U.S. patent application number 14/090996 was filed with the patent office on 2014-06-26 for power tong and backup tong apparatus.
This patent application is currently assigned to American Certification and Pull Testing, LLC. The applicant listed for this patent is American Certification and Pull Testing, LLC. Invention is credited to Troy A. Rodgers.
Application Number | 20140174261 14/090996 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 50828424 |
Filed Date | 2014-06-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140174261 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Rodgers; Troy A. |
June 26, 2014 |
POWER TONG AND BACKUP TONG APPARATUS
Abstract
A power tong assembly and backup tong assembly are disclosed.
The power tong assembly includes a drive motor driving a drive gear
engaged with a rotatable portion of a bearing assembly. The
rotatable portion of the bearing assembly is connected to a
cylindrical rotor positioned concentrically about jaws that
grippingly engage and rotate a first tubular member when the
portion of the bearing assembly rotates. The backup tong assembly
comprises a pair of diametrically opposed gripper assemblies each
having a cylinder with a cylinder rod, connected to a head member,
connected to a pair of gripper members with gripping surfaces, so
that extension of the cylinder rods causes the gripper members to
grippingly engage a second tubular member. The power tong assembly
and the backup tong assembly may be concentrically aligned to
connect and disconnect the first and second tubular members.
Inventors: |
Rodgers; Troy A.;
(Chickasha, OK) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
American Certification and Pull Testing, LLC |
Chickasha |
OK |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
American Certification and Pull
Testing, LLC
Chickasha
OK
|
Family ID: |
50828424 |
Appl. No.: |
14/090996 |
Filed: |
November 26, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61730266 |
Nov 27, 2012 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
81/57.16 ;
81/57.15; 81/57.36 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E21B 19/164
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
81/57.16 ;
81/57.15; 81/57.36 |
International
Class: |
E21B 19/16 20060101
E21B019/16 |
Claims
1. A power tong assembly for rotating a tubular member, the power
tong assembly comprising: a jaw assembly comprising: a plurality of
jaws having an internal gripping portion and an external gear
portion, the jaws arranged to form a tubular member receiving space
central to the jaws; and a cylindrical rotor positioned
concentrically about the jaws, the rotor having a plurality of
internal gear teeth interfaced with the external gear portion of
the jaws such that rotation of the rotor causes rotation of the
jaws relative to the tubular member receiving space such that the
internal gripping portion of the jaws is movable relative to the
tubular member receiving space to engage and rotate the tubular
member when same is positioned in the tubular member receiving
space, the rotor further having a lower flange extending
perpendicularly from the rotor; a bearing assembly positioned
concentrically to the jaw assembly and comprising a stationary
inner portion and a rotatable outer portion, the outer portion
having an external gear ring and being connected to the lower
flange of the rotor such that rotation of the outer portion causes
rotation of the rotor; a housing encompassing the jaw assembly and
at least a portion of the bearing assembly, the housing having an
upper plate, a lower plate, and a plurality of sidewall members,
the upper and lower plates having tubular member receiving openings
aligned with the tubular member receiving space central to the
jaws, the lower plate connected to the inner portion of the bearing
assembly; and at least one drive assembly comprising at least one
drive gear powered by at least one drive motor, the drive gear
interfaced with the gear ring of the bearing assembly such that
rotation of the drive gear causes rotation of the gear ring.
2. The power tong assembly of claim 1, further comprising a
controller remotely positioned from the jaw assembly and configured
to control the drive assembly.
3. The power tong assembly of claim 1, further comprising a
plurality of guide plates connected with the upper and lower plates
of the housing, the guide plates having an opening aligned with the
tubular member receiving space, the opening having beveled rims
that define tapered guide surfaces.
4. The power tong assembly of claim 1, wherein the lower flange of
the rotor substantially surrounds the circumference of the
rotor.
