Method and apparatus for handling pipe and other materials

Abstract

A method and apparatus for handling pipe and other elongate objects to transfer the material from a first station, such as from a pipe rack to an elevated station, such as the floor of a drilling rig is disclosed. The apparatus includes a subframe, an outer frame and an inner frame when the inner frame is provided with an elongate, substantially flat upper surface. A ramp is mounted at a downstream end of the subframe, and the inner frame is operable for receiving the elongate objects and the outer frame and inner frame, which may be thought of as a carriage assembly, rectilinearly shifted toward the ramp. To facilitate loading of the elongate objects from the first station, the upper surface of the inner frame may be selectively tilted to facilitate loading, and then as the carriage assembly is rectilinearly shifted downstream, toward the ramp, the upper surface is sequentially moved to a substantially flat position, whereby the carriage assembly then moves up the ramp so that the elongate objects may be off-loaded at the elevated station.

1 . Apparatus for receiving elongate material from a first station and transporting the material to an elevated station, the apparatus comprising: 
 a subframe for mounting on a floor surface;    a carriage assembly including an elongate outer frame and an elongate inner frame, the inner frame being carried by the outer frame and including a substantially planar upper surface selectively tiltable along the longitudinal axis of the inner frame;    the outer frame being reciprocally shiftable along the subframe for carrying the inner frame; and    a ramp mounted adjacent a forward end of the subframe and inclined upwardly therefrom for receiving the carriage assembly to enable elongate material on the upper surface of the inner frame to be off-loaded at the elevated station.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the subframe is configured to engage and tilt the inner frame during rectilinear shifting of the outer frame relative to the subframe.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the subframe includes a cam surface and the inner frame includes a follower mechanism for engaging the cam surface and tilting the inner frame about its longitudinal axis.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the follower mechanism includes a follower adjacent one end of the inner frame and another follower adjacent the opposite end of the inner frame.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the cam surface includes an inclined surface on the subframe.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the followers are selectively positionable to engage the cam surface to position the inner frame so that its upper surface is selectively tilted or maintained substantially horizontal.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the followers are selectively positionable to engage the cam surface to position the inner frame so that its upper surface is selectively tilted sequentially from a horizontal position as the inner frame moves with the outer frame toward the rear of the subframe.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the subframe includes a pair of spaced-apart cam surfaces adjacent the front end and adjacent the rear end thereof, and wherein each cam surface includes a first incline which transitions into a second incline.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein each follower mechanism includes a member connected to the inner frame selectively pivotal to a predetermined position relative to the inner frame.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the inner frame is tiltable to receive elongate material at the first station and is returnable to a substantially horizontal position to carry the material up the inclined ramp to the elevated station.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 9  including an actuator mechanism for preselecting positioning of the follower mechanisms.  
   
   
       12 . A method for receiving elongate material from a first station and transporting the material to an elevated station, the method comprising: 
 positioning a carriage assembly having an elongate, substantially flat upper surface so that the upper surface is tilted;    transferring the elongate material from the first station to the upper surface of the carriage assembly;    rectilinearly shifting the carriage in a first direction toward the elevated station and sequentially moving the upper surface to a horizontal position; and    shifting the carriage assembly up a ramp to position the elongate material on the upper surface to be off-loaded at the elevated station.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12  further including the step of returning the carriage assembly to the first station by shifting it down the ramp and then rectilinearly shifting it toward the first station and sequentially moving the upper surface to a tilted position for receiving elongate material.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the tilting step includes engaging follower mechanisms on both sides of the carriage assembly with cam surfaces provided on a subframe upon which the carriage assembly is operable for reciprocal shifting.