Patent ID: 8671626

Claim:
A drilling rig assembly, said drilling rig assembly having a longitudinal axis and comprising: (a) a drilling rig skid, said drilling rig skid supporting the drilling rig assembly; (b) a derrick assembly pivotally attached to the drilling rig skid at a derrick assembly pivot axis, the derrick assembly adapted to move relative to the drilling rig skid and comprising; (1) a pair of derrick masts, said pair of derrick masts being disposed on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis and comprising at least one rack; (2) a carriage assembly, said carriage assembly being substantially disposed between the pair of derrick masts, the carriage assembly being adapted to move along the pair of derrick masts and comprising a pinion; (c) a means for moving the derrick assembly relative to the drilling rig skid, said means for moving the derrick assembly relative to the drilling rig skid being adapted to move the derrick assembly relative to the drilling rig skid; (d) a pipe loader assembly pivotally attached to the drilling rig skid at a pipe loader assembly pivot axis, the pipe loader assembly adapted to move relative to the drilling rig skid; (e) a means for moving the pipe loader assembly relative to the drilling rig skid, said means for moving the pipe loader assembly relative to the drilling rig skid being adapted to move the pipe loader assembly relative to the drilling rig skid; wherein the derrick assembly pivot axis and the pipe loader assembly pivot axis are co-axial.