DRILL ROD HANDLER
First Claim
1. A handler for an elongate item, comprising:
- an arm which is adapted to be supported at one end,the other end of the arm providing an elongate member support for receiving an elongate item and moving it axially from a first position along a first axis which is parallel to the elongate item into engagement with the elongate member support;
the elongate member support being rotatable on the radial arm about a second axis which is transverse to the first axis to enable the elongate item to be moved to an erect position; and
the one end of the arm bring mounted to enable movement of the elongate member about a third axis into a second position.
19 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An elongate item handling means comprising a base (11) adapted to be fixed to a fixture, an elongate member support (13) having a first axis, the elongate member support comprising an engagement means (19) adapted to engage an elongate item and support the elongate item such that it is parallel to the first axis and to move the elongate item into engagement with the elongate member support, wherein the elongate member support is supported from the base to be rotatable about a second axis which is transverse to the first axis whereby the elongate item when supported from the elongate member support can be moved between an upright position and a substantially horizontal position, the base being movable on the fixture between a first position located at a desired erect position of the elongate item and one or more positions clear of the first position, said elongate member support.
39 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A handler for an elongate item, comprising:
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an arm which is adapted to be supported at one end, the other end of the arm providing an elongate member support for receiving an elongate item and moving it axially from a first position along a first axis which is parallel to the elongate item into engagement with the elongate member support; the elongate member support being rotatable on the radial arm about a second axis which is transverse to the first axis to enable the elongate item to be moved to an erect position; and the one end of the arm bring mounted to enable movement of the elongate member about a third axis into a second position.
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2. An elongate item handling apparatus comprising:
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a base adapted to be fixed to a fixture, an elongate member support having a first axis, the elongate member support comprising an engagement means adapted to engage an elongate item and support the elongate item such that it is parallel to the first axis and to move the elongate item into engagement with the elongate member support, wherein the elongate member support is supported from the base to be rotatable about a second axis which is transverse to the first axis whereby the elongate item when supported from the elongate member support can be moved between an upright position and a substantially horizontal position, the base being movable on the fixture between a first position located at a desired erect position of the elongate item and one or more positions clear of the first position, said elongate member support. - View Dependent Claims (3)
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4. A drill rod handling device which in use is intended to be mounted adjacent a drilling mast which is associated with a drill string located in a borehole, the handling device comprising:
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a base adapted to be supported from the drill rig; and an elongate member support having a first axis and having an engagement means which is adapted to engage a length of drill rod such that the length of drill rod is parallel to the first axis and to move the length of drill rod longitudinally into and out of engagement with the elongate member support; the elongate member support being supported from the base to be rotatable about a second axis transverse to the first axis whereby a length of drill rod when supported from the elongate member support can be moved between an upright position and a substantially horizontal position; wherein the upright axis is substantially parallel to the axis of the drill string; the base being movable relative to the drilling mast when the length of drill rod is in the erect position between a first position at which the length of drill rod is in substantial alignment with the drill string and one or more positions clear of the first position. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A drilling system comprising a drilling mast which is to be associated with drill string located in a bore hole and a drill rod handling device which in use is intended to be mounted adjacent the drilling mast, the handling device comprising:
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a base adapted to be supported from the drill rig; and an elongate member support having a first axis and having an engagement means which is adapted to engage a length of drill rod such that the length of drill rod is parallel to the first axis and to move the length of drill rod longitudinally into and out of engagement with the elongate member support; the elongate member support being supported from the base to be rotatable about a second axis transverse to the first axis whereby a length of drill rod when supported from the elongate member support can be moved between an upright position and a substantially horizontal position; wherein the upright axis is substantially parallel to the axis of the drill string; the base being movable relative to the drilling mast when the length of drill rod is in the erect position between a first position at which the length of drill rod is in substantial alignment with the drill string and one or more positions clear of the first position. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of installing lengths of a drill rod into a drill string associated with a drilling mast comprising:
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providing a handler which engages a length of drill rod located beside the drilling mast by engaging the length of drill rod intermediate its length, moving the length of drill rod axially such that an end portion is engaged by an elongate member support, engaging the elongate member support with the lower end, rotating the length of drill rod about an axis which is transverse to the axis of the length of drill rod to an erect position which is substantially parallel to the drill string, moving the length of drill rod to a position at which it is aligned with the drill string and locating the length of drill rod into the drill string.
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17. A method of removing a length of drill rod from a drill string associated with a drilling mast comprising:
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providing a handler having an elongate member support which engages the uppermost length of drill rod of the drill string at a position towards the lower end of the length of drill rod, moving the length of drill rod to a position at which it is clear of the drill sting and is located adjacent a desired position for the length of drill rod, rotating the length of drill rod about an axis which is transverse to the axis of the length of drill rod to a substantially horizontal position beside the drilling mast, moving the length of drill rod axially out of engagement with the elongate member support and disengaging the length of drill rod from the handler.
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18-21. -21. (canceled)
Specification