The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 04, 2000
Filed:
Feb. 19, 1997
Gary McDaniels, Lafayette, LA (US);
Patrick Cummings, Lafayette, LA (US);
Michael Hayes, Lafayette, LA (US);
Steven Albright, Houston, TX (US);
Bernd G Pietras, Wedemark, DE;
Jorg Schulze-Beckinghausen, Garbsen, DE;
Andreas Carlsson, Sehnde, DE;
Weatherford/Lamb, Inc., Houston, TX (US);
Abstract
A new power tong for rotating tubular members for make-up (connection) and break-out (disconnection) operations. In one aspect such a tong has at least one movable jaw with a smooth surface gripping element thereon and pre-load apparatus for applying a pre-load force to a movable jaw so that the jaw does not slip on a tubular to be rotated and so it does not mark or damage the tubular. In one aspect the pre-load apparatus includes a first pre-load device at one end of a movable jaw for breakout operations and a second pre-load device at another end of the jaw for make-up operations. In one aspect a power tong which has unique smooth surfaced jaw inserts made, e.g., of aluminum. In one aspect a single pivotable pre-load cylinder, fixed to rotary, pivots for pivotable connection to one jaw or the other. This can be done manually or a powered smaller piston/cylinder may be used to pivot the pre-load cylinder. In one aspect a jaw unit which comprises a jaw holder and a jaw movable with respect to said jaw holder, characterized in that said jaw is slidably mounted on said jaw holder.