A foldable hydraulic guide rail for top drive

Abstract

This invention relates to a foldable hydraulic guide rail for top drives, comprising a top guide rail, a bottom guide rail, multiple intermediate guide rails, and two flexible hydraulic lines. The two hydraulic lines are arranged side by side, with one end connected to each other. The top guide rail is fixedly sleeved on the two hydraulic lines and has a hydraulic interface 1 and a hydraulic interface 2, which are respectively connected to the other end of the two hydraulic lines. The bottom guide rail and the multiple intermediate guide rails are slidably sleeved on the two hydraulic lines in sequence. Hydraulic cylinders are installed on the bottom guide rail and the multiple intermediate guide rails, and the multiple hydraulic cylinders are fixedly connected to corresponding parts of the two hydraulic lines. The rodless chamber and the rod chamber of each hydraulic cylinder are respectively connected to the two hydraulic lines. The telescopic ends of the multiple hydraulic cylinders are fixedly connected to the bottom guide rail and the multiple intermediate guide rails. This invention solves the problem of inconvenient disassembly and assembly of top drive guide rails, improves the safety factor at the drilling site, and greatly reduces the workload of disassembly and assembly of top drive guide rails.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of oil and gas exploration technology, and specifically to a foldable hydraulic guide rail for top drive. Background Technology

[0002] Top drive (top drive unit) is the primary power source in modern drilling and production operations. The top drive assembly is suspended on the traveling block of the drilling rig and rotates the drill pipe. It moves the drill pipe up and down by sliding along longitudinal guide rails. The guide rails guide the wheeled tools of the top drive, enabling its vertical movement. Therefore, it must withstand the loads transmitted by the drill pipe during drilling, such as counter-torque and vibration, and also have a certain length to ensure the drill pipe can be completely pulled out of the wellhead.

[0003] Currently, most top-drive guideways, both domestically and internationally, are constructed by hinged multiple guideways together with pins until the required length is reached. While this structure is simple, it requires high-altitude work for connection, posing a high risk factor and demanding a large number of workers. The assembly and disassembly of the guideways are labor-intensive, with numerous and heavy components such as individual short guideways and pins. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This invention provides a foldable hydraulic guide rail for top drives, aiming to solve the problems in the prior art.

[0005] The technical solution of the present invention to solve the above-mentioned technical problems is as follows:

[0006] A foldable hydraulic guide rail for a top drive includes a top guide rail, a bottom guide rail, multiple intermediate guide rail sections, and two flexible hydraulic lines. The two hydraulic lines are arranged side by side, with one end closed and the other end open. The bottom guide rail is fixedly sleeved on the two hydraulic lines and has a hydraulic interface one and a hydraulic interface two on it. The hydraulic interface one and the hydraulic interface two are respectively connected to the other end of the two hydraulic lines.

[0007] The bottom guide rail and multiple intermediate guide rails are sequentially slidably sleeved on the outside of the two hydraulic lines, with the multiple intermediate guide rails located between the top guide rail and the bottom guide rail. Each of the top guide rail and multiple intermediate guide rails is equipped with a hydraulic cylinder, which is fixedly connected to corresponding parts of the two hydraulic lines. The rodless chamber and rod chamber of each hydraulic cylinder are respectively connected to the two hydraulic lines. The telescopic ends of the multiple hydraulic cylinders are fixedly connected to the top guide rail and multiple intermediate guide rails, respectively, to drive the top guide rail and multiple intermediate guide rails to move along the two hydraulic lines.

[0008] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows: During use, before setting up the guide rails, one end of the top guide rail (i.e., the upper end) is hoisted and continuously lifted until the entire folding guide rail is fully unfolded to a vertical state, perpendicular to the ground (or platform). At this time, the hydraulic interface one on the bottom guide rail is connected to the hydraulic source according to the assembly guide rail. High-pressure oil is input into the hydraulic interface one (i.e., the assembly oil inlet), and the hydraulic interface two (i.e., the assembly oil outlet) returns the hydraulic oil to the hydraulic station, causing the lower end pressure of the hydraulic cylinders in the multiple intermediate guide rails and the hydraulic cylinders in the top guide rail to gradually decrease and the upper end pressure to increase. The hydraulic cylinder piston retracts, and the piston rod of the hydraulic cylinder drives each external guide rail to move down synchronously until all guide rail notches mesh with each other. After the intermediate guide rails and the top guide rails are connected end to end and all fall into the tenon groove, the hydraulic system is shut down, and the pipeline connecting the hydraulic source and the guide rail is disconnected. The hydraulic oil inside the guide rail is sealed inside the pipeline, the oil pressure inside the guide rail is stable, the hydraulic cylinder piston is locked, and the guide rail cannot slide.

