Telescopic Elevator Bail with Automatic Catch Bolt Reconnection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing elevator bails for drilling and well operations above a riser face challenges in maintaining a stable connection under varying tensions, leading to potential equipment damage and safety risks during extreme weather conditions, as they require manual reconnection after a weak link fracture and are prone to side movement under compression.
Innovation Solution
A dynamically telescopable elevator bail with a sleeve and rod design, featuring strong, immovable catch bolts and a weakened fracture bolt, allowing for controlled breakage and reconnection without manual intervention, extending the working range beyond the heave compensator's limits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a weak link with fracture bolt is used in the elevator bail, then controlled breakage can occur to prevent extensive damage, but the connection between the lift and heave compensator is lost requiring manual reconnection
Solution Approach 1:
The elevator bail system performs reconnection automatically through the interaction of catch bolts and catch grooves. When the rod is pulled upward after fracture bolt breakage, the catch bolts automatically engage with the catch grooves to reestablish the connection, eliminating the need for manual intervention and allowing continuous operation during critical weather conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The fracture bolt is designed to be discarded (broken) when excessive tension occurs, but the connection functionality is recovered automatically through the catch bolt mechanism. The broken fracture bolt is replaced by the engagement of catch bolts with catch grooves, restoring the connection without manual intervention.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed-length elevator bail is used, then the structure is simple, but it cannot accommodate vessel movements beyond the heave compensator's working range
Solution Approach 1:
The elevator bail transitions from a fixed-length structure to a dynamically adjustable structure. The rod can be displaced telescopically within the sleeve to change the overall length, allowing the system to adapt to varying vessel movements and extend the working range beyond the heave compensator's limits while maintaining structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The elevator bail is divided into two main segments: a sleeve and a rod. The rod can be displaced relative to the sleeve along the longitudinal axis, creating a telescopic structure. This segmentation allows independent movement of each component to achieve length adjustment while maintaining the overall structural framework.
3Strength
If strong bolts are used to connect the elevator bail components, then the connection is robust, but the bolt cannot be displaced to allow telescopic movement
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the connection have different functional qualities. The catch bolts provide strong, immovable connections at specific locations (catch grooves) to maintain structural integrity, while other regions allow telescopic movement. This local differentiation of connection strength enables both robustness and adjustability within the same structure.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3C
AI summary
A telescopic elevator bail (1 ) arranged to be able to be used dynamically in well operations in the petroleum industry where the elevator bail (1 ) comprises a sleeve (2) provided with a first attachment organ (24) and a muzzle portion (28), and a rod (3) arranged to be able to be displaced telescopically relative to the sleeve (2) along the common longitudinal axis of the sleeve (2) and the rod (3); and the rod 3 being provided with at least one through hole (36; 36'; 36") perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the rod (3) and the hole (36; 36'; 36") being arranged to be able to accommodate an actuator actuable holding bolt (42), and where the sleeve (2) is provided with at least one catch bolt (5); the catch bolt (5) being provided with an inward projecting holding portion (53); and that the rod (3) is provided with a first shoulder portion (54) arranged to rest on the holding portion (53) of the catch bolt (5) when the sleeve (2) and the rod(3) exhibit their relatively longest longitudinal displacement. Also described is a vessel incorporating such a telescoping elevator bail and a method for utilizing the elevator bail (1).