Machine for manipulating pipes

Abstract

A column machine that stands on a deck. The deck includes a rack, a protective cover associated with the rack, and a first and a second rail. The column machine includes a moveable upper device, a drive wheel, an upper carriage connected to the upper device, a lower carriage comprising a first track, a second track, and a protection holder, and a column arranged between the upper carriage and the lower carriage. The drive wheel is arranged in a vertical plane of the column machine and extends parallel relative to a longitudinal direction of the first and second rails. The drive wheel moves along the rack. The first track and the second track cooperate with the first and second rails. The protection holder uncovers the rack in a first area close to the drive wheel so that the remaining areas of the rack remain covered by the protective cover.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 - 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . A column machine that stands on a deck,
 the deck comprising:
 at least one rack; 
 at least one protective cover associated with the at least one rack; 
 a first rail; and 
 a second rail; 
   the column machine comprising:
 at least one upper device configured to be movable; 
 at least one drive wheel arranged substantially in a vertical plane of the column machine and to extend parallel relative to a longitudinal direction of each of the first rail and the second rail, the at least one drive wheel being configured to move along the at least one rack; 
 an upper carriage connected to the at least one upper device; 
 a lower carriage comprising a first track, a second track, and at least one protection holder, the first track and the second track being configured to cooperate with the first rail and the second rail, and the at least one protection holder being configured to uncover the at least one rack in a first area close to the at least one drive wheel so that the remaining areas of the at least one rack remain covered by the at least one protective cover; and 
 a column arranged between the upper carriage and the lower carriage. 
   
     
     
         13 . The column machine as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the first rail and the second rail are arranged so as to be substantially parallel to each other. 
     
     
         14 . The column machine as recited in  claim 12 , wherein,
 the at least one drive wheel is a pinion, and   the at least one rack is a cooperating rack.   
     
     
         15 . The column machine as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the upper carriage comprises a spherical bearing which is configured to allow at least one of an angular deflection and a relative axial movement of the column between the upper carriage and the lower carriage. 
     
     
         16 . The column machine as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the spherical bearing comprises a first half and a second half. 
     
     
         17 . The column machine as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the spherical bearing comprises an inner surface shaped as a curved cone. 
     
     
         18 . The column machine as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the first rail and the second rail are each recessed into the deck. 
     
     
         19 . The column machine as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the at least one rack is arranged so as to be substantially flush with the deck. 
     
     
         20 . The column machine as recited in  claim 12 , further comprising a spring device connected to the at least one drive wheel, the spring device being configured to allow a vertical movement of the at least one drive wheel relative to the at least one rack. 
     
     
         21 . A method for operating the column machine as recited in  claim 12 , the method comprising:
 moving the column machine by rotating the at least one drive wheel along the at least one rack arranged in the deck; and   using the at least one protection holder to remove the at least one protective cover from the at least one rack in the first area close to the at least one drive wheel.   
     
     
         22 . The method as recited in  claim 21 ,
 wherein the column machine further comprises a spring device connected to the at least one drive wheel, the spring device being configured to allow a vertical movement of the at least one drive wheel relative to the at least one rack,   the method further comprising operating the column machine so that, if an obstacle is present in/on the at least one rack, the spring device moves the at least one drive wheel vertically relative to the at least one rack.