[0009] During storage and transportation, the top rail, multiple middle rails, and bottom rail can be folded in sequence for easy storage and transportation, saving space.

[0010] This invention solves the problem of inconvenient disassembly and assembly of top drive guide rails, improves the safety factor at the drilling site, and greatly reduces the workload of disassembly and assembly of top drive guide rails.

[0011] Based on the above technical solution, the present invention can be further improved as follows.

[0012] Furthermore, the top guide rail and the multiple intermediate guide rails each include a sliding sleeve with open ends. The multiple sliding sleeves are slidably sleeved on the outside of the two hydraulic pipelines and are fixedly connected to the telescopic ends of the corresponding hydraulic cylinders.

[0013] The beneficial effect of adopting the above-mentioned further solution is that during use, multiple hydraulic cylinders extend and retract and drive multiple sliding sleeves to slide on the hydraulic pipeline, thereby realizing the unfolding, straightening and folding of the entire guide rail, which is convenient to use.

[0014] Furthermore, the tail ends of the plurality of hydraulic cylinders are respectively fixedly connected to the corresponding parts of the plurality of sliding sleeves of the two hydraulic pipelines by fixing pins.

[0015] The advantages of adopting the above-mentioned further solution are that it has a simple structure, reasonable design, and convenient assembly of the hydraulic cylinder on the hydraulic pipeline by means of a fixing pin.

[0016] Furthermore, the telescopic ends of the plurality of hydraulic cylinders are respectively fixedly connected to the plurality of sliding sleeves by piston pins.

[0017] The advantages of adopting the above-mentioned further solution are that it has a simple structure, reasonable design, and the connection between the extension and retraction end of the hydraulic cylinder and the sliding sleeve is achieved through the piston pin, making assembly convenient.

[0018] Furthermore, the top guide rail and the multiple intermediate guide rails each include a hollow shaft with open ends. The multiple shafts are located in the multiple sliding sleeves and are fixedly connected to the corresponding parts of the two hydraulic lines. Each of the multiple sliding sleeves is provided with a pair of limiting grooves, and each pair of limiting grooves extends from one end of the corresponding sliding sleeve to the other end. Each piston pin passes through the corresponding pair of limiting grooves and is slidably connected to the corresponding pair of limiting grooves.

[0019] The advantages of adopting the above-mentioned further solution are that the structure is simple and the design is reasonable. The piston pin and the pair of limiting grooves on the sliding sleeve cooperate to realize the limiting of the extension and retraction of the hydraulic cylinder.

[0020] Furthermore, the bottom slide rail includes an outer shell that is open at both ends, and the outer shell is fixedly fitted over the two hydraulic lines.

[0021] The advantages of adopting the above-mentioned further solution are that the structure is simple, the design is reasonable, and the outer shell is assembled on the hydraulic pipeline, making assembly convenient.

[0022] Furthermore, a lower hook is fixedly installed at the end of the sliding sleeve corresponding to the bottom guide rail that is away from the middle guide rail.

[0023] The advantages of adopting the above-mentioned further solution are that it has a simple structure, reasonable design, and can be connected to the top transport rail through the lower hook, making assembly convenient.

[0024] Furthermore, the two ends of the multiple shafts corresponding to the multiple intermediate guide rails, the end of the housing near the intermediate guide rail, and the end of the shaft corresponding to the top guide rail near the intermediate guide rail are rotatably connected to connecting members.

[0025] The advantages of adopting the above-mentioned further solution are that the structure is simple and the design is reasonable. Each connecting part is rotatably connected to the corresponding sliding sleeve through the remote rod, and the assembly is convenient.

[0026] Furthermore, it also includes a fall protection mechanism, which is installed in the top guide rail, the bottom guide rail and multiple sections of the intermediate guide rail, with one end extending outside the top guide rail.

[0027] The advantages of adopting the above-mentioned further solution are that it has a simple structure, reasonable design, and can prevent accidents caused by failure of the connection between the guide rails and falling off through the anti-fall mechanism, making it safe and reliable.

[0028] Furthermore, the fall arrestor includes a cable, a fixed pulley, two mounting rods, and two movable pulleys. The two mounting rods are vertically mounted relative to each other at the end of the top guide rail away from the middle guide rail, with one end extending into the corresponding end of the top guide rail. Springs are slidably fitted onto the other ends of the two mounting rods, with the two ends of the two springs abutting against the other ends of the two mounting rods and the corresponding ends of the top guide rail, respectively. The two movable pulleys are rotatably mounted on one end of the two mounting rods, and the fixed pulley is rotatably mounted within the bottom guide rail. The cable passes over the fixed pulley and slides against it, with both ends of the cable passing over the two movable pulleys and extending into the bottom guide rail, where they are fixedly connected to the bottom guide rail via two connecting pins.

