# US 11,898,412 B2 · Rod lock out clamp > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,898,412 B2 - Document ID: US11898412B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/648,569 - Filed: 2022-01-21 - Published: 2022-10-13 - Granted: 2024-02-13 - Earliest claimed: 2021-04-09 - Assignees: Oil Lift Technology Inc. - Applicants: Oil Lift Technology Inc. - Inventors: Ross Willard Senger - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11898412B2 ## CPC - E21B 33/085: {Rotatable packing means, e.g. rotating blow-out preventers} - E21B 19/10: Slips; Spiders {; Catching devices (rotary tables with master bushing or kelly bushing E21B3/04)} - E21B 33/03: Well heads; Setting-up thereof - E21B 33/062: {with sliding rams} - E21B 43/126: {Adaptations of down-hole pump systems powered by drives outside the borehole, e.g. by a rotary or oscillating drive (powered by fluid E21B43/129)} - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## Abstract A rod lock out clamp includes a housing having a central bore for receiving a rod in spaced relation therethrough and clamp members in the housing for grippingly and frictionally engaging the rod in the bore. At least one of the clamp members has an inner end and a recess in the inner end, the recess having a profile with an arcuate portion having a radius of curvature that reduces from a maximum radius to a minimum radius. Manipulating means are coupled to the housing and the clamp members for moving the clamp members between a rod gripping position and a retracted position. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A rod lock out clamp for use on a well bore in a production oil, water or gas well installation, the lock out clamp comprising: a housing having a central bore for receiving a rod in spaced relation therethrough; clamp members in the housing for grippingly and frictionally engaging the rod in the bore, at least one of the clamp members having an inner end and a recess in the inner end, the recess having a profile with an arcuate portion having a radius of curvature that reduces from a maximum radius to a minimum radius, wherein the at least one clamp member comprises a generally cylindrical body; and manipulating means coupled to the housing and the clamp members for moving the clamp members between a rod gripping position in which the clamp members grippingly engage the rod to prevent rotation or axial movement thereof, and a retracted position in which the clamp members are removed from the rod to permit rotational and axial movement of the rod in the bore. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The lock out clamp of claim 1, wherein the arcuate portion extends from an opening of the recess such that the maximum radius is at the opening. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The lock out clamp of claim 1, wherein the minimum radius is at a halfway point between two ends of the profile. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The lock out clamp of claim 1, wherein a width of an opening of the recess is equal to or larger than a diameter of the rod. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The lock out clamp of claim 1, wherein the radius of curvature reduces continuously, step-wise, or a combination of step-wise and continuously from the maximum radius to the minimum radius. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The lock out clamp of claim 1, wherein the arcuate portion of the profile is a portion of an ellipse. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The lock out clamp of claim 1, wherein the radius of curvature of the arcuate portion is configured to result in a range of gripping forces that are within the elastic regimes of the rod and the at least one clamp member. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The lock out clamp of claim 1, wherein each of the clamp members incorporates a sealing material for sealing the clamp members to each other and to the rod. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The lock out clamp of claim 8, wherein the sealing material is positioned within a groove that runs at least across the recess. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The lock out clamp of claim 1, wherein the clamp member is comprised of two or more pieces. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The lock out clamp of claim 1, wherein the recess includes an inner surface, the inner surface having a plurality of parallel notches. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The lock out clamp of claim 1, wherein the clamp members comprise two radially opposed rams, the rams having mutually engageable end faces at the inner ends thereof and elastomeric seal means disposed between the end faces, the rams being sealingly disposed in a respective clamping bore and being sealingly engageable with the rod and with each other to prevent well fluids from escaping past the lock out clamp when the clamp members are disposed in the gripping position. ### Claim 13 A rod lock out clamp for use on a well bore in a production oil, water or gas well installation, the lock out clamp comprising: a housing having a central bore for receiving a rod in spaced relation therethrough; clamp members in the housing for grippingly and frictionally engaging the rod in the bore, at least one of the clamp members having an inner end and a recess in the inner end, the recess having a profile with an arcuate portion having a radius of curvature that reduces from a maximum radius to a minimum radius; and manipulating means coupled to the housing and the clamp members for moving the clamp members between a rod gripping position in which the clamp members grippingly engaged the rod to prevent rotation or axial movement thereof, and a retracted position in which the clamp members are removed from the rod to permit rotational and axial movement of the rod in the bore, wherein the recess includes an inner surface, the inner surface having a plurality of parallel notches. ### Claim 14 A rod lock out clamp for use on a well bore in a production oil, water or gas well installation, the lock out clamp comprising: a housing having a central bore for receiving a rod in spaced relation therethrough; clamp members in the housing for grippingly and frictionally engaging the rod in the bore, at least one of the clamp members having an inner end and a recess in the inner end, the recess having a profile with an arcuate portion having a radius of curvature that reduces from a maximum radius to a minimum radius; and manipulating means coupled to the housing and the clamp members for moving the clamp members between a rod gripping position in which the clamp members grippingly engaged the rod to prevent rotation or axial movement thereof, and a retracted position in which the clamp members are removed from the rod to permit rotational and axial movement of the rod in the bore, wherein the clamp members comprise two radially opposed rams, the rams having mutually engageable end faces at the inner ends thereof and elastomeric seal means disposed between the end faces, the rams being sealingly disposed in a respective clamping bore and being sealingly engageable with the rod and with each other to prevent well fluids from escaping past the lock out clamp when the clamp members are disposed in the gripping position. ### Claim 15 A clamp member for use in clamping a rod, the clamp member comprising: a body having a recess for receiving the rod, the recess having a profile with an arcuate portion having a radius of curvature that reduces from a maximum radius to a minimum radius, wherein the minimum radius is at a halfway point between two ends of the profile, and wherein the body is generally cylindrical and has a first end and a second end, the recess being positioned within the first end; and a coupling portion configured for coupling to manipulating means for advancing the clamp member towards the rod to be clamped. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The clamp member of claim 15, wherein the arcuate portion extends from an opening of the recess such that the maximum radius is at the opening. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The clamp member of claim 15, wherein a width of an opening of the recess is larger than a diameter of the rod to be clamped. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The clamp member of claim 15, wherein the radius of curvature reduces continuously, step-wise, or a combination of step-wise and continuously from the maximum radius to the minimum radius. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The clamp member of claim 15, wherein the radius of curvature of the arcuate portion is configured to result in a range of gripping forces that are within the elastic regimes of the rod to be clamped and the clamp member. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The clamp member of claim 15, wherein the recess includes an inner surface, the inner surface having a plurality of parallel notches. ### Claim 21 (depends on 15) The clamp member of claim 15, wherein the body includes a sealing groove for receiving elastomeric sealing means, the sealing groove extending across the profile. ### Claim 22 (depends on 15) The clamp member of claim 15, wherein the clamp member comprises a groove for incorporating a sealing material for sealing the clamp member to another clamp member and the rod. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The clamp member of claim 22, wherein the groove runs at least across the recess. ### Claim 24 (depends on 15) The clamp member of claim 15, wherein the recess includes an inner surface, the inner surface having a plurality of parallel notches. ### Claim 25 (depends on 15) The clamp member of claim 15, wherein the clamp member is comprised of two or more pieces. ### Claim 26 A clamp member for use in a clamping rod, the clamp member comprising: a body having a recess for receiving the rod, the recess having a profile with an arcuate portion having a radius of curvature that reduces from a maximum radius to a minimum radius, wherein the arcuate portion of the profile is a portion of an ellipse, and wherein the body is generally cylindrical and has a first end and a second end, the recess being positioned within the first end, and a coupling portion configured for coupling to manipulating means for advancing the clamp member towards the rod to be clamped.