Sliding Jaw Patents (Class 81/57.21)
  • Patent number: 8752619
    Abstract: A clamping device for supporting a well string in a borehole includes a base plate with a central opening and primary clamp body clamp body supported for linear motion relative to the base plate. The clamping device further includes other clamp bodies supported for independent linear motion relative to the base plate. In certain embodiments, the clamping bodies are supported for pivoting motion to open and close the central opening. Each of the clamp bodies carries a gripping member on a face thereof for engaging a well string component received in the central opening. A drive mechanism is coupled to the clamp bodies and configured to move the clamp bodies relative to the base plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: National Oilwell Varco, L.P.
    Inventors: Rene Mulder, Anton Krijnen, Niels De Keijzer, Richard Verhoef
  • 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: 8037786
    Abstract: A hydraulic circuit device for activating the at least one clamping die (14) of a power tong (1), the power tong (1) including 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 a radially divided drive ring (6, 8) which is provided with the at least one hydraulically activated clamping die (14) directed towards the centre axis (10) of the power tong (1), being placed in the housing halves (2), the drive ring (6, 8) being supported and connected to at least one driving motor (12) for the rotation of the drive ring (6, 8) about the centre axis (10), and a hydraulic pump cylinder (16) being articulatedly connected between the first drive ring part (6) of the drive ring (6, 8) and the second drive ring part (8) of the drive ring (6, 8) and arranged to rotate together with the drive ring (6, 8) about the centre axis (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Wellquip AS
    Inventor: Per A. Vatne
  • Patent number: 7997167
    Abstract: A system for clamping and breaking threaded tubular members includes a clamping device configured to grip a threaded tubular member. The clamping device further includes a housing and a base mount associated with the housing. A breaking device can be provided to grip and rotate a threaded tubular member, the breaking device further including a housing and a base mount associated with the housing in which the base mount of clamping device and the base mount of the breaking device are configured to be mounted independently to at least one support structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Longyear TM, Inc.
    Inventors: Christof Kruse, Stefan Wrede
  • 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: 7707914
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for handling tubulars is provided. In one aspect, the present invention provides a spinner having a first arm having a first roller and a second arm having a second roller, the first arm and the second arm simultaneously adjustable to retain the tubular. The apparatus also includes a third roller capable of urging the tubular against the first and second rollers, wherein at least one of the first, second, and third rollers is actuatable to rotate the tubular. In one embodiment, the spinner further comprises a fluid operated cylinder for adjusting the first arm and the second arm. The arms are adjusted by actuating the cylinder extend or retract the first arm and the second arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.
    Inventors: Bernd-Georg Pietras, Martin Liess
  • Patent number: 7571667
    Abstract: A power tong for use during installation and dismantling of pipes when drilling in the ground, such as is known from e.g. petroleum production, comprising a drive ring and at least one clamping device, where the clamping device is arranged to grip a pipe string, the power tong being equipped with a driving mechanism for rotation of the clamping device about the longitudinal axis of the pipe string, and where the clamping device communicates with a fluid supply via a swivel ring that encircles the drive ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: V-Tech AS
    Inventor: Helge-Ruben Halse
  • Patent number: 7255025
    Abstract: A power tong (1) or back-up tong has a sliding jaw assembly (6) that may be advanced into the throat (4) of the tong for engagement with a pipe. A camming surface (11) on the inside circumference of the ring gear (10) advances the sliding jaw assembly into full engagement with the well pipe when the ring gear (10) is rotated with respect to the jaw assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: McCoy Bros. Inc.
    Inventors: Dan Dagenais, Jonanthan Brent Fraser, Leslie L. Szalacsi, Hermann Basler
  • Patent number: 7219580
    Abstract: A power tong or back-up tong has a jaw assembly that is advanced into engagement with a pipe through a cam follower that contacts the camming surface on the inside circumference of a ring gear, the cam follower being in the form of a series of roller elements arranged as a circulating bearing. In a preferred form, the roller elements are cylindrical roller bearings and the jaw assembly is mounted for sliding advancement towards the pipe to be engaged. In an alternate variant the cam follower includes an indexing guide that maintains the cylindrical roller bearings in proper alignment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: McCoy Bros. Inc.
