Universal pipe dispatch for drill pipe joints

Abstract

A universal pipe dispatch, comprising a self-contained pipe joint dispatch module. The dispatch module includes, all in a unitary mobile structure, (1) a pipe joint queuing mechanism, (2) a pipe joint magazine, (3) a plurality of extendable pipe joint delivery arms and (4) a tilting mechanism. The queuing mechanism unloads and loads up pipe joints via gravity-feed, one-by-one, out of and back into the magazine. The delivery arms selectively pick and release pipe joints as dispensed by, or loaded back up into, the queuing mechanism. Each delivery arm can extend a selected length away from the queuing mechanism so as to deliver and retrieve pipe joints anywhere within reach of the delivery arms. The tilting mechanism is affixed to the underside of the dispatch module and can elevate one end of the dispatch module to a selected height so that the dispatch module rests at a predetermined horizontal angle.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A universal pipe dispatch, comprising:
 a self-contained pipe joint dispatch module, the dispatch module including, all in a unitary mobile structure, (1) a pipe joint queuing mechanism, (2) a pipe joint magazine, (3) a plurality of extendable pipe joint delivery arms and (4) a tilting mechanism;   the queuing mechanism disposed to unload and load up pipe joints, one-by-one, out of and back into the magazine, the magazine divided internally so as to organize pipe joints contained therein such that individual pipe joints gravity-feed sequentially out of and back into the magazine;   each delivery arm providing a pipe joint gripping mechanism at a first end thereof, the gripping mechanisms configured to be remotely actuated to synchronously and selectively pick and release pipe joints, the queuing mechanism configured to deliver pipe joints one-by-one to the gripping mechanisms during unload mode, and to receive pipe joints one-by-one from the gripping mechanisms during load up mode;   each delivery arm further disposed to extend a selected length away from the queuing mechanism within a range thereof so as to (1) deliver pipe joints to a predetermined drop line within reach of the delivery arms, and (2) retrieve pipe joints from a predetermined pick line also within reach of the delivery arms; and   the tilting mechanism affixed to the underside of the dispatch module, the tilting mechanism including at least one extendable tilting member, each tilting member disposed to elevate one end of the dispatch module to a selected height so that the module rests at a predetermined horizontal angle.   
     
     
         2 . The universal pipe dispatch of  claim 1 , in which the dispatch module sits atop a wheel-borne trailer, and the tilting mechanism is affixed to the underside of the trailer. 
     
     
         3 . The universal pipe dispatch of  claim 1 , in which selected ones of the queuing mechanism, the delivery arms, the tilting mechanism and the gripping mechanisms are actuated hydraulically. 
     
     
         4 . The universal pipe dispatch of  claim 1 , in which the magazine is removable from the dispatch module. 
     
     
         5 . The universal pipe dispatch of  claim 4 , in which the magazine is one of a set of interchangeable magazines, each interchangeable magazine within the set holding pipe joints of a first selected length and a second selected diameter to a third selected capacity, wherein the selected lengths, diameters and capacities are within predetermined ranges thereof. 
     
