Alignment apparatus and method for a boom of a pipe handling system
AssigneeT&T Engineering Services, Inc.
InventorKeith J. Orgeron
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A pipe handling apparatus has a frame, a boom pivotally connected to the frame so as to be movable between a first position and a second position, an arm extending outwardly of the boom when the boom is in the second position, a gripper affixed to the end of the arm opposite the boom, a first line having a first end affixed to the boom, a second line interconnected to an opposite end of the first line and connected to the frame, and an actuator interconnected to the first and second lines. The actuator changes an angular relationship of the first and second lines so as to selectively tension the lines. The second line includes a first cable offset from linear alignment with the first line and a second cable extending in angular relationship with the first cable.
Claims13
An alignment and pretensioning apparatus comprising:
- a frame;
- a boom pivotally movable between a first position and a second position;
- a lever having a first and second portion, the lever pivotally connected to the boom;
- an arm pivotally connected at one end to the first portion of the lever, the arm movable between a stowed position and a deployed position;
- a gripper assembly affixed to an opposite end of the arm, the gripper assembly for gripping a diameter of a pipe;
- a link having a first end pivotally connected at one end to the second portion of the lever, the link having a second end pivotally connected to the frame;
- and,
- a tensioning assembly having one end connected to the boom and an opposite end connected to the frame, the tensioning assembly configured to apply a tension to the boom.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.