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A pipe handling apparatus for transporting pipe between a position adjacent a pipe storage rack and a rig floor elevated above the pipe storage rack is provided. The pipe handling apparatus includes a support frame, substantially horizontally disposed platform supported by the support frame having a

A pipe handling apparatus for transporting pipe between a position adjacent a pipe storage rack and a rig floor elevated above the pipe storage rack is provided. The pipe handling apparatus includes a support frame, substantially horizontally disposed platform supported by the support frame having a pipe receiving groove formed therein for receiving the joint of pipe, a carriage member, and a pusher member. The carriage member is movable from a lowered position wherein the joint of pipe which is positioned in the pipe receiving groove of the platform is supported in a substantially horizontal position and a raised position wherein the carriage member supports a first end of the joint of pipe at an elevated position relative to an opposed second end of the joint of pipe. The pusher member is movable along the pipe receiving groove between a retracted position and an extended position. In the retracted position, the pusher member is positioned near the second end of the pipe receiving groove to laterally support the joint of pipe when the first end of the joint of pipe is elevated relative to the second end. In the extended position, the pusher member is moved a selected distance away from the second end of the pipe receiving groove toward the first end of the pipe receiving groove so as to cause the second end of the joint of pipe to move through the pipe receiving groove towards the first end of the pipe receiving groove along a substantially horizontal plane and thereby cause the first end of the joint of pipe to be moved to a position overlying the rig floor.

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1. A pipe handling apparatus for transporting pipe to and from a rig floor, the pipe handling apparatus comprising:a platform having a pipe receiving groove formed therein, the pipe receiving groove having a first end and an opposing second end, the platform forming a substantially flat, continuous

1. A pipe handling apparatus for transporting pipe to and from a rig floor, the pipe handling apparatus comprising:a platform having a pipe receiving groove formed therein, the pipe receiving groove having a first end and an opposing second end, the platform forming a substantially flat, continuous surface extending along each side of the pipe receiving groove from a first end of the platform to a second end of the platform so as to permit an individual to walk along the length of the pipe receiving groove on either side of the pipe receiving groove while the pipe is being transported to and from the rig floor;a carriage member positioned in alignment the pipe receiving groove, the carriage member movable between a lowered position wherein the pipe positioned in the pipe receiving groove of the platform is supported in a substantially parallel relationship with respect to the platform and a raised position wherein the carriage member supports a first end of the pipe at an elevated position relative to an opposing second end of the pipe; anda pusher member aligned with the pipe receiving groove so as to be engageable with the second end of the pipe when the pipe is positioned in the pipe receiving groove, the pusher member movable along the pipe receiving groove so as to cause the second end of the pipe to move along the pipe receiving groove such that the first end of the pipe moves toward the rig floor when the pusher member moves toward the first end of the pipe receiving groove with the carriage member in the raised position supporting the first end of the pipe and such that the first end of the pipe moves away from the rig floor when the pusher member is moved away from the first end of the pipe receiving groove with the carriage member in the raised position supporting the first end of the pipe.2. The pipe handling apparatus of claim 1 wherein the platform further has an elongated slot extending through the plate and in a parallel relationship with respect to the pipe receiving groove, wherein the pusher member includes a pipe engaging portion positioned above the platform and a bracket extending from the pipe engaging portion down through the slot, and wherein the pipe handling apparatus further comprises:a first cylinder having a first end, a second end, and a reciprocating rod extending from the second end of the cylinder, the first cylinder supported below the platform in a parallel relation to the pipe receiving groove and the reciprocating rod connected to the bracket of the pusher member; andmeans for selectively actuating the rod of the first cylinder between a first position wherein the pusher member is positioned near the second end of the pipe receiving groove and a second position wherein the pusher member is positioned toward the first end of the pipe receiving groove.3. The pipe handling apparatus of claim 2 wherein the pipe engaging portion is rollingly supported on the platform.4. The pipe handling apparatus of claim 1 wherein the platform further has a carriage receiving opening in communication with the pipe receiving groove, wherein the carriage includes a trough portion positioned in the carriage receiving opening when the carriage is in the lowered position and a bracket portion, the trough portion having a first end and an opposing second end, the bracket portion having a proximal end connected to the first end of the trough portion, a medial portion pivotally supported below the platform, and a distal end, and wherein the pipe handling apparatus further comprises:a second cylinder having a first end, a second end, and a reciprocating rod extending from the second end of the cylinder, the second cylinder pivotally secured below the platform and the reciprocating rod pivotally connected to the distal end of the bracket portion of carriage; andmeans for selectively actuating the rod of the second cylinder between a first position wherein the carriage is positioned in the lowered position and a second position wherein the carriage is rotated so as to cause the second end of the trough portion of the carriage to be moved to the raised position.5. The pipe handling apparatus of claim 4 wherein the trough portion is substantially V-shaped.6. The pipe handling apparatus of claim 4 wherein the second end of the trough portion is provided with a pair of rollers for rollingly supporting the pipe when the carriage is in the raised position and the pusher member is moving along the pipe receiving groove.7. The pipe handling apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:a plurality of jack assemblies for selectively adjusting the height of the platform relative to the height of the pipe storage rack.8. The pipe handling apparatus of claim 1 wherein the platform further comprises a hand rail extending upwardly from at least one of a first side and a second side of the platform.9. The pipe handling apparatus of claim 1 wherein the platform further has a plurality of holes adjacent the pipe receiving groove on each side of the pipe receiving groove, and wherein the pipe handling apparatus further comprises:a plurality of stop members positioned in the holes of the platform on the side of the pipe receiving groove opposite the pipe storage rack and extending upwardly from the platform to prevent the pipe from rolling through the pipe receiving groove.10. A pipe handling apparatus for transporting pipe to and from a rig floor, the pipe handling apparatus comprising:a platform having a pipe receiving groove formed therein, the pipe receiving groove having a first end and an opposing second end, the platform forming a substantially continuous surface along at least one side of the pipe receiving groove so as to permit an individual to walk along the length of the pipe receiving groove while the pipe is being transported to and from the rig floor;a carriage member positioned in alignment with the pipe receiving groove, the carriage member movable between a lowered position wherein the pipe positioned in the pipe receiving groove of the platform is supported in a substantially parallel relationship with respect to the platform and a raised position wherein the carriage member supports a first end of the pipe at an elevated position relative to an opposing second end of the pipe; anda pusher member aligned with the pipe receiving groove so as to be engageable with the second end of the pipe when the pipe is positioned in the pipe receiving groove, the pusher member movable along the pipe receiving groove so as to cause the second end of the pipe to move along the pipe receiving groove such that the first end of the pipe moves toward the rig floor when the pusher member moves toward the first end of the pipe receiving groove with the carriage member in the raised position supporting the first end of the pipe and such that the first end of the pipe moves away from the rig floor when the pusher member is moved away from the first end of the pipe receiving groove with the carriage member in the raised position supporting the first end of the pipe.11. The pipe handling apparatus of claim 10 wherein the platform further has an elongated slot extending through the plate and in a parallel relationship with respect to the pipe receiving groove, wherein the pusher member includes a pipe engaging portion positioned above the platform and a bracket extending from the pipe engaging portion down through the slot, and wherein the pipe handling apparatus further comprises:a first cylinder having a first end, a second end, and a reciprocating rod extending from the second end of the cylinder, the first cylinder supported below the platform in a parallel relation to the pipe receiving groove and the reciprocating rod connected to the bracket of the pusher member; andmeans for selectively actuating the rod of the first cylinder between a first position wherein the pusher member is positioned near the second end of the pipe receiving groove and a second position wherein the pusher member is positioned toward the first end of the pipe receiving groove.12. The pipe handling apparatus of claim 11 wherein the pipe engaging portion is rollingly supported on the platform.13. The pipe handling apparatus of claim 10 wherein the platform further has a carriage receiving opening in communication with the pipe receiving groove, wherein the carriage includes a trough portion positioned in the carriage receiving opening when the carriage is in the lowered position and a bracket portion, the trough portion having a first end and an opposing second end, the bracket portion having a proximal end connected to the first end of the trough portion, a medial portion pivotally supported below the platform, and a distal end, and wherein the pipe handling apparatus further comprises:a second cylinder having a first end, a second end, and a reciprocating rod extending from the second end of the cylinder, the second cylinder pivotally supported below the platform and the reciprocating rod pivotally connected to the distal end of the bracket portion of carriage; andmeans for selectively actuating the rod of the second cylinder between a first position wherein the carriage is positioned in the lowered position and a second position wherein the carriage is rotated so as to cause the second end of the trough portion of the carriage to be moved to the raised position.14. The pipe handling apparatus of claim 13 wherein the trough portion is substantially V-shaped.15. The pipe handling apparatus of claim 13 wherein the second end of the trough portion is provided with a pair of rollers for rollingly supporting the pipe when the carriage is in the raised position and the pusher member is moving along the pipe receiving groove.16. The pipe handling apparatus of claim 10 further comprising:a plurality of jack assemblies for selectively adjusting the height of the platform relative to the height of the pipe storage rack.17. The pipe handling apparatus of claim 10 wherein the platform further comprises a hand rail extending upwardly from at least one of a first side and a second side of the platform.18. The pipe handling apparatus of claim 10 wherein the platform further has a plurality of holes adjacent the pipe receiving groove on each side of the pipe receiving groove, and wherein the pipe handling apparatus further comprises:a plurality of stop members positioned in the holes of the platform on one side of the pipe receiving groove and extending upwardly from the platform to prevent the pipe from rolling through the pipe receiving groove.