Tubular gripping device

A tubular gripping device comprising:

• an outer body defining an inner tubular cavity having a first inner diameter, a second inner diameter, a first load shoulder, a second load shoulder, a third load shoulder, and a fourth load shoulder, wherein the first inner diameter is greater than the second inner diameter, and wherein the first load shoulder tapers in a first axial direction from the first inner diameter down to the second inner diameter at the second load shoulder, wherein the second load shoulder is configured as a stop, and wherein the third load shoulder tapers in a second axial direction from the first inner diameter down to the second inner diameter at the fourth load shoulder, wherein the fourth load shoulder is configured as a stop, wherein the first axial direction and the second axial direction are opposite directions;
• a self-locking mechanism positioned substantially co-axially within the tubular cavity of the outer body, the self-locking mechanism having a spring expanded position such that an inner diameter of the self-locking mechanism is marginally smaller than or substantially equal to or greater than the second inner diameter, and having a spring released position such that the inner diameter of the self-locking mechanism would springably contract to be substantially smaller than the second inner diameter were the self-locking mechanism, said self-locking mechanism further comprising:
• a set of tapped threads, and wherein the leg portion of the retainer member is configured to extend through the aperture in the outer body to thread into the tapped threads and radially restrain the self-locking mechanism in the spring expanded position;
• a retainer member having a first retainer position wherein a leg portion of the retainer member is configured to extend through an aperture in the outer body to interface with and radially restrain the self-locking mechanism in the spring expanded position, and the retainer member having a second retainer position wherein the leg portion of the retainer member is removed from interfacing with and restraining the self-locking mechanism such that the self-locking mechanism may contract to the spring released position to grip an outer surface of a tubular member;
• and
• a second retainer member having a first retainer position wherein a leg portion of the second retainer member is configured to extend through a second aperture in the outer body to interface with and radially restrain the self-locking mechanism in the spring expanded position, and the second retainer member having a second retainer position wherein the leg portion of the second retainer member is removed from interfacing with and restraining the self-locking mechanism such that the self-locking mechanism may contract to the spring released position to grip the outer surface of the tubular member.

A method of attaching a tubular gripping device to a tubular member, the method comprising:

• placing a tubular gripping device onto the tubular member, the tubular gripping device comprising:
• an outer body which defines an inner tubular cavity configured to slide over an outer surface of the tubular member, the inner tubular cavity having a first inner diameter, a second inner diameter, a first load shoulder, and a second load shoulder, wherein the first inner diameter is greater than the second inner diameter, and wherein an axial taper of the first load shoulder tapers the first inner diameter down to second inner diameter at the second load shoulder, and wherein the second load shoulder is configured as a stop at the second inner diameter;
• a self-locking mechanism positioned substantially co-axially within the tubular cavity of the outer body and proximate the first inner diameter, the self-locking mechanism having a spring expanded position such that an inner diameter of the self-locking mechanism is marginally less than or substantially equal to or greater than the second inner diameter, and having a spring released position such that the inner diameter of the self-locking mechanism would springably contract to be substantially smaller than the second inner diameter were the self-locking mechanism unrestrained;
• and
• a retainer member having a first retainer position wherein a leg portion of the retainer member is configured to extend through an aperture in the outer body to interface with and radially restrain the self-locking mechanism in the spring expanded position, and the retainer member having a second retainer position wherein the leg portion of the retainer member is removed from interfacing with and restraining the self-locking mechanism such that the self-locking mechanism may contract to the spring released position to grip an outer surface of the tubular member;
• and
• moving the retainer member from the first retainer position to the second retainer position to allow the self-locking mechanism of the tubular gripping device to grip the outer surface of the tubular member, wherein moving said retainer member from said first retainer position to said second retainer position comprises:
• unscrewing the leg portion of the retainer member from a set of threads tapped into the self-locking mechanism, wherein the self-locking mechanism comprises a c-shaped grip ring, and the threads are tapped proximal to an end of the c-shaped opening in the c-shaped grip ring.