Abstract:
An adjustable basket for storing and transporting elongate cargo is provided. A central basket member has a substantially rectangular base and vertical walls along both long sides of the base. A first end member is slidably received within the central basket member at one end of the central basket member. A second end member is slidably received within the central basket member at the opposite end of the central basket member. Once set, the slidable first and second ends of the adjustable basket of the present invention can be locked in a desired position.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     NONE  
       STATEMENTS AS TO RIGHTS TO INVENTIONS MADE UNDER FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT  
       [0002]     NONE  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0004]     The present invention relates generally to an apparatus for storing and transporting cargo. More specifically, the present invention relates to an adjustable basket for storing and transporting elongate cargo, such as tubing or pipe. More specifically, the present invention relates to an adjustable basket for storing and transporting elongate cargo, wherein the length of said basket can be selectively extended or collapsed.  
         [0005]     2. Description of the Prior Art  
         [0006]     Various types of elongate members including, but not limited to, pipes and tubing are commonly used in construction projects and other activities, such as the drilling of oil and gas wells. Frequently, large amounts of drill pipe are used to drill oil and/or gas wells, while large amounts of casing and production tubing are often required to equip such wells for production. While so-called “standard” sections of pipe can often measure between 20 to 40 feet in length, it is not uncommon for such pipe and other related equipment to be significantly greater in length. For purposes of this discussion, it is to be understood that the term “pipe” shall be used to collectively refer to any such tubular goods including, without limitation, casing, tubing, drill pipe and the like.  
         [0007]     As existing oil and gas reservoirs become mature and depleted, oil and/or gas wells are being drilled to greater depths in ever more extreme environments. The design parameters of such wells can often require several different types and/or sizes of pipe. As such, there is frequently a need to have many different sizes and types of pipe at a particular well site location, especially in the case of deep wells and/or wells drilled in extreme environments. In such cases, large amounts of pipe, and different types of pipe, must typically be transported to such work locations for ultimate use in such wells.  
         [0008]     When drilling on land, pipe typically must be transported from a pipe yard or manufacturing facility to a rig site via truck or other land-based means of transportation. In the case of offshore wells, such pipe typically must be transported from a land-based pipe yard or similar facility to a shore base. Thereafter, such pipe must be loaded out on to work boats or barges and then transported to a desired marine location via. Generally, the deeper a particular well, the greater the length of pipe needed and, accordingly, the more joints of pipe which ultimately must be transported to the particular well location.  
         [0009]     In marine applications such as offshore environments, once a vessel reaches a well site, pipe is typically unloaded from such vessel and on to a rig or platform using a crane or other similar lifting device. Under such circumstances, it is generally advantageous to keep the different sizes and types of pipe separated from one another in order to make the unloading operation more efficient, and also to facilitate efficient use of said tubular goods in the operation being conducted.  
         [0010]     Further, during the transportation of tubular goods in a marine environment, tubular goods are typically laid out horizontally on the deck of a work boat or other similar vessel. Rough seas can cause such vessels to rock, which in turn can cause such tubular goods to roll around in an uncontrolled manner. Because such tubular goods can be very heavy, rolling pipe can present a safety hazard to such vessels and personnel situated thereon. Accordingly, it is frequently very important to keep such tubular goods maintained in a stationary position during transportation of such tubular goods.  
         [0011]     Elongate baskets are well known in the art for the storage, transportation and handling of pipe and other elongate equipment. However, although such baskets serve to secure such pipe and permit efficient transportation of same, said baskets are not without drawbacks. Notably, after pipe and/or other elongate cargo have been removed from such baskets, the empty baskets take up virtually the same amount of space as fully loaded baskets. As a result, such empty baskets can take up significant space on the deck of a platform, rig or work boat, where space is typically at a premium. Similarly, such empty baskets can also take up significant space on the bed of a truck, such as when said empty baskets are being returned to a pipe yard or manufacturing facility.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0012]     The present invention relates to a basket which can be used to store and/or transport elongate cargo, such as drill pipe, production tubing, casing and the like. Although the subject invention is described herein with respect to its application to such tubular goods, it can be seen that the present invention can also be used in connection with numerous other applications involving elongate cargo other than drill pipe, production tubing and/or casing. For example, the present invention can also be used with elongate rods, beams, bars and the like.  
         [0013]     The overall length of the basket of the present invention in general, and the cargo-supporting area in particular, are adjustable. Specifically, said basket can be extended, as desired, to accommodate multiple different types or sizes of cargo having variable lengths. Once such cargo is removed, the basket of the present invention can be collapsed to make storage and transportation of said (empty) basket more efficient.  
         [0014]     The present invention comprises a generally elongate central basket member. Said elongate central basket member has a horizontal base defining two long sides and two short sides. Upright vertical walls extend along the two long sides of said central basket member in parallel fashion. A first telescoping end member is received at one end of said central basket member at one short side of said central basket member, while a second telescoping end member is received at the opposite end of said central basket member at the other short side of said central basket member.  
         [0015]     During storage, such as after all elongate cargo has been removed from the basket, said first and second end members can be fully collapsed, that is, retracted, within said central basket member. In such fully collapsed position, the overall length of the basket of the present invention is substantially reduced. As a result, storage and handling of said basket is typically much easier than when the adjustable basket is fully extended.  
         [0016]     When the basket is needed for the storage and/or transportation of relatively short cargo, the first and second end members can be partially or fully collapsed, as desired, so that the overall length of the basket can accommodate such cargo. However, when said basket is needed for the storage and/or transportation of elongate cargo, said first and second end members can each be extended, as desired, in order to increase the overall length of the basket and accommodate the subject cargo.  
         [0017]     Once the basket and cargo have been transported to a desired location and the elongate cargo has been completely removed from the basket, the first and second end members can be fully collapsed to reduce the overall length of the basket. Such reduction in the length of the basket permits easy storage of said basket, as well as return transportation of said basket to its point of origin. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0018]      FIG. 1  depicts a partially exploded side perspective view of the adjustable basket of the present invention with the telescoping end members removed from the central basket member.  
         [0019]      FIG. 2  depicts a side perspective view of the adjustable basket of the present invention with the telescoping end members installed in the central basket member.  
         [0020]      FIG. 3  depicts a side perspective view of a telescoping end member of the present invention.  
         [0021]      FIG. 4  depicts a perspective end view of the adjustable basket of the present invention with a telescoping end member removed.  
         [0022]      FIG. 5  depicts a perspective end view of the adjustable basket of the present invention with a telescoping end member installed in the central basket member.  
         [0023]      FIG. 6  depicts a side perspective view of the adjustable basket of the present invention with the telescoping end members extended and said basket loaded with elongate cargo.  
         [0024]      FIG. 7  depicts a side perspective view of the adjustable basket of the present invention with the cargo removed and telescoping end members collapsed. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0025]     Referring to the drawings,  FIG. 1  depicts a partially exploded side perspective view of the adjustable basket  1  of the present invention. Central basket member  10  comprises substantially planar and horizontal base  11 . In the preferred embodiment, base  11  is generally rectangular in shape, thereby defining two generally parallel long sides and two generally parallel short sides. In the preferred embodiment, said horizontal base also provides a substantially continuous upper surface. Side walls extend vertically upward in parallel relationship along both long sides of base  11 . Although said side walls can be constructed in any number of different configurations, in the preferred embodiment said side walls are in the form of frames defined by lower horizontal members  12  and  13 , upper horizontal members  14  and  15 , vertical members  16  and diagonal cross-members  17 .  
         [0026]     Still referring to  FIG. 1 , lifting members  18  are disposed along both long sides of central basket member  10 . In the preferred embodiment, said lifting members  18  extend upward from horizontal base  11  in opposing pairs along both long sides of central basket member  10  and extend to a point above the upper surface of upper horizontal members  14  and  15 . Also in the preferred embodiment, said lifting members  18  are oriented at an angle from vertical, such that said lifting members  18  tilt inward toward the center of central basket member  10 . Bores  19  extend through said lifting members  18  near the upper end of said lifting members  18 , and are oriented in a direction which is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of horizontal members  14  and  15 .  
