Title of Invention

A DRIVE DEVICE FOR A DRILL STEM IN PARTICULAR ADAPTABLE TO DE-COKING SYSTEM

Abstract The invention relates to a drive device for a drill stem, in particular for de-coking systems, comprising a feeder (4) connected to a water supply (8) via a first interface (6) and to a drill stem (12) via a second interface (10), a drive (14) and a gearbox (16) for rotatably driving said feeder (4) and said drill stem (12), said feeder (4) is configured as a multi-sectioned feeder having a first section (20) connected to said water supply (8) and a second section (40) connected to the drill stem (12) and said first (20) and second (40) sections are releasably connected to each other.
Full Text FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a drive device for a drill stem, in particular
adaptable to de-coking systems.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In oil refineries, the last otherwise unusable fraction of the crude oil is
transformed into coke. This transformation is performed by feeding this fraction
into drums which are filled with coke as the operation proceeds. Once the
maximum filling level of the drums has been reached, the coke is cut out from
the drums.
This so called "de-coking" is usually carried out using high-pressure water jets
which disintegrate the coke and wash it out of the drums. The tool for
generating these high high-pressure water jets is inserted into the drums from
the top using a drilling rig. The subject of the present invention is in particular
the construction of the drill stem drive and therefore the transition from the
water supply to the drill stem.
In prior art generic systems, this transition from the water supply to the drill
stem is formed as an integral feeder. The first, top end is connected to a water
supply via a flange. The second, bottom end of the feeder is connected to the
flange of the drill stem. This second, bottom end is usually supported in thrust
and journal bearing in order to ensure smooth rotation. At the second end of the
feeder there is also a gear box which causes the drill stem to rotate in operation.
The water supply, the feeder and the drill stem are connected in an aligned and
liquid-tight fashion so that a tool attached to the free end of the drill stem for de-
coking is supplied with the requisite water in an operating state.
In the area of the feeder, the sealing rings, which are positioned at the transition
between stationary and rotating structural elements, are particularly subject to
wear and tear and must be replaced at regular intervals. Wear and tear shows at
the first end of the feeder, where a fluid-tight connection is to be established to
the water supply and at the same time fixed and rotating parts of the drive
apparatus are adjacent to each other. In prior art systems, the sealing rings
acting as sealing elements at the transition between fixed and rotating structural
parts must be replaced in the steel frame of the de-coking system while the drill
stem drive is in place, which contributes to maintenance overhead.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to simplify the structure of such
a drive device for a drill stem and to make the replacement of the sealing
elements more maintenance friendly and more economical.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object is achieved by a drive device according to the features of the
invention. A drive device with a feeder comprising first and second sections,
enables faster and error-free replacement. A second section, which extends from
the drill stem and is virtually wear-free, remains in a state securely bolted to the
gearbox and the drill stem. Malfunctions resulting from repeated interference
with these structural elements are thus reliably ruled out.
The first section of the feeder may be released by simple means and is otherwise
connected to the second section in a safe and liquid-tight manner, the
connection, in particular the sealing elements between the first section of the
feeder and the water supply, which is subject to wear and tear, does not have to
be replaced in order to use the drilling apparatus of the present invention. The
type of connection between the water supply and the feeder does not necessarily
have to be changed. All that remains to be done is to replace a compact and
complete assembly.
The advantage of replacing a compact, complete assembly is that the sealing
elements no longer have to be replaced while the drill stem drive is in place and
under spacially difficult conditions. The assembly, comprising the first section of
the feeder of the drill stem drive with the worn out sealing ring, may now be
cleaned and repaired at leisure and provided with new sealing rings. The
repaired assembly is then ready to be reused in a drill stem drive. Since the
attachment to the second section is via a relatively simple connection, the drill
apparatus of the present invention can be repaired in much shorter time.
The drill device is not weakened by partitioning the feeder as long as the type of
connection between the two sections takes the loads into account that have to
be absorbed. In particular it is preferred to design this releasable connection
between the two sections as a clamp, bolt or flange. A clamp connection
preferably provides a means for clamping, connecting the first and the second
section of the feeder. In the same way, a bolting means according to a preferred
embodiment provides a means for bolting which connect the first and second
sections of the feeder. Such connections are known as such, and a person skilled
in the art will be well acquainted with the corresponding approaches.
With drilling apparatus of the prior art, the gear box causing the feeder and the
drill stem to rotate was usually individually manufactured because of the
predominant opinion that this was a special application which required special
measures when designing and adapting the gearbox. The gear boxes of the prior
art are enclosed by a housing filled with oil.
It is to be seen as an autonomous inventive step that the drill device of the
present invention is structurally simplified by the consistent use of standardized
structural parts that are available for a supplier catalogue. By using standardized
parts, the operational safety of the apparatus is usually also increased, since
these parts have already been tested in numerous other applications.
Additionally, the cost of the drill apparatus is advantageously reduced.
It is therefore considered an inventive step to suggest a gear box for drilling
apparatuses, in particular for use in de-coking systems, which is formed as an
open, greased gear rim drive. Surprisingly, such gear boxes, which are known for
swiveling applications, have proven to be sufficiently robust for the use in drilling
apparatuses. The maintenance and repair of such gear boxes is particularly
simple and quick.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
One of the possible embodiments of the invention is described in more detail
with reference to accompanying Figure 1, in which:
Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a drive device of a drill stem according
to the present invention.
DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Device 2 of the present invention for driving the drill stem comprises a feeder 4
