Patent Abstract:
A rotary seal assembly for a rotary support table for use in drilling systems and the like to provide pressurized fluid to a rotary slip assembly disposed within the rotary support table is provided. The rotary seal assembly is designed to be coupled to an existing rotary support table which is used to rotate a drill string, and includes a powered slip that is powered into an engaged position to securely engage a pipe segment, for example, a casing segment. The rotary seal assembly generally comprises a ribbon of expandable material having an outer surface in fluid communication with a source of pressurized fluid, and an inner surface cooperative with a rotary housing, the rotary seal having a plurality of openings capable of communicating fluid between said outer and inner surfaces, wherein the outer seal surface has a surface area greater than the inner surface such that when the pressurized fluid is conducted to the outer surface of the seal a differential pressure between the outer and inner surfaces is created such that the inner surface of the seal is expanded to engage the rotary housing and form an annular fluid duct providing fluid communication between the pressurized fluid source and the rotary housing. A method of operating a rotary table and powered slip assembly utilizing the rotary slip assembly of the current invention is also provided.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
     This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/342,998, filed Dec. 21, 2001. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to rotary support tables, and more particularly, to a rotary support table having a slip seal arrangement with improved wear and sealing characteristics. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In most conventional oil or gas drilling operations, drilling takes place on a drilling platform, which in turn supports a circular rotary table. The rotary table is designed such that it can be moved in a circular fashion via standard electrical or hydraulic motors. The conventional rotary table has a “kelly” which provides the central opening or bore through which passes the drill string. The kelly itself is supplied with a bushing or “kelly bushing,” which can be interlocked with a bushing on the rotary table or “master bushing” such that the rotary table can drive the kelly and impart the needed rotational force to the drill string to effect drilling. Such well drilling equipment is conventional and well-known in the art. 
     To add or remove a joint of pipe from the drill string, wedge devices called “slips”, are inserted into the rotary table central opening into a bowl to prevent the drill stem from falling into the well bore. In many conventional drill platforms, placement of the slips is done manually by well personnel. Sometimes the personnel operating the various mechanical devices in proximity to the rotary table are required to remove an entire drill string from the well bore. This is a time consuming process which requires removal of individual lengths of pipe one at a time in order to completely remove the drill string. This removal necessarily requires the personnel to repeatedly disengage the slips or slip assemblies from their operative position of holding the drill string, and back into the operative position when the next section of drill pipe is in position to be removed from the drill string. As a result, at each removal or addition of a length of drill pipe from the drill string, oil well personnel are required to exert a great amount of manual physical labor to remove/replace slips, which is dangerous because of the large forces required, as well as the great amount of weight which is being handled. 
     To improve the efficiency and safety of the drilling operation, a “power slip” has been developed, which is rotatably retained within a slip bowl to prohibit the slips from vertical movement while the slip bowl rotates with the rotary table about the drill pipe. Such power slip mechanisms include primary components which are arranged in several basic configurations. The main structure is the slip bowl or body which is generally an enlarged support structure having an internal tapered bore. Slip elements are disposed within the bore and when allowed to fall under the force of gravity, wedge radially against the casing so as to prevent the casing from slipping downwardly. The slips and the bowl are configured such that outer surfaces of the slips contact inner surfaces of the slip bowl in sliding friction and can be automatically activated to seize and hold the drill stem when a portion of the drill stem is being added or removed. For example, such power slip arrangements have been shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,570,039; 2,641,816; 2,939,683; 3,210,821; 3,270,389; 3,457,605; 3,961,399; 3,999,260; 4,253,219; and 4,333,209. 
     Such prior art power slips come in two basic configurations. One in which the power slip is permanently attached to and rotates with the rotary table and one in which the power slip is disconnected from the rotary table when not in use. 
     Of the first type, U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,641,816 to Liljestrand and 3,961,399 to Boyadjieff are examples. While these power slips do represent an advance over the conventional manually operated slips, most require permanent attachment of a support post or other structure to the rig floor at the side of the rotary table to allow the power slip to be pivoted or raised away from the frill stem. As such, these devices permanently occupy valuable drill floor space despite the fact that during much of the drill time they will not be in use and may interfere with other drilling operations. 
