Mechanized stand handling apparatus for drilling rigs

Claim 2

Apparatus for racking stands in a derrick, and including; a turret mounting means disposed to turn on a vertical axis trunnion within the derrick and in spaced relation to said stands, actuating means to turn the turret mounting means on said vertical axis trunnion, an inner arm swinging from the turret mounting means on a first horizontal axis bearing fixedly related to the turret mounting means to turn therewith, an outer arm swinging from the end of the inner arm remote from the first mentioned horizontal axis bearing and on a second horizontal axis bearing fixedly related to the inner arm to swing therewith, actuating means within one of said arms and comprising a double acting means simultaneously shifting spaced racks engaged with primary and secondary gears positively driving the inner and outer arms respectively to angularly displace the inner arm from said vertical axis of the trunnion at a rate of movement and to angularly displace the outer arm from parallel relation to the said inner arm at a rate of movement twice that of said rate of movement of the said inner arm, a gripper head means engageable with said stands and pivoting at the end of the outer arm remote from the second mentioned horizontal axis bearing on a third horizontal axis bearing fixedly related to the outer arm to swing therewith, said first second and third horizontal axes being parallel one with the other, and means to maintain the gripper head means normal to a vertical axis in parallel relation to the vertical turret mounting means axis trunnion.

Claim 3

The apparatus for racking stands in a derrick as set forth in claim 1, wherein the actuating means to angularly displace the inner and outer arms is carried within the inner arm and comprises a double acting means simultaneously shifting spaced racks engaged with primary and secondary gears positionably driving the inner and outer arms respectively.

Claim 4

The apparatus for racking stands in a derrick as set forth in claim 1, wherein the actuating means to angularly displace the inner and outer arms is carried within the inner arm and comprises a double acting means simultaneously shifting spaced racks engaged with a primary reduction gear meshed with a segment gear supporting the first mentioned horizontal axis bearing and a secondary gear meshed with a driven segment on the second mentioned horizontal axis bearing and positionably coupled to the outer arm.

Claim 5

The apparatus for racking stands in a derrick as set forth in claim 1, wherein the means to maintain the gripper head means normal to a vertical axis comprises a master hydraulic displacement cylinder and piston means coupled to and responsive to angular displacement of one only of said inner and outer arms, and a slave hydraulic displacement cylinder and piston means responsive to said master hydraulic displacement cylinder and piston means.

Claim 6

A "Derrick Floor Hand" for moving stands between the operational axis and stand racking area on a derrick floor, and including; a pedestal disposed within the derrick to project vertically from the floor in spaced relation to the operational axis and stand racking area respectively, a turret mounting means disposed to turn on a vertical axis trunnion rotatably supported at the head of the pedestal, actuating means to turn the turret mounting means on said vertical axis trunnion, an inner arm swinging from the turret mounting means on a first horizontal axis bearing fixedly related to the turret mounting means to turn therewith, an outer arm swinging from the end of the inner arm remote from the first mentioned horizontal axis bearing and on a second horizontal axis bearing fixedly related to the inner arm to swing therewith, actuating means within one of said arms and comprising a double acting means simultaneously shifting spaced racks engaged with primary and secondary gears positionably driving the inner and outer arms respectively to angularly displace the inner arm from said vertical axis of the trunnion at a rate of movement and to angularly displace the outer arm from parallel relation to the said inner arm at a rate of movement twice that of said rate of movement of the said inner arm, a gripper head means engageable with said stands and pivoting at the end of the outer arm remote from the second mentioned horizontal axis bearing on a third horizontal axis bearing fixedly related to the outer arm to swing therewith, said first second and third horizontal axes being parallel one with the other, and means to maintain the gripper head means normal to a vertical axis in parallel relation to the vertical turret mounting means axis trunnion.

Claim 7

A "Derrick Floor Hand" for moving stands between the operational axis and stand racking area on a derrick floor, and including; a pedestal disposed within the derrick to project vertically from the floor in spaced relation to the operational axis and stand racking area respectively, a turret mounting means disposed to turn on a vertical axis trunnion rotatably supported at the head of the pedestal, actuating means to turn the turret mounting means on said vertical axis trunnion, an inner arm swinging from the turret mounting means on a first horizontal axis bearing fixedly related to the turret mounting means to turn therewith, an outer arm swinging from the end of the inner arm remote from the first mentioned horizontal axis bearing and on a second horizontal axis bearing fixedly related to the inner arm to swing therewith, actuating means within one of said arms and comprising a double acting means simultaneously shifting spaced racks engaged with primary and secondary gears positionably driving the inner and outer arms respectively to angularly displace the inner arm from said vertical axis of the trunnion at a rate of movement and to angularly displace the outer arm from parallel relation to the said inner arm at a rate of movement twice that of said rate of movement of the said inner arm, a gripper head means engageable with said stands and pivoting at the end of the outer arm remote from the second mentioned horizontal axis bearing on a third horizontal axis bearing fixedly related to the outer arm to swing therewith, said first second and third horizontal axes being parallel one with the other, and means to maintain the gripper head means normal to a vertical axis in parallel relation to the vertical turret mounting means axis trunnion.

