US 2003/0147726 A1Published application

Pipe handling apparatus

AssigneeHydral-Walk, Inc.

InventorsE. Kent Tolmon, Ronald D. Jones

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Abstract

A pipe handling apparatus for transporting pipe between a position adjacent a pipe storage rack and a rig floor elevated above the pipe storage rack is provided. The pipe handling apparatus includes a support frame, substantially horizontally disposed platform supported by the support frame having a pipe receiving groove formed therein for receiving the joint of pipe, a carriage member, and a pusher member. The carriage member is movable from a lowered position wherein the joint of pipe which is positioned in the pipe receiving groove of the platform is supported in a substantially horizontal position and a raised position wherein the carriage member supports a first end of the joint of pipe at an elevated position relative to an opposed second end of the joint of pipe. The pusher member is movable along the pipe receiving groove between a retracted position and an extended position. In the retracted position, the pusher member is positioned near the second end of the pipe receiving groove to laterally support the joint of pipe when the first end of the joint of pipe is elevated relative to the second end. In the extended position, the pusher member is moved a selected distance away from the second end of the pipe receiving groove toward the first end of the pipe receiving groove so as to cause the second end of the joint of pipe to move through the pipe receiving groove towards the first end of the pipe receiving groove along a substantially horizontal plane and thereby cause the first end of the joint of pipe to be moved to a position overlying the rig floor.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A pipe handling apparatus for transporting pipe to and from a rig floor, the pipe handling apparatus comprising:

a support frame;
a platform fixed to an upper end of the support frame in a substantially horizontal position, the platform having a pipe receiving groove formed therein, the pipe receiving groove having a first end and an opposing second end, the platform forming a substantially flat, continuous surface extending along each side of the pipe receiving groove from a first end of the platform to a second end of the platform so as to permit an individual to walk along the length of the pipe receiving groove on either side of the pipe receiving groove while the pipe is being transported to and from the rig floor;
a carriage member positioned near the first end of the pipe receiving groove, the carriage member movable between a lowered position wherein the pipe positioned in the pipe receiving groove of the platform is supported in a substantially horizontal position and a raised position wherein the carriage member supports a first end of the pipe at an elevated position relative to an opposing second end of the pipe;
and
a pusher member aligned with the pipe receiving groove so as to be engageable with the second end of the pipe when the pipe is positioned in the pipe receiving groove, the pusher member movable along the pipe receiving groove so as to cause the second end of the pipe to move along the pipe receiving groove such that the first end of the pipe moves toward the rig floor when the pusher member moves toward the first end of the pipe receiving groove with the carriage member in the raised position supporting the first end of the pipe and such that the first end of the pipe moves away from the rig floor when the pusher member is moved away from the first end of the pipe receiving groove with the carriage member in the raised position supporting the first end of the pipe.

2 more elements

A pipe handling apparatus for transporting pipe to and from a rig floor, the pipe handling apparatus comprising:

a support frame;
a platform fixed to an upper end of the support frame in a substantially horizontal position, the platform having a pipe receiving groove formed therein, the pipe receiving groove having a first end and an opposing second end, the platform forming a substantially continuous surface along at least one side of the pipe receiving groove so as to permit an individual to walk along the length of the pipe receiving groove while the pipe is being transported to and from the rig floor;
a carriage member positioned near the first end of the pipe receiving groove, the carriage member movable between a lowered position wherein the pipe positioned in the pipe receiving groove of the platform is supported in a substantially horizontal position and a raised position wherein the carriage member supports a first end of the pipe at an elevated position relative to an opposing second end of the pipe;
and
a pusher member aligned with the pipe receiving groove so as to be engageable with the second end of the pipe when the pipe is positioned in the pipe receiving groove, the pusher member movable along the pipe receiving groove so as to cause the second end of the pipe to move along the pipe receiving groove such that the first end of the pipe moves toward the rig floor when the pusher member moves toward the first end of the pipe receiving groove with the carriage member in the raised position supporting the first end of the pipe and such that the first end of the pipe moves away from the rig floor when the pusher member is moved away from the first end of the pipe receiving groove with the carriage member in the raised position supporting the first end of the pipe.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.