Device for data and / or power transmission on a drilling rig or a handling winch

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (1) for transferring data and / or power from a rotating part, for example from a pipe handler (10), to a rotationally fixed part, for example to a top drive (3), of a derrick or of a handling winch, comprising at least one slip ring (11, 12) with at least one sliding contact (13, 14) in contact therewith. The device (1) comprises a first ring (15) and a second ring (16). The first ring (15) and the second ring (16) delimit a closed region. The slip ring(s) (11, 12) and the sliding contact(s) (13, 14) is / are disposed within the closed region.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a device for data and / or power transmission from a rotatable to a non-rotatable part of a drilling rig or a treatment winch using an electrical cable.

[0002] Such a device is known, for example, from EP 2 738 346 A1. Furthermore, sliding contact arrangements with slip rings and contact elements are known from DE 10 2014 104 552 A1 and EP 2 390 499 A2.

[0003] The invention further relates to a top drive system of a drilling rig, in which a top drive is mounted on a vertical guide of a tower of the drilling rig via a carriage in a rotationally fixed manner and movable in the vertical direction, wherein a pipe handler is mounted on the top drive via an adapter with a rotation axis, wherein the pipe handler is rotatable about the rotation axis relative to the top drive, and wherein the top drive is connected to system devices or controls of the drilling rig on the surface via an electrical data and / or power line.

[0004] Drilling rigs are used to drill for oil, natural gas, geothermal energy, or water, for example. Such drilling rigs typically have a tower on which a top drive is mounted on a carriage on a vertical guide of the tower. The drill rod is mounted on this top drive, with the drill bit or bit located at its lower end. The drill rod consists of a multitude of drill pipes, with additional drill pipes being successively screwed to the upper end of the drill pipe as the borehole depth increases. The topmost drill pipe is connected to a drive shaft of the top drive. The top drill pipe can be screwed to the drive shaft for this purpose. Drive motors in the top drive drive the drive shaft, which in turn rotates the drill rod and drill bit.

[0005] To mount or screw an additional drill pipe onto the drive shaft, a device commonly referred to as a "pipe handler" is used. This device, which is attached to an adapter via which the pipe handler is mounted on the top drive, can be pivoted out of the rotation axis relative to the power rotary head and rotated about the rotation axis. The pipe handler grips an additional drill pipe to be screwed onto the drill string, guides it toward the drive shaft, holds it during mounting or screwing to the drive shaft, and, if necessary, rotates it relative to the top drive. When dismantling a drill pipe, the procedure is similar but in reverse.

[0006] Workover rigs are used for maintenance work on existing conveyor systems, for example, to carry out maintenance or repairs. They can also have a fixed and a rotating section, between which data and / or power transmission should be possible.

[0007] A key element in modern oil, natural gas, and geothermal drilling is data acquisition during the drilling process. Furthermore, it is highly advantageous if electrical loads in the drill pipe and / or drill head can be continuously supplied with power through the drill pipe. One possibility for establishing a galvanic connection between the individual drill pipes, which enables both data transmission and a high-performance power supply, is known, for example, from WO 2010 / 141969 A. However, efficient power and / or data transmission requires that the drill pipe also be galvanically or inductively connected to the corresponding system devices or controls of the drilling rig on the surface.

[0008] Cable connections are commonly used to transmit data between the top drive and the pipe handler. However, this is problematic because the connecting cable between the top drive and the pipe handler, although it has a certain, albeit limited, excess length, can be torn off when the pipe handler rotates. While the existing connecting cables have a predetermined breaking point where a broken cable can be reconnected, this inconvenience hinders the operator because they must constantly monitor the connecting cable, and a disconnected connecting cable disrupts operations when it needs to be reconnected.

[0009] The invention is therefore based on the object of creating a device of the type mentioned above that eliminates the disadvantages of the prior art. In particular, the device according to the invention is intended to eliminate the risk of damage to or destruction of the connecting cable between the rotating pipe handler and the non-rotating top drive.

[0010] This object is achieved by a device having the features of claim 1.

[0011] This problem is further solved with a top drive system having the features of claim 14.

[0012] The two rings, which are essentially similar to a conventional slip ring design, allow for a connection with no restrictions on the angle of rotation. Since drilling rigs are subject to particularly strict explosion safety regulations due to the high risk of explosion, the design of the slip ring with two circumferentially closed rings creates a completely sealed contact area between the slip ring(s) and the sliding contact(s), while at the same time permanently sealing off or insulating the slip ring(s) from the environment.

