Abstract: A linear actuator assembly that can include a drive shaft, and a piston, where rotation of the drive shaft extends or retracts the piston at a speed that automatically changes based on an opposing force applied to the piston. A system that can include a piece of rig equipment configured to engage an object, with one or more linear actuator assemblies incorporated into the piece of rig equipment, where the linear actuator assemblies selectively engage the object and each of the linear actuator assemblies can include a drive shaft, and a piston, and where rotation of the drive shaft extends or retracts the piston at a speed that automatically changes based on an opposing force applied to the piston.

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: A rod connector for coupling with a rod of a pump includes a cylinder including a bore, an actuator rotatably disposed in the bore of the cylinder, wherein the actuator is configured to actuate the rod connector between locked and unlocked positions, and a first coupler disposed in the bore of the cylinder and configured to releasably couple with a first rod of the pump, wherein the actuator includes an outer surface including a first pair of opposing engagement surfaces and a second pair of opposing engagement surfaces, and wherein a diameter extending between the first pair of engagement surfaces is less than a diameter extending between the second pair of surfaces.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a slip apparatus and methods of using same. The slips apparatus is configured to grip and hold a portion of a tubular, or a string of tubulars, within a central bore of the slips apparatus so that a tubular can be added or removed from the string of tubulars during drilling or other operations at a well.

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 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: A rod connector for coupling with a rod of a pump includes a cylinder including a bore, an actuator rotatably disposed in the bore of the cylinder, wherein the actuator is configured to actuate the rod connector between locked and unlocked positions, and a first coupler disposed in the bore of the cylinder and configured to releasably couple with a first rod of the pump, wherein the actuator includes an outer surface including a first pair of opposing engagement surfaces and a second pair of opposing engagement surfaces, and wherein a diameter extending between the first pair of engagement surfaces is less than a diameter extending between the second pair of surfaces.

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 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: 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: 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: 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.