[0029] The advantages of adopting the above-mentioned further solution are that it has a simple structure, reasonable design, and the cable runs through the entire length of the guide rail. The anti-fall mechanism can prevent accidents caused by failure of the connection between the guide rails and falling off. It is safe and reliable. Attached Figure Description

[0030] Figure 1 This is one of the overall structural schematic diagrams of the present invention when fully straightened;

[0031] Figure 2 This is the second schematic diagram of the overall structure of the present invention when fully straightened;

[0032] Figure 3 for Figure 2 Enlarged view of A in the middle;

[0033] Figure 4 This is one of the overall structural diagrams of the present invention when folded;

[0034] Figure 5 This is the second schematic diagram of the overall structure of the present invention when folded;

[0035] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the top guide rail structure of the present invention;

[0036] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the shaft in the top guide rail of the present invention;

[0037] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the hydraulic cylinder inside the top guide rail of the present invention;

[0038] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the intermediate guide rail of the present invention;

[0039] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the central shaft of the intermediate guide rail of the present invention;

[0040] Figure 11This is a schematic diagram of the hydraulic cylinder inside the intermediate guide rail of the present invention;

[0041] Figure 12 This is one of the structural schematic diagrams showing the routing of hydraulic pipelines within the top guide rail and the middle guide rail of the present invention;

[0042] Figure 13 This is the second schematic diagram showing the routing of hydraulic lines within the top and middle guide rails of the present invention.

[0043] Figure 14 This is a schematic diagram of the bottom guide rail structure of the present invention;

[0044] Figure 15 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the bottom guide rail of the present invention;

[0045] Figure 16 This is a schematic diagram of the fall protection mechanism in this invention;

[0046] Figure 17 This is a schematic diagram of the cable's trajectory in this invention.

[0047] The attached diagram lists the components represented by each number as follows:

[0048] 1. Hydraulic pipeline; 2. Hydraulic interface one; 3. Hydraulic interface two; 4. Hydraulic cylinder; 5. Sliding sleeve; 6. Fixing pin; 7. Piston pin; 8. Limiting groove; 9. Housing; 10. Lower hook; 11. Mounting rod; 12. Shaft; 13. Connecting piece; 14. Cable; 15. Fixed pulley; 16. Moving pulley; 17. Sliding plate; 18. Spring; 19. Connecting pin. Detailed Implementation

[0049] It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the embodiments and features described in the present invention can be combined with each other.

[0050] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the terms "center," "longitudinal," "lateral," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," and "outer," etc., indicating orientations or positional relationships based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, are only for the convenience of describing the invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of the invention. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," etc., are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of indicated technical features. Thus, a feature defined with "first," "second," etc., may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this invention, unless otherwise stated, "a plurality of" means two or more.

[0051] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linking" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art will understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention based on the specific circumstances.

[0052] The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0053] Example 1

[0054] like Figures 1 to 17 As shown, this embodiment provides a foldable hydraulic guide rail for a top drive, including a top guide rail, a bottom guide rail, multiple intermediate guide rail sections, and two flexible hydraulic lines 1. The two hydraulic lines 1 are arranged side by side, with one end closed and the other end open. The bottom guide rail is fixedly sleeved on the outside of the two hydraulic lines 1, and is provided with a hydraulic interface 2 and a hydraulic interface 3. The hydraulic interface 2 and the hydraulic interface 3 are respectively connected to the other end of the two hydraulic lines 1.

[0055] The top guide rail and multiple intermediate guide rails are sequentially slidably sleeved on the outside of the two hydraulic lines 1, with the multiple intermediate guide rails located between the top guide rail and the bottom guide rail. Each of the top guide rail and multiple intermediate guide rails is equipped with a hydraulic cylinder 4, which is fixedly connected to corresponding parts of the two hydraulic lines 1. The rodless chamber and rod chamber of each hydraulic cylinder 4 are respectively connected to the two hydraulic lines 1. The telescopic ends of the multiple hydraulic cylinders 4 are fixedly connected to the top guide rail and multiple intermediate guide rails, respectively, for driving the top guide rail and multiple intermediate guide rails to move on the two hydraulic lines 1.

