Mast Assembly Cylinder Nesting for Transport Compliance
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for assembling and disassembling drilling rigs are time-consuming and require significant personnel, and the transportation of these rigs is complicated by the need to disassemble and reassemble the mast sections, which also poses challenges due to highway regulations regarding load size and height.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that allows the mast raising cylinders to be nested within a box-type substructure for transportation, enabling the mast sections to be easily disassembled and reassembled, with the cylinders remaining attached to the substructure, thus minimizing disassembly and reassembly efforts and facilitating transportation on flatbed trailers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the mast sections are disassembled piece by piece for transportation, then the transportation compliance with highway regulations is improved, but the assembly and disassembly time increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The hydraulic cylinders are nested within the box-type substructure during transportation, allowing the mast assembly to be compacted while maintaining the ability to quickly reconfigure for operation. This nesting arrangement reduces the overall transportation footprint without requiring complete disassembly of all components.
Solution Approach 2:
The mast is divided into modular sections (lower mast section, center mast section, upper mast section) that can be independently positioned and reconfigured. This segmentation allows for rapid assembly and disassembly while maintaining compliance with transportation regulations through selective positioning of sections.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the cylinders are disconnected from the substructure during disassembly, then the transportation flexibility is improved, but the disassembly complexity and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The hydraulic cylinders are permanently integrated with the box-type substructure, forming a unified assembly that moves together during transportation. This merging eliminates the need to disconnect and reconnect the cylinders, significantly simplifying the disassembly and assembly procedures while maintaining transportation flexibility through the modular mast sections.
3Ease of operation
If the mast assembly is kept in vertical operational position, then the operational readiness is improved, but the transportation compliance with highway regulations deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The mast assembly is designed to dynamically transition between vertical operational position and horizontal transportation position. The hydraulic cylinders provide the mechanical advantage to efficiently move the mast sections between these two states, allowing quick reconfiguration from transportation mode to operational mode without complex additional mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The mast assembly transitions from a vertical configuration (operational state) to a horizontal configuration (transportation state), utilizing the vertical-to-horizontal dimension change to comply with highway regulations while maintaining operational readiness. This dimensional transformation allows the same structure to meet both operational and transportation requirements.
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 approach significantly reduces the assembly and disassembly time, eliminates the need to disconnect cylinders during disassembly, and allows for compliant transportation, thereby lowering operational costs and improving logistical efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
A pair of hydraulic cylinders moves the lower mast section, center mast section and upper mast section from a horizontal storage and transportation position to a vertical operational position during the assembly and the disassembly procedure.
Data Source
AI summary
A method to disassemble a mast assembly having a substructure including a first and second section, a first and a second cylinder, and a lower mast section. The method includes the steps of disengaging a pair of front mast legs of the lower mast section from a pair of front leg supports. The pair of front leg supports are moved from an operational to a transport position. The lower mast section is lowered from a vertical to a horizontal position by retracting the first cylinder and the second cylinder. A mast center spreader is thereafter removed from the lower mast section. A center drill floor section is removed from between the first substructure section and the second substructure section so that a combination of the first substructure section, the first cylinder and a portion of the lower mast and a combination of the second substructure section, the second cylinder and a portion of the lower mast may be transported.