Drilling Tool Carousel Alignment for Compact Rig Tool Changes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drilling systems require significant space for drilling tool magazines that accommodate swinging or rotating mechanisms, leading to downtime and the need for multiple personnel during tool changes, and lack efficient automation for selecting and aligning tools.
Innovation Solution
A rotatable carousel assembly with bit adaptors and alignment mechanisms, integrated with a drilling tool changer apparatus, allows for automated or semi-automated tool exchange without large space requirements, enabling efficient tool selection and alignment with the drill pipe.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a traditional drill magazine or carousel is used to store and exchange drilling tools, then tool availability is improved, but the space required for swinging or rotating mechanisms increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the tool storage and exchange function into separate modular components: a compact rotatable carousel for tool storage and a linear positioning mechanism for tool delivery. This segmentation eliminates the need for large swinging arcs while maintaining tool accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a two-dimensional radial carousel (requiring swinging space) to a three-dimensional system where tools are accessed through combined rotational and linear movements, effectively utilizing vertical and depth dimensions to reduce footprint.
2Device complexity
If manual tool changing is used, then equipment complexity is reduced, but downtime increases and multiple personnel are required
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables automated tool exchange where the carousel automatically positions the required tool and the positioning mechanism delivers it to the drill string without human intervention, reducing downtime while maintaining manageable complexity through standardized interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces manual mechanical operations with an automated control system that coordinates carousel rotation and linear positioning, reducing the need for multiple personnel while minimizing downtime through precise automated control.
3Device complexity
If a linear tool selection order is used in the magazine, then device complexity is minimized, but the ability to select specific tools efficiently is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-positions multiple tools in the carousel in advance, allowing the control system to select and deliver the required tool directly without sequential access, significantly improving selection efficiency while maintaining a relatively simple carousel structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces dynamic tool selection capability where the carousel can rotate to position any tool in the sequence, allowing flexible and efficient tool selection based on drilling requirements rather than fixed linear access.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for changing a drilling tool for a drilling rig is described, where the drilling rig comprises a drill tower supporting a drill pipe. The apparatus for changing a drilling tool has a drilling tool changer assembly moveable between a storage position and an exchange position, and the drilling tool changer assembly supports a rotatable carousel assembly. The rotatable carousel assembly has a plurality of bit adaptors for holding drilling tools and is selectively rotatable to bring a selected drilling tool into coaxial alignment with the drill pipe when the drilling tool changer assembly supporting the rotatable carousel assembly is moved into the exchange position. The apparatus includes mechanisms for aligning the selected drilling tool within a bit adaptor holding the selected drilling tool. The apparatus further includes mechanisms for aligning the drill pipe or a hammer with the selected drilling tool.