         [0027]     Still referring to  FIG. 1 , end members  20  and  30  are disposed at both ends—that is, short sides—of central basket member  10 . As described in greater detail below, end members  20  and  30  are slidably received within central basket member  10 . Said end members  20  and  30  are capable of telescoping into and out of said central basket member  10 , thereby permitting the overall length of adjustable basket  1  of the present invention to be increased or decreased, as desired. Specifically, said end members  20  and  30  can be telescopically extended or collapsed to permit the overall length of basket  1  to be adjusted. In the preferred embodiment, a plurality of holes  31  extend through upper horizontal members  14  and  15  of central basket member  10 .  
         [0028]      FIG. 2  depicts a side perspective view of the adjustable basket of the present invention with telescoping end members  20  and  30  slidably received by central basket member  10 . Because telescoping end members  20  and  30  are slidably received within said central basket member  10 , said telescoping end members  20  and  30  can slide into, and out of, said central basket member  10  as desired.  
         [0029]      FIG. 3  depicts a side perspective view of end member  20  of the present invention. Although end member  20  is described in detail, it is to be observed that end members  20  and  30  are substantially identical to one another, and are simply oriented in opposite directions at the two (2) short ends of central basket member  10 . Thus, the description of end member  20  of the present invention is substantially the same for end member  30  which is slidably disposed in central basket member  10  at the opposite end of said central basket member  10 .  
         [0030]     End member  20  comprises substantially planar horizontal base  21 . Said horizontal base  21  is generally rectangular in shape, thereby defining two parallel long sides and two parallel short sides. Vertical members  22  extend upward from said horizontal base  21  and define side walls along the two long sides and one short side of said base  21 . It is to be observed that frame members  22  can be arranged in any number of configurations, so long as said frame members define a basic containment enclosure along the two long sides and one short side of base  21  of end member  20 .  
         [0031]     Upper horizontal extensions  23 , which are oriented generally parallel to one another, extend outward to define the upper surface of end member  20 . Similarly, lower horizontal extensions  24 , which are also oriented generally parallel to one another, extend along the lower surface of end member  20 . Said upper horizontal extensions  23  and lower horizontal extensions  24  are generally disposed along the two long sides of horizontal base  21 .  
         [0032]     Still referring to  FIG. 3 , in the preferred embodiment rollers  25 , having a generally horizontal axis of rotation passing through pin  26 , are disposed at the ends of both upper horizontal extensions  23  and lower horizontal extensions  24 . Further, optional rollers  27  and roller mounts  28  are affixed to end member  20  in general proximity to the short end of base  21 . In the preferred embodiment, rollers  27  and roller mounts  28  are mounted to the lower surface of base  21 . In the preferred embodiment, plurality of indexing bores  29  extend through upper horizontal extensions  23  in a direction which is generally vertical and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said upper horizontal extensions  23 . In the preferred embodiment, indexing bores  29  are spaced apart at desired intervals (typically one foot).  
         [0033]      FIG. 4  depicts an end perspective view of central basket member  10  of the present invention with telescoping end member  20  removed from one end; opposing telescoping end member  30  is installed at the opposite end of central basket member  10 . Upper horizontal members  14  and  15  define the upper surfaces of the side walls of central basket member  10 . Said upper horizontal members  14  and  15  are substantially hollow, and have openings  40  at their ends which are sized to receive upper horizontal extensions  23  of end member  20 . Although not shown in  FIG. 4 , upper horizontal members  14  and  15  also have similar openings  40  at the other ends of said upper horizontal members  14  and  15 . Rollers  41  are disposed within openings  40  to reduce friction associated with upper horizontal extensions  23  sliding telescopically into, and out of, openings  40  in upper horizontal members  14  and  15 . Similarly, lower horizontal members  12  and  13  (partially obscured from view in  FIG. 4 ) are oriented at or near the lower portion of the side walls of central basket member  10 . Said lower horizontal members  12  and  13  have openings  42  which are sized to receive lower horizontal extensions  24  of end member  20 . Rollers  43  are disposed within openings  42  to reduce friction associated with lower horizontal extensions  24  sliding telescopically into, and out of, openings  42  in lower horizontal members  12  and  13 . Horizontal member  44  spans the opening of central basket member  10  and provides structural support to said central basket member.  
