Apparatus and method for handling pipe

{
  "publication_number": "US2012121364A1",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "A1",
  "title": "Apparatus and method for handling pipe",
  "abstract": "A pipe handling catwalk is provided for moving tubulars or pipe to and from a work floor of well drilling or service rigs. The catwalk includes a variable height V-door for guiding pipe to the work floor. The V-door is made of a series of sequential pivotally attached segments that can extend from, and retract into, the catwalk at an angle relative to the catwalk along a guide track disposed at an end of the catwalk.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A pipe handling apparatus, comprising: a) a substantially horizontal catwalk further comprising first and second ends and a top surface disposed therebetween, the catwalk further comprising a horizontal guide track disposed within the catwalk extending from the first end at least partially towards the second end; b) a pipe trough disposed on the top surface between the first and second ends; c) a V-door comprising a plurality of trough segments, the V-door slidably disposed in the catwalk, the V-door further configured to move along the horizontal guide track to extend from, and retract into, the first end of the catwalk; d) a V-door guide track disposed at the first end of the catwalk and aligned with the horizontal guide track, the V-door guide configured to guide the V-door from a substantially horizontal position when disposed in the catwalk to an angled position relative to the catwalk when the V-door is extended from the catwalk along the horizontal guide track, the plurality of trough segments pivotally attached to each other to form a sequential series of segments wherein adjacent trough segments can pivot relative to one another when the V-door is guided through the V-door guide track; and e) a V-door drive mechanism disposed in the catwalk, the V-door drive mechanism configured to move the V-door along the horizontal and V-door guide tracks. 2. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising at least one indexer/kicker unit disposed in the trough, the indexer/kicker unit configured for moving pipe into and out of the trough. 3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 2, further comprising a plurality of indexer/kicker units disposed in the trough in a spaced-apart configuration between the first and second ends. 4. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the trough segments further comprise rollers configured to move along the horizontal guide track and the V-door guide track. 5. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the trough segments are configured to lock together when the trough segments are extended beyond the V-door guide track. 6. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein each trough segment further comprises a V-door section top plate disposed on the top thereof, each top plate further comprising a leading edge and a trailing edge. 7. The apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein the trailing edge of each V-door section top plate is configured to move under the leading edge of the adjacent V-door section top plate when the V-door is extended from, and retracted into, the catwalk through the V-door guide track. 8. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising: a) a skate configured to move along the trough between the second and first ends along a skate guide track, the skate configured to move pipe along the trough towards the first end and up the V-door, and to retrieve pipe from the V-door and move the pipe along the trough towards the second end; and b) a skate drive mechanism disposed in the catwalk, the skate drive mechanism configured to move the skate along the skate guide track. 9. The apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein the skate further comprises a push plate for pushing pipe along the trough towards the first end and up the V-door. 10. The apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein the skate further comprises grabber head mechanism disposed thereon, the grabber head mechanism configured to grab pipe when retrieving pipe from the V-door and moving the pipe along the trough towards the second end. 11. The apparatus as set forth in claim 9, wherein the skate further comprises grabber head mechanism disposed thereon, the grabber head mechanism configured to grab pipe when retrieving pipe from the V-door and moving the pipe along the trough towards the second end. 12. A method for handling pipe, the method comprising the steps of: a) providing a pipe handling apparatus, comprising: i) a substantially horizontal catwalk further comprising first and second ends and a top surface disposed therebetween, the catwalk further comprising a horizontal guide track disposed within the catwalk extending from the first end at least partially towards the second end, ii) a pipe trough disposed on the top surface between the first and second ends, iii) a V-door comprising a plurality of trough segments, the V-door slidably disposed in the catwalk, the V-door further configured to move along the horizontal guide track to extend from, and retract into, the first end of the catwalk, iv) a V-door guide track disposed at the first end of the catwalk and aligned with the horizontal guide track, the V-door guide configured to guide the V-door from a substantially horizontal position when disposed in the catwalk to an angled position relative to the catwalk when the V-door is extended from the catwalk along the horizontal guide track, the plurality of trough segments pivotally attached to each other to form a sequential series of segments wherein adjacent trough segments can pivot relative to one another when the V-door is guided through the V-door guide track, and v) a V-door drive mechanism disposed in the catwalk, the V-door drive mechanism configured to move the V-door along the horizontal and V-door guide tracks; b) extending the V-door from the catwalk and up the V-door guide track to a desired height wherein the V-door is adjacent to a work floor of a well drilling or service rig; c) placing a section of pipe in the trough; and d) moving the section of pipe along the trough towards the first end and up the V-door wherein the section of pipe is presented to the work floor. 13. The method as set forth in claim 12, wherein the pipe handling apparatus further comprises at least one indexer/kicker unit disposed in the trough, the indexer/kicker unit configured for moving pipe into and out of the trough. 14. The method as set forth in claim 13, wherein the pipe handling apparatus further comprises a plurality of indexer/kicker units disposed in the trough in a spaced-apart configuration between the first and second ends. 15. The method as set forth in claim 12, wherein the trough segments further comprise rollers configured to move along the horizontal guide track and the V-door guide track. 16. The method as set forth in claim 12, wherein the trough segments are configured to lock together when the trough segments are extended beyond the V-door guide track. 17. The method as set forth in claim 12, wherein each trough segment further comprises a V-door section top plate disposed on the top thereof, each top plate further comprising a leading edge and a trailing edge. 18. The method as set forth in claim 17, wherein the trailing edge of each V-door section top plate is configured to move under the leading edge of the adjacent V-door section top plate when the V-door is extended from, and retracted into, the catwalk through the V-door guide track. 19. The method as set forth in claim 12, wherein the pipe handling apparatus further comprises: a) a skate configured to move along the trough between the second and first ends along a skate guide track, the skate configured to move pipe along the trough towards the first end and up the V-door, and to retrieve pipe from the V-door and move the pipe along the trough towards the second end; and b) a skate drive mechanism disposed in the catwalk, the skate drive mechanism configured to move the skate along the skate guide track. 20. The method as set forth in claim 19, wherein the skate further comprises a push plate for pushing pipe along the trough towards the first end and up the V-door. 21. The method as set forth in claim 19, wherein the skate further comprises grabber head mechanism disposed thereon, the grabber head mechanism configured to grab pipe when retrieving pipe from the V-door and moving the pipe along the trough towards the second end. 22. The method as set forth in claim 20, wherein the skate further comprises grabber head mechanism disposed thereon, the grabber head mechanism configured to grab pipe when retrieving pipe from the V-door and moving the pipe along the trough towards the second end."
  ],
  "cpc": [
    "E21B 19/155"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "TAGGART MARK CHARLES",
    "KERR KEVIN JOHN SCOTT"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2011-08-29",
  "publication_date": "2012-05-17",
  "priority_date": "2010-11-12",
  "application_number": "US-201113220185-A",
  "family_id": "46047896",
  "citations": [
    "US2006285941A1",
    "US2009053013A1",
    "US2009196711A1",
    "US2011070054A1",
    "US2011072596A1",
    "US2012130537A1",
    "US7404697B2",
    "US8033779B2",
    "US8052368B2"
  ]
}