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US 2007/0177967 A1Published application
Pipe indexer/kicker
OwnerGerald Leskoinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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.
Claims16
A pipe kicker for ejecting a section of pipe from a pipe launcher, comprising:
- a supporting frame having a top surface and a first opening thereon, said frame adapted for operatively attaching to a pipe launcher;
- a first arm having proximal and distal ends, said first arm substantially disposed within said frame, said proximal end rotatably coupled to said frame at a pivot connection point whereby said first arm is capable of rotation about a substantially horizontal first axis passing through said pivot connection point, said first axis substantially perpendicular to said frame, said distal end further comprising an elbow joint;
- a) a kicker arm having first and second ends, said kicker arm substantially disposed within said frame, said first end rotatably coupled to said elbow joint of said first arm whereby said kicker arm is capable of rotation about a second axis passing through said elbow joint, said second axis substantially parallel to said first axis, said second end of said kicker arm further comprising a kicker head adapted for ejecting a section of pipe from a pipe launcher;
- b) a guide ramp disposed within said frame adapted to guide said kicker arm;
- and
- c) a guide roller disposed on said kicker arm, said guide roller adapted to roll on said guide ramp whereby said kicker arm is capable of moving from a first position where said kicker arm is substantially disposed within said frame to a second position after applying a rotational force to said first arm at said pivot connection point whereupon said guide roller rolls up said guide ramp causing said kicker arm to rise up from said frame through said first opening and move said kicker head towards a pipe launcher to eject a section of pipe from said pipe.
3 more elements
An indexer for presenting a section of pipe to a pipe launcher, comprising:
- a supporting frame having a top surface and a first opening thereon, said frame adapted for operatively attaching to said pipe launcher, said frame substantially perpendicular to a pipe launcher;
- an indexer plate having a near end and a far end, said far end having a pipe groove for receiving a section of pipe, said indexer plate substantially disposed within said frame;
- a first indexer mechanism disposed within said frame adapted to raise said far end of said indexer plate up through said first opening above said top surface;
- and
- a second indexer mechanism disposed with said frame adapted to raise said near end of said indexer plate up through said first opening above said top surface.
2 more elements
An apparatus adapted for ejecting a section of pipe from a pipe launcher and for presenting a section of pipe to a pipe launcher, comprising:
- a supporting frame having a top surface and first and second openings located thereon, said frame adapted for operatively attaching to a pipe launcher;
- a first arm having proximal and distal ends, said first arm substantially disposed within said frame, said proximal end rotatably coupled to said frame at a pivot connection point where said first arm is capable of rotation about a substantially horizontal first axis passing through said pivot connection point, said first axis substantially perpendicular to said frame, said distal end further comprising an elbow joint;
- a kicker arm having first and second ends, said kicker arm substantially disposed within said frame, said first end rotatably coupled to said elbow joint of said first arm whereby said kicker arm is capable of rotation about a second axis passing through said elbow joint, said second axis substantially parallel to said first axis, said second end of said kicker arm further comprising a kicker head adapted for ejecting a section of pipe from a pipe launcher;
- a guide ramp disposed within said frame, said guide ramp adapted to guide said kicker arm;
- a guide roller disposed on said kicker arm, said guide roller adapted to roll on said guide ramp whereby said kicker arm is capable of moving from a first position where said kicker arm is substantially disposed within said frame, to a second position after applying a rotation force to said first arm at said pivot connection point whereupon said the guide roller rolls up said guide ramp causing said kicker arm to rise up from said frame through said first opening and move towards a pipe launcher to eject a section of pipe;
- an indexer plate disposed substantially within said frame, said indexer plate having a near end and a far end, said far end comprising a pipe groove for receiving a section of pipe;
- a first indexer mechanism disposed within said frame adapted to raise said far end of said indexer plate up through said second opening above said top surface;
- and
- a second indexer mechanism disposed within said frame adapted to raise said near end of said indexer plate up through said second opening above said top surface.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.