FIELD OF INVENTION:
The present application relates generally to welding fixtures and methods, and more
specifically, to Oil field E-2000 Draw work Main Brake Foundation plate for dead end of
band brake.
The fixture allows presetting of the spatial alignment & orientation of object (Band Brake
Dead end foundation plate) on workbench. The fixture preserves the object (foundation
plate) alignment during its transport, positioning and welding at the prescribed position.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:
Application is in land drilling rigs, draw works assembly and more particularly in E-2000
draw works design. Draw work is used for hoisting and lowering of drilling equipment. Main
section of draw works is drum driven by DC motors through chain transmission system.
Three types of braking system are available in draw works- Main brake assembly, Neutral
brake assembly and sandreel brake assembly.
Drum is enclosed in a housing. The drum has grooves for the rope winding and it has
brake drum extension for interfacing with main brake band. Braking arrangement should
align with braking drum and firmly mounted on foundation plate which is welded to the
skid. There are two foundation plates of which one is on left and the other on the right side
inside the housing under brake drum. Main Brake Foundation plate for dead end of band
brake has to be precisely located during weld fit up, (Refer fig A)

OBJECTS OF INVENTION:
The object of the invention is to develop a welding fixture for E-2000 Draw Work Main
Brake Foundation Plate which enables maintenance of preset orientation characteristics
during weld fit up.
Another object of the invention is to develop a welding fixture for E-2000 Draw Work Main
Brake Foundation Plate which reduces the effort and time required for weld fit as well as
improving the quality.
A further object of the invention is to develop a welding fixture for E-2000 Draw Work Main
Brake Foundation Plate that reduces the utilization and engagement time of the crane.
Existing process: -
The existing process for weld fit up Main Brake Foundation plate for dead end of band
brake consist of the following steps:
Step-1 A nut is welded to top face of the plate close to its centre of gravity point.
Step-2 The 1st object (foundation plate on left side) is transported using (crane) sling
attached to Lifting Eye bolt assembled on the nut. The part is lowered into the prescribed
position (with reference to skid & Brake Drum). Positioning checks, consequent
adjustments, fit up weld & complete welding are done manually within the space
constraints in which process a lot of time consumption and repetition of the steps is done.
Step-3 Crane is released for next step.
Step-4, 5 & 6 same as step -1, 2 & 3 done on the 2nd object (foundation plate on right
side) on other end with reference to skid & Brake Drum.

Drawback in the Existing Practice:
The fit up process is fully dependant on skill, expertise & dexterity of the workmen. Errors
if any will need complete repeat of the process with new material & after dismantling &
surface preparations. Also, the deployment of the crane is extended till the fit up weld is
complete. The process is conducted in confined space, hence liable to errors.
New set up:
The developed fixture allows presetting of the alignments on the work Bench in the
assembly shop. The crane is needed only for placement on ledges of the skid. Weld fit up
does not need crane support. Thereby saving on execution time.
Step-1 Object & its fixture are assembled on work bench
Step-2 The assembly is moved to the location of weld fit up using crane. Crane is released
immediately.
Step-3 The position of the assembly is manually adjusted with reference to guide hole on
skid (i.e. live end of Band Braking arrangement) & oriented to Brake drum face.
Step-4 Fit-up checked fit-up weld is completed
Step-5 Fixture is dismantled & removed out for reuse.
Step-6 Full welding of foundation plate to skid is completed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:-
E-2000 Draw Work Main Brake Foundation Plate welding fixture is used for placing
the object at defined place ensuring precise weld fit up which allows presetting of the
alignment on the work bench in the assembling thus releasing the unnecessary
engagement of the crane which is used for placement on ledges of the draw work skid
beams. The weld-fit up does not need crane support. The fixture allows presetting of the
spatial alignment and orientation of the object Band Brake dead end foundation plate on
work bench where the fixture preserves the foundation plate alignment during its
transport, positioning and welding at the prescribed position.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS:
Figure-A: E-2000 Draw work Main Brake Foundation plate welding fixture
Figure- B:
Item-1 Sketch showing the Draw works skid beams
Item-2 Sketch showing the main brake foundation plate
Item-3 Sketch showing the welding fixture
Item-4 Sketch showing the bolt assembly
Item-5 Sketch showing the foundation plate being positioned as per new practice
Item -6 Sketch showing the bracket
Item -7 E-2000 Sketch showing the Draw works skid assembly
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION:
Item-1 shows the beams to which the foundation plate (Item-2) is to be welded with the
groove in the plate matching with the pipe welded to the beam below the web with pre
specified clearance. To achieve this the invented fixture (Item-3) is used.

The welded fixture having holes for fixing the plate (2) with it with nuts and bolts such that
clearance as required when it is mounted, is precisely kept. This operation is done on work
bench in assembly shop.
Then the fixture (3) and plate (2) assembly is put on the beam (1) as shown in fig-B (item
5) and welding is carried out. After the welding is over the fixture (item 3) is taken out by
removing the nuts and bolts from the plate (2) and then the bracket (6) is fixed to the
holes of the foundation plate by means of nuts and bolts as shown in the fig-B (item 7).

WE CLAIM:
(1) A method for working on E-2000 Draw Work Main Brake foundation plate welding
fixture comprising:
- Fixing the fixture (3) with mounting plate (2) on work bench matching the holes with
nuts and bolts in assembly shop;
- presetting the alignment during mounting and fixing with nuts and bolts such that
clearance as required, is precisely kept;
- Shifting the fixture (3) with mounting plate (2) assembly to the location of weld fit up
using crane;
- Placing the said assembly on draw work skid beams (1) such that the groove in the
plate (2) matches with the pipe in the beam (1) below the web with pre specified
clearance;
- Releasing the crane after unloading the fixture ;
- Positioning and adjusting the assembly manually with reference to guide hole on skid
(live end of band breaking arrangement) and orienting to Brake drum face;
- Performing the welding work on the object;
- Checking the fit up and completing the fit-up weld, the fixture (3) is dismantled from the
foundation plate (1);
- Fixing the bracket (6) in the foundation plate (2) at the required holes by means of nuts
and bolts (4);

2. A welding fixture of rectangular shape having rectangular cut out equipped with
plurality of matching holes corresponding to the holes of foundation plate to perform
welding operation with the skid as claimed in claim 1;
3. The welding fixture as claimed in claim 2 where a pipe segment (8) is welded to the
minor side of the fixture for locating the fixture in the hole of draw work skid beam (1).

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to E-2000 Draw Work Main Brake Foundation Plate Welding
fixture for alignment of foundation plate in the work skid assembly which eliminates
the problem relating to alignment in the skid, which as such be carried out on the
work bench and then it can be transported to the skid with the help of crane without
disturbing the alignment and perform the welding work.