[0013] The device according to the invention preferably comprises at least two slip rings with associated sliding contacts, which are accommodated in the enclosed area formed by the rings. However, embodiments in which the device has only a single slip ring with associated sliding contact, arranged in the enclosed area, are also possible within the scope of the invention. If the device according to the invention, in the embodiment with only one slip ring with sliding contact, is used for the transmission of electrical current, the return of the current must be reliably ensured by another means (e.g., via the housing or via the bearings of the slip ring).

[0014] The following description will only discuss embodiments in which the device according to the invention has two slip rings with associated sliding contacts. However, within the scope of the present invention, all of these embodiments can also be implemented with only one slip ring with associated sliding contact.

[0015] Further preferred embodiments of the invention are the subject of the remaining subclaims.

[0016] The invention is characterized in that the first ring has a circumferential groove, that the second ring is at least partially received in the groove of the first ring and that the slip rings and the sliding contacts are arranged within the groove on the first ring or on the second ring.

[0017] The groove defines a largely enclosed area that can be easily closed off to the outside by the second ring.

[0018] Although it is preferred in the invention that at least two slip rings and sliding contacts are arranged on opposite sides of the second ring, it is also possible for at least two slip rings and sliding contacts to be arranged substantially side by side. Combinations of adjacent and opposite slip rings and sliding contacts are also possible within the scope of the invention.

[0019] Likewise, it is preferred in the invention that the slip rings are arranged on the second ring and the sliding contacts on the first ring, although it is of course also possible that the slip rings are arranged on the first ring and the sliding contacts on the second ring.

[0020] Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred, non-limiting embodiment of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. It shows: Fig. 1 a side view of the device according to the invention, Fig. 2 a view of the device according to the invention from Fig. 1 from below, Fig. 3 shows an inner ring of the device according to the invention, Fig. 4 shows an outer ring of the device according to the invention, Fig. 5 shows a section through the inner and outer ring in the region of an electrical connection to the inner ring, Fig. 6 shows a section through the inner and outer ring in the region of an electrical connection to the outer ring, and Fig. 7 shows a section through the inner and outer ring between the connections to the inner and outer ring.

[0021] The drawings illustrate an embodiment of a device according to the invention. However, this embodiment is only exemplary and, apart from the inventive features as defined in the claims, many components may be designed differently within the scope of the present invention without requiring specific mention below. In particular, the device according to the invention may comprise only one slip ring with an associated sliding contact.

[0022] The Fig. 1 and 2 show a device 1 according to the invention in the area of ​​an adapter 2, via which a rotating part of a top drive system (not specifically shown) - in the illustrated embodiment a pipe handler 10 - is arranged on a rotationally fixed part of the top drive system - in the illustrated embodiment a top drive 3. The top drive 3 is arranged on a Fig. 1 and 2The vertical guide 4, which is only shown fragmentarily, is mounted on a slide (not shown) on a tower of a drilling rig (also not shown).

[0023] On the adapter 2 of the pipe handler 10, rod-shaped rockers 9 (English: "links") are pivotally mounted at one end, allowing them to pivot out of a rotational axis 5 of the pipe handler 10. Grippers or clamps are mounted at the other, not-shown ends of the rod-shaped rockers 9, with which drill pipes can be grasped and connected to a drive shaft of the top drive 3 (not shown) located in the area between the rockers 9.

[0024] The adapter 2, together with the rockers 9, is rotatable about the rotation axis 5 relative to the non-rotatable part—i.e., the top drive 3—of the top drive system. For this purpose, it has a spur gear 6 in the area of ​​the connection to the top drive 3, into which a pinion 7 of a drive 8 mounted on the non-rotatable top drive 3 engages. The drive shaft, which is driven by drive motors in the top drive, is guided through a bore 20 in the adapter 2 that is coaxial with the rotation axis 5. As described so far, the device is designed as is sufficiently known from the prior art.

