Patent · US10240408B2 · B2 · US

Sensor for a fingerboard latch assembly

(11) Publication number

US10240408B2

(21) Application number

16/039,108

(22) Filing date

2018-07-18

(30) Priority date

2016-07-05

(43) Publication date

2019-03-26

(45) Date of grant

2019-03-26

(51) IPC

E21B 19/14; E21B 23/04; E21B 47/09; F16B 39/12; F16L 3/00; G01R 33/07

(52) CPC

E21B Earth or rock drilling; obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells: 19/14, 19/15, 23/04, 47/09
F16B Devices for fastening or securing constructional elements or machine parts together, e.g. nails, bolts, circlips, clamps, clips or wedges; joints or jointing: 39/12
F16L Pipes; joints or fittings for pipes; supports for pipes, cables or protective tubing; means for thermal insulation in general: 3/00
G01D Measuring not specially adapted for a specific variable; arrangements for measuring two or more variables not covered in a single other subclass; tariff metering apparatus; measuring or testing not otherwise provided for: 7/005
G01R Measuring electric variables; measuring magnetic variables: 33/07, 33/072
G08C Transmission systems for measured values, control or similar signals: 17/02, 23/04
H04W Wireless communication networks: 16/28

(73) Assignee

Salunda Ltd

(72) Inventors

Alan Patrick John Finlay; John Mark Newton; Andrew Henry John Larkins; Mathew William Davis; Grant Nicholls

(54) Title

Sensor for a fingerboard latch assembly

(57) Abstract

A sensor unit for a fingerboard latch assembly comprising a latch bracket and a latch rotatably mounted on the latch bracket comprises a sensor arranged to sense the orientation of the latch and a wireless, optical or other communication unit arranged to communicate the orientation of the latch sensed by the sensor. The sensor unit may be mountable on the latch and comprise an orientation sensor arranged to take measurements that are dependent on the orientation of the sensor unit, and a processor arranged to derive an orientation signal representing the orientation of the latch from the measurements, the communication unit being arranged to communicate the orientation signal. A monitoring system receives the sensed orientations from plural sensor units.

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Claims (30)

