Track and Sprocket Drive for Drilling

Abstract

A drilling rig includes a mast base and a mast having a structural frame extending from the mast base. The structural frame includes a first track extending along the length of the structural frame and a second track extending along the length of the structural frame spaced from and parallel to the first track. The drilling rig also includes a top drive carriage assembly having at least one sprocket arrangement operatively engaged with one of the first track and the second track. The first track and the second track each include a plurality of bushings equally spaced apart and attached to spaced apart track plates. The at least one sprocket arrangement has a plurality of teeth configured to operatively engage the plurality of bushings such that the top drive carriage assembly moves along the length of the structural frame of the mast.

1 . A drilling rig comprising:
 a mast base;   a mast comprising a structural frame extending from the mast base, the structural frame including a first track extending along the length of the structural frame and a second track extending along the length of the structural frame spaced from and parallel to the first track; and   a top drive carriage assembly comprising at least one sprocket arrangement operatively engaged with one of the first track and the second track,   wherein the first track and the second track each comprise a plurality of bushings equally spaced apart and attached to spaced apart track plates, and   the at least one sprocket arrangement comprises a plurality of teeth configured to operatively engage the plurality of bushings such that the top drive carriage assembly moves along the length of the structural frame of the mast.   
   
   
       2 . The drilling rig of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of bushings is attached to the spaced apart track plates by a bolt and nut arrangement. 
   
   
       3 . The drilling rig of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first track and the second track further comprises wear plates positioned adjacent to the plurality of bushings to prevent wear on the track plates. 
   
   
       4 . The drilling rig of  claim 1 , wherein at least one first roller configured to move with the top drive carriage assembly is provided adjacent to outer edges of the spaced apart track plates of the first track and at least one second roller configured to move with the top drive carriage assembly is provided adjacent to outer edges of the spaced apart track plates of the second track. 
   
   
       5 . The drilling rig of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sprocket arrangement is driven by a planetary gear arrangement driven by a hydraulic motor. 
   
   
       6 . The drilling rig of  claim 1 , wherein the top drive carriage assembly includes four sprocket arrangements. 
   
   
       7 . The drilling rig of  claim 6 , wherein two of the sprocket arrangements are operatively engaged with the first track and two of the sprocket arrangements are operatively engaged with the second track. 
   
   
       8 . The drilling rig of  claim 6 , wherein each of the sprocket arrangements is driven by a separate planetary gear arrangement driven by a hydraulic motor. 
   
   
       9 . The drilling rig of  claim 8 , further comprising a control panel having four on/off switches, a joystick control, and potentiometer knob for controlling four hydraulic pumps. 
   
   
       10 . The drilling rig of  claim 1 , wherein the sprocket arrangement is manufactured using a water-jet technique. 
   
   
       11 . A drive mechanism for a top drive carriage assembly of a drilling rig comprising:
 a track comprising a plurality of bushings equally spaced apart and attached to spaced apart track plates; and   at least one sprocket arrangement operatively engaged with the track,   wherein the at least one sprocket arrangement comprises a plurality of teeth configured to operatively engage the plurality of bushings such that the sprocket assembly moves along the track.   
   
   
       12 . The drive mechanism of  claim 11 , wherein each of the plurality of bushings is attached to the spaced apart track plates by a bolt and nut arrangement. 
   
   
       13 . The drive mechanism of  claim 11 , wherein the track further comprises wear plates positioned adjacent to the plurality of bushings to prevent wear on the track plates. 
   
   
       14 . A method of drilling comprising:
 providing a drilling rig comprising:
 a mast base; 
 a mast comprising a structural frame extending from the mast base, the structural frame including a first track extending along the length of the structural frame and a second track extending along the length of the structural frame spaced from and parallel to the first track, the first track and the second track each comprises a plurality of bushings equally spaced apart and attached to spaced apart track plates; 
 a top drive carriage assembly comprising at least one sprocket arrangement operatively engaged with one of the first track and the second track; and 
 the at least one sprocket arrangement comprises a plurality of teeth configured to operatively engage the plurality of bushings such that the top drive carriage assembly moves along the length of the structural frame of the mast; 
   raising the mast onto the mast base such that it is substantially perpendicular to a surface;   coupling an upper end of a drill string having a drill bit at a lower end thereof to a top drive drill head of the top drive carriage assembly; and   providing a rotational drive force to the drill string by the top drive drill head such that the drill bit is rotated to bore into the earth.   
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein each of the plurality of bushings is attached to the spaced apart track plates by a bolt and nut arrangement. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein each of the first track and the second track further comprises wear plates positioned adjacent to the plurality of bushings to prevent wear on the track plates. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein at least one first roller configured to move with the top drive carriage assembly is provided adjacent to outer edges of the spaced apart track plates of the first track and at least one second roller configured to move with the top drive carriage assembly is provided adjacent to outer edges of the spaced apart track plates of the second track. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one sprocket arrangement is driven by a planetary gear arrangement driven by a hydraulic motor. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the top drive carriage assembly includes four sprocket arrangements. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein two of the sprocket arrangements are operatively engaged with the first track and two of the sprocket arrangements are operatively engaged with the second track.