Abstract: A wrench for making up or breaking up a pipe joint is provided. The wrench comprises a tong assembly having an upper tong and a lower tong. The upper tong has a first upper tong half pivotably connected to a second upper tong half at their first ends. The lower tong has a first lower tong half pivotably connected to a second lower tong half at their first ends. A central bearing operatively couples the upper tong and the lower tong to allow the upper tong to rotate relative to the lower tong or vice versa. The tong assembly has a ram assembly for pushing or pulling the upper tong at a tangential location thereof and the ram assembly is retracted or extended to move the tong assembly between an open position, a closed position, and a rotated closed position where the upper tong is rotated relative to the lower tong.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to pipe handling apparatus that comprise a base, an elongate door, a pipe carrier and a lift member. In some embodiments the lift member is pivotally connected at one end to the base and pivotally connected to the pipe carrier at the other end. In some embodiments, the apparatus includes further features that provide full capture of the pipe carrier by the elongate door and the lift member. In some embodiments the pipe carrier is moved substantially along the elongate door by a combined actuator, shiv and cable system.

Abstract: A self-amplifying safety brake for a disc is provided. The brake includes: a housing; a spring assembly oriented perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the disc, the spring assembly including a first spring end and a second spring end; a sleeve assembly co-axially housing the spring assembly, wherein movement of the sleeve assembly in a first co-axial direction compresses the spring assembly at the first spring end and movement of the sleeve assembly in a second co-axial direction decompresses the spring assembly at the first spring end; a spring compressor configured to move the sleeve assembly in the first and second co-axial directions; a brake plate for frictionally engaging the disc; a lever-cam assembly associated with the sleeve assembly and the brake plate, the lever-cam assembly configured to translate movement of the sleeve assembly in the first coaxial direction into movement of the brake plate away from the disc.

Abstract: Modified tong assemblies for drilling rig floor wrenches are provided, each tong assembly providing die blocks having “quick-release” gripping die for gripping and manipulating wellbore tubulars. According to embodiments herein, each tong assembly includes die blocks forming at least two opposed slots for receiving the die within the slots, and having at least one spring-actuated retainer pin for releasably securing the die within the slots.

Abstract: A torque wrench is provided. The torque wrench has housing and a rotating assembly rotatably mounted in the housing. The rotating assembly has a gripping assembly with an aperture for receiving a tubular and a plurality of die assemblies; a bevel pinion carrier assembly with a bevel pinion carrier and a bevel pinion mounted in the bevel pinion carrier; an upper ring gear fixed to an upper bevel gear rotatably connected to the bevel pinion at an upper side of the bevel pinion carrier; a lower ring gear fixed to a lower bevel gear rotatably connected to the bevel pinion at a lower side of the bevel pinion carrier; and first and second members threadably coupleable with each other, the first threadably coupleable member fixedly connected to the bevel pinion and the second threadably coupleable member drivingly connected to the die assembly, wherein rotation of the bevel pinion drives the die assembly toward and away from the tubular.

Abstract: A floor wrench for a drilling rig floor is provided. The wrench can include a tong assembly having upper and lower tongs made up of articulated tong blocks that can move and lock together to enclose and make or break a joint between sections of drilling pipe. Each tong block can include a pair of die ram assemblies wherein each tong can have dies to grip the drilling pipe around its circumference. The tong assembly can be mounted in a frame configured for horizontal and vertical movement to and from the pipe joint. In some embodiments, the wrench can further include a pipe spinner having motorized spinners that can spin the upper pipe to form the joint prior to torqueing the joint together, or for uncoupling the upper pipe after the joint is broken.

Abstract: An adaptable pipe transitioning system and method that can easily be used with drilling platforms varying in height is provided. The adjustable pipe handler includes a base having a surface forming a track for receiving at least one pipe, a lift arm having a first end being pivotally mounted to the front section of the base and a second end resting against the elevated platform, the lift arm being positionable at an incline from the base, and forming a channel operably corresponding to the track of the base for receiving the at least one pipe therefrom, and a transitioning arm, movably connected to both the base and the lift arm, for positioning the lift arm, the transitioning arm also forming a channel operably corresponding to the track of the base for receiving at least one pipe therefrom and guiding the pipe along the lift arm to the elevated platform.

Abstract: A spinner wrench for use on a drilling rig is provided. In some embodiments, the wrench can comprise three or more spinning rollers that can be disposed around a tubular. The three or more rollers can be connected to three or more hydraulic rams. In some embodiments, each ram can be connected to a single roller and the axis of the ram can be in a plane perpendicular to the pipe axis but not intersecting the pipe axis. For improved performance during make-up, in planar view, each ram axis can be offset to a counterclockwise direction around the drill pipe axis. For improved performance during break-out, in planar view, each ram axis can be offset to the clockwise direction. In some embodiments, the three or more rollers can be disposed around the drilling pipe or other tubular by a main body and one or more latching bodies.

Abstract: A gearbox for a roller in a spinner wrench is provided. In some embodiments, the gearbox can be disposed internally to the roller and can include a sun and planet type epicyclical gear-reduction assembly. In further embodiments, the gearbox can include a second sun and planet type epicyclical gear-reduction assembly to provide for a second, or final, stage reduction. Some embodiments can provide for reduction-ratios close to 3:1 and can be driven by a relatively small motor. The planet gears can be used to drive an annular gear which can spin the roller. In some embodiments, the gearbox can use high-capacity bearings.