Abstract:
A modular pipe basket for transporting pipe is disclosed. The modular pipe basket will comprise a rectangular base, two or more stanchions and one or more end caps. In another embodiment, the modular pipe basket will incorporate a storage compartment or bin for storing miscellaneous piping accessories. In addition, the modular pipe basket may be equipped with a four point sling pickup system for lifting the basket with a crane along with the means for lifting the basket with a forklift.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of prior U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/645,451 filed on Jan. 20, 2005. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable. 
     REFERENCE TO A “SEQUENCE LISTING,” A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM 
     Not applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to devices for transporting pipe. More particularly, the invention relates to a device for transporting drill pipe wherein the device is stackable and capable of being used in several modes of transportation. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     A large volume of drilling pipe is used in oilfield drilling operations. As wells are drilled to ever greater depths, the number of sections of pipe required is continually increasing. The pipe is typically shipped loose and held together with slings. The modes of transportation for drill pipe are many, especially when the final destination is an offshore drilling rig. Starting from a pipe yard, the pipe will often be transported by both truck and boat before reaching the rig. 
     It is crucial that the drill pipe be kept stable and secure when it is transported. If the pipe load shifts on either a workboat or a truck the results can include an overturned trailer or a sunken vessel which could cause injury to workers, destruction of equipment and delayed delivery times. Many man-hours are expended in transporting individual drill pipe sections from one mode of transportation to another. The offloading of pipe from the boat to the rig is inherently dangerous, especially when the seas are rough. It would be a valuable savings in man-hours and a marked safety achievement if multiple sections of drill pipe could be moved in a systematic, uniform, and safe manner. Although utilizing the pipe basket will result in an increase in freight expenditures, the overall cost savings associated with utilizing the pipe basket will far outweigh the additional freight expenditure due to the pipe basket&#39;s safety advantages. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a modular pipe basket which is capable of holding multiple pipe sections. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a basket which can be stacked on another basket. 
     It is another object of the present invention to protect the ends of the pipe from damage. 
     It is another object of the invention to provide a basket which securely holds the pipe sections within the basket while maintaining the center of gravity at approximately the midpoint of the basket. 
     It is another object of the invention to provide a basket which has a balanced four point sling pickup system to enable stable lifting of the pipe basket with a crane or other like lifting means. 
     It is another object of the invention to provide a basket that will enable lifting of the pipe basket with a forklift or other like lifting means. 
     It is another object of the invention to provide a basket which has open side access to enable loading or unloading of pipe sections from the basket with either a forklift, crane or other lifting means. 
     It is another object of the invention to provide a basket that is compatible with truck and boat transportation and which can be moved between these two modes of transportation with relative ease. 
     It is another object of the invention to provide a basket which can include at least one container or bin for pipe thread protectors. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a modular pipe basket. The basket includes at least two stanchions, a rectangular base, and two end caps. In a preferred embodiment, the base has longitudinal members and cross members. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the device will include at least one bin, and the bin will include an integrated end cap. 
     A pipe basket described herein may for example comprise: an elongate first base member having a first end, a second end, and a midpoint; an elongate second base member having a first end, a second end, and a midpoint; wherein the base members are substantially equal in length; the second base member lies along a line which is substantially parallel to the first base member; the second base member is positioned along the line such that the distance between the first end of the first base member and the first end of the second base member is minimized; wherein the first base member is connected to the second base member by one or more connecting members; a first stanchion connected to the first base member at a point central to the first end of the first base member and the midpoint of the first base member; wherein the first stanchion is substantially free standing at its upper extent; a second stanchion connected to the first base member at a point central to the second end of the first base member and the midpoint of the first base member; wherein the second stanchion is substantially free standing at its upper extent; a third stanchion connected to the second base member at a point central to the first end of the second base member and the midpoint of the second base member; wherein the third stanchion is substantially free standing at its upper extent; a fourth stanchion connected to the second base member at a point central to the second end of the second base member and the midpoint of the second base member; wherein the fourth stanchion is substantially free standing at its upper extent; wherein the first stanchion, the second stanchion, the third stanchion, and the fourth stanchion are each