Grapple attachment for use with drill pipes

A grapple attachment for use with a drill pipe having a diameter, comprising:

• a main beam body having a rigid lateral member, the main beam at least partially defining a groove that can partially receive the pipe, and including a first, second, third, and fourth grab arms spaced out from each other along the lateral member, wherein the first and second grab arms slaws have a concave gripping surface facing in a first direction and the third and fourth grab arms have a concave gripping surface facing in a second direction opposite the first direction wherein the first and second grab arms are separated from each other by the third grab arm, wherein the grab arms have an open position and a closed position and wherein when the grab arms are in the closed position around a pipe, the gripping surfaces of the grab arms are in contact with the pipe and clamp the pipe into a position partially within the groove;
• means for rotating the main beam about a first axis perpendicular to an axis extending laterally along the lateral member;
• means for rotating the main beam about a second axis perpendicular to the first axis and perpendicular to the axis extending laterally along the lateral member;
• and
• means for attaching the main beam to a boom arm of a piece of heavy construction equipment.

A grapple attachment, comprising:

• an attachment bracket configured to detachably connect to an arm of a piece of heavy equipment;
• a swivel housing that is rotatably connected to the attachment bracket to permit rotation of the swivel housing relative to the attachment bracket about a swivel axis;
• a motor connected to the swivel housing for rotating the swivel housing relative to the attachment bracket about the swivel axis;
• an elongated main beam pivotally connected to the swivel housing so that the elongated main beam can pivot relative to the swivel housing about a pivot axis that is perpendicular to the swivel axis, the elongated main beam has an axis that is perpendicular to the pivot axis and to the swivel axis, and the elongated main beam is rotatable with the swivel housing about the swivel axis;
• a first actuator having a first end attached to the swivel housing and a second end attached to the main beam for tilting the main beam about the pivot axis;
• and
• first and second gripping members mounted on the main beam, the first gripping member being disposed on one side of the pivot axis and the second gripping member being disposed on a second side of the pivot axis, the first and second gripping members each include an arm housing, first and second cooperating arms mounted on the respective arm housing, and arm actuators connected to the arms for actuating the arms, and the first and second cooperating arms are actuatable between an open position and a closed position.