Baker International Inc.

Russell L McCombs

James V Motsinger

A method and apparatus are disclosed for making threaded joints, such as pipe joints, within a range of predetermined applied torque and turns values. A pipe or a pipe and a coupling are threaded onto the end of a pipe string. The applied torque is monitored and, when a reference torque value is exceeded, the number of turns are counted. When either the actual torque or the actual turns exceeds a predetermined minimum value for that parameter and the value of the other parameter exceeds a predetermined minimum value, but is less than a predetermined maximum value, a good joint is indicated and the make-up is stopped. A bad joint is predicted and make-up is stopped when the value of the actual torque divided by the actual turns falls outside a range of values defined by the slopes of a pair of boundary lines and predetermined minimum torque and minimum turn values. The actual turns value is a count which is initiated the first time the actual torque value equals the reference torque value, the count being incremented when the actual torque value is greater than the reference torque value and being decremented when the actual torque value is less than the reference torque value.

Method for counting turns when making threaded joints

A method and apparatus are provided for making threaded joints, such as pipe joints, within a range of predetermined applied torque and turns values. A pipe or a pipe and a coupling are threaded onto the end of a pipe string. The applied torque is monitored and, when a reference torque is exceeded, the number of turns made is counted. According to a representative aspect of the invention, when either the actual torque or the actual turns are within a predetermined percentage of a predetermined minimum value for that parameter and the other parameter has exceeded a predetermined minimum value, an indication is generated to the operator of the apparatus that he should be ready to stop the joint making operation.

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San Antonio, TX, United States of America

Russell L McCombs