         [0034]      FIG. 5  depicts an end perspective view of the adjustable basket  1  of the present invention with telescoping end member  20  installed in central basket member  10 . Upper horizontal extensions  23  of end member  20  are slidably received within openings  40  of upper horizontal members  14  and  15 . Similarly, lower horizontal extensions  24  of end member  20  are slidably received within openings  42  of lower horizontal members  12  and  13 . Telescoping end member  20  can slide into central basket member  10  in the direction of the arrows depicted in  FIG. 5  in order to reduce the overall length of said basket. Similarly, telescoping end member  20  can also be telescopically extended in the opposite direction in order to increase the overall length of the adjustable basket of the present invention. Substantially planar horizontal base  21  of end member  20  is received under substantially planar horizontal base  11  of central basket member  10 , and is aligned and held in place with guide brackets  45 .  
         [0035]      FIG. 6  depicts a side perspective view of adjustable basket  1  of the present invention with telescoping end members  20  and  30  extended from central basket member  10  and said basket loaded with elongate cargo  50 . In  FIG. 6 , telescoping end members  20  and  30  are telescopically extended from central basket member  10 , thereby resulting in the overall length of said basket being at its greatest. Slings  51  having loops  52  are affixed to lifting members  18  via bores  19 . In the preferred embodiment, lifting members  18  have rounded or convex upper surfaces  18   a  to accommodate movement of sling loops  52 . It is to be understood that in many applications, slings  51  are attached to said lifting members  18  using conventional shackles or other connection means. Crane hook  54  connects to ring  53  of slings  51  to permit lifting of adjustable basket  1  of the present invention and cargo  50 .  
         [0036]     Locking pins  55  are received within bores  31  of upper horizontal members  14  and  15  of central basket member  10 , as well as aligned indexing bores  29  of upper horizontal extensions  23  of end member  20 . Likewise, said locking pins  55  are similarly received in aligned bores at the opposite end of central basket  10  near end member  30 . Said locking pins  55 , which can be easily removed and reinserted, as desired, serve to lock telescoping end members  20  and  30  in place and prevent same from moving or falling out of central basket member  10 .  
         [0037]      FIG. 7  depicts a side perspective view of the adjustable basket of the present invention. Elongate cargo  50  is removed, and telescoping end members  20  and  30  are almost entirely received within central basket member  10 , thereby reducing the overall length of the basket  1  of the present invention. Locking pins  55  are received within bores extending through central basket member  10  and indexing bores in upper horizontal extensions of telescoping end members  20  and  30 , thereby locking said telescoping end members in place.  
         [0038]     When additional overall length of adjustable basket  1  is required to accommodate elongate cargo, locking pins  55  can be removed, and telescoping end members  20  and  30  can be moved outward to a desired position. Adjustable basket  1  can then be loaded with such elongate cargo and transported or stored as desired. Upon removal of such elongate cargo, locking pins  55  are removed, and telescoping end members  20  and  30  can be placed in a new position relative to central basket member  10 , thereby decreasing (or, if desired, increasing) the overall length of adjustable basket  1 .  
         [0039]     The above disclosed invention has a number of particular features which should preferably be employed in combination, although each is useful separately without departure from the scope of the invention. While the preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown and described herein, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise than herein specifically illustrated or described, and that certain changes in form and arrangement of parts and the specific manner of practicing the invention may be made within the underlying idea or principles of the invention.