with a first connection 6 to a water supply 8 and a second connection 10 to a
drill stem 12, as well as a drive 14 for a gear box 16 causing feeder 4 and drill
stem 12 to rotate in operation.
Water supply 8, only schematically shown in the figure, is usually formed as a
goose-neck. It ends in a flange 18 at which a first section 20 of the feeder 4
abuts. The connection to the first section 20 is provided by a first interface 6.
Interface 6 has a contacting surface 22 contacting flange 18. In order to make
the connection liquid tight, a standardized seal 24 is provided between interface
6 and flange 18.
Interface 6 is releasably connected to flange 18 by bolts 26, only schematically
shown in the figure. Interface 6 embraces sealing packings 32 surrounding the
first section 20. To counteract the water pressure in feeder 4, packings 32 are
releasably secured by bolts 28 at the bottom through a support 30. In order to
ensure effective sealing between water supply 8, stationary interface 6 and the
first section 20 of feeder 4, which rotates in operation, a plurality of sealing
packings 32 completely fill an annular cavity 34 between interface 6 and first
section 20.
The first section 20 is connected to the second section 40 via a clamp 30
engaging the first section via contacting surfaces 38, 38a. A sealing 42 is
inserted between the two sections 20, 40. Clamp 36 contacts the second section
40 via contacting surfaces 44, 44a. Sections 20, 40 are formed to be planar of
the surfaces 46, 46a facing each other, and on their outer circumferences they
only have the above-described contacting surfaces 38, 38a and 44, 44a. The
manufacture, assembly and disassembly of the first section 20 thus require little
cost and time.
Once the packings 32 are worn out, they have to be replaced. In order for the
replacement to be simple, safe and quick, an assembly comprising first section
20, packings 32 and interface 6 is taken out of drive device 2 after clamp 36 and
interface 6 have been released. An identical assembly provided with new
packings 32 is inserted in drive device 2. Clamp 36 and interface 6 are then
closed again in a sealing relationship. Drive device 2 may put back in operation
after only a short standstill.
The second section 40 is formed to be integral with interface 10, to which gear
16 is attached. A further element of interface 10 is flange 48, to which drill stem
12 is bolted. Bolts 50 are only schematically shown. The circumferential surface
52 of interface 10, that is the end of the second section 40 facing drill stem 12 is
formed as an outer gear rim. A gear rim 54 is in mesh with this outer gear rim
52, wherein gear 54 is caused by drive 14 to rotate in operation.
Drive 14 comprises a motor 56. In the present case, this is an electric motor.
However, hydraulic or pneumatic motors could also be used. A gearbox 58 is
connected downstream of motor 56, wherein the output gear of gearbox 58 is in
mesh with gear 54. Outside gear rim 52, gear 54 and output gear 60 form
gearbox 16. Outside gear rim 52 and gears 54 and 60 are formed to be an open,
greased gearbox 16. A closed gearbox housing is not necessary, and this is why
the need for large quantities of gearbox oil is eliminated. The approach is using
an open gearbox 16 of the present invention is particularly simple and easy to
maintain. It has the additional advantage that outside gear rim 52 does not have
to be specially manufactured for each new feeder 4, which must be regularly
replaced when worn out.
The parts with reference numerals 54, 56, 58 and 60 are all standardized
components as offered in suppliers" catalogues and tested in numerous other
applications.
A thrust bearing 62 and a journal bearing 64 are also positioned in the area of
interface 10, that is at the end facing the second section 40. These bearings 62
and 64 supports the loads applied by gearbox 16 and drive device 2 as well as by
the own weight of the device 2 and ensure smooth rotation of drive device 2
when in an operative state.
To cover feeder 4 rotating in an operating state, drill apparatus 2 has a lantern
66, representing the connection between waster supply 8 and gearbox unit 16.
The drill stem drive is mounted and held by lantern 66. Lantern 66 is simple to
mount and to remove, since it must always be removed when first section 20 of
feeder 4 is to be replaced. It has an access window in the area of packing 32 so
that complex safety is ensured for operating personnel if the state of packings
32, and therefore the degree of wear and tear, has to be checked, which are
sometimes in the immediate vicinity of rotating, high-pressure parts.
In the context, of the present invention, repeated reference has been made to
the use of seals. It is quite obvious that a drilling device transporting water
having a pressure in excess of 100 bars from the water supply to a tool must be
made liquid tight. Seals must therefore be provided in all places that cannot be
made liquid-tight in any other way, regardless of whether or not this has been
mentioned in the above description.
We Claim
1. A drive device for a drill stem, in particular adaptable to de-coking
systems, comprising a feeder (4) connected to a water supply (8) via a
first interface (6) and to a drill stem (12) via a second interface (10); a
drive (14); and a gearbox (16) for rotatably driving said feeder (4) and
said drill stem (12), characterized in that
- said feeder (4) is configured as a multi-sectioned feeder having a
first section (20) connected to said water supply (8) and a second
section (40) connected to said drill stem (12) and said first (20)
and second (40) sections are releasably connected to each other.
2. The drive device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first (20) and second
(40) sections of said feeder (4) are clamped to each other.
3. The drive device as claimed in claim 2, wherein means (36) for clamping
said first (20) and second (40) sections of said feeder (4) are provided.
4. The drive device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first (20) and second
(40) sections of said feeder (4) are bolted to each other.
5. The drive device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first section (20) of
said feeder (4) forms an assembly together with sealing elements (32)
and said interface (6).
6. The drive device as claimed in claim 1, wherein means are provided for
bolting together said first (20) and second (40) sections of said feeder (4).
7. The drive device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein
said drive (14), and said drill stem (12), and the associated gearbox (16)
are selected from standardized equipment.
8. The drive device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein
said gearbox (16) is adapted as an open, greased gearbox.
The invention relates to a drive device for a drill stem, in particular adaptable to
de-coking systems, comprising a feeder (4) connected to a water supply (8) via a
first interface (6) and to a drill stem (12) via a second interface (10); a drive
(14); and a gearbox (16) for rotatably driving said feeder (4) and said drill stem
(12), said feeder (4) is configured as a multi-sectioned feeder having a first
section (20) connected to said water supply (8) and a second section (40)
connected to said drill stem (12) and said first (20) and second (40) sections are
releasably connected to each other.

