Abstract: A power tong is provided for rotating a pipe, the power tong comprising: a frame having a pair of arcuate front portions defining a throat for receiving the pipe; a ring gear mounted for rotation on the arcuate front portions about a center of rotation, the ring gear having an opening that is alignable with the throat; and a cage plate assembly mounted for rotation on the ring gear on a bearing arrangement that includes roller bearings and a bushing sliding segment on each side of the throat. Taking the throat as having a center line that defines a zero circumferential position within the power tong, the bearing sliding segments may be located within 90 degrees of the throat center line.

Abstract: A power tong is provided for rotating a pipe, the power tong comprising: a frame having a pair of arcuate front portions defining a throat for receiving the pipe; a ring gear mounted for rotation on the arcuate front portions about a center of rotation, the ring gear having an opening that is alignable with the throat; and a cage plate assembly mounted for rotation on the ring gear on a bearing arrangement that includes roller bearings and a bushing sliding segment on each side of the throat. Taking the throat as having a center line that defines a zero circumferential position within the power tong, the bearing sliding segments may be located within 90 degrees of the throat center line.

Abstract: A power tong for rotating a pipe, the power tong comprising: a frame having a pair of arcuate front portions defining a throat for receiving the pipe; a cage plate assembly mounted for rotation on the arcuate front portions about a center of rotation, the cage plate assembly having an opening that is alignable with the throat; a ring gear mounted for rotation within, and supported by, the cage plate assembly about the center of rotation, the ring gear having an opening that is alignable with the throat; the ring gear cooperating with jaws mounted on the cage plate assembly for gripping the pipe upon rotation of the ring gear.

Abstract: A power tong for rotating a pipe, the power tong comprising: a frame having a pair of arcuate front portions defining a throat for receiving the pipe; a cage plate assembly mounted for rotation on the arcuate front portions about a center of rotation, the cage plate assembly having an opening that is alignable with the throat; a ring gear mounted for rotation within, and supported by, the cage plate assembly about the center of rotation, the ring gear having an opening that is alignable with the throat; the ring gear cooperating with jaws mounted on the cage plate assembly for gripping the pipe upon rotation of the ring gear.

Abstract: A tubing spider includes a rigid support frame having a plurality of support posts and an upper and lower support ring separated by said support posts, a pyramidal frustum formed by a plurality of inclined planes rigidly attached to the support frame, a plurality of slips moveable along the inclined planes and hydraulic cylinders for actuating the slips. The pyramidal frustum and the range of travel of the slips extends substantially the entire length of the support frame between the upper and lower support rings. These slips define a cylindrical opening, the diameter of which changes as the slips move along the range of travel. In one embodiment, the support frame may be opened up as the upper and lower support rings are comprised of two hemispherical halves which are joined together in a hinged manner.

Abstract: A power tong system, comprising a frame having a rear support and a front support, the front support comprising a first front leg and a second front leg; and a power tong mounted in the frame with the power tong extending transversely between the first front leg and the second front leg, the first front leg and the second front leg forming a guide preventing transverse motion of the power tong while allowing vertical movement of the power tong. The system is also preferably provided with a backup tong. The sides of the power tong are preferably provided with rollers to prevent friction between the power tong and the guide. In a second power tong system, a load cell assembly is provided in which a load cell is linked by a series of links to the power tong such that movement by the power tong in either of two transverse directions loads the load cell.