Pipe handling apparatus for supplying pipes to snubbing units

Abstract

An apparatus for handling pipes (A) for supplying pipes (A) to snubbing units, comprising a footing ( 2 ), located on the surface (C) of the pipe yard (A), and a supporting structure ( 3 ), which is pivoted to the footing ( 2 ). The supporting structure ( 3 ) defines a conveyance line ( 4 ) for at least one pipe (A). Respective means ( 5 ) for grip and conveyance of at least one pipe (A) are arranged at the lateral portions of the structure ( 3 ) in order to transfer the pipe from the surface (C) of the pipe yard (A) to the conveyance line ( 4 ). The supporting structure ( 3 ) comprises:—a guiding frame ( 6 ), which is pivoted to the footing ( 2 );—a slider ( 7 ), which can slide along the guiding frame ( 6 ) and is interposed substantially between the guiding frame ( 6 ) and the footing ( 2 ), the slider ( 7 ) defining, on the face ( 7 b ) directed toward the footing ( 2 ), said conveyance line ( 4 ) for at least one pipe (A) and comprising elements ( 8 ) for gripping and retaining said pipe (A);—a first actuator ( 9 ), which is interposed between the footing ( 2 ) and the guiding frame ( 6 ) and is preset to rotate the guiding frame ( 6 ) with respect to its axis for pivoting to the footing ( 2 ), the guiding frame ( 6 ) being movable, by way of the action of the first actuator ( 9 ), from a configuration for picking up the pipes (A) from the surface (C) of the pipe yard (A), in which the slider ( 7 ) is juxtaposed and parallel to the footing ( 2 ) and is surmounted by the guiding frame ( 6 ), to a pipe (A) delivery configuration, in which the guiding frame ( 6 ) forms an angle with the footing ( 2 ) that substantially corresponds to 90°±10°;—a second actuator ( 10 ), which is interposed between the slider ( 7 ) and the guiding frame ( 6 ), being preset for the translation of the slider ( 7 ) with respect to the guiding frame ( 6 ), with consequent elongation of the supporting structure ( 3 ) up to a length that is close to the sum of the lengths of the guiding frame ( 6 ) and of the slider ( 7 ).

