Patent ID: 8534386

Claim:
An articulated apparatus for handling a drilling tool on a drill floor comprising: a base suitable for rotatable connection to the drill floor; a first set of arms pivotally connected at one end to said base and extending outwardly therefrom, said one end of said first set of arms being vertically non-translatable with respect to said base; a joint member pivotally connected to an opposite end of said first set of arms; a second set of arms pivotally connected at one end to said joint member and extending outwardly therefrom; and a carrier assembly pivotally connected to an opposite end of said second set of arms, said carrier assembly having at least one rail extending vertically at said opposite end of said second set of arms; and a translating means attached to said carrier assembly and to the drilling tool for moving the drilling tool vertically, said translating means comprising: at least one set of rollers affixed to the drilling tool and cooperative with the rail; and a driving actuator connected or interconnected to the rail and connected to said drilling tool so as to move said drilling tool and the set of rollers vertically along the rail.