Automated pipe handling apparatus

Claim 2

An automated apparatus for handling an axially extending cylindrical member comprising: a. friction means for engaging and gripping said member; b. powered drive means for moving said friction means into gripping engagement with said member; c. axially inclined bearing surface means included with said drive means for moving said friction means radially inwardly into gripping engagement with said member as said bearing surface means moves axially; d. housing means; e. guide means carried in said housing means for directing the radial movement of said friction means through said housing means; f. camming means carried in said housing means for moving said friction means radially inwardly as said friction means rotate with respect to said housing means whereby the radially directed gripping forces between said friction means and said member increase as the forces tending to rotate said friction means with respect to said member increase; g. wedge shaped body means carrying a portion of said bearing surface means and movable axially with respect to said housing means; and h. fluid driven piston means connected with said wedge shaped body means for moving said body means axially.

Claim 3

An automated apparatus as defined in claim 1 further including connecting means between said friction means and said housing means for moving said friction means radially outwardly out of gripping engagement with said member as said wedge shaped body means moves axially.

Claim 4

An automated apparatus as defined in claim 1 further including axial wedging means for increasing the radially directed gripping forces between said friction means and said cylindrical member as the forces tending to move said member axially with respect to said friction means increase.

Claim 5

An automated apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said friction means include a first diameter gripping area and a second, smaller diameter gripping area.

Claim 6

An automated apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said friction means include first friction means for supporting said member axially and second friction means for rotating said member.

Claim 7

An automated apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said second friction means includes said camming means.

Claim 8

An automated apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said friction means includes slip means having inclined bearing surfaces adapted to engage and slide against inclined seating surfaces whereby axial movement of said slip means relative to said seating surfaces moves said slip means radially.

Claim 9

An automated apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein: a. said seating surfaces include oppositely inclined upper and lower seating surfaces; and b. said slip means include oppositely inclined upper and lower bearing surfaces adapted to engage and slide against said upper and lower seating surfaces respectively whereby upward or downward axial movement of said slip means with respect to said seating surfaces moves said slip means radially to increase the radially directed forces exerted against said member.

Claim 10

An automated apparatus as defined in claim 8 further including retraction means connected with said drive means for moving said friction means radially outwardly out of gripping engagement with said member as said bearing surface means moves axially.

Claim 11

An automated apparatus as defined in claim 9 further including means for rotating said friction means whereby said cylindrical member is rotated when engaged by said friction means.

Claim 12

An automated apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein: a. said housing means is separable into first and second segments; and b. said wedge shaped body means includes first and second bodies connected with said first and second segments to move said components radially as said body means is moved axially.

Claim 13

An automated apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein each of said first and second bodies include oppositely tapered converging bearing surfaces for effecting radial movement of said housing segments as said first and second bodies are moved axially.

Claim 14

An automated apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein: a. said housing means is separable into first and second segments; and b. said wedge shaped body means includes first and second bodies connected with said first and second segments to move said components radially as said body means is moved axially.

Claim 15

An automated apparatus as defined in claim 13 wherein each of said first and second bodies include oppositely tapered converging bearing surfaces for effecting radial movement of said housing segments as said first and second bodies are moved axially.

Claim 16

An automated apparatus for handling an axially extending cylindrical member comprising: a. friction means for engaging and gripping said member; b. powered drive means for moving said friction means into gripping engagement with said member; c. axially inclined bearing surface means included with said drive means for moving said friction means radially inwardly into gripping engagement with said member as said bearing surface means moves axially; and d. camming means for increasing the radially directed gripping forces between said friction means and said cylindrical member as the forces tending to rotate said friction means with respect to said member increase, said friction means further including first friction means for supporting said member axially and second friction means for rotating said member.

Claim 17

An automated apparatus for handling an axially extending cylindrical member comprising: a. friction means for engaging and gripping said member; b. powered drive means for moving said friction means into gripping engagement with said member; c. axially inclined bearing surface means included with said drive means for moving said friction means radially inwardly into gripping engagement with said member as said bearing surface means moves axially; and d. camming means for increasing the radially directed gripping forces between said friction means and said cylindrical member as the forces tending to rotate said friction means with respect to said member increase, said friction means further including first friction means for supporting said member axially and second friction means for rotating said member.

Claim 18

An automated apparatus as defined in claim 15 wherein said second friction means includes said camming means and said first friction means includes axial wedging means for increasing the radially directed gripping forces between said first friction means and said cylindrical member as the forces tending to move said member axially with respect to said first friction means increase.

Claim 19

An automated apparatus as defined in claim 16 further including means for rotating said friction means whereby said cylindrical member is rotated when engaged by said friction means.

