Rod Positioning Device for Drilling Rod Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
In exploration drilling, the frequent need to exchange and align drilling rods within rod strings leads to significant manual labor and inefficiency, as operators must repeatedly handle, align, and join rods, resulting in physical strain and increased operational costs due to the weight and frequency of rod handling.
Innovation Solution
A rod positioning device with a base, arm, and rod-gripping mechanism featuring guiding elements and a rod driving element oriented at an acute angle, allowing for precise alignment and joining of drilling rods to a rod string through complementary mating threads, reducing manual effort and improving alignment efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual handling and alignment of drilling rods is used, then operational flexibility is maintained, but physical strain on operators increases and operational efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The rod positioning device enables self-alignment of drilling rods through guiding elements that automatically orient the rod along the rod string axis, eliminating the need for manual alignment efforts by operators while maintaining operational continuity
Solution Approach 2:
The device replaces manual mechanical alignment operations with a mechanical positioning system comprising an arm, rod-gripping device, and guiding elements that automatically position and align rods, reducing physical strain while improving handling efficiency
2Adaptability or versatility
If frequent rod exchanges are performed, then drilling adaptability is improved, but the number of manipulations increases leading to higher operational costs
Solution Approach 1:
The rod positioning device performs preliminary alignment and positioning of the drilling rod before it is joined to the rod string, so that when rod exchanges are needed, the alignment process is already complete, reducing the time required for each manipulation
Solution Approach 2:
The alignment function is extracted from the manual rod handling process and implemented as a separate, dedicated positioning system that operates independently, allowing rapid rod exchanges without the time penalty of manual realignment
3Manufacturing precision
If manual alignment of drilling rods is used, then device complexity is minimized, but manufacturing precision of rod connections deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Guiding elements act as intermediaries between the rod-gripping device and the drilling rod, providing precise geometric constraints that ensure accurate alignment without requiring complex active control systems, thus achieving manufacturing precision with moderate device complexity
Data Source
AI summary
A rod positioning device for aligning a drilling rod with a rod string having complementary mating threads, comprising a base, an arm mounted to the base about a first rotation axis, and a rod-gripping device mounted on the arm. The arm is for displacement about the first rotation axis between a rod loading position and a rod alignment position. The rod-gripping device is for operating between a rod-gripping configuration and a rod-releasing configuration. The rod-gripping device comprises jaws for gripping the drilling rod while the rod-gripping device is in the rod-gripping configuration and the arm is in the rod loading position, and guiding elements mounted on the jaws, the guiding elements aligning the drilling rod with the rod string and enabling longitudinal displacement of the drilling rod to contact the rod string. A method of use is further provided.