Method of connecting tubular members

Abstract

An apparatus for handling a plurality of tubular members. The apparatus comprises A tong member for coupling a first tubular with a second tubular. A first axial roller is positioned on the first side of the tong member and a second axial roller is positioned on the second side of the tong member. A hydraulic power pack is used to provide power to the first roller, the second roller, and the tong member. A first Y-frame roller is positioned on the first side of the tong means, and a second Y-frame roller positioned on the second side of the tong member. In the preferred embodiment, the axial and Y-frame rollers are connected to a support member, with the first axial roller being configured for movement of the plurality of tubular members in a longitudinal direction and the second Y-frame rollers being configured for movement of the plurality of tubular member in a radial direction. A first hydraulic cylinder may be attached at one end to the support member and attached at the other end to the first axial roller. The hydraulic power pack provides power to the first hydraulic cylinder so as to lower the first axial roller. The axial rollers may also include a motor having a shaft, and wherein the shaft is attached to the axial rollers, with the motor being operatively connected to the power pack for imparting a rotating movement to the shaft. The apparatus may further include a master bushing with a rat hole that is adapted to receive the tubular members. A method for coupling and de-coupling a plurality of tubular members is also disclosed.

I claim:  
     
         1 . An apparatus for handling a plurality of tubular members comprising: 
 a tong means for coupling a first tubular member with a second tubular member in a horizontal orientation, said tong means having a first side and a second side;    a first axial roller positioned on the first side of said tong means, said first axial roller having the first tubular member horizontally disposed thereon;    a second axial roller positioned on the second side of said tong means, said second axial roller having the second tubular member horizontal disposed thereon;    power means for providing power to said first axial roller, said second axial roller, and said tong means.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 -a first frame having said first axial roller mounted thereon;  
 a second frame having said second axial roller mounted thereon;  
 a first Y-cradle roller mounted on said first frame and positioned on the first side of said tong means;  
 means for rotating said first axial roller in order to advance the first tubular member.  
 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  further comprising: 
 a second Y-cradle roller mounted on said second frame and positioned on the second side of said tong means;  
 means for rotating said second axial roller in order to advance the first tubular member.  
 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said tong means comprises: 
 a first gripper member for gripping a pin end of the first tubular member;  
 a second gripper member for gripping a box end of the second tubular member;  
 a power drive section turning said second gripper member so that the pin end is threadedly engaged with the box end;  
 and wherein the apparatus further comprises a first kicker member operatively connected to said first axial roller for lowering? said first axial roller and said Y-cradle in order to eject the first tubular member.  
 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein said first kicker member comprises: 
 a first hydraulic cylinder being attached at one end to the support member and attached at the other end to the first axial roller;  
 and wherein said hydraulic power means is used for powering said first hydraulic cylinder so as to lower said first roller.  
 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5  further comprising: 
 a motor having a shaft, and wherein said shaft is attached to said first roller, said motor being operatively connected to said power means for imparting a rotating movement to said shaft.  
 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein said power means for providing power to said first axial roller, said second axial roller, said tubular spinner means, and said tong means comprises: 
 a hydraulic motor for generating a hydraulic pressure;  
 a hydraulic control-circuit panel, operatively connected to said hydraulic motor,  
 said hydraulic control panel selectively providing a hydraulic operating fluid to said first kicker member, said second kicker member, said tubular spinner means, and said tong means.  
 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7  further comprising a second kicker operatively associated with said second axial roller, said second kicker comprising: 
 a first hydraulic cylinder being attached at one end to the second support member and attached at the other end to said second axial roller;  
 second hydraulic power means for powering said first hydraulic cylinder so as to lower said second roller.  
 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein said second kicker member further comprises: 
 a second hydraulic cylinder being attached at one end to the support member and attached at the other end to said second axial roller;  
 and wherein said hydraulic power means is operatively connected to said second hydraulic cylinder so as to lower said third roller.  
 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  further comprising: 
 master bushing with a rat hole, adapted to receive the tubular members  
 
     
     
