Self-adjusting Pipe Spinner with Motor-driven Gear Rack

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current pipe spinning technologies require manual adjustment by operators, which is time-consuming, labor-intensive, and poses safety risks when changing pipe sizes, as operators must climb and manually adjust drive sprockets to accommodate different diameters.

Innovation Solution

A self-adjusting pipe spinner with a case having pivotally connected members and a drive assembly that moves along gear racks, allowing for remote adjustment of the chain length to accommodate various pipe diameters, eliminating the need for manual climbing and reducing operational complexity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If manual adjustment of drive sprockets is used to accommodate different pipe diameters, then the spinner can be adjusted to different pipe sizes, but operators must climb and manually adjust which is time-consuming and poses safety risks

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to accommodate different pipe diametersVSAvoidtime required for manual adjustment

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The spinner system performs adjustment automatically without requiring operator intervention. The drive assembly moves along the rail to reposition the chain and drive sprocket based on detected pipe diameter, making the system self-adjusting and eliminating manual climbing and adjustment operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The manual mechanical adjustment process is replaced with an automated system that uses a motor-driven assembly moving along a rail to reposition the chain and drive sprocket. This substitution eliminates the need for operators to manually climb and adjust the spinner

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Adaptability or versatility

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to accommodate different pipe diametersVSAvoidoperator safety

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

A sensor acts as an intermediary between the operator and the adjustment mechanism. The sensor detects pipe diameter and automatically triggers the motor-driven adjustment, eliminating the need for operators to physically climb and manually adjust the spinner

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the chain length is fixed, then the spinner structure is simpler, but it cannot accommodate pipes of varying diameters

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to accommodate varying pipe diametersVSAvoidcomplexity of adjustment mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The chain length is made dynamically adjustable rather than fixed. The drive assembly can move along the rail to reposition the chain, allowing the effective chain length to change based on pipe diameter requirements while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of adjusting chain length in one dimension (which would require complex mechanisms), the system moves the drive assembly along a rail in a different dimension (longitudinal direction). This allows chain length adjustment by changing the position of the drive sprocket rather than physically changing chain length

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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

Enables safer and quicker pipe changes by allowing remote adjustment of the spinner to accommodate different pipe sizes, reducing operator risk and increasing efficiency in tripping operations.

Implementation Method 1

A self-adjusting pipe spinner includes a case having two pivotally connected members: a stationary case member and a moving case member. Upper and lower plates having gear racks are mounted on the stationary case member for moving a drive assembly horizontally across the case.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGear mechanism: Gear

Implementation Method 2

The drive assembly includes a motor that drives gear sprocket through a drive shaft. The drive sprocket then drives a chain that rotates a drill pipe in an operative position relative to the case.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentUS9097072B2Self-adjusting pipe spinner

Publication Date: 2015.08.04 HAWK IND INC

AI summary

A self-adjusting spinner is provided that is capable of accommodating various pipe sizes without requiring the need for an operator to climb up the support mechanism and manually change the position of the drive assembly. The self-adjusting spinner includes a case having two pivotally connected members: a stationary case member and a moving case member. Upper and lower plates having gear racks are mounted on the stationary case member for moving a drive assembly horizontally across the case. The drive assembly includes a motor that drives gear sprocket through a drive shaft. The drive sprocket then drives a chain that rotates a drill pipe in an operative position relative to the case. The spinner also includes an adjusting assembly mounted on the case that moves the drive assembly along the gear rack upon the actuation of an adjustment sequence. When the adjustment sequence is initiated, the effective length of the chain is adjusted to accommodate drill pipes of varying diameters.