5. A backup tong assembly for holding a tubular member stationary,
the backup tong assembly comprising: a tubular housing having a
first side with a first opening and a second side with a second
opening, the first and second opening aligned with each other to
form a tubular member receiving space, the housing further having a
first end and a second end opposite from one another; a first
gripper assembly secured through the first end of the housing, the
first gripper assembly comprising: a first cylinder connected to
the first end of the housing; a first cylinder rod extending from
the first cylinder through the housing toward the tubular member
receiving space, the first cylinder rod having a proximal end and a
distal end; a first head member connected to the distal end of the
first cylinder rod; and a first pair of gripper members connected
to the first head member, each gripper member having a gripping
surface; and a second gripper assembly secured through the second
end of the housing in a diametrically opposed relationship to the
first gripper assembly, the second gripper assembly comprising: a
second cylinder connected to the second end of the housing; a
second cylinder rod extending from the second cylinder through the
housing toward the tubular member receiving space, the second
cylinder rod having a proximal end and a distal end; a second head
member connected to the distal end of the second cylinder rod; and
a second pair of gripper members connected to the second head
member, each gripper member having a gripping surface; wherein
extension of the first and second cylinder rods causes the first
and second pairs of gripper members to grippingly engage the
tubular member when same is positioned in the tubular member
receiving space.
6. The backup tong assembly of claim 5, further comprising a
controller remotely positioned from the housing and configured to
control the gripper assemblies.
7. The backup tong assembly of claim 5, wherein each gripper member
is pivotally connected to the head member about a pivot axis, and
wherein each gripper surface is positioned concentric to the pivot
axis.
8. The backup tong assembly of claim 5, wherein each gripper
surface is arcuate shaped.
9. An assembly comprising: a power tong assembly comprising: a jaw
assembly comprising: a plurality of jaws having an internal
gripping portion and an external gear portion, the jaws arranged to
form a first tubular member receiving space central to the jaws;
and a cylindrical rotor positioned concentrically about the jaws,
the rotor having a plurality of internal gear teeth interfaced with
the external gear portion of the jaws such that rotation of the
rotor causes rotation of the jaws relative to the first tubular
member receiving space such that the internal gripping portion of
the jaws is movable relative to the first tubular member receiving
space to engage and rotate the tubular member when same is
positioned in the first tubular member receiving space, the rotor
further having a lower flange extending perpendicularly from the
rotor; a bearing assembly positioned concentrically to the jaw
assembly and comprising a stationary inner portion and a rotatable
outer portion, the outer portion having an external gear ring and
being connected to the lower flange of the rotor such that rotation
of the outer portion causes rotation of the rotor; a power tong
housing encompassing the jaw assembly and at least a portion of the
bearing assembly, the power tong housing having an upper plate, a
lower plate, and a plurality of sidewall members, the upper and
lower plates having tubular member receiving openings aligned with
the first tubular member receiving space central to the jaws, the
lower plate connected to the inner portion of the bearing assembly;
and at least one drive assembly comprising at least one drive gear
powered by at least one drive motor, the drive gear interfaced with
the gear ring of the bearing assembly such that rotation of the
drive gear causes rotation of the gear ring; and a backup tong
assembly comprising: a tubular backup tong housing having a first
side with a first opening and a second side with a second opening,
the first and second opening aligned with each other to form a
second tubular member receiving space concentrically aligned with
the first tubular member receiving space of the power ton assembly,
the backup tong housing further having a first end and a second end
opposite from one another; a first gripper assembly secured through
the first end of the backup tong housing, the first gripper
assembly comprising: a first cylinder connected to the first end of
the backup tong housing; a first cylinder rod extending from the
first cylinder through the backup tong housing toward the second
tubular member receiving space, the first cylinder rod having a
proximal end and a distal end; a first head member connected to the
distal end of the first cylinder rod; and a first pair of gripper
members connected to the first head member, each gripper member
having a gripping surface; and a second gripper assembly secured
through the second end of the backup tong housing in a
diametrically opposed relationship to the first gripper assembly,
the second gripper assembly comprising: a second cylinder connected
to the second end of the backup tong housing; a second cylinder rod
extending from the second cylinder through the backup tong housing
toward the second tubular member receiving space, the second
cylinder rod having a proximal end and a distal end; a second head
member connected to the distal end of the second cylinder rod; and
a second pair of gripper members connected to the second head
member, each gripper member having a gripping surface; wherein
extension of the first and second cylinder rods causes the first
and second pairs of gripper members to grippingly engage the
tubular member when same is positioned in the second tubular member
receiving space.