A latch for a fingerboard latch assembly, the latch having an aperture and comprising a sensor unit, the sensor unit comprising a housing that houses electronic components including an accelerometer or inclinometer arranged to sense the orientation of the latch, the sensor unit being inserted in the aperture in the latch and further comprising a retaining member, the housing and the retaining member comprising screw threads that are screwed together so that the retaining member engages with the housing and retain the sensor unit in the aperture, wherein the electronic components further include a wireless communication unit arranged to wirelessly communicate the orientation of the latch sensed by the sensor, the wireless communication unit comprising a radio communication interface that is arranged to provide radio communication at a radio frequency wavelength that is less than a minimum spacing between plural fingerboard latch assemblies mounted on a fingerboard.
A latch according to claim 1, wherein the housing and the retaining member comprise a ratchet arrangement configured to permit screwing of the retaining member onto the housing and to prevent unscrewing.
A latch according to claim 2, wherein the ratchet arrangement comprises teeth and at least one flexible ratchet arm.
A latch according to claim 3, wherein the teeth are provided on the housing and the flexible ratchet arm is provided on the retaining member.
A latch according to claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a pin configured to fit within the aperture, and the retaining member is configured to engage with the pin within the aperture.
A latch according to claim 5, wherein the pin comprises a proximal portion configured to fit within the aperture and a distal portion that is recessed relative to the proximal portion, the retaining member being configured to engage with the proximal portion of the pin within the aperture.
A latch according to claim 5, wherein the retaining member further comprises a flange extending laterally for engaging the latch.
A latch according to claim 7, wherein the flange is shaped to fit within a bevel formed on the rim of the aperture.
A latch according to claim 7, wherein the flange has a cut-out arranged to accommodate a retaining wire, and the flange is rotatable on the retaining member.
A latch according to claim 5, wherein the housing comprises a head that extends laterally of the pin for engaging the latch, the head containing the electronic components.
A latch according to claim 10, further comprising a light source that comprises a light emitter contained in the head and a light guide extending along the pin from the light emitter, the pin and the retaining member being configured to allow output of light transmitted along the light guide.
A latch according to claim 1, wherein the housing and the retaining member are made from non-metallic material.
A latch according to claim 1, further comprising at least one resilient liner arranged between the sensor unit and the aperture in the latch.
A latch according to claim 1, wherein the wireless communication unit further comprises a light source, the sensor unit being arranged to modulate the light output by the light source to represent the orientation of the latch sensed by the sensor.
A latch according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is arranged to take measurements that are dependent on the orientation of the sensor unit, and the electronic components further comprise a processor arranged to derive an orientation signal representing the orientation of the latch from the measurements.
A latch according to claim 15, wherein the processor is further arranged to associate metadata with the orientation signal.
A latch according to claim 16, wherein the metadata includes one or more of: time information, sensor identity, latch identity, number of latch cycles, count of latch being in open position, count of latch being in closed position, latch speed, latch acceleration, battery level, orientation sensor signal level.
A latch according to claim 16, wherein the electronic components further include a geolocation unit arranged to detect the location of the sensor unit, and the metadata includes the location detected by the geolocation unit.
A latch according to claim 15, wherein the orientation signal represents the value of the present orientation of the latch across its range of movement.
A latch according to claim 15, wherein the orientation signal represents that the present orientation of the latch is an open position, a closed position or an intermediate position.
A latch according to claim 1, further comprising a backup retention device comprising a strand of wire or rope attached to both the latch and the sensor unit.
A fingerboard latch assembly comprising: a latch bracket; and a latch according to claim 1 rotatably mounted on the latch bracket.
A latch for a fingerboard latch assembly, the latch having an aperture and comprising a sensor unit, the sensor unit comprising a housing that houses electronic components including an accelerometer or inclinometer arranged to sense the orientation of the latch, wherein the housing comprises a pin configured to fit within the aperture and a head that extends laterally of the pin for engaging the latch, the head containing the electronic components, the pin being inserted in the aperture in the latch, the sensor unit further comprises a retaining member configured to engage with the pin within the aperture, the housing and the retaining member comprising screw threads that are screwed together so that the retaining member engages with the housing and retain the sensor unit in the aperture, and the sensor unit further comprises a light source that comprises a light emitter contained in the head and a light guide extending along the pin from the light emitter, the pin and the retaining member being configured to allow output of light transmitted along the light guide.
A latch according to claim 23, wherein the housing and the retaining member comprise a ratchet arrangement configured to permit screwing of the retaining member onto the housing and to prevent unscrewing.
A latch according to claim 24, wherein the ratchet arrangement comprises teeth and at least one flexible ratchet arm.
A latch according to claim 25, wherein the teeth are provided on the housing and the flexible ratchet arm is provided on the retaining member.
A latch according to claim 26, wherein the pin comprises a proximal portion configured to fit within the aperture and a distal portion that is recessed relative to the proximal portion, the retaining member being configured to engage with the proximal portion of the pin within the aperture.
A latch according to claim 26, wherein the retaining member further comprises a flange extending laterally for engaging the latch.
A latch according to claim 28, wherein the flange has a cut-out arranged to accommodate a retaining wire, and the flange is rotatable on the retaining member.
A fingerboard latch assembly comprising: a latch bracket; and a latch according to claim 23 rotatably mounted on the latch bracket.

Description

The present invention relates to a sensor for a fingerboard latch assembly.

Fingerboards are used to store tubulars, for example drill pipes, drill collars and casings, used in the oil and gas industry, for example adjacent to a drilling derrick on an oil or gas rig. An array of horizontally extending fingerboards are provided between which the tubulars are vertically stacked. Latches are used to secure tubulars between the fingerboards. The latches are provided as part of fingerboard latch assemblies mounted to the fingerboards. A fingerboard latch assembly typically comprises: a latch bracket and a latch rotatably mounted on the latch bracket.

