System and method for handling reel of pipe

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11767192-B2
Application number	US-202016985126-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 4, 2020
Priority date	Nov 1, 2017
Publication date	Sep 26, 2023
Grant date	Sep 26, 2023

Abstract

A system includes a frame and a first pair of rollers coupled to a first side of the frame. The first pair of rollers is configured to support a first end of a pipe reel. The system also includes a first cradle disposed longitudinally between the first pair of rollers and a second pair of rollers coupled to a second side of the frame. The second pair of rollers is configured to support a second end of a pipe reel. The system also includes a second cradle disposed longitudinally between the second pair of rollers, a pipe guide coupled to a third side of the frame between the first and second sides, a pipe brake coupled to the frame, and a pipe re-spooler coupled to the frame.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A pipe reel cradle, comprising:
a base frame;
a first roller frame coupled to a side of the base frame such that the first roller frame extends up from the base frame;
a first roller rotatably secured to the first roller frame, wherein the first roller is configured to support a reel end of a pipe reel and the first roller frame extends above the first roller to facilitate blocking the reel end of the pipe reel from inadvertently moving axially off of the first roller;
a second roller frame coupled to the side of the base frame such that the second roller frame extends up from the base frame; and
a second roller rotatably secured to the second roller frame, wherein the second roller is configured to support the reel end of the pipe reel and the second roller frame extends above the second roller to facilitate blocking the reel end of the pipe reel from inadvertently moving axially off of the second roller.

2. The pipe reel cradle of claim 1 , comprising:
a re-spooler bracket coupled to the base frame;
a wheel rotatably secured to the re-spooler bracket, wherein the wheel has a flexible surface that is configured to rotationally engage the reel end of the pipe reel; and
a re-spooler actuator coupled to the re-spooler bracket, wherein the re-spooler actuator is configured to rotate the wheel to facilitate driving rotation of the pipe reel on the pipe reel cradle.

3. The pipe reel cradle of claim 1 , comprising:
a first bracket coupled to an adjacent side of the base frame;
a first vertical roller rotatably secured to the first bracket, wherein the first roller comprises a first horizontal roller and the second roller comprises a second horizontal roller;
a second bracket coupled to the adjacent side of the base frame; and
a second vertical roller rotatably secured to the second bracket such that the second vertical roller opposes the first vertical roller, wherein the first vertical roller and the second vertical roller are configured to guide spoolable pipe deployed from the pipe reel off of the pipe reel cradle.

4. The pipe reel cradle of claim 1 , comprising:
a brake bracket pivotably secured to the first roller frame or the base frame;
a brake pad secured on the brake bracket; and
a brake actuator coupled between the brake bracket and the base frame, wherein the brake actuator is configured to selectively:
extend such that the brake bracket pivots away from the base frame to facilitate engaging the brake pad with the reel end of the pipe reel; and
retract such that the brake bracket pivots toward the base frame to facilitate disengaging the brake pad from the reel end of the pipe reel.

5. The pipe reel cradle of claim 1 , comprising a pipe tension arm, wherein the pipe tension arm comprises:
a first end configured to be secured to the base frame; and
a second end configured to be secured within a bore of the pipe reel to facilitate retaining the pipe reel on the first roller and the second roller.

6. The pipe reel cradle of claim 1 , comprising:
a retention shaft configured to be inserted into a bore of the pipe reel; and
a chain, wherein the chain comprises:
a first end configured to be secured to the retention shaft; and
a second end configured to be secured to the base frame to facilitate retaining the pipe reel on the first roller and the second roller.

7. The pipe reel cradle of claim 1 , comprising:
a third roller frame coupled to an opposite side of the base frame such that the third roller frame extends up from the base frame;
a third roller rotatably secured to the third roller frame, wherein the third roller is configured to support an opposite reel end of the pipe reel and the third roller frame extends above the third roller to facilitate blocking the opposite reel end of the pipe reel from inadvertently moving axially off of the third roller;
a fourth roller frame coupled to the opposite side of the base frame such that the fourth roller frame extends up from the base frame; and
a fourth roller rotatably secured to the fourth roller frame, wherein the fourth roller is configured to support the opposite reel end of the pipe reel and the fourth roller frame extends above the fourth roller to facilitate blocking the opposite reel end of the pipe reel from inadvertently moving axially off of the fourth roller.

8. The pipe reel cradle of claim 7 , comprising:
a first curved cradle coupled to the side of the base frame between the first roller frame and the second roller frame; and
a second curved cradle coupled to the opposite side of the base frame between the third roller frame and the fourth roller frame.

9. The pipe reel cradle of claim 1 , wherein the base frame comprises forklift tine pockets configured to accommodate forklift tines of a forklift to facilitate handling the pipe reel cradle using the forklift.

10. A method, comprising:
providing a pipe reel cradle, wherein the pipe reel cradle comprises:
a base frame;
a first roller frame coupled to a side of the base frame such that first roller frame extends up from the base frame;
a first roller rotatably secured to the first roller frame such that the first roller frame extends above the first roller;
a second roller frame coupled to the side of the base frame such that the second roller frame extends up from the base frame; and
a second roller rotatably secured to the second roller frame such that the second roller frame extends above the second roller;

disposing a pipe reel on the pipe reel cradle at least in part by:
disposing a reel end of the pipe reel on the first roller such that the first roller frame that extends above the first roller blocks the reel end from inadvertently moving axially off of the first roller; and
disposing the reel end of the pipe reel on the second roller such that the second roller frame that extends above the second roller blocks the reel end from inadvertently moving axially off of the second roller; and

deploying spoolable pipe from the pipe reel at least in part by rotating the pipe reel on the pipe reel cradle.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein deploying the spoolable pipe from the pipe reel comprises;
pulling an axial end of the spoolable pipe away from the pipe reel cradle;
moving the pipe reel cradle away from the axial end of the spoolable pipe, or both.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein:
the pipe reel cradle comprises:
a third roller frame coupled to an opposite side of the base frame such that the third roller frame extends up from the base frame;
a third roller rotatably secured to the third roller frame such that the third roller frame extends above the third roller;
a fourth roller frame coupled to the opposite side of the base frame such that the fourth roller frame extends up frame the base frame; and
a fourth roller rotatably secured to the fourth roller frame such that the fourth roller frame extends above the fourth roller; and

disposing the pipe reel on the pipe reel comprises:
disposing an opposite reel end of the pipe reel on the third roller such that the third roller frame that extends above the third roller blocks the opposite reel end from inadvertently moving axially off of the third roller; and
disposing the opposite reel end of the pipe reel on the fourth roller such that the fourth roller frame that extends above the fourth roller blocks the opposite reel end from inadvertently moving axially off of the fourth roller.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein:
the pipe reel cradle comprises a curved cradle coupled to the side of the base frame between the first roller frame and the second roller frame; and
disposing the

Assignees

• Trinity Bay Equipment Holdings Llc

Inventors

• Franklin-Hensler Tim
• Guerrero Jonathan
• Limas Richard

Classifications

• B65H75/4481 Primary

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

• B65H49/24 Primary

  Rollers · CPC title

• B65H49/36

  Securing packages to supporting devices (replacing or removing cores, receptacles, or completed packages at paying-out, winding, or depositing stations B65H67/00) · CPC title

• B65H59/04

  by devices acting on package or support · CPC title

• B65H75/425

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