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: 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: Apparatus and methods are provided for rotating the sucker rod strings of pumping equipment and adjusting the vertical position of the sucker rod string. The apparatuses can include a threaded tubular rod carrier or spindle and a polished rod can run through the rod carrier. The rod carrier can be held in place along the rod with a locking mechanism on the upper and lower ends of the rod carrier. A rotator can surround the rod carrier, and the rotator can include a wheel and a main thrust bearing, the wheel being in threaded connection with the threads of the rod carrier and supported by the main thrust bearing. The rotation of the wheel relative to the rod carrier can result in vertical movement of the rod and the vertical movement of the rod can be accomplished without disengaging the means for fixing the rod carrier to the rod.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for rotating the sucker rod strings of pumping equipment and adjusting the vertical position of the sucker rod string. The apparatuses can include a threaded tubular rod carrier or spindle and a polished rod can run through the rod carrier. The rod carrier can be held in place along the rod with a locking mechanism on the upper and lower ends of the rod carrier. A rotator can surround the rod carrier, and the rotator can include a wheel and a main thrust bearing, the wheel being in threaded connection with the threads of the rod carrier and supported by the main thrust bearing. The rotation of the wheel relative to the rod carrier can result in vertical movement of the rod and the vertical movement of the rod can be accomplished without disengaging the means for fixing the rod carrier to the rod.

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: 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: Apparatus and methods are provided for rotating the sucker rod strings of pumping equipment and adjusting the vertical position of the sucker rod string. The apparatuses can include a threaded tubular rod carrier or spindle and a polished rod can run through the rod carrier. The rod carrier can be held in place along the rod with a locking mechanism on the upper and lower ends of the rod carrier. A rotator can surround the rod carrier, and the rotator can include a wheel and a main thrust bearing, the wheel being in threaded connection with the threads of the rod carrier and supported by the main thrust bearing. The rotation of the wheel relative to the rod carrier can result in vertical movement of the rod and the vertical movement of the rod can be accomplished without disengaging the means for fixing the rod carrier to the rod.

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.

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: Apparatus and methods are provided for rotating the sucker rod strings of pumping equipment and adjusting the vertical position of the sucker rod string. The apparatuses can include a threaded tubular rod carrier or spindle and a polished rod can run through the rod carrier, The rod carrier can be held in place along the rod with a locking mechanism on the upper and lower ends of the rod carrier. A rotator can surround the rod carrier, and the rotator can include a wheel and a main thrust bearing, the wheel being in threaded connection with the threads of the rod carrier and supported by the main thrust bearing. The rotation of the wheel relative to the rod carrier can result in vertical movement of the rod and the vertical movement of the rod can be accomplished without disengaging the means for fixing the rod carrier to the rod.

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.

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.