A handling device for handling drill string components with respect to a rock drill rig including a rotator device supported on a feed beam and arranged to rotate and drive a drill string component. A gripper grips drill string components. The gripper is swingably supported around a first swing axis between: a first position aligned with the active drill string position, and a second position aligned with a delivering position for drill string components. A swing arm includes a support configured to support a drill string component and is swingable around a second swing axis. A guiding beam is fastenable at end regions in connection with respective regions of the first and second swing axis. The guiding beam forms mechanical stops for the gripper in the second position and for the swing arm in the delivering position. Also, a rock drill rig and a method.

A drill rod handler (30) for use on a drilling rig (10). In at least one embodiment, the drill rod handler (30) comprises a boom (32) having jaws (38) for releasably grasping a drill rod (14) in at least two spaced apart positions along the length of the drill rod, and a boom positioning means for positioning the boom so that the jaws may grasp a drill rod (14) from a rod storage (18) on the drilling rig or from another rod storage at a different location (16). In another embodiment, a drill rod handler comprising a boom having jaws for releasably grasping a drill rod in at least two spaced apart positions along the length of the drill rod, a boom tilt mechanism for raising or lowering an end of the boom and a drill rod when the drill rod is grasped by the jaws; and an interconnect for connection to the end of the boom for stabilising the end of the boom with respect to the a mast (20) of the drilling rig (10) when the boom (32) is in a rod presentation position.

An improved system and method for bracing, transporting, assembling, and disassembly of drilling equipment at oil and gas land-based well sites. The system has a substructure with side boxes support bracing that are in a scissor jack (or grand plié) style bracing with telescoping tension link(s), linking pins, and vertical hydraulic cylinders. These linking pins are set after raising the substructure and secure the telescoping tension link, support arms, and support bracing in place to maintain the integrity of the substructure. Alternatively the system has a substructure with side boxes support bracing that are in a scissor jack (or grand plié) style bracing with screw jacks and a means of stabilization during substructure raising. The substructure bracing reduces the overall length, reduces the upper and lower box spans, and balances the raising loads, subsequently lowering the transport weight of the side box such that a commercial walking system may be integrated into the side box and remain there during transport while maximizing the operating drill floor height while minimizing the transport height.

An improved system and method for bracing, transporting, assembling, and disassembly of drilling equipment at oil and gas land-based well sites. The system has a substructure with side boxes support bracing that are in a scissor jack (or grand plié) style bracing with telescoping tension link(s), linking pins, and vertical hydraulic cylinders. These linking pins are set after raising the substructure and secure the telescoping tension link, support arms, and support bracing in place to maintain the integrity of the substructure. Alternatively the system has a substructure with side boxes support bracing that are in a scissor jack (or grand plié) style bracing with screw jacks and a means of stabilization during substructure raising. The substructure bracing reduces the overall length, reduces the upper and lower box spans, and balances the raising loads, subsequently lowering the transport weight of the side box such that a commercial walking system may be integrated into the side box and remain there during transport while maximizing the operating drill floor height while minimizing the transport height.

A lifting arm arrangement includes a gripper head arm, a lifting arm, and a lifting cylinder. A gripper head is fastened to a first gripper head arm end. A first lifting arm end is pivotally connected to the gripper head arm. A second lifting arm end is pivotally connected to a stationary lifting cylinder part. A second gripper head arm end is pivotally connected to a movable lifting cylinder part. The stationary lifting cylinder part comprises a cylinder with a cylinder cavity having first and second cylinder openings. A piston rod with a piston is arranged in the cylinder cavity. A first piston rod portion projects from a first piston end of the piston. A second piston rod portion projects from an opposite second piston end of the piston. Working areas of the first and second piston ends are substantially equal to each other.

A lifting arm arrangement includes a gripper head arm, a lifting arm, and a lifting cylinder. A gripper head is fastened to a first gripper head arm end. A first lifting arm end is pivotally connected to the gripper head arm. A second lifting arm end is pivotally connected to a stationary lifting cylinder part. A second gripper head arm end is pivotally connected to a movable lifting cylinder part. The stationary lifting cylinder part comprises a cylinder with a cylinder cavity having first and second cylinder openings. A piston rod with a piston is arranged in the cylinder cavity. A first piston rod portion projects from a first piston end of the piston. A second piston rod portion projects from an opposite second piston end of the piston. Working areas of the first and second piston ends are substantially equal to each other.

Improvements for tube separation assemblies currently used in oil field applications include tube assemblies for maintaining tube separation using a fastening system comprising preferably non-metallic tube spacers and a preferably locking mechanism on the fastening system. The present invention allows all parts of the system to be more easily visually inspected than prior systems known to the inventor.

A pipe puller removably couples to a pipe handler skate using two manually removable pins. The pipe puller includes at least one slide and linear bearing combination, a skate plate affixed adjacent a first end of the slide and interposed between a front skate face and a pipe in the skidway, a pipe grasp pivotal between a first position disengaged from the pipe and a second position engaged with the pipe, linkage coupling the skate plate to pipe grasp and converting reciprocal movement of the skate plate into rotary movement of the pipe grasp, and a puller stop bracket secured to the pipe handler. A pair of force threshold activated pipe grasp assists retain the pipe grasp in either pipe-engaged or pipe-disengaged position until a force threshold is reached greater than and separate from the static and dynamic coefficients of friction of the various pintles and linear bearings.

The invention provides a compact pipe handling trailer for a drilling or service rig. The pipe handling trailer includes a deck having a raised frame and an extended horizontal frame. A trough is pivotally housed within the extended horizontal frame, the trough having a first end and a second end. A first piston/cylinder assembly is operably coupled to the first end of the trough; a second piston/cylinder assembly is operably coupled proximal to the second end of the trough. An operating means for the pipe handling trailer is provided within the raised frame of the deck. The pipe handling trailer is transportable and is attached to a trailer on a common axle. A number of retractable downriggers are provided on the deck to position the pipe handling trailer firmly to the ground.

A vertical pipe handling system comprising a bellyboard with at least one automated guide for leading tubulars between the fingers of the bellyboard. A method to move a tubular on or above a rig floor comprising automatically moving the tubular with a racking system comprising a bellyboard with at least one automated guide for leading tubulars between the fingers of the bellyboard.