Pipe loading device for a directional drilling apparatus

A method for coupling a pipe to a drilling apparatus, the drilling apparatus including a drive head having a drive member adapted to be coupled to a pipe, the drilling apparatus also including a first drive mechanism for rotating the drive member about a drive axis, and a second drive mechanism for moving the drive head axially along the drive axis, the method comprising:

• moving the pipe into coaxial alignment with the drive axis;
• electromagnetically attracting the pipe against a magnetic gripping surface to hold the pipe in coaxial alignment with the drive axis;
• and
• coupling the pipe to the drive member while the pipe is magnetically held in coaxial alignment with the drive axis.

A method for loading a magazine of a drilling apparatus, the drilling apparatus including a drive head having a drive member adapted to be coupled to a pipe, the drilling apparatus also including a first drive mechanism for rotating the drive member about a drive axis, and a second drive mechanism for moving the drive head axially along the drive axis, the method comprising providing a pipe transfer member having a pipe receiving region;

• moving the transfer member such that the pipe coupled to the drive member is received in the pipe receiving region;
• uncoupling the pipe from the drive member;
• electromagnetically attracting the uncoupled pipe against a magnetic gripping surface to hold the pipe at the pipe receiving region;
• moving the pipe transfer member such that the uncoupled pipe is conveyed to the magazine;
• and
• loading the uncoupled pipe into the magazine.

A drilling apparatus comprising:

• a magazine for holding a plurality of pipes;
• a drive head including a drive member adapted to be coupled to a pipe, the drive member being aligned along a drive axis;
• a first drive mechanism for rotating the drive member about the drive axis;
• a second drive mechanism for moving the drive member axially along the drive axis;
• a pipe transfer member for transferring pipes between the magazine and the drive head, the pipe transfer member defining a pipe receiving region for receiving a pipe, the pipe transfer member being movable between a first orientation in which the pipe receiving region is positioned adjacent to the magazine, and a second orientation in which the pipe receiving region is positioned adjacent to the drive axis of the drive head;
• and
• a suction head for holding a pipe received at the pipe receiving region of the pipe transfer member toward a gripping surface at least when the pipe transfer member is in the second orientation, the suction head being adapted to hold the pipe against the gripping surface such that the pipe is held in coaxial alignment with the drive axis while the drive member of the drive head is being coupled to the pipe or uncoupled from the pipe.

A drilling apparatus comprising:

• a magazine for holding a plurality of pipes;
• a drive head including a drive member adapted to be coupled to a pipe, the drive member being aligned along a drive axis;
• a first drive mechanism for rotating the drive member about the drive axis;
• a second drive mechanism for moving the drive member axially along the drive axis;
• a pipe transfer member for transferring pipes between the magazine and the drive head, the pipe transfer member defining a pipe receiving region for receiving a pipe, the pipe transfer member being movable between a first orientation in which the pipe receiving region is positioned adjacent to the magazine, and a second orientation in which the pipe receiving region is positioned adjacent to the drive axis of the drive head;
• a magnetic structure secured to the pipe transfer member, the magnetic structure including at least two spaced apart gripping surfaces positioned to engage a pipe received at the pipe receiving region at two or more separate locations spaced along a length of the pipe, wherein when the pipe is attracted against the gripping surfaces, friction between the pipe and the gripping surfaces inhibits the pipe from sliding relative to the pipe transfer member along a longitudinal axis of the pipe.

A drilling apparatus comprising:

• a magazine for holding a plurality of pipes, the magazine including a plurality of vertical columns;
• a drive head including a drive member adapted to be coupled to a pipe, the drive member being aligned along a drive axis;
• a first drive mechanism for rotating the drive member about the drive axis;
• a second drive mechanism for moving the drive member axially along the drive axis;
• a pipe transfer member for transferring pipes between the magazine and the drive head, the pipe transfer member defining a pipe receiving region for receiving a pipe, the pipe transfer member being movable between a first orientation in which the pipe receiving region is positioned beneath the magazine, and a second orientation in which the pipe receiving region is positioned adjacent to the drive axis of the drive head;
• a first pipe retainer adapted to retain a pipe on the pipe transfer member at least when the pipe transfer member is in the second orientation;
• and
• a second pipe retainer moveable between a retaining position and a non-retaining position, the second pipe retainer preventing lateral movement of a pipe from the pipe receiving region of the pipe transfer member when in the retaining position, the second pipe retainer allowing lateral movement of a pipe from the pipe receiving region when in the non-retaining position, the second retainer being positioned in the retaining position when the pipe transfer member is in the first orientation, and the second pipe retainer being positioned in the non-retaining position when the pipe transfer member is in the second orientation.

A method for unloading a magazine of a drilling apparatus, the drilling apparatus including a magazine for holding a plurality of pipes, a drive head including a drive member adapted to be coupled to a pipe, the drive member being aligned along a drive axis, a first drive mechanism for rotating the drive member about the drive axis;

• a second drive mechanism for moving the drive member axially along the drive axis;
• a pipe transfer member for transferring pipes between the magazine and the drive head, the pipe transfer member defining a pipe receiving region for receiving a pipe, the pipe transfer member being movable between a first orientation in which the pipe receiving region is positioned beneath the magazine, and a second orientation in which the pipe receiving region is positioned adjacent to the drive axis of the drive head, and first and second pipe retainers for retaining a pipe at the pipe receiving region of the pipe transfer member, the method comprising:
• moving the pipe transfer member to the first orientation with the pipe receiving region located beneath the magazine;
• receiving a pipe in the pipe receiving region of the pipe transfer member;
• retaining the pipe at the pipe receiving region with the second pipe retainer while the pipe receiving region is located beneath the magazine;
• moving the pipe transfer member toward the second orientation;
• moving the second pipe retainer to a non-retaining position as the pipe receiving region is moved from beneath the magazine;
• and
• retaining the pipe at the pipe receiving location with the first pipe retainer after the pipe receiving region has been moved from beneath the magazine.

A drilling apparatus comprising:

• a magazine for holding a plurality of pipes;
• a drive head including a drive member adapted to be coupled to a pipe, the drive member being aligned along a drive axis;
• a first drive mechanism for rotating the drive member about the drive axis;
• a second drive mechanism for moving the drive member axially along the drive axis;
• a pipe transfer member for transferring pipes between the magazine and the drive head, the pipe transfer member defining a pipe receiving region for receiving a pipe, the pipe transfer member being movable between a first orientation in which the pipe receiving region is positioned adjacent to the magazine, and a second orientation in which the pipe receiving region is positioned adjacent to the drive axis of the drive head;
• and
• a magnet for magnetically attracting a pipe received at the pipe receiving region of the pipe transfer member at least when the pipe transfer member is in the second orientation, the magnet being free to float relative to the pipe transfer member, the magnet being adapted to magnetically hold the pipe in coaxial alignment with the drive axis while the drive member of the drive head is being coupled to the pipe or uncoupled from the pipe.