[0056] During use, before setting up the guide rails, lift one end of the top guide rail (i.e., the upper end) and continue lifting until the entire folding guide rail is fully unfolded to a vertical position, perpendicular to the ground (or platform). At this time, hydraulic interface 2 on the bottom guide rail is connected to the hydraulic source according to the assembly guide rail. High-pressure oil is input into hydraulic interface 2 (i.e., the assembly oil inlet), and hydraulic interface 3 (i.e., the assembly oil outlet) returns the hydraulic oil to the hydraulic station. This causes the lower pressure of the hydraulic cylinders in the multiple intermediate guide rails and the hydraulic cylinders in the top guide rail to gradually decrease and the upper pressure to increase. The hydraulic cylinder pistons retract, and the piston rods of the hydraulic cylinders drive each external guide rail to move down synchronously until all guide rail notches mesh with each other. After the intermediate and top guide rails are connected end to end and all fall into the tenon grooves, shut down the hydraulic system and disconnect the pipeline connecting the hydraulic source and the guide rail. The hydraulic oil inside the guide rail is sealed inside the pipeline, the oil pressure inside the guide rail is stable, the hydraulic cylinder piston is locked, and the guide rail cannot slide.

[0057] During storage and transportation, the top rail, multiple middle rails, and bottom rail can be folded in sequence for easy storage and transportation, saving space.

[0058] Preferably, in this embodiment, the number of intermediate guide rails is preferably three sections, but not limited to three sections; the specific number can be designed according to requirements.

[0059] Preferably, in this embodiment, each hydraulic cylinder 4 is equipped with a rodless chamber valve and a rod chamber valve. The two ends of the rodless chamber valve are connected to the rodless chamber of the hydraulic cylinder 4 and one of the hydraulic lines 1, respectively. The two ends of the rod chamber valve are connected to the rod chamber of the hydraulic cylinder 4 and another hydraulic line 1, respectively.

[0060] In addition, hydraulic interface 2 and hydraulic interface 3 each have an automatic sealing function. When disconnected from the hydraulic power source, the pipeline connection automatically seals the oil inside the pipeline to lock the relative position of the hydraulic cylinder piston. When connected to the hydraulic power source, the pipeline interface automatically opens due to the connection action, facilitating the entry and exit of oil.

[0061] Furthermore, hydraulic interface 2 and hydraulic interface 3 each have an automatic sealing function. When disconnected from the hydraulic power source, the pipeline connection automatically seals the oil inside the pipeline to lock the relative position of the hydraulic cylinder piston. When connected to the hydraulic power source, the pipeline interface automatically opens due to the connection action, facilitating the entry and exit of oil.

[0062] In addition, the two hydraulic lines 1 mentioned above are preferably made of soft materials, which can allow oil to pass through without affecting the folding of the entire guide rail.

[0063] It should be noted that the aforementioned hydraulic cylinders 4 employ existing technologies, and their specific structures and principles will not be elaborated upon here.

[0064] In addition, the entire guide rail is controlled by a hydraulic line that controls the movement of all outer sleeves except the bottom guide rail. An external hydraulic control device adjusts the oil volume in the upper and lower chambers of the hydraulic cylinder, controlling the piston movement, which in turn drives the outer sleeves of the guide rail to move. Since the up-and-down movement of the guide rail sleeves is only affected by the amount of oil in different chambers of the hydraulic cylinder, the oil source can always operate under pressure. The corresponding interfaces can be connected according to the different disassembly and assembly requirements of the folding guide rail. To maintain the oil volume in the pipeline and hydraulic cylinder, the corresponding interfaces have a built-in pipe-closing function. In short, if the outer sleeves of the guide rail need to rise, pressurize and inject oil into the lower chamber of the hydraulic cylinder, and drain oil from the upper chamber pipeline; conversely, pressurize and inject oil into the upper chamber of the hydraulic cylinder, and drain oil from the lower chamber pipeline.

[0065] This embodiment solves the problem of inconvenient disassembly and assembly of the top drive guide rail, improves the safety factor at the drilling site, and greatly reduces the workload of disassembly and assembly of the top drive guide rail.

[0066] Example 2

[0067] Based on Embodiment 1, in this embodiment, the top guide rail and the multiple intermediate guide rails each include a sliding sleeve 5 with open ends. The multiple sliding sleeves 5 are slidably sleeved on the outside of the two hydraulic pipelines 1 and are fixedly connected to the telescopic ends of the corresponding hydraulic cylinders 4.

[0068] During use, multiple hydraulic cylinders 4 extend and retract, and drive multiple sliding sleeves 5 to slide on the hydraulic pipeline 1, thereby realizing the unfolding, straightening, folding and retracting of the entire guide rail, which is convenient to use.

[0069] Preferably, in this embodiment, the plurality of sliding sleeves 5 are each preferably long rectangular structures.

