Multi-stage pipe feeder

Abstract

A wheeled cart travels on rails between a pipeline moving path and a pipe supply path. The cart is provided with a liftable upper housing having a plurality of pipe holding saddles thereon. Stationary pipe supports having a plurality of corresponding saddles are located adjacent the cart. A hydraulic cylinder reciprocates the cart such that one end of the cart can be brought beneath a pipe or double pipe section at the pipe supply path, and upon extension of the cylinder, the saddle at the opposite end of the cart can be positioned beneath the pipeline moving path. By alternately raising and lowering the upper housing and reciprocating the cart, multiple pipes are stepped from the pipe supply path to the pipeline moving path. The saddle on the cart at the pipeline moving path can be lowered independently of the upper housing for locating a pipe in axial alignment with the pipeline in the pipeline moving path, and, preferably, this saddle is provided with spinning rollers for rotationally aligning the pipe with the pipeline. Another embodiment illustrates moving the cart beyond the pipeline moving path for unloading pipe in the opposite side of the pipeline moving path. Still another embodiment illustrates increasing the movement of the cart such that the next to the last saddle at the pipe supply end of the cart can be positioned beneath the pipe in the pipe supply path to more rapidly make up voids in the cart.