Shifting apparatus for a drawworks transmission

• US 4,683,994 A
• Filed: 04/12/1985
• Issued: 08/04/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dresser Industries Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Original Assignee: IRI International Corporation (National Oilwell Varco Incorporated)
• Inventors: Weisenfelder, Carl H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bonck, Rodney H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US06/722,887
• Time in Patent Office: 844 Days
• Field of Search: 192/48.91, 192/85 C, 192/87.14, 192/87.18, 192/87.19, 192/0.094, 192/114 R, 192/3.51, 192/145, 192/12 C, 192/361, 254/358, 254/365, 254/311, 254/317, 74/475
• US Class Current: 192/3.61
• CPC Class Codes: B66D 1/14 Power transmissions between power sources and drums or barrels including brakes, one-way brakes, one-way clutches, clutches activated alternately with brakes, fixed ratio gearing unless otherwise provided for in B66D1/16 - B66D1/24
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 19/008 Winding units, specially adapted for drilling operations

Abstract

Drawworks transmission shifting apparatus is described that provides an arrangement of control valves, cylinders, clutches and brakes which permit the rig operator to shift the drawworks transmission into the desired setting and to lock the transmission in those positions by the use of remotely controlled pneumatically powered cylinders.

Claims

1. Improved shifting apparatus for a drawworks transmission wherein said drawworks is the driven element driven by at least one engine which is the drive element, said engine having a remotely actuated engine clutch and includes a remotely actuated drawworks brake, said improved shifting apparatus comprising in combination:

a rotatable transmission shaft operatively connected with one of said elements;

means journaling said shaft;

a clutch member mounted for limited axial movement on said shaft and rotatable therewith;

a low speed input member rotatable on said shaft adjacent to said clutch member, said low speed input member including a clutch portion engageable with said clutch member and being operably connected with said other element;

a high speed input member rotatable on said shaft adjacent to said clutch member, said high speed clutch member also including clutch portion engageable with said clutch member and being operably connected with said other element;

shift means for moving said clutch member from a first position wherein said clutch member is not engaging either clutch portion, to a second position wherein said clutch member engages the clutch portion on said low speed input member to drive said drawworks at a speed, and to a third position wherein said clutch member engages the clutch portion on said high speed input member to drive said drawworks at a relatively higher speed;

retainer means actuatable between a released position permitting said shift means to move said clutch member between said three positions and a retaining position for retaining said clutch member in each of said three positions;

means for actuating said retainer means between said released position and said retaining position independent of the shift means;

said shift means including;

a lever having one end operably connected to said clutch member;

means pivotally supporting said lever; and

a cylinder connected to said lever for pivoting said lever to shift said clutch member among said positions;

wherein said retainer means includes cylinder actuated means for engaging said lever when said clutch member is in each said position when the retainer means is in the retaining position to prevent the lever from pivoting.

2. The shifting apparatus of claim 1 wherein said cylinder actuated means includes:

a first double acting fluid activated cylinder carrying a lock member for engaging and retaining said lever in each said position; and

a pair of opposed fluid activated cylinders for positioning and retaining said lever with the clutch member in said first position.

3. The shifting apparatus of claim 2 wherein said lever has a plurality of holes sized to receive said lock member for positively retaining said lever in said positions.

4. The shifting apparatus of claim 3 and also including control means operably connected with said remotely actuated clutch, brake, shift means and retainer means for cooperatively actuating each.

5. The shifting apparatus of claim 4 wherein said control means includes:

a clutch control valve for actuating said engine clutch;

brake control valve means for actuating said brake, actuating said retainer means, and deactivating said engine clutch; and

,

a shift control valve for actuating said shift means to move said clutch member through said positions.

6. Improved shifting apparatus for a drawworks transmission wherein said drawworks is the driven element driven by at least one engine which is the drive element, said engine having a remotely actuated engine clutch and includes a remotely actuated drawworks brake, said improved shifting apparatus comprising in combination:

a rotatable transmission shaft operatively connected to one of said elments;

means journaling said shaft;

a clutch member mounted for limited axial movement on said shaft and rotatable therewith;

a low speed input member rotatable on said shaft adjacent to said cluth member, said low speed input member including a clutch portion engageable with said clutch member and being operably connected with said other element;

a high speed input member, rotatable on said shaft adjacent to said clutch member, said high speed clutch member also including a clutch portion engageable with said clutchmember and being operably connected with said other element;

shift means for moving said clutch member from a first position wherein said clutchmember is not engaging either clutch portion, to a second position wherein said clutch member engages the clutch portion on said low speed input member to drive said drawworks at a speed, and to a third position wherein said clutch member engages the clutch portion on said high speed input member to drive said drawworks at a relatively higher speed;

