# US 4,397,605 A · Mechanized stand handling apparatus for drilling rigs

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- Number: US 4,397,605 A
- Document ID: US4397605A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 06/267,617
- Filed: 1981-05-27
- Granted: 1983-08-09
- Earliest claimed: 1977-09-14
- Inventors: Charles F. Cowgill; Frank J. Di Bella
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4397605A

## CPC

- E21B 19/14: Racks, ramps, troughs or bins, for holding the lengths of rod singly or connected; Handling between storage place and borehole (E21B19/20, E21B19/22 take precedence)
- B25J 9/102: {Gears specially adapted therefor, e.g. reduction gears (gearings in general F16H)}
- E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- B25J: MANIPULATORS; CHAMBERS PROVIDED WITH MANIPULATION DEVICES ({manipulators specially adapted for use in surgery A61B34/70; manipulators used in cleaning hollow articles B08B9/04}; manipulators associated with rolling mills B21B39/20; manipulators associated with forging machines B21J13/10; {manipulators associated with picking-up and placing mechanisms B23P19/007}; means for holding wheels or parts thereof B60B30/00; {vehicles with ground-engaging propulsion means, e.g. walking members B62D57/02, B62D57/032; devices for picking-up and depositing articles or materials between conveyors B65G47/90, B65G47/91; manipulators with gripping or holding means for transferring packages B65H67/065}; cranes B66C; {manipulators used in the protection or supervision of pipe-line installations F17D5/00; walking equipment adapted for nuclear steam-generators F22B37/006}; manipulators specially adapted for, or associated with, nuclear reactors G21C; {apparatus used for handling wafers during manufacture or treatment of semiconductor H10P72/50})

## Abstract

Apparatus for the handling of drill collar and pipe stands and comprised of a hydraulically mechanized "Derrickman" and "Derrick Floor Hand" and associated fingerboard lock bars and all of which are adapted to remote control in the placement of the stands in a derrick, both in alignment with the rotary table and fully placed within the fingers, the stand handling mechanism being characterized by articulated arms extensible by actuator means housed entirely within the confines thereof for compactness.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A "gripper head" for moving pipe stands in a derrick and between selective positions, the gripper head having a vertically disposed substantially flat unobstructed front face, means selectively positioning the gripper head in a disposition with the unobstructed front face thereof to oppose the side of the pipe stand to be moved, at least one pair of laterally spaced and extensible claws carried by and retractile into the confines of the gripper head behind said front face thereof, and means to extend the said claws from the unobstructed front face and into embraced engagement with a pipe stand juxtaposed to the said front face and to retract the said claws through the unobstructed front face and into the confines of the gripper head to be totally housed therein after release of the pipe stands.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The "gripper head" with extensible and retractable claws for embraced engagement and release of pipe stands and the like as set forth in claim 1, wherein the claws are hook-shaped in conformance with the pipe exterior embraced thereby.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The "gripper head" with extensible and retractable claws for embraced engagement and release of pipe stands and the like as set forth in claim 1, wherein the claws are arcuately hooked to a radius in conformance with the largest pipe diameter in a range of pipe diameters embraceable thereby.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The "gripper head" with extensible and retractable claws for embraced engagement and release of pipe stands and the like as set forth in claim 1, wherein there are two pairs of claws and the claws of one pair thereof are arcuately hooked to a radius in conformance with the largest pipe diameter in a range of small pipe diameters embraceable thereby and wherein the claws of the second pair thereof are arcuately hooked to a radius in conformance with the largest pipe diameter in a range of large pipe diameters embraceable thereby.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The "gripper head" with extensible and retractable claws for embraced engagement and release of pipe stands and the like as set forth in claim 1, wherein there are two pairs of claws and the claws of one pair thereof are arcuately hooked to a radius in conformance with the largest pipe diameter in a range of small pipe diameters embraceable thereby, and wherein the claws of the second pair thereof are arcuately hooked to a radius in conformance with the largest pipe diameter in a range of large pipe diameters embraceable thereby, the largest arcuate hook of the small range claws conforming substantially to the smallest pipe diameter in the range of said large pipe diameters.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The "gripper head" with extensible and retractable claws for embraced engagement and release of pipe stands and the like as set forth in claim 1, wherein there are at least two pairs of claws symmetrically disposed about the engageable axis of the pipe embraced thereby, the pairs of claws being carried by the gripper head one above the other.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The "gripper head" with extensible and retractable claws for embraced engagement and release of pipe stands and the like as set forth in claim 1, wherein ther are two pairs of claws symmetrically disposed about the engageable axis of the pipe embraced thereby, one pair of claws disposed in a horizontal plane and proportional to conform with the largest pipe diameter in a range of small pipe diameters embraceable thereby, and one of each of the second pair of claws disposed in offset horizontal planes above and below the horizontal plane of the first mentioned pair of claws respectively and proportioned to conform with the largest pipe diameter in a range of large pipe diameters embraceable thereby.

