Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
249 words
The combination with an oil well drilling derrick provided with elevators for drill pipe and with means for raising and lowering the elevators in the derrick, of pipe-handling apparatus for moving drill pipe suspended from said elevators back and forth between upright position in the derrick and a forwardly extending reclining position near its bottom, said apparatus comprising a boom having inner and outer ends, means pivotally supporting the inner end of the boom on a horizontal axis at the front of the bottom of the derrick to enable the boom to be swung in a vertical plane toward and away from the derrick, means for swinging the boom in said plane to raise and lower it, a boom extension hinged to the outer end of the boom on an axis parallel to said horizontal axis, said extension extending upwardly from the boom when the boom is in its raised position, meanS for swinging the outer end of the boom extension relative to the boom in a direction toward the elevators while the boom is being lowered and away from the elevators while the boom is being raised, clamping means for gripping drill pipe, and pivotal means supporting said clamping means and pivotally connected to the outer end of the boom extension on an axis parallel to said horizontal axis, said pivotal means being positioned to allow drill pipe gripped by said clamping means to swing across the boom and boom extension as the boom is raised or lowered.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
249 words
The combination with an oil well drilling derrick provided with elevators for drill pipe and with means for raising and lowering the elevators in the derrick, of pipe-handling apparatus for moving drill pipe suspended from said elevators back and forth between upright position in the derrick and a forwardly extending reclining position near its bottom, said apparatus comprising a boom having inner and outer ends, means pivotally supporting the inner end of the boom on a horizontal axis at the front of the bottom of the derrick to enable the boom to be swung in a vertical plane toward and away from the derrick, means for swinging the boom in said plane to raise and lower it, a boom extension hinged to the outer end of the boom on an axis parallel to said horizontal axis, said extension extending upwardly from the boom when the boom is in its raised position, meanS for swinging the outer end of the boom extension relative to the boom in a direction toward the elevators while the boom is being lowered and away from the elevators while the boom is being raised, clamping means for gripping drill pipe, and pivotal means supporting said clamping means and pivotally connected to the outer end of the boom extension on an axis parallel to said horizontal axis, said pivotal means being positioned to allow drill pipe gripped by said clamping means to swing across the boom and boom extension as the boom is raised or lowered.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
The combination recited in claim 1, including means for swinging said boom extension away from the derrick while the boom is in its lower position to move said pivotal means farther away from the derrick and down to a lower level.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
228 words
The combination recited in claim 2, including a fluid pressure-actuated device for controlling the angle of said pivotal means relative to the ground as the boom is being raised and lowered, and a fluid pressure system connected with said device for actuating it in opposite directions, said system including a hydraulic ram pivotally connected at its ends to the boom and boom extension for actuation thereby, the ram having a fluid pressure cylinder with a head end and a rod end, a pump, means for connecting the pump with the rod end of the ram cylinder and for connecting the head end of that cylinder with the inlet of said device while said boom extension is being swung from its lowest position toward the derrick, means for connecting the pump with the head end of the ram cylinder and for connecting the rod end of that cylinder with the inlet of said device while the boom is being raised, means for connecting the pump with the inlet of said device and for connecting the outlet of said device with the rod end of the ram cylinder while the boom is being lowered, and means for connecting the outlet of said device with the head end of the ram cylinder when said boom extension is being swung away from the derrick while the boom is in its lower position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
93 words
The combination recited in claim 1, in which said extension swinging means include a hydraulic ram pivotally connected at one end to the boom extension, and means pivotally supporting the opposite end of the ram below said horizontal axis, the ram being fully extended while the boom is being raised and lowered, and said apparatus includes means for shortening said ram while the boom is in its lower position to swing said extension away from the derrick to move said pivotal means farther away from the derrick and down to a lower level.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
84 words
The combination recited in claim 1, including means for swinging said boom extension away from the derrick while the boom is in its lower position to move said pivotal means further away from the derrick and down to a lower level, and means for controlling the angle of said pivotal means relative to the ground as the boom is being raised and lowered and as the boom extension is swung toward and away from the derrick while the boom is in its lower position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The combination recited in claim 1, including means for controlling the angle of said pivotal means relative to the ground as the boom is being raised and lowered.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
59 words
The combination recited in claim 6, in which said angle-controlling means includes a fluid pressure-actuated device carried by the boom extension, and a fluid pressure system connected with said device for actuating it, said system including means controlled by the positions of the boom and boom extension relative to each other for metering flow of fluid in the system.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
The combination recited in claim 7, in which said fluid-metering means include a hydraulic ram pivotally connected at its ends to the boom and boom extension for actuation thereby, and conduits connecting the ram into said system.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
88 words
The combination recited in claim 1, in which said pivotal means is a strongback pivotally connected at its central portion to said boom extension, and said clamping means Are spaced lengthwise of the strongback and project from one side of it, and said apparatus includes a fluid pressure-actuated device carried by the boom extension and operatively connected with the strongback, and means for supplying fluid under pressure to said device to control the angle of the strongback relative to the ground as the boom is raised and lowered.