Claim 20

An automated apparatus for handling an axially extending cylindrical member comprising: a. friction means for engaging and gripping said member; b. powered drive means for moving said friction means into gripping engagement with said member; c. axially inclined bearing surface means included with said drive means for moving said friction means radially inwardly into gripping engagement with said member as said bearing surface means moves axially; d. means for rotating said friction means whereby said cylindrical member is rotated when engaged by said friction means; e. first slip means included in said friction means for supporting said cylindrical member axially, said first slip means including axial wedging means for increasing the radially directed gripping forces between said first slip means and said cylindrical member as the forces tending to move said member axially with respect to said first slip means increase; and f. second slip means included in said friction means for engaging and rotating said cylindrical member as said friction means is rotated, said second slip means including camming means for increasing the radially directed gripping forces between said second slip means and said cylindrical member as the forces tending to rotate said second slip means with respect to said member increase.

Claim 21

An automated apparatus for handling an axially extending cylindrical member comprising: a. friction means for engaging and gripping said member; b. powered drive means for moving said friction means into gripping engagement with said member; c. axially inclined bearing surface means included with said drive means for moving said friction means radially inwardly into gripping engagement with said member as said bearing surface means moves axially; d. means for rotating said friction means whereby said cylindrical member is rotated when engaged by said friction means; e. first slip means included in said friction means for supporting said cylindrical member axially, said first slip means including axial wedging means for increasing the radially directed gripping forces between said first slip means and said cylindrical member as the forces tending to move said member axially with respect to said first slip means increase; and f. second slip means included in said friction means for engaging and rotating said cylindrical member as said friction means is rotated, said second slip means including camming means for increasing the radially directed gripping forces between said second slip means and said cylindrical member as the forces tending to rotate said second slip means with respect to said member increase.

Claim 22

An automated apparatus for handling an axially extending cylindrical member comprising: a. friction means for engaging and gripping said member, b. powered drive means for moving said friction means into gripping engagement with said member; c. axially inclined bearing surface means included with said drive means for moving said friction means radially inwardly into gripping engagement with said member as said bearing surface means moves axially; d. means for rotating said friction means whereby said cylindrical member is rotated when engaged by said friction means; e. first slip means included in said friction means for supporting said cylindrical member axially; f. second slip means includEd in said friction means for engaging and rotating said cylindrical member as said friction means is rotated; g. housing means; h. guide means carried in said housing means for directing the radial movement of said friction means through said housing means; i. camming means carried in said housing means for moving said second slip means radially inwardly as said second slip means rotates with respect to said housing means whereby the radially directed gripping forces between said second slip means and said cylindrical member increase as the forces tending to rotate said second slip means with respect to said member increase; j. wedge shaped body means carrying a portion of said bearing surface means and movable axially with respect to said guide means; and k. inwardly tapered seating surfaces formed on said guide means cooperating with said wedge shaped body means for moving said first slip means radially.

Claim 23

An automated apparatus for handling an axially extending cylindrical member comprising: a. friction means for engaging and gripping said member, b. powered drive means for moving said friction means into gripping engagement with said member; c. axially inclined bearing surface means included with said drive means for moving said friction means radially inwardly into gripping engagement with said member as said bearing surface means moves axially; d. means for rotating said friction means whereby said cylindrical member is rotated when engaged by said friction means; e. first slip means included in said friction means for supporting said cylindrical member axially; f. second slip means includEd in said friction means for engaging and rotating said cylindrical member as said friction means is rotated; g. housing means; h. guide means carried in said housing means for directing the radial movement of said friction means through said housing means; i. camming means carried in said housing means for moving said second slip means radially inwardly as said second slip means rotates with respect to said housing means whereby the radially directed gripping forces between said second slip means and said cylindrical member increase as the forces tending to rotate said second slip means with respect to said member increase; j. wedge shaped body means carrying a portion of said bearing surface means and movable axially with respect to said guide means; and k. inwardly tapered seating surfaces formed on said guide means cooperating with said wedge shaped body means for moving said first slip means radially.

Claim 24

An automated apparatus as described in claim 19 further including fluid driven piston means for moving said wedge shaped bodies axially to control gripping and release of said cylindrical member by said first slip means.

Claim 25

An automated apparatus as descirbed in claim 20 wherein said means for rotating includes means for mounting said apparatus within a rotary table whereby rotary motion of said rotary table is transmitted to said friction means.

Claim 26

An automated apparatus as described in claim 21 wherein said first gripping means includes circumferentially developed teeth and said second gripping means includes longitudinally developed teeth.

Claim 27

An automated apparatus as defined in claim 1 further including: a. assembly means for separating said apparatus into first and second segments whereby said apparatus may be closed and opened about said axially extending member; and b. powered separating means for opening and closing said first and second segments.

Claim 28

An automated apparatus as defined in claim 23 wherein said powered separating means includes fluid actuated, linearly expandible and contractable cylinder and piston means.

Claim 29

An automated apparatus as defined in claim 24 wherein: a. said assembly means includes pivot pin means securing one end of said first and second segments for pivotal movement; and b. said powered separating means extends from said first to said second segments to pivot said segments about said pin means as said separating means is expanded or contracted linearly.