     However, in most of the early systems of the rotary power slips, a mechanical linkage had to be provided between a stationary fluid cylinder and the rotary power slip housing. In many of the early conventional systems the slip assembly could not be activated at any point in its rotation but required alignment of the stationary fluid cylinder and the rotary housing. As a result the assembly protrudes above the rig floor thus consuming valuable space. The rotary power slips disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,999,260 to Stuckey et al. and 4,333,209 to Herst solve this problem by providing expansive seal means on the stationary fluid supply which form a fluid duct with the rotary housing during operation, eliminating the need for a mechanically aligned linkage and reducing or entirely eliminating the need to utilize valuable floor space for the power slip mechanism. However, the expansive seals provided in both of these systems have been found to be prone to leakage and rapid deterioration as a result of rig vibration, affecting the efficacy and alignment of the seal with the rotary housing. In addition, these prior art devices are prone to introducing mud and debris into the seal and pressurizing system, leading to damage of the hydraulic or pressurized air systems. 
     Accordingly, a need exists to provide improved rotary power slip seals, which have longer wear and more effective seals, and which provide additional protection from mud and debris entering the power slip system. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Briefly, and in general terms, the present invention is directed to a rotary seal assembly for a rotary support table for use in drilling systems and the like to provide pressurized fluid to a rotary slip assembly disposed within the rotary support table. The rotary seal assembly is designed to be coupled to an existing rotary support table which is used to rotate a drill string, and includes a powered slip that is powered into an engaged position to securely engage a pipe segment, for example, a casing segment. Because the slip assembly is powered into the engaged position by a pressurized fluid system, the rotary portion of the rotary support table must be properly coupled to an external power fluid system using the seal assembly of the present invention. 
     The rotary support table of the present invention in one illustrative embodiment is directed to a rotary support table and power slip mountable on a rig and including: a rotary housing having a pipe engagement assembly including a central passageway sized for receipt of the pipe segment, the lower pipe engagement assembly including a powered engagement device that is powered to an engaged position to securely and releasably grasp the pipe segment, the lower pipe engagement assembly being in communication with the drive shaft, whereby actuation of the rotary housing assembly causes the lower pipe engagement assembly to rotate. In such an embodiment the lower pipe engagement assembly is powered via an external pressurized fluid power source, which is connected to the rotary housing via the rotary seal assembly of the present invention. The rotary seal assembly including a ribbon of expandable material having an outer surface in fluid communication with a source of pressurized fluid, and an inner surface cooperative with a rotary housing, the rotary seal having a plurality of openings capable of communicating fluid between said outer and inner surfaces, wherein the outer seal surface has a surface area greater than the inner surface such that when the pressurized fluid is conducted to the outer surface of the seal a differential pressure between the outer and inner surfaces is created such that the inner surface of the seal is expanded to engage the rotary housing and form an annular fluid duct providing fluid communication between the pressurized fluid source and the rotary housing. Although any suitable surface difference can be utilized such that a differential pressure is generated between the outer and inner sides of the seal, in one exemplary embodiment the ration is 1:1.02. 
     In another exemplary embodiment, the rotary seals may be constructed such that the seals further include an outer annular groove formed into the outer seal surface and an inner annular groove formed into the inner seal surface, wherein the plurality of openings are formed between the outer and inner annular grooves, although any shape suitable for forming a fluid tight duct between the seal and the rotary housing may be utilized. Likewise, the seals may be constructed of any material suitable for providing a suitably expandable seal member while providing long-term wear characteristics. 
     In another exemplary embodiment, the rotary seal system according to the invention includes an interlock control such that the pressurized fluid is prevented from energizing the rotary seal assembly when the rotary housing is rotating. 
     In yet another exemplary embodiment, the pressurized fluid is constantly pumped through the rotary seal at a pressure sufficient to provide positive fluid flow out of said at least one rotary seal but insufficient to expand said rotary seal to fully sealingly engage the rotary housing such that contaminants are prevented from flowing into the seal assembly and fluid conduits. 
     Although any suitable number of rotary seals can be utilized in the rotary support table of the current invention, in one exemplary embodiment at least two rotary seals in fluid communication with at least two separate first and second conduits are disposed within the rotary support table. In such an embodiment, one rotary seal is utilized as a slips down seal in fluid communication with a slips down second conduit arranged such that pressurized fluid flowing through the slips down second conduit activates the fluid actuated operator to extend the slip, and the second rotary seal is utilized as a slips up seal in fluid communication with a slips up second conduit arranged such that pressurized fluid flowing through the slips up second conduit activates the fluid actuated operator to retract the slip. 
