Elevator Stabilizer Curved Contact Bail Grip

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Elevators used in pipe handling often become unbalanced and tilt relative to the pipe string due to misalignment of the center of gravity and pivot point, leading to difficulties in grabbing and coupling pipe sections, and existing stabilizing methods may damage bails or require significant clearance, causing inefficiencies.

Innovation Solution

An adjustable stabilizing mechanism is mounted to the elevator, comprising adjustable contacting members that can be bolted, welded, or attached to the elevator body or timing ring, allowing for firm grip on bails of varying sizes and configurations, preventing pivotal movement and maintaining vertical orientation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If existing stabilizing methods are used to prevent elevator tilting, then stability is improved, but they may damage bails or require significant clearance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelevator stabilityVSAvoidbail damage risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The stabilizing member features a curved surface with varying radius of curvature that conforms to the bail geometry. By matching the radius of curvature of the stabilizing member's curved surface to the radius of curvature of the bail, the device achieves stable contact without concentrating stress at sharp points, thereby preventing bail damage while maintaining elevator stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The stabilizing member acts as an intermediary between the elevator and the bail. It distributes the stabilizing force across a curved contact surface rather than concentrating it at a single point, mediating the interaction to prevent damage to the bail while effectively preventing elevator tilting and pivoting.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Stability of the object's composition

If stabilizing mechanisms are added to prevent pivoting, then orientation control is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevertical orientation controlVSAvoidstabilizer mechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The stabilizing mechanism is divided into distinct functional components: a body portion attached to the elevator, and a stabilizing member with a curved surface that contacts the bail. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while simplifying the overall attachment and adjustment process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The stabilizing member is designed with adjustable positioning capability along the bail, allowing dynamic adaptation to different bail sizes and configurations. The curved surface geometry dynamically conforms to the bail shape, providing effective stabilization across varying operational conditions without requiring complex mechanical systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS9279297B2Stabilizer for pipe handling equipment

Publication Date: 2016.03.08 FRANKS INT

AI summary

A stabilizer to suppress unwanted pivotal movement in pipe handling equipment suspended from bails. The stabilizer can contain either or both adjustable contacting members and non-adjustable contacting members which are rigidly connected to a portion of the pipe handling equipment. The adjustable contacting members contact the bails on one or both sides of the bail(s) to suppress motion of the elevator relative to the bail.