Patent ID: 8511963
Filing Date: 2013-08-20
Classification: E21B

Abstract:
1. A pipe handling apparatus comprising: a frame; a trough supported by the frame; a stationary elevation feature supported by the frame in interacting with the trough to align a pipe component into contacting adjacency with the trough, in which the stationary elevation feature remains in a fixed and stationary position relative to the trough through alignment of the pipe, and wherein the trough remains in a fixed and stationary position relative to the stationary elevation feature through alignment of the pipe; a pusher member supported by the frame and cooperating with the trough; a drive member supported by the frame and positioned adjacent the trough, wherein the pusher member includes at least a rigid portion linked to the drive mechanism, a compliant portion fastened to the rigid portion, and a wheel secured to the rigid portion and in rolling contacting adjacency with the trough, the compliant portion grasps the pipe component to secure control of the pipe component during transport of the pipe component, and the wheel decreases friction between the rigid portion and the trough during transport of the pipe component; an adjustment member disposed between the frame and the stationary elevation feature, wherein the adjustment member fixes the stationary elevation member at a predetermined angle relative to the frame, in which the elevation feature comprising: