Method and system for controlling tongs make-up speed and evaluating and controlling torque at the tongs
First Claim
1. A method for controlling the speed of a set of tongs during a make-up comprising the steps of:
- accepting at a processor a target speed for rod make-up;
conducting the make-up of a rod with the tongs;
receiving an actual tong speed at the processor from a speed sensing device during the make-up process;
determining at the processor if the actual tong speed is within a predetermined range of the target speed during the make-up process; and
automatically adjusting the actual tong speed to be within the predetermined range of the target speed based on a determination by the processor that the actual tong speed data is not within a predetermined range of the target speed.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Make-up speed for a tongs drive system is monitored and controlled to maintain the speed within a limited target range either throughout the make-up process or during the final portion of the make-up process, thereby improving make-up consistency and allowing for improved evaluation or torque during the make-up process. An encoder generates speed and position data during the make-up process. The speed data is compared to a target speed, which is based on rod and/or tongs characteristics. If the speed does not match the target speed or is not within a range of the target speed, a signal is transmitted to the tongs drive to adjust the speed accordingly. Furthermore, position data from the encoder, or other position sensors, provide position data for the rod during the make-up process to limit or vary the speed control parameters during different portions of the make-up process.
65 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for controlling the speed of a set of tongs during a make-up comprising the steps of:
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accepting at a processor a target speed for rod make-up; conducting the make-up of a rod with the tongs; receiving an actual tong speed at the processor from a speed sensing device during the make-up process; determining at the processor if the actual tong speed is within a predetermined range of the target speed during the make-up process; and automatically adjusting the actual tong speed to be within the predetermined range of the target speed based on a determination by the processor that the actual tong speed data is not within a predetermined range of the target speed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for controlling the speed of a set of tongs during a make-up, comprising the steps of:
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accepting at a processor a target speed for rod make-up initiating a tongs drive to rotate the rod at a first speed; determining with the processor if the rod is within a predetermined distance of a shoulder; automatically adjusting the tongs drive with the processor to rotate the tongs at a second speed based on a positive determination that the rod is within a predetermined distance of the shoulder, the second speed being slower than the first speed; receiving actual tongs speed data; determining if the actual tongs speed data is within a predetermined range of the target speed; and automatically adjusting the second speed at the tongs drive to be within the predetermined range of the target speed based on a determination that the actual tongs speed data is not within a predetermined range of the target speed. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification