Mousehole tubular retention system
First Claim
1. A tubular retention system, comprising:
- an external support structure having a longitudinal axis and surrounding an open center configured to receive a tubular;
a plurality of load bearing plates each comprising a die, the plurality of load bearing plates each being coupled to the external support structure via respective upper links and respective lower links and moveable to accommodate a plurality of tubular diameters, each upper link being connected to an upper portion of each one of the plurality of load bearing plates, each lower link being connected, separately from the upper link, to a lower portion of each one of the plurality of load bearing plates; and
a biasing system configured to impart a force on the plurality of load bearing plates, the plurality of load bearing plates moveable relatively inward toward a center of the external support structure in response to the force until each respective die engages respective surfaces of the tubular along a circumference of the tubular, a weight of the tubular being transferred via the upper and lower links of each load bearing plate to the external support structure.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The systems, devices, and methods described herein describe a tubular retention system arranged over a mousehole. The tubular retention system includes load bearing plates that are mutually opposed, vertically aligned, and connected to an eternal support structure via upper and lower links that, together, form a parallelogram shape movable to engage tubulars of varying diameters. The load bearing plates are pulled down by a biasing system to engage the tubular and synchronized by a lifting ring connecting the load bearing plates together. Mutually opposing deflector plates are connected to the load bearing plates and move in response to the downward movement of the load bearing plates, providing a centering force against the tubular to assure proper retention once the load bearing links engage the tubular. An upward force enables the load bearing plates to return upward and outward to release the tubular.
27 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A tubular retention system, comprising:
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an external support structure having a longitudinal axis and surrounding an open center configured to receive a tubular; a plurality of load bearing plates each comprising a die, the plurality of load bearing plates each being coupled to the external support structure via respective upper links and respective lower links and moveable to accommodate a plurality of tubular diameters, each upper link being connected to an upper portion of each one of the plurality of load bearing plates, each lower link being connected, separately from the upper link, to a lower portion of each one of the plurality of load bearing plates; and a biasing system configured to impart a force on the plurality of load bearing plates, the plurality of load bearing plates moveable relatively inward toward a center of the external support structure in response to the force until each respective die engages respective surfaces of the tubular along a circumference of the tubular, a weight of the tubular being transferred via the upper and lower links of each load bearing plate to the external support structure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A tubular retention system, comprising:
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an external support structure surrounding an open center configured to receive a tubular; a plurality of load bearing plates movable to accommodate a plurality of tubular diameters, each load bearing plate comprising a die configured to engage respective surfaces of the tubular along a circumference of the tubular; an upper link coupled to an upper portion of each load bearing plate at a first end of the upper link and a first section of the external support structure at a second end; and a lower link coupled separately from the upper link to a lower portion of each load bearing plate at a first end of the lower link and a second section below the first section of the external support structure at a second end of the lower link, each upper link, lower link, inside surface of the external support structure, and load bearing plate forming approximately a parallelogram in relation to each other, the lengths of the upper and lower links being sized so that a weight of the tubular being transferred via the upper and lower links of each load bearing plate to the external support structure. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for retaining a tubular having any one of a plurality of diameters, comprising:
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receiving the tubular in an open center of an external support structure; exerting, by a biasing system, a force on a plurality of load bearing plates coupled via upper and lower links to the external support structure, each upper link being connected to an upper portion of each one of the plurality of load bearing plates, each lower link being connected, separately from the upper link, to a lower portion of each one of the plurality of load bearing plates, the plurality of load bearing plates moveable relatively inward toward the tubular at the open center of the external support structure in response to the downward force to accommodate the plurality of tubular diameters; engaging, by a die on each respective load bearing plate, respective surfaces of the tubular along a circumference of the tubular in response to the downward and inward movement; and maintaining the tubular in place by transferring a weight of the tubular via the upper and lower links to the external support structure. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification