CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/570450 entitled "SMART LIFT," filed October 10, 2017, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of art that may be related to various aspects of the present disclosure, which are described or claimed below. This discussion is believed to be helpful in providing the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statements are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.

This disclosure relates generally to a lifting device. More particularly, the disclosure relates to a lifting device for lifting drilling tubulars to a drill floor of a rig.

Drilling tubulars are traditionally lifted onto a drill floor area of a rig using a catwalk machine. Typical catwalk machine designs are heavy, expensive, have many moving parts, and can be time consuming to install. Many catwalk machine models are limited to certain rig designs due to constraints in size or functions. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining or limiting the scope of the claimed subject matter as set forth in the claims.

The system of the invention is applicable for a wide range of drilling rig designs, including onshore drilling rigs and may be implemented to replace offshore catwalks.

A device for lifting tubulars includes a first lifting device and a second lifting device, each having a base and a mast affixed to the base. A first main boom and a second main boom each have an attached end and a free end. The main boom of the first lifting device and the main boom of the second lifting device are pivotally affixed to a respective mast at an attached end. Lifters are provided for selectively pivoting each of the main booms. Extension booms have a received end and a terminal end, wherein the received end of a first extension boom is slidably supported by a first main boom and a received end of a second extension boom is slidably supported by a second extension boom. The extension booms are selectively extendible from the free ends of the main booms. The terminal ends of the extension booms define tool heads.

The device is for raising a tubular to a destination, such as a drill floor. A tubular is placed proximate to the lifting devices. The tubular is then located onto the first tool head of the first lifting device and on the second tool head of the second lifting device. The lifting devices are raised with the lifters. A first extension boom is extended from the first lifting device and a second extension boom is extended from a second lifting device. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The subject disclosure is further described in the following detailed description, and the accompanying drawing and schematic of non-limiting embodiment of the subject disclosure. The features depicted in the figure are not necessarily shown to scale. Certain features of the embodiments may be shown exaggerated in scale or in somewhat schematic form, and some details of elements may not be shown in the interest of clarity and conciseness.

FIG. 1 is an elevation view of one embodiment of the device of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a first rolling unit for affixing to first tool head of the device of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3 is an elevation view of a clamping device for affixing to first tool head of the device of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a motor and drive wheel assembly for affixing to first tool head of the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a slide preventer affixed to the first tool head of the device of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 6 is a schematic of an automated control system for manipulating the device of

FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 7 is a schematic of a manual control system for manipulating the device of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the device of the invention showing tubulars in an alternate embodiment of a feeding table;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the device of the invention showing the telescoping booms moving to position a tubular; FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the device of the invention showing the telescoping booms in a position to locate the tubular at a drill floor for lifting into a derrick;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the device of the invention wherein a single lifting device is shown.

Elements and Numbering Used in the Drawings:

10 Device

12 Platform

14 Pipe Feeding Table

16 First Table Support

18 Second Table Support

20 First Lifting Device

22 First Base

24 First Mast

26 First Main Boom

28 Attached End

30 Free End

32 First Lifter

40 First Extension Boom

42 Received End

44 Terminal End

50 First Tool Head

52 First Rolling Unit

54 First Guide Plates

56 Clamping Device Motor

Drive Wheels

Slide Preventer

Receiving Member Second Lifting Device Second Base

Second Mast

Second Main Boom Attached End

Free End

Second Lifter

Second Extension Boom Received End

Terminal End

S econd Tool Head Second Rolling Unit Second Guide Plates Automated Control System Control Unit

CPU

Manual Control System Tubular

Destination DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

One or more specific embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below. These described embodiments are only exemplary of the present disclosure. Additionally, in an effort to provide a concise description of these exemplary embodiments, all features of an actual implementation may not be described in the specification. It should be appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation, as in any engineering or design project, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developers' specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints, which may vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it should be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking of design, fabrication, and manufacture for those of ordinary skill having the benefit of this disclosure.

Referring now to the figures, shown is a device for lifting tubulars designated generally 10. Device 10 includes a platform 12. In one embodiment, platform 12 is part of a trailer. Pipe feeding table 14 is supported by first table support 16 and second table support 18. First table support 16 and second table support 18 may be affixed to platform 12 or may be part of a stand-alone structure next to platform 12. Pipe feeding table 14 may rise above platform 12 (FIG. 1) or may extend laterally from platform 12 (FIGS. 8-11).

First lifting device is designated generally 20. First lifting device 20 includes first base 22 affixed to platform 12. First lifting device 20 further includes first mast 24. First mast 24 is affixed to first base 22. First main boom 26 has an attached end 28 and a free end 30. First main boom 26 is pivotally affixed to first mast 24 at attached end 28. First lifter 32 is provided for selectively raising and lowering first main boom 26. First lifter 32 may be a hydraulic cylinder or other lifting device, such as an electric motor. First extension boom 40 has a received end 42 and a terminal end 44. Received end 42 of first extension boom 40 is slidably supported by first main boom 26. First extension boom 40 is selectively extendable from free end 30 of first main boom 26. First tool head 50 is located proximate terminal end 44 of first extension boom 40. In one embodiment, first rolling unit 52 (FIGS. 1, 2) is affixed to first tool head 50.

First rolling unit 52 may have guide plates 54 for restraining a tubular. Rolling unit 52 may be motorized or may be driven by a separate drive unit.

