Rotary Carousel Drilling Tool Changer for Compact Tool Exchange
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drilling systems require significant space for tool magazine movement and rotation, and manual intervention for tool changes, leading to downtime and increased personnel requirements.
Innovation Solution
A rotatable carousel assembly with bit adaptors and alignment mechanisms for automated tool exchange, allowing for coaxial alignment and minimizing downtime through automated or semi-automated tool changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a traditional drill magazine is used to store and exchange drilling tools, then tool storage capacity is provided, but the space required for magazine movement and rotation increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a linear/movable magazine design to a rotary carousel design that utilizes rotational movement around a central axis. This dimensional change allows multiple tool positions to be arranged circumferentially, enabling tool storage and exchange within a compact footprint while maintaining access to multiple tools through rotation rather than linear traversal
2Ease of operation
If manual intervention is used for drilling tool changes, then operational flexibility is maintained, but downtime increases and personnel requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates automated alignment mechanisms including alignment pins, alignment clamps, and self-centering features that enable the drilling tool and drill pipe to automatically align and connect without manual intervention. The system performs its own alignment and connection functions, reducing both downtime and personnel requirements while maintaining operational flexibility through programmable control
3Extent of automation
If a rotatable carousel assembly is used for tool exchange, then automated tool changes are enabled, but the complexity of the device increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the carousel assembly to perform multiple functions: tool storage, rotational positioning, automated alignment, and connection facilitation. The alignment mechanisms serve dual purposes of both positioning and securing tools, while the carousel structure itself provides both storage and the means for automated exchange, reducing overall system complexity despite the high level of automation
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for changing a drilling tool for a drilling rig is described, where the drilling rig comprises a drill tower supporting a drill pipe. The apparatus for changing a drilling tool has a drilling tool changer assembly moveable between a storage position and an exchange position, and the drilling tool changer assembly supports a rotatable carousel assembly. The rotatable carousel assembly has a plurality of bit adaptors for holding drilling tools and is selectively rotatable to bring a selected drilling tool into coaxial alignment with the drill pipe when the drilling tool changer assembly supporting the rotatable carousel assembly is moved into the exchange position. The apparatus includes mechanisms for aligning the selected drilling tool within a bit adaptor holding the selected drilling tool. The apparatus further includes mechanisms for aligning the drill pipe or a hammer with the selected drilling tool.