[0070] Example 3

[0071] Based on Embodiment 2, in this embodiment, the tail ends of the plurality of hydraulic cylinders 4 are respectively fixedly connected to the parts of the two hydraulic pipelines 1 corresponding to the plurality of sliding sleeves 5 by fixing pins 6.

[0072] The solution has a simple structure and reasonable design. The hydraulic cylinder 4 is assembled on the hydraulic pipeline 1 by fixing pin 6, which makes assembly convenient.

[0073] Preferably, in this embodiment, the fixing pin 6 has a rod-shaped structure and is distributed perpendicular to the hydraulic pipeline 1.

[0074] Example 4

[0075] Based on any one of Embodiments 2 to 3, in this embodiment, the telescopic ends of the plurality of hydraulic cylinders 4 are respectively fixedly connected to the plurality of sliding sleeves 5 by piston pins 7.

[0076] The scheme has a simple structure and reasonable design. The connection between the extension end of the hydraulic cylinder 4 and the sliding sleeve 5 is achieved through the piston pin 7, which makes assembly convenient.

[0077] Preferably, in this embodiment, the piston pin 7 has a rod-shaped structure and is distributed perpendicular to the piston rod of the hydraulic cylinder 4.

[0078] Example 5

[0079] Based on embodiment 4, in this embodiment, the top guide rail and the multiple intermediate guide rails each further include a hollow shaft 12 with open ends. The multiple shafts 12 are located in the multiple sliding sleeves 5 and are fixedly connected to the corresponding parts of the two hydraulic lines 1. The multiple sliding sleeves 5 are respectively provided with a pair of limiting grooves 8, and each pair of limiting grooves 8 extends from one end of the corresponding sliding sleeve 5 to the other end. Each piston pin 7 passes through the corresponding pair of limiting grooves 8 and is slidably connected to the corresponding pair of limiting grooves 8.

[0080] The scheme has a simple structure and reasonable design. The piston pin 7 cooperates with a pair of limiting grooves 8 on the sliding sleeve 5 to limit the extension and retraction of the hydraulic cylinder 4.

[0081] Preferably, in this embodiment, each pair of limiting grooves 8 is preferably an elongated groove that extends from one end of the corresponding sliding sleeve 5 to the other end.

[0082] The lengths of multiple pairs of limiting grooves 8 can be the same or different.

[0083] Example 6

[0084] Based on any one of Embodiments 2 to 5, in this embodiment, the bottom slide rail includes a housing 9 with open ends, and the housing 9 is fixedly sleeved on the two hydraulic lines 1.

[0085] The solution has a simple structure and reasonable design. The outer shell 9 is assembled on the hydraulic pipeline 1, which is convenient for assembly.

[0086] Preferably, in this embodiment, the outer shell 9 is a long rectangular structure.

[0087] Preferably, in this embodiment, the outer shell 9 and the plurality of sliding sleeves 5 are respectively fixedly mounted with sliding plates 17.

[0088] In addition, each slider 17 has a long strip-shaped structure that extends along the length of the corresponding slider and is distributed perpendicular to the corresponding slider.

[0089] Furthermore, the sliding plate 17 cooperates with the rolling assembly of the top drive. After all the outer sliding sleeves are properly assembled, a complete and fixed guide rail is formed for the top drive to slide up and down.

[0090] Example 7

[0091] Based on embodiment 6, in this embodiment, a lower hook 10 is fixedly installed at the end of the sliding sleeve 5 corresponding to the bottom guide rail that is away from the middle guide rail.

[0092] The solution has a simple structure and reasonable design. It can be connected to the transport rail through the lower hook 10, and is easy to assemble.

[0093] Example 8

[0094] Based on any one of Embodiments 6 to 7, in this embodiment, the two ends of the multiple shafts 12 corresponding to the multiple intermediate guide rails, the end of the outer shell 9 near the intermediate guide rail, and the end of the shaft 12 corresponding to the top guide rail near the intermediate guide rail are respectively rotatably connected to the connecting member 13.

[0095] The scheme has a simple structure and reasonable design. Each connector 13 is rotatably connected to the corresponding sliding sleeve through the shaft 12, which makes assembly convenient.

[0096] Preferably, in this embodiment, each shaft 12 is preferably a block structure with a hollow interior and open at both ends, so that the hydraulic line 1 can pass through; one end of each shaft 12 is fixedly connected to the corresponding sliding sleeve, and the other end is U-shaped.

[0097] In addition, each connector 13 has a block structure that is hollow inside and open at both ends, which facilitates the passage of hydraulic lines 1; at the same time, one end of the connector 13 is rotatably connected to the other end of the corresponding shaft 12, and the other end is rotatably connected to one end of the shaft 12 on the adjacent sliding sleeve.

