Telescopic travel height truss

Aspects of the disclosure relate to an apparatus having a travel height truss including a frame suitable for transporting an item. The apparatus includes a boom which may be raised from the frame. The boom is raised and lowered by a hydraulic system comprising a travel height truss. The travel height truss may comprise two portions, telescopically connected to each other, one portion pivotably connected to the frame and the other pivotably connected to the boom. The travel height truss provides greater leverage than would otherwise be available for the maximum size and weight of the load available for a given (fixed) maximum length of trailer. In this manner, the boom frame can be raised to greater heights, while maintaining horizontal distance, than otherwise.

BACKGROUND

Drilling rigs are known and used for identifying geologic reservoirs of natural resources, such as oil, for example, and also to create holes that allow the extraction of natural resources from those reservoirs. The extraction process begins by positioning the drilling rig over the site to be drilled. Drilling rigs can be mobile and driven from site to site or can also be more permanent structures positioned over the drilling site.

The process begins by drilling a hole deep into the Earth. A long drill bit attached to a section of “drilling string” is used for this purpose. After each section is drilled, a steel pipe slightly smaller than the hole diameter is dropped in and often cement is used to fill the outer gap. The steel pipe is called a casing and provides structural integrity to the drilled hole. As the drill bit progresses deeper, additional sections of pipe need to be added to the drilling string to allow the drill bit to move further into the Earth. Typically, workers standing on the drilling rig take the additional sections of pipe, one by one, and screw them onto the drilling string, as needed. The additional sections of pipe are delivered to the site and then raised one by one to the workers with a crane.

The present disclosure addresses problems and limitations with the related art.

SUMMARY

Aspects of the disclosure relate to an apparatus having a trailer height truss including a frame for supporting and transporting a section of pipe or other item. In one example, the apparatus is a transportable trailer. Generally, the apparatus includes a boom, which may be raised from the frame and used to move the pipe to or from the trailer to a work site, storage or other location. For example, index arms may move the section of pipe from a ground storage rack to the boom, where a skate may push the section of pipe along the length of the boom toward the rig. Or, the section of pipe may be moved from the rig to the boom, where the skate allows controlled downward movement of the section of pipe to where the section of pipe may be moved from the boom back onto ground storage racks. The boom is raised and lowered by a hydraulic system comprising the travel height truss. The travel height truss may comprise two portions, telescopically connected to each other, one portion pivotably connected to the frame and the other pivotably connected to the boom. Two independently controllable hydraulic systems control the motion of the travel height truss. The travel height truss provides greater leverage to the boom than would otherwise be available for the maximum size and weight of the boom available for a given (fixed) maximum length of the apparatus. This allows the boom to reach higher rig heights while maintaining a horizontal distance from the rig.

Embodiments of the disclosure are particularly useful for raising booms used to lift pipe sections used in oil drilling. In such embodiments, the frame can optionally be driven to a job site, and the boom extended to its full height to enable movement of the pipe sections or other items up or down the boom. Embodiments of the disclosure provide a safe and stable, yet more versatile apparatus because they permit the boom to raise the pipe sections to greater heights, while maintaining horizontal distance, than an apparatus or trailer without the inventive features.

In one aspect, the disclosure provides a trailer comprising a trailer height truss including a frame having opposing first and second sides as well as an axle supporting a plurality of wheels. The trailer includes a boom which may be raised from the trailer and used to move the pipe from the trailer to a storage or other location. The boom is raised and lowered by a hydraulic system comprising a travel height truss. The travel height truss may comprise two portions, telescopically connected to each other, one portion pivotably connected to the frame and the other pivotably connected to the boom. Two independently controllable hydraulic systems control the motion of the travel height truss. One system is internally connected between each of the two portions of the travel height truss, and the other cylinder is pivotably connected between one of the portions and the frame of the trailer. Either or both hydraulic systems may comprise one, or multiple, hydraulic cylinders.

