Patent ID: 7744327
Filing Date: 2010-06-29
Classification: E21B

Abstract:
1. A tubular handling apparatus for moving tubulars between a substantially horizontal first transfer station and a second transfer station, comprising: a base, a boom, rotatable with respect to the base between a lowered position and a raised position by a boom rotation drive in a boom rotation direction around a horizontal boom rotation axis, and a gripper, rotatably attached to the boom and adapted for gripping the tubular, the gripper being rotatable about a gripper rotation axis by a gripper rotation drive in a gripper rotation direction, wherein the gripper rotation axis is parallel to and spaced from the horizontal boom rotation axis and the gripper rotation drive provides a gripper rotation direction opposite to the boom rotation direction, and the gripper rotation drive comprises at least one rod, extending along the boom, connected pivotably with one end to the base remote from the horizontal boom rotation axis and connected pivotably with the other end to a rod linkage member that is pivotably attached to the boom, the rod and the gripper, respectively, about respective rotation axes parallel to the gripper rotation axis and the horizontal boom rotation axis.