Multi-path Hoisting Systems with Shared Block-and-Tackle
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hoisting systems in drilling rigs face inefficiencies due to increased friction and inertia when adding more sheaves or larger line parts to support heavier loads, which reduces mechanical advantage and increases energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a shared block-and-tackle arrangement using multiple separate hoisting lines reeved through a crown block and a traveling block, with each line wound on a shared drum and connected to dead-line anchors for tension balancing, allowing for reduced friction and inertia while maintaining or increasing mechanical advantage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If more sheaves are added to the block-and-tackle arrangement to support heavier loads, then the hoisting capacity increases, but the friction and inertia increase, reducing mechanical advantage and increasing energy consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single hoisting line into multiple separate hoisting lines (first hoisting line, second hoisting line, etc.), each reeved through the block-and-tackle arrangement. This segmentation allows the system to distribute the load across multiple independent lines, reducing the friction and inertia associated with a single high-capacity line while maintaining the overall hoisting capacity.
2Strength
If larger line parts are used to support greater weights, then the load-bearing capacity increases, but the friction and inertia increase, reducing mechanical advantage
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a single large-diameter hoisting line, the patent employs multiple smaller-diameter hoisting lines. Each line experiences less friction and inertia individually, while their combined effect provides the necessary load-bearing capacity. This segmentation maintains mechanical advantage by reducing the resistive forces in the system.
3Strength
If more sheaves are added to increase hoisting capacity, then the weight support increases, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple hoisting lines into a shared block-and-tackle arrangement with common crown block and traveling block. This combining approach allows the system to achieve high weight support capacity through multiple lines while using shared components (crown block, traveling block, drum) to limit the overall complexity increase compared to having completely separate systems.
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 enhances hoisting capacity with lower friction and inertia, enabling faster hoisting speeds and reduced energy consumption compared to traditional single-line systems, while maintaining or improving mechanical advantage.
Implementation Method 1
multi-part block-and-tackle arrangements have been used with drawworks for hoisting on drilling rigs, in which hoisting lines are reeved through sheaves of crown blocks and traveling blocks to provide a mechanical advantage
Implementation Method 2
The multiple hoisting lines can be reeled in or out together from the drum to move a hoisted load coupled to the traveling block
Implementation Method 3
the hoisting lines are connected to dead-line anchors mounted on a stabilizer that balances tensions in portions of the hoisting lines
Data Source
AI summary
Various hoisting systems using multiple hoisting lines in shared block-and-tackle arrangements are provided. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a hoisting system with multiple hoisting lines wound on a rotatable drum of a drawworks. The hoisting lines are continuous wire ropes that are reeved over a shared crown block and around a shared traveling block in a block-and-tackle arrangement to provide a mechanical advantage. Additional systems, devices, and methods are also disclosed.