Documents:

70-kolnp-2004-granted-abstract.pdf

70-kolnp-2004-granted-claims.pdf

70-kolnp-2004-granted-correspondence.pdf

70-kolnp-2004-granted-description (complete).pdf

70-kolnp-2004-granted-drawings.pdf

70-kolnp-2004-granted-examination report.pdf

70-kolnp-2004-granted-form 1.pdf

70-kolnp-2004-granted-form 18.pdf

70-kolnp-2004-granted-form 2.pdf

70-kolnp-2004-granted-form 26.pdf

70-kolnp-2004-granted-form 3.pdf

70-kolnp-2004-granted-form 5.pdf

70-kolnp-2004-granted-letter patent.pdf

70-kolnp-2004-granted-others.pdf

70-kolnp-2004-granted-reply to examination report.pdf

70-kolnp-2004-granted-specification.pdf

70-kolnp-2004-granted-translated copy of priority document.pdf


Patent Number 214231
Indian Patent Application Number 00070/KOLNP/2004
PG Journal Number 06/2008
Publication Date 08-Feb-2008
Grant Date 07-Feb-2008
Date of Filing 20-Jan-2004
Name of Patentee RUHRPUMPEN GMBH
Applicant Address STOCKUMER STRASSE 28, 58453 WITTEN
Inventors:
# Inventor's Name Inventor's Address
1 PAUL, WOLFGANG BERLINER STRASSE 21, 23611 BAD SCHWARTAU
2 HEIDEMANN DIRK AM UHLENHORST 13, 58239 SCHWERTE
3 BARCIKOWSKI MACIEJ ZU DEN KAMPEN 12C, 44791 BOCHUM
PCT International Classification Number B 08 B 9/093
PCT International Application Number PCT/EP02/08192
PCT International Filing date 2002-07-23
PCT Conventions:
# PCT Application Number Date of Convention Priority Country
1 101 34 952.1 2001-07-23 Germany