Drill rod changer assembly
US5762150A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 3, 1996 |
| Grant date | Jun 9, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 3, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
- CPC primaryE21B19/14
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
A drill rod changer assembly for a drill rig includes an elongated support shaft having a housing at each end for retaining ends of drill rods, the support shaft being adapted for removable attachment to a drill rig structure, a carousel-type drill rod spacer on the shaft and a pair of gripper arms adapted for removable attachment to a drill rig structure at spaced apart positions adjacent each end of the support shaft. A hydraulic actuation device rotates the support shaft and carousel drill rod spacer between a rod storage position and a rod usage position. Each gripper arm is moved between the drill rod storage and usage positions by hydraulic actuation devices on each arm. Each gripper arm carries a sliding gate member that opens and closes the housings in response to movement of the gripper arm. The support shaft, and each gripper arm assembly being supplied as modularized assemblies that can be individually attached and removed from a drill rig to expeditiously change between various lengths of drill rod.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.