Pipe Handling Device

Abstract

The present invention relates to a tubular handling system for maneuvering tubulars onto or off of a rig and including a tubular grip adapted to engage a variety of tubular sizes.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for handling tubulars on a drilling rig comprising:
 gripping a tubular with a center axis, at a first location;   translating a tubular in a vertical direction;   rotating the tubular;   translating the tubular in a horizontal direction towards a target location;   lowering the tubular at the target location; and   releasing the tubular at the target location.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tubular is positioned horizontally when gripped. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tubular is positioned vertical when gripped. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the rotating the tubular includes rotating the tubular from a horizontal orientation to a vertical orientation and fully supporting the weight of the tubular. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the rotating the tubular includes rotating the tubular from a vertical orientation to a horizontal orientation and fully supporting the weight of the tubular. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tubular is gripped at a plurality of locations along the axial length of the tubular and fully supporting the weight of the tubular. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first location is adjacent to a rig floor. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the target location is on a rig floor. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first location is on a rig floor. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the target location is adjacent to a rig floor. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising rotating the tubular about its center axis. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising rotating the tubular about its center axis while fully supporting the weight of the tubular. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the gripping the tubular includes gripping the tubular sufficiently to prevent the tubular from sliding axially and being capable of rotating the tubular about its center axis and rotating the tubular between a horizontal and vertical orientation. 
     
     
         14 . A method for handling tubulars on a drilling rig comprising:
 gripping a tubular with a center axis, at a first location wherein the gripping prevents the tubular from sliding axially while being capable of rotating the tubular about its center axis and rotating the tubular between a horizontal and vertical orientation;   translating a tubular in a vertical direction;   rotating the tubular;   translating the tubular in a horizontal direction towards a target location;   lowering the tubular at the target location; and   releasing the tubular at the target location.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the tubular is positioned horizontally when gripped. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the tubular is positioned vertical when gripped. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the rotating the tubular includes rotating the tubular from a horizontal orientation to a vertical orientation. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the rotating the tubular includes rotating the tubular from a vertical orientation to a horizontal orientation. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the tubular is gripped at a plurality of locations along the axial length of the tubular. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the first location is adjacent to a rig floor. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the target location is on a rig floor. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the first location is on a rig floor. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the target location is adjacent to a rig floor. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising rotating the tubular about its center axis. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising rotating the tubular about its center axis while fully supporting the weight of the tubular.