Patent ID: 8876452

Claim:
A pipe handling apparatus comprising: a frame; a boom pivotally connected to the frame, the boom being movable between a first position and a second position; a hydraulic actuating assembly having one end connected to the frame and an opposite end connected to the boom, the hydraulic actuating assembly for moving the boom between the first and second positions, and further comprising: a first hydraulic piston-and-cylinder assembly connected adjacent one side of the frame and adjacent one side of the boom; and, a second hydraulic piston-and-cylinder assembly connected adjacent an opposite side of the frame and adjacent an opposite side of the boom; a pneumatic spring assembly positioned between the first and second piston-and-cylinder assemblies of the hydraulic actuating assembly, the pneumatic spring assembly for urging the boom from the first position to the second position and for resisting movement of the boom from the second position to the first position, the pneumatic spring assembly further comprising: a pair of pneumatic springs each having an end pivotally connected to the frame, and an opposite end pivotally connected to the boom, the pair of pneumatic springs each containing a fluid for exerting a pneumatic pressure; and, a pneumatic reservoir assembly for varying the pneumatic pressure within the pneumatic spring assembly.