Spooling arrangement for continuous composite sucker rod

Abstract

A coiling arrangement for a continuous composite sucker rod for a well sump includes a spool having a substantially cylindrical shape. A support structure rotatably supporting the spool about a rotation shaft, and for translatory movement. A guide arrangement moves the spool reciprocally such that the reciprocal motion of the support structure is along a direction that is parallel to the axis of rotation of the shaft. The rod is thereby accumulated on the spool in a spiral manner with minimal lateral deflection. In one form the spool is reciprocal relative to its support shaft. In another a support structure is reciprocal with the spool.

1 . A coiling arrangement for a composite rod, comprising:
 a spool having a substantially cylindrical shape, the spool having a diameter and a width;   a support structure rotatably supporting said spool about a rotation shaft;   a lower frame slidably supporting said support structure; and   a guide arrangement disposed between said support structure and said lower frame, said guide arrangement disposed to move the support structure reciprocally relative to the lower frame, the reciprocal motion of the support structure being conducted linearly along a direction that is parallel to the rotation shaft.   
     
     
         2 . The coiling arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the spool is adapted to accept at least one layer of spooled rod thereon, the spooled rod having a width dimension along the width of the spool that is substantially smaller than the width of the spool such that a plurality of loops of the spooled rod form a single layer on the spool. 
     
     
         3 . The coiling arrangement of  claim 2 , wherein the spool is further adapted to accept multiple layers of spooled rod thereon. 
     
     
         4 . The coiling arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the composite rod has a rectangular cross section having a width of about one inch and a thickness of about one quarter inch, and wherein the spool has a diameter of about 48 inches and a width of about 36 inches. 
     
     
         5 . The coiling arrangement of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one entrapment member adapted to prevent the composite rod from uncoiling from the spool, the at least one entrapment member including a roller disposed across the width of the spool and biased into contact therewith, the roller rotatably disposed on a frame that is pivotally connected to the support structure and that is further connected to the support structure by a resilient element providing the biasing of the roller against the spool. 
     
     
         6 . The coiling arrangement of  claim 5 , further comprising two additional entrapment members, wherein the three entrapment members are disposed symmetrically around the spool. 
     
     
         7 . The coiling arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the guide arrangement includes:
 a bar rotatably disposed on the support structure and extending substantially in parallel with the rotation shaft;   a plurality of grooves defined on a outer portion of said bar, the plurality of grooves forming a bidirectional thread pattern having a thread pitch;   a guide block connected to the lower frame and disposed around the bar and having a pin that engages the plurality of grooves;   wherein rotation of the bar in one direction causes the guide block to reciprocate relative to the bar.   
     
     
         8 . The coiling arrangement of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 at least one spool sprocket connected to the spool and disposed to rotate therewith around the rotation shaft;   a guide sprocket connected to the bar and disposed to rotate therewith;   a continuous chain intermeshing the spool and guide sprockets such that a rotation of the spool is coordinated with a corresponding rotation of the bar.   
     
     
         9 . The coiling arrangement of  claim 8 , further comprising a motor connected to a drive sprocket, the motor disposed on the support structure such that the drive sprocket is meshed with the chain and operates to rotate the chain and thus cause the coordinated rotation of the spool and the bar. 
     
     
         10 . A portable system for dispensing and collecting a section of continuous composite rod, comprising:
 a trailer adapted for connection to a truck, the trailer having a bed;   a lower frame disposed on the bed;   a support structure slidably disposed on the lower frame;   a spool rotatably connected to said support structure and arranged for rotatable motion about a rotation shaft; and   a guide arrangement disposed between said support structure and said lower frame, said guide arrangement disposed to move the support structure reciprocally relative to the lower frame, the reciprocal motion of the support structure being along a direction that is parallel to the rotation shaft.   
     
     
         11 . The portable system of  claim 10 , wherein the spool is adapted to accept at least one layer of spooled rod thereon, the spooled rod having a width dimension along the width of the spool that is substantially smaller than the width of the spool such that a plurality of loops of the spooled rod form a single layer on the spool. 
     
     
         12 . The portable system of  claim 11 , wherein the spool is further adapted to accept multiple layers of spooled rod thereon. 
     
     
         13 . The portable system of  claim 11 , wherein the composite rod has a rectangular cross section having a width of about one inch and a thickness of about one quarter inch, and wherein the spool has a diameter of about 48 inches and a width of between 36 and 48 inches inclusive. 
     
     
         14 . The portable system of  claim 11 , further comprising at least one entrapment member adapted to prevent the composite rod from uncoiling from the spool, the at least one entrapment member including a roller disposed across the width of the spool and biased into contact therewith, the roller rotatably disposed on a frame that is pivotally connected to the support structure and that is further connected to the support structure by a resilient element providing the biasing of the roller against the spool. 
     
     
         15 . The portable system of  claim 14 , further comprising two additional entrapment members, wherein the three entrapment members are disposed symmetrically around the spool. 
     
     
         16 . The portable system of  claim 10 , wherein the guide arrangement includes:
 a bar rotatably disposed on the support structure and extending substantially in parallel with the rotation shaft;   a plurality of grooves defined on a outer portion of said bar, the plurality of grooves forming a bidirectional thread pattern having a thread pitch;   a guide block connected to the lower frame and disposed around the bar and having a pin that engages the plurality of grooves;   wherein rotation of the bar in one direction causes the guide block to reciprocate relative to the bar.   
     
     
         17 . The portable system of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 at least one spool sprocket connected to the spool and disposed to rotate therewith around the rotation shaft;   a guide sprocket connected to the bar and disposed to rotate therewith;   a continuous chain intermeshing the spool and guide sprockets such that a rotation of the spool is coordinated with a corresponding rotation of the bar.   
     
     
         18 . The portable system of  claim 17 , further comprising a motor connected to a drive sprocket, the motor disposed on the support structure such that the drive sprocket is meshed with the chain and operates to rotate the chain and thus cause the coordinated rotation of the spool and the bar. 
     
     
         19 . The portable system of  claim 10 , further comprising a guiding device disposed on the bed of the trailer, the guiding device adapted to engage the composite rod during coiling or uncoiling thereof on the spool, wherein the guiding device includes at least one of an injector, pack off, and a clamp, and wherein the guiding device facilitates a motion of the rod. 
     
     
         20 . A method for spooling a composite rod, comprising:
 attaching an end of the rod to a spool;   rotating the spool to coil the rod onto the spool;   maintaining a substantially tangential relationship between the rod and the spool and avoiding excessive lateral stresses in the rod by laterally displacing the spool relative to a location of an incoming rod thread such that the rod is coiled onto the spool in successive layers, each layer comprising a plurality of rod coils disposed adjacent one another.