### Claim 8

A "gripper head" for moving pipe stands in a derrick and between selective positions, the gripper head having a vertically disposed unobstructed front face, means selectively positioning the gripper head in a disposition with the unobstructed front face thereof to oppose the side of the pipe stand to be moved, a pair extensible claws carried by and retractile into the gripper head on laterally spaced axes, and means to axially extend the said claws along the said spaced axes and into embraced engagement with a pipe stand juxtaposed to said front face and alternately to axially retract the said claws along the said spaced axes and into the confines of the gripper head to be housed behind said front face thereof.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The "gripper head" with extensible and retractable claws for embraced engagement and release of pipe stands and the like as set forth in claim 8, wherein the claws are hook-shaped in conformance with the pipe exterior embraced thereby and are rotatably carried in the gripper head on said laterally spaced axes, and wherein the means to axially extend the said claws rotates the hook-shape thereof into embracement of the pipe exterior when extended and rotates the same to release the pipe from embracement when axially retracted.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The "gripper head" with extensible and retractable claws for embraced engagement and release of pipe stands and the like as set forth in claim 8 wherein the spaced axes of the claws are divergent to expand the separation thereof to accommodate larger diameter pipe.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The "gripper head" with extensible and retractable claws for embraced engagement and release of pipe stands and the like as set forth in claim 8, wherein the claws are hook-shaped in conformance with the pipe exterior embraced thereby and are rotatably carried in the gripper head on said laterally spaced axes, and wherein the means to axially extend the said claws includes a cam that rotates the hook-shape thereof into embracement of the pipe exterior when extended and that rotates the same to release the pipe from embracement when axially retracted.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The "gripper head" with extensible and retractable claws for embraced engagement and release of pipe stands and the like as set forth in claim 8, wherein the spaced axes of the claws are divergent to expand the separation thereof to accommodate larger diameter pipe and wherein the claws are hook-shaped in conformance with the pipe exterior embraced thereby and are rotatably carried in the gripper head on said laterally spaced axes, and wherein the means to axially extend the said claws rotates the hook-shape thereof into embracement of the pipe exterior when extended and rotates the same to release the pipe from embracement when axially retracted.

### Claim 13 (depends on 8)

The "gripper head" with extensible and retractable claws for embraced engagement and release of pipe stands and the like as set forth in claim 8, wherein the means to extend the claws is enabled to operate by separate means projecting from the face of the gripper head and responsive to a pipe stand juxtaposed thereto.

### Claim 14

A "gripper head" for moving pipe stands in a derrick and between selective positions, the gripper head having a vertically disposed unobstructed front face, means selectively positioning the gripper head in a disposition with the unobstructed front face thereof to oppose the side of the pipe stand to be moved, a pair of horizontally extensible claws slideable in a pair of rockers shiftably carried to be retractile into and one at each side of the gripper head, and means to extend the said rockers horizontally from the front face and to extend the claws into embraced engagement with a pipe stand juxtaposed to said front face and alternately to retract the said claws and the said rockers into the confines of the gripper head to be housed behind said front face thereof.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The "gripper head" with extensible and retractable claws for embraced engagement and release of pipe stands and the like as set forth in claim 14, wherein the rockers are shiftable to project from the front face of the gripper head.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The "gripper head" with extensible and retractable claws for embraced engagement and release of pipe stands and the like as set forth in claim 14, wherein the claws are hook-shaped in conformance with the pipe exterior embraced thereby and slideable laterally from said rockers to embrace the pipe stand.

