Single-Joint Elevator With Radially Adjustable Slips
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional single-joint elevators in the oil and gas industry are limited in accommodating tubulars with varying outside diameters, often requiring multiple elevators to secure connections with different diameters, which is inefficient and costly.
Innovation Solution
A multi-range single-joint elevator design featuring pivotally-coupled body halves with tapered slots and timing bars, along with tension handles and biasing members, allows the slips to translate vertically and radially, enabling secure engagement with tubulars across a range of diameters without adjustments or replacements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a conventional single-joint elevator is designed to secure tubulars with a specific outside diameter, then it can reliably grip and lift that specific size, but it cannot accommodate tubulars with varying outside diameters
Solution Approach 1:
The elevator incorporates slips that can dynamically adjust their radial position within tapered slots. The slips move radially outward to accommodate larger outside diameters and radially inward for smaller diameters, allowing a single elevator to adapt to multiple tubular sizes without requiring multiple fixed-size elevators
Solution Approach 2:
The elevator changes the geometric parameter of the gripping circumference by allowing the slips to translate radially within tapered slots. This parameter change enables the same elevator structure to securely grip tubulars with different outside diameters by adjusting the effective gripping radius
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple single-joint elevators are used to accommodate varying outside diameters, then all tubular sizes can be handled, but operational time and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The elevator is designed as a universal device that can handle multiple tubular sizes within a specified range. The slips' ability to translate radially within tapered slots gives the elevator multi-functionality, eliminating the need to switch between different elevators for different tubular diameters and reducing operational time
3Reliability
If the elevator body halves are closed to secure a tubular segment, then the tubular is firmly gripped, but the internal diameter becomes smaller than the box end outer diameter, requiring precise dimensional matching
Solution Approach 1:
The slips dynamically adjust their radial position to match the specific outside diameter of the tubular being lifted. This dynamic adjustment compensates for dimensional variations in tubular connections, ensuring reliable grip security without requiring extremely tight manufacturing tolerances between the elevator and tubular
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 elevator effectively secures tubular segments with varied diameters, reducing the need for multiple elevators and minimizing operational costs and time, providing a versatile solution for handling diverse tubular sizes.
Implementation Method 1
first and second biasing members each having a first end coupled to the connection point of the first and second tension handles, respectively, and a second end coupled to the first and second timing bars, respectively, wherein the first and second biasing members impart a downward force on the one or more slips via the first and second timing bars
Data Source
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Figure 5~6
AI summary
An elevator to manipulate a tubular segment includes an elevator body with a bore formed therethrough having an axis therein, the elevator body including a plurality of openings extending from an outer surface of the elevator body to the bore of the elevator body, and a base member coupled to a bottom surface of the elevator body, the base member having a guide portion that directs the tubular segment into the bore of the elevator body. The elevator also includes a plurality of slip assemblies disposed inside the plurality of openings and coupled to the elevator body, each of the plurality of slip assemblies including an actuator body coupled to the elevator body, a slip, the slip including an engagement surface disposed orthogonal to the axis of the bore of the elevator body that engages the tubular segment.