Remote control for a drilling machine
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system for moving a downhole tool along a subsurface path having an origination point, the system comprising:
- a drive assembly adapted to move the downhole tool, the drive assembly having an enabled mode, in which the drive assembly can actuate at least one kinematic component of downhole tool motion; and
a disabled mode, in which the drive assembly cannot actuate the same at least one kinematic component of downhole tool motion;
a tracking signal source disposed adjacent the downhole tool and adapted to generate and transmit a tracking data signal;
a signal system, positionable at a remote location from the origination point, comprising;
a tracking data detector adapted to detect the tracking data signal;
a remote enable signal generator adapted to generate a remote enable signal; and
a transmitter system adapted to relay the tracking data signal and the remote enable signal; and
a control system comprising;
a receiver system adapted to receive the remote enable and tracking data signal;
a control subsystem, adapted to control the drive assembly only while that assembly is in its enabled mode; and
a remote disable subsystem, responsive to the receiver system, which places the drive assembly in its disabled mode in response to a designated interruption in reception of the remote enable signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for remotely controlling a machine. A remote operator controls a tracking device including a signal system for selectively emitting a remote enable signal. The remote enable signal is relayed to a control system for the machine. The control system is proximate to the machine and is adapted to enable at least one action of the machine upon detecting the remote enable signal. The machine is also adapted to disable the same action of the drilling machine upon detecting an absence of the remote enable signal for a predetermined number of intervals, each interval being of a preselected duration.
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Citations
79 Claims
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1. A system for moving a downhole tool along a subsurface path having an origination point, the system comprising:
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a drive assembly adapted to move the downhole tool, the drive assembly having an enabled mode, in which the drive assembly can actuate at least one kinematic component of downhole tool motion; and
a disabled mode, in which the drive assembly cannot actuate the same at least one kinematic component of downhole tool motion;
a tracking signal source disposed adjacent the downhole tool and adapted to generate and transmit a tracking data signal;
a signal system, positionable at a remote location from the origination point, comprising;
a tracking data detector adapted to detect the tracking data signal;
a remote enable signal generator adapted to generate a remote enable signal; and
a transmitter system adapted to relay the tracking data signal and the remote enable signal; and
a control system comprising;
a receiver system adapted to receive the remote enable and tracking data signal;
a control subsystem, adapted to control the drive assembly only while that assembly is in its enabled mode; and
a remote disable subsystem, responsive to the receiver system, which places the drive assembly in its disabled mode in response to a designated interruption in reception of the remote enable signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A signal system for remotely controlling an action of a machine having a drive assembly operable by a control system between an enabled mode and a disabled mode, wherein the drive assembly is adapted to move a downhole tool operably connected to a tracking data signal source emitting a tracking data signal as the downhole tool is moved along a subsurface path from an origination point, the signal system comprising:
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a tracking data detector adapted to detect the tracking data signal;
a remote enable signal generator adapted to generate and transmit a remote enable signal; and
a transmitter system adapted to relay the remote enable signal and the tracking data signal, wherein the signal system is adapted to control the drive assembly only when it relays the remote enable signal to the control system. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A control system for a drive assembly of a machine adapted to control movement of a downhole tool along a subsurface path from an origination point in response to a remote enable signal received from a signal system at a location remote from the origination point, the control system comprising:
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a receiver system adapted to receive the remote enable signal;
a control subsystem adapted to control the drive assembly wherein the drive assembly is adapted to having;
an enable mode in which the drive assembly can actuate at least one kinematic component of the downhole tool motion;
a disabled mode in which the drive assembly cannot actuate the same at least one kinematic component of the downhole tool motion; and
wherein the control subsystem can only control the drive assembly while that system is in its enabled mode; and
a remote disable subsystem, responsive to the receiver system which places the drive assembly in its disabled mode in response to a designated interruption in reception of the remote enable signal. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A system comprising:
