Hydraulic Slip Elevator for Pipe Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current pipe handling systems on drilling rigs are inefficient, leading to significant idle time due to complex equipment and safety hazards, particularly when handling heavy pipes with non-slip elevators that require manual operation and have heavy doors that are difficult to handle and pose safety risks.
Innovation Solution
A remotely operated slip-type elevator with hydraulic circuits, featuring tapered slips and interengaging elements that allow for secure handling of pipes without manual intervention, enabling efficient and safe movement of pipes between 2⅜″-7⅝″ diameters, and a hydraulic actuator system for setting and releasing the slips.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If manual operation with heavy doors is used for pipe handling, then the equipment can handle heavy pipes, but the safety risks and difficulty of operation increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical operation with an automated elevator system that uses hydraulic or electric motors to lift and position pipes. The elevator car automatically opens doors, grasps the pipe using slips, and transports it vertically, eliminating the need for manual handling of heavy pipes and associated safety risks
Solution Approach 2:
The elevator system is designed to automatically perform operations without continuous manual intervention. The doors open automatically, the slips engage the pipe automatically, and the motor controls the lifting and positioning, allowing the system to serve itself in completing the pipe handling task
2Productivity
If complex equipment is used for pipe handling, then the handling capability is improved, but the idle time increases due to equipment complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The pipe handling system is divided into separate functional modules: the elevator car for vertical transport, the slips for pipe engagement, the motor for power, and the control system for coordination. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and reduces overall system complexity by distributing functions across modular units
Solution Approach 2:
The elevator system is designed to handle multiple types of pipes (drill pipe, casing, tubing) with varying diameters and weights using the same basic mechanism. The slips can be adjusted to accommodate different pipe sizes, and the motor provides variable power output, making the equipment versatile and reducing the need for multiple specialized devices
3Strength
If heavy doors are used for elevator operation, then the structural integrity is maintained, but the safety hazards and handling difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The elevator system uses a counterweight mechanism that balances the weight of the elevator car and offsets the load of the pipe being transported. This reduces the net force required to move the system and decreases the stress on the door structures, allowing for lighter yet still structurally sound door design
Solution Approach 2:
The heavy mechanical doors are replaced with automated door mechanisms that use motors and controlled opening/closing sequences. This substitution reduces the weight of the door assembly while maintaining structural integrity through engineered materials and design, eliminating the safety hazards associated with manual handling of heavy doors
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 solution reduces idle time by enabling faster and safer handling of pipes, minimizing manual labor and equipment complexity, while ensuring secure grip and reduced risk of pipe drop or damage, even with heavy and large-diameter pipes.
Implementation Method 1
A remotely operated slip-type elevator with hydraulic circuits
Implementation Method 2
a hydraulic actuator system for setting and releasing the slips
Implementation Method 3
tapered slips and interengaging elements that allow for secure handling of pipes
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for handling pipes, the apparatus, in certain aspects, having a body having a tapered surface and at least a first slip and a second slip slidable on the tapered surface, a slip actuator for setting said at least first slip and said second slip, said first slip and said second slip having interengaging elements such that upon actuation of said slip actuator, said first slip is set and said second slip is set by the interengaging elements transferring setting force from the slip actuator through said first slip to said second slip; and methods for using such an apparatus.