     
         6 . A universal pipe dispatch, comprising:
 a self-contained pipe joint dispatch module, the dispatch module including, all in a unitary mobile structure, (1) a pipe joint queuing mechanism, (2) a pipe joint magazine, (3) a plurality of extendable pipe joint delivery arms and (4) a tilting mechanism;   the queuing mechanism disposed to unload and load up pipe joints, one-by-one, out of and back into the magazine, the magazine divided internally so as to organize pipe joints contained therein into vertical columns;   the queuing mechanism further comprising a pendulum mechanism and an elevator mechanism, the pendulum mechanism including a pendulum block disposed to swing in a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of pipe joints when loaded in the magazine, the pendulum block providing a pendulum receptacle formed therein, the elevator mechanism including an elevator block disposed to elevate from under the vertical columns in a direction parallel to the swing plane of the pendulum block;   each delivery arm providing a pipe joint gripping mechanism at a first end thereof, the gripping mechanisms configured to be remotely actuated to synchronously and selectively pick and release pipe joints, the queuing mechanism configured to deliver pipe joints one-by-one to the gripping mechanisms during unload mode, and to receive pipe joints one-by-one from the gripping mechanisms during load up mode;   each delivery arm further disposed to extend a selected length away from the queuing mechanism within a range thereof so as to (1) deliver pipe joints to a predetermined drop line within reach of the delivery arms, and (2) retrieve pipe joints from a predetermined pick line also within reach of the delivery arms;   the tilting mechanism affixed to the underside of the dispatch module, the tilting mechanism including at least one extendable tilting member, each tilting member disposed to elevate one end of the dispatch module to a selected height so that the module rests at a predetermined horizontal angle;   the pendulum mechanism, when actuated in unload mode, disposed to cause pipe joints in a first selected vertical column to gravity-feed sequentially into the pendulum receptacle while the pendulum block holds pipe joints in other vertical columns in place, the pendulum mechanism further disposed, when the first selected column is empty, to swing such that pipe joints in a vertical column neighboring the first selected vertical column gravity feed sequentially into the pendulum receptacle while the pendulum block holds pipe joints in other vertical columns in place;   each delivery arm, when actuated in unload mode, disposed to cause its gripping mechanism to pick and hold pipe joints out of the pendulum receptacle one-by-one;   each delivery arm then, when actuated in unload mode, disposed to (1) rotate synchronously about an axis parallel to a longitudinal axis of the held pipe joint, (2) extend, and (3) release the held pipe joint over the predetermined drop line;   each delivery arm, when actuated in load up mode, disposed to cause its gripping mechanism to pick and hold pipe joints from the predetermined pick line,   each delivery arm then, when actuated in load up mode, disposed to (1) retract, (2) rotate synchronously about an axis parallel to a longitudinal axis of the held pipe joint, and (3) release the held pipe joint into the pendulum receptacle;   the pendulum mechanism, when actuated in load up mode, disposed to swing so as to deliver a received pipe joint in the pendulum receptacle under a second selected vertical column while the pendulum block holds pipe joints in other columns in place;   the elevator mechanism, when actuated in load up mode, then disposed to elevate the elevator block to push the received pipe joint up out of the pendulum receptacle and into the second selected vertical column, the elevator block further disposed to hold received pipe joint in the second selected vertical column while the pendulum mechanism swings to receive further pipe joints; and   the pendulum mechanism further disposed, during load up mode and when the second selected column is full, to swing such that the elevator block pushes pipe joints sequentially up into a vertical column neighboring the second selected vertical column while the pendulum block holds pipe joints in other vertical columns in place.   
     
     
         7 . The universal pipe dispatch of  claim 6 , in which the dispatch module sits atop a wheel-borne trailer, and the tilting mechanism is affixed to the underside of the trailer. 
     
     
         8 . The universal pipe dispatch of  claim 6 , in which selected ones of the queuing mechanism, the delivery arms, the tilting mechanism and the gripping mechanisms are actuated hydraulically. 
     
     
         9 . The universal pipe dispatch of  claim 6 , in which the magazine is removable from the dispatch module. 
     
     
         10 . The universal pipe dispatch of  claim 9 , in which the magazine is one of a set of interchangeable magazines, each interchangeable magazine within the set holding pipe joints of a first selected length and a second selected diameter to a third selected capacity, wherein the selected lengths, diameters and capacities are within predetermined ranges thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The universal pipe dispatch of  claim 6 , in which selected ones of the pendulum block, the pendulum receptacle and the elevator block have non-slip surfaces at points of contact with pipe joints. 
     
     
         12 . The universal pipe dispatch of  claim 6 , in which the pendulum block provides at least one roller bearing to assist entry and exit of pipe joints into and out of the pendulum receptacle. 
     
