Electronic control system for drilling devices

• US 8,406,927 B2
• Filed: 08/27/2010
• Issued: 03/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Soilmec SpA (Trevi-Finanziaria Industriale SPA)
• Original Assignee: Soilmec SpA (Trevi-Finanziaria Industriale SPA)
• Inventors: Fontana, Pietro, Antonelli, Alberto
• Primary Examiner(s): KINKEAD, ARNOLD M
• Application Number:
  US12/870,553
• Publication Number:
  US 20110050453A1
• Time in Patent Office: 942 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.14, 700/266, 702/9, 702/250.01, 702/50
• US Class Current: 700/266
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 44/00 Automatic control systems specially adapted for drilling operations, i.e. self-operating systems which function to carry out or modify a drilling operation without intervention of a human operator, e.g. computer-controlled drilling systems; Systems specially adapted for monitoring a plurality of drilling variables or conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0421 Multiprocessor system
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/14132 Dual plc, each monitors other
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/24189 Redundant processors monitor same point, common parameters

Abstract

An electronic control system for drilling devices, includes at least one pair of data-processing units (2a, 2b); a plurality of data-exchange lines, connected to the data-processing units (2a, 2b) for transmission of signals from and to control devices (4a-4c) of the drilling device; and accessories (5, 9) proper to the drilling device. Each of the data-processing units (2a, 2b) is redundant by the others with one and the same level of hierarchy, and all the data-processing units (2a, 2b) are connected to all the control devices (4a-4c) and to the accessories (5, 9) proper to the drilling device through the electronic data-exchange lines that are redundant in a number equal to the multiplicity of the data-processing units (2a, 2b).

Claims

1. Electronic control system for drilling devices, said system comprising:

a plurality of data-processing units;

a plurality of data-exchange lines, connected to said data-processing units for the transmission of signals from and to;

a plurality of control devices of said drilling device;

a plurality of accessories for the drilling device;

an electronic data-management unit, electrically connected to said plurality of data-processing units;

the data-management unit comprising a memory stored in which there are at least one of information and operating parameters of said accessories and each of the units of said plurality of data-processing units is redundant by the other data-processing units at a same level of hierarchy.

2. System according to claim 1, wherein all the data-processing units are connected to all the control devices and to the accessories of said drilling device through said electronic data-exchange lines redundant in number equal to the plurality of said data-processing units.

3. System according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of switches;

said switches being connected to said data-processing units with said control devices, to said devices of the drilling device, and to said data-management unit;

each of the switches having;

a first port connected through a data-transmission line to said data-management unit, said control devices, and said devices of the drilling device, respectively; and

a plurality of ports, different from said first port, each connected to one of the data-processing units.

4. System according to claim 3, wherein said plurality of data-processing units is connected to said data-management unit through a first switch, and wherein said devices of said drilling device are connected to said data-processing units through a second switch and a third switch.

5. System according to claim 2, wherein said plurality of data-processing units is connected to, and exchanges data with, at least one endothermic motor of said drilling device.

6. System according to claim 3, wherein said plurality of data-processing units has a respective port for said connection to, and exchange of data with, said endothermic motor, and wherein said endothermic motor is electrically connected to said plurality of data-processing units via a fourth switch.

7. System according to claim 1, wherein said control devices are configurable by the user in a number of different configurations that comprise at least:

a first, standard, configuration; and

a second configuration, in which at least some of said control devices of said devices are subject to an assignment different from said first standard configuration;

said assignment being managed by said data-management unit.

8. System according to claim 7, wherein said assignment is managed automatically from said data-management unit by said information contained in the memory of said data-management unit.

9. System according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of concentration nodes adapted to concentrate a number of data-transmission lines directly connected to said control devices of the drilling device of a single transmission line.

10. System according to claim 2, wherein said data-management unit comprises input/output ports for the connection of external storage devices, which contain data-interchange parameters for the accessories that can be installed on said drilling device.

11. System according to claim 7, wherein said data-management unit further comprises storage means, which contain video representations of instructions for the use and maintenance of the drilling device and of instructions for the choice of the preferred configuration of the control devices that are replaced.

12. System according to claim 10, further comprising an image-display or monitor device, electrically connected to said data-management unit;

said monitor showing to a user;

said video representations of instructions; and

/or

operating parameters of said drilling device and/or of its accessories.

13. System according to claim 11, wherein said monitor is a touch-screen.

14. System according to claim 3, further comprising an electronic radio communication stage;

said electronic radio communication stage being electrically connected to, and exchanging data with, the first switch.

15. System according to claim 1, wherein the two data-processing units are configured with mutual connections that reduce a mean time to failure following upon a failure that has occurred on a unit of said plurality of data-processing units.