Pipe conveyor apparatus

Abstract

A pipe conveyor apparatus for transporting a joint of pipe between a pipe storage rack and a rig floor elevated above the pipe storage rack. The apparatus includes at least two boom assemblies and a drive assembly. The boom assemblies are positioned such that booms are positioned in a spaced apart, parallel relationship relative to one another so that pipe support lugs of the booms are positioned to support at least two joints of pipe in a spaced apart and substantially horizontal position with the ends of the pipe positioned in a non-contact relationship with respect to the booms. The drive assembly is operably connected to the pipe support lugs in such a way that the pipe support lugs are movable in unison so as to move the joints of pipe between the proximal end and the distal end of the booms.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pipe conveyor apparatus for transporting a joint of pipe between a position adjacent a pipe storage rack and a rig floor elevated above the pipe storage rack, the joint of pipe having a first end and an opposing second end, the apparatus comprising:
 at least two boom assemblies, each of the boom assemblies comprising:
 a base frame; 
 a boom support frame positioned on the base frame; 
 a boom pivotally connected to the boom support frame so that the angular relationship of the boom relative to the base frame is adjustable, the boom having a proximal end and a distal end; and 
 a plurality of pipe support lugs extending from the boom and being movable along the length of the boom between the proximal end and the distal end, 
 wherein the boom assemblies are positioned in such a way that the booms are in a spaced apart, parallel relationship relative to one another and the pipe support lugs of the booms are positioned to support at least two joints of pipe in a spaced apart and substantially horizontal position with the first end and the second end of the pipe positioned in a non-contact relationship with respect to the booms; and 
   a drive assembly operably connected to the pipe support lugs in such a way that the pipe support lugs are movable in unison to move the joints of pipe between the proximal end and the distal end of the booms.   
     
     
         2 . The pipe conveyor apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each of the boom support frames is slidable over the base frame in a to-and-fro direction. 
     
     
         3 . The pipe conveyor apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the drive assembly comprises:
 a motor;   a drive shaft operably connected to the motor, the drive shaft having a first end and a second end;   a second drive shaft having a first end interconnected to the first end of the first drive shaft and a second end interconnected to the pipe support lugs of one of the booms; and   a third drive shaft having a first end interconnected to the second end of the first drive shaft and a second end interconnected to the pipe support lugs of the other boom.   
     
     
         4 . The pipe conveyor apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein each of the second drive shaft and the third drive shaft has a length, and wherein the length of the second drive shaft and the third drive shaft is self-adjustable. 
     
     
         5 . The pipe conveyor apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the drive assembly further comprises a support beam to which the motor and the first drive shaft are connected, the support beam extending from one of the base frames to the other base frame. 
     
     
         6 . The pipe conveyor apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the boom assemblies are in a non-connected relationship with one another when the support beam of the drive assembly is removed from the base frames. 
     
     
         7 . The pipe conveyor apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the pipe support lugs of each of the boom assemblies are movable in a looping fashion along one side of the boom, around the distal end, along an opposing side of the boom, and around the proximal end. 
     
     
         8 . The pipe conveyor apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein each of the boom assemblies has at least three pipe supporting lugs extending from each side of the boom at any one time so as to be able to support at least three joints of pipe in a spaced relationship to one another at any one time. 
     
     
         9 . A pipe conveyor apparatus for transporting a joint of pipe between a position adjacent a pipe storage rack and a rig floor elevated above the pipe storage rack, the joint of pipe having a first end and an opposing second end, the apparatus comprising:
 at least two boom assemblies, each of the boom assemblies comprising:
 a base frame; 
 a boom support frame positioned on the base frame; 
 a boom pivotally connected to the boom support frame so that the angular relationship of the boom relative to the base frame is adjustable, the boom having a proximal end and a distal end; and 
 a plurality of pipe support lugs extending from the boom and being movable in a looping fashion along one side of the boom, around the distal end, along an opposing side of the boom, and around the proximal end, 
 wherein the boom assemblies are positioned in such a way that the booms are in a spaced apart, parallel relationship relative to one another and the pipe support lugs of the booms are positioned to support at least two joints of pipe in a spaced apart and substantially horizontal position with the first end and the second end of the pipe positioned in a non-contact relationship with respect to the booms; and 
   a drive assembly operably connected to the pipe support lugs in such a way that the pipe support lugs are movable in unison to move the joints of pipe between the proximal end and the distal end of the booms.   
     
