Patent ID: 6283702
Filing Date: 2001-09-04
Classification: E21B

Abstract:
A rod loader for manipulating rods, the rod loader comprising an open elongated frame including two spaced parallel beams to accommodate the passage of a rod therebetween, the frame having a distal end and a proximal end and a longitudinal axis of symmetry extending therethrough, a clamp rod gripper affixed adjacent to the distal end of the frame, the clamp rod gripper including a rotatable jaw juxtaposed about a pivot and an opposed fixed jaw, the pivot having an axis of symmetry substantially parallel with the axis of symmetry of the frame, the rotatable jaw sized to accommodate a rod, the opposed fixed jaw sized to accommodate a rod, means for actuating the rotatable jaw, the clamp rod gripper affixed to a first transfer arm, the first transfer arm adapted to move the clamp rod gripper substantially perpendicular to the axis of symmetry of the frame through a predetermined distance, a swing rod gripper affixed adjacent to the proximal end of the frame, the swing rod gripper including two adjacent pendulum members affixed thereto, the pendulum members pivotally mounted to the swing rod gripper to rotate in an arc about an axis at least substantially perpendicular to the axis of symmetry of the frame, means for extending and rotating the pendulum members, the swing rod gripper including a fixed block, each pendulum member including a pendulum block, and the fixed block and the pendulum blocks are sized to accommodate a rod, the swing rod gripper affixed to a second transfer arm, the second transfer arm adapted to move the swing rod gripper substantially perpendicular to the axis of symmetry of the frame through a predetermined distance, and means for retrieving and indexing a rod.