Round Work Patents (Class 81/57.15)
  • Patent number: 11339565
    Abstract: A mast assembly for a drilling rig includes a mast formed from a plurality of mast subunits. The mast assembly includes a lower drilling machine, upper drilling machine, and upper mud assembly, each of which is coupled to and movable vertically relative to the mast. The mast subunits are separable when the mast is in a transport configuration such that the LDM is positioned in a first subunit and the UDM is in a second subunit of the mast when the mast is in the transport configuration. The mast assembly may be used during a continuous drilling operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: NABORS DRILLING TECHNOLOGIES USA, INC
    Inventors: Ashish Gupta, Padira Reddy, Denver Lee
  • Patent number: 11255141
    Abstract: A power tong having a door that pivots in a vertical plane that is parallel to a plane that includes the axis of the tubular being made up or broken down by the power tong. The door is pivotally coupled to a power tong body for movement between an open position, that allows a tubular joint to be introduced through a throat and into a bay of the power tong, and a closed position that closes the bay of the power tong to enable the gripping and rotating components of the power tong to be engaged to grip and rotate the tubular joint introduced into the power tong. The power tong door includes structures that are engaged upon pivotal closure of the door with corresponding structures on the power tong body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Eckel Manufacturing Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Randolph Lewis Stuart, Dwayne Austin Weddle
  • Patent number: 11167404
    Abstract: The invention relates to a rotary table (1) for positioning a workpiece by means of a manual drive (4a, 4b), said rotary table comprising a base plate (2) having a base plate-side transmission device (20), and also comprising a bearing plate (3), mounted rotatably on the base plate and having a bearing plate-side transmission device (30), which is configured to rotate the bearing plate (3) relative to the base plate (2) by means of a drive (4), wherein the base plate (2) is formed as a two-part or multi-part component composed of at least two plate segments (2a, 2b), and wherein the bearing plate (3) is formed as a two-part or multi-part component composed of at least two plate segments (3a, 3b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: FIBRO GMBH
    Inventor: Juergen Gurt
  • Patent number: 10184588
    Abstract: A tensioner pad assembly is adapted to be mounted on an endless track of a tensioner to frictionally clamp an elongated product supported and moved by the tensioner. The pad assembly includes a carrier member and a pair of gripping members, which gripping members can with their carrier member mating surfaces be mounted in multiple discrete gripping positions on gripping member mating surfaces of the carrier member. The mating surfaces form interlocking structures adapted to transfer a squeeze force from the carrier member to the gripping members. The interlocking structures provided on the carrier member define the multiple discrete gripping positions. The gripping member mating surfaces extend at an angle relative to each other, such that the multiple discrete gripping positions differ in their distance to the base portion as well as in their distance to the imaginary plane of the carrier member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: ITREC B.V.
    Inventors: Terence Willem August Vehmeijer, Jeroen Adrianus Joseph Donkers, Joop Roodenburg, Jilles Mattheus De Klerk
  • Patent number: 10046472
    Abstract: A rotating log saw clamp for clamping a product roll to be sawn. The rotating log saw clamp includes a first portion disposed for rotation about an axis and a second portion disposed for rotation with the first portion and movable relative to the first portion between an open position and a clamping position. The second portion is rotatable from the clamping position to the open position by relative rotation of the first and second rotating portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: C.G. Bretting Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne G. Rundell, Eric J. Lumberg, Mark A. Stackley
  • Patent number: 9745806
    Abstract: A drill rod gripping apparatus to grip and impart rotational motion to a drill rod including a sled axially mounted at a frame and having first and second jaws moveably mounted at the sled to allow a substantially linear lateral movement across the sled to and from one another. A plurality of rod engagers are mounted at each jaw with at least one of the engagers including an abrasive surface formed from a coating to increase the frictional force between the drill rod and the gripping apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: SANDVIK INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AB
