Grapple Attachment for Drill Pipe Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
The manual handling of long and heavy drill pipes in horizontal directional drilling operations is cumbersome, dangerous, and requires multiple workers, lacking efficiency and safety.
Innovation Solution
A grapple attachment for excavators or heavy machinery, featuring a swivel assembly, hydraulic arm, and gripping members with curved claws, allowing for controlled rotation and angulation of drill pipes, enabling single-operator handling and secure attachment to the drill string.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual handling of drill pipes is performed by multiple workers, then the operation can be completed, but the operation becomes cumbersome and dangerous
Solution Approach 1:
A grapple attachment serves as an intermediary device between the excavator and the drill pipe. The grapple includes gripping members with curved surfaces that engage the drill pipe, allowing the excavator to safely and easily manipulate the heavy pipe without direct human contact during positioning operations
Solution Approach 2:
The grapple attachment is designed to be self-contained with hydraulic actuators that automatically control the gripping members. The system performs its own positioning and gripping functions without requiring multiple workers to manually guide and secure the drill pipe
2Ease of operation
If multiple workers are used to handle drill pipes, then the pipe can be positioned and secured, but the operation requires three or more workers reducing efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The manual mechanical system of multiple workers physically positioning and securing the drill pipe is replaced with a hydraulic mechanical system. The grapple attachment uses hydraulic actuators to automatically grip, position, and angle the drill pipe, reducing the workforce from three or more workers to a single excavator operator
Solution Approach 2:
The grapple attachment incorporates hydraulic actuators that provide controlled movement of the gripping members and main body. The hydraulic system enables precise positioning and angling of the drill pipe with the push of a button, dramatically improving operational efficiency compared to manual handling
3Ease of operation
If drill pipes are handled manually with calipers and cables, then the pipe can be lifted and positioned, but the operation is dangerous and requires multiple workers
Solution Approach 1:
The dangerous direct manual handling with calipers and cables is replaced by an intermediary grapple attachment that provides a secure, enclosed gripping mechanism. The curved gripping surfaces of the claws safely engage the drill pipe, eliminating the need for workers to be in close proximity to heavy moving pipes
4Productivity
If a grapple attachment with hydraulic arm and swivel assembly is used, then single-operator handling is enabled, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The grapple attachment is designed as a multi-functional device that combines lifting, gripping, positioning, and angling capabilities in a single unit. The swivel assembly and hydraulic arm provide rotational and angular adjustments, allowing the excavator to perform multiple operations with one attachment rather than requiring separate specialized equipment
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple functions previously requiring separate devices or manual operations are merged into the grapple attachment. The gripping members, hydraulic actuators, swivel assembly, and main body are combined into an integrated system that performs gripping, positioning, and angling functions simultaneously
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 grapple attachment enhances safety and ease of use by allowing a single operator to efficiently maneuver and position drill pipes, reducing the need for multiple workers and improving operational efficiency in directional drilling.
Implementation Method 1
a hydraulic arm that permits the main body to be angled at up to 35 degrees
Implementation Method 2
The gripping member may include a bracket having a curved contact surface and each of the claws may include a curved gripping surface such that the gripping surface of the claws and the contact surface are in contact with the drill pipe when grabbing the drill pipe
Data Source
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AI summary
A grapple attachment (10) for use with a drill pipe having a diameter, that may include first and second gripping members (30) disposed on a rigid lateral member (16) tiltable up to 40 degrees from the horizontal and preferably continuously rotatable, wherein each of the first and second gripping members has a first and second claw (36) and a bracket (32) having a concave contact surface (40), each claw having a concave gripping surface (42), wherein the surface of the bracket and the gripping surfaces of the first and second claws come in contact with the drill pipe when the gripping member is in the closed position.