Handling vehicle for transporting, handling, loading and collecting drill rods and/or pipes and/or tools

Abstract

A handling vehicle for transporting and handling, in general, drilling rods/pipes and/or tools and/or reinforcement pipes, particularly suited to serve one or more drilling machines, includes at least one storage compartment for one or more of the drilling rods/pipes/tools, and at least one arm for coupling the at least one storage compartment to the vehicle, wherein the coupling arm allows the selective coupling and uncoupling of the storage compartment.

1 . A handling vehicle ( 1 ) for transporting and handling drilling rods, pipes, tools, or reinforcement pipes, the handling vehicle being adapted to serve one or more drilling machines (M), comprising:
 at least one self-propelled frame ( 11 ), with tracks ( 12 ), wheels or maneuvering members;   at least one articulated arm ( 6 ) directly or indirectly mounted on said frame ( 11 );   at least one handling device ( 7 ) mounted on said articulated arm ( 6 ) and comprising at least one holding member ( 71 ,  72 ,  73 ) for at least one drilling rod, pipe, tool, or reinforcement pipe;   at least one storage compartment ( 2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  5 ) for one or more of said drilling rods, pipes, tools, or reinforcement pipes; and   at least one coupling arm ( 8 ) for coupling said at least one storage compartment ( 2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  5 ) with said handling vehicle ( 1 ),   wherein said coupling arm ( 8 ) allows at least a selective coupling and uncoupling of said storage compartment ( 2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  5 ) to transport and handle said storage compartment.   
     
     
         2 . The handling vehicle ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein said coupling arm ( 8 ) is directly or indirectly hinged at one end ( 81 ) to said frame ( 11 ) and is configured to vary inclination with respect to said frame ( 11 ) at least on a vertical plane, moving downwards or upwards in order to lift or lower said storage compartment ( 2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  5 ) for transporting the storage compartment and positioning the storage compartment on the ground, and of handling said storage compartment ( 2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  5 ) in order to vary an orientation thereof in space. 
     
     
         3 . The handling vehicle ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein said handling device ( 7 ) comprises at least one rocker arm ( 74 ) to which said at least one holding member ( 71 ,  72 ,  73 ) is fixed and a constraining member ( 75 ,  76 ,  77 ,  78 ) constraining said rocker arm ( 74 ) to said arm ( 6 ), wherein said constraining member ( 75 ,  76 ,  77 ,  78 ) comprises at least one first articulated joint ( 77 ) or a hinge having a first rotation axis (Z 1 ) that lies on a plane of said articulated arm ( 6 ) and configured to enable rotation of said rocker arm ( 74 ) of an angle (a) included between +90° and −90°, clockwise or counterclockwise with respect to said articulated arm ( 6 ). 
     
     
         4 . The handling vehicle ( 1 ) according to  claim 3 , wherein said constraining member ( 75 ,  76 ,  77 ,  78 ) of said handling device ( 7 ) comprises at least one articulated joint ( 76 ) or a hinge having a rotation axis (X 1 ) that lies on the plane of said articulated arm ( 6 ) and allowing the rotation of said rocker arm ( 74 ) of an angle included between +180° and −180° on a plane that is orthogonal to said articulated arm ( 6 ). 
     
     
         5 . The handling vehicle ( 1 ) according to  claim 3 , wherein said constraining member ( 75 ,  76 ,  77 ,  78 ) of said handling device ( 7 ) comprise at least one articulated joint or a hinge ( 75 ) having a rotation axis (Y 1 ) that is orthogonal to the plane on which said articulated arm ( 6 ) lies, configured to oscillate the rocker arm ( 74 ) with respect to the articulated arm ( 6 ). 
     
     
         6 . The handling vehicle ( 1 ) according to  claim 3 , wherein said constraining member ( 75 ,  76 ,  77 ,  78 ) of said handling device ( 7 ) comprises at least one articulated joint ( 78 ) connecting said handling device ( 7 ) to said articulated arm ( 6 ) and configured to allow the rotation of said handling device ( 7 ) on the plane on which the arm ( 6 ) lies, through a series of lever mechanisms ( 65 ,  66 ) present on the articulated arm ( 6 ). 
     