[0098] Based on the above scheme, except for the hydraulic cylinders and sliding sleeves of each guide rail which are not interchangeable, all other parts are interchangeable. Apart from larger parts such as sliding sleeves, other spare parts are small in size and light in weight, which makes product maintenance more convenient.

[0099] Example 9

[0100] Based on the above embodiments, this embodiment also includes a fall protection mechanism, which is installed in the top guide rail, the bottom guide rail and multiple sections of the intermediate guide rail, and one end of the fall protection mechanism extends outside the top guide rail.

[0101] The solution has a simple structure and reasonable design. The anti-fall mechanism can prevent accidents caused by failure of the connection between the guide rails and falling off. It is safe and reliable.

[0102] Example 10

[0103] Based on Embodiment 9, in this embodiment, the fall protection mechanism includes a cable 14, a fixed pulley 15, two mounting rods 11, and two movable pulleys 16. The two mounting rods 11 are vertically mounted relative to each other at one end of the top guide rail away from the middle guide rail, with one end extending into the corresponding end of the top guide rail. Springs 18 are slidably sleeved on the other ends of the two mounting rods 11, with the two ends of the two springs 18 respectively abutting against the other ends of the two mounting rods 11 and the corresponding end of the top guide rail. The two movable pulleys 16 are rotatably mounted on one end of the two mounting rods 11, and the fixed pulley 15 is rotatably mounted in the bottom guide rail. The cable 14 passes around the fixed pulley 15 and slides against the fixed pulley 15, and the two ends of the cable 14 pass around the two movable pulleys 16 and extend into the bottom guide rail, and are fixedly connected to the bottom guide rail by the two connecting pins 19.

[0104] The solution has a simple structure and reasonable design. The cable 14 runs through the entire length of the guide rail, and the anti-fall mechanism can prevent accidents caused by failure of the connection between the guide rails. It is safe and reliable.

[0105] Preferably, in this embodiment, the cable 14 is preferably a steel cable.

[0106] Preferably, in this embodiment, the two springs 18 allow the entire guide rail to deform to a certain extent due to temperature differences or impacts. When the connection between the guide rails fails and falls off, safety steel can prevent the parts from falling, so that the entire guide rail remains a series, ensuring construction safety.

[0107] Preferably, in this embodiment, a limiting plate is fixedly installed at the corresponding end (the upper end when unfolded) of the sliding sleeve 5 corresponding to the top guide rail, and baffles are fixedly connected to one end of each of the two mounting rods 11, and the two ends of each spring 18 abut against the corresponding limiting plate and baffle respectively.

[0108] The working principle of this invention is as follows:

[0109] During use, before setting up the guide rails, hoist one end of the top guide rail (i.e., the upper end) and continue lifting until the entire folding guide rail is fully unfolded to a vertical position, perpendicular to the ground (or platform). At this time, hydraulic interface 2 on the bottom guide rail connects to the hydraulic power source. High-pressure oil is input through hydraulic interface 2 (i.e., the oil inlet), and hydraulic interface 3 (i.e., the oil outlet) returns the hydraulic oil to the hydraulic station. This causes the lower pressure of the hydraulic cylinders in the multiple intermediate guide rails and the hydraulic cylinders in the top guide rail to gradually decrease while the upper pressure increases. The hydraulic cylinder pistons retract, and the piston rods of the hydraulic cylinders drive each external guide rail to move down synchronously until all guide rail notches mesh with each other. Once the intermediate and top guide rails are joined end to end and fully inserted into the tenon grooves, shut down the hydraulic system and disconnect the pipeline connecting the hydraulic power source and the guide rails. The hydraulic oil inside the guide rails is sealed inside the pipelines, the oil pressure inside the guide rails is stable, the pistons of the hydraulic cylinders are locked, and the guide rails cannot slide (see...). Figure 1 and Figure 2 );

[0110] During storage and transportation, the top rail, multiple middle rails, and bottom rail can be folded in sequence for easy storage and transportation, saving space (see [link]). Figure 4 and Figure 5 ).