[0025] In order to establish a cable connection from the pipe handler 10, which in turn can be connected galvanically or inductively to electrical conductors in the connected drill pipe of the drill string, to the rotationally fixed top drive 3, slip rings 11, 12 with sliding contacts 13, 14 are provided according to the invention. In the illustrated embodiment, the sliding contacts 13, 14 are arranged on a first ring, a so-called outer ring 15, which is closed in the circumferential direction. The slip rings 11, 12 are arranged on a second ring, also closed in the circumferential direction, a so-called inner ring 16. In the context of the invention, the terms outer ring 15 and inner ring 16 do not mean that the inner ring 16 must be arranged radially inside the outer ring 15, although this is not excluded, but rather that the inner ring 16 is at least partially received in a groove 17 of the outer ring 15.In the illustrated embodiment, the groove 17 of the outer ring 15 is directed radially outward, although this is not mandatory. An orientation of the groove 17 in a different direction, for example, downward in the installed position, would also be possible.

[0026] In the illustrated embodiment, the outer ring 15 is non-rotatably mounted on the adapter 2 via spokes 23, specifically on the spur gear 6, which is attached to the adapter 2. The sliding contacts 13, 14 rotate accordingly with the adapter 2. The inner ring is mounted on the non-rotatable top drive 3 via a bracket 18, a pivot arm 19, and a support arm 21. The slip rings 11, 12 are accordingly non-rotatably mounted.

[0027] The outer ring 15 and the inner ring 16 have a common central axis 22 around which the outer ring 15 rotates. The axis 22 of the outer ring 15 and the inner ring 16 is slightly offset from the rotation axis 5 of the adapter 2, as shown in Fig. 2 This allows for a particularly compact design of the Top Drive system.

[0028] Since the axis 22 of the two rings 15, 16 is offset from the rotational axis 5 of the adapter 2 of the pipe handler 10, i.e., parallel to it, the radial distance of the holder 18 of the inner ring 16 from the rotational axis 5 of the pipe handler 10 changes when the pipe handler 10 is rotated. To compensate for this change, the pivot arm 19 is provided, which is connected to both the holder 18 and the support arm 21 via a joint.

[0029] The slip rings 11, 12 are, like the Fig. 5 und 7 show, are designed in a flat, annular disk shape and are arranged on opposite sides of an electrical insulating body 24 of the inner ring 16. For connecting the two slip rings 11, 12 to a plug 25, pins 26 are provided which are connected to the slip rings 11, 12 and establish a galvanic connection to conductors 27 leading to corresponding contacts in the plug 25. A cable can be plugged into the plug 25, which is connected to the system devices or controls of the drilling rig on the surface. Fig. 5 only the pin 26 and the conductor 27 are shown, which are connected to the lower slip ring 12. A corresponding, mirror-image connection, which is provided for the upper slip ring 11, is shown in Fig. 5 However, it is not shown because it is offset in the circumferential direction of the rings 15, 16.

[0030] The groove 17 of the outer ring 15 is also formed by an electrical insulating body 28, in which the sliding contacts 13, 14 are embedded at one point of its circumference, as in Fig. 6 can be seen. The sliding contacts 13, 14 essentially consist of pins 26, which are pressed by springs 29 toward the interior of the groove 17 and thus against the slip rings 11, 12. The pins of the sliding contacts 13, 14 are guided in ceramic sleeves 30, which serve as explosion protection, and are connected by conductors 31. The conductors 31 lead to a second connector 32, to which a cable connected to the pipe handler 10 can be plugged.

[0031] Seals 33 are inserted into the insulating body 28 of the outer ring and the insulating body 24 of the inner ring 16. These seals seal the outwardly leading, radially aligned gaps between the outer ring 11 and the inner ring 12. This completely seals the interior of the groove 17 in accordance with explosion safety regulations on drilling rigs, so that any sparks that may occur between the slip rings 11, 12 and the sliding contacts 13, 14 cannot cause explosions. Furthermore, the seals 33 prevent dirt or rainwater from penetrating the interior of the groove 17.

[0032] The device 1 according to the invention can also be installed in a Kelly Drive system, i.e., a drilling system in which the drill rod is not rotated from above with a top drive 3, but rather in the area of ​​the borehole with a Kelly Drive. In the Kelly Drive system, the device 1 according to the invention also serves to transmit data or power between a rotating part, for example, the pipe handler 10, and a non-rotatable part, for example, a holder for the pipe handler 10 arranged on a movable carriage.

