# US 11,078,733 B2 · Apparatus and methods for determining operational mode of tong assembly

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- Number: US 11,078,733 B2
- Document ID: US11078733B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/109,071
- Filed: 2018-08-22
- Published: 2020-02-27
- Granted: 2021-08-03
- Earliest claimed: 2018-08-22
- Assignees: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC
- Applicants: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC
- Inventors: Jan Rothe; Heidi N. Cline; Frank Wern
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11078733B2

## CPC

- E21B 19/16: Connecting or disconnecting pipe couplings or joints (E21B19/20 takes precedence)
- E21B 19/165: {Control or monitoring arrangements therefor}
- E21B 19/161: {using a wrench or a spinner adapted to engage a circular section of pipe (E21B19/168 takes precedence)}
- E21B 47/002: by visual inspection
- E21B 47/0025: {generating an image of the borehole wall using down-hole measurements, e.g. acoustic or electric}
- E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS

## Abstract

A system for tong assembly operation includes a mode switch for shifting the tong assembly between a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation, the mode switch having a first portion associated with the first mode and a second portion associated with the second mode; a first target coupled to the first portion, the first target movable to a first position corresponding to the first mode of operation; a second target coupled to the second portion, the second target movable to a second position corresponding to the second mode of operation; a first sensor configured to identify the first position of the first target; and a second sensor configured to identify the second position of the second target.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system for tong assembly operation, comprising:
a tong having a stationary portion and a rotational portion;
an activator switch attached to the stationary portion;
a mode switch attached to the rotational portion, the mode switch configured to shift the tong between a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation, the mode switch having a first portion associated with the first mode and a second portion associated with the second mode, wherein the activator switch is configured to engage the first portion or the second portion to operate the mode switch;
a first sensor target attached to the first portion of the mode switch;
a second sensor target attached to the second portion of the mode switch;
a first sensor configured to detect the first sensor target when the tong is in the first mode of operation; and
a second sensor configured to detect the second sensor target when the tong is in the second mode of operation.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising an actuator configured to rotate the activator switch.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising a third sensor configured to detect a zero position of the rotational portion.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the mode switch is movable to a first position to shift the tong to the first mode of operation.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The system of claim 4, wherein the first mode of operation corresponds to making up a tubular connection.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the mode switch is movable to a second position to shift the tong to the second mode of operation.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The system of claim 6, wherein the second mode of operation corresponds to breaking out a tubular connection.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the first sensor target is positioned such that when the first sensor target is detectable by the first sensor, the first sensor target is not detectable by the second sensor.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the first sensor and the second sensor are mounted to a bracket.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the first portion comprises a make button, and the second portion comprises a break button.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The system of claim 10, wherein the first mode of operation corresponds to making up a tubular connection, and the second mode of operation corresponds to breaking out a tubular connection.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the first sensor target is configured to rotate relative to the first sensor.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the first sensor comprises a wireless positioning sensor configured to identify the first position of the first sensor target, wherein the first sensor target is rotatable relative to the wireless positioning sensor.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the first sensor is an optical imaging device.

### Claim 15 (depends on 8)

The system of claim 8, wherein the first sensor is located above the first sensor target and the second sensor is located above the second sensor target.

### Claim 16 (depends on 8)

The system of claim 8, wherein the first sensor target is located at a different radial distance from an edge of the rotating portion than the second sensor target.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The system of claim 16, wherein the first sensor is located above the first sensor target and the second sensor is located above the second sensor target.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

The system of claim 16, wherein the first sensor and the second sensor are mounted to a bracket attached to the activator switch.