Guide arm

A system for handing tubulars, the system comprising:

• an upper guide arm;
• and
• a lower guide arm located below the upper guide arm, the lower guide arm comprising:
• an upper link configured to move between a first travel position and a second different travel position;
• a lower link including a lower guide head end and configured to move the lower link between a retracted position and an extended position;
• a slew drive located between the upper and lower links and connected to an upper and a lower slew drive ends of said respective upper and lower links, the slew drive configured to rotate the lower link between different clock positions;
• and
• a guide head connected to the lower guide head end and moveable between an open and a closed position.

A method of handling tubulars, the method comprising:

• moving a guide arm to a first travel position and, when in the first travel position, between a retracted and an extended position;
• securing a tubular with a guide head of the guide arm when the guide arm is in the first travel and extended positions;
• after securing the tubular, returning the guide arm to the retracted position;
• moving the guide arm to a second different travel position and, when in the second different travel position, between the retracted and extended positions;
• and
• releasing the tubular from the guide head of the guide arm when in the second different travel and extended positions;
• wherein the guide arm includes:
• an upper link configured to move between a first travel position and a second different travel position;
• a lower link including a lower guide head end and configured to move between a retracted position and an extended position;
• a slew drive located between the upper and lower links and connected to an upper and a lower slew drive ends of said respective upper and lower links, the slew drive configured to rotate the lower link between different clock positions;
• and
• the guide head connected to the lower guide head end and moveable between an open position to accept the tubular and a closed position about the tubular.