Weatherford/lamb, Inc.

Weatherford U.s., Inc.

Joerg E Schulze-Beckinghausen

Bernd-Georg Pietras

In one embodiment, a gripping system for a tong for making up and breaking out tubulars is provided. The gripping system is coupled to the rotary of the tong. The gripping system includes an active jaw and two passive jaws disposed interior to the rotary. Preferably, the two passive jaws are separately by less than 120 degrees from each other and are pivotally connected to rotary. The gripping system is adapted and arranged to allow each passive jaw to react the same amount of force as the gripping force applied by the active jaw. In another embodiment, a rotary locking apparatus is provided to lock or unlock the rotary of the tong.

Gripping system for a tong

Apparatus for gripping and releasing a tubular and comprising an elevator () having slips () for gripping and releasing a tubular (). A spider () has slips () for gripping and releasing the tubular (). A mechanically operated valve () is provided for controlling the supply of pressurised fluid to move the spider slips () between a gripping position and a release position, with sensor means () detecting when the elevator slips () are in the gripping position. Means () mechanically inhibits movement of the valve () to a position in which the spider slips () release the tubular () when said sensor means () detects that the elevator slips () are not in a correctly gripping position. A second valve () controls movement of the elevator slips () and a guide plate () links control of both valves ().

Combined grip control of elevator and spider slips

This invention relates to a rotary and a method for facilitating the connection of pipes, and more particularly, but not exclusively, to a rotary for a powered drill pipe tong for facilitating the connection of sections or strands of drill pipe to a string of drill pipe.

Power tong

An apparatus for facilitating the connection of pipes which apparatus comprises a rotary ( ) and jaws ( ), characterised in that all of said jaws ( ) are active and are actuable by pressurised fluid.

Apparatus and a method for facilitating the connection of pipes

An apparatus for gripping a pipe, which apparatus comprises an outer member having a first inclined inner surface, and an inner member having a first inclined outer surface, the arrangement being such that, in use, on rotation of said outer member relative to said inner member in one sense said first inclined inner surface co-operates with said first inclined outer surface so that said inner member moves towards a pipe to be gripped.

Apparatus for gripping a pipe

A device (1) for position a tong comprises a flexible chain (2) provided with compression members (7) and a flexible locking chain (3). When a hydraulic motor (14) is rotated anti-clockwise the chains (2,3) are brought into operative engagement to form a rigid member (4) which is secured to a ball (29) on the drilling derrick. A tong is suspended from the device (1) which, in turn, is suspended from a cable (27) secured high in the derrick. The tong can be advanced or withdrawn towards a pipe string by rotating the motor (14) anti-clockwise or clockwise to extend or dismantle the rigid member (4) as desired.

Device for positioning equipment

Apparatus for connecting and disconnecting threaded members including a power tong, a backup unit disposed below the power tong for gripping a second pipe, and apparatus for transmitting reaction forces generated by the power tong to the backup unit, the backup unit having devices for transmitting compressive or tensile forces between its members from the power tong which, in one embodiment, includes a hydraulic connection between a double acting hydraulic piston and cylinder assemblies incorporated in the members.

Apparatus for connecting and disconnecting threaded members

An active jaw for a power tong is provided with an upper cam and a lower cam which are shaped so that rotation of the rotary relative to the active jaw in either sense from a first position results in the active jaw being applied to a pipe via a roller. The active jaw can be released by reversing the direction of rotation of the rotary. A peg may be used to limit movement of the active jaw relative to the rotary to prevent the active jaw being reapplied to the pipe. Pipes of different diameters may be gripped by using rollers of different diameters and, optionally, different active jaws shaped to grip the pipe. In a second embodiment a brake band acts on a drum which supports the active jaw. When the rotary is started the active jaw is restrained from rotation. This relative movement applies the dies on the active jaw to the pipe. Further rotation of the rotary then overcomes the braking force and the rotary, drum and active jaw rotate in unison. An adjustment bolt is provided to prevent the active jaw being reapplied when the rotary is reversed.

Active jaw for a power tong

An apparatus for making and breaking connections between screw threaded tubular members comprises a jaw carrier. A movable jaw support is pivotally mounted to one end of the jaw carrier while a fixed jaw support is mounted on the other end of the jaw carrier. The fixed jaw support and the jaw carrier each carry a jaw. The centers of the jaws subtend an angle of 90.degree.. The movable jaw support is provided with a jaw which can be advanced towards the other jaws to grip a pipe by the action of a cam on a cam engaging roller mounted on the movable jaw support. The fixed jaw support and the movable jaw support can be interchanged to break and make joints as required.

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Garbsen, Germany

Joerg E Schulze-Beckinghausen