Fluid collecting device

• US 20050155757A1
• Filed: 11/20/2003
• Published: 07/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sub-Drill Supply Ltd. (Oil Well Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sub-Drill Supply Ltd. (Oil Well Ltd.)
• Inventors: Paton, Alan Stewart
• Granted Patent: US 7,306,032 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 166/81.100
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 19/168 using a spinner with rollers or a belt adapted to engage a well pipe
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 21/01 Arrangements for handling drilling fluids or cuttings outside the borehole, e.g. mud boxes

Abstract

An adjustable fluid collecting device with two shells pivotally movable relative to each other wherein the fluid collecting device is movable between an open position in which the shells are distanced from each other and a closed position in which the shells touch, an actuator and a lever assembly wherein the operation of the actuator results in equal but opposite movement of the shells and the mechanical advantage increases as the shells move toward the closed position. A rigid frame which substantially surrounds the two shells, actuator and lever assembly is provided. Optionally, the apparatus can be equipped with an integral pipe spinner.

Claims

1. An apparatus for collecting fluid from a drill string comprising,

first (1) and second (2) shells pivotably coupled to each other and designed and arranged to move from an open position around the circumference of a pipe (11) of a predetermined diameter to a closed position where said first shell (1) is sealingly mated with said second shell, and

an actuator (6), pivotably coupled to said first (1) and second (2) shells and designed and arranged to move said first and second shells to said closed position such that a force measured at said actuator required to move said first and second shells to said closed position decreases as said first and second shells move toward said closed position.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein,

a bellcrank (12) is coupled between said actuator (6) and said first shell (1).

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein,

said bellcrank (12) has a fulcrum pivotably coupled to said first shell (1) with a first end of the bellcrank (12) coupled to said second shell (2) and a second end of the bellcrank (12) coupled to said actuator (6).

4. The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising,

a linkage (13) having a first end pivotably coupled to said first end of said bellcrank (12) and a second end pivotably coupled to said second shell (2).

5. The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising,

a frame (20) with said first and second shells (101, 102) pivotably mounted to said frame.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein,

said actuator (106) has a first end pivotably coupled to said frame (20) and a second end, and

said bellcrank (112) has a fulcrum pivotably coupled to said frame (20), with a first end of the bellcrank (112) coupled to said first shell and second shells (101, 102) and a second end of said bellcrank (112) is coupled to said second end of said actuator (106).

7. The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising,

a tie rod (25) having a first tie rod end pivotably coupled to said first shell (101) and a second tie rod end coupled to said second shell (102), said first end of said tie rod (25) coupled to said first end of said bell crank (112).

8. The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising,

a first lever (24) having first and second ends, said first end of said first lever (24) pivotably coupled to said first shell (101), said second end of said first lever (24) pivotably coupled to said first end of said tie rod (25) and said first end of said bellcrank (112),

a second lever (29) having first and second ends, said first end of said second lever (29) pivotably coupled to said second shell (102), said second end of said second lever (29) pivotably coupled to said second end of said tie rod (25), and

a third lever (28) having first and second ends, said first end of said third lever (28) pivotably coupled to said frame (20), said second end of said third lever (28) pivotably coupled to said second end of said tie rod (25) and said second end of said second lever (29).

9. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising,

a pipe spinner moveably coupled to said frame (20).

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein,

bottom half members (9, 10) are attached to said first and second shells.

11. An apparatus for collecting fluid from a drill string comprising,

first and second shells, said first shell designed and arranged to be moved from an open position to a closed position with the first and second shells sealingly mating with each other around the circumference of a pipe of a predetermined diameter,

an actuator assembly coupled to said first shell and said second shell and designed and arranged to move said first shell and said second shell from said open position to said closed position, said actuator assembly characterized by a mechanical advantage which increases as said first shell and said second shell approach said closed position.

12. An apparatus for collecting fluid from a drill string comprising,

first and second shells (101, 102) pivotably coupled to each other and designed and arranged to move from an open position around the circumference of a pipe (111) of a predetermined diameter to a closed position where said first shell is sealingly mated with said second shell, and

an actuator (106), with a bellcrank (11) coupled between said actuator (106) and said first shell (101) and pivotal coupling to said second shell and designed and arranged to move said first and second shells from said open position to said closed position and vice versa.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising,

a frame (20), with said first and second shells (101, 102) being pivotably mounted to said frame.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein,

said actuator (106) includes a cylinder and an actuator rod with said cylinder pivotably coupled to said frame (20), and

said bellcrank (112) has a fulcrum pivotably coupled to said frame (20) with a first end of the bellcrank (112) coupled to said first shell and second shell (101, 102) and a second end of said bellcrank (112) coupled to said actuator rod.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising,

a tie rod (25) having a first tie rod end (25) pivotably coupled to said first shell (101) and a second tie rod end (25) coupled to said second shell (102), said first tie rod end (25) coupled to said first end of said bell crank (112).

16. The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising,

a first lever (24) having first and second ends, said first end of said first lever (24) pivotably coupled to said first shell (101), said second end of said first lever (24) pivotably coupled to said first end of said tie rod (25) and said first end of said bellcrank (112),

a second lever (29) having first and second ends, said first end of said second lever (29) pivotably coupled to said second shell (102), said second end of said second lever (29) pivotably coupled to said second end of said tie rod (25), and

a third lever (28) having first and second ends, said first end of said third lever (28) pivotably coupled to said frame (20), said second end of said third lever (28) pivotably coupled to said second end of said tie rod (25) and said second end of said second lever (29).

17. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein,

bottom half members (109, 110) are respectively attached to said first and second shells (101, 102), and

compliant gaskets are coupled to said first and second shells (101, 102) such that in said closed position, said compliant gaskets are sealingly disposed between said first and second shells (101, 102).

18. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein,

said first and second shells (101, 102) are semi-cylindrically shaped and have longitudinal axes disposed parallel to a longitudinal axis of said pipe (111).

19. An apparatus for collecting fluid from and disconnecting a drill string comprising,

a frame (120),

first and second shells (201, 202) with respective bottom half members, with the first and second shells pivotably coupled to each other and designed and arranged to move from an open position around a joint (42, 43) coupling an upper pipe (40) of a predetermined diameter to a lower pipe (41) of said predetermined diameter to a closed position where said first shell (201) is mated with said second shell (202) and said first and second shells (201, 202) to substantially form a bucket around said joint (42, 43), said first and second shells coupled to said frame (120), and

a spinner (47) coupled to said frame (120) and disposed longitudinally above said first and second shells, said spinner (47) designed and arranged for rotating said upper pipe (40) with respect to said lower pipe (41).

20. The apparatus of claim 19 further comprising,

at least one actuator assembly designed and arranged for moving said first and second shells from said open position to said closed position and vice versa.

21. The apparatus of claim 19 further comprising,

a connection (46) fluidly coupled to said first shell (201) and designed and arranged for attachment to a hose.

22. The apparatus of claim 19 further comprising,

a compliant gasket (45) coupled to said first and second shells (201, 202) designed and arranged to seal said first and second shells (201, 202) with respect to each other when said first and second shells (201, 202) are in said closed position.

23. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said spinner (47) comprises,

first and second rollers (48, 49) moveably and rotatably coupled to said frame (120) and designed and arranged to rotatively engage said upper pipe (40).