    Inventors: Johan Jelgert, Lars-Erik Larsson, Krister B Eriksson, Ola Fredin
  • Patent number: 9657538
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides techniques and methods of tripping rods and tubulars. Specifically, the disclosure provides techniques for pulling a rod string out of hole and delivering the pulled out rod segments into a rod storage and racking system. The disclosure also provides techniques for pulling a tubular string out of hole and delivering the pulled out tubular segments into a tubular storage and racking system. The disclosure further provides techniques for delivering rods from the rod storage and racking system and running the rods down-hole. The disclosure also provides techniques for delivering tubulars from the tubular storage and racking system and running the tubulars down-hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Key Energy Services, LLC
    Inventors: Derrek Yorga, Derrick Jackson, Paul Knapp, Dave Richard, Minhao Yin, Harold James Miller
  • Patent number: 9366097
    Abstract: A power tong having a self-contained hydraulic power system within its rotating body converts mechanical energy from at least one mechanical link to hydraulic energy within the self-contained hydraulic power system. Energy applied from the non-rotating portion of the power tong is transferred to the mechanical link that links the fixed portion with the rotating portion of the power tong thus removing the need for rotary seals. The mechanical energy transferred to the self-contained hydraulic power system within the rotating body is used to extend and retract one or more grippers in contact with, for example, a tubular of well equipment drill strings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: HONGHUA AMERICA, LLC
    Inventors: Guo Qiang George Hu, Milan Cerovsek, Richie Paez
  • Patent number: 9341043
    Abstract: A pressure control apparatus and methodology related to a drilling operation has a housing such as, for example, a bearing assembly configured to engage an item of oilfield equipment being delivered through the oilfield pressure control apparatus. The housing has an upper and/or a lower portion with a seal element coupled to the upper and/or lower portion and configured to seal around the item of oilfield equipment. A guide is coupled proximate the seal element. The guide is configured to support and/or limit lateral deflection of the seal element during the lateral deflection of the seal element created by movement of the item of oilfield equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas F. Bailey, James W. Chambers
  • Patent number: 9010219
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Universe Machine Corporation
    Inventors: Kurt R. Feigel, Jr., Vladimir G. Pohnert
  • Patent number: 8942845
    Abstract: A robot includes a gripping section and a main body section to which the pair of finger sections are attached, having one end sections of the pair of finger sections rotatably connected to each other around a first rotating shaft disposed at a position separate from the main body section, and adapted to open and close the pair of finger sections by swinging the other side of the pair of finger sections on a plane parallel to a mounting surface on which an object is mounted centered on the first rotating shaft to thereby grip the object, a moving device adapted to relatively move the object and the gripping section, and a control device adapted to control the moving device to move the gripping section relatively toward the object, and grip the object with the gripping section at at least three contact points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yukihiro Yamaguchi, Tatsuya Hosoda, Kazuhiro Kosuge, Yasuhisa Hirata
  • Publication number: 20140245867
    Abstract: A spinner assembly for threading or unthreading tubular members above the floor of a well site has a spinner with an open throat, a plurality of rollers rotatable about a substantially vertical axis, a motor for driving the plurality of rollers, and a plurality of brackets supporting the plurality of rollers. The open throat is suitable for receiving one of the tubular members therein. The spinner housing has a common axis. The plurality of rollers are adapted to engage the tubular member received in the open throat. The brackets are disposed within the spinner housing on opposite sides of the open throat. The brackets are movable inwardly and outwardly of the spinner housing in opposite directions at a substantially straight line along the common axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Inventor: Yaogen GE
  • Patent number: 8783137
