Patents by Inventor Randy Gene Snider

Randy Gene Snider has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8230933
    Abstract: A torque head for gripping tubular members, in at least some aspects, has a housing, grip mechanism secured within the housing, the grip mechanism for selectively gripping a tubular member, the grip mechanism including at least one jaw selectively movable toward and away from a portion of a tubular member within the housing, the at least one jaw having mounted thereon slip apparatus for engaging the portion of the tubular member, the slip apparatus including die apparatus movably mounted to the at least one jaw, the die apparatus movable with respect to the at least one jaw so that relative movement of the tubular with respect to the torque head is possible to the extent that the die apparatus is movable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.
    Inventors: Randy Gene Snider, David Othman Shahin, John Timothy Allen, Kevin Leon Gray, Gary Thompson
  • Publication number: 20110232919
    Abstract: A torque head for gripping tubular members, in at least some aspects, has a housing, grip mechanism secured within the housing, the grip mechanism for selectively gripping a tubular member, the grip mechanism including at least one jaw selectively movable toward and away from a portion of a tubular member within the housing, the at least one jaw having mounted thereon slip apparatus for engaging the portion of the tubular member, the slip apparatus including die apparatus movably mounted to the at least one jaw, the die apparatus movable with respect to the at least one jaw so that relative movement of the tubular with respect to the torque head is possible to the extent that the die apparatus is movable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Inventors: Randy Gene Snider, David Othman Shahin, John Timothy Allen, Kevin Leon Gray, Gary Thompson
  • Patent number: 7918273
    Abstract: A torque head for gripping tubular members, in at least some aspects, has a housing, grip mechanism secured within the housing, the grip mechanism for selectively gripping a tubular member, the grip mechanism including at least one jaw selectively movable toward and away from a portion of a tubular member within the housing, the at least one jaw having mounted thereon slip apparatus for engaging the portion of the tubular member, the slip apparatus including die apparatus movably mounted to the at least one jaw, the die apparatus movable with respect to the at least one jaw so that relative movement of the tubular with respect to the torque head is possible to the extent that the die apparatus is movable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.
    Inventors: Randy Gene Snider, David Othman Shahin, John Timothy Allen, Kevin Leon Gray, Gary Thompson
  • Patent number: 7793719
    Abstract: A torque head for gripping tubular members, in at least some aspects, has a housing, grip mechanism secured within the housing, the grip mechanism for selectively gripping a tubular member, the grip mechanism including at least one jaw selectively movable toward and away from a portion of a tubular member within the housing, the at least one jaw having mounted thereon slip apparatus for engaging the portion of the tubular member, the slip apparatus including die apparatus movably mounted to the at least one jaw, the die apparatus movable with respect to the at least one jaw so that relative movement of the tubular with respect to the torque head is possible to the extent that the die apparatus is movable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.
    Inventors: Randy Gene Snider, David Othman Shahin, John Timothy Allen, Kevin Leon Gray, Gary Thompson
  • Patent number: 7712523
    Abstract: A torque head for gripping tubular members, in at least some aspects, has a housing, grip mechanism secured within the housing, the grip mechanism for selectively gripping a tubular member, the grip mechanism including at least one jaw selectively movable toward and away from a portion of a tubular member within the housing, the at least one jaw having mounted thereon slip apparatus for engaging the portion of the tubular member, the slip apparatus including die apparatus movably mounted to the at least one jaw, the die apparatus movable with respect to the at least one jaw so that relative movement of the tubular with respect to the torque head is possible to the extent that the die apparatus is movable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.
