Adjustable Top Guide

Abstract

A top guide having an extendable and retractable guide plate for engaging and aligning lengths of pipe over a pipe gripping device is described. The top guide employs a linear actuator such as a hydraulic cylinder to extend and retract the guide plate into and out of a protective housing. The guide plate has a bumper with a V-shaped Stu face for engaging and aligning a pipe segment upon extension of the guide plate. The guide plate has an adjustment mechanism to allow the position of the guide plate to be changed to accommodate pipe of varying diameters.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A top guide for a rotary spider comprised of:
 (a) a protective housing;   (b) an elongated guide plate slidably positioned below said protective housing; and   a linear actuator having an extendable and retractable actuator rod, said linear actuator connected to said protective housing and to said guide plate, whereby extension and retraction of said actuator rod will extend and retract said guide plate with respect to said protective housing.   
     
     
         2 . The top guide as recited in  claim 1 , wherein one end of said guide plate is a bumper having a pipe contact surface. 
     
     
         3 . The top guide as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said linear actuator is adjustably mounted to said guide plate. 
     
     
         4 . The top guide as recited in  claim 3 , wherein said guide plate slidably engages with a shoulder on said protective housing. 
     
     
         5 . The top guide as a recited in  claim 3 , wherein said guide plate is coupled with a machine slide. 
     
     
         6 . The top guide as a recited in  claim 5 , wherein said machine slide includes a rail and a groove. 
     
     
         7 . The top guide as a recited in  claim 4 , wherein said protective housing is mounted on a rotary spider. 
     
     
         8 . The top guide as recited in  claim 4 , wherein said protective housing is mounted on a baseplate. 
     
     
         9 . The top guide as a recited in  claim 4 , wherein said pipe contact surface of said bumper is V-shaped. 
     
     
         10 . The top guide as a recited in  claim 5 , said pipe contact surface, of said bumper creates a recess wherein a pipe segment may be received. 
     
     
         11 . The top guide as recited in  claim 10 , wherein said protective housing is mounted on a rotary spider. 
     
     
         12 . The top guide as a recited in  claim 10 , wherein said protective housing is mounted on a baseplate. 
     
     
         13 . The top guide as recited in  claim 12 , wherein said baseplate is mounted on a component of a pipe gripping device. 
     
     
         14 . A pipe guide comprised of
 (a) a protective housing, said protective housing having a top and sidewalls;   (b) an elongated guide plate, said elongated guide plate slidably positioned parallel to and at least partially within said protective housing, Wherein one end of said elongated guide plate includes a bumper having a pipe contact surface;   (c) a mount releasably attached to said guide plate; and   (d) a linear actuator having an extendable and retractable actuator rod, said linear actuator pivotally connected to said top of said protective housing and to said adjustable mount on said guide plate, whereby extension and retraction of said actuator rod will slidably extend and retract said elongated guide plate from said protective housing and thereby engage said bumper of said elongated guide plate with a suspended pipe segment whereby said suspended pipe segment is moved and oriented.   
     
     
         15 . The pipe guide as recited in  claim 14 , further comprising a machine slide along which said guide plate moves, Wherein said machine slide includes a rail and a groove. 
     
     
         16 . The pipe guide as recited in  claim 15 , wherein said pipe contact surface of said bumper creates a recess wherein a pipe segment may be received. 
     
     
         17 . The pipe guide as a recited in  claim 16 , wherein said guide plate slidably engages with a shoulder on said sidewalls of said protective housing. 
     
     
         18 . The pipe guide as recited in  claim 17 , wherein said mount and said guide plate have slip resistant surfaces. 
     
     
         19 . The pipe guide as a recited in  claim 17 , wherein said pipe guide is mounted on a rotary spider. 
     
     
         20 . The pipe guide as recited in  claim 17 , wherein said pipe guide is mounted on a baseplate.