Patent ID: 7946795

Claim:
A pipe handling apparatus for manipulating drilling tubulars adjacent a drill platform, the apparatus comprising: a boom pivotally mounted to a base, the boom movable between first and second positions; a gripper pivotally mounted to the boom, the gripper configured to selectively grip a tubular and, in cooperation with the boom, move the tubular from a stored position to a position over the drill platform; a jack associated with the gripper, the jack configured to exert a downward force against a portion of the drill platform, causing an upward movement of the gripper and the tubular gripped in the gripper, wherein a stuck tubular can be extricated by application of the force; a lever assembly pivotally connected to the boom, the lever assembly having a first portion extending outwardly at an obtuse angle with respect to a second portion; an arm pivotally connected at one end to the first portion of the lever assembly and extending outwardly therefrom; a link pivotally connected to the second portion of the lever assembly, the link pivotable at an end of the second portion opposite of the first portion so as to move relative to the movement of the boom between the first and second positions; a brace having a one end pivotally connected to the boom and an opposite end pivotally connected to the arm between the ends of the arm; and wherein the first position of the boom being generally horizontal, the gripper having a vertical orientation when the boom is in the second position.