substantially parallel to one another; a first receiving socket positioned on the first base member opposite the first stanchion; a second receiving socket positioned on the first base member opposite the second stanchion; a third receiving socket positioned on the second base member opposite the third stanchion; a fourth receiving socket positioned on the second base member opposite the fourth stanchion; wherein the basket is capable of stable stacking on top of a similar second basket such that the first receiving socket, the second receiving socket, the third receiving socket, and the fourth receiving socket receive a first stanchion of the similar second basket, a second stanchion of the similar second basket, a third stanchion of the similar second basket, and a fourth stanchion of the similar second basket respectively; wherein a cargo space is represented by a rectangular parallelepiped having a height equivalent to and coextensive with the height of the first stanchion, having a width equivalent to and coextensive with the width between the first stanchion and the third stanchion, and having a length that both passes through and extends beyond the plane occupied by the first stanchion and the third stanchion and that passes through and extends beyond the plane occupied by the second stanchion and the fourth stanchion; wherein the full height of the cargo space is accessible in an area between the first stanchion and the second stanchion; wherein the full height of the cargo space is accessible in an area between the first stanchion and the first end of the first base member; wherein the full height of the cargo space is accessible in an area between the second stanchion and the second end of the first base member; and wherein the connecting members are capable of supporting the weight of a quantity of drill pipe sufficient to fill the cargo space. In a further embodiment of the invention the pipe basket is arranged and configured such that when the sockets are resting on a surface a forklift on the surface can access the cargo area from between the first stanchion and the second stanchion such that the forklift can lift a pipe of a length substantially equivalent to the length of the cargo area vertically out of the cargo area then remove the pipe from the area above the basket by passing the pipe through the plane occupied by the first stanchion and the second stanchion. The methods described herein may, for example comprise, loading one or more drilling pipes onto the cargo space of the above described basket, securing the drilling pipes to the basket with one or more tensioning devices, transporting the basket to a second location, releasing the tensioning devices, and unloading the drilling pipe from the cargo space. 
     The modular pipe basket of the present invention has several advantages over the prior art systems. One advantage of the present invention is that the baskets are stackable. 
     Another advantage of the present invention is that the basket can accommodate different size pipes. 
     Another advantage of the present invention is that the basket will allow for centering of the drill pipe sections so that the center of gravity will be located at the midpoint of the basket. 
     Another advantage of the present invention is that the basket can accommodate various components associated with the drill pipe sections such as pipe end caps and wood strips which will be stored in the bin located at one or both ends of the pipe basket. 
     Still another advantage of the present invention is that the end cap of the basket will provide a backstop for potential load shifts of the pipe sections. 
     These and other objects, advantages, and features of this invention will be apparent from the following description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of the preferred embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of the preferred embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a fragmentary side view of one of the bins with the bin top in the open position. 
         FIG. 4  is an end view of the invention depicting the ladder system. 
         FIG. 5A  is a fragmentary side view of a portion of the invention depicting the preferred embodiment of the stanchion system design with load securing means. 
         FIG. 5B  is a reverse fragmentary side view of a portion of the invention depicting the preferred embodiment of the stanchion system design with strap receiver. 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of the invention depicting one pipe basket stacked on top of another. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     As shown in  FIG. 1-2 , modular pipe basket  100  includes base  101 , stanchions  102 , and end caps  103 . Base  101  has two ends and is rectangular. Base  101  includes longitudinal members  104 , cross members  105 , and support members  106 . Cross members  105  are welded to longitudinal members  104  and are substantially perpendicular to longitudinal members  104 . In a preferred embodiment, support members  106  bridge between longitudinal members  104  and cross members  105  diagonally (i.e. at angles which are not right angles) so as to provide the maximum strength and rigidity to base  101 . 
     In the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 2 , base  101  includes only two longitudinal members  104 , but those skilled in the art may wish to include two or more longitudinal members  104 . Similarly, while the figures show the use of five pairs of cross members  105  (three pairs in the midsection and one pair at each cap), those skilled in the art may wish to employ a different number of cross members  105  so long as cross members will support the pipe held in basket  100 . For weight savings, longitudinal members  104 , cross members  105 , and support members  106  are rigid round or square tubing or rigid beams which are joined together either by welding or other fastening means. Those skilled in the art could construct base  101  in other configurations, such as using a solid sheet of steel. 