     Although a rotary support table having two rotary seals is described above, in another exemplary embodiment, three rotary seals are provided, each in fluid communication with at least three separate first and second conduits, which are disposed within the rotary support table. In such an embodiment, the third rotary seal is utilized as a slips set seal and is arranged such that when the fluid actuated operator has been fully extended or retracted, the pressurized fluid is directed into the slips set second conduit, through the slips set seal to a slips set first conduit arranged in fluid communication with a fluid detector capable of detecting the presence of the pressurized fluid in the slips set first conduit and communicating that presence to an operator. 
     In still another exemplary embodiment, the rotary seal is arranged in an annular groove formed into the stationary housing. In such an embodiment, the rotary seal may be fixedly mounted in said groove by an o-ring seal. 
     In still yet another exemplary embodiment, the rotary seal assembly may further include one or more annular wiper seals fixedly mounted in the stationary housing and in cooperative sealing engagement with the rotary housing such that substances are prevented from passing between the wiper seal and the rotary housing. Although any number of wiper seals may be utilized, in one exemplary embodiment, at least two annular wiper seals are utilized and arranged such that the rotary seal lies therebetween. 
     In still yet another exemplary embodiment, the rotary seal assembly may further include at least one drain conduit arranged adjacent to the rotary seals in fluid communication between a fluid storage tank and the surface of the stationary housing upon which the at least one rotary seal is attached such that any fluid leaking from the rotary seals is recycled back into the pressurized fluid power source system. In such an embodiment, a fluid filter may be arranged between the drain conduit and the storage tank to filter contaminants from the recycled fluid. 
     In still yet another exemplary embodiment, the rotary support table according to the invention may further include an annular adjustment ring for adjusting the position of the rotary housing in relation to the stationary housing such that the rotary seals fully seal the passage between the fluid conduits within the stationary and rotary housings. 
     In still yet another exemplary embodiment, the invention includes a method of operating a power slip, wherein the includes utilizing a rotary support table as described in the exemplary embodiments above. 
     Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, the features of the present invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become appreciated as the same becomes better understood with reference to the specification, claims and drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a rotary support table according to this invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a cut-away top view of a rotary support table according to this invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a cut-away side view of a rotary support table according to this invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a close-up cut-away side view of a rotary support table according to this invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional side view of a rotary support table according to this invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a front view of a set of rotary seals according to this invention; 
         FIG. 7  is cross-sectional sideview of a hydraulic system according to this invention; and 
         FIG. 8  is an operational schematic of a power slip hydraulic system according to this invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a continuously passively engaged rotary seal for providing fluid communication between a rotary slip bowl and a stationary slip ring. 
       FIG. 1  depicts an outer perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the invention including a rotary support table  10  defining a central cylindrical opening or bore  12 . The central bore  12  being arranged such that a pipe or drill string  14  can be suspended therein and turned about a vertical axis  16  in the central bore  12 . The rotary support table  10  further includes an outer stationary housing  18  having a top cover  19  and a rotary slip bowl  20  disposed within the outer stationary housing  18  and arranged coaxially about the vertical axis  16  of the drill string  14  within the central bore  12 . A power slip system (not shown) according to the present invention is disposed within the rotary support table  10 . 
       FIG. 2  depicts a top view of the rotary support table  10  with the top cover removed. As shown, the rotary support table  10  includes an outer stationary housing  18  defining a cylindrical inner surface  22 . A slip ring  24  is fixedly mounted to the inner surface  22  of the outer housing  18 . The slip bowl  20  is rotatably mounted within the slip ring  24  axially about the central bore  12  such that the slip ring inner surface  26  is adjacent to the slip bowl outer surface  28  creating a seal gap  29  therebetween (shown in FIG.  4 ). In operation, a slip assembly (not shown) is rotatably disposed within the slip bowl  20 . Any suitable slip assembly may be utilized in the slip bowl  20  of the current invention. In most conventional designs the slip assembly includes a plurality of slips having tapered outer walls that are adapted to engage the tapered inner wall  30  of the slip bowl  20  such that the slip assembly is prevented from lateral, but not rotational movement within the slip bowl  20 . Conventionally, each slip carries along its inner surface an engaging insert designed to gripingly engage the drill string to prevent it from falling into the central bore  12 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 2 , any slip bowl  20  suitable for engaging the inner surface  26  of the slip ring  24  and the outer surface of a slip assembly can be utilized with the inventive seals. In one exemplary embodiment the slip bowl  20 , shown in  FIG. 2  includes an arc-shaped center section  32  hinged between a pair of arc-shaped side sections  34  and to form a partially enclosed annular body. In such an embodiment, each section is preferably cast from CMS 02 grade 150-135 steel, or more preferably CMS 01 steel, or most preferred CMS 02 grade 135-125 steel, and includes an outer surface, and an upwardly tapered inner surface  30 . The sections are symmetrically disposed about a vertical axis to form a central bore  36  for receiving a slip assembly. 
