WO2014177498A2

WO2014177498A2 - Machine for maniupulating pipes

Info

Publication number: WO2014177498A2
Application number: PCT/EP2014/058561
Authority: WO
Inventors: Rune RISHOLT; Jerzy TERESZKIEWICZ; Gjerulf Ottersland
Original assignee: Aker Mh As
Priority date: 2013-04-30
Filing date: 2014-04-28
Publication date: 2014-11-06
Also published as: WO2014177498A3; GB2527965A; GB201515957D0; NO20130591A1; US20160075344A1

Abstract

A column machine (1), and a method for the operation thereof, wherein the column machine stands on a deck (10), the deck (10) comprising at least one rack (7), at least one protective cover (6) in connection with the rack (7) and at least one first and second rail (3a, 3b), wherein the column machine (1) comprises an upper carriage (9) connected to at least one upper movable device (13, 14a, 14b), and further a lower carriage (2), the lower carriage (2) comprising at least two tracks (16a, 16b) for cooperation with the at least first and second rails (3a, 3b) and at least one drive wheel (4) for movement along the at least one rack (7), which at least one drive wheel (4) is arranged substantially in the vertical plane of the column machine (1) and extending parallel relative to the longitudinal direction of the at least first and second rail (3a, 3b), and wherein the lower carriage (2) further comprises a protection holder (5), which protection holder (5) uncovers the rack (7) in an area close to the at least one drive wheel (4), whereby the other areas of the rack (7) are covered by the protective cover (6), a column (12) being arranged between the upper and the lower carriage (9, 2).

Description

Machine for manipulating pipes

The invention relates to a column machine which, for example, can be used on an offshore or onshore platform. The column machine is useful in connection with moving pipes, such as drill pipes, between different stations on a platform. The moving of pipes can be carried out between a fingerboard, the pipe storage location and a well centre in/close to the drilling derrick. The expression 'column machine' according to the invention should be understood as a machine comprising a substantially vertical column with appropriate equipment for e.g. pipe handling.

Background of the invention

Column machines are known in the technical field for moving pipes around on a drill floor. They usually consist of a column that extends between an upper and a lower carriage, which upper and lower carriages run in parallel on rails arranged on the drill floor and in connection with the drilling derrick. Usually, a toothed wheel connected to the lower carriage of the column machine lies in a horizontal plane and is arranged in a depression in the drill floor for cooperation with a rack in the deck for movement of the lower carriage which moves the column machine. This results in the depression being both broad and deep, with a danger of personnel stumbling into the depression and injuring themselves. The upper carriage, with an associated vertical column, is typically suspended from the drilling derrick such that the derrick takes up the weight of the column machine and any pipes in the process of being moved.

The prior art comprises, among other documents, US 4765401 , WO 01/36783 Al and EP 0832829 Al .

US 4765401 describes an apparatus for vertical handling of well pipes. Guiding means are arranged at the top and the bottom with separate motors, gears, transmissions and racks for ensuring advance in unison. Furthermore, the apparatus is configured with two pairs of tracks or rails and one toothed wheel per rail pair, and two portions on either side of the rack.

WO 01/36783 Al shows an example of a protective cover for a pipe racking system. The protective cover is movable. One end of the protective cover is connected to the pipe racking system mechanism which moves along the track. The other end is spooled onto a drum, which drum has a motor. The motor controls the drum on the basis of the movement of the pipe racking system on the track, whereby the protective cover is rolled out or taken in on the drum, so as to cover/uncover the track along which the pipe racking system moves. It is further disclosed that there may be a drum with a protective cover on both sides of the pipe racking system. EP 0832829 Al shows another solution for a protective cover to prevent objects from falling into the track. The cover is made of two halves that extend over a channel and lie edge to edge in the middle.

There is a need for an improved column machine system that reduces or minimises some of the disadvantages associated with the prior art.

More specifically, the invention seeks to prevent injury to persons.

