PIPE INDEXER/KICKER

Abstract

A combination pipe kicker/indexer for attachment to a pipe launcher is provided. The pipe kicker includes an articulated arm that is operated by a rotating shaft. The arm has a kicker head that rises up from a frame and moves towards a pipe located in the trough of the pipe launcher. Continued rotation of the shaft causes the kicker head to push the pipe out of the trough. Reversing the shaft rotation retracts the kicker arm into its frame. The indexer includes a plate having two eccentric cam openings and a cam rotatably mounted therein. Rotation of the cams causes either end of the indexer plate to rise up from the frame and urge a section of pipe towards the pipe launcher trough.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a left front perspective view of a combination indexer/kicker in accordance with a representative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a right front perspective view depicting the combination indexer/kicker of FIG. 1 shown along section lines A-A.

FIG. 3 is a right front perspective view depicting the combination indexer/kicker of Figure shown along section lines A-A with the kicker arm being raised.

FIG. 4 is a right side elevational view depicting the combination indexer/kicker of FIG. 1 shown along section lines A-A with the kicker ann in an extend position.

FIG. 5 is a left side elevational view depicting the combination indexer/kicker of Figure shown along section lines B-B.

FIG. 6 is a left front perspective view depicting the combination indexer/kicker of FIG. 1 shown along section lines B-B with the near end of the indexer plate in a raised position.

FIG. 7 is a left rear perspective view depicting the combination indexer/kicker of FIG. 1 shown along section lines B-B with the far end of the indexer plate in a raised position.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a pipe being ejected from a pipe launcher with the indexer/kicker of FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a pipe being indexed into a pipe launcher with the indexer/kicker of FIG. 1.

Claims

1. A pipe kicker for ejecting a section of pipe from a pipe launcher, comprising: a supporting frame having a top surface and a first opening thereon, said frame adapted for operatively attaching to a pipe launcher;a first arm having proximal and distal ends, said first arm substantially disposed within said frame, said proximal end rotatably coupled to said frame at a pivot connection point whereby said first arm is capable of rotation about a substantially horizontal first axis passing through said pivot connection point, said first axis substantially perpendicular to said frame, said distal end further comprising an elbow joint; a) a kicker arm having first and second ends, said kicker arm substantially disposed within said frame, said first end rotatably coupled to said elbow joint of said first arm whereby said kicker arm is capable of rotation about a second axis passing through said elbow joint, said second axis substantially parallel to said first axis, said second end of said kicker arm further comprising a kicker head adapted for ejecting a section of pipe from a pipe launcher;b) a guide ramp disposed within said frame adapted to guide said kicker arm; andc) a guide roller disposed on said kicker arm, said guide roller adapted to roll on said guide ramp whereby said kicker arm is capable of moving from a first position where said kicker arm is substantially disposed within said frame to a second position after applying a rotational force to said first arm at said pivot connection point whereupon said guide roller rolls up said guide ramp causing said kicker arm to rise up from said frame through said first opening and move said kicker head towards a pipe launcher to eject a section of pipe from said pipe.

2. The pipe kicker as set forth in claim 1, wherein said pivot connection point further comprises at least one drive line connector capable of coupling said pipe kicker with at least one other pipe kicker operatively attached to a pipe launcher with a drive shaft thereby enabling said pipe kickers to operate substantially in unison.

3. The pipe kicker as set forth in claim 1, wherein said kicker head comprises at least one roller for rolling on a top surface of said pipe launcher.

4. The pipe kicker as set forth in claim 1, wherein said kicker head further comprises at least one additional roller for rolling against a section of pipe.

5. The pipe kicker as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a pipe launcher, said pipe kicker operatively attached to said pipe launcher and adapted to eject a section of pipe from said pipe launcher.

6. An indexer for presenting a section of pipe to a pipe launcher, comprising: a supporting frame having a top surface and a first opening thereon, said frame adapted for operatively attaching to said pipe launcher, said frame substantially perpendicular to a pipe launcher;an indexer plate having a near end and a far end, said far end having a pipe groove for receiving a section of pipe, said indexer plate substantially disposed within said frame;a first indexer mechanism disposed within said frame adapted to raise said far end of said indexer plate up through said first opening above said top surface; anda second indexer mechanism disposed with said frame adapted to raise said near end of said indexer plate up through said first opening above said top surface.