10. The assembly of claim 9, further comprising at least one
controller remotely positioned from the jaw assembly and configured
to control at least one of the drive assembly and the first and
second gripper assemblies.
11. The assembly of claim 9, wherein the backup tong assembly is
connected to the lower plate of the power tong housing.
12. The assembly of claim 9, further comprising a plurality of
guide plates connected with the upper and lower plates of the power
tong housing, the guide plates having an opening aligned with the
first tubular member receiving space, the opening having beveled
rims that define tapered guide surfaces.
13. The assembly of claim 9, wherein the lower flange of the rotor
substantially surrounds the circumference of the rotor.
14. The assembly of claim 9, further comprising at least one
resilient support connected to the power tong housing to permit
movement of the power tong assembly relative to the backup tong
assembly.
15. The assembly of claim 9, further comprising a plurality of
resilient supports extending between the power tong housing and the
backup tong housing to permit movement of the power tong assembly
relative to the backup tong assembly.
16. The assembly of claim 9, wherein each gripper member is
pivotally connected to the head member about a pivot axis, and
wherein each gripper surface is positioned concentric to the pivot
axis.
17. The assembly of claim 9, wherein each gripper surface is
arcuate shaped.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional
application Ser. No. 61/730,266, entitled "POWER TONG AND BACKUP
TONG APPARATUS," filed Nov. 27, 2012, the entire contents of which
are hereby incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Apparatus for connecting and disconnecting (threading and
unthreading) tubular members, such as pipe joints and the like, are
widely used. In particular, such apparatus are readily utilized in
the drilling industry for the purpose of connecting and
disconnecting sections of pipe and other elongated elements, such
as drill pipe, well casing, production tubing, sucker rods, and the
like (referred to herein as tubular members). During drilling,
completion, and servicing operations for wells typically drilled
for the production of petroleum products, lengths of pipe are
interconnected by connecting operations for developing a string of
pipe that is run into the well. Further, upon removal of a string
of pipe from the well, it is necessary to break out the individual
joints of pipe as the pipe string is withdrawn from the well.
[0003] During making up and breaking out operations, it is
desirable to provide power energized equipment that is capable of
applying relatively high torque to the pipe joints to thread or
unthread to connect or disconnect the connection. High torque may
be necessary especially during breakout operations. In the
petroleum industry, such power energized devices are typically
referred to as power tong assemblies, and these power tong
assemblies have become quite well developed over the years.
[0004] One of the problems encountered with power tongs is that
they are generally complex in construction. As such, power tongs
can be difficult and expensive to maintain, particularly when used
on wells located in remote areas.
[0005] In addition to the power tong which is employed to apply
torque to rotate a first tubular member, a backup tong assembly is
utilized to hold a second in-line tubular member stationary, in
order to connect or disconnect the first and second tubular
members. Like power tong assemblies, backup tong assemblies have
been complex in construction, and thus difficult to maintain.
[0006] To this end, a need exists for improved power tong and
backup tong assemblies that are simple in construction and easy to
maintain. It is to such apparatus that the inventive concepts
disclosed herein are directed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a power tong assembly
constructed in accordance with the inventive concepts disclosed
herein.
[0008] FIG. 2 is an exploded, perspective view of the power tong
assembly of FIG. 1.
[0009] FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 in FIG.
1
[0010] FIG. 4A is a perspective view of a jaw assembly.
[0011] FIG. 4B is side elevational view of the jaw assembly.
[0012] FIG. 4C is a top plan view of the jaw assembly.
[0013] FIG. 4D is a sectional view of the jaw assembly taken along
line 4D-4D of FIG. 4B.
[0014] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the jaw assembly shown with
a bearing assembly attached thereto.
[0015] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a
power tong assembly.
[0016] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a
backup tong assembly.
[0017] FIG. 8 is an exploded, perspective view of the backup tong
assembly of FIG. 7.
[0018] FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the backup tong assembly.
[0019] FIG. 10A is a perspective view of a gripper assembly.
