Electronic ton-mile indicator

Claim 2

An electronic ton-mile indicator in an oil well drilling rig or the like for sensing and indicating work done by the line in the rig, comprising; electronic distance measuring means for producing an output signal pulse for a predetermined linear increment of movement of the line past a given point, said electronic distance measuring means comprising rotatable switch actuation means responsive to movement of said line and stationary switch means located adjacent to and periodically closed by rotation of said switch actuation means for producing said output signal pulse upon closing of said switch means, said rotatable switch actuation means comprising a pair of magnets spaced apart 180* on a sheave in said oil well drilling rig or the like producing an interpretable output signal in response to a load applied to the line; and multiplier circuit means for receiving distance measuring output signal pulses and load responsive interpretable output signals and for multiplying said signals to produce an intelligible readout indicating ton-miles of work performed by the line.

Claim 3

The electronic ton-mile indicator as recited in claim 1, wherein said drilling rig line is trained over said sheave.

Claim 4

The electronic ton-mile indicator as recited in claim 1, wherein said stationary switch means comprise a plurality of proximity magnetic reed switches located in parallel plane relationship with respect to the plane of rotation of said magnets, said magnetic reed switches being circumferentially spaced apart about generally one-half of a circle having a diameter substantially equal to the distance between said magnets.

Claim 5

The electronic ton-mile indicator as recited in claim 3, wherein said proximity switches are three in number spaced 90* apart whereby each one-quarter revolution of said sheave causes actuation of at least one of said proximity magnetic reed switches irrespective of the direction of rotation of said sheave.

Claim 6

The electronic ton-mile indicator as recited in claim 3, wherein the number of magnetic reed switches required for reliable, accurate distance measurement is determined from the formula:

Claim 7

The electronic ton-mile indicator as recited in claim 1, wherein said stationary switch means further comprise a stationary switch carrier mounted immediately adjacent said sheave in parallel plane relationship thereto.

Claim 8

An electronic ton-mile indicator in an oil well drilling rig or the like for sensing and indicating work done by the line in the rig, comprising: electronic distance measuring means for producing an output signal pulse for a predetermined linear increment of movement of the line past a given point, said distance measuring means including a rotatable unit, and a stationary unit; electronic weight sensing means for producing an interpretable output signal in response to a load applied to the line; and multiplier circuit means for receiving distance measuring output signal pulses and load responsive interpretable output signals and for multiplying said signals to produce an intelligible readout indicating ton-miles of work performed by the line, said electronic distance measuring means further comprising pulse generation means actuated by input signals from said rotatable and stationary units for producing triggering pulses, multivibrator means for counting said triggering pulses, and totalizer means for receiving said counted pulses and providing an input for said multiplier circuit means.

Claim 9

An electronic ton-mile indicator in an oil well drilling rig or the like for sensing and indicating work done by the line in the rig, comprising: electronic distance measuring means for producing an output signal pulse for a predetermined linear increment of movement of the line past a given point, said distance measuring means including a rotatable unit, and a stationary unit; electronic weight sensing means for producing an interpretable output signal in response to a load applied to the line; and multiplier circuit means for receiving distance measuring output signal pulses and load responsive interpretable output signals and for multiplying said signals to produce an intelligible readout indicating ton-miles of work performed by the line, said electronic distance measuring means further comprising pulse generation means actuated by input signals from said rotatable and stationary units for producing triggering pulses, multivibrator means for counting said triggering pulses, and totalizer means for receiving said counted pulses and providing an input for said multiplier circuit means.

Claim 10

The electronic ton-mile indicator as recited in claim 7, wherein said electronic distance measuring means further comprise distance readout means for visually indicating distance of movement of said line, the input for said readout means being provided by said totalizer means.

Claim 11

An electronic ton-mile indicator in an oil well drilling rig or the like for sensing and indicating work done by the line in the rig, comprising: electronic distance measuring means for producing an output signal pulse for a predetermined linear increment of movement of the line past a given point; electronic weight sensing means for producing an interpretable output signal in response to a load applied to the line; and multiplier circuit means for receiving distance measuring output signal pulses and load responsive interpretable output signals and for multiplying said signals to produce an intelligible readout indicating ton-miles of work performed by the line, said electronic weight sensing means comprising compression responsive output signal means having an electrical resistance value variable according to predetermined compression force applied thereto.

Claim 12

An electronic ton-mile indicator in an oil well drilling rig or the like for sensing and indicating work done by the line in the rig, comprising: electronic distance measuring means for producing an output signal pulse for a predetermined linear increment of movement of the line past a given point; electronic weight sensing means for producing an interpretable output signal in response to a load applied to the line; and multiplier circuit means for receiving distance measuring output signal pulses and load responsive interpretable output signals and for multiplying said signals to produce an intelligible readout indicating ton-miles of work performed by the line, said electronic weight sensing means comprising compression responsive output signal means having an electrical resistance value variable according to predetermined compression force applied thereto.

Claim 13

The electronic ton-mile indicator as recited in claim 9, wherein said load responsive output signal means comprise strain gauge means.

Claim 14

The electronic ton-mile indicator as recited in claim 10, wherein said load responsive output signal means further comprise bridge circuit means, one leg thereof being formed by said strain gauge means whereby upon compression of said strain gauge means, said bridge circuit means are unbalanced thereby producing said interpretable output signal.

Claim 15

The electronic ton-mile indicator as recited in claim 9, wherein said load responsive output signal means comprise piezoelectric crystal means.

Claim 16

The electronic ton-mile indicator as recited in claim 9, wherein said load responsive output signal means are mounted on the deadline anchor of the drilling rig and arranged to respond to tension applied to said line.

Claim 17

The electronic ton-mile indicator as recited in claim 9, wherein said load responsive output signal means further comprise means for mounting said compression responsive output signal means beneath the pillow block of a load supporting sheave in said drilling rig, over which said line is threaded.

Claim 18

The electronic ton-mile indicator as recited in claim 14, wherein said load responsive output signal means and said electronic distance measuring means are located beneath and adjacent said load supporting sheave, respectively.

Claim 19

The electronic ton-mile indicator as recited in claim 14, wherein said load responsive output signal means are located beneath said load supporting sheave and said electronic distance measuring means are located adjacent another load supporting sheave.

Claim 20

The electronic ton-mile indicator as recited in claim 14, wherein said means for mounting said load responsive output signal means beneath said load supporting sheaVe pillow block comprises a first mounting plate attached beneath said pillow block, a second mounting plate on support means for said pillow block, a plurality of bolts threaded through one of said plates and abutting the other of said plates for separating said plates for installation of said load responsive output signal means therebetween, and a plurality of retention bolts for said one plate threaded to said other plate, whereby said plates are movable toward and away from each other so that said pillow block bears against said load responsive output signal means.

Claim 21

The electronic ton-mile indicator as recited in claim 9, wherein said electronic weight sensing means further comprise amplifier means for enhancing said interpretable output signals and line selection switch means for modifying amplified output signals to a true weight load value according to the number of rovings in said drilling rig line.

Claim 22

The electronic ton-mile indicator as recited in claim 18, wherein said electronic weight sensing means further comprise readout means for visually indicating load applied to said drilling rig line.

Claim 23

The electronic ton-mile indicator as recited in claim 9, wherein said multiplier circuit means further comprise ton-mile readout means for visually indicating the product total of load and distance values received therein.

Claim 24

The electronic ton-mile indicator as recited in claim 20, wherein said multiplier circuit means further comprise recorder means for permanently recording said product total.