Rod Handling Assembly

Abstract

A rod handling assembly 10 has a surface engagement mechanism 12 capable of engaging an exposed surface of a drill rod R and a holding mechanism 14 coupled to the surface engagement mechanism 12. The system 10 and more particularly the mechanisms 12 and 14 engage and hold the rod R from a location radially adjacent a circumferential surface of the rod R inboard of its opposite ends, rather than from an end of the rod R. The surface engagement mechanism 12 is a distributed mechanism having two parts 12 a and 12 b that act at axially spaced locations on the rod R. The holding mechanism 14 is located and operates on the rod R between these axially spaced locations. The surface engagement mechanism 12 initially operates to engage the surface of the rod R which may for example be lying on a rod tray, to enable the rod to be lifted from a tray. Thereafter the holding mechanism 14 is operable to support and hold the rod.

1 . A rod handling assembly comprising:
 a surface engagement mechanism capable of engaging an exposed surface of a rod to facilitate lifting of the rod; and,   a holding mechanism coupled to the surface engagement mechanism, the holding mechanism capable of holding a rod engaged by the surface engagement mechanism, wherein each of the surface engagement mechanism and holding mechanism can engaged the rod from a location disposed radially adjacent a circumferential surface of the rod.   
     
     
         2 . The rod handling assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the surface engagement mechanism is capable of engaging the exposed surface of a rod without encircling the rod. 
     
     
         3 . The rod handling assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the surface engagement mechanism is arranged engage the rod at two or more axially spaced locations along the rod. 
     
     
         4 . The rod handling assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the holding mechanism has an open state enabling the surface engagement mechanism to engage the rod and a closed state where the holding mechanism can encircle the rod from a location radially adjacent the circumferential surface of the rod location and inboard of opposite ends of the rod. 
     
     
         5 . A rod handling assembly according to  claim 3  wherein the holding mechanism holds a rod engaged by the surface engagement mechanism at a location between two of the axially spaced locations. 
     
     
         6 . The rod handling assembly according  claim 1  wherein the holding mechanism is arranged to rotatably hold a rod wherein a rod held by the holding mechanism is able to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the rod. 
     
     
         7 . The rod handling assembly according  claim 6  wherein the holding mechanism comprises at least one rotatable member which contacts the rod when the rod is held by the holding mechanism. 
     
     
         8 . The rod handling assembly according to  claim 7  comprising a motor arranged to rotate at least one of the rotatable member and thereby cause rotation of a rod held by the holding mechanism. 
     
     
         9 . The rod handling assembly according to  claim 7  wherein the holding mechanism has an open state enabling the surface engagement mechanism to engage the rod and a closed state where the holding mechanism can encircle the rod from a location radially adjacent the circumferential surface of the rod location and inboard of opposite ends of the rod, and wherein the holding mechanism comprises a body and at least one claw structure coupled and movable relative to the body wherein the at least one claw structure is moved to a first position when the holding mechanism is in the opened state and the at least one claw structure is moved to a second position when the holding mechanism is in the close state. 
     
     
         10 . The rod handling assembly according to  claim 9  wherein the holding mechanism comprises a single claw structure and the single claw structure supports the at least one rotatable member. 
     
     
         11 . The rod handling assembly according to  claim 9  wherein the holding mechanism comprises two claw structures and each claw structure supports a respective rotatable member. 
     
     
         12 . The rod handling assembly according to  claim 9  wherein the at least one claw structure is arranged to pivotally move between the first and second positions. 
     
     
         13 . The rod handling assembly according to  claim 9  comprising two claw structures and wherein the two claw structures are arranged to linearly move between the first and second positions. 
     
     
         14 . The rod handling assembly according  claim 9  wherein the at least one claw structure is arranged to be manually movable between the first and second positions. 
     
     
         15 . The rod handling assembly according to  claim 14  comprising a latch arranged to hold the at least one claw structure in either of the first and second positions. 
     
     
         16 . The rod handling assembly according to  claim 9  comprising an actuator arranged to move the at least one claw structure between the first and second positions. 
     
     
         17 . The rod handling assembly according to  claim 16  comprising one or more springs arranged to bias the at least one claw structure to the second position, and wherein the actuator operates against the bias of the one or more spring to move the at least one claw structure to the first position. 
     
     
         18 . The rod handling assembly according  claim 1  wherein the surface engagement mechanism comprises at least one magnet. 
     
     
         19 . The rod handling assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the surface engagement mechanism comprises two magnets, one on each side of the holding mechanism. 
     
     
         20 . The rod handling assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the surface engagement mechanism comprises a vacuum.