Drilling rig masts and methods of assembly and erection
First Claim
1. A system for erecting a drilling rig mast, the system comprising:
- a substructure comprising a mast connection, a first substructure subassembly, and a second substructure subassembly that is adapted to be positioned laterally adjacent to and spaced apart from said first substructure subassembly so as to define an open area therebetween and an opening between adjacent ends thereof, said open area being adapted to at least partially receive a wheeled mast moving apparatus that is used to move a mast section through said opening and adjacent to said mast connection;
a bottom mast section comprising a first connection apparatus positioned at an upper end thereof and a bottom connection apparatus positioned at a lower end thereof, said bottom connection apparatus being adapted to be pivotably connected to said mast connection, wherein said bottom mast section is adapted to be moved through said opening and positioned at least partially within said open area; and
a second mast section comprising a second connection apparatus positioned at a lower end thereof, wherein said first connection apparatus is adapted to engage with and be removably connected to said second connection apparatus when said bottom mast section is pivotably rotated about said mast connection.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for erecting a drilling rig mast includes a substructure having an open area that is defined therein by two laterally spaced-apart substructure sides and a first mast section that is adapted to be positioned at least partially within the open area of the substructure after the first mast section has been removably connected to the substructure. The system further includes, among other things, a second mast section that is adapted to be removably connected to the first mast section the said first mast section has been removably connected to the substructure, and a mast connection apparatus that is adapted to removably connect the second mast section to the first mast section when an upper end of the first mast section is raised relative to a lower end of the second mast section.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for erecting a drilling rig mast, the system comprising:
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a substructure comprising a mast connection, a first substructure subassembly, and a second substructure subassembly that is adapted to be positioned laterally adjacent to and spaced apart from said first substructure subassembly so as to define an open area therebetween and an opening between adjacent ends thereof, said open area being adapted to at least partially receive a wheeled mast moving apparatus that is used to move a mast section through said opening and adjacent to said mast connection; a bottom mast section comprising a first connection apparatus positioned at an upper end thereof and a bottom connection apparatus positioned at a lower end thereof, said bottom connection apparatus being adapted to be pivotably connected to said mast connection, wherein said bottom mast section is adapted to be moved through said opening and positioned at least partially within said open area; and a second mast section comprising a second connection apparatus positioned at a lower end thereof, wherein said first connection apparatus is adapted to engage with and be removably connected to said second connection apparatus when said bottom mast section is pivotably rotated about said mast connection. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A system for erecting a drilling rig mast, the system comprising:
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a substructure having an open area therein that is partially defined by two laterally spaced-apart substructure subassemblies, wherein said open area is adapted to at least partially receive a wheeled mast moving apparatus that is used to move a mast section adjacent to said substructure; a first mast section that is adapted to be moved by said wheeled mast moving apparatus through an opening defined by adjacent ends of said two laterally spaced-apart substructure subassemblies, said first mast section being further adapted to be positioned at least partially within said open area of said substructure after said first mast section has been removably connected to said substructure, a second mast section that is adapted to be removably connected to said first mast section after said first mast section has been removably connected to said substructure; and a mast connection apparatus that is adapted to removably connect said second mast section to said first mast section when an upper end of said first mast section is raised relative to a lower end of said second mast section. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification