Power tong apparatus and method of using same

A power tong apparatus for selectively applying torque forces to tubulars comprising:

• a) a body section defining a central opening and a gap extending into said central opening, wherein said body section further comprises a top plate and a bottom plate having a distance there between;
• b) a plurality of idler gears disposed within said body section between said top plate and said bottom plate;
• c) a rotary gear operationally engaged with said plurality of idler gears;
• d) a plurality of dies moveably disposed within said body section around said central opening and operationally attached to said rotary gear, wherein said plurality of dies are configured to grip a tubular;
• e) a door hingedly attached to said body section by an actuating mechanisms which are contained within said body section, and wherein said actuating mechanisms selectively alternate said door between a first closed position wherein said gap is obstructed and a second open position wherein said gap is unobstructed, and wherein at least one of said plurality of idler gears is disposed within said door;
• and
• f) a modular transmission assembly configured to selectively apply force to said plurality of idler gears, wherein said modular transmission assembly further comprises:
• a transmission box housing removably attachable to said body section;
• a plurality of drive gears held within a shift gear assembly, disposed within said transmission box housing;
• and
• two or more sets of mating gears disposed within said transmission box housing, and configured to provide a plurality of speeds of the rotary gear, after said transmission box housing is selectively attached to said body section;
• and
• wherein said transmission box housing is configured to be selectively affixed to, and disconnectable from, the body section.

A power tong apparatus to grip and selectively apply torsional forces on tubular members comprising:

• a. a motor;
• b. a body section comprising a top plate, a bottom plate and a spacer, said body section having a central opening and a gap, wherein the central opening comprises a rotary gear housing a plurality of jaws movably disposed, wherein said plurality of jaws are configured to grip a tubular member;
• C. a gear train driven by said motor;
• d. at least one door hingedly attached to said body section and configured to selectively alternate between a first closed position wherein said gap is obstructed and a second open position wherein said gap is unobstructed;
• e. at least one filler block inserted within said body section, wherein said at least one filler block is radially disposed about the gears of the said gear train;
• a door latch assembly disposed within said body section adjacent a tong door end and a door actuator assembly comprising a door cylinder and a door rack disposed within a tong body adjacent an opposite tong door end having a door actuator pin, said pin hingedly connected to the adjacent tong door body, said actuator pin further comprising a pinion gear disposed about a pin shaft, said pinion gear cooperating with a door rack having a plurality of teeth thereupon, said rack connected to a door cylinder to transmit rotational force to said door actuator pin;
• wherein said door latch assembly further comprises a latch lever energized by a latch cylinder, the energized lever causing a door latch to separate from a latch cam, a spring pulls said latch cam to its open position thereby releasing it from the latch pin, said door cylinder being energized to retract the door rack and transmit counterclockwise rotational force through said door actuation pin, said door latch lever being spring loaded to roll clockwise to a spring open position thereby positioning said tong door to an open position;
• wherein as said door cylinder is energized to extend, said door rack teeth cooperate with pin pinion gear to transmit clockwise rotational force through said door actuation pin, thereby positioning said tong door in a closed position, said door latch engaging against the latch cam preventing the tong door to return to an open position during rotation of the rotary gear.