Power tong
AssigneeFrank's International, LLC
InventorsLogan Smith, Brian Begnaud, Kirkrai Yuvamitra, Scott Arceneaux
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tong and method, in which the tong includes a first plate, and a gear that is rotatable relative to the first plate. The gear defines a slot laterally therethrough. An inner surface of the gear includes at least three cam surface. The tong also includes at least three jaws coupled to the first plate such that the at least three jaws are radially movable with respect to the first plate and are prevented from circumferential movement with respect thereto. The at least three jaws are engageable with the at least three cam surfaces such that rotation of the gear relative to the first plate causes the at least three jaws to move in a radial direction between an extended position and a retracted position.
Claims19
A power tong, comprising:
- a body defining a throat;
- a cage plate assembly, wherein the cage plate assembly comprises a first portion that defines a gap that corresponds to the throat of the tong, and a second portion that fits in the gap of the first portion;
- a gear that is rotatable relative to the cage plate assembly and the body, wherein the gear defines a slot laterally therethrough that is alignable with the throat so as to allow a tubular to be received therethrough, and wherein an inner surface of the gear comprises at least three sets of cam surfaces, wherein each set of cam surfaces comprises a first cam surface and a second cam surface, and wherein the first cam surface and the second cam surface are positioned at different axial elevations with respect to a central longitudinal axis through the gear;
- and
- at least three jaws coupled to the cage plate assembly such that the at least three jaws are radially movable with respect to the cage plate assembly and are prevented from circumferential movement with respect thereto, wherein the at least three jaws are engageable with the at least three sets of cam surfaces of the gear such that rotation of the gear relative to the cage plate assembly causes the at least three jaws to move in a radial direction between a retracted position and an extended position.
A gear for a tong, comprising:
- a substantially C-shaped member, wherein an inner radial surface of the member comprises one or more sets of cam surfaces, wherein each set of cam surfaces comprises a first cam surface for make-up of tubular connections and a second cam surface for break-out of tubular connections, and wherein the first cam surface and the second cam surface are positioned at different axial elevations with respect to a central longitudinal axis through the member.
A method for making-up or breaking-out a tubular connection, comprising:
- opening a door of a tong to expose a slot formed in a gear of the tong, the slot being aligned with a gap in a first portion of a cage plate assembly and a slot defined in the body of the tong, the cage plate assembly comprising a second portion that moves along with the door and when the door is pivoted open and at least one of three jaws fits in the gap of the first portion of the cage plate assembly;
- introducing a tubular member laterally into the slot while the door is open;
- closing the door;
- rotating the gear relative to the cage plate assembly, wherein rotating the gear causes at least three jaws to engage at least three sets of cam surfaces via respective first and second cam surfaces at each of the sets of cam surfaces that are positioned at different axial elevations with respect to a central longitudinal axis through a center of the gear, respectively, defined on an inner surface of the gear, so as to move the at least three jaws radially-inward and into contact with the tubular member, wherein at least one of the three jaws is coupled to the door and initially aligned with the slot;
- and
- rotating the tubular member using the tong after the at least three jaws contact the tubular member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.