This is achieved by the invention as defined in the independent claims. The dependent claims describe other characteristic features of the invention.

Summary of the invention The invention relates to a column machine that stands on a deck, the deck comprising at least one toothed rack, at least one protective cover in connection with the rack and at least a first and second rail, wherein the column machine comprises a column that is connected to an upper and a lower carriage, which upper carriage is connected to at least one upper movable device, and further a lower carriage, the lower carriage comprising at least two tracks for cooperation with the at least first and second rails and at least one drive wheel for movement along the at least one rack, which at least one drive wheel is arranged substantially in the vertical plane of the column machine and extending parallel in relation to the longitudinal direction of the at least first and second rails, and wherein the lower carriage further comprises at least one protection holder, which at least one protection holder uncovers the rack in an area close to the at least one drive wheel, whereby the other areas of the rack are covered by the protective cover.

The invention as disclosed in the claims provides a column machine with several advantages compared with those that can be seen in the prior art, including:

· the weight of the column machine, including any load, is transferred to the drill floor, which gives a lower centre of gravity;

less risk of personnel stumbling into the depression where the rack/pinion was previously arranged;

preventing objects from falling down onto the rack;

the column machine is allowed a small angular deflection between the upper carriage and the lower carriage.

In an embodiment of the invention, the at least first and second rails can be substantially parallel.

In an aspect, the at least one drive wheel can be a pinion and the rack can be a cooperating rack. In an embodiment, the upper carriage can be configured with a spherical bearing which allows an angular deflection and/or a relative axial movement of a column between the upper carriage and the lower carriage. In addition, the configuration of the spherical bearing facilitates installation and removal of the column, for example, in connection with maintenance operations or the like. The spherical bearing may comprise first and second halves, which halves may be circular and together form a closed circle. The spherical bearing may, for example, be constructed of two circular halves that are hinged at one of their terminations and detachably secured by screws/bolts at their other termination. The upper carriage will, in an

embodiment, support the column horizontally and will not take up any vertical loads, this being done by the spherical bearing. All vertical load from the column, including any load in the column, passes via the lower carriage down into the drill floor. It is only the weight of the upper carriage, an upper horizontal rail to which the carriage is secured, and cabling/hosing for the upper carriage that is borne by the drilling derrick.

In an embodiment, an inner surface of the spherical bearing may have a curved cone shape.

In an aspect, the at least first and second rails can be recessed into the deck. This may be desirable both for the top and the bottom of the rails. Arranging the rails in such a way prevents personnel from tripping on the rails, either by stumbling down onto the rails or by tripping on an elevation.

In an aspect, the rack may be arranged substantially flush with the deck so that no parts of the rack are at a higher level than the deck. To achieve this, the top of the rack, for example, is at the same level as the deck whilst the other parts of the rack are arranged down in the deck.

In an aspect, the column machine can further comprise a spring device connected to the drive wheel, which spring device is able to cause the drive wheel to be allowed a vertical movement relative to the rack. The drive wheel may be configured with a spring device having vertical adjustment that ensures that the drive wheel is in correct engagement with the rack. The spring device can be so configured that it yields should small things or objects come down into/onto the rack. A first gearbox may be connected to the spring device, which gearbox may further be coupled to two angular gears on each side. The upper ends of the angular gears may further be connected with their respective electromotor. These elements, i.e., the drive wheel, spring device, angular gears and electromotors constitute a module or unit which enables the drive wheel to run over smallish objects etc. lying on/in the rack.

The protective cover may, in an embodiment, comprise two parts, a first and a second part, which are fastened to their respective long side of the guideway in which the rack in arranged, such that the two parts together cover the whole rack. In this embodiment, a seam is formed in the protective cover. The first part can overlap over or under the second part. Alternatively, the protective cover can comprise one part that extends over the whole rack. In use, the form of the protection holder will cause the first part of the protective cover, i.e., the part of the protective cover that is in contact with the protection holder, and adjacent parts of the first protective cover, to be lifted up so that the drive wheel comes into direct contact with the rack whilst the rest of the protective cover lies on the rack. The protective cover can be so configured that the part of the protective cover which at any given time is lifted up, can easily roll or slide along the protection holder as the column machine is moved on the rack. To achieve this, the protection holder may comprise rollers or smooth surfaces which provide little friction between the protective cover and the protection holder on movement of the column machine.

The invention further comprises a method for operation of a column machine, the method comprising the following steps:

- moving the column machine by rotating at least one drive wheel along a rack arranged in a deck;

- using a protection holder to remove a protective cover from the rack in an area close to the at least one drive wheel.

The method may further comprise operation of the column machine where a spring device is connected to the drive wheel, and where the spring device, in the event of obstacles in the rack, can cause the drive wheel to move vertically relative to the rack.

A non-limiting embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the attached figures in which like parts have been given like reference numerals, and wherein:

Brief description of the figures

Figures 1A and IB show an embodiment of a column machine according to the invention, where Fig. 1 A is a front side view whilst Fig. IB is an oblique view from above;

Figure 2 is a first perspective view of a section A in Figure 1 A with a protective cover lifted up;

Figure 3 is a second perspective view of a section A in Figure 1 A;

Figure 4 is a third perspective view of a section A in Figure 1 A;

Figure 5 shows a section B in Figure IB of an upper end of a column machine according to the invention;

Figure 6 shows a section of an upper end of the column machine.

Description of an embodiment of the invention Figures 1A and IB show an embodiment of a column machine according to the invention, where Figure 1A is a front side view whilst Figure IB is an oblique view from above.

The column machine 1 comprises a lower carriage 2 arranged to be moved along a rack 7 on a deck, an upper carriage 9 arranged in the upper end of the column machine 1 and which can be moved along an upper rail 21 , which upper rail 21 is, for example, secured to a drilling derrick (not shown). In this way, the column machine 1 , including upper 9 and lower carriage 2, is moved parallel to a deck. The column machine 1 is further shown with a gripping device 30 that can be moved up and down along the column 12 and extended at a variable distance in relation to the longitudinal axis of the column 12. The gripping device 30 is used in connection with pipe handling. There is also shown an upper guide arm 19 and a lower guide arm 20 arranged above and below the gripper arm 30. The upper and the lower guide arm 19, 20 are shown in a retracted position. Figures 2, 3 and 4 show sections of the lower part of a column machine 1 according to the invention, where a lower carriage 2 is shown which has a motor arrangement 23 connected to a drive wheel 4. The drive wheel 4 is arranged essentially in the same vertical plane as the column machine 1. In addition, there is provided a protection holder 5 on the lower carriage 2, in proximity to the drive wheel 4, and first and second track 16a, 16b on each side of the drive wheel 4. The column machine 2 rests on a deck 10. The deck 10 is provided with first and second rails 3a, 3b for cooperation with the first and second tracks 16a, 16b on the column machine 1. The first and second rails 3a, 3b are preferably recessed into the deck 10 so as to prevent personnel from stumbling down into them or from tripping if the rails 3a, 3b are arranged as shoulders (not shown). Furthermore, at least one rack 7 is arranged substantially flush with the deck 10. This configuration is also intended to prevent personnel from stumbling into the deck/ recess in which the rack 7 is arranged. The rack 7 is oriented cooperatingly with the drive wheel 4, and is preferably arranged as a rack over which the drive wheel 4 can run. To prevent objects, such as tools, loose elements etc., from falling onto the rack 7 and remaining on the rack 7, a protective cover 6 is provided (see in particular Figure 2 where the protective cover 6 is lifted up in the area in which the drive wheel 4 is at any given time) over the rack 7. The protective cover 6 is so configured that it at all times protects the part of the rack 7 in which the column machine 1 is not standing. The protective cover 6 can be so arranged that it consists of two parts (first and second part 6a, 6b) which are fastened to their respective long side of the guideway in which the rack 7 is arranged, and that the two parts 6a, 6b together cover the rack 7. This design means that a seam is formed in the protective cover 6, for example, in the middle of the rack 7 if the first and the second part 6a, 6b are equally wide. The first part 6a can also overlap over or under the second part 6b. Alternatively, the protective cover 6 may consist of one part that extends over the whole width of the rack 7. In use, the form of the protection holder 5 will cause (cf. the exemplary embodiment in Figure 2) the first part 6a of the protective cover 6, i.e., the part of the protective cover 6 that is in contact with the protection holder 5, and adjacent portions of the first protective cover 6a, to be lifted up such that the drive wheel 4 comes into direct contact with the rack 7 whilst the rest of the protective cover 6 will lie on the rack 7, so as to cover it. The protection holder 5 is so configured that the part of the protective cover 6 which at any given time is lifted up can easily roll or slide along the protection holder 5 as the column machine 1 is moved along the rack 7. To achieve this, the protection holder 5 comprises, for example, rollers or smooth surfaces which provide little friction between the protective cover 6 and the protection holder 5 on movement of the column machine 1.

The weight of the column machine 1 , with any load, will essentially be taken up by the first and second rails 3a, 3b. Thus, a minimum, if any at all, of the weight is taken up in the upper rail 21 , (optionally the derrick). The drive wheel 4 may be configured with a spring device 22 (details shown in Figure 3) having vertical adjustment that ensures that the drive wheel 4 is in correct engagement with the rack 7. The spring device 22 is configured so that it yields if, contrary to

expectation, small things or objects get into the rack 7. A first gearbox (not shown) is connected to the spring device 22, which gearbox is further connected to two angular gears (not shown). The upper ends of the angular gears are further connected to their respective electromotor. These elements, i.e., the drive wheel 4, the spring device 22, the angular gears and electromotors constitute a module or unit which enables that the drive wheel 4 to run over smaller objects etc. which lie on/in the rack 7. A person of skill in the art will know how this should be designed and therefore it is not described further here.

At least a first and a second stop device 8a, 8b ensure that the column machine 1 is not damaged, or causes damage to other devices, through collision with other devices which may be located in the range of movement of the column machine 1 on the deck 10. In the figures only stop devices 8a, 8b are shown on one side of the column machine 1 , but it is also possible to have stop devices 8a, 8b on the opposite side of the column machine 1. Examples of other devices can be other column machines 1 arranged on the same rack 7 or other elements that are normally found on a deck 10. Figure 5 shows an embodiment of an upper end of a column machine 1 according to the invention. An upper carriage 9 is arranged at the upper end. A column 12 extends between the lower carriage 2 and the upper carriage 9. The upper carriage 9 is shown with first and second upper pinion 14a, 14b for cooperation with an upper rack 13 on an upper rail 21 , which upper rail 21 can be fastened to a derrick (not shown). There is further provided a plurality of wheels 18 on the upper carriage 9 against the upper rail 21 , to reduce the friction of the upper carriage 9 along the upper rail. The upper carriage 9 further comprises a spherical bearing 1 1 , through which spherical bearing 1 1 the column 12 extends. The spherical bearing 1 1 does not bear any of the load of the column 12, but acts merely as a guideway for the column 12. The configuration of the spherical bearing 1 1 allows an angular deflection and/or a relative axial movement of the column 12 between the upper carriage 9 and the lower carriage 2. The spherical bearing 1 1 is composed of two semi-circular first and second halves 1 l a, 1 lb. The halves 1 1a, 1 lb are through their terminations secured to each other by hinges and/or screws/bolts 17. The inside of the first and the second half 1 1a, 1 lb of the spherical bearing 1 1 has a C- shape (see details in Figure 6), or a curved cone shape, on the side that is tangent to the column 12. It is this shape that allows the angular deflection between the lower carriage 2 and the upper carriage 9. Furthermore, the spherical bearing 1 1 allows that the column 12 can be moved freely in the axial direction, and that the column 12 can easily be removed or installed in connection with maintenance operations or the like.

The first and second pinions 14a, 14b will, together with the upper rack 13, form an upper movable device.

Fig. 6 shows a section of an upper end of the column machine 1 , and in more detail a section through the spherical bearing 1 1. The curved cone shape of the spherical bearing 1 1 against the column 12 can be seen clearly.

When operating the column machine 1 according to the invention, the column machine 1 can be moved by rotating the at least one drive wheel 4 along the rack 7 in the deck 10. When the column machine 1 is moved, the at least one protection holder 5, which is arranged on the column machine 1 , will lift the protective cover 6 off the rack 7 in the area where the at least one drive wheel 4 is. Furthermore, the spring device 22 can be arranged in connection with the drive wheel 4. The spring device 22 will, in the event of obstacles in the rack 7, cause the drive wheel 4 to be moved vertically relative to the rack 7 if there are small objects etc. lying in/on the rack.

The embodiment described herein is only meant for illustration purposes and should by no means be regarded as being limiting. It is obvious that a person of skill in the art could make modifications or changes to the invention without departing from the scope of the invention, as defined in the attached claims.

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS

1. A column machine (1) that stands on a deck (10), the deck (10) comprising at least one rack (7), at least one protective cover (6) in connection with the rack (7) and at least a first and a second rail (3a, 3b), wherein the column machine (1) comprises an upper carriage (9) that is connected to at least one upper movable device (13, 14a, 14b), and further a lower carriage (2), the lower carriage (2) comprising at least two tracks (16a, 16b) for cooperation with the at least first and second rails (3a, 3b) and at least one drive wheel (4) for movement along the at least one rack (7), which at least one drive wheel (4) is arranged substantially in the vertical plane of the column machine (1) and extending parallel relative to the longitudinal direction of the at least first and second rail (3a, 3b), and wherein the lower carriage (2) further comprises at least one protection holder (5), which at least one protection holder (5) uncovers the rack (7) in an area close to the at least one drive wheel (4), whereby the other areas of the rack (7) are covered by the protective cover (6), a column (12) being arranged between the upper and the lower carriage (9, 2).

2. A column machine according to claim 1 , wherein the at least first and second rails (3a, 3b) are substantially parallel.

3. A column machine according to any one of claims 1 - 2, wherein the at least one drive wheel (4) is a pinion and the rack (7) is a cooperating rack.

4. A column machine according to any one of claims 1 - 3, wherein the upper carriage (9) is configured with a spherical bearing (1 1) which allows an angular deflection and/or a relative axial movement of the column (12) between the upper carriage (9) and the lower carriage (2).

5. A column machine according to claim 4, wherein the spherical bearing (1 1) comprises first and second halves (1 1a, 1 lb).

6. A column machine according to any one of claims 4 - 5, wherein an inner surface of the spherical bearing (1 1) has a curved cone shape.

7. A column machine according to any one of claims 1 - 6, wherein the at least first and second rails (3a, 3b) are recessed into the deck (10).

8. A column machine according to any one of claims 1 - 7, wherein the rack (7) is arranged substantially flush with the deck (10).

9. A column machine according to any one of claims 1 - 8, wherein the column machine comprises a spring device (22) connected to the drive wheel (4), which spring device (22) causes the drive wheel (4) to be allowed a vertical movement relative to the rack (7).

10. A method for operating a column machine (1) according to any one of claims 1 - 9, wherein the method comprises the following steps:

- moving the column machine (1) by rotating at least one drive wheel (4) along a rack (7) arranged in a deck;

- using a protection holder (5) to remove a protective cover (6) from the rack (7) in an area close to the at least one drive wheel (4).

1 1. A method according to claim 10, wherein the method further comprises operation of the column machine (1), where a spring device (22) is arranged in connection with the drive wheel (4) and where the spring device (22), in the event of obstacles in the rack (7), causes the drive wheel (4) to be moved vertically relative to the rack (7).