Abstract: A mud pump is provided that includes a pump shaft having substantially circular eccentric lobes. Each lobe is rotatably mounted in a connecting rod that, in turn, moves a slide in a horizontal and linearly manner. A pony rod operatively couples a pump fluid end module to one or both sides of each slide frame and a pump fluid end module. As the pump shaft turns, each lobe causes the slide to move side to side. As the slide moves side to side, each pony rod operates a pump fluid end module whose outputs can be coupled to a common manifold.

Abstract: A mud pump is provided that includes a pump shaft having substantially circular eccentric lobes. Each lobe is rotatably mounted in a connecting rod that, in turn, moves a slide in a horizontal and linearly manner. A pony rod operatively couples a pump fluid end module to one or both sides of each slide frame and a pump fluid end module. As the pump shaft turns, each lobe causes the slide to move side to side. As the slide moves side to side, each pony rod operates a pump fluid end module whose outputs can be coupled to a common manifold.

Abstract: A cable drawworks for a drilling rig is provided having a tubular cable reel with an electric motor placed within the cable reel, and a speed reducing unit coupling the motor to the cable reel. The speed reducing unit can include a cycloidal gear mechanism or a ring gear mechanism. The drawworks can include an air pathway passing through the motor and the cable reel for cooling or for heating in cold weather applications.

Abstract: A hydraulically-operated actuator for a braking mechanism on a cable drawworks is provided. The actuator can have an enclosed tubular main body capable of being connected to an external hydraulic system. The main body can further contain a spring-opposed hydraulic piston connected to an actuator rod. The actuator rod can extend out of the main body and can connect to a braking system for the drawworks. In operation, the springs can push on the hydraulic piston and hold the actuator rod in a fully extended position to engage the braking system. When pressure from the external hydraulic system is applied to the hydraulic piston, the hydraulic piston can compress the springs and retract the actuator rod into the main body, which can disengage the braking system.

Abstract: A mud pump is provided that includes a pump shaft having substantially circular eccentric lobes. Each lobe is rotatably mounted in a connecting rod that, in turn, moves a slide in a horizontal and linearly manner. A piston rod is operatively couples a pump module to one or both sides of each slide frame and a pump module. As the pump shaft turns, each lobe causes the slide to move side to side. As the slide moves side to side, each piston rod operates a pump module whose outputs can be coupled to a common manifold.

Abstract: A hydraulically-operated actuator for a braking mechanism on a cable drawworks is provided. The actuator can have an enclosed tubular main body capable of being connected to an external hydraulic system. The main body can further contain a spring-opposed hydraulic piston connected to an actuator rod. The actuator rod can extend out of the main body and can connect to a braking system for the drawworks. In operation, the springs can push on the hydraulic piston and hold the actuator rod in a fully extended position to engage the braking system. When pressure from the external hydraulic system is applied to the hydraulic piston, the hydraulic piston can compress the springs and retract the actuator rod into the main body, which can disengage the braking system.

Abstract: A cable drawworks for a drilling rig is provided having a three-phase AC electric motor controlled by a variable frequency drive control system. A primary drive transmission consisting of a chain and sprockets connects the motor to a drum shaft that passes through the hub of a cable drum such that the cable drum is rotatably mounted on the drum shaft. The drum shaft connects to a secondary drive transmission, attached to the frame via an oscillating plate assembly, that connects the drum shaft to the cable drum. Each end of the cable drum has a brake drum and a brake band wrapped around thereon. A brake actuating system is used to tighten the bands around each drum during braking conditions and includes an equalization linkage system between the brake bands resulting in equal braking forces being applied to each brake drum.

Abstract: A mud pump is provided that includes a pump shaft having substantially circular eccentric lobes. Each lobe is rotatably mounted in a connecting rod that, in turn, moves a slide in a horizontal and linearly manner. A piston rod is operatively couples a pump module to one or both sides of each slide frame and a pump module. As the pump shaft turns, each lobe causes the slide to move side to side. As the slide moves side to side, each piston rod operates a pump module whose outputs can be coupled to a common manifold.

Abstract: A teeter beam assembly is provided for attachment to a pipe launcher that can be tilted towards or away from the pipe launcher to move joints of drilling pipe on to or off of the pipe launcher by rolling pipes with the assistance of gravity. The teeter beams assembly can consist of a frame, a pair of vertical guide assemblies on each of the outer and inner ends of the frame, a longitudinal beam glidably coupled to the guide assemblies and a pair of rams coupling the beam to the frame for raising and lowering either end of the beam with respect to the frame.

Abstract: A guide track system for a tool that can be raised and lowered within a telescoping drilling rig tower is provided. The system includes parallel guide rails mounted on a fixed lower tower section and on a movable upper tower section of the drilling rig tower. The lower and upper guide rails are parallel to one another and overlap one another when the lower tower section is nested with the upper tower section. Guide wheels rotatably attached to the tool can have parallel grooves to roll on the guide rails. The grooves can have sidewalls that flare outward so that they do not scuff against the guide rails as the tool travels up and down within the tower.