[0111] When the guide rails need to be disassembled after use, first lower the top drive to the bottom transport guide rail and separate the transport guide rail from the folding guide rail, then retrieve the folding guide rail. After separation, lower the folding guide rail to the well platform. Connect the inlet and outlet of the hydraulic power source to the guide rail disassembly oil circuit. Use hydraulic power to inject oil into the lower chamber of the hydraulic cylinder inside each guide rail section, causing the hydraulic cylinder piston to extend and drive the sliding sleeves of the middle and top guide rails to move upwards into position, exposing the hinge structure between the guide rails to allow for smooth folding. The movable outer guide rail sliding sleeve returns to its original position. After it is in position, disconnect the hydraulic power source. The hydraulic oil inside the guide rail is sealed inside the pipeline, locking the position of the outer sliding sleeve relative to the internal connecting rail. At this point, the guide rail hinge is exposed and can be folded. Gradually lower the guide rail, using ground guidance, and press the guide rail... Figure 4 Once folded in the indicated position and secured, it can be transferred and transported.

[0112] In addition, after the guide rails are connected, they are locked by a hydraulic cylinder and can also be positioned by a further positioning method, providing double protection for greater safety and reliability. The tenon and mortise joints have built-in chamfers that can automatically align and fit into the groove, ensuring the accuracy and straightness of the guide rail connection (see...). Figure 3 A further positioning method here could be: after the guide rails are connected, they are positioned using a mortise and tenon structure, and after insertion, a self-positioning structure is formed.

[0113] Alternatively, other positioning structures can be used to replace the mortise and tenon structure mentioned above, such as positioning by bolts.

[0114] This invention is primarily used for the vertical sliding of top drive devices. Traditional top drive rails require significant manual labor for assembly and disassembly, which is labor-intensive and dangerous. This invention, however, is folded during transportation and storage, and is hoisted directly from the top during installation, with individual rails driven into place by hydraulic equipment. During disassembly, hydraulic equipment returns each rail section to its original position, and the hoisting equipment descends, restoring the rail to its folded state. Compared to traditional rails, this invention is more convenient to use and has a higher safety factor. This invention aims to solve the problems of existing ordinary rails being unable to fold and difficult to assemble and disassemble.

[0115] This invention proposes a folding guide rail. This guide rail has a folding function; after being lifted from the derrick, it is connected into a long guide rail composed of multiple segments and fixed to the derrick. When folded up, it can be lowered from the derrick and stacked together to form a folded state, facilitating transportation. Furthermore, this guide rail can be unfolded and folded in one step, reducing operational difficulty and shortening installation and folding time. It also reduces the risk of manual intervention and improves operational safety.

[0116] Compared to similar products, the advantages of this invention lie in its reciprocating guide rail outer sleeve design, driven by external hydraulic oil during installation, eliminating gaps between different guide rail sections that could affect the top drive movement. No personnel need to climb during assembly and disassembly; all operations can be completed on the ground. An internal safety steel cable is also included to prevent components from falling during operation. The length of each guide rail section is controllable, allowing for free deployment and retraction even in relatively confined spaces. Furthermore, the internal hydraulic cylinder is divided into upper and lower chambers, ensuring that external equipment remains pressurized during both installation and retraction. The oil injection and drainage pipes can be reversed for different purposes, making the process convenient and quick.

[0117] This invention relates to a folding guide rail for oil derricks. The folding guide rail consists of multiple sections, each connected to the others. During storage or transport, it is folded, with the tail ends connected sequentially to form a folded stack. Mechanical connections are formed through slide rail grooves and connecting plates. When fixed to the derrick, the upper end of the guide rail is lifted. As the guide rail rises section by section, the folded section is unfolded, forming a long, unfolded guide rail. The guide rail comprises three main parts: a bottom guide rail, a multi-section intermediate guide rail, and a top guide rail. The lower end of the bottom guide rail is connected to the top drive transport guide rail, and the upper part is connected to the intermediate guide rail. The intermediate guide rail consists of an outer guide rail sleeve and an internal connecting rail. Several sections of the guide rail sleeve are connected end-to-end to form the top drive moving guide rail. The top guide rail consists of an outer guide rail sleeve and an internal connecting plate. The lower end of the internal connecting plate is hinged to the internal connecting rail of the intermediate guide rail, and the upper end is fixed to the derrick.

[0118] It should be noted that all electronic components involved in this invention adopt existing technology, and all the above-mentioned components are electrically connected to the controller, and the control circuit between the controller and each component is existing technology.

[0119] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the details of the exemplary embodiments described above, and that the invention can be implemented in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. Therefore, the embodiments should be considered in all respects as exemplary and non-limiting, and the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description. Thus, all variations falling within the meaning and scope of equivalents of the claims are intended to be included within the present invention. No reference numerals in the claims should be construed as limiting the scope of the claims.

[0120] Furthermore, it should be understood that although this specification describes embodiments, not every embodiment contains only one independent technical solution. This narrative style is merely for clarity. Those skilled in the art should consider the specification as a whole, and the technical solutions in each embodiment can also be appropriately combined to form other embodiments that can be understood by those skilled in the art.