     
         10 . The pipe conveyor apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein each of the boom support frames is slidable over the base frame in a to-and-fro direction. 
     
     
         11 . The pipe conveyor apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the drive assembly comprises:
 a motor;   a drive shaft operably connected to the motor, the drive shaft having a first end and a second end;   a second drive shaft having a first end interconnected to the first end of the first drive shaft and a second end interconnected to the pipe support lugs of one of the booms; and   a third drive shaft having a first end interconnected to the second end of the first drive shaft and a second end interconnected to the pipe support lugs of the other boom.   
     
     
         12 . The pipe conveyor apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein each of the second drive shaft and the third drive shaft has a length, and wherein the length of the second drive shaft and the third drive shaft is self-adjustable. 
     
     
         13 . The pipe conveyor apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the drive assembly further comprises a support beam to which the motor and the first drive shaft are connected, the support beam extending from one of the base frames to the other base frame. 
     
     
         14 . The pipe conveyor apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the boom assemblies are in a non-connected relationship with one another when the support beam of the drive assembly is removed from the base frames. 
     
     
         15 . The pipe conveyor apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein each of the booms further comprises:
 a first sprocket rotatably connected to the proximal end of the boom, the first sprocket being operably connected to one of the second drive shaft and the third drive shaft;   a second sprocket rotatably connected to the distal end of the boom; and   a chain extending over the first sprocket and the second sprocket, the pipe support lugs being connected to the chain.   
     
     
         16 . The pipe conveyor apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein each of the boom assemblies has at least three pipe supporting lugs extending from each side of the boom at any one time so as to be able to support at least three joints of pipe in a spaced relationship to one another at any one time. 
     
     
         17 . A pipe conveyor apparatus in combination with a rig for transporting a joint of pipe between a pipe storage rack and a floor of the rig elevated above the pipe storage rack, the joint of pipe having a first end and an opposing second end, the apparatus comprising:
 at least two boom assemblies positioned between the pipe storage rack and the rid, each of the boom assemblies comprising:
 a base frame; 
 a boom support frame slidingly positioned on the base frame; 
 a boom pivotally connected to the boom support frame so that the angular relationship of the boom relative to the base frame is adjustable, the boom having a proximal end positioned adjacent the pipe storage rack and a distal end positioned adjacent the floor of the rig; and 
 a plurality of pipe support lugs extending from the boom and being movable along the length of the boom between the proximal end and the distal end, 
 wherein the boom assemblies are positioned in such a way that the booms are in a spaced apart, parallel relationship relative to one another and the pipe support lugs of the booms are positioned to support at least two joints of pipe in a spaced apart and substantially horizontal position with the first end and the second end of the pipe positioned in a non-contact relationship with respect to the booms; and 
   a drive assembly operably connected to the pipe support lugs in such a way that the pipe support lugs are movable in unison to move the joints of pipe between the proximal end and the distal end of the booms.   
     
     
         18 . The combination of  claim 17 , wherein the pipe support lugs of each of the boom assemblies are movable in a looping fashion along one side of the boom, around the distal end, along an opposing side of the boom, and around the proximal end. 
     
     
         19 . The combination of  claim 17 , wherein the drive assembly comprises:
 a motor;   a drive shaft operably connected to the motor, the drive shaft having a first end and a second end;   a second drive shaft having a first end universally coupled to the first end of the first drive shaft and a second end universally coupled to the pipe support lugs of one of the booms; and   a third drive shaft having a first end universally coupled to the second end of the first drive shaft and a second end universally coupled to the pipe support lugs of the other boom.