     In a preferred embodiment, basket  100  will include at least two (one on each side) stanchions  102 . Stanchions  102  project upwards from longitudinal members  104  wherein stanchion  102  is in a plane that is substantially perpendicular to said base. The upper extent of stanchion  102  is free standing and stanchions  102  are placed such that a forklift may access the basket with the forks of said forklift entering between said at least two stanchions  102  and operating to lift a basket cargo out of the interior area of the basket. Stanchion  102  can be made of square or round tubing; beam material; or other equivalent structure. For maximum strength, each connection between stanchion  102  and longitudinal member  104  is reinforced with stanchion support  107 . Stanchion supports  107  are cut in a roughly triangular shape and then welded to stanchion  102  and longitudinal member  104 . It would be obvious to one skilled in the art to use another method of bracing stanchion  102  such as using a metal beam or other like structure. In another preferred embodiment, footings  109  are placed at the bottom of the base  101  in spaced pairs so as to create recesses  108  between each pair of footings  109 . Recess  108  formed by pair of footings  109  allow top of each stanchion  102  on bottom pipe basket  100  to fit into recess  108  when stacking basket  100 . The footings  109  are configured around the recesses  108  in a configuration that creates sockets for receiving the stanchions  102  of a similar second basket. Footing  109  may or may not extend across the entire width of the base. Footing  109  will also elevate basket  100  from ground level so as to provide a space underneath base  101  for forklift forks to slide under basket  100  for lifting of basket  100 . It would be obvious to one skilled in the art to use a means for receiving forklift forks without footing  109  by creating at least one aperture in the side of base  101  for receiving forklift forks. 
     Basket  100  will also include two end caps  103 . Each end cap  103  provides a means to stop and prevent pipe from sliding out of either end of basket  100 . For example, if basket  100  were being carried on a typical flatbed truck trailer and the truck had to make a sudden stop, end cap  103  would prevent the pipe from sliding forward and endangering the truck driver. In addition, the end cap will have ability to prevent damage to the ends of the pipes when transporting and storing the pipe in pipe basket  100 . End cap  103  should be constructed of steel plate, corrugated metal, expanded metal, or any material or design that will perform the desired function of arresting the sliding movement of the drill pipe. 
     In a particularly preferred embodiment, basket  100  will include at least one bin  110  which will have integrated therein an end cap  103  to stop the pipe from sliding as shown in  FIG. 3 . Bin supports  123  can be used to add strength and rigidity to the connection between bin  110  and longitudinal members  104 . Alternatively, in the absence of bin  110 , the bin supports  123  can be joined directly to the end cap  103  to add strength and rigidity to end cap  103 . Additionally, bin  110  will provide storage space on pipe basket  100  and shall comprise end wall  114 , two side walls  112 , a front wall  113  and a bottom  111 . Preferably, the end cap  103  will serve as end wall  114  for the bin, but those skilled in the art may wish to introduce end cap  103  independently from bin  110 . Furthermore, those skilled in the art may wish to locate end cap  103  between bin  110  and pipe loading area  126 . Typically, drill pipe is already threaded and thread protectors will be on the threaded sections of the drill pipe when the pipe is shipped. Although the bins can be used for various items, it is contemplated by the inventors that bin  110  will provide a convenient container for storage of the thread protectors and wood strips. Having bin  110  on basket  100  provides a way for the pipe purchaser to return the thread protectors, along with the basket, to the pipe seller. 
     Bin  110  will include bin bottom  111 , which can be made of steel grate or expanded metal so as not to collect water. Bin  110  will also include side walls  112 , front wall  113 , and end wall  114 . Bin  110  may also include lid  115 . For added strength, bin  110  can be made by integrating beams into side walls  112 , front wall  113 , end wall  114 , or bin bottom  111 . In addition, any of the bin walls can be reinforced by ridge which can be created by bending the plate steel used to fabricate the walls. Bin  110  can also include lid  115 . In a preferred embodiment, at least one bin wall shall be constructed of corrugated metal so as to provide increased strength and reduction of weight of pipe basket  100 . To provide maximum strength to bin  110  and basket  100 ; side walls  112 , front wall  113 , and end wall  114  can be made from one piece of sheet steel which is bent at right angles to form bin  110 . Also, square or round tubing or beam material can also be used to add support to bin  110  by providing a rigid frame for bin  110 . 
