Patent ID: 7971917

Claim:
An apparatus for automatically guiding and positioning a rotatable drilling tubular during a stabbing operation of the drilling tubular, comprising: a movable gripping arm means being movable relative to an axis of rotation of the drilling tubular along a center line, the gripping arm means having movable gripping arms gripping and capturing the drilling tubular and surrounding the drilling tubular about a circumference thereof; a telescopic tube assembly actuatable along the centerline and supporting the gripping arm means; a movable roller bracket means supported by the telescopic tube assembly, the roller bracket means being movable towards and away from the axis of rotation of the drilling tubular with respect to both the gripping arm means and the telescopic tube assembly along the center line to accommodate varying circumferences of the drilling tubular, regardless of whether the gripping arm means and the telescopic tube assembly are stationary or moving, the roller bracket means assisting in the gripping and surrounding of the drilling tubular by coming into contact with the circumference thereof; and at least one arm actuator means for positioning the gripping arms and at least one bracket actuator means for positioning the roller bracket means relative to the gripping arm means along the center line in order to capture and grip the drilling tubular between the gripping arm means and the roller bracket means which come in to contact with the drilling tubular to thereby guide and grip the drilling tubular on the circumference thereof from opposing diametric sides of the drilling tubular.