Abstract:
A drill rod handler provides rods to be used to form a drill string in on-shore drilling operations. The drill rod handler includes side arms which are moveable to encourage drill rods to roll towards or away from a centre line of the drill rod handler. A working arm is arranged to grasp a centrally located drill rod, and to raise it from a horizontal to a vertical configuration. The working arm may then slew to correctly position the drill rod at the correct location for use.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to the transport and use of pipes and rods used in on-shore drilling applications, such as in the sinking of bores into aquifers. 
       BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Drilling operations such as the sinking of bores into aquifers require the use of vertically aligned pipes or rods. In general, it is not practical above the ground to erect a drill string which is sufficiently long to achieve the required depth once inserted into the ground. Instead, a drill string is provided in rods or pipes above a drill stem, each of which is joined in turn to the drill string as the drill stem is lowered into the ground. 
         [0003]    Transportation of rod sections and on-site handling of rods represent difficult operations. Generally a truck is required to transport the rods (horizontally), and then a crane is required to lift each rod and to manoeuver it into position. These operations are both time consuming and labour intensive. 
         [0004]    The present invention seeks to provide a means of transporting and/or erecting drill string rods which addresses these concerns. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a handler for elongate members, the handler including a bed on which the elongate members can be located in a generally horizontal configuration, and a working arm, the working arm having a grasping means, the working arm being moveable relative to the bed such that the grasping means is moveable between a horizontal configuration and a vertical configuration. 
         [0006]    The elongate members may be drill rods as used in a drill string. 
         [0007]    Preferably the working arm is moveable through at least two degrees of freedom. This may be rotation about a horizontally aligned axis, and rotation about a vertical axis. 
         [0008]    The bed may include at least one inclined surface, inclined in a transverse direction relative to a longitudinal direction of the elongate members when located horizontally. It is preferred that the bed includes two inclined surfaces, arranged in a V-shape&#39;. In this way, the bed includes a primed position lower than the surrounding areas, into which a single drill rod is encouraged to roll by the action of gravity. 
         [0009]    The bed may be associated with a selector, associated with the primed position. The selector may be arranged to elevate a drill rod from the primed position into an elevated position. The selector preferably includes a cradle arranged to support a drill rod, and legs arranged to raise the cradle relative to the bed. 
         [0010]    The grasping means may be associated with a grabbing arm. The grabbing arm may be fixed to the working arm. Preferably, the grabbing arm is detachably connected to the working arm at a pivot, and includes an angle adjustment means enabling the relative angle of the working arm and the grabbing arm to be altered. The handler may be arranged for use with a number of interchangeable grabbing arms, for instanced sized for use with different sized drill rods. 
         [0011]    In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a grabbing arm for use in the movement and manipulation of elongate members, such as drill rods, the grabbing arm being generally elongate and including at least two grasping means arranged to selectively locate about an elongate member. 
         [0012]    Preferably each grasping means includes two grasping members, a first grasping member having a first effective circumference and the second grasping member having a second effective circumference. The first effective circumference is similar to the circumference of the elongate member to be moved. The second effective circumference is larger than the first effective circumference. In this way each grasping means has a grasping member which is able to hold the drill rod, and a grasping member which is able to locate around the drill rod, and act as a back-up holding mechanism. 
         [0013]    Each grasping means may include a set of jaws operated by a linking structure. The linking structure may be arranged such that the operation of an operating cylinder causes opening and closing of the jaws. It is preferred that the operating cylinder is arranged to operate radially relative to the area bounded by the jaws. 
         [0014]    The grabbing arm may have a moveable foot. The moveable foot may be arranged to move in an elongate direction, for instance to engage the base of a drill rod. 
         [0015]    The grabbing arm preferably includes a detection means to indicate whether an elongate member is in position to be grasped by the grasping means. This may be a proximity detector. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]    It will be convenient to further describe the invention with reference to preferred embodiments of the present invention. Other embodiments are possible, and consequently the particularity of the following discussion is not to be understood as superseding the generality of the preceding description of the invention. In the drawings: 
           [0017]      FIG. 1  is a schematic perspective of a drill rod handler in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged view of a portion of the drill rod handler of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is a perspective of a selector within the drill rod handler of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is a perspective of a grabbing arm within the drill rod handler of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 4 a    is an enlarged view of a portion of the grabbing arm of  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 5  is a schematic perspective of the grabbing arm of  FIG. 4 , shown during use; 
           [0023]      FIG. 6  is a cross section through a grasping means within the grabbing arm of  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 7  is a perspective of the drill rod handler of  FIG. 1  shown immediately prior to operation; 
           [0025]      FIG. 8  is a cross section through the drill rod handler in the configuration of  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 9  is a cross section through the drill rod handler of  FIG. 1 , shown following raising of a selector; 
           [0027]      FIG. 10  is a perspective of a portion of the drill rod handler of  FIG. 1 , shown following grasping of a rod; 
           [0028]      FIG. 11  is a cross section through the drill rod handler in the configuration of  FIG. 10 ; 
           [0029]      FIG. 12  is a perspective of the drill rod handler of  FIG. 1 , shown following raising of a rod; 
           [0030]      FIG. 13  is a perspective of the drill rod handler of  FIG. 1 , shown following slewing of a boom arm assembly; 
           [0031]      FIG. 14  is a side view of the drill rod handler of  FIG. 1 , shown as a rod is being lowered into position; 
           [0032]      FIG. 15  is a perspective of the drill rod handler of  FIG. 1 , shown with a rod ready to be deployed; and 
           [0033]      FIG. 16  is a perspective of the drill rod handler of  FIG. 1 , shown following return of a rod to the drill rod handler. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0034]    Referring to the Figures,  FIG. 1  shows a handler  10  for the transportation of drilling rods, being elongate members. The handler  10  is in the form of a trailer arranged for attachment to a prime mover or tractor unit in known fashion. The handler  10  as shown in the drawings is part of a six-wheeled trailer. 
