Apparatus and method for position-sensitive pipe provisioning in top-drive drilling

摘要

The invention relates to a handling device for drill pipes (18) and to a so-called top drive (16) comprising said handling device, a so-called pipe handler, and having means for detecting a position of an elevator bail (30) comprised by the handling device/pipe handler and for transmitting the associated position information, wherein the position information is transmitted from the pipe handler to, e.g., the top drive (16) and is converted into an electrical signal for detecting and avoiding potentially critical situations as a result of a position/deflection of the elevator bail (30).

主权项

1. A pipe handler apparatus for handling drill pipe, the pipe handler apparatus comprising at least one pivotable elevator bail; a member coupled to the elevator bail, the member for applying force to affect an angular deflection of the elevator bail, the angular deflection defined as an angle between a longitudinal axis of the elevator bail and a longitudinal axis of the pipe handler; and a detector for sensing the angular deflection of the elevator bail and transmitting a signal indicative of the angular deflection.