Device for Gripping and Transporting Pipe Lengths and an Intermediate Storage Facility for Storage of Pipes

Abstract

A pipe gripping device for gripping and transport of pipe lengths. The device comprises at least one gripper having two opposite gripping jaws. The gripping jaws have at least two expansions, each of which is adapted to grip a pipe length, thus allowing the gripper to grip at least two pipe lengths at the same time. In addition, a description is given of an intermediate storage facility for intermediate storage of pipe lengths, which is arranged as a mezzanine storage between the drilling position on a drilling deck and a main pipe rack.

1 . A device for gripping and transporting pipe lengths between a storage and a drill floor, comprising at least one gripper having two opposite gripping jaws, characterized in that the gripper has at least two expansions that are arranged one after the other along the dividing line between the two gripping jaws, the gripping jaws having a portion between two adjacent expansions where the distance between the two gripping jaws, when brought together, is smaller than the largest dimension of the expansions, each of the expansions being adapted to grip a pipe length, allowing the gripper to grip at least two pipe lengths simultaneously.  
   
   
       2 . A device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that each expansion is formed by two opposing cavities, one formed in each griping jaw.  
   
   
       3 . A device for intermediate storage of pipe lengths, characterized in that the storage facility is arranged as a mezzanine storage at a level between a place of use and a place of permanent storage.  
   
   
       4 . A device according to  claim 3 , characterized in that the place of use is a drilling deck and the place of permanent storage is a main pipe rack on a platform deck, and that the intermediate storage facility is arranged at a position between the main pipe rack and the centre of the drilling deck.  
   
   
       5 . A device according to  claim 4 , characterized in that the intermediate storage facility is arranged at the edge of the drilling deck, protruding partly above the drilling deck and partly below the drilling deck.  
   
   
       6 . A device according to  claim 3 , characterized in that it comprises a deck arranged for support of the lower ends of pipe lengths, and a finger board arranged at a vertical distance from the deck.  
   
   
       7 . A device according to  claim 6 , characterized in that the finger board comprises fingers equipped with holders that leave room for one pipe between adjacent holders.  
   
   
       8 . A device according to  claim 7 , characterized in that the holders can be swung over the fingers to allow a pipe to pass.  
   
   
       9 . A device according to  claim 6 , characterized in that the deck is provided with safety devices on at least two sides, which prevent the lower ends of the pipe lengths from moving outside the deck.  
   
   
       10 . A device according to  claim 4 , characterized in that it comprises a deck arranged for support of the lower ends of pipe lengths, and a finger board arranged at a vertical distance from the deck.  
   
   
       11 . A device according to  claim 5 , characterized in that it comprises a deck arranged for support of the lower end pipe lengths, and a finger board arranged at a vertical distance from the deck.