Pipe pick-up and lay down apparatus

Abstract

A pipe pick-up and lay down apparatus for lifting and lowering materials between a support frame and a rig floor of a workover rig, includes a support frame, a lifting arm, a controller and a lifting assembly for lifting and lowering the lifting arm. The lifting arm may be disposed in a trench in the support frame table and is substantially the same length and width as the trench and when in a lowered position. The lifting assembly may optionally include a power supply, a plurality of cables, and is operated by the controller to raise and lower the lifting arm.

It is claimed: 
     
         1 . A pipe pick-up and lay down apparatus for raising and lowering a section of pipe to and from a rig, the pipe pick-up and lay down apparatus comprising:
 a support frame having a table, a base, a first end proximate the rig and a second end at a distance from the rig;   a lifting arm pivotally attached to the support frame near the first end, wherein the lifting arm comprises a first member and a second member; and   a block and tackle system connected to the second member of the lifting arm, wherein the block and tackle system comprises:
 a plurality of sheaves; 
 a cable; and 
 a power source for exerting tension on the cable to raise and lower the lifting arm. 
   
     
     
         2 . The pipe pick-up and lay down apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the table of the support frame includes a longitudinally extending trench sized and configured such that the first member of the lifting arm can be moved into a retracted position within the trench. 
     
     
         3 . The pipe pick-up and lay down apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the first member of the lifting arm further comprises a first end comprising a yoke. 
     
     
         4 . The pipe pick-up and lay down apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the first member of the lifting arm further comprises a roller disposed in the yoke. 
     
     
         5 . The pipe pick-up and lay down apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the yoke of the first member of the lifting arm contacts a middle portion of the section of pipe. 
     
     
         6 . The pipe pick-up and lay down apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the block and tackle system further comprises:
 a pneumatic cylinder, wherein the pneumatic cylinder includes a deployable rod;   a first sheave attached to the deployable rod;   a second sheave fixed to the support frame;   a third sheave connected to the second member of the lifting arm;   a fourth sheave fixed to the support frame; and   wherein the cable extends from a first point on the support frame around the first, second, third and fourth sheave to a second point on the support frame.   
     
     
         7 . The pipe pick-up and lay down apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the pneumatic cylinder is connected to a source of pressurized air from the rig. 
     
     
         8 . The pipe pick-up and lay down apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the pneumatic cylinder is connected to a source of pressurized air from an independent source. 
     
     
         9 . The pipe pick-up and lay down apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the pipe pick-up and lay down apparatus further comprises a bumper stop on the table, wherein the bumper stop is removable and adjustable and positioned on the support frame table. 
     
     
         10 . The pipe pick-up and lay down apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the bumper stop comprises:
 a bumper first side;   a plurality of springs; and   a bumper second side, wherein the second side is positioned near the support frame second end, so that when the joint of pipe is lowered to the support frame table, the joint of pipe hits the bumper first side, and the plurality of springs absorb the shock from the weight of the joint of pipe.   
     
     
         11 . The pipe pick-up and lay down apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the pipe pick-up and lay down apparatus further comprises a walkway connected to the support frame table, wherein the walkway is positioned on either the support frame first side or the support frame second side and may be lowered down between the support frame table and support frame lower side when not in use. 
     
     
         12 . The pipe pick-up and lay down apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the pipe pick-up and lay down apparatus further comprises a removable pipe ramp connected to either the support frame first side or the support frame second side, and wherein the support frame can be raised and lowered relative to the position of a pipe rack located adjacent to either the support frame first side or the support frame second side to allow a joint of pipe to be moved from the pipe rack via the removable pipe ramp onto the support frame table or off of the support frame table onto the pipe rack. 
     
     
         13 . A pipe pick-up and lay down apparatus for raising and lowering a section of pipe to and from a rig, the pipe pick-up and lay down apparatus comprising:
 a support frame having a table, a base, a first end proximate the rig and a second end at a distance from the rig, wherein the table includes a longitudinally extending trench; and   a lifting arm pivotally attached to the support frame near the first end, wherein the lifting arm comprises a first member and a second member, wherein the first member of the lifting arm can be moved into a refracted position within the trench.   
     
     
         14 . The pipe pick-up and lay down apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising a block and tackle system connected to the second member of the lifting arm, wherein the block and tackle system comprises:
 a plurality of sheaves;   a cable; and   a power source for exerting tension on the cable to raise and lower the lifting arm.   
     
     
         15 . The pipe pick-up and lay down apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the pipe pick-up and lay down apparatus further comprises a bumper stop on the table, wherein the bumper stop is removable and adjustable and positioned on the support frame table. 
     
     
         16 . The pipe pick-up and lay down apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the bumper stop comprises:
 a bumper first side;   a plurality of springs; and   a bumper second side, wherein the second side is positioned near the support frame second end, so that when the joint of pipe is lowered to the support frame table, the joint of pipe hits the bumper first side, and the plurality of springs absorb the shock from the weight of the joint of pipe.   
     
     
         17 . A pipe pick-up and lay down apparatus for raising and lowering a section of pipe to and from a rig, the pipe pick-up and lay down apparatus comprising:
 a support frame having a table, a base, a first end proximate the rig and a second end at a distance from the rig;   a lifting arm pivotally attached to the support frame near the first end, wherein the lifting arm comprises a first member and a second member; and   a block and tackle system connected to the second member of the lifting arm, wherein the block and tackle system comprises:
 a pneumatic cylinder, wherein the pneumatic cylinder includes a deployable rod; 
 a first sheave attached to the deployable rod; 
 a second sheave fixed to the support frame; 
 a third sheave connected to the second member of the lifting arm; 
 a fourth sheave fixed to the support frame; and 
 wherein the cable extends from a first point on the support frame around the first, second, third and fourth sheave to a second point on the support frame. 
   
     
     
         18 . The pipe pick-up and lay down apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the pipe pick-up and lay down apparatus further comprises a bumper stop on the table, wherein the bumper stop is removable and adjustable and positioned on the support frame table. 
     
     
         19 . The pipe pick-up and lay down apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the bumper stop comprises:
 a bumper first side;   a plurality of springs; and   a bumper second side, wherein the second side is positioned near the support frame second end, so that when the joint of pipe is lowered to the support frame table, the joint of pipe hits the bumper first side, and the plurality of springs absorb the shock from the weight of the joint of pipe.