Hydraulic Catwalk Leg Locking for Sustained Wellhead Clearance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing catwalk machines face challenges in maintaining clearance over wellheads during movement due to the limited ability of hydraulic cylinders to support the machine's weight indefinitely, especially when encountering existing wellheads in their path.
Innovation Solution
A locking device is integrated into the catwalk machine's legs, which includes an outer and inner portion, a first and second link, and a pin, allowing the leg to actuate between contracted and extended states, with the locking device securing the leg in the extended state to relieve hydraulic cylinder load by contacting the lower portion when actuated.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If hydraulic cylinders are used to lift the catwalk machine over wellheads, then clearance is provided to walk over wellheads, but the hydraulic cylinders cannot support the weight indefinitely
Solution Approach 1:
The leg structure transitions from a static supported state to a dynamic walking state. The leg can be actuated between an extended state (providing clearance) and a contracted state (reducing hydraulic load). This dynamic adjustment allows the system to maintain clearance when needed while minimizing hydraulic cylinder stress during non-walking phases.
Solution Approach 2:
The leg is divided into multiple segments (upper portion and lower portion) that can move relative to each other. This segmentation allows the leg to change its effective length, providing clearance when extended and reducing hydraulic burden when contracted, thereby resolving the contradiction between maintaining height and reducing support duration requirements.
2Length of moving object
If the leg is extended to provide clearance over wellheads, then the catwalk machine can walk over wellheads, but the hydraulic cylinder load increases
Solution Approach 1:
The leg structure transitions from a static supported state to a dynamic walking state. The leg can be actuated between an extended state (providing clearance) and a contracted state (reducing hydraulic load). This dynamic adjustment allows the system to maintain clearance when needed while minimizing hydraulic cylinder stress during non-walking phases.
Solution Approach 2:
The leg extension is applied periodically only when needed for walking over obstacles, rather than being continuously extended. The leg is extended during the walking phase to clear wellheads, then retracted during transport phases, creating a periodic action pattern that reduces cumulative hydraulic cylinder load while maintaining the ability to provide clearance when required.
Data Source
AI summary
A locking device includes an outer portion and an inner portion. The outer portion has a bore formed at least partially axially therethrough and a channel formed laterally therethrough. The inner portion is positioned at least partially within the bore. A first link is positioned at least partially outside of the outer portion and coupled to the inner portion through the channel. A second link is coupled to the outer portion. A pin is coupled to the first link and the second link. The locking device is in an unlocked state when the inner portion is fully positioned within the bore, and the locking device is in a locked state when an end of the inner portion extends axially out of the bore.