Head for pipe rackers

Claim 1

A pipe-supporting head for well pipe racking apparatus comprising: a body having side walls, means providing a pipe-receiving aperture between said side walls and open at one end of said body, arcuate, pipe-supporting means carried by said body at the inner end of said aperture, a claw member, first pivot means mounting said claw member on said body for pivotal movements between an open position, in which said claw member is retracted from said aperture to permit a pipe to enter said aperture and be supported by said pipe-supporting means, and a closed position, in which said claw member engages a pipe supported by said pipe-supporting means to retain the pipe within said aperture, a portion of said claw member projecting laterally outside of one only of said side walls, extensible and contractible actuator means for pivoting said claw member between said positions, said actuator means including second pivot means connecting one end of said actuator means to said body, and third pivot means connecting the other end of said actuator means to said claw member at a location offset from said first pivot means, said pipe-supporting means, said first pivot means and said second pivot means being aligned longitudinally of said body and centrally of said side walls, said claw member and said actuator means being selectively arrangeable in said body to enable said claw member to pivot on said first pivot means from said open position to said closed position in a given sense, and, optionally, in the opposite sense.