     Internally, the slip bowl  20  should be configured to retain a slip assembly from lateral movement while enabling the slip assembly to rotate within the bowl against the frictional contact between the slips and the bowl. In one exemplary embodiment, shown in  FIG. 2 , the tapered inner surfaces  30  of the slip bowl  20  are corrugated to form a plurality of grooves  38  that extend into the central bore  12 . The grooves are defined by their tapered contact surfaces which are adapted to engage the outer surfaces of the slip assembly. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the sections  34  of the slip bowl  20  are hinged at opposite ends of the center section  33  about a plurality of hydraulic actuators  40 , which swing the sections of the slip bowl  20  between an “open” position and a “closed” position. In the open position, the side sections  34  are swung “open” to receive the slip assembly within the central bore  12 . In the closed position, the side sections  34  are swung closed to retain the slip assembly within the bowl&#39;s central bore  12 . An arc-shaped door may be removably coupled between open ends of the side sections of the slip bowl  20  to retain the side sections  34  in their enclosed “closed” positions and form an enclosed annular body that retains the slip assembly. 
     Although any conventional slip assembly may be utilized in the current invention, most conventional slip assemblies include a generally annular body formed by a plurality of slips. The slips are generally symmetrically disposed about the vertical axis  16  ( FIG. 1 ) of the bore hole  12  to form an orifice  36  (FIG.  2 ) for receiving the drill string  14 . The slips may be made of any suitable material, but in one exemplary embodiment, the slips are cast from CMS 02 grade 150-135 steel or CMS 01 steel. The slips may be hinged such that the opposite ends of the slip assembly can be brought into abutment by a plurality of hydraulic rams that bias the ends of the slips towards each other. The slip assembly may also include a means coupled to the slip assembly which locks the slips into engagement to “close” the slip assembly or to retain the ends of the slips in abutment and form an enclosed orifice to allow insertion of a drill stem  14  therein. 
     Any slip design suitable for engaging and holding a drill stem  14  within the central bore  12  may be utilized in the current invention, such as, for example, the Varco BJ® PS 21/30 power slip system. In one conventional design, each slip has an arcuate body shape defined by a radial interior surface and a downwardly tapered exterior surface. In any embodiment, the interior surfaces of the slips must be adapted to receive an insert that extends essentially cylindrically about a central orifice to grip and support a pipe  14 . The inserts may further include teeth for assuring effective gripping engagement with a pipe  14 . For example, the tapered exterior surface of the slips may be corrugated to form a plurality of fingers that outwardly extend from the slip&#39;s body. In such an embodiment, the fingers are defined by their tapered contact surfaces which are adapted to engage the inner contact surfaces  30  of the slip bowl  20 . The fingers are configured to retain the slip from lateral movement with the bowl  20  while the bowl  20  rotates about the slips against the sliding friction generated between the contact surface  30  of the bowl  20 . Regardless of the slip design utilized, under normal operating conditions, the slips must be capable of supporting lateral loads of about 300 tons to about 600 tons. Since cold welding between the slips and the bowl  20  is caused in part by the use of similar steels used in casting the slips and the slip bowl  20 , it is desirable that either the slips or the slip bowl  20  is cast from a material dissimilar to steel, namely a material that has little or no tendency to dissolve into the atomic structure of steel (For example). But casting the slips or bowl  20  out of a material other than steel requires specialized hardware and is more expensive to fabricate than steel. Thus, it is desirable to coat the steel slips or the bowl  20  with a dissimilar material along its contact surfaces, such as, for example, copper, a bronze alloy, such as NiAlCu, Tungsten Carbide, Mounting bracket  50  or any other metal in the nickel, aluminum or bronze family. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , in the exemplary embodiment, the outer surface  28  of the slip bowl  20  is defined by a cylindrical shoulder  44  that outwardly extends from an upper portion of the slip bowl  20 . A reduced diameter outer cylindrical slip ring engaging member  46  is disposed on the shoulder  44  of the slip bowl  20 . The inner surface  22  of the outer housing  18  is also defined by a cylindrical shoulder  48  that outwardly extends from an upper portion of the outer housing  18 . A cylindrical top gap element  50  is adjustably attached to the inner wall  22  of the stationary housing  18  via adjustment screws  52  which allow the cylindrical top element  50  to be moved vertically relative to the slip bowl  20 . The cylindrical top gap element  50  includes a slip bowl engaging groove  54 , which outwardly extends from shoulder  48  of the outer housing  18  such that the outer cylindrical slip ring engaging member  46  of the slip bowl  20  rotatingly engages the adjustable top gap element  50 . The top gap element  50  further includes a slip bowl seal  56  designed to sealingingly engage the outer surface  28  of the slip bowl  20  such that contaminants and debris are prevented from entering the seal gap  29  between the slip ring  24  and the slip bowl  20 . Although one potential means of sealing the gap  29  between the slip bowl  20  and the slip ring  24  is shown in  FIG. 4 , and described above, any suitable means of preventing mud, drilling fluids or other debris from entering the seal gap  29  and fouling the slip ring  24  or slip bowl  20  could be utilized with the slip assembly of the current invention. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 6 and 5 , the hydraulic actuators  40  in the rotary slip bowl  20  are connected to a stationary power source external to the outer housing  18  through slip bowl inlets  61  via a rotary slip ring seal assembly  62  arranged cylindrically around the circumference of the inner surface  26  of the slip ring  24 . As shown, the slip ring seal assembly  62  substantially fills the seal gap  29  between the slip ring  24  and the slip bowl  20 . The rotary seal assembly  62  is in turn in fluid communication with a power source via a plurality of external lines  64  disposed within the body of the outer housing  18 . As best shown in  FIGS. 4  to  6 , the rotary slip seal assembly  62 , includes a cylindrical annular body with a plurality of sets of hydraulic inlets  66   a ,  66   b  and  66   c  in fluid communication with the outlet of the fluid power supply and outlets  68   a ,  68   b ,  68   c  and  68   d  in fluid communication with the filter storage tank inlet of the power supply disposed thereupon. Each set of inlets  66  is arranged within an annular groove  70 . Within each annular groove  70  is received an elastomeric slip ring communication seal  72   a ,  72   b ,  72   c  arranged and designed to sealingly engage a predetermined slip bowl inlet  61 ,  61   b  and  61   c . In addition to the communication seals  72 , the rotary slip seal assembly  62  further includes a plurality of annular wiper seals  74   a ,  74   b  and  74   c.    
     The wiper seals  74   a ,  74   b  and  74   c  are designed to provide a wiping seal with the outer surface  28  of the rotary slip bowl  20  such that the hydraulic communication seals  72 , the inlets  66  and the outlets  68  disposed between the wiper seals  74  are kept free from foreign substances. The wiper seals  74   a ,  74   b  and  74   c  can include any seal design suitable for providing fluid sealing means across the gap between the outer surface  28  of the rotary slip bowl  20  and the inner surface  26  of the slip ring  24 . For example, the wiper seals  74  could include conventional resilient polymer o-ring-type seals which apply a continuous and steady fluid sealing pressure against the outer surface  28  of the slip bowl  20 . Although three wiper seals  74   a ,  74   b  and  74   c  are shown in the exemplary embodiments depicted in  FIGS. 4  to  7 , any number of wiper seals  74  may be used such that the area of the slip ring  24  containing the communication seals  66  are kept substantially free of foreign contaminants and fluid within the area bounded by the wiper seals  74  is kept substantially within that area. 