It is desirable to sense the orientation of the latch. This is important to provide safety during operation of the latch. In the event of a failure in the latch actuation system, which is typically pneumatic, then the latch might not be in the expected position. This can result in the fingerboard latch assembly and the associated mechanism for handling the tubulars failing to operate properly. This may lead to the tubulars becoming insecure and causing damage to equipment or becoming a danger to workers.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sensor unit for a fingerboard latch assembly, which comprises a latch bracket and a latch rotatably mounted on the latch bracket, the sensor unit comprising: a sensor arranged to sense the orientation of the latch; and a wireless communication unit arranged to wirelessly communicate the orientation of the latch sensed by the sensor.

Citations (47)

US3799634A
US3799364A
US4042123A
US4044895A
GB1588849A
DE3115587A1
US4739264A
GB2175629A
US4914263A
US4947690A
US5866818A
US20060124353A1
US6533494B1
US6892812B2
US6851306B2
US20050092524A1
US20050194185A1
US7134334B2
US9404346B2
US20090238663A1
US7510028B2
US20100089159A1
US20100104401A1
US20100149797A1
US20120103623A1
US20100303586A1
WO2010141287A2
US20120305261A1
US20120319503A1
US20110295546A1
WO2012012326A1
US20120038486A1
US20120020758A1
EP2554784A2
US20130032405A1
EP2554754A1
US20130096731A1
CN202520252U
US20150010372A1
WO2015015150A1
US20160201408A1
US20150077219A1
US20160076920A1
WO2016075478A1
US20170306710A1
US20160208566A1
US20180058158A1

