Flexible pipe handling system and method of using same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11548755-B2
Application number	US-202117231787-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 15, 2021
Priority date	Feb 15, 2019
Publication date	Jan 10, 2023
Grant date	Jan 10, 2023

Abstract

A system includes a drum assembly that includes a support bar having a first end and a second end, and a plurality of drum segments coupled to the support bar. The drum segments are movable between retracted and extended positions, and the drum assembly is configured to be disposed within an interior region of a coil of flexible pipe when the plurality of drum segments are in the retracted position. The system also includes a first containment flange coupled to the drum assembly at the first end, a second containment flange coupled to the drum assembly at the second end, a first coupling device configured to removably couple the first containment flange to the drum assembly, and a second coupling device configured to removably couple the second containment flange to the drum assembly. The first and second containment flanges are configured to contain the flexible pipe.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system, comprising:
a drum assembly comprising:
a support bar having a first end and a second end;
a first plurality of expandable spokes coupled to the first end of the support bar and a plurality of drum segments;
a second plurality of expandable spokes coupled to the second end of the support bar and the plurality of drum segments;
a first plurality of spoke frames coupled to each of the first plurality of expandable spokes;
a second plurality of spoke frames coupled to each of the second plurality of expandable spokes;
a first plurality of plates coupled to the first plurality of spoke frames;
a second plurality of plates coupled to the second plurality of spoke frames, wherein the plurality of drum segments are movable between a retracted position and an extended position, and the drum assembly is configured to be disposed within an interior region of a coil of flexible pipe when the plurality of drum segments are in the retracted position;

a first containment flange;
a second containment flange;
a first coupling device configured to removably couple the first containment flange to the drum assembly, wherein the first coupling device is coupled to the first plurality of plates; and
a second coupling device configured to removably couple the second containment flange to the drum assembly, wherein the second coupling device is coupled to the first plurality of plates, and wherein the first and second containment flanges are configured to contain the flexible pipe between the first and second containment flanges when coupled to the drum assembly.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the drum assembly comprises:
a first loading ring coupled to the first end of the support bar via a first plurality of supports; and
a second loading ring coupled to the second end of the support bar via a second plurality of supports, wherein the first and second loading rings each comprise three or more flat sides.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the first containment flange comprises a first plurality of beams coupled together to form a first flange ring with three or more flat sides corresponding to the first loading ring; and wherein the second containment flange comprises a second plurality of beams coupled together to form a second flange ring with three or more flat sides corresponding to the second loading ring.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the first coupling device is configured to engage the first flange ring with the first loading ring thereby enabling the first containment flange to rotate together with the drum assembly; and wherein the second coupling device is configured to engage the second flange ring with the second loading ring thereby enabling the second containment flange to rotate together with the drum assembly.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein a height of each of the first and second containment flanges is less than a length of each of the first and second containment flanges.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second containment flanges is non-circular in shape.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second coupling devices comprises a latch coupled to one of the respective first and second plurality of plates and configured to engage with a catch formed in the respective first and second containment flanges.

8. The system of claim 7 , comprising a spring mechanism configured to retain the latch engaged with the catch.

9. The system of claim 7 , comprising a jackscrew configured to disengage the latch from the catch.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the duck head-shaped portion comprises an angled surface and a tip.

11. The system of claim 7 , wherein each catch comprises a plate disposed orthogonal to the first or second containment flange and comprising an opening therein, and wherein each latch comprises a duck head-shaped portion configured to engage with the opening of the catch.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second plurality of plates are disposed parallel to the support bar.

13. The system of claim 1 , comprising:
a first coil containment leg configured to be inserted into a first coil containment flange extension of the first containment flange, wherein the inserted first coil containment leg is disposed perpendicular to the first containment flange to maintain the first containment flange in an upright position when not coupled to the drum assembly; and
a second coil containment leg configured to be inserted into a second coil containment flange extension of the second containment flange, wherein the inserted second coil containment leg is disposed perpendicular to the second containment flange to maintain the second containment flange in an upright position when not coupled to the drum assembly.

14. A method of engaging a drum assembly with a coil of flexible pipe, comprising:
disposing the drum assembly within an interior region of the coil of flexible pipe, the drum assembly comprising:
a support bar having a first end and a second end;
a first plurality of expandable spokes coupled to the first end of the support bar and a plurality of drum segments;
a second plurality of expandable spokes coupled to the second end of the support bar and the plurality of drum segments;
a first plurality of spoke frames coupled to each of the first plurality of expandable spokes;
a second plurality of spoke frames coupled to each of the second plurality of expandable spokes;
a first plurality of plates coupled to the first plurality of spoke frames;
a second plurality of plates coupled to the second plurality of spoke frames, wherein the plurality of drum segments are movable between a retracted position and an extended position, and the drum assembly is configured to be disposed within the interior region of the coil of flexible pipe when the plurality of drum segments are in the retracted position;

moving the plurality of drum segments from the retracted position to the extended position;
removably coupling a first containment flange to the drum assembly via a first coupling device coupled to the first plurality of plates;
removably coupling a second containment flange to the drum assembly via a second coupling device coupled to the second plurality of plates; and
containing the flexible pipe disposed on the drum assembly between the first and second containment flanges.

15. The method of claim 14 , comprising:
engaging a first loading ring coupled to the first end of the support bar with a first flange ring of the first containment flange to enable the first containment flange to rotate together with the drum assembly; and
engaging a second loading ring coupled to the second end of the support bar with a second flange ring of the first containment flange to enable the second containment flange to rotate together with the drum assembly.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the first and second loading rings each comprise three or more flat sides, and wherein the first and second flange rings each comprise three or more flat sides.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein removably coupling the first containment flange to the drum assembly comprises engaging a first latch of the first coupling device with a first catch formed in the first containment flange, and removably coupling the second containment flange to the drum assembly comprises engaging a second latch of the second coupling device with a second catch formed in the second containment flange.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the first latch is coupled to one of

Assignees

• Trinity Bay Equipment Holdings Llc

Inventors

• Garcia Ricardo
• Guerrero Jonathan
• Hegler Matthew Allen
• Leger John
• Lousteau Matthew
• Moreno Juan
• Thethy Jagtar
• Winn Alexander Lee

Classifications

• B65H75/242

  Expansible spindles, mandrels or chucks, e.g. for securing or releasing cores, holders or packages · CPC title

• B65H59/04

  by devices acting on package or support · CPC title

• B65H75/14

  with two end flanges · CPC title

• B65H75/2245 Primary

  connecting flange to hub · CPC title

• B65H49/305

  with axially adjustable or removable elements for retaining the package · CPC title