### Claim 17 (depends on 14)

The "gripper head" with extensible and retractable claws for embraced engagement and release of pipe stands and the like as set forth in claim 14, wherein the rockers are shiftable to project from the front face of the gripper head, and wherein the claws are hook-shaped in conformance with the pipe exterior embraced thereby and slideable laterally from said rockers to embrace the pipe stand.

### Claim 18 (depends on 14)

The "gripper head" with extensible and retractable claws for embraced engagement and release of pipe stands and the like as set forth in claim 14, wherein the rockers are shiftable along spaced guideways in opposite sides of the gripper head, said guideways being turned laterally outward to separate the claws to expand the separation thereof to accommodate larger diameter pipe.

### Claim 19 (depends on 14)

The "gripper head" with extensible and retractable claws for embraced engagement and release of pipe stands and the like as set forth in claim 14, wherein the rockers are shiftable on front and back trunnions along spaced guideways in opposite sides of the gripper head, said guideways being turned laterally outward to separate the front trunnions and each having inwardly turned arcuate guide portions described about the center of the front trunnions stopped in the first mentioned laterally outward turned portions thereby to swing the rockers laterally outward to expand the separation of the opposite claws of said pair thereof.

### Claim 20 (depends on 14)

The "gripper head" with extensible and retractable claws for embraced engagement and release of pipe stands and the like as set forth in claim 14, wherein the claws are semi circular arc-shaped members slideable from complementary semi circular guideways in the rockers to embrace opposite sides of the pipe stand respectively.

### Claim 21 (depends on 14)

The "gripper head" with extensible and retractable claws for embraced engagement and release of pipe stands and the like as set forth in claim 14, wherein the rockers are shiftable on front and back trunnions along spaced guideways in opposite sides of the gripper head, said guideways being turned laterally outward to separate the front trunnions and each having inwardly turned arcuate guide portions described about the center of the front trunnions stopped in the first mentioned laterally outward turned portions thereby to swing the rocker laterally outward to expand the separation of the opposite claws of said pair thereof, and wherein the claws are semi circular arc-shaped members slideable from complementary semi circular guideways in the rockers to embrace opposite sides of the pipe stand respectively.

### Claim 22 (depends on 14)

The "gripper head" with extensible and retractable claws for embraced engagement and release of pipe stands and the like as set forth in claim 14, wherein the rockers are actuated to project from the front face of the gripper head by double acting drive means.

### Claim 23 (depends on 14)

The "gripper head" with extensible and retractable claws for embraced engagement and release of pipe stands and the like as set forth in claim 14, wherein the claws are hook-shaped in conformance with the pipe exterior embraced thereby and slideably actuated by double acting drive means to extend laterally from said rockers to embrace the pipe stand.

### Claim 24 (depends on 14)

The "gripper head" with extensible and retractable claws for embraced engagement and release of pipe stands and the like as set forth in claim 14, wherein the claws are hook-shaped in conformance with the pipe exterior embraced thereby and slideably actuated by double acting motion multiplying means to extend laterally from said rockers to embrace the pipe stand.

### Claim 25 (depends on 14)

The "gripper head" with extensible and retractable claws for embraced engagement and release of pipe stands and the like as set forth in claim 14, wherein the rockers are actuated to project from the front face of the gripper head by double acting drive means, and wherein the claws are hook-shaped in conformance with the pipe exterior embraced thereby and slideably actuated laterally from said rockers to embrace the pipe stand by double acting drive means.

### Claim 26 (depends on 14)

The "gripper head" with extensible and retractable claws for embraced engagement and release of pipe stands and the like as set forth in claim 14, wherein the rockers are actuated to project from the front face of the gripper head by double acting drive means, and wherein the claws are hook-shaped in conformance with the pipe exterior embraced thereby and slideably actuated laterally from said rockers to embrace the pipe stand by double acting motion multiplying means.

### Claim 27 (depends on 14)

The "gripper head" with extensible and retractable claws for embraced engagement and release of pipe stands and the like as set forth in claim 14, wherein the means to extend the claws is enabled to operate by separate means projecting from the face of the gripper head and responsive to a pipe stand juxtaposed thereto.