Automated V-Door Safety Gate for Drilling Rigs
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing manual swing gates at drilling rigs pose safety risks to personnel as they require manual operation, exposing workers to potential falls during the movement of tubulars and tools through the V-door space.
Innovation Solution
A gate assembly with first and second gates rotationally attached to a frame, mounted across the V-door space, which automatically opens and closes in response to the movement of a catwalk, allowing access and preventing access through the V-door space, enhancing safety by minimizing manual intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a manual swing gate is used to control access through the V-door space, then personnel can restrict or allow movement of tubulars and tools, but personnel are exposed to potential dangers of falling from the rig floor
Solution Approach 1:
The gate assembly automatically opens and closes itself in response to the movement of equipment through the V-door space, eliminating the need for manual operation by personnel. The system serves itself by detecting the presence of moving objects and autonomously controlling gate movement, thereby removing personnel from hazardous positions while maintaining safety functions
Solution Approach 2:
The manual mechanical operation of opening and closing the gate is replaced with an automated control system that detects equipment movement and actuates the gate accordingly. This substitution eliminates the need for personnel to physically manipulate the gate mechanism, reducing exposure to fall hazards while maintaining access control
2Reliability
If the swing gate is kept closed to prevent access through the V-door space, then personnel safety is improved, but the movement of tubulars and tools through the V-door space is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The gate assembly transitions from a static closed position to a dynamic state where it automatically opens when equipment approaches and closes when equipment passes. This dynamic behavior allows the gate to adapt its state based on real-time conditions, maintaining safety during idle periods while enabling efficient material movement during operations
Solution Approach 2:
The gate assembly opens in advance before equipment needs to pass through, allowing smooth and uninterrupted movement of tubulars and tools. By anticipating the need for access and opening the gate proactively, the system eliminates delays in material handling while ensuring the gate is closed and secure when not in use
Data Source
AI summary
A gate assembly that can include a frame with first and second mounts to mount the gate assembly across a V-door space on a rig floor, a first gate rotationally attached to a left side of the frame, and a second gate rotationally attached to a right side of the frame, such that the first and second gates selectively permit and prevent access through the V-door space. Inner panels of the first and second gates can be configured to automatically open and close in response to a catwalk extending into the V-door space or retracting from the V-door space.