In a specific aspect, the disclosure provides a trailer comprising a trailer frame and a travel height truss including an outer truss having first and second ends and comprising two outer hollow rails. The outer truss may be pivotably connected to the trailer frame at the first end such that expansion of a lift cylinder causes the second end of the outer truss to pivot upwardly with respect to the trailer frame. An inner height carriage, slidingly positioned within the outer truss, has a top side and a bottom side. At least one ultrahigh molecular weight (UHMW) slide may be fastened to (or otherwise provided to) at least one of the top and bottom sides of the inner height carriage to reduce sliding friction between the outer truss and the inner height carriage. At least one height cylinder having two ends may be located within the outer truss and pinned on one of its ends to the outer truss and on the other of its ends to the inner height carriage. Hydraulic expansion of the height cylinder causes the inner height carriage to telescopically or slidingly extend outwardly from the outer truss.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Any apparatus disclosed herein may be provided without wheels (commonly called a “skid”) or may be wheeled (commonly called a “trailer”). Solely for convenience, one illustrative wheeled apparatus or trailer10is collectively illustrated in the figures, but it should be understood that the apparatus does not depend on the presence of wheels. In that sense, the term “trailer” should be understood to include a skid unless specifically indicated otherwise.

As shown in the figures, and particularly referring toFIGS.1and2A-2C, the trailer10optionally includes a hitch12for securing to a vehicle (not shown), such as a truck, as well as a frame14interconnected to the hitch12. The frame14can take a variety of forms, as desired, and supports an item to be transported. As shown inFIGS.1and2A-2C, frame14has various loads omitted solely for clarity of illustration.

In one example, the item to be transported is a boom200usable to lift generally cylindrical pipe sections suitable for oil drilling (see also, e.g., pipe section P inFIG.3C). In one example, the pipe section P may have a length in the range of 20 to 60 feet. In one example, the pipe section P may have an outer diameter in the range of % to 30 inches. The frame14can, for example, include first and second ends20a,20b, first and second sides22a,22b, and multiple bottom supports24spanning the first and second sides22a,22b. Each side22a,22bcan include a top26a,26band a bottom28a,28band include multiple vertical supports30a,30bspanning the respective top26a,26band bottom28a,28b. It is noted that only a few representative horizontal supports24and vertical supports30a,30bare referenced for ease of illustration. The present disclosure, however, is not intended to be limited to any particular configuration of frame14.

As illustrated (only by way of example because wheels are not required), interconnected to the frame14is at least one axle60a,60boperatively supporting at least one wheel62on opposing sides22a,22bof the frame14(e.g., four wheels connected to each axle60a60b, two on each side22a,22bof the frame14). The wheels62can be any type commonly used for trailers, trucks or the like. In the illustrated embodiment, the trailer10includes first and second axles60a,60b, each axle60a,60bsupporting two wheels62on opposite sides22a,22bof the frame14.

Referring now in addition toFIGS.3A-3C,4A-4C, and5A-5D, trailer10′ supports the boom200. Generally, boom200is telescopically or otherwise extendable to a length longer than that of a length of the frame14, but this is not required. Such extension may be accomplished by any convenient means not critical to this disclosure. Further details of one extendable embodiment of the boom may be found in U.S. application Ser. No. 16/263,592 filed Jan. 31, 2019, copending, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. It is noted that the trailer10′ is identical to trailer10except as explicitly stated.

In general, boom200is mounted to frame14so that a first portion201of boom200may be elevated substantially above trailer10′ and frame14, while a second portion202remains generally in place vertically. In various examples, boom200is moved in a two-step sequence. In one example, the boom200is 40 feet with a 15 foot extension. In one example, a first stage of boom lift height is 30 feet and a second stage of boom lift height is sixty feet.

