Top Drive Parallel Alignment via Linking Member Pivot
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current drilling rig technologies face challenges in efficiently assembling and disassembling strings of tubular members, such as drill pipe or casing, particularly in navigating the complexities of wellbores and maintaining parallel alignment of top drives with drilling towers during pivoting operations.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus employs a movable carriage and linking member system with actuators and electric motors to pivotally couple a top drive to a drilling tower, allowing the top drive to maintain parallel alignment during pivoting, and utilizes a tubular handling device with grippers and arms to manage tubular members, enabling efficient coupling and uncoupling of tubular members within the wellbore.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a top drive is pivotally coupled to a drilling tower using conventional rigid coupling mechanisms, then structural strength and stability are improved, but the ability to maintain parallel alignment during pivoting operations deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by replacing rigid coupling mechanisms with a dynamic linking member system that includes pivot connections and actuators. The linking member can pivot relative to both the carriage and top drive, allowing the system to adapt its configuration during operations. This dynamic structure maintains structural integrity through controlled connections while enabling the top drive to preserve parallel alignment with the drilling tower during pivoting operations through actuator-controlled positioning.
2Adaptability or versatility
If drilling rig uses conventional tubular handling mechanisms, then tubular member handling capability is improved, but assembly and disassembly efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the tubular handling device with the top drive assembly by positioning the handling device in close proximity to the top drive and integrating their control systems. The handling device includes grippers and arms that work in coordination with the top drive's positioning capabilities. This merged system allows simultaneous or coordinated operations of tubular handling and drilling functions, reducing the number of separate operations and improving overall assembly and disassembly efficiency while maintaining versatile handling capability.
3Stability of the object's composition
If drilling rig employs fixed top drive positioning system, then structural stability is improved, but operational flexibility and precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a carriage as an intermediary component between the fixed drilling tower and the movable top drive. The carriage travels along the tower and provides a stable mounting platform for the top drive. Additionally, actuators serve as intermediaries that precisely control the positioning and orientation of the top drive relative to the carriage. This intermediary system maintains structural stability through the fixed tower-carriage connection while achieving high alignment precision through the controlled actuator mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus includes a carriage movable along a drilling tower, a linking member pivotally coupled to the carriage, at least one actuator extending between the carriage and the linking member to pivot the linking member between first and second pivot positions, and a top drive pivotally coupled to the linking member. According to another aspect, an apparatus includes a drilling tower, a carriage movably coupled to the drilling tower, a linking member pivotally coupled to the carriage to permit the linking member to pivot between first and second pivot positions, and a top drive extending longitudinally in a parallel relation to the drilling tower, the top drive being pivotally coupled to the linking member to permit the top drive to continue to extend longitudinally in a parallel relation to the drilling tower when the linking member pivots between the first and second pivot positions.