With Additional Work-engaging Means Patents (Class 81/57.16)
  • Patent number: 6722231
    Abstract: A pipe making and breaking apparatus having top, middle and bottom wrenches connected to a frame. A torquing cylinder operatively extends between the middle wrench and the frame and when actuated through one or more torquing cycles causes an upper pipe to make (top and middle wrenches) or break (middle and bottom wrenches) relative to a lower pipe. A grip hold actuator maintains the middle wrench in the gripping position continuously during the making torquing cycles. A continuous chain spinner above the top wrench spins the top pipe to make a position or away from a make position. The spinner can be a stand alone unit or can hang freely in the derrick or can be part of the make/break apparatus. A spinner drive chain motor when pressurized and when an oiler button is actuated causes lubricant to be sprayed out a nozzle on the (moving) chain. Windows (guide gates) and/or guide posts direct the chain so as to not bunch up against the casing sprockets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Hawk Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas D Hauk, Raul Hector Perez
  • Publication number: 20040069097
    Abstract: A pipe making and breaking apparatus having top, middle and bottom wrenches connected to a frame. A torquing cylinder operatively extends between the middle wrench and the frame and when actuated through one or more torquing cycles causes an upper pipe to make (top and middle wrenches) or break (middle and bottom wrenches) relative to a lower pipe. A grip hold actuator maintains the middle wrench in the gripping position continuously during the making torquing cycles. A continuous chain spinner above the top wrench spins the top pipe to make a position or away from a make position. The spinner can be a stand alone unit or can hang freely in the derrick or can be part of the make/break apparatus. A spinner drive chain motor when pressurized and when an oiler button is actuated causes lubricant to be sprayed out a nozzle on the (moving) chain. Windows (guide gates) and/or guide posts direct the chain so as to not bunch up against the casing sprockets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2003
    Publication date: April 15, 2004
    Inventors: Thomas D. Hauk, Raul Hector Perez
  • Patent number: 6684737
    Abstract: This invention relates to a rotary and a method for facilitating the connection of pipes, and more particularly, but not exclusively, to a rotary for a powered drill pipe tong for facilitating the connection of sections or strands of drill pipe to a string of drill pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.
    Inventors: Joerg Eric Schulze-Beckinghausen, Bernd-Georg Pietras
  • Patent number: 6634259
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an apparatus and method for controlling a power tong unit having a power spinner and, in a preferred embodiment, three power jaws. The control system controls grip pressure applied by a selected power jaw to a first wellbore tubular to provide a relatively reduced grip pressure when the power spinner is activated to thereby rotate a second wellbore tubular at a relatively high rotation speed but with a relatively low torque. The control system applies a relatively high grip pressure to two selected power jaws used for applying high torque but at a relatively slow rotation speed for final making up or initial breaking out of the wellbore tubulars with respect to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignee: Frank's International, Inc.
    Inventor: Dale J. Castille
  • Publication number: 20030056623
    Abstract: A vise apparatus for use on a drilling machine to thread together pipe to form a drill string. The vise apparatus also for use on a drilling machine to break pipe threaded together in a drill string. The vise apparatus having scissor members that open to receive various size pipe diameters and close to contact the pipe around the pipe diameter at equally distanced locations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2002
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Applicant: Vermeer Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Robin W. Carlson
  • Patent number: 6505531
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a transverse bitbreaker plate, which is attached to the lower surface of a power wrench to effect the coupling or decoupling of downhole tools such as bits or stabilizers. The plate is hinged and provides a generally triangular shaped profile along through its transverse surface which mates with the bit or stabilizer, which is to be connected or disconnected. The hinged plate is removably attached below the power wrench with pins so that it may be used and removed in a minimum of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2003
    Assignee: Access Oil Tools, Inc.