         [0035]    The handler  10  has a forward end  12 , a rear end  14  and two side edges  16 . The handler  10  includes two stabilizers or outriggers  18  along each side edge  16 , which can be deployed for use or retracted for transportation in known fashion. 
         [0036]    The handler  10  has a generally rectangular bed  20 , having an elongate direction extending from near the forward end  12  to the rear end  14 , and a transverse direction extending from one side edge  16  to the other side edge  16 . 
         [0037]    A hydraulic lifting device or boom arm assembly  22  is mounted towards the rear end  14  of the bed  20 . The boom arm assembly  22  has a base post  24 , arranged to slew about a vertical axis, and a working arm  26 , pivotally connected to the base post  24  and arranged to rotate relative to the base post  24  about a horizontal axis. 
         [0038]    The working arm  26  is generally elongate, with an angled distal end portion  28 . The arrangement is such that when the boom arm assembly  22  is in the rest position, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the working arm  26  extends in the elongated direction, parallel to and spaced from the bed  20 . The distal end portion  28  is angled towards the bed  20  at an angle of about 120°. 
         [0039]    A rotational coupling  30  is mounted to an outer end of the distal end portion  28 . A grabbing arm  40  is mounted to the rotational coupling  30 . The rotational coupling  30  is arranged such that the particular grabbing arm  40  can be readily exchanged for an alternative grabbing arm  40 , for instance for use in the deployment of drill rods of different sizes. 
         [0040]    The grabbing arm  40 , as best seen in  FIG. 4 , is elongate, with a first end  42  and a second end  44 . The grabbing arm  40  is generally rectangular prismatic in shape, with an inner face  41 , an outer face  43  and two side faces  45  extending between the first end  42  and the second end  44 . The rotational coupling  30  is mounted to the grabbing arm  40  on the outer face  43 , about one third of the way from the first end  42  to the second end  44 . 
         [0041]    A hydraulically operated telescopic end portion  46  extends from the second end  44  in an elongate direction. The telescopic end portion  46  is controlled by a hydraulic ram  48 . Operation of the hydraulic ram  48  acts to increase or decrease the effective length of the grabbing arm  40 . The end portion  46  terminates in a foot  50  which extends inwardly; that is, extends generally perpendicular to the grabbing arm  40  on the inner face  41 . 
         [0042]    The grabbing portion includes two grasping means  52 , one located near the first end  42  and one located near the second end  44 . 
         [0043]    Each grasping means  52  has a first grasping member  54  and a second grasping member  56 . Operation of the first grasping member  54  will be described with reference to  FIG. 6 , with operation of the second grasping member  56  being substantially similar. 
         [0044]    The first grasping member  54  has a set of grasping jaws  58  which are arranged to open and close by relative rotation of the jaws  58  about a pivot point  60 . The pivot point  60  is fixed on the inner face  41  of the grabbing arm  40 . 
         [0045]    An operating hydraulic cylinder  62  is fixed on the outer face  43  of the grabbing arm  40 , and has a ram  64  arranged to move in a direction perpendicular to the outer face  43 . The ram  64  is fixed to a linking mechanism  66 , which is in turn attached to the jaws  58 . 
         [0046]    The arrangement is such that movement of the ram  64  away from the outer face  43  causes the jaws  58  to close, forming a generally circular enclosure having a nominal circumference. Movement of the ram  64  towards the outer face  43  causes the jaws  58  to open. The plane of the generally circular enclosure is perpendicular to the elongate direction of the grabbing arm  40 . 
         [0047]    It will be appreciated that the direction of operation of the cylinder  62  is generally radial relative to the enclosure formed by the jaws  58 . 
         [0048]    The first grasping member  54  and the second grasping member  56  are located next to each other, with their respective jaws  58  being parallel. The nominal circumference of the jaws  58  of the first grasping member  54  is smaller than the nominal circumference of the jaws  58  of the second grasping member  56 . 
         [0049]    The grabbing arm  40  includes detection means to determine whether or not a rod  100  is in the correct position for grasping by the grasping means  52 . The detection means may be an optical detector, such as a proximity sensor  68  located on the inner face  41  of the grabbing arm  40 . 
         [0050]    In use, the grabbing arm  40  is arranged such that the nominal circumference of the jaws  58  of the first grasping member  54  is similar to the circumference of the rod  100 . When a rod  100  is in the appropriate position, and the grasping means  52  are activated, the first grasping members  54  will hold the rod  100  in position relative to the grabbing arm  40 . The second grasping members  56  will extend around the rod  100  with a small clearance, and act to prevent detachment of the rod  100  from the grabbing arm  40  in the event of failure of a first grasping member  54 . 
         [0051]    The hydraulic ram  48  is actuated to bring the end portion  46  and the foot  50  into position near the end of the rod  100 , in order to prevent loss of the rod  100  through slippage. 
         [0052]    The bed  20  of the handler  10  includes three transversely extending raised supports  70  which support the rods  100  during transport. The raised supports  70  are arranged to telescope outwards from the side edges  16  to a distance even beyond that of the outriggers  18 , such that during use rods  100  can be arrayed across the bed  20  not just from side edge  16  to side edge  16 , but across the span of the supports  70 . 
         [0053]    The supports  70  each include a central portion  72  defined by two inclined surfaces which meet to form a concave V-shape. It will be appreciated that a rod  100  will readily come to rest across the base of this V-shape, in a stable position. This position can be considered a primed position. 
         [0054]    The bed  20  includes an elongate selector  80  aligned with the central portion  72  of the supports. The selector  80 , as shown in  FIG. 3 , includes an elongate cradle  82  arranged to support a rod  100 , and two legs  84  which are associated with a hydraulic activation means within the bed  20  (not shown) to raise or lower the selector  80  relative to the bed  20 . 
         [0055]    The supports  70  include outer portions  74  hinged to the central portion  72 . The arrangement is such that the outer portions  74 , in conjunction with the outriggers  18 , can be arranged to be generally horizontal; to be inclined away from the central portion  72 ; or to be inclined towards the central portion  72 . In this way rods located on the outer portions  74  can be rolled towards or away from the central portion  72 . 
         [0056]    The bed  20  includes additional V-shaped members  76  aligned with the central portion  72 . The additional V-shaped members  76  are each hinged at a side, and associated with a hydraulic activation means such that selected additional V-shaped members can be raised in order to provide impetus to a rod  100  to roll the rod  100  away from the central portion  72 . 
         [0057]    Use of the rod handler  10  will now be described with reference to  FIGS. 7 to 15 . 
         [0058]      FIGS. 7 and 8  show the rod handler  10  in position ready for deployment of a rod  100 . The rod  100  is located in the central portion  72  of the supports  70 . One of the outer portions  74  is arranged in a holding position for further rods  102 , being inclined away from the central portion  72 . It will be observed that the outriggers  18  are deployed, and that the rods  100  extend from the base post  24  of the boom arm assembly  22  right to the forward end  12  of the bed  20 . The working arm  26  and the grabbing arm  40  are both located directly above the rod  100 . 
         [0059]    As a safety precaution, the flow of hydraulic fluid to the boom arm assembly  22  and grabbing arm  40  is disabled unless all four outriggers  18  are properly deployed. 
         [0060]    The first action is the raising of the rod  100  using the selector  80 . The rod  100  is held in the cradle  82 , and as the legs  84  are lifted the rod  100  is moved into position within the grasping means  52 . This is shown in  FIG. 9 . As a safety precaution, the selector  80  is disabled unless the grasping means  52  is open. 
         [0061]    The grabbing arm  40  is then operated to grasp the rod  100 . This includes the closing of the jaws  58 , and the operation of the hydraulic ram  48  to bring the foot  50  against a base of the rod  100 . This position is shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 . 
         [0062]    Once the rod  100  has been grasped, it can be moved into position using the boom arm assembly  22 . The first action is to raise the rod  100  to a vertical position, by rotating the working arm  26  by 90°. This is shown in  FIG. 12 . As a safety precaution, the working arm  26  cannot be operated unless the hydraulic pressure operating the grasping means  52  is above a predetermined limit (for instance, 2500 p 5 i); the proximity sensor  68  shows the rod  100  to be securely in place; and the foot  50  is against the base of the rod  100 . 
         [0063]    The base post  24  can then be slewed 180°, placing the rod behind the rear end  14  of the handler  10 . This is shown in  FIG. 13 . As a safety precaution, the base post  24  can only slew if the working arm  26  is in a vertical position. 
         [0064]    The rod  100  can then be lowered into position above the drill string (not shown), by rotating the working arm  26 . In order to maintain the rod  100  in a vertical configuration, the rotational coupling  30  is also rotated by a corresponding angle. This is shown in  FIG. 14 . 
         [0065]      FIG. 15  shows the final stage of deployment of the rod  100 , where the hydraulic ram  48  is operated to displace the foot  50  from the rod  100 , freeing the base of the rod  100  for connection to the drill string. 
         [0066]    Rods  100  can be returned to the handler  10  using the reverse procedure.  FIG. 16  shows a rod  100  which has just been returned to the handler  10 . Additional V-shaped members  76  have been engaged in order to ‘kick’ the rod  100  away from the central portion  72  towards the outer portions  74 . 
         [0067]    Modifications and variations as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are deemed to be within the scope of the present invention.