retainer means for retaining said shift means in each of said three positions;

control means operably connected with said remotely actuated clutch, brake, shift means and retainer means for cooperatively actuating each;

said control means including;

a clutch control valve for actuating said engine clutch;

brake control valve means for actuating said brake, actuating said retainer means, and deactivating said engine clutch; and

a shift control valve for actuating said shift means to move said clutch member through said positions;

said brake control valve means including;

a normally open, pilot actuated clutch exhaust valve operably located between said clutch control valve and said clutch;

a normally open, pilot actuated retainer means exhaust valve operably connected with said retainer means; and

a brake control valve for directing fluid to said brake to set said brake, to said retainer means exhuast valve for closing said retainer means exhaust valve releasing said retainer means, to said clutch exhaust valve to close said clutch exhaust valve to release said engine clutch, and to said retainer means for releasing said retainer means whereby said shift means can move said clutch member.

7. Improved shifting apparatus for a drawworks transmission wherein said drawworks is the driven element driven by at least one engine which is the drive element, said engine having a remotely actuated engine clutch and includes a remotely actuated drawworks brake, said improved shifting apparatus comprising in combination:

a rotatable transmission shaft operatively connected with one of said elements;

means journaling said shaft;

a clutch member mounted for limited axial movement on said shaft and rotatable therewith;

a low speed member rotatable on said shaft adjacent to said clutch member, said low speed input member including a clutch portion engageable with said clutch member and being operably connected with said other element;

a high speed input member rotatable on said shaft adjacent to said clutch member, said high speed clutch member also including a clutch portion engageable with said clutch member and being operably connected with said other element;

shift means for moving said clutch member from a first position wherein said clutch member is not engaging either clutch portion, to a second position wherein said clutch member engages the clutch portion on said low speed input member to drive said drawworks at a speed, and to a third position wherein said clutch member engages the clutch portion on said high speed input member to drive said drawworks at a relatively higher speed;

retainer means for retaining said shift means in each of said three positions;

said shift means including;

a lever having one end operably connected to said clutch member;

means pivotally supporting said lever; and

a cylinder connected to said lever for pivoting said lever to shift said clutch member among said positions;

said retainer means including cylinder actuated means for engaging said lever when said clutch member is in each said position, said cylinder actuated means including;

a first cylinder carrying a lock member for engaging and retaining said lever in each said position; and

a pair of opposed cylinders for positioning and retaining said lever in said first position;

said lever having a plurality of holes sized to receive said lock member for positively retaining said lever in said positions;

control means operably connected with said remotely actuated clutch, brake, shift means and retainer means for cooperatively actuated each, said control means including;

a clutch control valve for actuating said engine clutch;

brake control valve means for actuating said brake, actuating said retainer means, and deactivating said engine clutch; and

a shift control valve for actuating said shift means to move said clutch member through said positions;

said brake control valve means including;

a normally open, pilot actuated clutch exhaust valve operably located between said clutch control valve and said clutch;

a normally open, pilot actuated retainer means exhaust valve operably connected with said retainer means; and

a brake control valve for directing fluid to said brake to set said brake, to said retainer means exhaust valve for closing said retainer means exhaust valve releasing said retainer means, to said clutch exhaust valve to close said clutch exhaust valve to release said engine clutch, and to said retainer means for releasing said retainer means whereby said shift means can move said clutch member.

8. Improved control apparatus for shiftable drawworks transmission providing neutral, low speed, and high speed positions, the transmission having a brake and being driven by an engine having a clutch, said control apparatus comprising:

retainer means for holding said transmission in each of reach position;

a clutch control valve for actuating the engine clutch;

brake control valve means for actuating said brake, actuating said retainer means, and deactivating said engine clutch;

shift means for placing said transmission in one of said positions;

shift control valve means for actuating said shift means;

said brake control valve means including;

a normally open, pilot actuated clutch exhaust valve operably located between said clutch control valve and said clutch;

a normally open, pilot actuated retainer means exhaust valve operably connected with said retainer means; and

,

a brake control valve for directing fluid to said brake to set said brake, to said retainer means exhaust valve for closing said retainer means exhaust valve releasing said retainer means, to said clutch exhaust valve to close said clutch exhaust valve to release said engine clutch, and to said retainer means for releasing said retaining means whereby said shift means can move said clutch member.

9. The control appratus of claim 8 wherein said shift means includes:

a first cylinder for shifting said transmission between said low speed and high speed positions; and

,

second and third cylinders for shifting transmission to said neutral position.

10. The control apparatus of claim 9 wherein said shift means also includes means for limiting the travel of said first cylinder thereby locating said transmission in said high speed and low speed positions.