Patent ID: 7992646

Claim:
An apparatus for forming a pipe stand from tubulars comprising: a substantially horizontal, elongate catwalk having a frame, said catwalk having a top surface adapted to receive at least two tubulars aligned coaxially manner along a linear path on said top surface, said frame having a front end, a rear end, and a mid section; a selectively actuable lifting arm for selectively elevating a rig end of a pipe stand from said surface; a selectively actuable means for urging the tubulars along said surface between said front and rear ends so as to urge ends of successive tubulars together into an end-to-end mating position; a rotating means for relative rotation of tubulars in said end-to-end position about corresponding longitudinal axes of the tubulars so as to threadably engage end-to-end positioned tubulars together to form at least one section of a completed pipe stand; means for translating the completed pipe stand towards said front end and over said lifting arm; means for selectively actuating said lifting arm to lift and translate the completed pipe stand so as to position the rig end of the pipe stand into a hoisting position adjacent a drilling rig derrick, wherein said lifting arm includes an arm member and a selectively actuable clamp mounted on said arm member so as to selectively hold in place the rig end of the pipe stand, wherein, during an initial lifting of the pipe stand, the rig end of the pipe stand is held in place relative to said arm member by said clamp so as to translate the pipe stand by said actuation of said lifting arm.