Claim 8

The "Derrick Floor Hand" as set forth in claim 5, wherein the actuating means to angularly displace the inner and outer arms is carried by the inner arm and comprises a double acting means simultaneously shifting spaced racks engaged with primary and secondary gears positionably driving the inner and outer arms respectively.

Claim 9

The "Derrick Floor Hand" as set forth in claim 5, wherein the actuating means to angularly displace the inner and outer arms is carried by the inner arm and comprises a double acting means simultaneously shifting spaced racks engaged with a primary reduction gear meshed with a segment gear supporting the first mentioned horizontal axis bearing and a secondary gear meshed with a driven segment on the second mentioned horizontal axis bearing and positionably coupled to the outer arm.

Claim 10

The "Derrick Floor Hand" as set forth in claim 5, wherein the means to maintain the gripper head means normal to a vertical axis comprises a master hydraulic displacement cylinder and piston means coupled to and responsive to angular displacement of one only of said inner and outer arms, and a slave hyldraulic displacement cylinder and piston means responsive to said master hydraulic displacement cylinder and piston means and coupled to and positioning said gripper means.

Claim 11

A "Derrickman" for moving stands between the operational axis and into the fingerboard slots at either side of the monkeyboard in a derrick platform and including; a carriage means movable within the derrick coextensively beneath the monkeyboard, actuating means to move the carriage means beneath the monkeyboard on excursions to and from adjacency to said operational axis, a turret mounting means supported by the carriage and disposed to turn on a vertical axis trunnion in spaced relation to said stands, actuating means to turn the turret mounting means on said vertical axis trunnion, an inner arm swinging from the turret mounting means on a first horizontal axis bearing fixedly related to the turret mounting means to turn therewith, an outer arm swinging from the end of the inner arm remote from the first mentioned horizontal axis bearing and on a second horizontal axis bearing fixedly related to the inner arm to swing therewith, actuating means within one of said arms to angularly displace the inner arm from said vertical axis of the trunnion at a rate of movement and to angularly displace the outer arm from parallel relation to the said inner arm at rate of movement twice that of said rate of movement of the said inner arm, a gripper head means engageable with said stands and pivoting at the end of the outer arm remote from the second mentioned horizontal axis bearing on a third horizontal axis bearing fixedly related to the outer arm to swing therewith, said first second and third horizontal axes being parallel one with the other, and means to maintain the gripper head means normal to a vertical axis in parallel relation to the vertical turret mounting means axis trunnion.

Claim 12

A "Derrickman" for moving stands between the operational axis and into the fingerboard slots at either side of the monkeyboard in a derrick platform and including; a carriage means movable within the derrick coextensively beneath the monkeyboard, actuating means to move the carriage means beneath the monkeyboard on excursions to and from adjacency to said operational axis, a turret mounting means supported by the carriage and disposed to turn on a vertical axis trunnion in spaced relation to said stands, actuating means to turn the turret mounting means on said vertical axis trunnion, an inner arm swinging from the turret mounting means on a first horizontal axis bearing fixedly related to the turret mounting means to turn therewith, an outer arm swinging from the end of the inner arm remote from the first mentioned horizontal axis bearing and on a second horizontal axis bearing fixedly related to the inner arm to swing therewith, actuating means within one of said arms to angularly displace the inner arm from said vertical axis of the trunnion at a rate of movement and to angularly displace the outer arm from parallel relation to the said inner arm at rate of movement twice that of said rate of movement of the said inner arm, a gripper head means engageable with said stands and pivoting at the end of the outer arm remote from the second mentioned horizontal axis bearing on a third horizontal axis bearing fixedly related to the outer arm to swing therewith, said first second and third horizontal axes being parallel one with the other, and means to maintain the gripper head means normal to a vertical axis in parallel relation to the vertical turret mounting means axis trunnion.

Claim 13

The "Derrickman" as set forth in claim 9, wherein the actuating means that moves the carriage means includes means selectively positioning the carriage means along the monkeyboard.

Claim 14

The "Derrickman" as set forth in claim 9, wherein the actuating means that moves the carriage means comprises a motion augmenting means driven by a short stroke displacement means confined beneath and selectively positioning the carriage means along the monkeyboard.

Claim 15

The "Derrickman" as set forth in claim 9, wherein the actuating means that moves the carriage means comprises a motion multiplier having opposed racks on the monkeyboard and movable carriage means respectively and a drive pinion meshed therebetween, said drive pinion being shifted by the means selectively positioning the carriage means along the monkeyboard.

Claim 16

The "Derrickman" as set forth in claim 9, wherein the actuating means that moves the carriage means comprises a motion multiplier having opposed racks on the monkeyboard and movable carriage means respectively and a drive pinion meshed therebetween, said drive pinion being shifted by displacement means confined beneath and selectively positioning the carriage means along the monkeyboard.

Claim 17

The "Derrickman" as set forth in claim 9, wherein the turret mounting means comprises a base through which the trunnion is rotatably journaled on said vertical axis to carry a plate to which the first mentioned horizontal axis bearing is fixed, and wherein the actuating means that turns the turret of the mounting means comprises motion augmenting gear means coupled to the said trunnion and a drive means therefor.

Claim 18

The "Derrickman" as set forth in claim 9, wherein the inner and outer arms are extensible to project the gripper head means to engage stands in the derrick, and retractile to withdraw the gripper head means to the turret mounting means with the inner arm depending vertically from the first mentioned horizontal axis bearing and with the outer arm juxtaposed parallel to the inner arm.

Claim 19

The "Derrickman" as set forth in claim 9, wherein the inner and outer arms are extensible to project the gripper head means to engage stands in the derrick, and retractile to withdraw the gripper head means into the turret mounting means to overlie the retracted arms with the inner arm extending vertically from the first mentioned horizontal axis bearing with the outer arm juxtaposed parallel to the inner arm.

Claim 20

The "Derrickman" as set forth in claim 9, wherein the actuating means to angularly displace the inner and outer arms comprises a double acting means simultaneously shifting spaced racks engaged with primary and secondary gears positionably driving the inner and outer arms respectively.

Claim 21

The "Derrickman" as set forth in claim 9, wherein the actuating means to angularly displace the inner and outer arms is carried within the inner arm and comprises a double acting means simultaneously shifting spaced racks engaged with primary and secondary gears positionably driving the inner and outer arms respectively.

Claim 22

The "Derrickman" as set forth in clam 9, wherein the actuating means to angularly displace the inner and outer arms is carried within the inner arm and comprises a double acting means simultaneously shifting spaced racks engaged with a primary reduction gear meshed with a segment gear supporting the first mentioned horizontal axis bearing and a secondary gear meshed with a driven segment on the second mentioned horizontal axis bearing and positionably coupled to the outer arm.

Claim 23

The "Derrickman" as set forth in clam 9, wherein the actuating means to angularly displace the inner and outer arms is carried within the inner arm and comprises a double acting means simultaneously shifting spaced racks engaged with a primary reduction gear meshed with a segment gear supporting the first mentioned horizontal axis bearing and a secondary gear meshed with a driven segment on the second mentioned horizontal axis bearing and positionably coupled to the outer arm.

Claim 24

The "Derrickman" as set forth in claim 9, wherein the means to maintain the gripper head means normal to a vertical axis comprises a master displacement means coupled to and responsive to angular displacement of one only of said inner and outer arms, and a slave displacement means responsive to said master means and coupled to position said gripper head means.

Claim 25

In combination with a "Derrickman" for moving stands between the operational axis and into the fingerboard slots at either side of the monkeyboard in a derrick platform, there being a plurality of adjacently parallel fingers extending from the side of the platform in a row terminating short of the monkeyboard in normal relation thereto to establish said slots and an alley at one side at least of said monkeyboard, spaced lock bars extending transversely between and dividing adjacently parallel fingers into a multiplicity of pockets for the individual retainment of the stands therein, pairs of bearing blocks and one at each of said adjacently parallel fingers and having upwardly open slots disposed in transverse alignment to receive a lock bar pivoted in the bearing block slot at one finger to swing into abutted releasable engagement with a lock bar pivoted within the bearing block slot at the next adjacently parallel finger, and actuating means to selectively lift the lock bars individually and in groups.

Claim 26

In combination with a "Derrickman" for moving stands between the operational axis and into the fingerboard slots at either side of the monkeyboard in a derrick platform, there being a plurality of adjacently parallel fingers extending from the side of the platform in a row terminating short of the monkeyboard in normal relation thereto to establish said slots and an alley at one side at least of said monkeyboard, spaced lock bars extending transversely between and dividing adjacently parallel fingers into a multiplicity of pockets for the individual retainment of the stands therein, pairs of bearing blocks and one at each of said adjacently parallel fingers and having upwardly open slots disposed in transverse alignment to receive a lock bar pivoted in the bearing block slot at one finger to swing into abutted releasable engagement with a lock bar pivoted within the bearing block slot at the next adjacently parallel finger, and actuating means to selectively lift the lock bars individually and in groups.

Claim 27

The "Derrickman" and fingerboard combination as set forth in claim 21, wherein the spaced lock bars are selectively lifted by said actuating means confined within the said fingers supporting the same respectively.