Modular Spinner Roller Segmented Discs for Tubular Grip
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing spinner technologies face challenges in gripping small diameter drilling tubulars using large diameter rollers due to interference issues and require complete roller replacement when one roller wears, leading to maintenance and cost inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A modular spinner roller design featuring a stack of independent drive discs and spacer discs with a central shaft, allowing for individual disc replacement and avoiding interference by using a multi-diameter configuration, enabling the use of large diameter rollers for small diameter pipes and facilitating retrofits of existing spinners.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If large diameter rollers are used to spin small diameter tubulars, then gripping coefficient and contact area are improved, but interference between rollers occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The roller is divided into multiple independent drive discs with different diameters arranged in a stack. Each drive disc can independently contact the tubular, allowing the use of larger diameter discs for better grip while preventing interference through the stacked configuration. The drive discs are segmented along the axial direction, creating a multi-level contact surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution transitions from a single-plane roller contact to a multi-plane stacked disc configuration. By adding the axial dimension with multiple discs at different positions, the system achieves both large contact area for grip and spatial separation to prevent interference between opposing rollers.
2Ease of operation
If solid body multi-diameter rollers with projections and recesses are used, then roller interference is avoided, but complete roller replacement is required when one roller wears
Solution Approach 1:
The roller assembly is segmented into replaceable drive discs that can be independently maintained. When one drive disc wears, only that specific disc needs to be replaced rather than the entire roller assembly, significantly reducing maintenance time and cost while keeping the non-worn discs in service.
Solution Approach 2:
The modular drive disc design allows worn discs to be discarded and replaced while recovering and reusing the still-serviceable discs and the central shaft structure. This extends the overall service life of the roller assembly and reduces waste.
3Ease of repair
If multi-diameter stacked discs are used, then maintainability is improved and partial replacement is enabled, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
While segmentation into multiple drive discs does increase structural complexity, it enables selective replacement of only worn components. The standardized modular design with common mounting interfaces balances the complexity increase against significant maintenance benefits, allowing quick swaps without requiring complex assembly procedures.
Data Source
AI summary
A spinner roller set adapted for use in an apparatus used to connect and disconnect threaded drilling tubulars includes a first and a second modular spinner roller that mounts independent drive and spacer discs on a central shaft. The setup is arranged so that the spinner rollers when in use can engage a small diameter tubular using the same setup as that for engaging a much larger diameter tubular. When a drive disc is in need of replacement, the worn drive disc can be removed from the central shaft and replaced with a new drive disc. The other drive discs and spacers can be reused.