초록 ▼

A method and device for moving racked tubulars, such as pipe and casing joints on pipe racks at oil and gas well sites. The pipe moving tool comprises a wheel assembly with a long straight handle. The wheels fit inside the pipe, which is then moved by simply pushing or pulling the handle forward or

A method and device for moving racked tubulars, such as pipe and casing joints on pipe racks at oil and gas well sites. The pipe moving tool comprises a wheel assembly with a long straight handle. The wheels fit inside the pipe, which is then moved by simply pushing or pulling the handle forward or backward, as needed. Several wheel assemblies of different diameters may be used interchangeably with a single handle. An extension handle also may be included. The use of this tool makes moving the pipe safer as the worker's hands are not exposed to injury. Additionally, the handle on the tool makes it possible to easily and more safely reach and move shorter pipes racked above or below longer pipes in a multi-level pipe rack; it is not necessary for the worker to lean over or under the longer pipes.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A tool for manually moving a racked tubular along a raised horizontal surface, wherein the racked tubular has an open end continuous with an inner diameter, the tool comprising: a shaft having a handle section with a longitudinal axis and a wheel section with a longitudinal axis, wherein the long

1. A tool for manually moving a racked tubular along a raised horizontal surface, wherein the racked tubular has an open end continuous with an inner diameter, the tool comprising: a shaft having a handle section with a longitudinal axis and a wheel section with a longitudinal axis, wherein the longitudinal axes of the handle section and the wheel section are parallel, wherein the handle section and the wheel section extend in opposite directions from each other, and wherein the wheel section terminates in a free end that is insertable into the inner diameter of the racked tubular;a wheel assembly mounted for rotation about the longitudinal axis of the wheel section of the shaft, and wherein the wheel assembly has a maximum diameter that sized to be received inside the racked tubular; anda stop positioned on the shaft between the wheel section and the handle section and sized with a maximum diameter greater than the maximum diameter of the wheel assembly so to engage the open end of the racked tubular when the wheel section is inserted into the inner diameter of the racked tubular to prevent advancement of the tool into the inner diameter of the racked tubular past the stop, and wherein the position of the stop on the shaft is axially adjustable. 2. The tool of claim 1 wherein the wheel assembly comprises two wheels. 3. The tool of claim 2 wherein each of the two wheels in the wheel assembly is adjustably mounted so that the axial position of the wheel on the shaft is changeable. 4. The tool of claim 3 wherein the handle section and the wheel section of the shaft are integrally formed of a single elongate member. 5. The tool of claim 4 wherein the longitudinal axes of the handle section and the wheel section are collinear. 6. The tool of claim 5 wherein the stop defines an elongate surface at a non-normal angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the handle section of the shaft. 7. The tool of claim 6 wherein the stop comprises a plurality of laterally extending wings. 8. The tool of claim 1 wherein the wheel assembly is one of a plurality of interchangeable wheel assemblies. 9. The tool of claim 8 wherein each of the plurality of interchangeable wheel assemblies comprises a set of two wheels and wherein the diameter of the wheels in each of the plurality of wheel assemblies is different from the wheels in the other wheel assemblies. 10. The tool of claim 9 wherein each of the set of two wheels in each of the plurality of wheel assemblies is adjustably mounted so that the axial position of the wheel on the shaft is changeable. 11. The tool of claim 1 wherein the handle section and the wheel section of the shaft are integrally formed of a single elongate member. 12. The tool of claim 11 wherein the longitudinal axes of the handle section and the wheel section are collinear. 13. The tool of claim 1 wherein the wheel section of the shaft is removably connectable to the handle section of the shaft and wherein the longitudinal axes of the handle section and the wheel section are collinear when the shaft is assembled. 14. The tool of claim 13 wherein the handle section of the shaft comprises a main handle having a first end and a second end and an extension handle having a first end and a second end, the first end of the extension handle being removably attachable to the second end of the main handle and wherein the longitudinal axis of the extension handle and the longitudinal axis of the main handle are both parallel with the longitudinal axis of the wheel section of the shaft. 15. The tool of claim 1 wherein the wheel assembly comprises two wheels and wherein each of the set of two wheels is adjustably mounted so that the axial position of the wheel on the shaft is changeable. 16. A tool for manually moving a racked tubular along a raised horizontal surface, wherein the racked tubular has an open end continuous with an inner diameter, the tool comprising: a shaft having a handle section with a longitudinal axis and a wheel section with a longitudinal axis, wherein the longitudinal axes of the handle section and the wheel section are parallel, wherein the handle section and the wheel section extend in opposite directions from each other, and wherein the wheel section terminates in a free end that is insertable into the inner diameter of the racked tubular; anda plurality of interchangeable wheel assemblies, wherein each of the plurality of wheel assemblies comprises a set of two wheels that are mountable for rotation about the longitudinal axis of the wheel section of the shaft, wherein each of the sets of two wheels has a maximum diameter sized to be received inside the racked tubular, and wherein the diameter of the wheels in each of the plurality of wheel assemblies is different from the wheels in the other wheel assemblies. 17. The tool of claim 16 wherein each of the two wheels in each of the plurality of wheel assemblies is adjustably mounted so that the axial position of the wheel on the shaft is changeable. 18. The tool of claim 17 wherein the handle section and the wheel section of the shaft are integrally formed of a single elongate member. 19. The tool of claim 18 wherein the longitudinal axes of the handle section and the wheel section are collinear. 20. The tool of claim 19 wherein the tool further comprising a stop positioned on the shaft proximal to the wheel assembly and sized to engage the open end of the racked tubular so that advancement of the tool into the inner diameter of the racked tubular past the stop is prevented. 21. The tool of claim 20 wherein the position of the stop on the shaft is axially adjustable. 22. The tool of claim 21 wherein the stop defines an elongate surface at a non-normal angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the handle section of the shaft. 23. The tool of claim 22 wherein the stop comprises a plurality of laterally extending wings. 24. The tool of claim 16 wherein the handle section and the wheel section of the shaft are integrally formed of a single elongate member. 25. The tool of claim 24 wherein the longitudinal axes of the handle section and the wheel section are collinear. 26. The tool of claim 16 wherein the longitudinal axes of the handle section and the wheel section are collinear.