1 . An apparatus for handling pipes (A) for supplying pipes (A) to snubbing units (B) of the type that comprises a footing ( 2 ), located on a surface (C) of a pipe yard (A), and a supporting structure ( 3 ), which is pivoted to said footing ( 2 ) and defines a conveyance line ( 4 ) for at least one pipe (A), respective means ( 5 ) for grip and conveyance of at least one pipe (A) being arranged at the lateral portions of said structure ( 3 ) in order to transfer said pipe from the surface (C) of the pipe yard (A) to said conveyance line ( 4 ), characterized in that said supporting structure ( 3 ) comprises:
 a guiding frame ( 6 ) which is pivoted to said footing ( 2 );   a slider ( 7 ), which can slide along said guiding frame ( 6 ) and is interposed substantially between said guiding frame ( 6 ) and said footing ( 2 ), said slider ( 7 ) defining, on the face ( 7   a ) directed toward said footing ( 2 ), said conveyance line ( 4 ) for at least one pipe (A) and comprising elements ( 8 ) for gripping and retaining said pipe (A);   a first actuator ( 9 ), which is interposed between said footing ( 2 ) and said guiding frame ( 6 ) and is preset to rotate said guiding frame ( 6 ) with respect to its axis for pivoting to said footing ( 2 ), said guiding frame ( 6 ) being movable, by way of the action of said first actuator ( 9 ), from a configuration for picking up the pipes (A) from the pipe yard (A) surface (C), in which said slider ( 7 ) is juxtaposed and parallel to said footing ( 2 ) and is surmounted by said guiding frame ( 6 ), to a pipe (A) delivery configuration, in which said guiding frame ( 6 ) forms an angle with said footing ( 2 ) that substantially corresponds to 90°±10°;   a second actuator ( 10 ), which is interposed between said slider ( 7 ) and said guiding frame ( 6 ), being preset for the translation of said slider ( 7 ) with respect to said guiding frame ( 6 ), with consequent elongation of said supporting structure ( 3 ) up to a length that is close to the sum of the lengths 30 of said guiding frame ( 6 ) and of said slider ( 7 ).   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said grip and coupling elements ( 8 ) of said pipe (A) comprise at least one arm ( 11 ) that is pivoted on said guiding frame ( 6 ) in a portion thereof, a first end ( 12 ) of said arm ( 11 ) being contoured and intended to accommodate said at least one pipe (A), said arm ( 11 ) being able to rotate, about its axis for pivoting to said guiding frame ( 6 ), from a lowered position, in which said first end ( 12 ) is arranged below said footing ( 2 ) at the conveyance line ( 4 ), to a raised arrangement, in which said first end ( 12 ) is raised in order to keep said pipe (A) in a position that faces and is proximate to said slider ( 7 ) at said conveyance line ( 4 ). 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said arm ( 11 ) has a second end ( 13 ) that is controlled by a respective third actuator ( 14 ) that is interposed between said guiding frame ( 6 ) and said at least one arm ( 11 ), said actuator ( 14 ) being preset to move said second end ( 13 ) from a passive configuration, in which said first end ( 12 ) is arranged below said footing ( 2 ) at the conveyance line ( 4 ), to an active configuration, in which said first end ( 12 ) is raised in order to keep said pipe (A) in a position that faces and is proximate to said slider ( 7 ) at said conveyance line ( 4 ). 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said footing ( 2 ) comprises a preliminary lifting unit ( 15 ) for said at least one pipe (A) that is aligned with said line ( 4 ), said preliminary lifting unit ( 15 ) being movable from a position in which it is substantially coplanar with said footing ( 2 ) to a position that is raised with respect to said footing ( 2 ) in order to allow the easy unloading of the at least one pipe (A) from the footing ( 2 ) towards the pipe yard (C) in case of extraction of the pipes (A). 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said slider ( 7 ) comprises an auxiliary end bracket ( 16 ), which is mounted substantially in a cantilever manner with respect to a free end ( 17 ) of said slider ( 7 ), said bracket ( 16 ) comprising optionally respective coupling assemblies for the at least one accommodated pipe (A). 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said slider ( 7 ) comprises a pusher ( 18 ), which is arranged on said face ( 7   a ) thereof that is directed toward said footing ( 2 ) at said conveyance line ( 4 ), which accommodates the at least one pipe (A), said pusher ( 18 ) comprising a shoulder ( 19 ) for resting the bottom of the at least one pipe (A), said pusher ( 18 ) being coupled in a downward region to said slider ( 7 ) and said shoulder ( 19 ) being able to slide along said slider ( 7 ) for the translation of the at least one pipe (A) in the configuration for protrusion from said slider ( 7 ) and from said auxiliary end bracket ( 16 ). 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said first actuator ( 9 ) comprises a piston ( 20 ) that has a first end ( 21 ) that is pivoted proximate to the end of said footing ( 2 ) that is pivoted to said guiding frame ( 6 ) and a second end ( 22 ) that is pivoted in a substantially intermediate position of said guiding frame ( 6 ), the extension of said piston ( 20 ) causing a mutual spacing of said two ends ( 21  and  22 ) of said piston ( 20 ), consequently of said guiding frame ( 6 ) from said footing ( 2 ) with respective rotation of said guiding frame ( 6 ) with respect to its point of pivoting to said footing ( 2 ). 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said second actuator ( 10 ) comprises a motor provided with a winding drum for a first traction element such as a cable, a belt, a rope, a chain and the like that is coupled to said slider ( 7 ), said motor and said winding drum being integral with said guiding frame ( 6 ), the winding of said first traction element on said drum by way of the action of said motor causing the translation of said slider ( 7 ) on said guiding frame ( 6 ), with consequent elongation of said supporting structure ( 3 ) up to a length that is proximate to the sum of the lengths of said guiding frame ( 6 ) and said slider ( 7 ). 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said second actuator ( 10 ) comprises a motor provided with a movement pinion ( 23 ) for a second traction element ( 24 ) such as a toothed belt, a chain and the like that is coupled to said slider ( 7 ), said motor and said movement pinion ( 23 ) being integral with said guiding frame ( 6 ), the winding of said second traction element ( 24 ) on said opinion ( 23 ) by way of the action of said motor causing the translation of said slider ( 7 ) on said guiding frame ( 6 ), with consequent elongation of said supporting structure ( 3 ) up to a length that is proximate to the sum of the lengths of said guiding frame ( 6 ) and said slider ( 7 ). 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said guiding frame ( 6 ) and said slider ( 7 ) are no longer than 13.5 m, in compliance with the maximum dimensions that can be transported with road vehicles, so that they can be transported on roads. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said bracket ( 16 ) is no longer than 8 m, preferably between 2 and 4 m long, said bracket ( 16 ) being detachably associable with said slider ( 7 ) by way of coupling elements such as screws, bolts, pins, interlocking couplings, dowels and the like. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said means ( 5 ) for gripping and conveying at least one pipe (A) comprise respective lateral tracks that are associated functionally with said footing ( 2 ) and are provided with protruding movable tabs for supporting at least one pipe (A). 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said means ( 5 ) for gripping and conveying at least one pipe (A) comprise respective movable lateral walkways ( 25 ), which are pivoted to said footing ( 2 ) and are provided with a supporting end cradle ( 26 ) for at least one pipe (A), in the pickup configuration said walkways ( 25 ) being lowered, with said cradle ( 26 ) arranged proximate to said pipes (A), in the configuration for conveyance of the pipes (A) said walkways ( 25 ) being raised from said surface (C) to deliver said at least one pipe (A) to said grip and coupling elements ( 8 ). 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , characterized in that it comprises at least one hydraulic circuit that is constituted by at least one tank of the working fluid, at least one pump for the conveyance of said fluid and a plurality of ducts for the interconnection of said pump to the respective user devices such as the at least one first actuator ( 9 ), said second actuator ( 10 ), said third actuator ( 14 ) and said pusher ( 18 ). 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said footing ( 2 ) comprises, and one of its ends, a head ( 27 ) that can be removed in order to increase the stability of said apparatus ( 1 ). 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said footing ( 2 ) comprises anchoring means, arranged at one of its ends, for detachable coupling to said extraction platform (B), with consequent increase in the stability of said apparatus ( 1 ).