Pipe handling boom pretensioning apparatus
AssigneeT&T Engineering Services, Inc.
InventorKeith J. Orgeron
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A pre-loading system for a pipe handling apparatus in which a boom is pivotally mounted at one end to a skid and in which an arm is connected to an opposite end of the boom. The pre-loading system has a tensioning assembly with one end affixed to the arm and an opposite end fixedly mounted so as to apply tension to the arm when the arm has a load applied to an end of the arm opposite the boom. The tensioning assembly includes a first cable assembly having one end connected to the arm and an opposite end fixedly mounted, and a second cable assembly connected to the arm and having an opposite end fixedly mounted. The first and second cable assemblies extend from opposite sides of the arm.
Claims11
A pipe handling apparatus comprising:
- a boom pivotally movable between a first position and a second position;
- a lever pivotally connected to the boom, the lever having a first portion extending outwardly at an obtuse angle 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 gripper assembly affixed to an opposite end of the arm, the gripper assembly for gripping a diameter of a pipe;
- a link pivotally connected to the second portion of the lever, the link pivotable at an end of the second portion opposite of the first portion so as to move relative to the movement of the boom between the first and second positions;
- a brace having a one end pivotally connected to the boom and an opposite end pivotally connected to the arm between the ends of the arm;
- and,
- a tensioning assembly having one end affixed to the arm and an opposite end fixedly mounted, the tensioning assembly for applying tension to the arm when the arm has the pipe received within the gripper assembly.
A method of moving a pipe from a horizontal orientation for installation in a vertical orientation comprising:
- extending a boom over the horizontally-oriented pipe such that grippers are positioned adjacent to the horizontally-oriented pipe, the grippers being affixed to an arm pivotally connected to a lever, the lever being pivotally mounted to the boom;
- gripping the horizontally-oriented pipe with the grippers;
- pivoting the boom upwardly such that the pipe is moved angularly through an interior of the boom and until the pipe is in a vertical orientation;
- and,
- applying tension to the arm at a location in spaced relationship to the lever and to the gripper when the pipe is in the vertical orientation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.