Cartridge tubular handling system

• US 20110091304A1
• Filed: 10/16/2009
• Published: 04/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Friede & Goldman United B.V.
• Original Assignee: Friede & Goldman Marketing BV (China Communications Construction Company Limited)
• Inventors: Holsberg, Daniel B., Norton, Calvin Vinal, Tetley, Paul Stephen
• Granted Patent: US 8,215,888 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 414/22.62
• CPC Class Codes: B41F 15/0872 for printing on articles having essentially cylindrical surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B41F 17/20 on articles of uniform cross-section, e.g. pencils, rulers, resistors
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 19/14 Racks, ramps, troughs or bins, for holding the lengths of rod singly or connected; Handling between storage place and borehole E21B19/20, E21B19/22 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 19/15 Racking of rods in horizontal position; Handling between horizontal and vertical position
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 414/112 Group formed or dispensed by reversible apparatus

Abstract

A cartridge of tubulars may be removably positioned with a carriage, and the carriage may move the cartridge transversely, vertically, and/or rotationally to roll tubulars on an adjacent tubular receiving member using only gravity from a selected tier of tubulars without human contact. A single trolley disposed with the tubular receiving member both pushes and pulls tubulars toward or away from the drilling deck.

Claims

1. A tubular handling system, comprising:

a tubular receiving member;

a carriage support member, said carriage support member disposed relative to said tubular receiving member; and

a carriage comprising;

a carriage first member,

a carriage second member movable relative to said carriage first member, and

a carriage third member movable relative to said carriage second member;

wherein said carriage first member moveable relative to said carriage support member, said carriage moveable between a first tubular tier position and a second tubular tier position;

wherein in said second tubular tier position said carriage positioned farther away from said tubular receiving member than in said first tubular tier position;

wherein in said second tubular tier position said carriage second member positioned closer to said carriage first member than in said first tubular tier position; and

wherein said carriage third member moveable relative to said carriage second member, said carriage third member moveable between a neutral position to an inclined position to move a tubular to said tubular receiving member.

2. The tubular handling system of claim 1 further comprising:

a replaceable cartridge removably disposed with said carriage third member.

3. The tubular handling system of claim 2 wherein said cartridge having a first tier of tubulars and a second tier of tubulars.

4. The tubular handling system of claim 1 wherein said tubular receiving member having a trolley.

5. The tubular handling system of claim 1 wherein said carriage having a plurality of wheels, said plurality of carriage wheels rolling on said carriage support member.

6. The tubular handling system of claim 1 further comprising:

a carriage first member hydraulic cylinder coupled to said carriage for moving said carriage between said first tubular tier position and said second tubular tier position.

7. The tubular handling system of claim 1 further comprising:

a carriage second member hydraulic cylinder for moving said carriage second member between said first tubular tier position and said second tubular tier position.

8. The tubular handling system of claim 1 wherever said neutral position is a substantially horizontal position parallel to said carriage second member, said system further comprising:

a carriage third member hydraulic cylinder for moving said carnage third member between said substantially horizontal position and said inclined position.

9. The tubular handling system of claim 1, wherein said tubular receiving member comprising:

a tubular indexing system comprising a first indexing member and a second indexing member, wherein said first indexing member and said second indexing member being independently moveable for blocking the rolling of a tubular while allowing a selected tubular to roll from said cartridge, wherein said tubular indexing system being moveably attached with said tubular receiving member to move between a loading and unloading position.

10. A tubular storage and handling system for holding a plurality of tubulars, comprising:

a cartridge having a first tier support member for supporting a first tier of tubulars;

said cartridge having a first tier opening to allow tubulars to roll from said cartridge first tier supporting member; and

a first tubular retaining member positioned with said first tier opening and moveable between a blocking position to block tubulars from moving through said first tier opening, and an unblocked position to allow tubulars to move through said first tier opening.

11. The tubular storage and handling system of claim 10 wherein said first tubular retaining member is a remotely operable retractable pin.

12. The tubular storage and handling system of claim 10 further comprising:

said cartridge having a second tier support member for supporting a second tier of tubulars;

said cartridge having a second tier opening to allow tubulars to roll from said cartridge second tier support member; and

a second tubular retaining member positioned with said second tier opening and moveable between a blocking position to block tubulars from moving through said second tier opening, and an unblocked position to allow tubulars to move through said second tier opening, wherein said second tubular retaining member being a remotely operable retractable pin.

13. A method for loading a plurality of tubulars from a cartridge to a tubular receiving member, comprising the steps of:

removably positioning a cartridge with a tiltable structural member;

tilting said cartridge to an angle so that the tubulars roll towards a cartridge opening; and

unblocking a first tubular on a first tier of said cartridge to allow the first tubular to roll through said cartridge opening to the tubular receiving member independent of a mechanical tubular moving member.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising the steps of

moving a carriage supporting said cartridge away from said tubular receiving member;

moving said carriage so that a second tier of tubulars on said cartridge is substantially aligned with said tubular receiving member so that said second tier tubulars are in position to roll; and

unblocking a first tubular on said cartridge second tier to allow said first tubular on said cartridge second tier to roll onto said tubular receiving member.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the steps of moving said carriage are performed simultaneously.

16. Apparatus for use with a track to move a tubular, comprising:

a trolley having a shoulder member for pushing the tubular in a direction parallel to the track;

a trolley arm moveably coupled to said trolley, said trolley arm moveable between a released position disengaged from the tubular and a pulling position for moving the tubular in a direction opposite to said trolley pushing direction; and

a release device for moving said trolley arm to said released position when said trolley is at a predetermined position on the track.

17. Apparatus of claim 16, further comprising a tubular receiving member, wherein the track said trolley moves on is positioned below said tubular receiving member.

18. Apparatus of claim 16 wherein said trolley arm is pivotable coupled to said trolley member.

19. Apparatus of claim 17, further comprising a ramp member disposed on said tubular receiving member wherein said release device comprising:

a dog member disposed with said trolley arm, wherein when said dog member contacts said ramp member said trolley arm is moved to said released position.

20. Apparatus of claim 17 further comprising a position indicator device disposed with the track for indicating the position of said trolley at said predetermined position on the track, wherein said release device comprising:

an actuator for receiving a signal from said position indicator device to activate said trolley arm to move from said pulling position to said released position.

21. Apparatus of claim 16 wherein said trolley arm having a gripper so that when said trolley arm is in said pulling position said trolley arm gripper engaging the tubular to move tubular on the track.