnect tank lifting brace for rapidly lifting and transporting heavy tanks such as used in the oil field environment offshore or onshore.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
At times, during drilling operations, drill cuttings and other debris or waste cannot be simply discarded into the water. As a result, during drilling operations efforts are undertaken to discard the drill cuttings and other debris or waste (hereinafter sometimes referred to as “drill cuttings”).
Depending on the hole size, penetration rate and the depth of the hole, tens to thousands of barrels of drill cuttings are produced. Depending on the size of the tank, a tank may store between 13½ to 25 barrels of drill cuttings. The “real estate” in the offshore oil field environment is very limited. Thus, the drill cuttings must be hauled from the offshore platform and discarded onshore. However, there is still the problem of limited real estate that can be used on the offshore platform/rig/dock for storage tanks.
It is estimated that drilling costs approximately $2,000 to $10,000 per hour. Therefore, there are numerous attempts to reduce the duration of the drilling operations even if over time a mere hour is saved. As can be appreciated, offshore platforms or rigs used in deep water drilling are more costly by virtue of their distance from land, depth to the earth's surface, etc.
Presently, the tanks employed in drilling operations have eyelets or padeyes at the corners of the tanks for coupling the lifting cables to the tank. Coupling the lifting cables to the eyelets (padeyes) or other discretely positioned couplers, affixed to the tank, could be performed rapidly if four laborers were present at each corner to connect and subsequently disconnect the lifting cables from the eyelets (padeyes) or other discretely positioned couplers. As can appreciated, this is prohibitive and a waste of valuable labor.
Most often, one to two men are used to couple a sling to the corner eyelets or padeyes of the tank. The total tank turnaround time to lift, via a crane, and connect the sling to a tank, transport the tank, disconnect the sling and return the sling to the next tank takes approximately fifteen (15) minutes per tank. With current technology, a tank can be filled with 25 barrels of drill cuttings in approximately five (5) minutes. Thus, at times, the drilling operations are limited to the tank turnaround time in which these tanks can be removed and replaced using one (1) crane.
I predict that the turnaround time for the quick connect/disconnect tank lifting brace of the present invention is approximately seven (7) minutes or about one-half the turnaround time of the sling. This is particular advantageous for drilling the top of a wellhole since, at the top of the wellhole, more drill cuttings are generated.
As will be seen more fully below, the present invention is substantially different in structure, methodology and approach from that of prior lifting devices.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The preferred embodiment of the quick connect/disconnect tank lifting brace of the present invention solves the aforementioned problems in a straight forward and simple manner.
Broadly, what is provided is a quick connect/disconnect tank lifting brace for use with a tank with a top lid or cover having an overhang. The tank lifting brace comprises an adjustable crossbar having distal ends and two pivotal end clamps wherein each end clamp is pivotally coupled to a respective one of the distal ends. A pair of clamp pivoting assemblies is included wherein each clamp pivoting assembly pivots a respective one of the pivotal end clamps via a pair of pivot arms. Pivoting is accomplished via a threaded actuating rod parallel to the adjustable crossbar and coupled to the pair of pivoting assemblies wherein rotation of the threaded actuating rod effectuates, in unison, pivoting of each pair of pivot arms via the pivoting assemblies.
In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a quick connect/disconnect tank lifting brace with a pair of clamp pivoting assemblies which are spring biased via a spring biasing force for biasing the end clamps to an open position. Thus, in operation, when the quick connect/disconnect tank lifting brace (without a tank) is being lifted by a crane or hoist via lifting cables, the force exerted by the lifting cables onto the clamp pivoting assemblies does not significantly overpower the spring biasing force and thus leaves the jaws (the end clamps) essentially open and suitable for clutching a tank. In other words, this feature allows the quick connect/disconnect tank lifting brace to remain in an open position which, when transported to the top of a tank, allows such lifting brace to easily be positioned for clamping the tank. Advantageously, when the end clamps are in a closed position, if the end clamps are not locked, the lifting force can automatically lock the end clamps and their pivotal rotation.
The present invention further contemplates a quick connect/disconnect tank lifting brace for use with a tank with a top lid or cover having an overhang comprising a crossbar having distal ends and pivotal end clamps, each end clamp pivotally coupled to a respective one of the distal ends. The brace further includes a pair of clamp pivoting assemblies, each clamp pivoting assembly pivots a respective one of the pivotal end clamps between an open position and a closed position and biases said respective one of the pivotal end clamps to said open position. Furthermore, the brace includes an actuating rod parallel to the adjustable crossbar and coupled to the pair of pivoting assemblies wherein articulation of the actuating rod effectuates, in unison, pivoting of each pair of pivot arms via the pivoting assemblies to a closed position.
The present invention further contemplates a quick connect/disconnect tank lifting brace for use with a tank with a top lid or cover having an overhang comprising a crossbar having distal ends and pivotal end clamps, each end clamp pivotally coupled to a respective one of the distal ends. The brace further includes a pair of clamp pivoting assemblies, each clamp pivoting assembly pushes to pivotally close, via a pushing motion, and, alternately, pulls to pivotally open, via a pulling motion, a respective one of the pivotal end clamps and biases said respective one of the pivotal end clamps to an open position. The motion is carried out using an actuating track mechanism coupled to the adjustable crossbar and coupled to the pair of pivoting assemblies wherein actuation of the actuating track mechanism effectuates, in unison, the pushing motion to pivot the end clamps to a closed position or the pulling motion to pivot the end clamps back to the open position.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a quick connect/disconnect tank lifting brace having end clamps with two end plates fixedly secured in parallel spaced relation via a cross pivoting rod pivotally coupled to the adjustable crossbar. Each end plate comprises a forward portion having formed therein a mouth or an opening; a central portion affixed to the cross pivoting rod; and a rear portion having a hole formed therein for attaching thereto a lifting cable.
The present invention contemplates a pair of end plates which include a central portion having a protruding arc-shaped edge which (1) defines an arc of rotation of the end clamps for rotating the mouth or opening in and out of the open and closed positions; and (2) footing for balancing the quick connect/disconnect tank lifting brace. Moreover, the mouth or opening has a generally squared “C”-shaped profile.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a quick connect/disconnect tank lifting brace which includes shackles for coupling lifting cables to the end clamps. Thereby, during lifting, the weight of a tank is transferred to the lifting cables to counterbalance the force exerted by the weight of the
Adams Ben A.
Cooper Chris G.
Areaux Raymond G.
Bratlie Steven A.
Velez Lisa
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