[0020] FIG. 10B is a side elevational view of the gripper
assembly.
[0021] FIG. 10C is a top plan view of a head member and a pair of
gripper members.
[0022] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a power tong assembly and
backup tong assemblies constructed in accordance with the inventive
concepts disclosed herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
[0023] Before explaining at least one embodiment of the inventive
concepts disclosed herein in detail, it is to be understood that
the inventive concepts are not limited in their application to the
details of construction and the arrangement of the components or
steps or methodologies set forth in the following description or
illustrated in the drawings. The inventive concepts disclosed
herein are capable of other embodiments, or of being practiced or
carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the
phraseology and terminology employed herein is for the purpose of
description and should not be regarded as limiting the inventive
concepts disclosed and claimed herein in any way.
[0024] In the following detailed description of embodiments of the
inventive concepts, numerous specific details are set forth in
order to provide a more thorough understanding of the inventive
concepts. However, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in
the art that the inventive concepts within the instant disclosure
may be practiced without these specific details. In other
instances, well-known features have not been described in detail to
avoid unnecessarily complicating the instant disclosure.
[0025] As used herein, the terms "comprises," "comprising,"
"includes," "including," "has," "having," and any variations
thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion. For
example, a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a
list of elements is not necessarily limited to only those elements,
and may include other elements not expressly listed or inherently
present therein.
[0026] Unless expressly stated to the contrary, "or" refers to an
inclusive or and not to an exclusive or. For example, a condition A
or B is satisfied by anyone of the following: A is true (or
present) and B is false (or not present), A is false (or not
present) and B is true (or present), and both A and B is true (or
present).
[0027] In addition, use of the "a" or "an" are employed to describe
elements and components of the embodiments disclosed herein. This
is done merely for convenience and to give a general sense of the
inventive concepts. This description should be read to include one
or at least one and the singular also includes the plural unless it
is obvious that it is meant otherwise.
[0028] As used herein, qualifiers like "substantially," "about,"
"approximately," and combinations and variations thereof, are
intended to include not only the exact amount or value that they
qualify, but also some slight deviations therefrom, which may be
due to manufacturing tolerances, measurement error, wear and tear,
stresses exerted on various parts, and combinations thereof, for
example.
[0029] Finally, as used herein any reference to "one embodiment" or
"an embodiment" means that a particular element, feature,
structure, or characteristic described in connection with the
embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. The appearances
of the phrase "in one embodiment" in various places in the
specification are not necessarily all referring to the same
embodiment.
[0030] Referring now to drawings, and more particularly to FIGS.
1-5, illustrated therein is a power tong assembly 10 for connecting
and disconnecting tubular members, such as tubular members 210 and
212 (FIG. 11). The power tong assembly 10 includes a housing 12, a
jaw assembly 14 for gripping a tubular member, a bearing assembly
16, and a drive assembly 18.
[0031] The housing 12 includes an upper plate 24, a lower plate 26,
and a plurality of sidewall members 28. The upper and lower plates
24 and 26 may be of any form with interior portions thereof cut
away and defining central openings 30 and 32, also referred to
herein as tubular member receiving openings 30, 32. The housing 12
may substantially encompass the jaw assembly 14 and at least a
portion of the bearing assembly 16. The housing 12 may be formed of
metal or other suitable material.
[0032] A plurality of guide plates 34 and 36 may be interconnected
with the upper and lower plates 24 and 26. The guide plates have an
opening aligned with the tubular member receiving openings 30, 32
of the upper and lower plates 24, 26 of the housing 12. The inner
peripheries of each of the guide plates 34 and 36 are provided with
beveled rims 42 and 44, respectively, to guide a tubular member as
the tubular member is inserted into and through the power tong
assembly 10.
[0033] The jaw assembly 14 may be any suitable mechanism, such as
those known as Foster style jaw assemblies and commercially
available from Gill Services, Inc. The jaw assembly 14 generally
employs a rotor 50 and a plurality of jaws 52, also referred to as
pipe gripping members.
