Abstract: A tool joint for use in connecting sections of pipe string for use in drilling. The joint is a pin and box connection of the type used in oil well tubing, casing, and the like. The driveable threaded joint has dual mating shoulders and nose faces on the pin and box members. The connection is designed so that compressive loads on the pin and box members are transferred substantially through the pin and box shoulders rather than through the thread form. The dual mating shoulders substantially improve the joint's ability to withstand the intense axial compression loading that occurs when driving the pipe into the ground.

Abstract: An apparatus for optionally gripping and releasing a tube, said apparatus having an elevator with a set of slips for optionally gripping and releasing a tube and a spider with a set of slips for optionally gripping and releasing the other end of said tube, said elevator and spider slips being in communication one to the other by pressurized conduits, said conduits forming a pressure circuit to supply pressure to release one set of slips only when the other set of slips is gripping said tube, wherein said apparatus has improved response time, said spider may be hydraulically or pneumatically actuated and said elevator maybe pneumatically operated, and wherein said spider may be flush mounted; and methods.

Abstract: A fluid actuator for a hydraulically powered rotatable gripping device which combines a fluid pressure or force multiplication with the capability of a physical separation of the rotating jaws and the fluid power source to permit rotation of the jaws and any gripped object while maintaining clamping or gripping pressure.

Abstract: An apparatus for making up or breaking out of two members having mating threaded connections, such as pipe joints or bolts for avoiding undesirable transverse forces relative to the two members during tightening (or loosening), thereby insuring the connection is made up (or broken out) by essentially pure torque loads.The apparatus includes a power-driven lead tong, a back-up tong, a load cell which cooperates with either tong to produce a torque measurement and an interconnecting frame and isolation apparatus which eliminates transverse forces relative to the two threaded members. The power-driven lead tong rotatingly drives the first threaded member about its axis either clockwise or counterclockwise, as required. The back-up tong secures the second threaded member against axial rotation in response to the rotation of the first member.

Abstract: An apparatus for gripping tubular members about their outer diameter without causing surface damage or structural deformation to the tubular members, so that they may be axially rotated or secured against axial rotation. A generally cylindrical internal sleeve is contained within a molded flexible liner. One side of the internal sleeve is releasably attached to the flexible liner, forming an annular bladder-like structure within the flexible liner. Introduction of pressure into the bladder-like structure causes the flexible liner to inflate radially inward and thereby grip tubular workpieces within the friction grip. Axial splines on the releasable side of internal sleeve interfit mate with corresponding splines of the molded flexible liner, thereby evenly distribute torque forces throughout the flexible liner rather than such torque forces being concentrated at only the edges of the flexible liner.

Abstract: An apparatus for making up and breaking out of pipe, bolts or other threaded members, and for measuring the amount of torque being applied to the threaded connection, without causing the application of undesirable transverse forces during the tightening or loosening process.The apparatus includes a conventional power-driven lead tong, a back-up tong with a pivotal mounted inner frame which cooperates with a load cell, and an isolated torsional transfer structure which interconnects the lead tong and back-up tong through pairs of three mutually peripendicular linear slides. The load cell, pivotally mounted inner frame and external housing of the back-up tong cooperate to produce a torque measurement without creating any unpaired linear forces against the connection being made.