DRILL ROD HANDLER

• US 20100021271A1
• Filed: 04/11/2007
• Published: 01/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boart Longyear Company (Boart Longyear Limited)
• Original Assignee: Longyear TM Incorporated (Boart Longyear Limited)
• Inventors: Littlely, Keith
• Granted Patent: US 8,186,925 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 414/22.540
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 19/155 Handling between horizontal and vertical position

Abstract

An elongate item handling means comprising a base (11) adapted to be fixed to a fixture, an elongate member support (13) having a first axis, the elongate member support comprising an engagement means (19) adapted to engage an elongate item and support the elongate item such that it is parallel to the first axis and to move the elongate item into engagement with the elongate member support, wherein the elongate member support is supported from the base to be rotatable about a second axis which is transverse to the first axis whereby the elongate item when supported from the elongate member support can be moved between an upright position and a substantially horizontal position, the base being movable on the fixture between a first position located at a desired erect position of the elongate item and one or more positions clear of the first position, said elongate member support.

Claims

1. A handler for an elongate item, comprising:

an arm which is adapted to be supported at one end,

the other end of the arm providing an elongate member support for receiving an elongate item and moving it axially from a first position along a first axis which is parallel to the elongate item into engagement with the elongate member support;

the elongate member support being rotatable on the radial arm about a second axis which is transverse to the first axis to enable the elongate item to be moved to an erect position; and

the one end of the arm bring mounted to enable movement of the elongate member about a third axis into a second position.

2. An elongate item handling apparatus comprising:

a base adapted to be fixed to a fixture,

an elongate member support having a first axis, the elongate member support comprising an engagement means adapted to engage an elongate item and support the elongate item such that it is parallel to the first axis and to move the elongate item into engagement with the elongate member support,

wherein the elongate member support is supported from the base to be rotatable about a second axis which is transverse to the first axis whereby the elongate item when supported from the elongate member support can be moved between an upright position and a substantially horizontal position,

the base being movable on the fixture between a first position located at a desired erect position of the elongate item and one or more positions clear of the first position, said elongate member support.

3. An elongate item handling apparatus as claimed at claim 2 wherein the fixture comprises a drilling rig having a drilling mast which is associated with a drill string located in a borehole and the elongate item comprises a length of drill rod and wherein the upright axis is substantially parallel to the axis of the drill string.

4. A drill rod handling device which in use is intended to be mounted adjacent a drilling mast which is associated with a drill string located in a borehole, the handling device comprising:

a base adapted to be supported from the drill rig; and

an elongate member support having a first axis and having an engagement means which is adapted to engage a length of drill rod such that the length of drill rod is parallel to the first axis and to move the length of drill rod longitudinally into and out of engagement with the elongate member support;

the elongate member support being supported from the base to be rotatable about a second axis transverse to the first axis whereby a length of drill rod when supported from the elongate member support can be moved between an upright position and a substantially horizontal position;

wherein the upright axis is substantially parallel to the axis of the drill string;

the base being movable relative to the drilling mast when the length of drill rod is in the erect position between a first position at which the length of drill rod is in substantial alignment with the drill string and one or more positions clear of the first position.

5. An drill rod handling device as claimed at claim 4 wherein the elongate member support comprises a set of clamp elements which are movable to be able to clampingly engage the length of drill rod and to be disengageable from the length of drill rod.

6. An drill rod handling device as claimed at claim 5 wherein the elongate member support further comprises an elongate extension, the engagement means being mounted to the extension to be movable along the extension towards and away form the clamp elements to cause the movement of the elongate item into engagement with the elongate member support respectively.

7. An drill rod handling device as claimed at claim 6 wherein the engagement member includes a clamping means to enable the engagement member to clampingly engage the elongate item.

8. An drill rod handling device as claimed at claim 4 wherein the elongate member support is rotatable on the base about the first axis and wherein the central axis of the length of drill rod when engaged by the elongate member support is spaced from the first axis.

9. An drill rod handling device as claimed at claim 4, wherein the base comprises a radial arm which supports the elongate member support towards one end and which adapted to be supported at its other end to be rotatable about a third axis which is substantially parallel to the drill string wherein the rotation of the radial arm about the third axis causes the movement of the length of drill rod between the first position and the one or more positions clear of the first position.

10. A drilling system comprising a drilling mast which is to be associated with drill string located in a bore hole and a drill rod handling device which in use is intended to be mounted adjacent the drilling mast, the handling device comprising:

a base adapted to be supported from the drill rig; and

an elongate member support having a first axis and having an engagement means which is adapted to engage a length of drill rod such that the length of drill rod is parallel to the first axis and to move the length of drill rod longitudinally into and out of engagement with the elongate member support;

the elongate member support being supported from the base to be rotatable about a second axis transverse to the first axis whereby a length of drill rod when supported from the elongate member support can be moved between an upright position and a substantially horizontal position;

wherein the upright axis is substantially parallel to the axis of the drill string;

the base being movable relative to the drilling mast when the length of drill rod is in the erect position between a first position at which the length of drill rod is in substantial alignment with the drill string and one or more positions clear of the first position.

11. A drilling system as claimed at claim 10 wherein the elongate member support comprises a set of clamp elements which are movable to be able to clampingly engage the length of drill rod and to be disengageable from the length of drill rod.

12. A drilling system as claimed at claim 11 wherein the elongate member support further comprises an elongate extension, the engagement means being mounted to the extension to be movable along the extension towards and away form the clamp elements to cause the movement of the elongate item into engagement with the elongate member support respectively.

13. A drilling system as claimed at claim 12 wherein the engagement member includes a clamping means to enable the engagement member to clampingly engage the elongate item.

14. A drilling system as claimed at claim 10 wherein the elongate member support is rotatable on the base about the first axis and wherein the central axis of the length of drill rod when engaged by the elongate member support is spaced from the first axis.

15. A drilling system as claimed at claim 10 wherein the base comprises a radial arm which supports the elongate member support towards one end and which adapted to be supported at its other end to be rotatable about a third axis which is substantially parallel to the drill string wherein the rotation of the radial arm about the third axis causes the movement of the length of drill rod between the first position and the one or more positions clear of the first position.

16. A method of installing lengths of a drill rod into a drill string associated with a drilling mast comprising:

providing a handler which engages a length of drill rod located beside the drilling mast by engaging the length of drill rod intermediate its length,

moving the length of drill rod axially such that an end portion is engaged by an elongate member support,

engaging the elongate member support with the lower end,

rotating the length of drill rod about an axis which is transverse to the axis of the length of drill rod to an erect position which is substantially parallel to the drill string,

moving the length of drill rod to a position at which it is aligned with the drill string and locating the length of drill rod into the drill string.

17. A method of removing a length of drill rod from a drill string associated with a drilling mast comprising:

providing a handler having an elongate member support which engages the uppermost length of drill rod of the drill string at a position towards the lower end of the length of drill rod,

moving the length of drill rod to a position at which it is clear of the drill sting and is located adjacent a desired position for the length of drill rod,

rotating the length of drill rod about an axis which is transverse to the axis of the length of drill rod to a substantially horizontal position beside the drilling mast,

moving the length of drill rod axially out of engagement with the elongate member support and

disengaging the length of drill rod from the handler.

18-21. -21. (canceled)