Rod Handling System with Vertical Crate Support

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for handling sucker rods in the oil field industry lead to rod damage, crew fatigue, and inefficiencies due to improper support and handling practices, particularly during installation, removal, and transportation, which result in stress-induced damage and prolonged handling times.

Innovation Solution

A system comprising a crate and deployer that provides vertical support and secure storage for multiple rods, allowing for efficient transportation and handling by maintaining rods in a vertical orientation during installation and storage, and facilitating the use of powered equipment for moving multiple rods at once, thus reducing manual handling and stress on the rods.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If rods are carried manually from storage to wellbore by crew members, then flexibility and simplicity are maintained, but rod damage increases and crew fatigue occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimplicity of rod handlingVSAvoidrod damage

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A rod handling system with mechanical support structure acts as an intermediary between storage and wellbore locations. The system includes a support structure with vertical supports to hold rods in an upright position, transferring mechanism to move rods from storage to wellbore, and control system to automate the transfer process, eliminating manual handling and reducing rod damage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual mechanical handling by crew members with an automated mechanical system. The system uses a support structure to hold rods upright, a transferring mechanism to move rods, and a control system to automate the entire process, substituting human labor with mechanical automation to prevent rod damage and reduce fatigue

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Ease of manufacture

If rods are stored horizontally on ground surface, then ease of storage is achieved, but stress-induced damage occurs to the rods

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of storageVSAvoidstress-induced damage

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of storing rods horizontally on the ground surface, the patent inverts the storage orientation by holding rods in an upright vertical position using a support structure with vertical supports. This inversion of the storage method eliminates stress-induced damage while maintaining ease of storage through the automated system

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Device complexity

If conventional tailing methods are used to move rods, then equipment complexity is minimized, but handling time increases and efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveequipment simplicityVSAvoidrod handling efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-positioning rods in an upright orientation in the storage area using the support structure before transfer is needed. The control system is pre-programmed with wellbore location data to automatically guide the transferring mechanism, eliminating the need for complex manual coordination and reducing handling time

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The rod handling system operates autonomously through self-service automation. The control system automatically controls the transferring mechanism to move rods from storage to wellbore based on pre-stored location data, eliminating the need for complex manual operation and significantly improving handling efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

4Device complexity

If multiple rods are handled individually by crew members, then equipment requirements are minimized, but downtime increases and productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveequipment requirementsVSAvoiddowntime

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple individual rod handling operations into a single integrated automated system. The support structure holds multiple rods simultaneously in upright position, and the transferring mechanism transfers multiple rods in sequence automatically, combining what would be separate manual operations into one coordinated system that reduces downtime

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS11976522B2Rod handling system

Publication Date: 2024.05.07 ROD DEPLOYMENT SYST LLC

AI summary

A system includes a crate and a deployer. The crate is configured to contain a plurality of elongated rods; the crate has a length, width and height. The deployer includes a bed frame upper surface, a crate support frame, a tilt mechanism and a scope mechanism. The crate support frame includes an attachment mechanism configured for removable attachment of the crate, wherein the crate support frame has a longitudinal extent aligned with the length of an attached crate. The tilt mechanism is configured to move the crate support frame between a horizontal position parallel to the bed frame upper surface and a vertical position normal to the bed frame upper surface. The scope mechanism is configured to move the crate support frame linearly along its longitudinal extent. A method of deploying a plurality of rods to a selected location is also described.