Reel transport apparatus and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10414626-B2
Application number	US-201515122233-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 27, 2015
Priority date	Feb 27, 2014
Publication date	Sep 17, 2019
Grant date	Sep 17, 2019

Abstract

An apparatus comprising a mobile carrier operable for transporting a reel of oilfield tubing across ground. The mobile carrier comprises a frame comprising a first frame portion, a second frame portion, and a central frame portion extending between the first and second frame portions. The first, second, and central frame portions define an opening for receiving the reel. The mobile carrier also comprises a locking mechanism operable to engage and rotate the reel within the opening, and a plurality of wheels supporting the frame on the ground. The plurality of wheels comprises a plurality of first wheels operably connected to the first frame portion and a plurality of second wheels operably connected to the second frame portion. The opening interposes the plurality of first wheels and the plurality of second wheels.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method, comprising:
providing a mobile carrier that comprises: a frame defining an opening for receiving the reel; a locking mechanism connected to the frame and operable to engage and rotate the reel within the opening; and a plurality of wheels connected to and supporting the frame on the ground, wherein the plurality of wheels comprises a plurality of first wheels and a plurality of second wheels, and wherein the opening interposes the plurality of first wheels and the plurality of second wheels;
moving the mobile carrier over ground toward a reel containing oilfield tubing until the reel is positioned adjacent the opening defined by the frame;
lowering the frame vertically such that the frame is maintained parallel to the ground;
engaging the reel with the locking mechanism; and
raising the frame and the reel vertically such that the reel may be transported.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein moving the mobile carrier toward the reel, and moving the mobile carrier relative to the reel until the reel is located within the opening, each comprise operating a prime mover.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein moving the mobile carrier relative to the reel until the reel is located within the opening and proximate the locking mechanism horizontally aligns the reel with the locking mechanism, and wherein engaging the reel with the locking mechanism comprises moving the locking mechanism vertically relative to the reel to vertically align the locking mechanism with the reel.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising operating the mobile carrier to move the reel upwards relative to the ground.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein operating the mobile carrier to move the reel upwards relative to the ground comprises at least one of: operating the locking mechanism to move the reel upwards relative to the frame; and operating a plurality of actuators to move the frame upwards relative to the plurality of wheels.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising, after engaging the reel with the locking mechanism, operating the locking mechanism to rotate the reel relative to the frame.

Assignees

• Schlumberger Technology Corp

Inventors

• Rock Devin
• Rangel Pedro
• Burrell Eddie R

Classifications

• B60S9/02

  for only lifting or supporting · CPC title

• B65H75/4471

  Housing enclosing the reel · CPC title

• B60P1/02

  with parallel up-and-down movement of load supporting or containing element (in combination with tipping B60P1/34; devices for lifting or lowering bulky or heavy goods for loading or unloading purposes, movable on wheels or the like, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/06 {; suspensions with electronic levelling control during loading or unloading B60G17/0157}) · CPC title

• B65H75/425 Primary

  attached to, or forming part of a vehicle, e.g. truck, trailer, vessel · CPC title

• B65H75/4481

  Arrangements or adaptations for driving the reel or the material (by a spring B65H75/48) · CPC title