         11 . A method for coupling and de-coupling a plurality of tubular members comprising: 
 placing a first tubular in a horizontal orientation onto a first axial roller;    placing a second tubular in a horizontal orientation onto a second axial roller;    advancing the first tubular with said first axial roller into a tong member, and wherein said tong member is adapted to receive the first tubular in the horizontal orientation;    advancing the second tubular with said second axial roller into the tong member, and wherein said tong member is adapted to receive the second tubular in the horizontal orientation;    placing a pin end of the first tubular into a box end of the second tubular;    rotating the second tubular with the tong member;    threadedly engaging the first tubular with the second tubular so that the first tubular and the second tubular are coupled together;    opening the tong member;    lowering a first end of said first axial roller;    lowering a first end of said second axial roller;    ejecting the joined first tubular and second tubular.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising: 
 placing a third tubular in a horizontal orientation onto the first axial roller;  
 placing a fourth tubular in a horizontal orientation onto the second axial roller;  
 closing the tong member;  
 advancing the third tubular with the first axial roller into the tong member, and wherein said tong member is adapted to receive the first tubular in the horizontal orientation;  
 advancing the fourth tubular with the second axial roller into the tong member, and wherein said tong member is adapted to receive the second tubular in the horizontal orientation;  
 placing a pin end of the third tubular into the box end of the fourth tubular;  
 rotating the fourth tubular with the tong member;  
 threadedly engaging the third tubular with the fourth tubular so that the third tubular and the fourth tubular are coupled;  
 opening the tong member;  
 lowering a first end of said first axial roller;  
 lowering a first end of said second axial roller;  
 ejecting the joined third tubular and fourth tubular.  
 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the step of threadedly engaging the third tubular with the fourth tubular includes measuring the amount of torque applied to the pin end of the third tubular into the box end of the fourth tubular.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising: 
 placing the joined third tubular and fourth tubular onto the first roller and the second roller;  
 closing the tong means;  
 engaging the pin end of the third tubular with the tong member;  
 engaging the box end of the fourth tubular with the tong member;  
 rotating the fourth tubular with the tong member;  
 threadedly disengaging the third tubular with the fourth tubular so that the third tubular and the fourth tubular are de-coupled;  
 opening the tong member;  
 lifting the first end of the first axial roller;  
 tilting the first end of the second axial roller;  
 ejecting the third tubular;  
 ejecting the fourth tubular.  
 
     
     
         15 . A tubular handling system for handling a plurality of tubular members, the tubular members having a thread means on a first end and on a second end, the system comprising: 
 a tong member having a first gripper member for gripping the first end of the first tubular member; a second gripper member for gripping the second end of the second tubular member; a power drive section turning said second gripper member so that the first end is threadedly engaged with the second end; said tong member having a first side and a second side;    a first roller member positioned on the first end of said tong member, and wherein said first roller member is configured to receive the plurality of tubular members in a horizontal orientation;    a second roller member positioned on the second end of said tong member, and wherein said second roller member is configured to receive the plurality of tubular members in a horizontal orientation;    a third roller member positioned on the first end of said tong member, and wherein said third roller member is configured to receive the plurality of tubular members in a horizontal orientation;    a fourth roller member positioned on the second end of said tong member, and    wherein said fourth roller member is configured to receive the plurality of tubular members in a horizontal orientation;    a first lowering means for lowering said first roller member, said second roller member, said third roller member, and said fourth roller member;    hydraulic power pack for providing a hydraulic power;    a hydraulic control panel to control the hydraulic power to said first roller member, said second roller member, said third roller member and fourth roller member.    
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein said first, second, third, and fourth roller member comprises: 
 a support member;  
 an hourglass spool attached to said support member and aligned for movement of the plurality of tubular members in a longitudinal direction;  
 a Y-cradle set of yolk rollers attached to said support member and aligned for movement of the plurality of tubular member in a radial direction.  
 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16  further comprising: 
 a first hydraulic cylinder being attached at one end to the support member and attached at the other end to the first roller;  
 hydraulic power means for powering said first hydraulic cylinder so as to lower said hourglass spool and said Y-cradle of yolk rollers.  
 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17  further comprising: 
 a motor having a shaft, and wherein said shaft is attached to said first axial spool, said motor being operatively connected to said power pack for imparting a rotating movement to said shaft.  
 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18  wherein said tong member pivots from the horizontal inclination to a vertical inclination in order to accept tubular member in the vertical inclination.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19  further comprising: 
 master bushing with a rat hole, adapted to receive the tubular members in the vertical inclination.