Guide track system for a drilling rig floor robot

Abstract

A guide track system is provided for a drilling rig floor robot. The system consists of a drilling floor insert having a rotary table and floor robot guide tracks disposed within the insert beneath its top surface. Spaced-apart parallel slots traverse the top surface from an edge of the insert substantially towards the rotary table. The floor robot is supported by a support member having support legs that extend downwardly through the slots into the insert to glidably couple with the guide tracks. Hydraulic rams disposed within the insert are used to move the floor robot along the guide tracks to and from the rotary table. The guide tracks are protected from drilling fluid and debris released onto the drilling rig floor as sections of drill pipe are tripped out of a drill string.

1 . A guide track system for a drilling rig floor robot, comprising: 
 (a) a drilling rig platform insert adapted to be mounted on a drilling rig, said insert having substantially horizontal top and bottom surfaces, said insert further comprising a vertical opening adapted to allow a drill string to pass through said insert;    (b) at least one guide track means operatively disposed within said insert between said top and bottom surfaces;    (c) at least one linear guide slot traversing at least partially along said top surface from an edge of said insert substantially towards said vertical opening;    (d) at least one passageway disposed within said insert providing communication between said at least one guide slot to said at least one guide track means;    (e) a floor robot support member adapted to support said floor robot, said support member extending downwardly from said floor robot, said support member adapted to pass through said at least one guide slot and said at least one passageway to glidably couple with said at least one guide track means; and    (f) motive means operatively disposed within said insert, said motive means adapted to move said support member along said at least one guide track means whereby said floor robot is capable of moving towards and away from said vertical opening.    
   
   
       2 . The system as set forth in  claim 1  wherein: 
 (a) said at least one guide slot comprises a pair of spaced-apart parallel linear guide slots;    (b) said at least one guide track means comprises a pair of guide track means operatively disposed within said insert;    (c) said at least one passageway comprises a first passageway providing communication between one of said pair of guide slots and one of said pair of guide track means and a second passageway providing communication between the other of said pair of guide slots and the other of said guide track means; and    (d) said support member comprises a pair of support legs, one support leg adapted to pass through one of said guide slots and said first passageway to glidably couple with one of said guide track means, and the other support leg adapted to pass through the other of said guide slots and said second passageway to glidably couple with the other of said guide track means.    
   
   
       3 . The system as set forth in  claim 2  wherein each said guide track means comprises at least one guide rail and a plurality of guide wheels adapted to roll along said at least one guide rail.  
   
   
       4 . The system as set forth in  claim 3  wherein each at least one guide rail is operatively attached to said insert and said guide wheels are rotatably coupled to each of said support legs whereby said guide wheels roll along said guide rails when said floor robot moves towards or away from said vertical opening.  
   
   
       5 . The system as set forth in  claim 4  wherein said guide wheels are grooved about their circumference and adapted to ride along said guide rails.  
   
   
       6 . The system as set forth in  claim 2  wherein said support legs of said support member form an omega-shaped member.  
   
   
       7 . The system as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said motive means comprises at least one hydraulic ram operatively connecting said support member to said insert whereby said floor robot is able to move towards and away from said vertical opening when said at least hydraulic ram is operated.  
   
   
       8 . The system as set forth in  claim 7  wherein said motive means comprises a pair of hydraulic rams operatively connecting said support member to said insert.  
   
   
       9 . The system as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said at least one guide slot further comprises a mud fence disposed at least partially along at least one edge of said guide slot, said mud fence extending above said top surface to provide at least a partial barrier against drilling fluid from entering said at least one guide slot.  
   
   
       10 . The system as set forth in  claim 9  wherein said insert further comprises at least one drainage opening on said bottom surface that provides communication between said at least one passageway and a sump located beneath said insert, said at least one drainage opening adapted to allow drilling fluid entering said at least one passageway through at least one guide slot to drain out of said insert.  
   
   
       11 . The system as set forth in  claim 1  further comprising a drainage trough disposed between said top and bottom surfaces of said insert, and a plurality of drainage slots located on said top surface having communication with said trough whereby drilling fluid spilled on said top surface can drain through said slots to said trough, said trough adapted to guide said spilled drilling fluid away from said insert.