Rig-floor pipe lifting machine

1. A rig-floor pipe lifting machine for use with a pipe positioned vertically, comprising:

a frame;

a pair of swing arms rotatable relative to the frame around a first axis;

a plurality of wheels mounted on the pair of swing arms;

a fork coupled to the frame and sized to engage a lowermost tool-joint of the pipe;

a concave pad coupled to the frame and aligned with the fork; and

an actuator having a first end coupled to at least one of the pair of swing arms and a second end coupled to the frame,

wherein the fork is positioned below the concave pad and such that at least a portion of the fork is capable of passing under the lowermost tool joint of the pipe when the pipe is resting on the rig-floor, the hydraulic cylinder is contracted, and each the plurality of wheels rests on the rig-floor,

wherein extension of the actuator causes the fork and the concave pad to be lifted from the rig-floor.

2. The rig-floor pipe lifting machine of claim 1 , further comprising:

at least one spring having a first spring end coupled to one of the pair of swing arms and a second spring end coupled to the frame,

wherein the pair of swing arms is further rotatable relative to the frame around a second axis, the second axis being perpendicular to the first axis, and

wherein the first spring end is offset relative to the second axis.

3. The rig-floor pipe lifting machine of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of wheels comprises:

a first wheel coupled to one of the pair of swing arms at a first distance from the first axis;

a second wheel coupled to another one of the pair of swing arms at the first distance from the first axis; and

a caster coupled to the pair of swing arms or to the frame at a second distance from the first axis,

wherein the second distance is shorter than the first distance.

4. The rig-floor pipe lifting machine of claim 1 , wherein the fork includes:

a first cylindrical inner surface having a first diameter sized to fit around a pin base of the pipe;

a shoulder surface radially sized to support a primary shoulder of a connection of the pipe; and

a pair of prongs disposed above the shoulder surface and separated by a distance shorter than a diameter of the lowermost tool-joint.

5. The rig-floor pipe lifting machine of claim 4 , wherein the fork further includes:

a second cylindrical inner surface having a second diameter sized to fit around the lowermost tool-joint of the pipe.

6. The rig-floor pipe lifting machine of claim 1 , further comprising:

a gripper arm having a first end and a second end, the first end of the gripper arm being rotatably coupled to the frame; and

first pipe holding means coupled to the second end of the gripper arm,

wherein the gripper arm is movable between a first position that is essentially vertical and a second position that is essentially horizontal.

7. The rig-floor pipe lifting machine of claim 6 , further comprising:

a tailing arm having a first end and a second end, the first end of the gripper arm being rotatably coupled to the frame; and

second pipe holding means rotatably coupled to the second end of the tailing arm,

the tailing arm being movable between a first position wherein the second pipe holding means is located above the fork, and a second position wherein the second pipe holding means is located above the first pipe holding means when the gripper arm is essentially horizontal.

8. The rig-floor pipe lifting machine of claim 1 , further comprising a navigation system including:

a movable marker mounted on a stand transfer vehicle;

a position sensor mounted on the rig-floor pipe lifting machine, wherein the position sensor generates signals indicative of a distance between the position sensor and the movable marker; and

a controller programmed to drive at least one of the plurality of wheels based on the signals.

9. The rig-floor pipe lifting machine of claim 1 , further comprising a navigation system including:

a plurality of fixed markers mounted on a rig-floor;

a position sensor mounted to the rig-floor pipe lifting machine, wherein the position sensor generates signals indicative of a distance between the position sensor and each of the plurality of fixed markers; and

a controller programmed to drive at least one of the plurality of wheels based on the signals.

10. The rig-floor pipe lifting machine of claim 1 , further comprising a navigation system including:

a link attached between the rig-floor pipe lifting machine and a rig-floor;

a plurality of position sensors mounted on the link, wherein each of the plurality of position sensors generates signals indicative of a position or a movement of the link; and

a controller programmed to drive at least one of the plurality of wheels based on the signals.

11. The rig-floor pipe lifting machine of claim 1 , wherein the actuator is a hydraulic cylinder having a first cylinder end coupled to at least one of the pair of swing arms and a second cylinder end coupled to the frame.

12. The rig-floor pipe lifting machine of claim 11 , further comprising:

a first motor rotationally coupled to a first one of the plurality of wheels; and

a second motor rotationally coupled to a second one of the plurality of wheels,

wherein the first motor is driven independently from the second motor.