In another embodiment, first tool head 50 comprises a clamping device 56 (FIG. 3) for restraining a tubular.

In another embodiment, first tool head 50 includes a motor 58 in communication with one or more drive wheels 60. An example embodiment having three drive wheels 60 is shown in FIGS. 4 and 11.

In another embodiment, first tool head 50 includes slide preventer 62 for preventing a tubular from sliding backwards. Slide preventer 62 includes receiving member 64 for receiving a lower end of the tubular. An example of a tubular receiving member 64 is a plate (FIG. 5). Other variations are possible, including a bucket shaped member and a funnel shaped member that receives an end of the tubular.

In one embodiment, device 10 includes first lifting device 20, as described above, and does not include a second lifting device (see, e.g., FIG. 11). In other embodiments, device 10 includes a second lifting device, designated generally 120 (see, e.g., FIGS. 1, 2, 5, and 8-10).

Second lifting device 120 includes second base 122 affixed to platform 12. Second mast 124 is affixed to second base 122. Second main boom 126 has attached end 128 and a free end 130. Second main boom 126 is pivotally affixed to second mast 124 at attached end 128. Second lifter 132 is provided to selectively raise second main boom 126. Second lifter 132 may be a hydraulic cylinder, electric motor, or other lifting device.

Second extension boom 140 has received end 142 and terminal end 144. Received end 142 of second extension boom 140 is slidably supported by second main boom 126. Second extension boom 140 is selectively extendable from free end 130 of second main boom 126. Terminal end 144 of second extension boom 140 defines second tool head 150.

A second rolling unit 152 is affixed to second tool head 150. Second rolling unit 152 has guide plates 154 for restraining a tubular. Second rolling unit 152 may be of similar construction to first rolling unit 52, shown in FIG. 2. Second tool head 150 may comprise a clamping device for restraining a tubular may be similar to clamping device 56 of FIG. 3. In one embodiment, second tool head 150 comprises a motor in communication with a plurality of drive wheels. The motor and drive wheel assembly may be similar to the motor 58 and drive wheels 60, shown in FIG. 4. In another embodiment, second tool head 150 comprises a slide preventer for preventing the tubular from sliding backwards. In one embodiment, the slide preventer is a plate for receiving a lower end of the tubular. Other examples of a slide preventer is a bucket shaped member, a funnel shaped member, or other shape suitable for receiving an end of a tubular.

In one embodiment, automated control system 170 (FIG. 6) is provided for controlling and monitoring a position of first tool head 50 and second tool head 150. Automated control system 170 has control unit 172 for interfacing with an operator and with CPU 174 for performing automated controlling and monitoring functions. In another embodiment, manual control system 180 (FIG. 7) is provided for manual positioning.

In use, device 10 is used to raise a tubular 200, such as pipe, to a platform or destination 202, such as a drill floor. Tubular 200 is placed in a horizontal position on pipe feeding table 14. Pipe feeding table 14 is on or proximate to first lifting device 20 and second lifting device 120. First lifting device 20 includes first tool head 50. Second lifting device 120 includes second tool head 150. First lifting device 20 additionally includes first main boom 26 and first extension boom 40. Second lifting device 120 includes second main boom 126 and second extension boom 140. First tool head 50 is located at terminal end 44 of first extension boom 40. Second tool head 150 is located at terminal end 144 of second extension boom 140.

Tubular 200 is placed adjacent first tool head 50 of first lifting device 20 and tubular 200 is placed adjacent second tool head 150 of second lifting device 120 with a tubular pickup apparatus (FIG. 8).

First tool head 50 may support a first rolling unit 52 for receiving tubular 200. Second tool head 150 may support a second rolling unit for receiving tubular 200. First lifting device 20 is raised with first lifter 32 to elevate a portion of tubular 200. Second lifting device 120 is raised with second lifter 132 to raise a second portion of tubular 200 (FIG. 10). First extension boom 40 is extended from first main boom 26 of first lifting device 20 to further elevate tubular 200. Second extension boom 140 is extended from second main boom 126 of second lifting device 120 to further elevate a second portion of tubular 200 (FIG. 10). First lifting device 20 and second lifting device 120 may move independently to position tubular 200. Tubular 200 is located proximate to destination 202, such as a drill floor, wherein an existing elevator system or other device can pick up tubular 200 and position it as necessary, e.g., into a derrick. Manipulation of tool heads 50 and 150 may be achieved through operation of control system 170 (FIG. 7) or, alternatively, through operation of manual control system 180 (FIG. 8). Extension booms 40 and 140 may move separately at any given time to position tubular 200, e.g., each extension boom 40, 140 can move at a different speed to position tubular 200.

Referring now to FIG. 1 1, shown is another embodiment of a device for lifting tubulars, designated generally 310.

While the disclosure may be susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and have been described in detail herein. However, it should be understood that the disclosure is not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the disclosure is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and altematives falling within the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the following appended claims.

The techniques presented and claimed herein are referenced and applied to material objects and concrete examples of a practical nature that demonstrably improve the present technical field and, as such, are not abstract, intangible or purely theoretical. Further, if any claims appended to the end of this specification contain one or more elements designated as "means for" or "step for" performing a function, it is intended that such elements are to be interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 1 12(f). However, for any claims containing elements designated in any other manner, it is intended that such elements are not to be interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 1 12(f).