     
         7 . The handling vehicle ( 1 ) according  claim 1 , wherein said handling device ( 7 ) comprises at least two holding members configured as clamps ( 71 ,  72 ) grasping a same single rod, pipe, or tool (A, B), or wherein one of said clamps ( 72 ) grasps a jacket pipe (B) and another one of said clamps ( 71 ) grasps a rod (A) inserted in said corresponding jacket pipe (B). 
     
     
         8 . The handling vehicle ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein said handling device ( 7 ) is modular and comprises a number of said holding members configured as clamps ( 71 ,  72 ,  73 ) depending on size, weight, or type of a rod, pipe, tool, or reinforcement pipe to be moved. 
     
     
         9 . The handling vehicle ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein said articulated arm ( 6 ) comprises:
 a first portion ( 61 ) directly or indirectly constrained to said frame ( 11 ) and adapted to perform a rotary motion on a vertical plane with respect to said frame ( 11 ), in order to vary an inclination of said articulated arm with respect to the ground (S), and to perform a rotary motion around a vertical axis (Z), in order to rotate clockwise or counterclockwise on a horizontal plane; and   a second portion ( 62 ) constrained to said first portion ( 61 ) through at least one hinge ( 63 ) whose axis (Y) is horizontal and orthogonal to said first portion ( 61 ), such that said second portion ( 62 ) is enabled to rotate with respect to said first portion ( 61 ) on the vertical plane.   
     
     
         10 . The handling vehicle ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein said storage compartment includes rods or pipes (A, B) that are positioned vertically, wherein said rods or pipes (A, B) are positioned inside a container ( 91 ) to be orthogonal to a bottom ( 93 ) of the container, or that are positioned horizontally, wherein said rods or pipes (A, B) are positioned inside said container ( 91 ) to be parallel to a bottom ( 93 ) of the container. 
     
     
         11 . The handling vehicle ( 1 ) according to  claim 10 ,
 wherein said storage compartment ( 2 ) has a variable inclination and comprises members ( 21 ) inclining said container ( 91 ) with respect to said coupling arm ( 8 ) and consequently with respect to said vehicle ( 1 ) to which said storage compartment is coupled, and   wherein steps of collecting or re-positioning one of the rods or pipes (A, B) are carried out with said storage compartment ( 2 ) still coupled to the vehicle ( 1 ), and   wherein the inclination of said container ( 91 ) is varied to allow a withdrawal or repositioning of said rods or pipes (A, B) through said handling device ( 7 ).   
     
     
         12 . The handling vehicle ( 1 ) according to  claim 10 ,
 wherein said storage compartment ( 3 ) is has a fixed inclination,   wherein said container ( 91 ) maintains its position with respect to said coupling arm ( 8 ), and   wherein steps of collecting or repositioning one of said rods or pipes (A, B) are carried out with said storage compartment ( 3 ) released and positioned on the ground.   
     
     
         13 . The handling vehicle ( 1 ) according to  claim 10 ,
 wherein said storage compartment ( 4 ,  5 ) receives the rods or pipes positioned horizontally therein and maintains its position with respect to said coupling arm ( 8 ),   wherein said storage compartment is adapted to be positioned in a varying manner in space by handling said storage compartment with said coupling arm ( 8 ), and   wherein steps of collecting or repositioning one of said rods or pipes (A, B) are carried out with said storage compartment ( 3 ) either coupled to the handling vehicle ( 1 ) or not.   
     
     
         14 . The handling vehicle ( 1 ) according to  claim 10 , wherein said storage compartment ( 4 ,  5 ) comprises one or more partitions ( 51 ) dividing an inside of said container ( 91 ) into several subcompartments ( 52 ,  53 ). 
     
     
         15 . The handling vehicle ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein said handling device is configured as an excavator, comprising a maneuvering cab ( 13 ) constrained to said frame ( 11 ), said at least one articulated arm ( 6 ) being directly or indirectly constrained to said cab ( 13 ), and wherein said cab ( 13 ) rotates integrally with said articulated arm ( 6 ) with respect to an undercarriage around an axis (Zo) orthogonal to the ground (S).