[0033] The device according to the invention can also be used in a treatment winch. The treatment winch also has a rotatable part (e.g., a type of pipe handler 10) and a non-rotatable part (e.g., a top drive 3), between which data or power transmission can take place using the device 1 according to the invention. List of reference symbols:

[0034] 1 Device for data and / or power transmission 2 Adapter 3 Top drive 4 Vertical guide 5 Rotary axis 6 Spur gear 7 Pinion 8 Drive 9 Rod-shaped rockers, "left" 10 Pipe handler 11 Slip ring 12 Slip ring 13 Sliding contact 14 Sliding contact 15 First ring, outer ring 16 Second ring, inner ring 17 Groove 18 Bracket 19 Swivel arm 20 Bore 21 Support arm 22 Axle 23 Spokes 24 Insulator 25 Connector 26 Pins 27 Conductor 28 Insulator 29 Springs 30 Ceramic sleeves 31 Conductor 32 Connector 33 Seals

Claims

1. Device (1) for transmitting data and / or power from a rotating part, for example a pipe handler (10), to a non-rotating part, for example a top drive (3), of a drilling rig or a workover rig, characterized in that the device comprises at least one slip ring (11, 12) with at least one sliding contact (13, 14) in contact therewith, in that the device (1) comprises a first ring (15) and a second ring (16), in that the first ring (15) and the second ring (16) delimit a closed area, in that the slip ring(s) (11, 12) and the sliding contact(s) (13, 14) are arranged within the closed area, in that the first ring (15) has a circumferential groove (17), in that the second ring (16) is received at least partially in the groove of the first ring (15), and in that the slip ring(s) (11, 12) and the sliding contact(s) (13, 14) is / are arranged within the groove (17) on the first ring (15) or on the second ring (16), respectively.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the groove (17) is open in a radial direction, preferably outwards.

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least two slip rings (11, 12) and sliding contacts (13, 14) are present and are each arranged on opposite sides of the second ring (16).

4. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that there are at least two slip rings (11, 12) and sliding contacts (13, 14) arranged substantially side by side.

5. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the slip ring(s) (11, 12) is / are arranged on the second ring (16) and the sliding contact(s) (13, 14) is / are arranged on the first ring (15) or in that the slip ring(s) (11, 12) is / are arranged on the first ring (15) and the sliding contact(s) (13, 14) is / are arranged on the second ring (16).

6. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the groove (17) is at least partially formed by an electrical insulating body (28) in which the slip ring(s) (11, 12) or the sliding contact(s) (13, 14) is / are embedded.

7. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the second ring (16) comprises an insulating body (24) which is received in the groove (17), and on which the slip ring(s) (11, 12) or the sliding contact(s) (13, 14) is / are arranged.

8. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that seals (33) are arranged on the first and / or on the second ring (15, 16), which seal the closed area between the first ring (15) and the second ring (16) to the outside.

9. Device according to claims 1 and 8, characterized in that the slip ring(s) (11, 12) and the sliding contact(s) (13, 14) are accommodated in an area of the groove (17) located inside the seals (33).

10. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that a plug (32) for a cable leading to the rotating part is arranged on the first ring (15) which plug (32) is connected to the sliding contact(s) (13, 14) or the slip ring(s) (11, 12).

11. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that a plug (25) for a cable leading to the rotationally fixed part, for example the top drive (3), is arranged on the second ring (15) which plug (25) is connected to the slip ring(s) (11, 12) or the sliding contact(s).

12. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the second ring (16) has a holder (18), a pivot arm (19) and a support arm (21) with which it can be mounted on the rotationally fixed part, for example the top drive (3).

13. Device according to claim 11 and 12, characterized in that the plug (25) for the cable leading to the rotationally fixed part, for example the top drive (3), is arranged on the holder (18).

14. Top drive system of a drilling installation, in which a top drive (3) is mounted on a vertical guide of a tower of the drilling installation in a rotationally fixed manner via a carriage and movable in the vertical direction, wherein a pipe handler (10) is mounted on the top drive (3) via an adapter (2) having an axis of rotation (5), wherein the pipe handler (10) is rotatable relative to the top drive (3) about the axis of rotation (5), and wherein the top drive (3) is connected to system devices or controls of the drilling installation on the surface via an electrical data and / or power line, characterized in that the top drive system comprises a device according to any one of claims 1 to 13 for the transmission of electrical data and / or electrical power between the top drive (3) and the pipe handler (10).

15. Top drive system according to claim 14, characterized in that an axis (22) of the first and second rings (15, 16) is offset from the axis of rotation (5).

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