     
         13 . A universal pipe dispatch, comprising:
 a self-contained pipe joint dispatch module, the dispatch module including, all in a unitary mobile structure, (1) a pipe joint queuing mechanism, (2) a removable pipe joint magazine, (3) a plurality of extendable pipe joint delivery arms and (4) a tilting mechanism, the magazine comprising one of a set of interchangeable magazines, each interchangeable magazine within the set holding pipe joints of a first selected length and a second selected diameter to a third selected capacity, wherein the selected lengths, diameters and capacities are within predetermined ranges thereof;   the queuing mechanism disposed to unload and load up pipe joints, one-by-one, out of and back into the magazine, the magazine divided internally so as to organize pipe joints contained therein into vertical columns;   the queuing mechanism further comprising a pendulum mechanism and an elevator mechanism, the pendulum mechanism including a pendulum block disposed to swing in a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of pipe joints when loaded in the magazine, the pendulum block providing a pendulum receptacle formed therein, the elevator mechanism including an elevator block disposed to elevate from under the vertical columns in a direction parallel to the swing plane of the pendulum block;   each delivery arm providing a pipe joint gripping mechanism at a first end thereof, the gripping mechanisms configured to be remotely actuated to synchronously and selectively pick and release pipe joints, the queuing mechanism configured to deliver pipe joints one-by-one to the gripping mechanisms during unload mode, and to receive pipe joints one-by-one from the gripping mechanisms during load up mode;   each delivery arm further disposed to extend a selected length away from the queuing mechanism within a range thereof so as to (1) deliver pipe joints to a predetermined drop line within reach of the delivery arms, and (2) retrieve pipe joints from a predetermined pick line also within reach of the delivery arms;   the tilting mechanism affixed to the underside of a wheel-borne trailer, the dispatch module sitting atop the trailer, the tilting mechanism including at least one extendable tilting member, each tilting member disposed to elevate one end of the dispatch module to a selected height so that the module rests at a predetermined horizontal angle;   selected ones of the queuing mechanism, the delivery arms, the tilting mechanism and the gripping mechanisms actuated hydraulically;   the pendulum mechanism, when actuated in unload mode, disposed to cause pipe joints in a first selected vertical column to gravity-feed sequentially into the pendulum receptacle while the pendulum block holds pipe joints in other vertical columns in place, the pendulum mechanism further disposed, when the first selected column is empty, to swing such that pipe joints in a vertical column neighboring the first selected vertical, column gravity feed sequentially into the pendulum receptacle while the pendulum block holds pipe joints in other vertical columns in place;   each delivery arm, when actuated in unload mode, disposed to cause its gripping mechanism to pick and hold pipe joints out of the pendulum receptacle one-by-one;   each delivery arm then, when actuated in unload mode, disposed to (1) rotate synchronously about an axis parallel to a longitudinal axis of the held pipe joint, (2) extend, and (3) release the held pipe joint over the predetermined drop line;   each delivery arm, when actuated in load up mode, disposed to cause its gripping mechanism to pick and hold pipe joints from the predetermined pick line,   each delivery arm then, when actuated in load up mode, disposed to (1) retract, (2) rotate synchronously about an axis parallel to a longitudinal axis of the held pipe joint, and (3) release the held pipe joint into the pendulum receptacle;   the pendulum mechanism, when actuated in load up mode, disposed to swing so as to deliver a received pipe joint in the pendulum receptacle under a second selected vertical column while the pendulum block holds pipe joints in other columns in place;   the elevator mechanism, when actuated in load up mode, then disposed to elevate the elevator block to push the received pipe joint up out of the pendulum receptacle and into the second selected vertical column, the elevator block further disposed to hold received pipe joint in the second selected vertical column while the pendulum mechanism swings to receive further pipe joints; and   the pendulum mechanism further disposed, during load up mode and when the second selected column is full, to swing such that the elevator block pushes pipe joints sequentially up into a vertical column neighboring the second selected vertical column while the pendulum block holds pipe joints in other vertical columns in place.   
     
     
         14 . The universal pipe dispatch of  claim 13 , in which selected ones of the pendulum block, the pendulum receptacle and the elevator block have non-slip surfaces at points of contact with pipe joints. 
     
     
         15 . The universal pipe dispatch of  claim 13 , in which the pendulum block provides at least one roller bearing to assist entry and exit of pipe joints into and out of the pendulum receptacle.