[0034] The jaws 52 are arranged to form a tubular member receiving
space 45, aligned with the tubular member receiving openings 30, 32
of the upper and lower plates 24 and 26 of the housing 12. The jaws
52 have an internal gripping portion 46 and an external pinion gear
portion 56. The internal gripping portion 46 may be composed of
teeth, ridges, or other gripping surface. In one embodiment, the
jaws 52 are pivotally connected to a support ring 47.
[0035] The rotor 50 is in the form of a cylindrical sleeve, and the
inner peripheral portion of the rotor 50 has a plurality of
internal gear teeth 54 that are received by the opposing external
pinion gear portions 56 of the jaws 52 such that rotation of the
rotor 50 in either direction causes the jaws 52 to rotate relative
to the tubular member receiving space 45 such that the internal
gripping portion 46 of the jaws 52 is moveable relative to the
tubular receiving space 45 to engage the tubular member 212 when
present. The rotation causes making or breaking of a connection
between adjacent tubular members by threading or unthreading the
connection, depending upon the direction of rotation of the rotor
50.
[0036] The rotor 50 is provided with an upper flange 60 and a lower
flange 62, each extending outwardly from the rotor 50. The upper
flange 60 and lower flange 62 may substantially surround the
circumference of the rotor 50 and may extend perpendicularly from
the rotor 50. The upper flange 60 of the rotor 50 provides
structural support to the rotor 50.
[0037] The bearing assembly 16 has a diameter such that the bearing
assembly 16 is positioned concentrically about at least a portion
of the jaw assembly 14. The bearing assembly 16 has a stationary
inner portion 64 and a rotatable outer portion 66. The bearing
assembly 16 may be in the form of a bearing commonly referred to a
slewing bearing.
[0038] The inner portion 64 of the bearing assembly 16 is
configured to be connected the lower plate 26 of the housing 12
with a plurality of fasteners 78, thus holding the inner portion 64
substantially rotationally stationary. The fasteners 78 may also be
used to secure the guide plate 36 to the lower plate 26 of the
housing 12.
[0039] The outer portion 66 of the bearing assembly 16 has an
external gear ring 68 extending therefrom and defining external
gear teeth 70. The outer portion 66 of the bearing assembly 16 is
connected to the lower flange 62 of the rotor 50 of the jaw
assembly 14 such that rotation of the outer portion 66 causes
rotation of the rotor 50. The outer portion 66 of the bearing
assembly 16 is connected to the lower flange 62 of the rotor 50 in
a suitable manner, such as with fasteners 76.
[0040] The drive assembly 18 supplies rotative forces to the
bearing assembly 16 and the bearing assembly 16 provides a direct
drive linkage between the rotor 50 and the drive assembly 18. The
drive assembly 18 includes one or more suitable hydraulic drive
motors 74 and one or more drive gears 72. Any drive motor 74 of
suitable power to drive the bearing assembly 16 and jaw assembly 14
may be used. An example of a suitable drive motor 74 is model
number M015-61-1S-015-50-B1-TB available from Rineer Hydraulics,
Inc. of San Antonio, Tex. The drive gear 72 has a plurality of
teeth 73. The teeth 73 of the drive gears 72 are disposed in driven
engagement with the gear teeth 70 of the bearing assembly 16.
[0041] In the embodiment of FIG. 2, two hydraulic drive motors 74
are utilized. The hydraulic drive motors 74 rotate the drive gears
72 which are directly engaged with the bearing assembly 16, thereby
rotating the outer portion 66 of the bearing assembly 16. The
hydraulic drive motors 74 may be located anywhere around the
bearing assembly 16 so long as the drive gears 72 are positioned to
interface with the bearing assembly 16. For example, the hydraulic
drive motors 74 may be positioned adjacent to one another or
opposing one another across the jaw assembly 14. In one embodiment,
the lower plate 26 of the housing 12 supports the drive assembly
18; however, the drive assembly 18 may be supported by any suitable
structure. Hydraulic power is supplied to the hydraulic drive motor
74 by any suitable hydraulic power system (not shown).