Abstract: A combination pipe kicker/indexer for attachment to a pipe launcher is provided. The pipe kicker includes an articulated arm that is operated by a rotating shaft. The arm has a kicker head that rises up from a frame and moves towards a pipe located in the trough of the pipe launcher. Continued rotation of the shaft causes the kicker head to push the pipe out of the trough. Reversing the shaft rotation retracts the kicker arm into its frame. The indexer includes a plate having two eccentric cam openings and a cam rotatably mounted therein. Rotation of the cams causes either end of the indexer plate to rise up from the frame and urge a section of pipe towards the pipe launcher trough.

Abstract: A cable drawworks for a drilling rig is provided having a three-phase AC electric motor controlled by a variable frequency drive control system. A primary drive transmission consisting of a chain and sprockets connects the motor to a drum shaft that passes through the hub of a cable drum such that the cable drum is rotatably mounted on the drum shaft. The drum shaft connects to a secondary drive transmission, attached to the frame via an oscillating plate assembly, that connects the drum shaft to the cable drum. Each end of the cable drum has a brake drum and a brake band wrapped around thereon. A brake actuating system is used to tighten the bands around each drum during braking conditions and includes an equalization linkage system between the brake bands resulting in equal braking forces being applied to each brake drum.

Abstract: A cable drawworks for a drilling rig has an electric motor and a primary drive transmission which connects the motor to a drum shaft that passes through the hub of a cable drum. The drum shaft is rotatably mounted on the drawworks frame whereas the cable drum is rotatably mounted on the drum shaft. The drum shaft connects to a secondary drive transmission that connects the drum shaft to the cable drum. The secondary drive transmission has a planetary gear transmission set. Each end of the cable drum has a brake drum and a brake band wrapped around thereon. A brake actuating system is used to selectively tighten the bands and includes an equalization linkage system resulting in equal braking forces being applied to each brake drum. The simplified cable drawworks system is compact enough to be mounted on the drilling rig floor and eliminates the need for liquid cooling of the braking mechanism.

Abstract: A teeter beam assembly is provided for attachment to a pipe launcher that can be tilted towards or away from the pipe launcher to move joints of drilling pipe on to or off of the pipe launcher by rolling pipes with the assistance of gravity. The teeter beams assembly can consist of a frame, a pair of vertical guide assemblies on each of the outer and inner ends of the frame, a longitudinal beam glidably coupled to the guide assemblies and a pair of rams coupling the beam to the frame for raising and lowering either end of the beam with respect to the frame.

Abstract: A pipe-gripping clamp assembly is provided for use on a top drive unit to grip sections of drilling pipe. The clamp assembly includes of a pair of hinged jaws that are opened and closed by a pair of rams attached to the jaws and the frame members that make up the assembly. Each jaw has a jaw insert that is surfaced to firmly grip a pipe and can be easily replaced once worn beyond service. The rams are either hydraulically or pneumatically operated.

Abstract: A guide track system for a tool that can be raised and lowered within a telescoping drilling rig tower is provided. The system includes parallel guide rails mounted on a fixed lower tower section and on a movable upper tower section of the drilling rig tower. The lower and upper guide rails are parallel to one another and overlap one another when the lower tower section is nested with the upper tower section. Guide wheels rotatably attached to the tool can have parallel grooves to roll on the guide rails. The grooves can have sidewalls that flare outward so that they do not scuff against the guide rails as the tool travels up and down within the tower.

Abstract: A combination pipe kicker/indexer for attachment to a pipe launcher is provided. The pipe kicker includes an articulated arm that is operated by a rotating shaft. The arm has a kicker head that rises up from a frame and moves towards a pipe located in the trough of the pipe launcher. Continued rotation of the shaft causes the kicker head to push the pipe out of the trough. Reversing the shaft rotation retracts the kicker arm into its frame. The indexer includes a plate having two eccentric cam openings and a cam rotatably mounted therein. Rotation of the cams causes either end of the indexer plate to rise up from the frame and urge a section of pipe towards the pipe launcher trough.

Abstract: A pipe-gripping clamp assembly is provided for use on a top drive unit to grip sections of drilling pipe. The clamp assembly includes of a pair of hinged jaws that are opened and closed by a pair of rams attached to the jaws and the frame members that make up the assembly. Each jaw has a jaw insert that is surfaced to firmly grip a pipe and can be easily replaced once worn beyond service. The rams are either hydraulically or pneumatically operated.

Abstract: A ram is provided for use in the live and dead heads of an iron roughneck. The ram grips sections of pipe as connections are made or broken between the pipe sections. The ram includes a cylinder block having a bore and a fixed piston centered therein forming an annulus. An annular piston slides in and out of the cylinder block in the annulus. A tong mounted on the end of the end of the annular piston for gripping pipe includes a tong shoe and a tong die within the shoe. The tong die is capable of moving side-to-side within the shoe to self-center itself when gripping pipe. Pressurized gas or hydraulic fluid systems can be used to extend and retract the annular piston within the cylinder block.

Abstract: A drainage system is provided for a drilling rig which includes a module that can be removably mounted on the rig. The module has a top panel having drainage slots disposed about its perimeter. The module further includes a substructure containing a trough located beneath the drainage slots. The trough slopes downwardly towards an outlet aperture that extends through a sidewall of the substructure. Fluids spilled onto the module when sections of drilling pipe are tripped out from the drill string drain through the drainage slots into the trough. The trough guides the fluids through the outlet aperture where the fluids can be directed to a collection pit or vessel where they can be recycled or properly disposed of.