Pipe handling apparatus and method

摘要

Equipment for moving tubular members from a storage rack to an elevated platform floor and back to the storage rack is disclosed. A base-mounted articulated support structure has a pipe trough mounted on top thereof. The support structure elevates the trough using a pair of struts and a plurality of articulated lifting arms mounted between the base and the support structure. Loading arms are secured to a side of the pivotal trough for picking up one tubular member from the rack and moving to the platform floor. Unloading arms detachably securable to the trough facilitate movement of the tubular members from the platform floor onto the rack.

主权项

1. An apparatus for moving a tubular member, comprising:
a base configured to be positioned adjacent a storage rack containing a plurality of tubular members; an articulated support structure mounted on the base and movable between a folded stationary position and a fully extended position, the support structure comprising:
an elongated support beam having a proximate end and a distant forward end, and a pair of spaced apart struts pivotally mounted between the proximate end of the support beam and the base, said struts extending at an obtuse angle in relation to the base when the support structure is in the fully extended position;a pair of extendable proximate lifting arms mounted between the struts and the base, said proximate lifting arms being disposed to pivotally move the struts between folded and fully extended positions; anda pair of extendable forward lifting arms pivotally mounted between the support beam and the base, said forward lifting arms being disposed to pivotally move between folded and fully extended positions, said forward lifting arms extending in a non-parallel relationship to the struts and the proximate lifting arms when the forward lifting arms are in the fully extended position; and a pipe trough extending longitudinally along the support structure, said pipe trough having opposite parallel side edges and configured to receive the tubular member.