Telescopic Pipe Handling Apparatus for Automated Drill Tube Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
The handling of drill tubes on oil drilling rigs is hazardous for derrickmen due to the manual maneuvering of heavy, long tubes, which can result in injuries and fatalities, especially in adverse weather conditions.
Innovation Solution
A pipe handling apparatus comprising an upper and lower guide arm system with telescopic sections, pivotable movement, and retention heads that can accommodate various drill tube diameters, operated by electrical motors, hydraulics, or pneumatics, allowing for automated and controlled movement of drill tubes between stowed and operative positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual handling of drill tubes is performed by derrickman on a narrow board, then the task can be completed with simple equipment, but the safety and reliability of the operation deteriorates due to hazardous working conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical handling system with an automated robotic system. The robotic arm with gripper mechanism automatically grasps, lifts, and positions drill tubes, eliminating the need for derrickmen to manually handle heavy tubes on narrow boards. This substitution of manual mechanical operations with automated mechanical systems directly addresses the safety concerns while managing complexity through systematic automation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a robotic system as an intermediary between the drill tube storage and the drilling operation. This intermediary automated system performs the hazardous handling tasks, acting as a mediator that transfers drill tubes from storage to the drilling assembly without human intervention in the dangerous zone. The robotic arm and gripper serve as the intermediary mechanism that resolves the contradiction by removing humans from hazardous positions.
2Reliability
If automated robotic arm is used for handling drill tubes, then the safety and reliability improves by removing human operators from hazardous positions, but the device complexity increases due to additional mechanical and control systems
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic handling system is segmented into distinct functional modules: a base platform, a multi-jointed robotic arm, a specialized gripper mechanism, and a control system. Each segment performs a specific function and can be independently designed, manufactured, and maintained. This segmentation manages overall system complexity by breaking down the automated handling system into manageable components while achieving the safety benefits of automation.
Solution Approach 2:
The robotic arm and gripper system is designed with universal capabilities to handle various sizes and types of drill tubes. The gripper mechanism can adjust its grip force and configuration to accommodate different tube diameters and weights. This multi-functionality reduces the need for multiple specialized devices, managing complexity through a single versatile automated system that performs multiple handling tasks.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the arm is made extendable with telescopic sections, then the versatility and adaptability improves to reach different positions, but the device complexity increases due to additional mechanical components
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic arm employs telescopic sections where one arm segment is nested within another, similar to a nested doll structure. The extendable arm contains retractable sections that can be extended or retracted to achieve different reach lengths. This nesting arrangement provides variable reach capability without requiring completely separate arm structures for each reach distance, managing complexity through a compact, space-efficient design that delivers versatile positioning capability.
Data Source
AI summary
A pipe handling apparatus, for handling drill tubes on a drilling platform, has an upper guide member 100 comprising a retention head mounted on an arm. The arm can extend telescopically so as to position it to allow the retention head to engage a drill tube for placement in and removal from a rack 230.