    Abstract: Spinners for spinning drill pipe to rotary drill wells wherein the spinners have one or more drive rollers wherein one embodiment the drive rollers have an upper section that is a metal core with an upper flanged area and a lower section comprised of an elastomeric material. In a second embodiment the surface areas of the drive rollers that contact the drill pipe are all metallic and the drive rollers have an upper cylindrical section and one or more conical sections below the upper cylindrical section that are progressively smaller in diameter moving downward from the upper cylindrical section. In a third embodiment the surface areas of the drive rollers that contact the drill pipe are all metallic and are comprised of a cylindrical section and a predominately spherical section below the cylindrical section. In a fourth embodiment the surface area of the drive rollers that contacts the drill pipe is all metallic and has a predominately spherical section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Blohm + Voss Oil Tools, LLC
    Inventor: William R. Hamilton
  • Publication number: 20140174261
    Abstract: A power tong assembly and backup tong assembly are disclosed. The power tong assembly includes a drive motor driving a drive gear engaged with a rotatable portion of a bearing assembly. The rotatable portion of the bearing assembly is connected to a cylindrical rotor positioned concentrically about jaws that grippingly engage and rotate a first tubular member when the portion of the bearing assembly rotates. The backup tong assembly comprises a pair of diametrically opposed gripper assemblies each having a cylinder with a cylinder rod, connected to a head member, connected to a pair of gripper members with gripping surfaces, so that extension of the cylinder rods causes the gripper members to grippingly engage a second tubular member. The power tong assembly and the backup tong assembly may be concentrically aligned to connect and disconnect the first and second tubular members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2013
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: American Certification and Pull Testing, LLC
    Inventor: Troy A. Rodgers
  • Patent number: 8667869
    Abstract: A tubular makeup and breakout assembly 10 includes a top spinner 20, an intermediate power tong 12 and a lower backup tong 14. The spinner comprises a frame 22 which houses a pair of hydraulic cylinders 24. A plurality of rollers 26 are each intended for frictional engagement with an outer surface of a tubular to rotate the tubular. Each roller 26 is powered by hydraulic drive motor 28. The roller receives a suitable drive shaft rotatably powered by the motor and having a polygonal cross-sectional configuration. The roller comprises segments which may be removed without removing the motor or the drive shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Inventor: Yaogen Ge
  • Patent number: 8601911
    Abstract: A tong assembly from manipulating a tubular, wherein, the assembly has a make-up/break-out arm or a backup arm. The make-up/break-out arm or backup arm engages a tubular. The make-up/break-out arm or backup arm is connected with one or more cylinders grips the tubular using either rocker jaws or chain links containing tong dies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Scorpion Oil Tools, Inc.
    Inventor: Jacob Baryam
  • Patent number: 8490519
    Abstract: An attachment is described that is configured for attachment to an arm of a piece of heavy construction equipment. The attachment is configured to rotate a section of pipe during break out (i.e. disconnection or disassembly) from another section of pipe and/or make up (i.e. connection or assembly) with another section of pipe. The attachment is configured to break the joint or torque the joint to a predetermined torque value, unthread or thread pipe, and lift the pipe under the power of the heavy construction equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: LaValley Industries, LLC
    Inventors: Jason Lavalley, Daniel L. Larson, Roger Lavalley, Marvin N. Larson, Rodney Wurgler, Christopher G. Kay, Matthew J. Michel, Jesse J. Kilde
  • Patent number: 8485067
    Abstract: An apparatus for connecting tubulars comprises tongs for gripping the tubulars, having openings which can be aligned to allow tubulars to enter the tongs, and a detection apparatus for detecting the location of a joint between the tubulars. The detection apparatus comprises a set of keys disposed along an axis substantially parallel to the axis of the tubulars, the keys being individually displaceable on contact with the tubulars as the tubulars enter the tongs through the openings. The detection apparatus further comprises a set of sensor means, each arranged to detect displacement of a corresponding key. The position of the joint can then be determined from the displacement of the keys.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.
