Injector Head Lifting Bale With Hydraulic Knee Joint

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing coiled tubing units face challenges in accurately positioning and balancing the injector head during rig-up and rig-down operations, requiring efficient load balancing and precise alignment with the wellhead.

Innovation Solution

A lifting bale mechanism is mounted on the injector head, featuring a lifting arm, an articulated member with a knee joint, and a hydraulic cylinder, allowing for the extension and retraction of the cylinder arm to balance and position the injector head, ensuring proper alignment and load distribution.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a lifting bale mechanism is added to balance the injector head, then positioning precision and alignment are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning precisionVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The lifting bale is divided into separate functional components: a lifting arm for vertical movement, an articulated member with knee joint for angular adjustment, and a cylinder for load balancing. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, achieving precise positioning while maintaining manageable complexity through modular design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The lifting bale employs dynamic elements including a movable lifting arm, an articulated member with a knee joint that allows angular adjustment, and a retractable cylinder. These dynamic components enable the system to adapt to different positioning requirements and balance the injector head at various angles, improving positioning precision through active adjustment capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Manufacturing precision

If an articulated member with knee joint is used for positioning, then alignment accuracy is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealignment accuracyVSAvoidease of operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The articulated member with knee joint acts as an intermediary between the lifting arm and the injector head, providing angular adjustment capability. This intermediate component translates vertical lifting motion into angular positioning, achieving precise alignment while isolating the operator from direct manipulation of complex alignment mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

A hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder is integrated into the lifting bale to provide automated load balancing and positioning. The cylinder can be controlled to extend and retract, automatically adjusting the injector head position and angle, thereby improving alignment accuracy while reducing manual operational complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

3Stability of the object's composition

If load balancing is implemented through cylinder extension and retraction, then positioning stability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning stabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cylinder in the lifting bale functions as a counterbalancing mechanism, extending and retracting to offset the weight of the injector head. This anti-weight approach provides automatic load balancing, stabilizing the injector head position during operations and reducing the effort required to maintain positioning, while the single-cylinder design keeps complexity manageable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

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 lifting bale effectively balances the injector head, facilitating precise positioning over the wellbore and maintaining vertical alignment, enhancing operational efficiency during handling and installation processes.

Implementation Method 1

a cylinder, having an extendable and retractable arm, attached between the injector head and the knee joint. The cylinder arm is configured to be moved to raise the lifting arm, and is further configured to be extended and retracted to provide load balancing of the injector head.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydraulic pressure: Hydraulic Press

Implementation Method 2

The cylinder arm is configured to be extended and retracted to provide load balancing of the injector head

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravitational force: Gravitation

Implementation Method 3

A lifting bale mechanism is mounted on the injector head, featuring a lifting arm, an articulated member with a knee joint, and a hydraulic cylinder, allowing for the extension and retraction of the cylinder arm to balance and position the injector head

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical advantage: Mechanical Advantage

Data Source

PatentEP3095745B1Injector head lifting bale
Publication Date: 2018.03.07 PREMIER COIL SOLUTIONS INC
  • EP3095745B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3095745B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3095745B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A lifting bale is mounted on top of an injector head for handling the injector head. The lifting bale includes a lifting arm attached to the injector head, an articulated member attached between the injector head and the lifting arm, the articulated member having a knee joint, and a cylinder, having an extendable and retractable arm, attached between the injector head and the knee joint. The cylinder arm is configured to be moved to raise the lifting arm, and is further configured to be extended and retracted to provide load balancing of the injector head.