Patent ID: 7726929

Claim:
A pre-loading system for a pipe handling apparatus in which a boom is pivotally mounted to a skid and in which an arm is interconnected to the boom, the pre-loading system comprising: a first cable assembly having one end connected to the arm and an opposite end fixedly mounted, said first cable assembly extending from one side of the arm; a second cable assembly having one end interconnected to the arm and an opposite end fixedly mounted, said second cable assembly extending from an opposite end of the arm, said first and second cable assemblies suitable for applying tension to the arm when the arm has a load applied to an end of the arm opposite the boom, each of said first and second cable assemblies comprising: a link member pivotally connected to the arm; a cable affixed to said link member at one end thereof; a spring pod affixed to an opposite end of said cable; and a member having one end connected to said spring pod and an opposite end affixed to the skid.