System and method for transferring pipe

{
  "publication_number": "US6779614B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "System and method for transferring pipe",
  "abstract": "A system and method for transferring pipe according to which a pipe joint is positioned in a pipe lift in a first position and moved to a second position before being transferred from the pipe lift to a pipe shuttle and moved to a third position.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A pipe transfer system comprising: a rack for storing at least one pipe in a substantially horizontal position; a lift pivotal between a horizontal position in which it receives a pipe from the rack, and a vertical position in which it supports the pipe in a vertical position; and a shuttle for receiving the pipe in its substantially vertical position and moving it to another substantially vertical position spaced from the first-mentioned substantially vertical position.",
    "2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a grip associated with the lift for gripping the pipe during the movement of the lift.",
    "3. The system of claim 1 further comprising a feeder for feeding the pipe from the rack to the lift.",
    "4. The system of claim 3 wherein the feeder comprises a rotatable shaft, and at least one starwheel mounted on the shaft for rotation therewith and adapted to receive the pipe from the rack and transfer it to the lift.",
    "5. The system of claim 1 further comprising a grip associated with the shuttle for gripping the pipe during the movement of the shuttle.",
    "6. The system of claim 1 further comprising at, least one arm associated with the shuttle for gripping the pipe and moving the pipe from the other substantially vertical position to a position spaced angularly from the other substantially vertical position.",
    "7. The system of claim 1 wherein the pipe is adapted to be attached to a pipe string, and wherein the other substantially vertical position is above the upper end of the pipe string."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "This invention relates to a system and method for transferring pipe between a storage device for the pipe and a pipe string extending over a well.\n\nHydraulic workover units for transferring pipe between a storage device and a pipe string extending over a well, or the like, are well known. These units traditionally have been limited to a series of winches and associated equipment, requiring heavy manual labor to deliver the pipe, via the winches, from a pipe rack to an elevated position for lowering into a work basket, or the like, for introduction into the well, and visa versa. Therefore, what is needed is a more automatic system that reduces the manual labor and the time involved in these type of operations.\n\nFIG. 1 is an isometric view of a system for transferring pipe according to an embodiment of the invention.\n\nFIG. 2 is a top plan view of the system of FIG. 1.\n\nFIG. 3 a is a diagrammatic view of a pipe feeder of the system of FIG. 1.\n\nFIG. 3 b is an elevational view of a component of the pipe feeder of FIG. 3 a.\n\nFIG. 4 is an isometric view of a pipe shuttle of the system of FIG. 1.\n\nFIG. 5 a is an diagramatic view of a mechanism for raising and lowering the pipe shuttle of FIG. 4.\n\nFIG. 5 b is an diagramatic view of an alternate embodiment of the mechanism of FIG. 5 a.\n\nFIGS. 5 c and 5 d are diagramatic views of another alternate embodiment of the mechanism of FIG. 5 a.\n\nFIG. 6 is a diagrammatic view of a controller used in the system of FIG. 1.\n\nFIGS. 7 and 8 are views similar to FIGS. 1 and 2 respectively, but depicting an an alternate embodiment of the system of the present invention.",
  "cpc": [
    "E21B 19/155",
    "E21B 19/15"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "E21B 19/15"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Halliburton Energy Services Inc"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Michael S. Oser"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2002-02-21",
  "publication_date": "2004-08-24",
  "grant_date": "2004-08-24",
  "priority_date": "2002-02-21",
  "application_number": "US-8013702-A",
  "family_id": "27733153",
  "cited_by_count": 104,
  "citations": [
    "US4382591A",
    "US4591006A",
    "US4547110A",
    "US4610315A",
    "US4586572A",
    "US5458454A",
    "US5451129A",
    "US6068066A",
    "US6343662B2"
  ]
}