PIPE GRIPPING APPARATUS

• US 20100187740A1
• Filed: 01/26/2009
• Published: 07/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: T&T Engineering Services, Inc. (Schlumberger NV)
• Original Assignee: T&T Engineering Services, Inc. (Schlumberger NV)
• Inventors: ORGERON, Keith J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,474,806 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 269/218
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 5/061 with fluid drive B25B5/087, B25B5/122 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 5/147 for pipes
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 19/155 Handling between horizontal and vertical position
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53574 Parallel or tong type, side entrance
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/5383 having fluid operator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/5387 Pivotal arms
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53943 Hand gripper for direct push or pull

Abstract

A pipe gripping apparatus has a first jaw with a pipe-contacting surface at one end thereof, a second jaw having a pipe-contacting surface at one end thereof, a tongue having a pipe-contacting surface at one end thereof, and an actuator connected to the first and second jaws and to the tongue. The actuator serves to move the first and second jaws and the tongue such that the pipe-contacting surfaces thereof move radially inwardly simultaneously for a substantially identical distance. A first link pivotally connects the tongue with the first jaw. A second link pivotally connects the tongue with the second jaw. The first and second links extend angularly outwardly from the tongue. The first and second pivot points of each jaw have a distance unequal to a distance between the first pivot point and pipe-contacting surface of each jaw. The pipe-contacting surfaces can be elastomeric pads, toothed dies, or rollers.

Claims

1. A pipe gripping apparatus comprising:

a first jaw having a pipe-contacting surface at one end thereof;

a second jaw having a pipe-contacting surface at one end thereof;

a tongue having a pipe-contacting surface at one end thereof, said tongue being connected to said first jaw and to said second jaw; and

an actuator means connected to said tongue, said actuator means for moving said first and second jaws and said tongue such that the pipe-contacting surfaces thereof move radially inwardly for a substantially identical distance.

2. The pipe gripping apparatus of claim 1, said actuator means comprising:

a piston connected to said tongue so as to move said tongue;

a cylinder connected to said piston; and

a fluid line connected to said cylinder.

3. The pipe gripping apparatus of claim 1, said first jaw having a first pivot point adjacent said tongue, said second jaw having a first pivot point adjacent said tongue.

4. The pipe gripping apparatus of claim 3, further comprising:

a top plate connected to said first pivot points of said first jaw and said second jaw; and

a bottom plate connected to said first pivot points of said first jaw and said second jaw.

5. The pipe gripping apparatus of claim 3, said tongue connected by a first link to said first jaw, said first link pivotally connected at a second pivot point to said first jaw, said first link pivotally connected to said tongue at an end opposite said first jaw.

6. The pipe gripping apparatus of claim 5, said tongue connected by a second link to said second jaw, said second link pivotally connected at a second pivot point to said second jaw, said second link pivotally connected to said tongue at an end opposite said second jaw.

7. The pipe gripping apparatus of claim 6, said first link angling outwardly with respect to said tongue, said second link angling outwardly with respect to said tongue.

8. The pipe gripping apparatus of claim 6, said first jaw having a first distance between said pipe-contacting surface of said first jaw and said first pivot point of said first jaw, said first jaw having a second distance between said first pivot point of said first jaw and said second pivot point of said first jaw, said second jaw having a first distance between said pipe-contacting surface of said second jaw and said first pivot point of said second jaw, said second jaw having a second distance between said first pivot point of said second jaw and said second pivot point of said second jaw, said first and second distances of said first jaw being unequal, said first and second distances of said second jaw being unequal.

9. The pipe gripping apparatus of claim 1, said pipe-contacting surfaces of said first and second jaws and said tongue being an elastomeric pad.

10. The pipe gripping apparatus of claim 1, said pipe-contacting surfaces of said first and second jaws and said tongue being a toothed die.

11. The pipe gripping apparatus of claim 1, said pipe-contacting surfaces of said first and second jaws and said tongue being a roller.

12. An apparatus for gripping a shape having a first region, a second region, and a third region, the regions having substantially identical radial distance to a center of said shape, said apparatus comprising:

a first jaw having a first contacting surface at one end thereof, said first contacting surface corresponding to said first region;

a second jaw having a second contacting surface at one end thereof, said second contacting surface corresponding to said second region;

a tongue having a third contacting surface at one end thereof, said third contacting surface corresponding to said third region, said tongue connected to said first and second jaws; and

an actuator means connected to said tongue, said actuator means for moving said first and second jaws and said tongue radially inwardly in simultaneous coordination.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, said actuator means comprising:

a piston connected to said tongue so as to move said tongue;

a cylinder connected to said piston; and

a fluid line connected to said cylinder.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, said tongue connected by a first link to said first jaw, said first link pivotally connected at a second pivot point to said first jaw, said first link pivotally connected to said tongue at an end opposite said first jaw.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, said tongue connected by a second link to said second jaw, said second link pivotally connected at a second pivot point to said second jaw, said second link pivotally connected to said tongue at an end opposite said second jaw.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, said first link angling outwardly with respect to said tongue, said second link angling outwardly with respect to said tongue.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, said first jaw having a first pivot point adjacent said tongue, said second jaw having a first pivot point adjacent said tongue, said first jaw having a first distance between said first contacting surface of said first jaw and said first pivot point of said first jaw, said first jaw having a second distance between said first pivot point of said first jaw and said second pivot point of said first jaw, said second jaw having a first distance between said second contacting surface of said second jaw and said first pivot point of said second jaw, said second jaw having a second distance between said first pivot point of said second jaw and said second pivot point of said second jaw, said first and second distances of said first jaw being unequal, said first and second distances of said second jaw being unequal.

18. The apparatus of claim 13, said first contacting surface of said first jaw being an elastomeric pad, said second contacting surface of said second jaw being an elastomeric pad, said third contacting surface of said tongue being an elastomeric pad.

19. The apparatus of claim 13, said first contacting surface of said first jaw being a roller, said second contacting surface of said second jaw being a roller, said third contacting surface of said tongue being a roller.

20. The apparatus of claim 13, said first contacting surface of said first jaw being a toothed die, said second contacting surface of said second jaw being an toothed die, said third contacting surface of said tongue being an toothed die.