[0121] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A foldable hydraulic guide rail for a top drive, characterized in that: It includes a top guide rail, a bottom guide rail, multiple intermediate guide rails and two flexible hydraulic lines (1). The two hydraulic lines (1) are arranged side by side, with one end closed and the other end open. The bottom guide rail is fixedly sleeved on the outside of the two hydraulic lines (1) and is provided with a hydraulic interface one (2) and a hydraulic interface two (3). The hydraulic interface one (2) and the hydraulic interface two (3) are respectively connected to the other end of the two hydraulic lines (1). The top guide rail and the multiple intermediate guide rails are slidably sleeved on the outside of the two hydraulic pipelines (1) in sequence, and the multiple intermediate guide rails are located between the top guide rail and the bottom guide rail; the top guide rail and the multiple intermediate guide rails are respectively equipped with hydraulic cylinders (4), and the multiple hydraulic cylinders (4) are respectively fixedly connected to the corresponding parts of the two hydraulic pipelines (1), and the rodless chamber and the rod chamber of each hydraulic cylinder (4) are respectively connected to the two hydraulic pipelines (1); the telescopic ends of the multiple hydraulic cylinders (4) are respectively fixedly connected to the top guide rail and the multiple intermediate guide rails, and are used to drive the top guide rail and the multiple intermediate guide rails to move on the two hydraulic pipelines (1); The top guide rail and the multiple intermediate guide rails each include a sliding sleeve (5) with open ends. The multiple sliding sleeves (5) are slidably sleeved on the outside of the two hydraulic pipelines (1) and are fixedly connected to the telescopic end of the corresponding hydraulic cylinder (4). The telescopic ends of the plurality of hydraulic cylinders (4) are respectively fixedly connected to the plurality of sliding sleeves (5) by piston pins (7); The top guide rail and the multiple intermediate guide rails each include a hollow shaft (12) with open ends. The multiple shafts (12) are located in the multiple sliding sleeves (5) and are fixedly connected to the corresponding parts of the two hydraulic lines (1). Each of the multiple shafts (12) is provided with a pair of limiting grooves (8), and each pair of limiting grooves (8) extends from one end of the corresponding sliding sleeve (5) to the other end. Each piston pin (7) passes through the corresponding pair of limiting grooves (8) and is slidably connected to the corresponding pair of limiting grooves (8).

2. The foldable hydraulic guide rail for top drive according to claim 1, characterized in that: The tail ends of the multiple hydraulic cylinders (4) are respectively fixedly connected to the parts inside the multiple sliding sleeves (5) of the two hydraulic pipelines (1) by fixing pins (6).

3. The foldable hydraulic guide rail for top drive according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The bottom guide rail includes an outer shell (9) with open ends, and the outer shell (9) is fixedly sleeved on the two hydraulic lines (1).

4. The foldable hydraulic guide rail for top drive according to claim 3, characterized in that: A lower hook (10) is fixedly installed at the end of the sliding sleeve (5) corresponding to the bottom guide rail away from the middle guide rail.

5. The foldable hydraulic guide rail for top drive according to claim 3, characterized in that: Connecting pieces (13) are rotatably connected to the two ends of the multiple shafts (12) corresponding to the multiple intermediate guide rails, the end of the outer shell (9) near the intermediate guide rail, and the end of the shaft (12) corresponding to the top guide rail near the intermediate guide rail.

6. The foldable hydraulic guide rail for top drive according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: It also includes a fall protection mechanism, which is installed in the top guide rail, the bottom guide rail and multiple sections of the intermediate guide rail, with one end extending outside the top guide rail.

7. The foldable hydraulic guide rail for top drive according to claim 6, characterized in that: The fall arrestor includes a cable (14), a fixed pulley (15), two mounting rods (11) and two movable pulleys (16). The two mounting rods (11) are vertically mounted on the top guide rail away from the middle guide rail, with one end extending into the corresponding end of the top guide rail. Springs (18) are slidably sleeved on the other ends of the two mounting rods (11), with the two ends of the two springs (18) abutting against the other ends of the two mounting rods (11) and the corresponding end of the top guide rail, respectively. The two movable pulleys (16) are rotatably mounted on one end of the two mounting rods (11), and the fixed pulley (15) is rotatably mounted in the bottom guide rail. The cable (14) passes around the fixed pulley (15) and slides against the fixed pulley (15). The two ends of the cable (14) pass around the two movable pulleys (16) and extend into the bottom guide rail, respectively, and are fixedly connected to the bottom guide rail by two connecting pins (19).

Images