Record as JSON

{
  "publication_number": "US10240408B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Sensor for a fingerboard latch assembly",
  "abstract": "A sensor unit for a fingerboard latch assembly comprising a latch bracket and a latch rotatably mounted on the latch bracket comprises a sensor arranged to sense the orientation of the latch and a wireless, optical or other communication unit arranged to communicate the orientation of the latch sensed by the sensor. The sensor unit may be mountable on the latch and comprise an orientation sensor arranged to take measurements that are dependent on the orientation of the sensor unit, and a processor arranged to derive an orientation signal representing the orientation of the latch from the measurements, the communication unit being arranged to communicate the orientation signal. A monitoring system receives the sensed orientations from plural sensor units.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A latch for a fingerboard latch assembly, the latch having an aperture and comprising a sensor unit, the sensor unit comprising a housing that houses electronic components including an accelerometer or inclinometer arranged to sense the orientation of the latch, the sensor unit being inserted in the aperture in the latch and further comprising a retaining member, the housing and the retaining member comprising screw threads that are screwed together so that the retaining member engages with the housing and retain the sensor unit in the aperture, wherein the electronic components further include a wireless communication unit arranged to wirelessly communicate the orientation of the latch sensed by the sensor, the wireless communication unit comprising a radio communication interface that is arranged to provide radio communication at a radio frequency wavelength that is less than a minimum spacing between plural fingerboard latch assemblies mounted on a fingerboard.",
    "2. A latch according to claim 1, wherein the housing and the retaining member comprise a ratchet arrangement configured to permit screwing of the retaining member onto the housing and to prevent unscrewing.",
    "3. A latch according to claim 2, wherein the ratchet arrangement comprises teeth and at least one flexible ratchet arm.",
    "4. A latch according to claim 3, wherein the teeth are provided on the housing and the flexible ratchet arm is provided on the retaining member.",
    "5. A latch according to claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a pin configured to fit within the aperture, and the retaining member is configured to engage with the pin within the aperture.",
    "6. A latch according to claim 5, wherein the pin comprises a proximal portion configured to fit within the aperture and a distal portion that is recessed relative to the proximal portion, the retaining member being configured to engage with the proximal portion of the pin within the aperture.",
    "7. A latch according to claim 5, wherein the retaining member further comprises a flange extending laterally for engaging the latch.",
    "8. A latch according to claim 7, wherein the flange is shaped to fit within a bevel formed on the rim of the aperture.",
    "9. A latch according to claim 7, wherein the flange has a cut-out arranged to accommodate a retaining wire, and the flange is rotatable on the retaining member.",
    "10. A latch according to claim 5, wherein the housing comprises a head that extends laterally of the pin for engaging the latch, the head containing the electronic components.",
    "11. A latch according to claim 10, further comprising a light source that comprises a light emitter contained in the head and a light guide extending along the pin from the light emitter, the pin and the retaining member being configured to allow output of light transmitted along the light guide.",
    "12. A latch according to claim 1, wherein the housing and the retaining member are made from non-metallic material.",
    "13. A latch according to claim 1, further comprising at least one resilient liner arranged between the sensor unit and the aperture in the latch.",
    "14. A latch according to claim 1, wherein the wireless communication unit further comprises a light source, the sensor unit being arranged to modulate the light output by the light source to represent the orientation of the latch sensed by the sensor.",
    "15. A latch according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is arranged to take measurements that are dependent on the orientation of the sensor unit, and the electronic components further comprise a processor arranged to derive an orientation signal representing the orientation of the latch from the measurements.",
    "16. A latch according to claim 15, wherein the processor is further arranged to associate metadata with the orientation signal.",
    "17. A latch according to claim 16, wherein the metadata includes one or more of: time information, sensor identity, latch identity, number of latch cycles, count of latch being in open position, count of latch being in closed position, latch speed, latch acceleration, battery level, orientation sensor signal level.",
    "18. A latch according to claim 16, wherein the electronic components further include a geolocation unit arranged to detect the location of the sensor unit, and the metadata includes the location detected by the geolocation unit.",
    "19. A latch according to claim 15, wherein the orientation signal represents the value of the present orientation of the latch across its range of movement.",
    "20. A latch according to claim 15, wherein the orientation signal represents that the present orientation of the latch is an open position, a closed position or an intermediate position.",
    "21. A latch according to claim 1, further comprising a backup retention device comprising a strand of wire or rope attached to both the latch and the sensor unit.",
