Electric winch motor - By: electric winch

The present invention relates to an electric winch for winding and unwinding cable, and in particular to a winch having an internal electric motor and to a method of raising and lowering down hole equipment using the winch.

The cumulative inertialmovement leads to inefficiency and wasted energy. The direct drive system of the present invention transfers power directly to the drum and is much more efficient. There are far less moving parts and the winch is much lighter; therefore there is lessenergy loss. The lighter drawworks of the present invention, having less inertial movement, makes it well suited for offshore drilling operations subject to heave and wave forces.

The rotor (18) rotates about the stator (16) on bearings (20) found at each end of the stator. Any appropriate bearing system as would be commonly used by one skilled in the art may be used in the electric winch of the present inventionincluding without limitation, roller bearings, angular contact bearings, spherical bearings, ceramic bearings, plain bearings and magnetic bearings. The bearing assembly is sealed to prevent the entry of debris or foreign matter into the space betweenthe stator (16) and the rotor (18). The electric winch has inspection ports (32) for checking that the bearings are appropriately greased. Unlike conventional winch systems, the electric winch of the present invention requires comparatively minimalgreasing and lubrication and further, it requires less maintenance than a conventional winch system. With a sealed bearing system, the system only requires greasing approximately twice a year. If a magnetic bearing system is used, no such maintenanceis required.

Unlike a conventional winch system, the electric motor (19) is used for all of the braking of the drum (12) however, in the event of a loss of power supply, such as a brown out or black out, separate emergency brakes would be applied. Anysuitable types of brakes may be used with the drawworks of the present invention for such emergencies including without limitation, band brakes, caliper brakes, Eaton brakes, water cooled brakes or disc brakes. FIG. 3 shows a winch with band brakes(28). FIG. 4 shows an end view of the drum (14) with caliper brakes (30). The brakes can also be used in a parking brake type manner if desired.

When the electric winch is used as a drawworks winch for winding and unwinding drilling line to raise and lower down hole equipment, there are a number of advantages. The drawworks is smaller and lighter taking less space on the drilling deck. This also allows the drawworks to be placed closer to the borehole or, alternatively, further away from the bore hole. If placed further away, this provides for a larger workspace for the rig hands to work and allows the placement of additionalequipment such as an iron roughneck. The drill hands are not exposed to the danger of an external power source and the drawworks is much quieter, again creating a safer work environment. The drawworks using the electric winch of the present inventiondoes not require a lubrication system and requires comparatively less maintenance. The drawworks of the present invention is light enough to leave in the substructure when a rig is moved from well to well, and it small enough that it can be placed inpositions that conventional drawworks cannot be placed in, such as between the A-legs of a rig, further back in the rig substructure, or on matting pinned to the substructure.

The elements of the winch of the present invention may be constructed from any suitable materials including without limitation steel and iron and alloy mixtures of the same. Any materials used must be able to withstand the wear and torque thatthey will be subjected to as part of a winch system.

Although the electric winch of the present invention has been described in the context of a drawworks, it should be understood that it can be used in any suitable commercial application such as cranes, hoists and elevator motors.

About the Author

In the particular example shown,Electric Winchconduit 32 is at least partially provided by interior surfaces of boom 20.

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