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Title: Apparatus for handling drill pipes

Patent ·
OSTI ID:5599761

A drill pipe handling mechanism is described of a type usable in a pipe rack on a mobile earth drilling unit and cooperable with a drill head. The mechanism consists of: an elongated channel member mounted longitudinally in the rack to move between a retracted, storage position and an extended position where a pipe is connected to, and disconnected from, the drill head, the channel member having a trough in which a backside of the drill pipe is supported; a closure at a lower end of the channel member, the closure including a pair of doors and the closure supporting a lower end of the pipe when the doors are closed, the doors having respective back portions pivotally mounted at the lower end of the channel member and having front portions that may be opened apart or closed together by pivoting the doors, the doors having respective lugs extending laterally along outer sides of their front portions wherein lugs on one door are interposed between adjacent lugs on the other door when the doors are closed, the doors carrying pawl means inside to oppose rotation of a lower end of the pipe in one direction; securing means mounted on one of the doors for movement into and out of a position coupling the interposed lugs with the adjacent lugs and securing the doors against opening when the drill head is loosened from the pipe by rotation in the direction in which the pawl means opposes rotation of the pipe; a first fluid-driven actuator carried by one of the doors and coupled for actuating the movement of the securing means into and out of its position coupling the interposed and adjacent lugs; and a second fluid-driven actuator mounted along a backside of the channel member and coupled to pivot the doors to open and close when the securing means is out of its position coupling the interposed and adjacent lugs.

Assignee:
Becor Western, Inc., South Milwaukee, WI
Patent Number(s):
US 4595066
OSTI ID:
5599761
Resource Relation:
Patent File Date: Filed date 8 Jul 1985
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English