    Inventors: Randy Gene Snider, David Shahin, Jim Allen, Kevin Gray, Gary Thompson
  • Patent number: 7654325
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for handling tubulars and drilling with tubulars such as casing into a formation. In one aspect of the invention, the apparatus comprises a circulating head and a cementing head operatively connectible to a gripping member. The circulating head is used to circulate drilling fluid while drilling with casing, and the cementing head is used to cement the casing string within the formation at a desired depth. The present invention also relates to methods and apparatus for isolating a tensile load from a drilling apparatus rotated by a top drive. In one aspect, the present invention provides a load isolator apparatus having an isolator body operatively connected to the top drive and a torque body at least partially disposed in the isolator body. In operation, the bearing assembly transfers the tensile load from the torque body to the isolator body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard L. Giroux, David Shahin, Adrian Vuyk, Jr., Gary Thompson, Kevin Leon Gray, John Timothy Allen, Randy Gene Snider
  • Publication number: 20080110637
    Abstract: A torque head for gripping tubular members, in at least some aspects, has a housing, grip mechanism secured within the housing, the grip mechanism for selectively gripping a tubular member, the grip mechanism including at least one jaw selectively movable toward and away from a portion of a tubular member within the housing, the at least one jaw having mounted thereon slip apparatus for engaging the portion of the tubular member, the slip apparatus including die apparatus movably mounted to the at least one jaw, the die apparatus movable with respect to the at least one jaw so that relative movement of the tubular with respect to the torque head is possible to the extent that the die apparatus is movable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Publication date: May 15, 2008
    Inventors: Randy Gene Snider, David Othman Shahin, John Timothy Allen, Kevin Leon Gray, Gary Thompson
  • Patent number: 7325610
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for handling tubulars and drilling with tubulars such as casing into a formation. In one aspect of the invention, the apparatus comprises a circulating head and a cementing head operatively connectible to a gripping member. The circulating head is used to circulate drilling fluid while drilling with casing, and the cementing head is used to cement the casing string within the formation at a desired depth. The present invention also relates to methods and apparatus for isolating a tensile load from a drilling apparatus rotated by a top drive. In one aspect, the present invention provides a load isolator apparatus having an isolator body operatively connected to the top drive and a torque body at least partially disposed in the isolator body. In operation, the bearing assembly transfers the tensile load from the torque body to the isolator body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard L. Giroux, David Shahin, Adrian Vuyk, Jr., Gary Thompson, Kevin Leon Gray, John Timothy Allen, Randy Gene Snider
  • Publication number: 20030173073
    Abstract: A torque head for gripping tubular members, in at least some aspects, has a housing, grip mechanism secured within the housing, the grip mechanism for selectively gripping a tubular member, the grip mechanism including at least one jaw selectively movable toward and away from a portion of a tubular member within the housing, the at least one jaw having mounted thereon slip apparatus for engaging the portion of the tubular member, the slip apparatus including die apparatus movably mounted to the at least one jaw, the die apparatus movable with respect to the at least one jaw so that relative movement of the tubular with respect to the torque head is possible to the extent that the die apparatus is movable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2003
    Publication date: September 18, 2003
    Applicant: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.
    Inventors: Randy Gene Snider, David Othman Shahin, John Timothy Allen, Kevin Leon Gray, Gary Thompson
  • Publication number: 20030164276
    Abstract: A torque head for gripping tubular members, in at least some aspects, has a housing, grip mechanism secured within the housing, the grip mechanism for selectively gripping a tubular member, the grip mechanism including at least one jaw selectively movable toward and away from a portion of a tubular member within the housing, the at least one jaw having mounted thereon slip apparatus for engaging the portion of the tubular member, the slip apparatus including die apparatus movably mounted to the at least one jaw, the die apparatus movable with respect to the at least one jaw so that relative movement of the tubular with respect to the torque head is possible to the extent that the die apparatus is movable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2003
    Publication date: September 4, 2003
    Applicant: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.
    Inventors: Randy Gene Snider, David Othman Shahin, John Timothy Allen, Kevin Leon Gray, Gary Thompson
  • Patent number: 6536520
    Abstract: A torque head for gripping tubular members, in at least some aspects, has a housing, grip mechanism secured within the housing, the grip mechanism for selectively gripping a tubular member, the grip mechanism including at least one jaw selectively movable toward and away from a portion of a tubular member within the housing, the at least one jaw having mounted thereon slip apparatus for engaging the portion of the tubular member, the slip apparatus including die apparatus movably mounted to the at least one jaw, the die apparatus movable with respect to the at least one jaw so that relative movement of the tubular with respect to the torque head is possible to the extent that the die apparatus is movable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.
    Inventors: Randy Gene Snider, David Shahin, Jim Allen, Kevin Gray, Gary Thompson