13. The rig-floor pipe lifting machine of claim 12 , wherein the first motor and the second motor are hydraulic motors.

14. A system for use with a pipe positioned vertically, comprising:

a rig-floor pipe lifting machine, including a frame, a pair of swing arms rotatable relative to the frame around a first axis, a plurality of wheels mounted on the pair of swing arms, a fork coupled to the frame and sized to engage a lowermost tool joint of the pipe, a concave pad coupled to the frame and aligned with the fork, and an actuator having a first end coupled to at least one of the pair of swing arms and a second end coupled to the frame; and

an elevator suspended from one of a stand transfer vehicle, a top drive or other lifting device of a drilling rig,

wherein the fork is positioned below the concave pad and such that at least a portion of the fork is capable of passing under the lowermost tool joint of the pipe when the pipe is resting on the rig-floor, the hydraulic cylinder is contracted, and each the plurality of wheels rests on the rig-floor,

wherein extension of the actuator causes the fork and the concave pad to be lifted from the rig-floor.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the rig-floor pipe lifting machine further comprises:

at least one spring having a first spring end coupled to one of the pair of swing arms and a second spring end coupled to the frame,

wherein the pair of swing arms is further rotatable relative to the frame around a second axis, the second axis being perpendicular to the first axis, and

wherein the first spring end is offset relative to the second axis.

16. The system of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of wheels comprises:

a first wheel coupled to one of the pair of swing arms at a first distance from the first axis;

a second wheel coupled to another one of the pair of swing arms at the first distance from the first axis; and

a caster coupled to the pair of swing arms or to the frame at a second distance from the first axis,

wherein the second distance is shorter than the first distance.

17. The system of claim 14 , wherein the fork includes:

a first cylindrical inner surface having a first diameter sized to fit around a pin base of the pipe;

a shoulder surface radially sized to support a primary shoulder of a connection of the pipe; and

a pair of prongs disposed above the shoulder surface and separated by a distance shorter than a diameter of the lowermost tool-joint.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the fork further includes:

a second cylindrical inner surface having a second diameter sized to fit around the lowermost tool-joint of the pipe.

19. The system of claim 14 , wherein the rig-floor pipe lifting machine further comprises:

a gripper arm having a first end and a second end, the first end of the gripper arm being rotatably coupled to the frame; and

first pipe holding means coupled to the second end of the gripper arm,

wherein the gripper arm is movable between a first position that is essentially vertical and a second position that is essentially horizontal.

20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the rig-floor pipe lifting machine further comprises:

a tailing arm having a first end and a second end, the first end of the gripper arm being rotatably coupled to the frame; and

second pipe holding means rotatably coupled to the second end of the tailing arm,

the tailing arm being movable between a first position wherein the second pipe holding means is located above the fork, and a second position wherein the second pipe holding means is located above the first pipe holding means when the gripper arm is essentially horizontal.

21. The system of claim 14 , further comprising a navigation system including:

a movable marker mounted on a stand transfer vehicle;

a position sensor mounted on the rig-floor pipe lifting machine, wherein the position sensor generates signals indicative of a distance between the position sensor and the movable marker; and

a controller programmed to drive at least one of the plurality of wheels based on the signals.

22. The system of claim 14 , further comprising a navigation system including:

a plurality of fixed markers mounted on a rig-floor;

a position sensor mounted to the rig-floor pipe lifting machine, wherein the position sensor generates signals indicative of a distance between the position sensor and each of the plurality of fixed markers; and

a controller programmed to drive at least one of the plurality of wheels based on the signals.

23. The system of claim 14 , further comprising a navigation system including:

a link attached between the rig-floor pipe lifting machine and a rig-floor;

a plurality of position sensors mounted on the link, wherein each of the plurality of position sensors generates signals indicative of a position or a movement of the link; and

a controller programmed to drive at least one of the plurality of wheels based on the signals.

24. The system of claim 14 , wherein the actuator is a hydraulic cylinder having a first cylinder end coupled to at least one of the pair of swing arms and a second cylinder end coupled to the frame.

25. The system of claim 24 , wherein the rig-floor pipe lifting machine further comprises:

a first motor rotationally coupled to a first one of the plurality of wheels; and

a second motor rotationally coupled to a second one of the plurality of wheels,

wherein the first motor is driven independently from the second motor.

26. The system of claim 25 , wherein the first motor and the second motor are hydraulic motors.