    Inventors: Bernd-Georg Pietras, Martin Liess
  • Patent number: 8464613
    Abstract: A prior art sucker rod tong is improved to remove a coupling completely from a sucker rod assembly comprising sucker rods joined end to end by couplings. The prior art sucker rod tong has a rotatable jaw assembly and a lower backup wrench adapted to cooperate to unscrew a coupling joining first and second rods, where the coupling remains screwed to the second rod after it is unscrewed from the first rod. The improvement comprises a coupling extractor for unscrewing the coupling from the second rod so that the coupling can be replaced. The coupling extractor comprises a shaft having an extractor end portion on each end of the shaft and a shield around each extractor end portion, wherein the coupling extractor is designed and sized to fit within and to be rotated by the jaw assembly. The extractor end portion engages the inside wall of the coupling to unscrew the coupling from the second rod. The extractor end portion is preferably a tapered, left-handed spiral fluted easy-out extractor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Inventors: Montie W. Holladay, David W. Ripple
  • Patent number: 8453541
    Abstract: A power tong body having a central opening comprises upper and lower cover plates and a rotary gear contained there between. The tong incorporates the centering guide, e.g. rollers, that extend between the rotary gear and respective tong covers. Such centering guides through the central openings in the tong body covers and provide contact surfaces carried that permit differential rotation of the rotary gear with respect to such covers. The rollers may roll on circular races formed by the inside edge face surfaces of the tong covers bordering the central opening. The support rollers may also extend beyond the upper and lower cover plates and engage with a guide surface or race formed on the respective cage plates of the tong, centrally locating such cage plates with respect to the rotary gear while allowing differential rotation of the cage plates with respect to the rotary gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: McCoy Corporation
    Inventors: Dan Dagenais, Murray Gerwing, Steven Hargreaves
  • Patent number: 8443700
    Abstract: A tong assembly is disclosed, comprising: a frame having at least a pair of posts spaced laterally from each other to receive a tong between the posts, each post extending vertically and having a lateral stabilizing surface on a side facing inward or outward; and a tong stabilized in relation to the frame by the lateral stabilizing surfaces and by each post being received by respective openings in the tong that have a cross lateral dimension sufficient to permit cross lateral movement of the tong in relation to the frame by at least one half of the cross lateral length of the lateral stabilizing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Universe Machine Corporation
    Inventor: Kurt R. Feigel, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8418586
    Abstract: An apparatus for shutting off the hydraulic supply of a power tong when the door is opened comprises, in part, a ring gear and cage assembly having a throat. The ring gear and cage assembly are driven by a motor having a hydraulic supply. A door is mounted on a pivot on the ring gear and cage assembly for movement to open and close the throat. A cable is secured to the door at a point that is offset from the pivot. The cable extends through a sleeve to a valve end of the cable. A valve at the valve end of the cable has a valve housing and is operable by movement of a valve control to disengage the hydraulic supply from the motor. The valve end of the cable is connected to the valve control and the sleeve is connected to the valve housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Universe Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kurt R. Feigel, Jr., Marcin K. Barker
  • Patent number: 8393251
    Abstract: A jaw assembly for a power tong or back-up tong is provided with a jaw die plate and a die seating surface that are shaped to permit radial insertion of the die plate (7) onto its seating surface (2). Both vertical (4) and horizontally (6) aligned splines, or spline segments are present on the seating surface. The vertical splines are interrupted along on at the end of their lengths by gaps (5a). Grooves (11) along with the protrusions (10) on the mating surface of the die plate interfit between the splines and/or spline segments and gaps to stabilize, or anchor the die plate on the seating surface against vertical displacement and to absorb rotational torque forces. The portion of the protrusions on the die plate that are positioned to extend into the gaps in the vertical splines support the die plate against vertical shearing forces, resisting disengagement of the die plate from its seating surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: McCoy Corporation
    Inventors: Dan Dagenais, Jonanthan Brent Fraser, Leslie L. Szalacsi, Hermann Basler
  • Publication number: 20120272792
    Abstract: A power tong continuously rotates tubulars for spinning and torquing threaded connections. Continuous rotation is achieved through a rotating jaw having a grip that grips the tubular and continuously rotates with it. A serpentine supplies directly or indirectly power to actuate the grip. The serpentine is driven by a secondary drive mounted on a fixed frame. The rotating jaw is rotatably mounted to the fixed frame and driven during continuous three hundred and sixty degrees of rotation by a primary drive, mounted on the fixed frame. A fixed jaw may also be mounted to the frame. Tubular grippers on the fixed jaw grip a first side of a tubular joint. The grip on the rotating jaw grips the opposite second side of the tubular joint. High torque low-rotational speed applied to the rotating jaw torques the joint. Low torque high-rotational speed applied to the rotating jaw spins the joint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2012