    "22. A fingerboard latch assembly comprising: a latch bracket; and a latch according to claim 1 rotatably mounted on the latch bracket.",
    "23. A latch for a fingerboard latch assembly, the latch having an aperture and comprising a sensor unit, the sensor unit comprising a housing that houses electronic components including an accelerometer or inclinometer arranged to sense the orientation of the latch, wherein the housing comprises a pin configured to fit within the aperture and a head that extends laterally of the pin for engaging the latch, the head containing the electronic components, the pin being inserted in the aperture in the latch, the sensor unit further comprises a retaining member configured to engage with the pin within the aperture, the housing and the retaining member comprising screw threads that are screwed together so that the retaining member engages with the housing and retain the sensor unit in the aperture, and the sensor unit further comprises a light source that comprises a light emitter contained in the head and a light guide extending along the pin from the light emitter, the pin and the retaining member being configured to allow output of light transmitted along the light guide.",
    "24. A latch according to claim 23, wherein the housing and the retaining member comprise a ratchet arrangement configured to permit screwing of the retaining member onto the housing and to prevent unscrewing.",
    "25. A latch according to claim 24, wherein the ratchet arrangement comprises teeth and at least one flexible ratchet arm.",
    "26. A latch according to claim 25, wherein the teeth are provided on the housing and the flexible ratchet arm is provided on the retaining member.",
    "27. A latch according to claim 26, wherein the pin comprises a proximal portion configured to fit within the aperture and a distal portion that is recessed relative to the proximal portion, the retaining member being configured to engage with the proximal portion of the pin within the aperture.",
    "28. A latch according to claim 26, wherein the retaining member further comprises a flange extending laterally for engaging the latch.",
    "29. A latch according to claim 28, wherein the flange has a cut-out arranged to accommodate a retaining wire, and the flange is rotatable on the retaining member.",
    "30. A fingerboard latch assembly comprising: a latch bracket; and a latch according to claim 23 rotatably mounted on the latch bracket."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present invention relates to a sensor for a fingerboard latch assembly.\n\nFingerboards are used to store tubulars, for example drill pipes, drill collars and casings, used in the oil and gas industry, for example adjacent to a drilling derrick on an oil or gas rig. An array of horizontally extending fingerboards are provided between which the tubulars are vertically stacked. Latches are used to secure tubulars between the fingerboards. The latches are provided as part of fingerboard latch assemblies mounted to the fingerboards. A fingerboard latch assembly typically comprises: a latch bracket and a latch rotatably mounted on the latch bracket.\n\nIt is desirable to sense the orientation of the latch. This is important to provide safety during operation of the latch. In the event of a failure in the latch actuation system, which is typically pneumatic, then the latch might not be in the expected position. This can result in the fingerboard latch assembly and the associated mechanism for handling the tubulars failing to operate properly. This may lead to the tubulars becoming insecure and causing damage to equipment or becoming a danger to workers.\n\nAccording to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sensor unit for a fingerboard latch assembly, which comprises a latch bracket and a latch rotatably mounted on the latch bracket, the sensor unit comprising: a sensor arranged to sense the orientation of the latch; and a wireless communication unit arranged to wirelessly communicate the orientation of the latch sensed by the sensor.",
  "cpc": [
    "E21B 19/14",
    "E21B 19/15",
    "E21B 23/04",
    "E21B 47/09",
    "F16B 39/12",
    "F16L 3/00",
    "G01D 7/005",
    "G01R 33/07",
    "G01R 33/072",
    "G08C 17/02",
    "G08C 23/04",
    "H04W 16/28"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "E21B 19/14",
    "E21B 23/04",
    "E21B 47/09",
    "F16B 39/12",
    "F16L 3/00",
    "G01R 33/07"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Salunda Ltd"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Alan Patrick John Finlay",
    "John Mark Newton",
    "Andrew Henry John Larkins",
    "Mathew William Davis",
    "Grant Nicholls"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2018-07-18",
  "publication_date": "2019-03-26",
  "grant_date": "2019-03-26",
  "priority_date": "2016-07-05",
  "application_number": "US-201816039108-A",
  "family_id": "60912380",
  "cited_by_count": 8,
  "citations": [
    "US3799634A",
    "US3799364A",
    "US4042123A",
    "US4044895A",
    "GB1588849A",
    "DE3115587A1",
    "US4739264A",
    "GB2175629A",
    "US4914263A",
    "US4947690A",
    "US5866818A",
    "US20060124353A1",
    "US6533494B1",
    "US6892812B2",
    "US6851306B2",
    "US20050092524A1",
    "US20050194185A1",
    "US7134334B2",
    "US9404346B2",
    "US20090238663A1",
    "US7510028B2",
    "US20100089159A1",
    "US20100104401A1",
    "US20100149797A1",
    "US20120103623A1",
    "US20100303586A1",
    "WO2010141287A2",
    "US20120305261A1",
    "US20120319503A1",
    "US20110295546A1",
    "WO2012012326A1",
    "US20120038486A1",
    "US20120020758A1",
    "EP2554784A2",
    "US20130032405A1",
    "EP2554754A1",
    "US20130096731A1",
    "CN202520252U",
    "US20150010372A1",
    "WO2015015150A1",
    "US20160201408A1",
    "US20150077219A1",
    "US20160076920A1",
    "WO2016075478A1",
    "US20170306710A1",
    "US20160208566A1",
    "US20180058158A1"
  ]
}

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