[0042] In one embodiment, the drive motors 74 and/or a resilient
support 20 are controlled from a control panel 80 which includes
corresponding control valves for actuating each of the drive motors
74 and/or the resilient support 20. The control panel 80 may be
remotely positioned whereby a workman can be positioned in a
convenient and safe location at the work site away from the moving
parts of the power tong assembly 10. Because the use of hydraulic
circuits is well known in the art, as well as their various
components, the hosing used in the present invention has been
omitted from the drawings for the sake of clarity.
[0043] The power tong assembly 10 may be connected to one or more
resilient supports to permit relative movement of the power tong
assembly 10, for example, during the threading and unthreading of
the connection. In one embodiment, shown in FIG. 1, a resilient
support 20a in the form of hydraulic piston and cylinder assembly
is shown to be mounted to the power tong assembly 10. In another
embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6, a plurality of resilient supports
20b in the form of cylinders may be mounted between the power tong
assembly 10a and a base support 23.
[0044] Referring now to FIGS. 7-10C, a backup tong assembly 100
constructed in accordance with the inventive concepts disclosed
herein is illustrated. The backup tong assembly 100 is adapted to
be used in combination with the power tong assembly 10 described
above, or with other power tong assemblies, to hold a tubular
member in a stationary position while the power tong assembly 10
rotates another tubular member during a connecting or disconnecting
operation, that is, threading or unthreading the connection between
the tubular members, such as tubular members 210 and 212 depicted
in FIG. 11. The backup tong assembly 100 may be connected directly
to a support structure, such as a rig floor, (not shown) and/or
connected to the power tong assembly 10, such as to the housing 12
of the power tong assembly 10 (FIG. 11).
[0045] The backup tong assembly 100 broadly includes a housing 102
and a pair of gripper assemblies 104 secured to the housing 102 in
diametrically opposing relationship with one another.
[0046] The housing 102 serves as a support structure for the
gripper assemblies 104. In one embodiment, the housing 102 has a
square cross-section with a first open end 106 and a second open
end 108; the first and second ends 106, 108 being opposite from one
another. The housing 102 further is provided with a first side 109
with an upper opening 110 and a second side 111 with a lower
opening 112 with the openings 110, 112 aligned with one another to
form a tubular member receiving space 113 for receiving the tubular
member. In one version, the housing 102 is formed of square steel
tube. The upper and lower openings 110 and 112 are sized to permit
the tubular members to pass there through, and the upper and lower
openings 110 and 112 may be further sized (e.g., 7 1/16 inch) to
permit other equipment to pass there through, such as packers and
landing hangers, without requiring removal of the backup tong
assembly 100. As described above, the housing 102 may be adapted to
be secured to the rig floor (not shown), a support structure, or
secured to a power tong, such as the power tong assembly 10
described above.
[0047] The gripper assemblies 104 may be secured through the first
and second ends 106, 108 of the housing 102 in a diametrically
opposed relationship to one another. In one embodiment, each of the
gripper assemblies 104 includes a cylinder 120, a cylinder rod 122
extending from the cylinder 120, a head member 124 connected to a
distal end of the cylinder rod 122, and a pair of gripper members
126 connected to the head member 124.
[0048] The cylinders 120 may be any suitable cylinder, such as a
six inch, 20 ton, 10,000 psi, single acting hydraulic cylinder with
a return spring, commercially available from BVA Hydraulics. The
cylinder 120 may be secured to the housing 102 with a cylinder
support assembly 130 to facilitate removal of the gripper assembly
104 from the housing 102 for servicing the gripper assembly 104.
More particularly, the cylinder support assembly 130 includes a
sleeve 132 for receiving the cylinder 120, a flange 134 extending
from the sleeve 132, and an end cap 136 with a hole 138 formed
therein. The flange 134 is configured to fit in the open end 106,
108 of the housing 102 and to be secured to the housing 102 with
suitable fasteners, such as bolts 140. To this end, the gripper
assembly 104 may be removed from the housing 102 by removing the
bolts 140 and withdrawing the gripper assembly 104 from the housing
102. The cylinder 120 may further be provided with an indicator 142
connected to the cylinder 120 and extending through the hole 138 or
the end cap 136 to provide a visual indication of the position of
the cylinder 120. By way of example, when the indicators 142 are
visible, this may indicate that the gripper assembly 104 is in a
retracted or non-gripping position wherein the tubular members 210,
212 may be passed through the backup tong assembly 100.
