Apparatus for positioning and stabbing pipe in a drilling rig derrick

Abstract

A remotely controlled apparatus for positioning and stabbing pipe within a drilling rig derrick is provided. A support base assembly is mounted to a structural member of a drilling rig derrick. A jointed articulating boom having a boom base member and a boom arm member is attached to the support base assembly and can be pivoted about vertical and horizontal axes. The jointed articulating boom extends and retracts by cooperative motion between the boom base member and the boom arm member. A pipe gripper assembly having opposing arcuate jaws is mounted at the outer extent of the jointed articulating boom and can be pivoted about a horizontal axis. A remote control panel subassembly is used to control the movement of jointed articulating boom and pipe gripper assembly.

Description

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] NONE STATEMENTS AS TO RIGHTS TO INVENTIONS MADE UNDER FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT [0002] NONE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] 1. Field of the Invention [0004] This invention relates to an apparatus for positioning and stabbing tubular goods, including large diameter pipe such as casing, within a drilling rig derrick. More particularly, the present invention pertains to an apparatus which can be mounted within a drilling rig derrick, and which can grip a section of pipe, such as large diameter casing, suspended within said derrick. More particularly still, the present invention pertains to a remotely operated apparatus which can grip a section of pipe suspended within a drilling rig derrick and align such pipe so that threads at the lower end thereof can be joined with mating threads of a section of pipe situated therebelow. [0005] 2. Brief Description of the Prior Art [0006] Standard rotary drilling rigs are typical...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention is a pipe stabbing apparatus that can be easily lifted into a drilling rig derrick and secured to a control panel. The apparatus is fully automated and can be remotely controlled from the control panel. It includes a jointed boom that can be mounted in various locations within the derrick and can grip and position pipes with high efficiency. The apparatus is easy to assemble, disassemble, and transport. It can grip and steer tubular goods, such as large diameter pipe, and can be used with different sizes of pipe. The apparatus is also designed to allow for spun or rotated pipe while still gripping it. Overall, the invention provides a more efficient and flexible tool for pipe stabbing in drilling rigs."

Problems solved by technology

Accordingly, drill pipe threads are relatively difficult to misalign when joints of drill pipe are brought into end-to-end abutting relationship for threaded interconnection.

By contrast, because casing is generally much heavier than drill pipe and other similar tubular goods, it is often difficult, if not impossible, for rig workers to manually position such casing within a derrick.

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