Patent ID: 7635249
Filing Date: 2009-12-22
Classification: E21B

Abstract:
1. A pipe pickup and laydown apparatus comprising: (a) a base frame, said base frame having a longitudinal axis and transverse axis extending perpendicular to said longitudinal axis; (b) a carriage supported on said base frame said carriage having a longitudinal axis corresponding to said longitudinal axis of said base frame; (c) a pipe lifting structure mounted to said carriage for independently supporting a length of pipe in longitudinal position with respect to said longitudinal axis of said base frame, said pipe lifting structure having first and second lifting arm assemblies, each of said lifting arms having first and second ends, said first ends of each of said lifting arm assemblies being pivotally mounted to said carriage, said pipe lifting structure further comprised of a concavely configured longitudinally extending pipe support trough and a lifting structure stabilizer frame pivotally attached to said each second end of said first and second lifting arm assemblies and positioned to extend longitudinally with respect to said longitudinal axis of said base frame between said first and second lifting arm assemblies, said lifting structure stabilizer frame being configured to support said pipe support trough and a length of pipe supported thereon, said pipe support trough and said stabilizer frame each having a longitudinal axis corresponding to said longitudinal axis of said base frame and a transverse axis perpendicular to its said longitudinal axis; and (d) a hydraulic ram pivotally attached to said carriage and said first lifting arm assembly whereby said lifting arm assemblies may be pivotally lifted from between a longitudinal position along said carriage and a vertical position perpendicular to said carriage and thereby raising and lowering said length of pipe; (e) wherein at least one of said first and second lifting arm assemblies has lower tubular lifting arm columns extending from said first ends of said lifting arm assemblies and corresponding upper lifting arm columns extending from said second ends of said lifting arm assemblies toward said first ends of said lifting arm assemblies, said lower tubular columns configured to receive said corresponding upper lifting arm columns, whereby said upper lifting arm columns may be telescopically retracted into said lower tubular lifting arm columns and telescopically extended from said lower tubular lifting arm columns; (f) means for selectively moving said carriage from one position to another along said longitudinal axis of said longitudinally extending base frame, (g) at least one extendable and retractable hydraulic ram, said ram having one end attached to said upper lifting arm columns and one end attached to said lower tubular lifting arm columns of a said lifting arm assembly whereby extension and retraction of said ram will telescopically retract said upper lifting arm columns into said lower tubular lifting arm columns and telescopically extend said upper lifting arm columns from said lower tubular lifting arm columns; (h) a plurality of concavely configured saddles, said saddles having first and second ends, said saddles being positioned along said stabilizer frame whereby said pipe trough is supported on said saddles between said first and second ends of said saddles, with said saddles extending transverse to the longitudinal axis of said pipe support trough and said stabilizer frame for transversely supporting said pipe support trough with respect to its longitudinal axis; (i) a hinge assembly mounted at each first and second end of said saddles, said hinge assembly having links and pin guides; (j) a hinge assembly mounted on said pipe support trough, said hinge assembly having links and pin guides to corresponded with said hinge assembly on each of said saddles; (k) a plurality of hinge pins, said hinge pins being selectively insertable and removable from desired said pin guides on first or second end of said corresponding hinge assemblies; (l) means for pivoting said trough on said saddles transversely with respect to said base frame on said desired selectively insertable hinge pins to remove said length of pipe from said pipe trough; and (m) wherein said means for pivoting said trough transversely with respect to said base frame includes an extendable and retractable hydraulic ram, said ram having first and second ends, said first end of said ram mounted on said stabilizer frame below and between said trough and said second end of said ram pivotally mounted to said trough whereby extension and retraction of said ram will pivot said trough in a desired and selected direction transversely with respect to said base frame on said desired selectively insertable hinge pins to remove said length of pipe from said pipe trough.