Pinned structural connection using a pin and plug arrangement
First Claim
1. A system, comprising:
- a drilling rig mast comprising at least one support leg;
a drilling rig mast support comprising at least one mast support shoe; and
a pinned connection between said at least one support leg and said at least one mast support shoe, said pinned connection comprising;
a pin;
an oversized hole comprising at least a first hole portion; and
a removable plug that is adapted to be inserted into said oversized hole, wherein said removable plug comprises at least a first plug surface portion, and wherein said first hole portion and said first plug surface portion define at least part of a pin hole that is adapted to receive said pin.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Generally, the subject matter disclosed herein is directed to, among other things, systems and methods for making up pivotably pinned structural connections that may be used for erecting drilling rig masts. One illustrative system includes a drilling rig mast having at least one support leg, a drilling rig mast support having at least one mast support shoe, and a pinned connection between the at least one support leg and the at least one mast support shoe. Additionally, the pinned connection of the disclosed system includes a pin, an oversized hole having at least a first hole portion, and a removable plug that is adapted to be inserted into the oversized hole, wherein the removable plug has at least a first plug surface portion, and wherein the first hole portion and the first plug surface portion define at least part of a pin hole that is adapted to receive the pin.
124 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A system, comprising:
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a drilling rig mast comprising at least one support leg; a drilling rig mast support comprising at least one mast support shoe; and a pinned connection between said at least one support leg and said at least one mast support shoe, said pinned connection comprising; a pin; an oversized hole comprising at least a first hole portion; and a removable plug that is adapted to be inserted into said oversized hole, wherein said removable plug comprises at least a first plug surface portion, and wherein said first hole portion and said first plug surface portion define at least part of a pin hole that is adapted to receive said pin. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A system, comprising:
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a drilling rig mast comprising at least one mast section, wherein said at least one mast section comprises at least one support leg, and said at least one support leg comprises a first pin hole having a substantially circular shape; a drilling rig mast support comprising at least one mast support shoe, wherein said at least one mast support shoe comprises an oversized hole, and said oversized hole comprises at least a first hole portion having a substantially circular shape; a pin that is adapted to pivotably attach said at least one support leg to said at least one support shoe, wherein said pin has a substantially circular cross section and is adapted to be inserted into said first pin hole and said oversized hole, and wherein said pin and is further adapted to be positioned adjacent to said first hole portion; and a removable plug that is adapted to be inserted into said oversized hole and is further adapted to maintain said position of said pin adjacent to said first hole portion, wherein said removable plug comprises at least a first plug surface portion that is adapted to be positioned adjacent to said pin, wherein said first hole portion and said first plug surface portion define at least part of a second pin hole having a substantially circular shape, and wherein said second pin hole is adapted to receive said pin. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method, comprising:
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positioning a support leg of at least one mast section of a drilling rig mast proximate a mast support shoe of a drilling rig support; aligning a first substantially circular pin hole of said support leg with an oversized hole of said mast support shoe, wherein said oversized hole comprises at least a first hole portion having a substantially circular shape; and pivotably attaching said support leg to said mast support shoe by inserting a pin having a substantially circular cross section into said aligned holes, positioning said pin adjacent to said first hole portion, and inserting a removable plug into said oversized hole so as to substantially maintain said position of said pin adjacent to said first hole portion, wherein said removable plug comprises at least a first plug surface portion, and wherein said first hole portion and said first plug surface portion define a second substantially circular pin hole that is adapted to receive said pin. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification