US3929235A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System for handling and racking pipe in the hold of a vessel
Assignee: Jackson Memorial Hospital
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Filing: 1974-11-22
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Granted: 1975-12-30
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Expires: 1994-11-22
Abstract
Abstract A well drilling rig is mounted on a vessel afloat on the water and has a pipe handling system for moving drill pipe and drill collars between positions in racks extending generally vertically in the hold of the vessel and a position vertically aligned with the center of the derrick. The derrick has an overhead gantry crane which supports a vertical guide post, and a pipe supporting head is vertically shiftable on the guide post. A lower positioning arm engages the lower end of the guide post and a pipe guide. The crane and the positioning arm are actuatable in opposite directions to position the pipe as it is being lowered into or removed from the rack.
Inventors
- 👤 James A Howard
- 👤 Robert R Kelly
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 18:02
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B19/00; E21B19/02; E21B19/06; E21B19/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
157 words
Well pipe handling apparatus comprising: a derrick having a floor provided with an opening for receiving lengths of well pipe in generally vertically disposed racked positions, crane means aloft in said derrick having support means shiftable in opposite directions laterally of said derrick and towards and away from the center of said derrick, means for shifting said support means, a guide post depending from said support means, positioning means adjacent to the lower end of said guide post for moving the lower end of said guide post laterally and towards and away from the center of the derrick, pipe engaging guide means also adjacent to the lower end of said guide post, pipe supporting means releasably engageable with a length of pipe and vertically shiftable on said guide post for raising and lowering the lengths of pipe in said pipe engaging guide means, and means for lifting and lowering said pipe supporting means on said guide post.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
157 words
Well pipe handling apparatus comprising: a derrick having a floor provided with an opening for receiving lengths of well pipe in generally vertically disposed racked positions, crane means aloft in said derrick having support means shiftable in opposite directions laterally of said derrick and towards and away from the center of said derrick, means for shifting said support means, a guide post depending from said support means, positioning means adjacent to the lower end of said guide post for moving the lower end of said guide post laterally and towards and away from the center of the derrick, pipe engaging guide means also adjacent to the lower end of said guide post, pipe supporting means releasably engageable with a length of pipe and vertically shiftable on said guide post for raising and lowering the lengths of pipe in said pipe engaging guide means, and means for lifting and lowering said pipe supporting means on said guide post.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
Well pipe handling apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said crane means comprises horizontal side support rails at opposite sides of said derrick, a beam extended between said support rails, and means shiftably mounting said beam on said side rails, said support means being shiftably mounted on said beam.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
83 words
Well pipe handling apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said crane means comprises horizontal side support rails at opposite sides of said derrick, a beam extended between said support rails, and means shiftably mounting said beam on said side rails, said support means being shiftably mounted on said beam, said means for shifting said support means including means for translating said beam in opposite directions on said support rails and means for translating said support means in opposite directions on said beam.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
Well pipe handling apparatus as defined in claim 1, including means pivotally supporting said guide post to said support means for swinging movements laterally of said derrick and towards and away from the center of said derrick.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
76 words
Well pipe handling aPparatus as defined in claim 1, including means pivotally supporting said guide post to said support means for swinging movements laterally of said derrick and towards and away from the center of said derrick, said positioning means and said guide post having connecting means for compensating for differences in the effective distance between said means pivotally supporting said guide post and said connecting means upon pivotal movement of said guide post from vertical.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
121 words
Well pipe handling apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said crane means comprises horizontal side support rails at opposite sides of said derrick, a beam extended between said support rails, and means shiftably mounting said beam on said side rails, said support means being shiftably mounted on said beam, said means for shifting said support means including means for translating said beam in opposite directions on said support rails and means for translating said support means in opposite directions on said beam, said positioning means including a horizontal arm connected with said guide post, means supporting said arm for movement laterally in said derrick and towards and away from the center of said derrick, and means for moving said arm.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
150 words
Well pipe handling apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said crane means comprises horizontal side support rails at opposite sides of said derrick, a beam extended between said support rails, and means shiftably mounting said beam on said side rails, said support means being shiftably mounted on said beam, said means for shifting said support means including means for translating said beam in opposite directions on said support rails and means for translating said support means in opposite directions on said beam, said positioning means including a horizontal arm connected with said guide post, means supporting said arm for movement laterally in said derrick and towards and away from the center of said derrick, and means for moving said arm, and including means pivotally supporting said guide post to said support means for swinging movements laterally of said derrick and towards and away from the center of said derrick.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
47 words
Well pipe handling apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said pipe supporting means comprises a head having pipe receiving and supporting means, mounting means shiftably mounting said head on said guide post, and hoist means for raising and lowering said mounting means on said guide post.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
74 words
Well pipe handling apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said pipe supporting means comprises a head having pipe receiving and supporting means, mounting means shiftably mounting said head on said guide post, and hoist means for raising and lowering said mounting means on said guide post, said guide means comprising a guide head having pipe receiving and guiding means, and means connecting said guide head to the lower end of said guide post.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
102 words
Well pipe handling apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said pipe supporting means comprises a head having pipe receiving and supporting means, mounting means shiftably mounting said head on said guide post, and hoist means for raising and lowering said mounting means on said guide post, said guide means comprising a guide head having pipe receiving and guiding means, and means connecting said guide head to the lower end of said guide post, including means pivotally supporting said guide post to said support means for swinging movements laterally of said derrick and towards and away from the center of said derrick.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
141 words
Well pipe handling apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said pipe supporting means comprises a head having pipe receiving and supporting means, mounting means shiftably mounting said head on said guide post, and hoist means for raising and lowering said mounting means on said guide post, said guide means comprising a guide head having pipe receiving and guiding means, and means connecting said guide head to the lower end of said guide post, including means pivotally supporTing said guide post to said support means for swinging movements laterally of said derrick and towards and away from the center of said derrick, said positioning means and said guide post having connecting means for compensating for differences in the effective distance between said means pivotally supporting said guide post and said connecting means upon pivotal movement of said guide post from vertical.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
108 words
Well pipe handling apparatus for use in a derrick having a floor provided with an opening for receiving lengths of well pipe in generally vertically disposed racked positions, comprising: crane means having means for mounting said crane means aloft in the derrick, said crane means including support means shiftable with respect to said mounting means, a guide post connected, at one end with said support means, pipe lifting head means shiftably mounted on said guide post, and pipe positioning guide means connected with the other end of said guide post, said positioning guide means including means for mounting said positioning guide means adjacent the floor of said derrick.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
108 words
Well pipe handling apparatus for use in a derrick having a floor provided with an opening for receiving lengths of well pipe in generally vertically disposed racked positions, comprising: crane means having means for mounting said crane means aloft in the derrick, said crane means including support means shiftable with respect to said mounting means, a guide post connected, at one end with said support means, pipe lifting head means shiftably mounted on said guide post, and pipe positioning guide means connected with the other end of said guide post, said positioning guide means including means for mounting said positioning guide means adjacent the floor of said derrick.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
48 words
Well pipe handling apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein said means for mounting said crane means comprises side support rails, a beam extended between said support rails, and means shiftably mounting said beam on said side support rails, said support means being shiftably mounted on said beam.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
80 words
Well pipe handling apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein said means for mounting said crane means comprises side support rails, a beam extended between said support rails, and means shiftably mounting said beam on said side support rails, said support means being shiftably mounted on said beam, and including means for shifting said support means for translating said beam in opposite directions on said support rails, and means for translating said support means in opposite directions on said beam.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
Well pipe handling apparatus as defined in claim 12, including means pivotally connecting said guide post to said support means for swinging movements relative to said support means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
53 words
Well pipe handling apparatus as defined in claim 12, including means pivotally connecting said guide post to said support means for swinging movements relative to said support means, said positioning means and said guide post having connecting means for enabling limited longitudinal movement of said positioning guide means relative to said guide post.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
107 words
Well pipe handling apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein said means for mounting said crane means comprises side support rails, a beam extended between said support rails, and means shiftably mounting said beam on said side support rails, said support means being shiftably mounted on said beam, and including means for shifting said support means for translating said beam in opposite directions on said support rails, and means for translating said support means in opposite directions on said beam, said positioning means including an arm connected with said guide post, means for supporting said arm for movement in said derrick, and means for moving said arm.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
127 words
Well pipe handling apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein said means for mounting said crane means comprises side support rails, a beam extended between said support rails, and means shiftably mounting said beam on said side support rails, said support means being shiftably mounted on said beam, and including means for shifting said support means for translating said beam in opposite directions on said support rails, and means for translating said support means in opposite directions on said beam, said positioning means including an arm connected with said guide post, means for supporting said arm for movement in said derrick, and means for moving said arm, and including means pivotally connecting said guide post to said support means for swinging movements relative to said support means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3561811A
Cited
US3592347A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-12-29 | 1979-06-30 | 1979-12-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-12-29 | 1983-06-30 | 1983-12-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-12-29 | 1987-06-30 | 1987-12-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |