Abstract: An elevator apparatus for manipulating well bore tubing includes a circular body having a top and a central cavity around a body axis. The cavity has a diameter allowing the collar portion of the tubing to pass longitudinally therethrough. A plurality of cavity restricting members above the body, supported on and spaced apart around the top of the body, have proximal and distal portions in respect to the cavity. One or more actuators are operatively associated with the petal plates for moving the proximal portion of each cavity restricting member into the cavity an extent sufficient, in combination with the other cavity restricting members so moved, to prevent passage of the collar portion of the tubing through the cavity, thereby to hold the tubing with the elevator.

Abstract: A die used in slip and elevator assemblies in oil and gas drilling operations for gripping tubular members while coupling and uncoupling joints, the die including electroless nickel plated, non-interrupted knurled teeth with a truncated pyramid shape and a dimple therein which reduces die surface penetration, thereby reducing wall loss due to die penetration, stress cracking, and carbon transfer leading to acid corrosion in oil and gas field tubular members and especially to corrosive resistive alloy tubular members.

Abstract: An improved die insert for gripping oil field tubular members in tubular handling systems such as power tongs, slips, safety clamps and the like. The die insert has a gripping surface which comprises a backing surface adapted to contact the tubular member. The backing surface may be smooth or it may have a series of teeth formed thereon. The backing surface further has a granulated particle coating applied thereto which forms the gripping surface of the present invention. In a preferred embodiment, the gripping surface will include a refractory metal carbide selected from the group consisting of the carbides of silicon, tungsten, molybdenum, chromium, tantalum, niobium, vanadium, titanium, zirconium, and boron.

Abstract: A device that is manually manipulated to engage and or grip the inside of a tube sufficiently to transmit an upward pull on a tube to loosen it and remove it from its stuck condition. Its use includes a special METHOD of jarring the tube; a feature that causes high impact upward forces to be transmitted to a tube. This aids tremendously in removing it from severely stuck conditions. The tube referred to is in the pipe extending up from the underground gas tanks at gasoline service stations.

Abstract: A pipe clamping apparatus for an oil well in accordance with the present invention includes a body which is formed with an opening for receiving the pipe. Two cages are mounted to the body opposite the body opening from each other. Each cage includes a pair of spaced-apart guide plates which are formed with a cam slot. A cam follower pin is inserted into the cam slot and a pair of guide arms are attached to the cam follower pin at one end. At the other ends of the guide arms, a pair of slip assemblies and one end of a retractor arm are positioned between the guide arms and attached to the cage. The other end of the retractor arm is rotatably attached to the cage via a crankshaft. Rotation of the crankshaft cause the retractor arms to pivot. The pivoting of the retractor arm causes the guide arms to move toward the body opening along a predetermined path defined by the cam slot.

Abstract: Shaped plates are provided, one above each side of a spider, to replace the bails and links used to suspend the spider and its pipe payloads. The load applied to the housing suspension hard points, whether ears or lugs, to suspend the spider is transferred to the rig floor by the plates. The plates are preferably shaped to balance about a cross pin situated in a cross bore in the plates. The plates are not inclined to tilt whether being hoisted or loaded by the spider. The spider is submerged into the rotary opening and results in reduced height of pipe string connections to be worked.

Abstract: An improved die insert for gripping oil field tubular members in tubular handling systems such as power tongs, slips, safety clamps and the like. The die insert has a gripping surface which comprises a backing surface adapted to contact the tubular member. The backing surface may be smooth or it may have a series of teeth formed thereon. The backing surface further has a granulated particle coating applied thereto which forms the gripping surface of the present invention. In a preferred embodiment, the gripping surface will include a refractory metal carbide selected from the group consisting of the carbides of silicon, tungsten, molybdenum, chromium, tantalum, niobium, vanadium, titanium, zirconium, and boron.

Abstract: A conventional center-latch elevator with smooth slip segments of the present invention is employed to grip and suspend a pipe without damaging the pipe surface. The slip segments are made of aluminum or another material that is softer than the material of the pipe. The elimination of rough surfaces on the slip segments prevents damage to the external pipe surface. A threaded lift connector is secured to the box end of the pipe to be lifted. The lift connector forces spring-loaded slip segments down into the conical bowl of the elevator to move the segments radially inwardly into gripping engagement with the pipe. The axial forces exerted by the elevator against the bottom of the lift connector are transmitted through the connector to the threads engaged in the pipe. The arrangement prevents the forces of the elevator from being transmitted to the base of the coupling connected to the pipe to prevent coupling damage or disengagement of the coupling from the threaded pipe end.

Abstract: A combined well casing spider and elevator has a body defining a bowl inner wall tapered to reduced diameter from the top to bottom end and defining first external guide surfaces being inclined upwardly and outwardly and having a kicker element defining a second coextensive external guide surface being inclined upwardly and outwardly to a greater extent than the first external guide surface. A gate member is pivoted to the body for movement of a well casing to and from the bowl. A circumferential array of casing gripping slips is located within the bowl and form a circular hole to receive a well casing. The slips are vertically movable along the bowl inner wall to effect radial enlargement and contraction of the circular hole to release and grip the casing.