    Inventor: Huey Stogner
  • Publication number: 20020178871
    Abstract: A pipe making and breaking apparatus having top, middle and bottom wrenches connected to a frame. A torquing cylinder operatively extends between the middle wrench and the frame and when actuated through one or more torquing cycles causes an upper pipe to make (top and middle wrenches) or break (middle and bottom wrenches) relative to a lower pipe. A grip hold actuator maintains the middle wrench in the gripping position continuously during the making torquing cycles. A continuous chain spinner above the top wrench spins the top pipe to make a position or away from a make position. The spinner can be a stand alone unit or can hang freely in the derrick or can be part of the make/break apparatus. A spinner drive chain motor when pressurized and when an oiler button is actuated causes lubricant to be sprayed out a nozzle on the (moving) chain. Windows (guide gates) and/or guide posts direct the chain so as to not bunch up against the casing sprockets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2002
    Publication date: December 5, 2002
    Inventors: Thomas D. Hauk, Raul Hector Perez
  • Publication number: 20020157823
    Abstract: Apparatus for applying torque to a first tubular relative to a second tubular, the apparatus comprising a first tong for gripping the first tubular and a second tong for gripping the second tubular, wherein the first tong is provided with teeth around a peripheral surface thereof, the second tong is provided with at least one pinion, and the pinion meshes with the teeth in such a way that the first tong and the second tong can be rotated relative to one another when the pinion is rotated. The apparatus may include a positioning apparatus for determining the position of the tubular relative to the tong. The positioning apparatus comprising a plunger movably disposed on a base and coupled to a visual indicator. The plunger includes a contact member disposed at one end, whereby contact with the tubular causes the plunger to move along the base and the distance traveled is indicated by the visual indicator. The apparatus may further include a torque measuring flange.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2002
    Publication date: October 31, 2002
    Inventors: Bernd-Georg Pietras, Andreas Carlsson, Jorg Erich Schulze-Beckinhausen
  • Patent number: 6460634
    Abstract: A pipe clamp for use in oil field operations is provided. The pipe clamp is particularly useful where pipe, casing or tubing must be grasped firmly. The pipe clamp is designed to be safer than existing technology by incorporating a lighter weight design that is self aligning and can be controlled from a relatively remote location. The pipe clamp is comprises a gripping head which wraps around the pipe, an actuator extending radially from the gripping head, and a chain wrapped around the gripping head and connected to a mount located at the radially distant end of the actuator. As the actuator extends, it increases the distance between the gripping head and the mount, thus the chain tightens the friction surfaces of the gripping head about the pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Inventors: Christopher A Hart, David Cannan
  • Publication number: 20020062717
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a transverse bitbreaker plate, which is attached to the lower surface of a power wrench to effect the coupling or decoupling of downhole tools such as bits or stabilizers. The plate is hinged and provides a generally triangular shaped profile along through its transverse surface which mates with the bit or stabilizer, which is to be connected or disconnected. The hinged plate is removably attached below the power wrench with pins so that it may be used and removed in a minimum of time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2000
    Publication date: May 30, 2002
    Inventor: Huey Stogner
  • Patent number: 6374706
    Abstract: Tongs for assembling sucker rods of oil wells include a switch that senses movement of the tong's backup wrench relative to the tong's housing. When screwing two sucker rods into a threaded coupling, an upper jaw of the tongs rotates an upper sucker rod relative to a lower sucker rod, while the backup wrench holds the lower rod relatively stationary. When the tongs apply a torque that indicates that the threaded connection is beyond hand tight (i.e., at the shoulder point), a torque reaction force kicks the backup wrench to a position that trips the switch. A control responsive to the switch and a rotation sensor monitors and/or controls the threaded connection's circumferential displacement past the shoulder point. By sensing the position of the backup wrench directly, the switch can consistently identify the shoulder point independent of the tong's. hydraulic pressure, thus avoiding oil viscosity related errors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Inventor: Frederic M. Newman
  • Patent number: 6360633
    Abstract: An apparatus for aligning a first tubular and a second tubular, in certain aspects, the first tubular extending through a power tong and the second tubular extending through a backup tong, the apparatus including positioning apparatus for guiding the power tong with respect to the backup tong and for maintaining said power tong and said backup tong in a certain juxtaposition during a tubular stabbing operation, the positioning apparatus including a plurality of spaced-apart locating rods projecting from one of said power tong and said backup tong and a plurality of spaced-apart blocks on the other of said power tong and said backup tong, and each block having a recess shaped to receive an end of one of the plurality of spaced-apart locating rods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.
    Inventor: Bernd-Georg Pietras
  • Patent number: 6318214
    Abstract: A power tong positioning apparatus positionable on the surface of drilling rig deck and attachable to at least one power tong. The power tong support is adapted to position at least one power tong so that it may engage a tubular member. The power tong positioning apparatus includes a frame, a base movably positioned on the frame, and a power tong support attached to the base and movably attachable to at least one power tong.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Inventor: David A. Buck
  • Patent number: 6311789
    Abstract: A bit breaker is formed of a U-shaped base and latchable gate which closes the U. When the gate is in a closed position, evenly spaced chocks on both the base and gate protrude into the central cavity of the bit breaker to engage slots formed in the bit. The bit breaker is designed to be used with either roller cone bits or drag bits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: William C. Saxman
  • Patent number: 6253845
    Abstract: A roller for use in a spinner apparatus for installing a pipe segment in a well pipe including a core member having a central aperture, and a plurality of annular members arranged in stacked relation over the core member. The plurality of annular members are secured together. The core member includes a generally tubular section having a first end and a second end, and a flange section extending radially outwardly of the tubular section between the first and second ends. The flange section has a greater diameter than the tubular section. The flange section includes a plurality of holes formed therein. Each of the annular members has a plurality of holes formed therein. The holes of the annular member are aligned with the holes of the flange section. Fasteners extending through the holes in the flange section and the plurality of annular members. A first cap member is positioned at one end of the plurality of annular members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Inventor: Jaroslav Belik
  • Patent number: 6212976
    Abstract: A combination torque wrench and positioning assembly are used to provide the torque wrench function to both make up/break out pipe stands and to service drill string. While serving to make up/break out pipe stands, the wrench is positioned over and used in conjunction with a rotary or powered mouse-hole. When servicing drill string, the wrench is positioned over the drill bore rotary table. The combination of the present apparatus allows the rapid make up of pipe stands having individually torqued connections, eliminates the need for top drive torquing, and reduces the need for tongs and spin chains to handle drill pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Inventor: Huey Stogner