First, to increase the angle above vertical which boom200may make with the generally horizontal plane of the frame14, and thus increase the height to which the first portion201may reach for a given length of boom200, the second portion202both pivots about an axis transverse to the length of frame14, and translates from a forward position203to a rearward position204. In addition, boom200is elevated from the frame14by the action of a travel height truss400. Like boom200itself, travel height truss400is mounted to frame14so that travel height truss400may pivot above frame14. Second, to further increase the height to which the first portion201may reach for a given length of boom200, the travel height truss400telescopically expands to a greater height above frame14. Specifically, inner height carriage410extends from within outer truss430to rise vertically above the horizontal plane of frame14. Thus, travel height truss400pivots upward and then extends in length with the ultimate objective of lifting the highest point (i.e. first portion201) of boom200as high as possible. To lower the boom200, the process is reversed to lower the travel height truss400.

As shown specifically inFIGS.3A-3B,4A-4B, and5A-5B, the first stage of elevation is accomplished by hydraulic lift cylinder330arranged to cause travel height truss400to move relative to frame14, specifically to pivot about hinge450. ConsideringFIGS.3A,4A, and5A, in the position shown there the boom200is in its rest or lowered position. The boom200is extended as far forward along frame14as possible. The travel height truss400on which the boom rests is also in its rest or lowered position (FIG.5A). The lift cylinder330is fully retracted. Then, in the position illustrated inFIGS.3B,4B, and5B, the boom200is in an intermediate position between its rest or lowered position and its maximum extended position. Boom200has travelled along a conventional track (not illustrated for clarity) from its maximum forward position toward the rear of frame14. As compared to the position shown inFIGS.3A,4A, and5A, lift cylinder330has fully extended, causing travel height truss400to pivot to an essentially vertical orientation as shown inFIGS.3B,4B, and5B. In the essentially vertical orientation, the boom200defines an angle of 25 degrees with respect to frame14.

An example of a suitable lift cylinder330is of the type having the following specifications: dual acting cylinder with an 8 inch bore, 18.375 or 30 inch stroke length, 5,000 psi rating, 2.5 inch diameter pins and 34.375 or 46 inch retract length. As shown inFIG.5D, lift cylinder330pivotably connects to frame14at lug451and to truss outer truss430at lug452. As the lift cylinder330extends, it causes the outer truss450to rotate until it is fully extended and the outer truss430is perpendicular to the trailer frame

As shown specifically inFIGS.3C,4C, and5C, the second stage of elevation is accomplished by extension of a first portion of travel height truss400, inner height carriage410, telescopically away from its prior position within a second portion of travel height truss400, namely outer truss430. Thus, inner height carriage410extends from outer truss430vertically above the horizontal plane of frame14. In the position illustrated inFIGS.3C,4C, and5C, one or more internal travel height cylinders (discussed below) have expanded within outer truss430to extend inner height carriage410away from outer truss430vertically above the horizontal plane of frame14. The combined motion causes boom200to rise vertically even further upward, while maintaining a desired distance from the rear of trailer10′ despite its increased height above trailer10′.

Referring in addition toFIGS.6A-6D, in the embodiment illustrated, the travel height truss400includes two components, an outer truss430and an inner height carriage410, telescopically or slidingly attached to each other so that the inner height carriage410may extend from within the outer truss430. When fully collapsed together, inner height carriage410is essentially within outer truss430, and thus travel height truss400as a whole may pivot with respect to frame14as discussed above. The end of outer truss430opposite the pivot point (at shaft413) represents mount412which pivots around shaft413so that it may be used to connect travel height truss400to boom200despite the increase in the angle boom200makes with the frame14. The use of a truss which extends to a greater length changes the location of the pivot point, as opposed to use of a fixed-length truss which only adjusts the pivot point along the length of that set length of the truss.