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Inventor: Allan Stewart Richardson
  • Patent number: 8281691
    Abstract: A tong assembly includes a case assembly having an enclosure defining an interior. A bearing assembly is disposed in the interior of the enclosure. The bearing assembly includes a first bearing member defining a first cavity and a second bearing member defining a first cavity. A tong head assembly is disposed in the interior of the enclosure of the case assembly. The tong head assembly includes a tong head engaged with an outer ring gear. The outer ring gear includes a first axial end portion, an oppositely disposed second axial end portion and a central portion. The first axial end portion is disposed in the first cavity of the first bearing member. The second axial end portion is disposed in the first cavity of the second bearing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Inventor: Don Darrell Hickman
  • Patent number: 8141459
    Abstract: The powered adjustable pipe wrench has a motorized rotary grip to rotate a pipe component clamped therein and a laterally spaced stationary grip to hold a second pipe component stationary relative to the first as it is being rotated. The pipe wrench may have a cylindrical jaw housing with semicylindrical fixed and openable portions hinged to one another. One end of the housing includes a powered component to rotate the pipe component held therein, while the other housing end includes jaw components holding the second pipe component stationary. Alternatively, the pipe wrench may have a powered component extending from the jaw of the wrench body to rotate the first pipe component, and a rectilinearly adjustable jaw portion extending from the wrench body. A set of jaw components is axially spaced from the rotary component to hold the second pipe component stationary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Inventor: Herman Myburgh
  • Publication number: 20110296957
    Abstract: A power tong with a cable operated door jammer valve for shutting off the hydraulic supply of a power tong when the door is opened.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2010
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: UNIVERSE MACHINE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kurt R. Feigel, JR., Marcin K. Barker
  • Publication number: 20110296958
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2010
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: Universe Machine Corporation
    Inventors: Kurt R. Feigel, JR., Vladimir G. Pohnert
  • Publication number: 20110271797
    Abstract: An open-faced rod-spinning device configured for making and/or breaking joints between threaded drill rods. The rod-spinning device may include a drive gear with an open face. The drive gear may also be coupled to a plurality of drive pins. The rod-spinning device may include a carriage assembly including an open face for receiving and rotating about a drill rod. The carriage assembly may include a plurality of gripping lobes configured to be engaged and rotated by the drive pins about pivot pins. The drive gear may be configured to rotate relative to the carriage assembly to cause the drive pins to engage and rotate the gripping lobes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2011
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Applicant: LONGYEAR TM, INC.
    Inventors: Trevor Lyndon Light, Emil Kolev, Michael Andreas Kontou
  • Patent number: 8025024
    Abstract: A pipe joint lubrication device including at least one first nozzle for application of lubricant on at least one of the fittings, a threaded nipple or a threaded socket, wherein the at least one first nozzle is provided on a first jaw housing which is rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the nipple or the socket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: V-Tech AS
    Inventor: Helge-Ruben Halse
  • Patent number: 8011426
    Abstract: A method for gripping a tubular with a tubular gripping mechanism includes the steps of moving the tubular gripping mechanism adjacent the tubular, positioning a jaw assembly of the tubular gripping mechanism around the tubular, applying a force by an actuator onto the jaw assembly of the tubular gripping mechanism such that the jaw assembly moves so as to clamp onto the tubular, removing the force from the actuator onto the jaw assembly such that the jaw assembly remains clamped onto the tubular. The clamping force is directed to surfaces of the tubular gripping mechanism away from the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: T&T Engineering Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Keith J. Orgeron
  • Patent number: 8006590
    Abstract: An open-faced rod-spinning device configured for making and/or breaking joints between threaded drill rods. The rod-spinning device may include a drive gear with an open face. The drive gear may also be coupled to a plurality of drive pins. The rod-spinning device may include a carriage assembly including an open face for receiving and rotating about a drill rod. The carriage assembly may include a plurality of gripping lobes configured to be engaged and rotated by the drive pins about pivot pins. The drive gear may be configured to rotate relative to the carriage assembly to cause the drive pins to engage and rotate the gripping lobes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Longyear TM, Inc.
