Heavy machinery substructure for traversing and working over ground obstructions

Abstract

Present invention includes a load bearing mid-section weldment connected between a pair of telescoping incremental stepper assemblies to create a clearance space beneath load bearing mid-section weldment and telescoping incremental stepper assemblies thereby allowing heavy machinery substructure to move and work over ground obstructions. Each telescoping incremental stepper assembly includes a bridge weldment connected between a pair of telescoping legs. Each telescoping leg includes at least one pair of nested leg sections and a linear actuator to adjust length of telescoping leg. Each telescoping leg further includes a fixed foot and an articulating pad assembly. Articulating pad assembly configured to alternatively lift foot and itself from ground and moves foot and itself relative to one another to move heavy machinery substructure in incremental steps over ground and any obstructions.

Description

technical field [0001] The present invention generally relates to substructures capable of supporting heavy machinery, such as rotary drilling rigs, to traverse and work above ground obstacles. More specifically, the present invention relates to a substructure having at least one pair of ground engaging feet and a pair of telescoping legs, and including a pair of articulated pad assemblies that alternately lift the feet and pads from the ground and enable The feet and pads move relative to each other to move the substructure over ground obstructions, such as wellheads. Background technique [0002] Heavy machinery is supported by a variety of substructures that are capable of moving above the ground. An earlier example is the self-propelled platform vehicle disclosed in US Patent 3,754,790 to Mappin et al. (Mappin '790). The vehicle is described as having two ground engaging floors carrying hydraulic rams for raising the vehicle from the ground to enable the vehicle to be ...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Other disadvantages of Smith '220's self-propelled platform are: multiple legs in alternating contact with the ground; use of a horizontally sliding frame at the upper ends of the legs; and lack of means for disassembly, transport and reassembly at the desired location

However, the walking substructure device described in Reed '336 has no means of maintaining the substructure's elevated movement and operation over ground obstacles for extended periods of time.

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