Modular Deck Wrench Insert Assembly for Drill Pipe Wear
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing deck wrenches for drilling machines are costly, prone to wear, heavy, and difficult to handle, leading to increased operating costs, machine downtime, and inventory complexities due to the need for various sizes to accommodate different drill pipe diameters.
Innovation Solution
A wrench assembly comprising a wrench base and a removably coupled insert, where the insert is designed to fit within a slot in the wrench base, preventing movement along specific axes and allowing for easy replacement with inserts of varying sizes to accommodate different drill pipe diameters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the entire deck wrench is made of high carbon, high strength, heat treatable steel, then the strength and durability of the wrench is improved, but the cost increases and the weight increases making it difficult to handle
Solution Approach 1:
The wrench is divided into two segments: a base body made of lightweight material (aluminum or composite) and a separate insert made of high-strength steel. The insert is received within a slot in the base body and engages to prevent movement along the longitudinal axis and at least one of the lateral or vertical axes. This segmentation allows the wrench to achieve high strength through the steel insert while maintaining light weight and ease of handling through the aluminum or composite base body.
2Reliability
If deck wrenches are made from high-strength steel, then the reliability and wear resistance is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases due to heat treatment requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The wrench is divided into a base body and a separate insert. The insert alone is made of high-strength steel requiring heat treatment, while the base body can be made of aluminum or composite material with simpler manufacturing processes. This segmentation reduces overall manufacturing complexity by applying complex heat treatment only to the critical wear-resistant insert rather than the entire wrench.
Solution Approach 2:
The high-strength steel component (insert) is extracted as a separate replaceable element from the main wrench body. This allows the insert to be manufactured and heat-treated independently with optimized processes, while the base body can be produced using simpler, more cost-effective methods. The insert is then coupled to the base body to form the complete wrench assembly.
3Adaptability or versatility
If different sizes of deck wrenches are required for different drill pipe diameters, then the adaptability is improved, but the quantity of parts and inventory costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
A universal base body design with a standardized slot configuration allows multiple inserts of different sizes to be used with the same wrench. The insert is received within a slot in the base body and engages to prevent movement along the longitudinal axis and at least one of the lateral or vertical axes. By keeping the base body universal and only changing the inserts, the system achieves adaptability for different drill pipe diameters while reducing the total number of parts compared to having completely different wrenches for each size.
4Device complexity
If deck wrenches are designed as single-piece construction, then the structural simplicity is improved, but the ease of repair and replacement worsens when wear occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The wrench is segmented into a permanent base body and a replaceable insert. The insert is received within a slot in the base body and engages to prevent movement along the longitudinal axis and at least one of the lateral or vertical axes. When wear occurs, only the insert needs to be replaced rather than the entire wrench, significantly improving ease of repair while maintaining relatively simple overall structure through the modular design.
Data Source
AI summary
A wrench assembly for a machine includes a wrench base including a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. The wrench base defines a first central opening extending from the first surface to the second surface and a slot extending from at least one of the first surface and the second surface. The wrench assembly also includes an insert removably coupled to the wrench base. The insert includes a third surface and a fourth surface opposite the third surface. The insert defines a second central opening extending from the third surface to the fourth surface. The second central opening is adapted to receive a portion of a component associated with the machine. The insert is received within the slot in the wrench base. The wrench assembly further includes a plurality of fastening elements that removably couple the insert with the wrench base.