    Inventors: Trevor Lyndon Light, Emil Kolev, Michael Andreas Kontou
  • Patent number: 7992274
    Abstract: A method of making an open-head power tong assembly includes the steps of providing a power tong assembly that has a first case assembly and a transmission assemble. A second case assembly is provided that includes a casing having a sidewall with a plurality of supporting ribs, a base wall, and a top plate that define an interior region that is adapted to receive a pinion gear, a conversion shaft having first and second axial end portions, and an open-head tong assembly. The first case assembly is removed from the transmission assembly of the power tong assembly to expose a transmission shaft. The transmission shaft is removed to expose a transmission shaft opening. The second case is mounted to the transmission assembly such that the second axial end of the conversion shaft is engaged with the transmission shaft opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Inventor: Don Darrell Hickman
  • Patent number: 7963196
    Abstract: A tong unit having a ring gear, an upper cage plate, and a jaw assembly is disclosed. The cage plate has a removable window section, through which the jaw assembly may be inserted into and removed from the central opening in the ring gear. The jaw assembly may be attached to the removable window section, so that the window section and the jaw assembly can be lifted out and inserted together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Mech-Tech Engineering, LLC
    Inventors: Clint Musemeche, Clayton James Claxton, Terrence James Musemeche
  • Publication number: 20110041656
    Abstract: A power tong body having a central opening comprises upper and lower cover plates and a rotary gear contained there between. The tong incorporates the centering guide, e.g. rollers, that extend between the rotary gear and respective tong covers. Such centering guides through the central openings in the tong body covers and provide contact surfaces carried that permit differential rotation of the rotary gear with respect to such covers. The rollers may roll on circular races formed by the inside edge face surfaces of the tong covers bordering the central opening. The support rollers may also extend beyond the upper and lower cover plates and engage with a guide surface or race formed on the respective cage plates of the tong, centrally locating such cage plates with respect to the rotary gear while allowing differential rotation of the cage plates with respect to the rotary gear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2009
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Applicant: MCCOY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Dan Dagenais, Murray Gerwing, Steven Hargreaves
  • Patent number: 7882767
    Abstract: A power tong having a ring gear and dumbell rollers, with mating load surfaces on the ring gear and dumbell rollers which transfer horizontal and vertical loads from the ring gear to the dumbell rollers, without contact between the ring gear teeth and the dumbell rollers. The power tong further has a dumbell roller shaft configuration which permits vertical and rotational locking of the shaft, while permitting easy replacement and without binding of the rotation of the top and bottom plates on the dumbell rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Mech-Tech Engineering, LLC
    Inventor: Clint Musemeche
  • Publication number: 20100300251
    Abstract: A tong assembly includes a case assembly having an enclosure defining an interior. A bearing assembly is disposed in the interior of the enclosure. The bearing assembly includes a first bearing member defining a first cavity and a second bearing member defining a first cavity. A tong head assembly is disposed in the interior of the enclosure of the case assembly. The tong head assembly includes a tong head engaged with an outer ring gear. The outer ring gear includes a first axial end portion, an oppositely disposed second axial end portion and a central portion. The first axial end portion is disposed in the first cavity of the first bearing member. The second axial end portion is disposed in the first cavity of the second bearing member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2010
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Inventor: Don Darrell Hickman
  • Patent number: 7836795
    Abstract: A power tong (1) device, in which the power tong (1) includes two housing halves (2), pivotable relative to each other, the housing halves (2) being arranged to be pivoted between a closed, active position and an open, inactive position, and in which a radially divided drive ring (6, 8), which is provided with hydraulically activated clamping dies (14) directed towards the centre axis (10) of the power tong (1), is placed in the housing halves, the drive ring (6, 8) being supported and connected to a driving motor (12) for the rotation of the drive ring (6, 8) about said axis (10), the drive ring (6, 8) being provided with at least one locking means (16) which is arranged to interconnect the parts of the drive ring (6, 8) in a releasable manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Wellquip AS
