Blowout Preventer Assembly with Adjustable Extension Arm
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing blowout preventer devices for installing safety valves in drill pipes often require manual alignment and positioning, exposing workers to hazardous conditions and are not efficient in aligning safety valves accurately.
Innovation Solution
A blowout device featuring a jack-mounted extension arm with an adjustable length and actuator, allowing for remote positioning and lowering of a safety valve into a drill pipe without manual intervention, using a slip die to engage the drill pipe sub joint and align the safety valve for safe insertion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual alignment and positioning methods are used to install safety valves in drill pipes, then workers can directly perform the installation, but workers are exposed to hazardous conditions and alignment accuracy is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary positioning system consisting of a positioning device with adjustable arms and alignment fixtures that mediate between the worker and the safety valve installation. This intermediary system performs the hazardous alignment and positioning functions automatically, eliminating direct worker exposure to hazards while ensuring precise alignment accuracy through the mechanical precision of the positioning device.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical alignment operations with an automated positioning system that uses adjustable arms, sliding mechanisms, and alignment fixtures. This substitution eliminates manual intervention in the hazardous alignment process, improving both safety by removing workers from hazard zones and accuracy through the mechanical precision of the automated system.
2Manufacturing precision
If manual positioning methods are used, then the device structure can be simpler, but alignment precision and installation efficiency are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the positioning system into multiple independent adjustable components including extendable arms with sliding mechanisms, adjustable positioning fixtures, and separate alignment fixtures. This segmentation allows each component to be independently adjusted and calibrated, achieving high alignment precision while keeping the overall device structure modular and manageable despite the increased complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates dynamic adjustable elements such as extendable arms with variable lengths, sliding mechanisms for position adjustment, and adjustable positioning fixtures. These dynamic components enable the system to adapt to different drill pipe sizes and configurations, achieving precise alignment for various applications while maintaining a relatively compact base structure.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If automated positioning systems are implemented, then worker safety is improved, but the device becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the positioning system with multi-functional capabilities where the adjustable arms serve multiple purposes: positioning, alignment, and support functions. The same structural components perform different operations at different stages of the installation process, reducing the need for separate dedicated mechanisms and thereby limiting the increase in overall device complexity while maintaining high worker safety through automation.
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning system incorporates self-aligning features and self-positioning mechanisms that automatically adjust and lock into place without requiring complex control systems or multiple coordinated actuators. The design includes built-in alignment fixtures and positioning features that self-correct minor misalignments, reducing the complexity of the automated system while maintaining worker safety through the automated positioning function.
Data Source
AI summary
A blowout preventer assembly for installing a safety valve in a drill pipe includes a jack mounted to a drilling platform in an oil field. The device includes an extension arm attached to the jack which has a first portion slidably engaging a second portion such that the extension arm has an adjustable length. An actuator is attached to the extension arm to urge the second portion to travel toward or away from the jack thereby facilitating the collar to is positioned over a drill pipe which is integrated into the drilling platform. A slip die is insertable into a collar on the extension arm thereby facilitating the slip die to engage a drill pipe sub joint which has a safety valve. The collar aligns the safety valve with the drill pipe thereby facilitating the safety valve to be lowered into the drill pipe when the jack is actuated into the lowering condition.