    Inventors: Dan Dagenais, Leslie L. Szalacsi, Jonathan B. Fraser, Hermann Basler
  • Patent number: 7204173
    Abstract: Power tong jaws comprising one or more dies which are rotatable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Inventor: David A. Buck
  • Patent number: 7197963
    Abstract: An apparatus that can be used during drilling operations for the purposes of clamping and holding drilling tubulars is disclosed. The embodiments relate to machinery that clamp and hold drilling tubulars to allow assembly to a specified torque or disassembly of the tubulars. The apparatus comprises a first grip with teeth inserts housed in a gripping block that opposes a second grip with teeth inserts housed in a second gripping block. The first and second grips are spaced and adapted to accommodate a range of diameters of drilling tubulars. Further, the gripping blocks are held by opposing arms connected to a driving means to create a tightening or loosening movement of the grips and maintain a certain orientation with regard to the tubulars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Eagle Rock Manufacturing, LLC
    Inventor: Sammy Kent Flud
  • Patent number: 7013759
    Abstract: A device for torquing a tubular connection. The device comprises an upper assembly having an upper jaw member, a lower assembly having a lower jaw member, an upper gear for advancing the upper jaw member, and a lower gear for advancing the lower jaw member. The upper jaw member includes a first jaw operatively associated with a first rack, a second jaw operatively associated with a second rack, and a third jaw operatively associated with a third rack. The lower jaw member includes a fourth jaw operatively associated with a fourth rack, a fifth jaw operatively associated with a fifth rack, and a sixth jaw operatively associated with a sixth rack. A method of torquing a first tubular with a second tubular is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: Access Oil Tools, Inc.
    Inventor: Lawrence E. Childress, II
  • Patent number: 6761090
    Abstract: A power tong or back-up tong has a jaw assembly that is advanced into engagement with a pipe through a cam follower that contacts the camming surface on the inside circumference of a ring gear, the cam follower being in the form of a series of roller elements arranged as a circulating bearing. In a preferred form, the roller elements are cylindrical roller bearings and the jaw assembly is mounted for sliding advancement towards the pipe to be engaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Inventors: Dan Dagenais, Leslie L. Szalacsi, Jonathan B. Fraser, Hermann Basler
  • Patent number: 6745646
    Abstract: An apparatus for facilitating the connection of pipes comprises a rotary (4) and a stator (5), the rotary comprising at least one hydraulically actuated jaw (24,25,26), and a pump (58) arranged on the rotary (4) for pumping hydraulic fluid for actuation of the or each jaw (24,25,26), the stator comprising a motor (55) arranged on the stator (5), so that rotational energy can be transferred from the motor to the pump in an operational configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.
    Inventors: Bernd-Georg Pietras, Joerg-Erich Schulze-Beckinghausen
  • Patent number: 6668684
    Abstract: A tong as may be used for a continuous circulation system in a wellbore. The tong has a housing with a hollow interior. A plurality of spaced apart jaw assemblies reside within the housing's hollow interior for engaging a portion of a tubular to be gripped and rotated by the tong. A gear wheel is secured to the housing for rotating the housing and the jaw assemblies. The gear wheel includes a toothed outer circumference for mating with teeth of a drive shaft of a driving motor. A gear flange is movably mounted on the gear wheel such that rotation of the gear wheel does not rotate the gear flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.
    Inventors: John Timothy Allen, Steven Anthony Box, Bernd Pietras, Jeffrey Michael Habetz
  • Patent number: 6619160
    Abstract: A jaw adapter for use in a pivoting jaw power tong having a cage plate designed to house a pivoting jaw member. The jaw adapter includes an adapter body shaped to fit between the cages plates of a pivoting jaw power tong. The adapter body further includes a pin assembly for engaging at least one of the cage plates, and the adapter body still further includes a sliding jaw passage. A jaw assembly is then positioned within the sliding jaw passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Inventors: David A. Buck, Daniel S. Bangert
  • Patent number: 6598501
    Abstract: An apparatus for facilitating the connection of pipes which apparatus comprises a rotary (1) and jaws (20, 21, 22), characterised in that all of said jaws (20, 21, 22) are active and are actuable by pressurised fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.
    Inventors: Joerg Eric Schulze-Beckinghausen, Bernd-Georg Pietras