RAISE-ASSIST AND SMART ENERGY SYSTEM FOR A PIPE HANDLING APPARATUS

摘要

The invention relates to a pipe handling apparatus that delivers and positions tubulars at a wellhead and a device for assisting pivotal movement of a boom relative to a base of the apparatus. A pneumatic spring assembly is pivotally connected between the boom and base. During operation, the pneumatic spring assembly urges the boom from a first position to a second position and resists movement of the boom from the second position to the first position. A pneumatic reservoir may be attached to the pipe handling apparatus. A gas-charging assembly fluidically connects the pneumatic spring assembly and pneumatic reservoir and allows the pneumatic reservoir to vary the pneumatic pressure within the pneumatic spring assembly. Sensors mounted in the pipe handling apparatus may provide feedback to a controller which may automatically adjust the amount of pneumatic pressure within the pneumatic springs for ideal performance of the springs.