To achieve the increase in truss size, travel height truss400may include one or more dual acting hydraulic travel height cylinders320aand320bto the inner height carriage410relative to the outer truss430. In the preferred embodiment illustrated in the figures, outer truss430comprises a pair of parallel, at least partially hollow rails431aand431b, such as may be fabricated from rectangular tubing or channel. Similarly, inner height carriage410comprises a pair of parallel hollow slides411aand411b, each of which is shaped and sized to fit within its corresponding hollow rail431a,431b. Each pair of rails431a,431band slides411a,411bis connected by a cylinder, e.g., rail431ais connected by travel height cylinder320ato slide411a. The connections are by pins325a,325b(where the cylinders connect to the hollow rails) and pins326a,326b(where the cylinders connect to the hollow slides). When assembled and contracted, the travel height cylinders320a,320blie wholly within their corresponding outer rails and almost entirely with their corresponding inner slides, as shown best inFIG.6C. When expanded, travel height cylinders320a,320bextend, creating a “longer” truss which causes first portion201of the boom200to move upwards without affecting the boom position forward or rearward.

An example of a suitable travel height cylinder320is of the type having the following specifications: dual acting cylinder having a 2 inch bore, 72 inch stroke length, 3,000 psi, 1.5 inch pin diameter and 80 inch retract length.

To reduce friction between the outer surfaces of inner slides411a,411band the inner surfaces of outer rails431a,431b, one or more outer surfaces of inner slides411a,411bmay be provided with slides420, which may be a material such as steel, polytetrafluoroethylene (known by the tradename Teflon®), ultra-high molecular weight plastic, steel, or the like provided friction is reduced. In one embodiment, one slide420is fastened to at least one of the first and second sides411aand411bof the inner height carriage410to reduce sliding friction between the outer truss430and the inner height carriage410.

To connect travel height truss400with boom200, a mount412, also referred to as a “pivotable brace”, is provided at the ends of rails411a,411b, pivoting around pins or shaft413to accommodate the variable angle that boom200makes with frame14. The brace that pivotably connects the inner height carriage to the boom is located at a fixed point that is between the first and second portions/ends of the boom, and closer to the second portion/end of the boom. Alternatively, the fixed point is closer to the first end of the frame when the boom and travel height truss are in a lowered rest position. It is also preferred to include as part of inner height carriage410a pair of laterally spaced pipe guides414a,414b, which extend from the inner height carriage away from the outer truss, and thus move with height adjustment carriage410. As shown inFIG.3C, pipe guides414a,414bare long enough to extend above boom200to help keep the pipe sections carried by boom200from coming out of boom200at all heights.

The disclosure above provides a method of operating a trailer including providing a trailer in a transport arrangement, the trailer having a frame with first and second sides as well as an axle supporting a plurality of wheels. In addition, the trailer includes a boom which may be raised from the trailer and is used to move a pipe from the trailer to a storage or other location. The boom is raised and lowered by a hydraulic system comprising a travel height truss. The travel height truss may comprise two portions, telescopically connected to each other, one portion pivotably connected to the frame and the other pivotably connected to the boom. Two independently controllable hydraulic cylinder systems control the motion of the travel height truss. One cylinder system telescopically connects between each of the two portions of the travel height truss, and the other cylinder is pivotably connected between one of the portions and the frame of the trailer.

The disclosure above also provides a method of raising a boom for moving an oil drilling pipe. The method includes providing an apparatus including a frame and a travel height truss pivotably mounted to the frame. The travel height truss includes an outer truss having first and second ends, at least two partially hollow outer rails, and a lift cylinder. The outer truss is pivotably connected to the trailer frame such that extension of the lift cylinder causes the second end of the outer truss to pivot upwardly with respect to the first end of the outer truss. The travel height truss is also provided with an inner height carriage having a first side and a second side, the inner height carriage being slidingly positioned within the outer truss. The travel height truss further includes at least one travel height cylinder having a first end and a second end. Hydraulic expansion of the travel height cylinder causes the inner height carriage to slidingly extend outwardly from the outer truss. An end of the boom is pivotably connected to the frame. The inner height carriage is pivotably connected to another portion of the boom.