     To assist personnel in accessing the top of basket  100  and the inside of bin  110 , bin  110  can also include an integrated ladder  117  as shown in  FIG. 4 . The ladder  117  would preferably be recessed into the end cap  103  so as not to protrude from the pipe basket  100 . In addition, the ladder can be installed on each end cap  103  provided that the ladder  117  is incorporated on alternate sides from the ladder on the opposing end. This will allow ladder  117  on bottom basket to always line up with ladder  117  on the top basket in the event the baskets are stacked on top of each other. In addition, ladder hand support  124  can be installed to provide a hand grip for personnel climbing ladder  117 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , one or more load securing points  118  can be placed along pipe basket  100 . Preferably, load securing point  118  would be located within stanchion support  107  as shown in  FIGS. 5A and 5B . More preferably, load securing point  118  would be provided in at least four points along the base  101 ; two along each alternate side of the pipe basket  100 . At least one load securing means  119  can be placed on one side of pipe basket  101  at load securing point  118  wherein load securing means would preferably be a ratcheting apparatus or equivalent fastening means as shown in  FIG. 5A . Although load securing means  119  is shown in an upright position in  FIGS. 1 ,  5 A and  6 , a slight modification to the load securing point  118  can be made so that the load securing means  119  can be inverted thereby positioning the load securing means  119  upside down within load securing point  118 . At least one strap receiver  127  will be placed on the opposite side from load securing means  119  to provide a connection for strap  125  as shown in  FIG. 5B . The strap receiver  127  can be a hook, grapple, clasp, catch, or other equivalent securing means. Strap  125  will be used to hold the drill pipe securely in place during transport wherein such strap  125  can comprise of a cloth, metal or polymer strap, chain, cable or other like tie down means. In the stacked configuration shown in  FIG. 6 , one or more of the straps from the bottom basket  100  may be wrapped around the longitudinal members  104  or any part of the top basket  100  so as to secure the two baskets together during transport or storage. 
     To assist in safely lifting the pipe basket  100  with the use of a crane or other like lifting means, it would be preferable to use sling lifting brackets  121  which can be incorporated into the pipe basket  100  as shown in  FIGS. 5A and 5B . Sling lifting brackets  121  are rigid members that preferably project diagonally (i.e. at angles which are not right angles) from longitudinal members  104  and are located at four different points along the pipe basket  100 . However, the sling lifting brackets  121  can also project perpendicular or parallel from longitudinal members  104 . Also shown in  FIGS. 5A and 5B , sling lifting bracket  121  contains pad eye  119  which is an aperture placed in sling lifting bracket  121  so as to allow a connection point for the lifting slings of a crane or other like lifting device. Ideally, pad eyes are drilled, not cut, so as to provide superior strength for pad eyes  119  which are used as lift points. It would be obvious to one skilled in the art that pad eye  119  can also be a separate device that is joined to pipe basket  100 . To lift basket  100 , one may connect a sling to pad eye  119 . The sling lifting brackets  121  are added to provide additional lifting support. It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that pad eyes could be placed at several points on basket  100  including but not limited to stanchion  102 , stanchion support  107  and base  101 . In addition, stanchion support  107  could serve as sling lifting bracket  121 . 
     In a preferred embodiment, the material for all the components of the pipe basket  100  will be galvanized carbon steel to help reduce corrosion of pipe basket  100 . In another preferred embodiment, longitudinal member  104  would be made of  10  inch thick beams to allow for adequate support of pipe basket  100 . 
     By way of example only, pipe basket  100  could have a total length of 38 feet with a usable interior space that can accommodate pipe of up to 34 feet in length. The outer extent of the interior space is defined by the end caps  103 , the stanchions  102 , and base  101  of basket  100 . Basket  100  can be made with a width of approximately four feet and a height of about 54 inches. With these dimensions, two baskets  100  can be placed side by side on a conventional truck trailer. 
     In operation, basket  100  is loaded with drill pipe. Once basket  100  is loaded with the desired quantity of pipe, strap  125  can be tightened over the pipe using strap load securing points  118 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , a first pipe basket  100  can be stacked on top of a second pipe basket  100 . The two baskets can be secured together using the straps  125  and load securing means  119  or equivalent securing means. As the pipe loaded therein is used, any thread protectors on the pipe and wood stripping used to space the pipes can be placed in bin  110 . 
     There are, of course, other alternate embodiments which are obvious from the foregoing descriptions of the invention, which are intended to be included within the scope of the invention, as defined by the following claims.