James Charles Hopkins

US Patent:

8240968, Aug 14, 2012

Filed:

Oct 26, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/589615

Inventors:

James R. Hopkins - Fishers IN, US
Calvin Moore - Noblesville IN, US
Jason Hause - Indianapolis IN, US
Alan Benedict - Bargersville IN, US

Assignee:

Laibe Corporation - Indianapolis IN

International Classification:

E21B 19/00
E21B 19/15
E21B 19/20

US Classification:

414 2255, 414 2262, 414730, 901 9, 901 16, 700253

Abstract:

A system includes a rack with rows for storing drill pipe, and a moveable structure having a control support coupled to an upper portion and a lifting device coupled to a lower portion. The moveable structure travels along a guide for positioning adjacent any of the rows. The control support includes a pivoting actuator, a rotating actuator, an extension arm having a drill pipe capture actuator, and an extension actuator. The lifting device includes a lifting actuator that raises a stack of drill pipe. The system further includes a controller that interprets a control support state including actuator positions and a position index value, and records a position description including the control support state corresponding to the position index value. The controller interprets a position request signal and provides actuator control signals in response to the position request signal and the position description.