    Inventor: Per A. Vatne
  • Patent number: 7707913
    Abstract: A method of using a power tong (2) for use in the pipe make-up and pipe break-out of pipe lengths (22) during drilling in the ground as it is known from, for example, the recovery of petroleum, the power tong (2) being part of an assembly (1) which includes a back-up tong (4) movable relative to the power tong (2) in the longitudinal direction of the pipe length (22), and at least one guide column (10). The tong is releasably connected to a chassis and is arranged to be lifted up from a drill floor to a level higher up in order to break out a pipe from a pipe string, should the pipe string get stuck in the borehole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: V-Tech AS
    Inventor: Helge-Ruben Halse
  • Patent number: 7685910
    Abstract: A back-up tong for assembling or disassembling threaded joints of tubing for use in oil and gas wells is provided. The back-up tong has both a first and second gripping mechanism. The first gripping mechanism has a plurality of jaws for engaging the tubing to prevent rotation of the tubing in a clockwise direction and the second gripping mechanism has a plurality of jaws for engaging the tubing to prevent rotation of the tubing in a counter-clockwise direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Westco International, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles Robert Kennedy
  • Publication number: 20090314137
    Abstract: A self-adjusting spinner is provided that is capable of accommodating various pipe sizes without requiring the need for an operator to climb up the support mechanism and manually change the position of the drive assembly. The self-adjusting spinner includes a case having two pivotally connected members: a stationary case member and a moving case member. Upper and lower plates having gear racks are mounted on the stationary case member for moving a drive assembly horizontally across the case. The drive assembly includes a motor that drives gear sprocket through a drive shaft. The drive sprocket then drives a chain that rotates a drill pipe in an operative position relative to the case. The spinner also includes an adjusting assembly mounted on the case that moves the drive assembly along the gear rack upon the actuation of an adjustment sequence. When the adjustment sequence is initiated, the effective length of the chain is adjusted to accommodate drill pipes of varying diameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2009
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Applicant: Hawk Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Raul H. Perez
  • Publication number: 20090272231
    Abstract: A tong unit having a ring gear, an upper cage plate, and a jaw assembly is disclosed. The cage plate has a removable window section, through which the jaw assembly may be inserted into and removed from the central opening in the ring gear. The jaw assembly may be attached to the removable window section, so that the window section and the jaw assembly can be lifted out and inserted together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2009
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Inventors: Clint Musemeche, Clayton James Claxton, Terrence James Musemeche
  • Patent number: 7600450
    Abstract: A gripper is disclosed for gripping a tubular, e.g. to facilitate rotation of the tubular, the gripper including a body, the body having conformable material having an initial body shape, and the conformable material able to change the initial body shape upon contacting a tubular with the body, the tubular having a tubular shape, the conformable material able to conform to the tubular shape of the tubular to facilitate gripping of the tubular with the gripper. This abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure and is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims, 37 C.F.R. 1.72(b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: National Oilwell Varco LP
    Inventors: Timothy I. Montgomery, Matthew David Becker, Guy L. McClung, III
  • Publication number: 20090229424
    Abstract: A gripper is disclosed for gripping a tubular, e.g. to facilitate rotation of the tubular, the gripper including a body, the body having conformable material having an initial body shape, and the conformable material able to change the initial body shape upon contacting a tubular with the body, the tubular having a tubular shape, the conformable material able to conform to the tubular shape of the tubular to facilitate gripping of the tubular with the gripper. This abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure and is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims, 37 C.F.R. 1.72(b).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2008
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Inventors: Timothy I. Montgomery, Matthew David Becker, Guy L. McClung, III
  • Publication number: 20090229423
