US-12624600-B2 - Movable drill rod spacer assembly

US12624600B2US 12624600 B2US12624600 B2US 12624600B2US-12624600-B2

Abstract

A drill rod spacer assembly is formed of a plurality of spacer members each movable to a first position, and a drive transfer arrangement configured operable for receiving a drive for moving a body. The body is configured for interacting with a spacer member while moving so as to move same to its first position. The drill rod spacer mover has a detent member configured operable for supporting a respective spacer member in its first position when the body moves to interact with another spacer member. More than one drill rod spacer mover can be arranged to form a drill rod spacer mover arrangement for operable use with a drill rod storage assembly.

Inventors

Jesse David PLEYSIER
Paul Kalisch

Assignees

Wallis Engineers Pty Ltd

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20250127
Priority Date: 20201014

Claims (20)

1 . A drill rod storage assembly for storing a plurality of drill rods whereby adjacent drill rods are separated by a spacer member, the drill rod storage assembly comprising: one or more drill rod spacer assemblies operable with a plurality of spacer members arranged in spaced relation, each drill rod spacer assembly comprising a body moveable along the spacing of the spacer members, each body configured for interacting with a respective spacer member while moving so as to move same to a respective first position for being supported thereat when the body moves to interact with another one of the spacer members.
2 . A drill rod storage assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the spacer members are each arranged in operable association with a respective detent member, each detent member being configured operable for supporting the respective spacer member in its first position when the respective body of the respective drill rod spacer moves to interact with another one of the spacer members.
3 . A drill rod storage assembly according to claim 1 , wherein each spacer member is moveable between the respective first position and a respective second position, said respective second position being one in which the respective spacer member provides support to one or more drill rods.
4 . A drill rod storage assembly according to claim 1 , wherein interaction between the respective body and the respective spacer member serves to move the respective spacer member to or toward its first position when the respective body is moving in a first direction of movement, and permits movement of the respective spacer member away from its first position when the respective body is moving in a second direction of movement, the second direction of movement being opposite to the first direction of movement.
5 . A drill rod storage assembly according to claim 1 , wherein each spacer member is arranged so as to rotate or pivot about a respective axis of rotation when moving toward or away from its respective first position, wherein the axis of rotation of each spacer member is not fixed, and has freedom to move or translate, wherein the scope of movement of the axis of rotation is constrained.
6 . A drill rod storage assembly according to claim 5 , wherein the scope of movement of the axis of rotation is constrained by travel being limited to movement within a slot.
7 . A drill rod storage assembly according to claim 5 , wherein rotation of each spacer member interacted with by the respective body toward or away from its first position depends on the direction of movement of the respective body.
8 . A drill rod storage assembly according to claim 7 , wherein each body comprises a second side configured for interacting with a portion of a respective detent member of the detent members for moving the respective detent member into a position in which the respective detent member provides support to an associated spacer member when in its respective first position.
9 . A drill rod storage assembly according to claim 8 , wherein each second side comprises a groove, each groove being configured so as to operate as a guide when interacting with said portion of the respective detent member for guiding movement of the respective detent member in moving the respective detent member into a position for conferring support to an associated spacer member when in its first position.
10 . A drill rod storage assembly according to claim 8 , wherein the shape of respective first and second sides of the respective body are configured so as to facilitate the following of respective paths of movement by the respective spacer member and the respective detent member operably associated therewith relative to the respective body, in the movement each spacer member to its respective first position and the movement of the detent member to a position for holding the respective spacer member in its first position; and the configuration of the second side of the respective body is arranged so as to cause an interaction between said second side and the respective detent member as the respective body passes thereby for causing a portion of said respective detent member to follow a path of movement operating to rotate said respective detent member toward or away from its respective spacer member support conferring position.
11 . A drill rod storage assembly according to claim 1 , wherein each spacer member comprises a projecting member which interacts with a channel or groove configured so as to limit the scope of rotational freedom of the spacer member about its axis of rotation.
12 . A drill rod storage assembly according to claim 1 , wherein each spacer member is rotatably supported by a support structure.
13 . A drill rod storage assembly according to claim 12 , wherein one or more of the spacer members are each arranged in operable association with a respective detent member, each detent member being configured operable for supporting the respective spacer member in its first position when the body moves to interact with another one of the spacer members, and the support structure is configured so as to rotatably support the detent members.
14 . A drill rod storage assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the bodies are operably associated with a rail along which each body is moveable in first and second directions by way of the drive transfer arrangement.
15 . A drill rod storage assembly according to claim 1 , wherein each body comprises a first side configured for interacting with a respective one of the spacer members as the respective body moves, said interaction causing rotation of the relevant spacer member to or toward its respective first position.
16 . A drill rod storage assembly according to claim 15 , wherein the first side of each body is configured having at least one surface portion which interacts with a portion of the respective spacer member in moving the respective spacer member to or toward its first position.