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a downhole tool;
a drive assembly adapted to move the downhole tool along a subsurface path from an origination point, the drive assembly having an enabled mode, in which the drive assembly can actuate at least one kinematic component of the downhole tool motion, and a disabled mode, in which the drive assembly cannot actuate the same at least one kinematic component of the downhole tool motion;
a signal system, positionable at a remote location from the origination point, comprising;
a remote enable signal generator adapted to generate a remote enable signal; and
a transmitter system adapted to relay the remote enable signal; and
a control system comprising;
a receiver system adapted to receive the remote enable signal;
a control subsystem, adapted to control the drive assembly only while that system is in its enabled mode;
a remote disable subsystem, responsive to the receiver system, which places the drive assembly in its disabled mode in response to a designated interruption in reception of the remote enable signal;
an override key which can be rendered inaccessible to personnel at the path origination site; and
an override lock system adapted to disable the remote disable system in response to actuation by the override key. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
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52. A system for moving a downhole tool along a subsurface path having an origination point, the system comprising:
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a drive assembly adapted to move the downhole tool, the drive assembly having;
an enabled mode, in which the drive assembly can actuate at least one kinematic component of the downhole tool motion; and
a disabled mode, in which the drive assembly cannot actuate the same at least one kinematic component of the downhole tool motion;
a signal system, positionable at a remote location from the origination point, comprising;
a remote enable signal generator adapted to generate a remote enable signal including an identification code selectable by a user of the system; and
a transmitter system adapted to relay the remote enable signal along with the identification code; and
a control system comprising;
a receiver system adapted to receive the remote enable signal, and distinguish that signal from those which lack the user selectable identification code and signal;
a control subsystem, adapted to control the drive assembly only while that assembly is in its enabled mode; and
a remote disable subsystem, responsive to the receiver system, which places the drive assembly in its disabled mode in response to a designated interruption in reception of the remote enable signal. - View Dependent Claims (53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65)
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66. A system comprising:
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a downhole tool;
a drive assembly adapted to move the downhole tool, the drive assembly having;
an enabled mode, in which the drive assembly can actuate at least one kinematic component of the downhole tool motion; and
a disabled mode, in which the drive assembly cannot actuate the same at least one kinematic component of the downhole tool motion;
a signal system, positionable at a remote location spaced from the origination point, comprising;
a remote enable signal generator adapted to generate a remote enable signal; and
a transmitter system adapted to relay the remote enable signal; and
a control system comprising;
a receiver system adapted to receive the remote enable signal;
a control subsystem, adapted to control the drive assembly only while that assembly is in its enabled mode; and
a remote disable subsystem, responsive to the receiver system, which places the drive assembly in its disabled mode in response to a designated interruption in reception of the remote enable signal; and
a remote feedback system adapted to signal the mode of the drive assembly to the remote location. - View Dependent Claims (67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73)
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74. A system for moving a downhole tool along a subsurface path having an origination point, the system comprising;
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a drive assembly adapted TO move the downhole tool, the drive assembly having an enabled mode, in which the drive assembly can actuate at least one kinematic component of downhole tool motion; and
a disabled mode, in which the drive assembly cannot actuate then same at least one kinematic component of downhole tool motion;
a signal system, positionable at a remote location from the origination point, comprising;
a remote enable signal generator adapted to generate a remote enable signal; and
a transmitter system adapted to relay the remote enable signal; and
a control system comprising;
a receiver system adapted to receive the remote enable signal;
a remote disable subsystem, responsive to the receiver system, which places the drive assembly in its disabled mode in response to a designated interruption in reception of the remote enable signal; and
a control subsystem, adapted to control the drive assembly in response to a control input from the origination point; and
an override lock system having an actuated mode, in which the control subsystem is rendered unresponsive to the control input from the origination point, and a deactuated mode in which the control subsystem is rendered responsive to such input. - View Dependent Claims (75, 76, 77, 78, 79)
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Specification