    Abstract: The powered adjustable pipe wrench has a motorized rotary grip to rotate a pipe component clamped therein and a laterally spaced stationary grip to hold a second pipe component stationary relative to the first as it is being rotated. The pipe wrench may have a cylindrical jaw housing with semicylindrical fixed and openable portions hinged to one another. One end of the housing includes a powered component to rotate the pipe component held therein, while the other housing end includes jaw components holding the second pipe component stationary. Alternatively, the pipe wrench may have a powered component extending from the jaw of the wrench body to rotate the first pipe component, and a rectilinearly adjustable jaw portion extending from the wrench body. A set of jaw components is axially spaced from the rotary component to hold the second pipe component stationary.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2009
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Inventor: Herman Myburch
  • Publication number: 20090120244
    Abstract: A wrench for tightening threaded male and female pipe nuts includes a wrench gear rotatable within a housing and having a nut slot so that the wrench gear can be engaged upon one of the nuts. A pair of pinion drive gears engage with gear teeth of the wrench gear at spaced apart locations on the periphery so that at least one of the pinion drive gears is engaged with the wrench gear at all times during rotation of the wrench gear to tighten the one nut. A nut holding plate has a nut slot and is mounted on the housing by a pin and slot arrangement so that the nut holding plate can shift to enable the nut holding plate to be engaged upon the other nut and hold the other nut stationary while the wrench gear is rotated to tighten the one nut.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2007
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Jan Lu, Michael M. Arvaneh, Klaus Philipps
  • Patent number: 7530294
    Abstract: The powered adjustable pipe wrench has a motorized rotary grip to rotate a pipe component clamped therein and a laterally spaced stationary grip to hold a second pipe component stationary relative to the first as it is being rotated. The pipe wrench may have a cylindrical jaw housing with semicylindrical fixed and openable portions hinged to one another. One end of the housing includes a powered component to rotate the pipe component held therein, while the other housing end includes fixed jaw components holding the second pipe component stationary. Alternatively, the pipe wrench may have a powered component extending from the fixed jaw of the wrench body to rotate the first pipe component, and a rectilinearly adjustable jaw portion extending from the wrench body. A set of fixed jaw components is axially spaced from the rotary component to hold the second pipe component stationary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Inventor: Herman Myburgh
  • Patent number: 7500412
    Abstract: An assembly which includes a rod having an outer peripheral surface. There is also a nut having an axial aperture with an inner peripheral surface moveably engageable with the peripheral surface on the outer peripheral surface of the rod and having a peripheral gear surface. There is also a circular drive gear, which engages the peripheral gear surface of the nut. The circular drive gear is rotatable about its central axis so that the nut is moved along the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Wendell C. Maciejewski
  • Publication number: 20080307930
    Abstract: A wrap around tong system is provided with a rotary drive tong and backup tong that remain positioned around the pipe string as the pipe string is run into or out of the wellbore. The tong system is affixed to the drill floor and does not rotate or move laterally to the pipe string. The power tong system is moved upwardly and downwardly to position the rotary drive tong and backup tong at appropriate postions on the pipe string. The rotary drive tong provides both spinning and torquing for making or breaking connnections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2007
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Inventors: Jon A. Veverica, Jean P. Buytaert
  • Publication number: 20080282847
    Abstract: A method and device for positioning a power tong (2) at the pipe joint (14) of a pipe string (12), where, after the pipe joint (14) has been brought within the working area of the power tong (2), the power tong (2) must be displaced to a position that corresponds with that of the pipe joint (14), and where a camera (16) which may be displaced in parallel with the pipe (12), and which is linked to a display (18), is displaced until the image of the pipe joint (14) coincides with a marker (40) in the display, whereupon a signal is transmitted to a control (26), indicating that the power tong (2) is to be displaced to a position that corresponds with that of the camera (16) and thereby that of the pipe joint (14).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2006
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Inventor: Helge-Ruben Halse