17 . A drill rod storage assembly according to claim 16 , wherein each surface portion is arranged so as to cause an interaction between said first side and the relevant spacer member as the body passes thereby which causes a portion of said relevant spacer member to follow a path of movement operating to rotate said relevant spacer member toward or away from its first position about its respective axis of rotation, depending on the direction of movement of the body.
18 . A drill rod storage assembly according to claim 1 , wherein one or more of the spacer members are each arranged in operable association with a respective detent member, each detent member being configured operable for supporting the respective spacer member in its first position, and each detent member comprises a body rotatable or pivotable about a respective axis of rotation; and the body of each detent member comprises a portion configured for engaging a portion of a respective spacer member associated therewith for supporting said spacer member in its first position.
19 . A drill rod storage assembly according to claim 18 , wherein the respective body includes a first side and a second side; each detent member comprising a projecting member which extends from its body so as to interact with a groove on the second side of the respective body; the projecting member of each detent member is dimensioned so as to be received within the groove of the second side of the respective body and, one or more edges defining the groove are configured so as to, when interacting with the projecting member of the detent member, bias the movement of the projecting member so as to cause the respective detent member to rotate about its axis of rotation.
20 . A drill rod storage assembly according to claim 19 , wherein, each detent member comprises a further projecting member which interacts with a channel or groove configured so as to limit the scope of rotational freedom of the detent member about its axis of rotation.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation of and Applicant claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 120 of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/031,635 filed on Apr. 13, 2023, which application is a national stage application under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of PCT Application No. PCT/AU2021/051205 filed on Oct. 14, 2021, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 of Australian Application No. 2020903735 filed on Oct. 14, 2020, the disclosures of each of which are hereby incorporated by reference. A certified copy of priority Australian Patent Application No. 2020903735 is contained in parent U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/031,635. The International Application under PCT article 21(2) was published in English. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention In one aspect, a movable drill rod spacer member assembly is disclosed and a mover therefor. 2. Description of the Related Art Drill rigs are used for exploratory drilling in the field of mineral, and oil and gas exploration, along with other applications, such as drilling for water. The drill rig comprises a mast that handles a string of drill rods that is progressively built as the drill string drills its way into the earth. As the current drill rod is lowered into the ground by the drilling operation, it will be necessary to add another rod to the drill string. A rod handler is used to take the next drill rod from a storage bin and place it in an operational position for attachment to the end of current drill string so as to extend the length of the drill string once the new rod is attached. The rod handler also returns the rod to the rod storage bin as the string is disassembled. When stored in a storage bin, it is usual to provide a spacer between layers of drill rods to assist in the removal/placement process. In view of the nature of the equipment, risk exists (which can be significant) to human operators when involved in the manual removal/replacement of drill rods and/or respective spacers. Therefore, there exists a need/market for a solution that seeks to provide a way of reducing such risk in the course of transfer of drill rods from/to storage bins during drilling operations. Accordingly, it is against this general background that the embodiments described herein have been developed. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to a first principal aspect, there is provided a drill rod spacer assembly comprising: a plurality of spacer members each movable to a first position,a drive arrangement for moving a body,the body configured for interacting with one or more spacer members while moving so as to move same to its first position,a detent member configured operable for supporting a respective one of the spacer members in its first position when the body moves to interact with another one of the spacer members. Embodiments of the above-described principal aspect, and those described below, may comprise or incorporate, either individually or in combination, any of the following described features. In one embodiment, one or more spacer members are arranged in operable association with a respective detent member. In one embodiment, the or each spacer member is moveable between its first position and a respective second position, said second position being one in which the spacer member provides support to one or more drill rods. In one embodiment, interaction between the body and the or each spacer member serves to move same to or toward its first position when the body is moving in a first direction of movement, and permit movement of the or each spacer member away from its first position when the body is moving in a second direction of movement. Preferably the second direction of movement is opposite to the first direction of movement. In one embodiment, each spacer member is of elongate form, of finite length and thickness. In one embodiment, a portion of the elongate form of each spacer member is configured so as to provide a support surface for supporting one or more drills rods when the spacer member is in the second position. In one embodiment, a portion of each spacer member is configured so as to interact with the body in the movement of the spacer member to or toward its first position. In one embodiment, the or each spacer member is arranged so as to rotate or pivot about a respective axis of rotation in moving toward or away from its respective first position. In one embodiment, the axis of rotation of a respective spacer member is near a respective end thereof. In one embodiment, the axis of rotation of a respective spacer member is intermediate the portion for supporting one or more drill rods when the spacer member is in the second position, and the portion of the spacer member that interacts with the body for moving the spacer member to or toward its first position. In one embodiment, the scope of freedom of rotation of the spacer member about its axis of rotation is finite. In one embodiment, the axis rotation o