IP Library Granted Patent US 7,226,037
Granted Patent B2
US 7,226,037 · App. 10/925,813 · Granted Jun 5, 2007

System for assuring engagement of a hydromatic brake on a drilling or well service rig

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,226,037
App. No.
10/925,813
Granted
Jun 5, 2007
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present invention provides an automatic system for engaging the hydromatic brake on a drilling rig or a service rig. This system monitors both the hook load and traveling block velocity, and uses an electrical solenoid to activates the hydromatic when either the hook load or rotating drum velocity exceeds a maximum value, requiring hydromatic brake engagement.

Claims (51)

1. A process for automatically engaging a hydromatic brake on an oil rig, comprising:

determining the rotational speed of the oil rig drum;

comparing the rotational speed of the oil rig drum to a maximum rotational speed value;

automatically engaging a hydromatic brake if the rotational speed of the oil rig drum exceeds the maximum rotational speed value.

2. The process of claim 1 , wherein the rotational speed of the oil rig drum is determined using a device selected from the group consisting of a magnetic pick-up device, a photoelectric device, a 4-20 device, a quadrature encoder, and an optical quad encoder.

3. The process of claim 1 , wherein the hydromatic brake is a centrifugal water pump.

4. The process of claim 3 , wherein the centrifugal water pump is selected from the group consisting of a single stage pump or a multistage pump.

5. The process of claim 1 , further comprising an electronic controller.

6. The process of claim 5 , wherein the electronic controller is selected from the group consisting of a computer, a PC, or a PLC.

7. The process of claim 5 , wherein the electronic controller is pre-programmed with maximum rotational speed value.

8. The process of claim 7 , wherein the electronic controller compares the rotational speed of the oil rig drum to a maximum rotational speed value.

9. The process of claim 1 , wherein the hydromatic brake is automatically engaged by activating a solenoid valve that controls air to the hydromatic brake.

10. The process of claim 1 , further comprising activating an alarm when the hydromatic brake is automatically engaged.

11. The process of claim 10 , wherein the alarm is either audio or visible.

12. The process of claim 1 , wherein the oil rig is a drilling rig.

13. The process of claim 1 , wherein the oil rig is a well service rig.

14. A process for automatically engaging a hydromatic brake on an oil rig, comprising:

determining the hook load of the oil rig;

comparing the hook load of the oil rig drum to a maximum hook load value;

automatically engaging a hydromatic brake if the hook load of the oil rig drum exceeds the maximum hook load value.

15. The process of claim 14 , wherein the hook load rotational speed of the oil rig drum is determined using a device selected from the group consisting of an hydraulic pad, a line indicator attached to a deadline of the hoist, a strain gage that measures compressive forces on the derrick, and load cells placed on the derrick of the oil rig, and load cells placed on the crown of the oil rig.

16. The process of claim 14 , wherein the hydromatic brake is a centrifugal water pump.

17. The process of claim 16 , wherein the centrifugal water pump is selected from the group consisting of a single stage pump or a multistage pump.

18. The process of claim 14 , further comprising an electronic controller.

19. The process of claim 18 , wherein the electronic controller is selected from the group consisting of a computer, a PC, or a PLC.

20. The process of claim 18 , wherein the electronic controller is pre-programmed with maximum rotational speed value.

21. The process of claim 20 , wherein the electronic controller compares the rotational speed of the oil rig drum to a maximum rotational speed value.

22. The process of claim 14 , wherein the hydromatic brake is automatically engaged by activating a solenoid valve that controls air to the hyromatic brake.

23. The process of claim 14 , further comprising activating an alarm when the hydromatic brake is automatically engaged.

24. The process of claim 23 , wherein the alarm is either audio or visible.

25. The process of claim 14 , wherein the oil rig is a drilling rig.

26. The process of claim 14 , wherein the oil rig is a well service rig.

27. A process for automatically engaging a hydromatic brake on an oil rig, comprising:

determining the rotational speed of the oil rig drum;

determining the hook load of the oil rig;

comparing the rotational speed of the oil rig drum to a maximum rotational speed value;

comparing the hook load of the oil rig drum to a maximum hook load value;

automatically engaging a hydromatic brake if either the rotational speed of the oil rig drum exceeds the maximum rotational speed value or the hook load of the oil rig drum exceeds the maximum hook load value.

28. The process of claim 27 , wherein the rotational speed of the oil rig drum is determined using a device selected from the group consisting of a magnetic pick-up device, a photoelectric device, a 4-20 device, a quadrature encoder, and an optical quad encoder.

29. The process of claim 27 , wherein the hook load rotational speed of the oil rig drum is determined using a device selected from the group consisting of an hydraulic pad, a line indicator attached to a deadline of the hoist, a strain gage that measures compressive forces on the derrick, and load cells placed on the derrick of the oil rig, and load cells placed on the crown of the oil rig.

30. The process of claim 27 , wherein the hydromatic brake is a centrifugal water pump.

31. The process of claim 30 , wherein the centrifugal water pump is selected from the group consisting of a single stage pump or a multistage pump.

32. The process of claim 27 , further comprising an electronic controller.

33. The process of claim 32 , wherein the electronic controller is selected from the group consisting of a computer, a PC, or a PLC.

34. The process of claim 32 , wherein the electronic controller is pre-programmed with maximum rotational speed value.

35. The process of claim 34 , wherein the electronic controller compares the rotational speed of the oil rig drum to a maximum rotational speed value.

36. The process of claim 27 , wherein the hydromatic brake is automatically engaged by activating a solenoid valve that controls air to the hyromatic brake.

37. The process of claim 27 , further comprising activating an alarm when the hydromatic brake is automatically engaged.

38. The process of claim 37 , wherein the alarm is either audio or visible.

39. The process of claim 27 , wherein the oil rig is a drilling rig.

40. The process of claim 27 , wherein the oil rig is a well service rig.

Assignments (7)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 16, 2016
From: CORTLAND CAPITAL MARKET SERVICES LLC
To: KEY ENERGY SERVICES, LLC
Reel/Frame 040996/0899 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 15, 2016
From: KEY ENERGY SERVICES, LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 040989/0070 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 15, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: KEY ENERGY SERVICES, LLC
Reel/Frame 040995/0825 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 15, 2016
From: KEY ENERGY SERVICES, LLC
To: CORTLAND PRODUCTS CORP., AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 040965/0383 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ASSIGNOR NAME PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 035814 FRAME: 0158. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY INTEREST. Recorded Aug 6, 2015
From: KEY ENERGY SERVICES, LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 036284/0840 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 2, 2015
From: KEYSTONE ENERGY SERVICES, LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 035814/0158 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 1, 2015
From: KEY ENERGY SERVICES, LLC
To: CORTLAND CAPITAL MARKET SERVICES LLC, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 035801/0073 →