Mechancial roughneck positioner

Abstract

A device is taught for positioning drill pipe make up or break out equipment on a rig floor. The device comprises a forward arm connectable at a first end to the drill pipe make up or break out equipment, an upper rearward arm and a lower rearward arm, pivotably connectable between the forward arm and a column, said lower rearward arm further being axially movable along said column. The device further comprises means for maintaining the upper rearward arm in parallel relationship with the lower rearward arm and means for axially moving said lower rearward arm. Axial movement of said lower rearward arm acts to extend or retract said forward arm, while maintaining a constant axial position of the make up or break out equipment. A method is also provided for positioning drill pipe make up or break out equipment by connecting the make up or break out equipment to a forward arm of a positioning device and horizontally extending or retracting said forward arm while maintaining a constant vertical position of the equipment.

1 . A device for positioning drill pipe make up or break out equipment on a rig floor, said device comprising:
 a) a forward arm connectable at a first end to the drill pipe make up or break out equipment;   b) an upper rearward arm and a lower rearward arm, pivotably connectable between the forward arm and a column, said lower rearward arm further being axially movable along said column;   c) means for maintaining the upper rearward arm in parallel relationship with the lower rearward arm; and   d) means for axially moving said lower rearward arm;   
       wherein axial movement of said lower rearward arm acts to extend or retract said forward arm and said make up or break out equipment, while maintaining a constant axial position of the make up or break out equipment. 
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the upper rearward arm and lower rearward arm are pivotably connected to the column via a column guide. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the column guide is axially movable along said column to set a vertical position of the make up or break out equipment. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , further comprising a lift cylinder to actuate axial movement of the column guide. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the upper rearward arm is pivotably connected at a first upper arm end to the forward arm at a second forward arm end and the lower rearward arm pivotably connects at a first lower arm end to the forward arm at a point spaced in from the second forward arm end. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 4 , further comprising an extend cylinder to actuate axial movement of the lower rearward arm at a second lower arm end. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the means for maintaining the upper rearward arm in parallel relationship with the lower rearward arm comprises a rigid link pivotably connectable between the upper rearward arm end at a second upper arm end and the lower rearward arm at a point spaced inward to the second lower arm end. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the upper rearward arm, the lower rearward arm, the rigid link and the upper and lower rearward arm connections to the forward arm form a parallelogram. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the lift cylinder and the extend cylinder are hydraulically actuated. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein hydraulic actuation of the lift cylinder and the extend cylinder is controlled by a local control system located at the rig floor. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the column is mounted into the rig floor. 
     
     
         12 . A method of positioning drill pipe make up or break out equipment, said method comprising the steps of:
 a) connecting the make up or break out equipment to a first end of a forward arm of a positioning device; and   b) horizontally extending or retracting said forward arm while maintaining a constant vertical position of the equipment.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a) connecting the forward arm to an upper rearward arm and a lower rearward arm, said upper rearward arm and lower rearward arm being in parallel relationship with one another; and   b) extending or retracting the an upper rearward arm and the lower rearward arm to extend or retract the forward arm.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising;
 a) axially moving said lower rearward arm to extend or retract the upper rearward arm and lower rearward arm.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a) linking said upper rearward arm to said lower rearward arm in parallel relationship by means of a rigid link, such that axial movement of the lower rearward arm extends or retracts said rigid link, which in turn extends or retracts said upper rearward arm.