     One exemplary embodiment of the hydraulic communication seals  72  are shown in detail in FIG.  5 . As shown, the hydraulic communication seals  72  include a ribbon of elastomeric material having inner  76  and outer  78  annular grooves running on opposite sides of a seal wall  80 . The outer edges of each seal  72  are held within the groove  70  of the slip ring  24  and sealed by a groove engaging member  82 , which resiliently engages and attaches the seal  72  within the groove  70  such that fluid applied to the outer surface  78  of the seal  72  is directed through the communication seal inlets  66  and simultaneously prevented from leaking around the edges of the seal  72 . The groove engaging member  82  may include any annular member suitable for sealingly attaching the seals  72  within the grooves  70 . In one embodiment, for example, the engaging member is a conventional elastomeric o-ring designed to fit around the circumference of the slip ring  24  within the annular groove  70  and resiliently press the seal  72  within the groove  70 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the surface area of the outer annular groove  78  is made smaller than the surface area of the inner  76  annular groove such that when pressurized with hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic power source, a differential pressure is established between the hydraulic fluid on the inner and outer side of the seal wall  80 . This differential pressure creates a differential force on the inner side of the seal wall  80  such that the inner seal surface of the elastomeric hydraulic communication seal  72  is engaged against the outer wall of the slip bowl  28 . When sufficient pressure is exerted on the outer surface of the seal  78 , a fluid sealed passage can be formed between the seal  72  and the outer surface of the slip bowl  28  by the inner annular groove  76  of the seal  72  such that the hydraulic fluid from the power source  60  can flow through the seal inlets  66  into the inner annular groove  76  and then through the slip bowl inlets  61  to activate the hydraulic rams in mechanical communication with a slip assembly. Although any differential size between the inner  76  and outer  78  annular grooves sufficient to create a differential pressure to press the inner surface of the seal  72  against the outer surface of the slip bowl  28 , in one exemplary embodiment the inner seal surface has a surface area of 186 inches 2  and the outer seal surface has a surface area of 190 inches 2 , for a ratio of 0.9. In one exemplary embodiment of the invention, the inner seal surface  76  has dimensions of 3.14×59×1 inches and the outer seal surface  78  has dimensions of 3.14×59×0.5 inches and the inlets  66  include holes having diameters of 0.25 inch. Although specific suitable dimensions for both the seals  72  and the inlet holes  66  are described above, it should be understood that any dimensioned seals and holes may be utilized such that a differential pressure is created from the outside of the seal to the inside such that the inside surface of the seal is suitably sealingly engaged against the outer surface of the slip bowl. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the hydraulic inlets  66  and outlets  68  are arranged around the circumference of the seals  72  within the inner annular grooves  76  such that hydraulic fluid can be evenly distributed within the entire circumference of the inner groove  76  such that an exact alignment of the hydraulic inlets  66  and the slip bowl inlets  61  is not required. 
       FIGS. 7 and 8  show schematic diagrams of one exemplary embodiment of the hydraulic power supply and control system according to the invention. As shown in  FIG. 8 , the hydraulic seal inlets  66   a ,  66   b , and  66   c  are connected through hydraulic tubing  64  to a series of control valves  84   a ,  84   b  and  84   c  which in turn connect the inlets to a hydraulic power source manifold  86 . Hydraulic seal outlets  68   a ,  68   b  and  68   c  are connected through hydraulic drain lines  88  to the hydraulic power source manifold  86 . The control valves  84  are powered via valve power supply  90  and are hydraulically interlocked via interlock lines  92  to the system pressure of the rotary support table  10 , such that the control valves  84  cannot be opened to pressurize the hydraulic seal inlets  66  during rotation of the slip bowl  20 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , the slip bowl  20  is connected to this external fluid power supply  60  via internal slip bowl conduits  94  disposed within the slip bowl and in fluid communication between the slip bowl inlets  61  and the actuators  40  (shown schematically here). 
     In one embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 8 , the hydraulic system further includes a shuttle valve  96  which connects the hydraulic power source  60  to the slips set control valve  84   b  such that the slips set control valve  84   b  is activated automatically when either the slips up  84   a  or slips down  84   c  valves are opened. In this embodiment, the hydraulic power system further includes a pressure sensitive slips set check valve  98  ( FIG. 7 ) disposed within the slip bowl  20  and in fluid communication with all of the slip bowl conduits  94  such that upon full engagement or disengagement of the slips from the drillstem by the actuating rams and the subsequent rise in pressure that results as pressurized fluid continues to build up within the conduits  94  once the actuating ram has completed its travel, the check valve  98  opens allowing pressurized fluid to flow out through the slips set conduit  94   b  to a sensor in the slips set control valve  84   b  such that a signal indicating the disengagement or engagement of the rams is communicated to the operator. Any hydraulic lines and control valves suitable for containing the pressurized fluid may be utilized in this invention. 
