Over-Center Locking for Injector Head Tilt Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing coiled tubing units face challenges in efficiently raising and lowering the injector head for use and transport, particularly in maintaining the injector head's longitudinal axis vertical without relying on continuous hydraulic pressure, which can be disrupted.
Innovation Solution
The injector head tilt mechanism employs an articulated member with a joint and a hydraulic cylinder to push the joint to an over-center position, locking the mechanism in a fully extended position where the injector head's longitudinal axis is vertical, eliminating the need for hydraulic pressure to support the load.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If continuous hydraulic pressure is used to maintain the injector head vertical, then the injector head can be kept in position, but the system becomes vulnerable to hydraulic power disruption
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from a static hydraulic support system to a dynamic mechanical locking system. The articulated member can move between extended and retracted positions, and the over-center mechanism provides automatic locking when extended, eliminating the need for continuous hydraulic pressure to maintain position.
Solution Approach 2:
The over-center positioning mechanism allows the articulated member to self-lock in the extended position through its own geometry. When the articulated member is extended, the over-center mechanism creates a mechanical lock that maintains the injector head vertical without requiring external hydraulic pressure, making the system self-sustaining.
2Stability of the object's composition
If hydraulic pressure is used to support the injector head, then the injector head can be maintained in position, but the system complexity increases due to continuous pressure requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the hydraulic pressure support system with a mechanical locking system. The articulated member with over-center positioning provides mechanical support and locking, substituting the need for continuous hydraulic pressure and reducing hydraulic system complexity.
3Reliability
If the articulated member is locked in over-center position, then the tilt mechanism is locked in fully extended position, but the hydraulic cylinder experiences backpressure
Solution Approach 1:
The design extracts the load-bearing function from the hydraulic cylinder when the articulated member is locked. Once the over-center position is achieved and the mechanical lock is engaged, the hydraulic cylinder is relieved of the support load, removing the backpressure condition while maintaining the locked position.
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
This solution allows the injector head to be raised and lowered efficiently without hydraulic pressure, ensuring operational reliability even in case of hydraulic power loss, and facilitates easy storage and transport by locking the articulated member, thus maintaining the injector head's vertical position.
Implementation Method 1
a hydraulic cylinder attached between the base structure and the articulated member... extending an arm of the cylinder, thereby pushing the joint of the articulated member to an over-center position
Data Source
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AI summary
A tilt mechanism for manipulating an injector head mounted on a tiltable platform attached at one end to a pivot mount on a base structure includes an articulated member attached between the tiltable platform and the base structure, the articulated member having a joint and a cylinder attached between the base structure and the articulated member, wherein an arm of the cylinder is extended to push the joint of the articulated member to an over-center position, thereby locking the articulated member.