Raise-assist and smart energy system for a pipe handling apparatus
AssigneeT&T Engineering Services, Inc.
InventorsKeith J. Orgeron, Axel M. Sigmar
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for pivoting a boom relative to a frame of a pipe handling system between a first position and a second position has a hydraulic actuator assembly connected to the boom and to the skid, and a pneumatic spring connected to the boom and to the skid. The pneumatic spring has a cylinder with an end pivotally connected to the boom, and a piston with an end pivotally connected to the skid. The hydraulic actuator assembly has a cylinder pivotally connected to the skid, and a piston with an end pivotally connected to the boom. The pneumatic spring urges the boom from the first position toward the second position while resisting movement of the boom from the second position toward the second position.
Claims24
An apparatus comprising:
- a frame;
- a boom pivotally connected to the frame, the boom being movable between a first position and a second position;
- a lever pivotally connected to the boom, and having a first portion extending outwardly with respect to a second portion;
- an arm pivotally connected at one end to the first portion of the lever and extending outwardly therefrom;
- a gripping assembly attached to an opposite end of the arm for gripping a surface of a tubular;
- a link pivotally connected at one end to the second portion of the lever and an opposite end pivotally connected to the frame;
- a brace having an end pivotally connected to the boom and an opposite end pivotally connected to the arm;
- a hydraulic actuating assembly having one end affixed to the frame and an opposite end connected to the boom, the hydraulic actuating assembly for moving the boom between the first and second positions;
- and
- a pneumatic spring assembly having one end affixed to the frame and an opposite end connected to the boom, the pneumatic spring assembly for urging the boom from the first position to the second position and for resisting movement of the boom from the second position to the first position.
A pipe handling apparatus comprising:
- a frame;
- a boom pivotally connected to the frame, the boom being movable between a first position and a second position;
- a lever pivotally connected to the boom, and having a first portion extending outwardly with respect to a second portion;
- an arm pivotally connected at one end to the first portion of the lever and extending outwardly therefrom;
- a gripping assembly attached to an opposite end of the arm for gripping a surface of a tubular;
- a hydraulic actuating assembly having one end connected to the frame and an opposite end connected to the boom, the hydraulic actuating assembly for moving the boom between the first and second positions, the hydraulic actuating assembly further comprising:
- a first piston-and-cylinder assembly connected adjacent one side of the frame and adjacent one side of the boom;
- and
- a second piston-and-cylinder assembly connected adjacent an opposite side of the frame and adjacent an opposite side of the boom;
- a pneumatic spring assembly positioned between the first and second piston-and-cylinder assemblies of the hydraulic actuating assembly, the pneumatic spring assembly for urging the boom from the first position to the second position and for resisting movement of the boom from the second position to the first position, the pneumatic spring assembly further comprising:
- a pair of piston-and-cylinder assemblies having a piston end pivotally connected to the frame, and a cylinder end pivotally connected to the boom, the pair of pistons being slidably received in the cylinders and extending outwardly thereof, the pistons each defining a gas-containing space filled with a compressible fluid within the cylinders;
- and
- a gas-charging assembly fluidically connected to the gas-containing space, the gas-charging assembly for passing the compressible fluid into the gas-containing space.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.