7. The indexer as set forth in claim 6 wherein said indexer plate further comprises a first cam opening disposed in said far end and a second cam opening disposed is said near end, and wherein each indexer mechanisms comprises a horizontal shaft passing through said frame via its respective cam opening and an eccentric cam mounted on each shaft, said cams disposed within said cam openings whereby turning one or both of said horizontal shafts turns said cams within said cam openings causes said indexer plate to raise or lower.

8. The indexer as set forth in claim 6, wherein each of said indexer mechanisms further comprises at least one drive line connector capable of coupling said indexer with at least one other indexer operatively attached to said pipe launcher with a drive shaft thereby enabling said indexers to operate substantially in unison.

9. The indexer as set forth in claim 6, further comprising a pipe launcher, said indexer operatively attached to said pipe launcher and adapted to present a section of pipe to said pipe launcher.

10. An apparatus adapted for ejecting a section of pipe from a pipe launcher and for presenting a section of pipe to a pipe launcher, comprising: a supporting frame having a top surface and first and second openings located thereon, said frame adapted for operatively attaching to a pipe launcher;a first arm having proximal and distal ends, said first arm substantially disposed within said frame, said proximal end rotatably coupled to said frame at a pivot connection point where said first arm is capable of rotation about a substantially horizontal first axis passing through said pivot connection point, said first axis substantially perpendicular to said frame, said distal end further comprising an elbow joint;a kicker arm having first and second ends, said kicker arm substantially disposed within said frame, said first end rotatably coupled to said elbow joint of said first arm whereby said kicker arm is capable of rotation about a second axis passing through said elbow joint, said second axis substantially parallel to said first axis, said second end of said kicker arm further comprising a kicker head adapted for ejecting a section of pipe from a pipe launcher;a guide ramp disposed within said frame, said guide ramp adapted to guide said kicker arm;a guide roller disposed on said kicker arm, said guide roller adapted to roll on said guide ramp whereby said kicker arm is capable of moving from a first position where said kicker arm is substantially disposed within said frame, to a second position after applying a rotation force to said first arm at said pivot connection point whereupon said the guide roller rolls up said guide ramp causing said kicker arm to rise up from said frame through said first opening and move towards a pipe launcher to eject a section of pipe;an indexer plate disposed substantially within said frame, said indexer plate having a near end and a far end, said far end comprising a pipe groove for receiving a section of pipe;a first indexer mechanism disposed within said frame adapted to raise said far end of said indexer plate up through said second opening above said top surface; anda second indexer mechanism disposed within said frame adapted to raise said near end of said indexer plate up through said second opening above said top surface.

11. The apparatus as set forth claim 10, wherein said pivot connection point further comprises at least one drive line connector capable of coupling said apparatus with at least one other apparatus kicker with a drive shaft thereby enabling said apparatuses to operate substantially in unison to eject a section of pipe from a pipe launcher.

12. The apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein said kicker head comprises at least one roller for on a top surface of a pipe launcher.

13. The apparatus as set forth in claim 12 wherein said kicker head comprises at least one additional roller for rolling against a section of pipe.

14. The apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein said indexer plate further comprises a first cam opening disposed in said far end and a second cam opening disposed in said near end, and wherein each indexer mechanism comprises a horizontal shaft passing through said frame via its respective cam opening and an eccentric cam mounted on each shaft, said cams disposed within said cam openings whereby turning said horizontal shaft turns said cams within said cam openings causes said indexer plate to raise or lower.

15. The apparatus as set forth in claim 14 wherein each of said indexer mechanisms further comprises at least one drive line connector capable of coupling said apparatus with at least one other apparatus operatively attached to a pipe launcher with a drive shaft thereby enabling said indexer mechanisms to operate substantially in unison to present a section of pipe to a pipe launcher.

16. The apparatus as set forth in claim 10 further comprising a pipe launcher, said apparatus operatively attached to said pipe launcher, said apparatus adapted to eject a section of pipe from said pipe launcher, and said apparatus further adapted to present a section of pipe to said pipe launcher.