Pivotable Diving Board for Drilling Rig Impact Absorption
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing diving board structures in drilling rigs are prone to damage and pose safety risks due to collisions with moving drilling equipment during tripping operations, leading to potential accidents and costly downtime.
Innovation Solution
A pivotable and rotatable impact-absorbing diving board assembly with a clamping mechanism that allows angular rotation, designed to absorb high impact loads and minimize damage from collisions with drilling equipment, while maintaining structural integrity and safety for rig personnel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the diving board is made rigid and fixed to provide stable access, then structural stability is improved, but vulnerability to impact damage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The diving board is designed with a pivot connection that allows it to rotate between a horizontal position (for stable access during normal operations) and an angled position (to absorb impact forces when struck by drilling equipment). This dynamic positioning capability resolves the contradiction by making the structure adaptable rather than fixed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system preemptively prepares for potential impact damage by allowing the diving board to rotate away from its horizontal position upon collision. This preliminary anti-action prevents the full force of impact from being transmitted to the fingerboard and associated equipment, thereby reducing vulnerability before damage can occur.
2Ease of operation
If the diving board is made fixed and rigid, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability under impact conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The diving board transitions from a static fixed structure to a dynamic pivotable structure that can adjust its position. During normal operations, it remains horizontal for ease of access, but upon impact, it can rotate to an angled position to protect the fingerboard, thereby maintaining both operational ease and reliability.
3Device complexity
If the diving board structure is simplified, then device complexity is reduced, but impact absorption capability is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The diving board system is segmented into distinct components: the diving board itself, the pivot connection, and the fingerboard. This segmentation allows the diving board to rotate independently upon impact, absorbing shock forces while keeping the overall structure simple and avoiding the need for complex shock-absorbing mechanisms.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If the diving board is made rotatable to absorb impact, then impact resistance is improved, but structural stability during normal operations deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The pivot connection allows the diving board to dynamically adjust its position based on operational conditions. During normal operations, it maintains a stable horizontal position for safe access. Upon impact, it can rotate to an angled position to absorb shock forces, thereby achieving both operational stability and impact resistance.
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 impact-absorbing diving board assembly effectively reduces the risk of damage and injury by absorbing impact loads, allowing the structure to pivot and rotate, thereby protecting the diving board, fingerboard, and associated equipment from significant damage, and ensuring safer operations.
Implementation Method 1
a clamping assembly operatively coupled to the first end and to the second end, where the clamping assembly is positioned between the first and second ends and defines a pinned connection adapted to permit a rotation of the first and second ends relative to a plane defined by the fingerboard assembly
Data Source
AI summary
Generally, the subject matter disclosed herein relates to an impact absorbing “diving board,” or access platform, of a drilling rig “fingerboard,” or pipe racking assembly. One illustrative diving board assembly of a drilling rig fingerboard assembly disclosed herein includes a first end proximate the drilling rig and a second end positioned remote from the first end, where the first end is more proximal to the drilling rig than the second end. The illustrative diving board assembly further includes a clamping assembly operatively coupled to the first end and to the second end, where the clamping assembly is positioned between the first and second ends and defines a pinned connection adapted to permit a rotation of the first and second ends relative to a plane defined by the fingerboard assembly.