     During operation, a pressurized fluid, such as, for example air or hydraulic fluid is constantly applied through the power supply to the inlet of each of the control valves  84 . An interlock signal indicative of the rotary table system pressure is also provided to the control valves  84  through the interlock signal lines  92  such that the control valve is incapable of opening during rotation of the rotary slip bowl. Although an engaging pressure is not permitted during rotation because of the interlock, during rotation a constant tank pressure is applied through the lines to the hydraulic seal inlets  66  such that the fluid is constantly flowing out of the seal inlets  66  and against the slip bowl outer surface  28  providing lubrication between the seal  72  and the slip bowl  20  and providing positive flow pressure out of the inlets  66  such that contaminants are not permitted to flow back through the inlets  66  into the hydraulic lines and control valves  84 . Excess fluid is trapped within the rotary seal manifold  62  by wiper seals  74  such that the fluid flows through outlets  68  into drain lines  88 , is filtered and then directed back into the power supply manifold tank  86 . 
     Referring the  FIGS. 7 and 8 , during operation of the rams  40  to engage and hold a drill stem in the central bore of the rotary table for either a load-in or load-out procedure, first the rotation of the slip bowl is stopped by an operator. After stopping, the interlock lines  92  automatically indicate that rotation of the rotary table has stopped to the control valves  84 . Then the operator can activate the slips down control valve  84   c . Pressurized fluid then passes through the slips down control valve  84   c  and flows into the outer groove  78  of the slips down hydraulic seal  72   c  such that a differential pressure is created between the outer and inner surfaces of the seal wall  80 , thereby energizing the seal  72   c  to resiliently expand inwardly toward the slip bowl to engage the outer surface of the slip bowl. The fluid then flows through the plurality of seal inlets  66   c  around the circumference of the seal  72   c  and into the slip bowl slips down inlets  61   c  disposed about the outer circumference of the slip bowl. The fluid then passes through slip bowl slips down conduit  94   c , shown in  FIG. 8 , and into the actuating rams such that the actuators push a set of slips inwardly to engage the drillstem  14 . 
     After the drill stem operation is complete and drilling is to be continued, the operator closes the slips down control valve  84   c  and opens the slips up control valve  84   a . Pressurized fluid from the power supply manifold  86  then passes through the slips up lines  64   a  to the outer seal groove  78  in the slips up seal  72   a  thereby energizing the seal  72   a  to press against the outer surface of the slip bowl such that the inner groove  76  of the slips up seal  72   a  forms a fluid conduit between the slips up seal inlet  66   a  and the slip bowl sips up inlet  61   a . The pressurized fluid then passes through the slip bowl slips up conduit  94   a  and into the actuating rams such that the actuating rams are pushed outwardly to disengage the drillstem. 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , the slips up and slips down lines  64   a  and  64   c  are connected to the slips set line  64   b  via a shuttle valve  96  such that when the pressurized fluid passes through one of the lines the shuttle valve  96  is opened to allow pressurized fluid to also energize the slips set seal  72   b  such that the slips set seal  72   b  also engages the outer surface of the slip bowl  28  such that a fluid passage is formed between the slip bowl slips set inlet  61   b  and the slips set seal inlet  66   b . When the actuating ram has reached its full up or down stroke and the slips are fully set against the drillstem or fully disengaged from the drillstem, the pressure of the fluid inside the slip bowl conduits  94  rises and triggers a slips set check valve  98 , which is in fluid communication with both the slips up and slips down conduits  94   a  and  94   c , to open allowing the fluid to move from the slip bowl slips down or up conduits  94   a  or  94   c  and into the slip bowl slips set conduit  94   b . The fluid passes outward through the slip bowl slips set inlet  61   b , in fluid communication with the slip bowl slips set conduit  94   b  and into the slips set seal  72   b . The fluid then passes through the slips set seal inlets  66   b  and into the slips set line  64   b  such that the fluid interacts with the slips set control valve  84   b  signaling that the rams  40  have either been fully engaged or disengaged, and thus that the associated slips are fully engaged or disengaged from the drillstem, i.e., that the slips are in a “set” position. Once the rams  99  are “set” in the up position, or fully disengaged from the drillstem, the operator can once again start rotation of the rotary slip bowl, which in turn will automatically pressurize the interlock line  92  preventing the activation of the control valves  84  to engage the rams  99 . 
     While several forms of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that various modifications and improvements can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited, except as by the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 4