Articulated Pipe Handling Trough with Sliding Rollers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional pipe handling methods in the oil and gas industry are unsafe and inefficient, particularly when moving long, heavy pipe segments from a horizontal rack to an elevated drilling platform, as they require manual lifting and can damage the protective coating of the pipes.
Innovation Solution
A pipe handling apparatus with an articulated support structure and slidable rollers, featuring a semi-cylindrical trough that can tilt and pivot, allowing for automated loading and unloading of pipe segments using hydraulic struts and detachable unloading arms, which facilitates safe and efficient movement between a storage rack and an elevated platform.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional pipe handling methods are used with fixed troughs, then the equipment structure is simple, but manual labor is required and pipe coating can be damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The trough is designed to pivot and tilt dynamically rather than remain fixed. The pivoting mechanism allows the trough to rotate between horizontal and inclined positions, while the tilting capability enables automatic pipe loading from the rack. This dynamic design eliminates manual lifting while managing the increased structural complexity through controlled mechanical movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The articulated support structure with rollers acts as an intermediary between the fixed base and the movable trough. This intermediate mechanism transfers and transforms motion, enabling the trough to achieve complex movements (pivoting and tilting) while maintaining connection to the stable base structure, thus reducing manual intervention without excessive complexity.
2Ease of operation
If the trough is fixed to elevating arms, then the equipment is simpler, but the pipe cannot be smoothly loaded and unloading is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The trough incorporates both pivoting and tilting capabilities through articulated connections. The pivoting motion allows smooth pipe loading from the horizontal rack by aligning the trough with the pipe path, while the tilting motion enables automatic pipe entry. This dual dynamic movement resolves the contradiction between loading smoothness and mechanism complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The trough mechanism is segmented into distinct functional components: the pivoting joint that rotates the trough, the tilting mechanism that angles the trough, and the support structure. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, achieving smooth pipe loading while managing complexity through modular design.
3Reliability
If manual lifting is used to place pipe in trough, then equipment is simpler, but safety is reduced and coating damage occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The articulated support structure with rollers serves as an intermediary that automates the pipe loading process. It bridges the gap between the simple fixed-trough design and complex automated handling systems, providing safety through automated positioning while protecting the pipe coating by eliminating manual dropping and scraping operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The dynamic pivoting and tilting mechanisms automatically position and load pipes without manual intervention. This automation improves safety by eliminating the need for workers to manually lift and place heavy pipes, while the controlled movement protects the protective coating from damage during the loading process.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The apparatus enhances safety and efficiency by reducing manual labor, minimizing damage to pipes, and enabling smoother movement of pipe segments, thus improving the overall pipe handling process in the oil and gas industry.
Implementation Method 1
an articulated support structure and slidable movable in relation to the base through a plurality of rollers disposed between the base and the support structure
Implementation Method 2
hydraulic struts and detachable unloading arms, which facilitates safe and efficient movement between a storage rack and an elevated platform
Data Source
AI summary
Equipment for moving tubular members from a storage rack to an elevated platform floor is disclosed. A base-mounted articulated support structure has an arcuate trough mounted on top thereof. Loading arms are secured to a side of the pivotal trough for picking up one tubular member from the rack and moving to the platform floor. Unloading arms detachably securable to the trough facilitate movement of the tubular members from the platform floor onto the rack. A plurality of roller sets mounted between the base and the trough supporting structure move the trough along the base for easy reach to the platform floor.