[0049] The cylinder rod 122 extends from the cylinder 120 through
the housing 102 toward the tubular member receiving space 113. The
cylinder rod 122 has a proximal end 143 and a distal end 144. The
head member 124 is connected to the distal end 144 of the cylinder
rod 122. The head member 124 may have one or more guide plates 125
dimensioned to slidably contact the interior surface of the housing
102. A pair of gripper members 126 is connected to the head member
124, each gripper member having a gripping surface 150.
[0050] The gripper members 126 are commonly known as tong dies. In
one embodiment, the gripper members 126 each have arcuate shaped
gripping surface 150 which may be provided with pipe engaging teeth
or serrations. The gripper members 126 are pivotally connected to
the head member 124 in such a way that the gripping surfaces 150
are concentrically positioned relative to a pivot axis 152 through
the gripper member 126. The concentric arrangement permits a
greater range of pipe to be gripped without requiring gripper
members 126 of different sizes to be interchanged.
[0051] Extension of the cylinder rods 122 causes the pairs of
gripper members 126 to grippingly engage the tubular member 210
when the tubular member is positioned in the tubular member
receiving space 113.
[0052] The cylinders 120 may be powered by any suitable hydraulic
power system (not shown). For example, the cylinders 120 may be
controlled from the control panel 80 described above. Again,
because the use of hydraulic circuits is well known in the art, as
well as their various components, the hosing used in the present
invention has been omitted from the drawings for the sake of
clarity.
[0053] Referring now to FIG. 11, an assembly 200 that includes the
power tong assembly 10 and a pair of backup tong assemblies 100 is
illustrated. The backup tong assemblies 100 may be attached to the
housing 12 of the power assembly 100 or to any suitable structure.
For example, the backup tong assembly 100 may be attached to a
structural support 202. The tubular member receiving spaces 113 of
the backup tong assemblies 100 are concentrically aligned with the
tubular member receiving space 45 of the power tong assembly 10.
The backup tong assemblies 100 may be positioned on opposing sides
of the power tong assembly 10. Though two backup tong assemblies
100 are shown, it will be understood that any number of backup tong
assemblies 100 may be used.
[0054] The assembly 200 illustrated in FIG. 11 also includes the
resilient support 20a as described above in conjunction with FIG.
1. However, it will be understood that the assembly 200 may also be
supported in a variety of ways, including configured to have no
resilient support, or the resilient support may be configured as
the plurality of cylinders 20b, as described in conjunction with
FIG. 6.
[0055] In use, to connect or disconnect a first tubular member 210
and a second tubular member 212 by threading or unthreading a
connection between the first and second tubular members 210, 212,
one of the backup tong assemblies 100 is first activated such that
the cylinders 120 extend so as to cause the gripper members 126 to
contact and grip the first tubular member 210. The power tong
assembly 10 may then be actuated to engage and rotate the second
tubular member 212 to either connect the second tubular member 212
to, or disconnect the second tubular member 212 from, the first
tubular member 210 by threading or unthreading the connection. It
will be understood that either backup assembly 100 may be used, or
additional backup assemblies 100 may be utilized in the assembly
200.
[0056] To release the second tubular member 212, the drive assembly
18 may be reversed, thereby disengaging the gripping portion 46 of
the jaws 52 from the second tubular member 212. To release the
first tubular member 210, the hydraulic power system is disengaged
thereby causing the cylinders 120 to return to the retracted
position thereby causing the gripper members 126 to disengage the
first tubular member 210. The drive assembly 18 and hydraulic power
system may be remotely controlled.
[0057] From the above description, it is clear that the inventive
concepts disclosed herein are well adapted to carry out the objects
and to attain the advantages mentioned herein as well as those
inherent in the inventive concepts disclosed herein. While
exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts disclosed herein
have been described for purposes of this disclosure, it will be
understood that numerous changes may be made which will readily
suggest themselves to those skilled in the art and which are
accomplished within the scope of the inventive concepts disclosed
and claimed herein.
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