# US 2008/0185154 A1 · Sucker rod coupling extractor > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2008/0185154 A1 - Document ID: US20080185154A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/011,071 - Filed: 2008-01-24 - Published: 2008-08-07 - Earliest claimed: 2007-02-02 - Assignees: Montie W. Holladay - Inventors: Montie W. Holladay; David W. Ripple - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20080185154A1 ## CPC - E21B 19/167: {using a wrench adapted to engage a non circular section of pipe, e.g. a section with flats or splines} - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## Abstract A prior art sucker rod tong is improved to remove a coupling completely from a sucker rod assembly comprising sucker rods joined end to end by couplings. The prior art sucker rod tong has a rotatable jaw assembly and a lower backup wrench adapted to cooperate to unscrew a coupling joining first and second rods, where the coupling remains screwed to the second rod after it is unscrewed from the first rod. The improvement comprises a coupling extractor for unscrewing the coupling from the second rod so that the coupling can be replaced. The coupling extractor comprises a shaft having an extractor end portion on each end of the shaft and a shield around each extractor end portion, wherein the coupling extractor is designed and sized to fit within and to be rotated by the jaw assembly. The extractor end portion engages the inside wall of the coupling to unscrew the coupling from the second rod. The extractor end portion is preferably a tapered, left-handed spiral fluted easy-out extractor. The improvement preferably further comprises an upper backup wrench movably connected to the sucker rod tong for holding the second sucker rod when the second sucker rod is above the coupling. ## Claims ### Claim 1 In a sucker rod tong comprising a body having an opening adapted to receive a sucker rod assembly, a rotatable jaw assembly operably engaged in the body at the opening and adapted to engage the sucker rod assembly, a powered mechanism adapted to rotate the jaw assembly and a lower backup wrench operably positioned below the jaw assembly, wherein the sucker rod assembly includes a sucker rod having a threaded end and a coupling having a threaded inside wall that is threaded onto the threaded end of the sucker rod, and wherein the lower backup wrench is adapted to hold the sucker rod, the improvement comprising: a coupling extractor removably engaged with the jaw assembly, the coupling extractor comprising a shaft having an end adapted as an extractor for engaging the inside wall of the coupling for unscrewing the coupling from the sucker rod. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The improved sucker rod tong of claim 1, wherein the end of the shaft adapted as an extractor is an extractor selected from the group consisting of an easy-out extractor, a pipe nipple extractor, and an internal pipe wrench. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The improved sucker rod tong of claim 1, wherein the shaft has an opposing end also adapted as an extractor for engaging the inside wall of a coupling for unscrewing the coupling from a sucker rod, the sucker rod tong being adapted for work on a sucker rod assembly that is oriented vertically in which case the coupling extractor is oriented vertically with an upper extractor end and a lower extractor end, and wherein the upper extractor end is adapted for removing a coupling attached to a lower end of a sucker rod and the lower extractor end is adapted for removing a coupling attached to an upper end of a sucker rod. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The improved sucker rod tong of claim 1, wherein each end of the coupling extractor shaft is adapted as an extractor, further comprising a driving flange extending radially from the shaft between the ends, the driving flange being adapted to operably receive a rotational force from the jaw assembly. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The improved sucker rod tong of claim 1, wherein each end of the coupling extractor shaft is adapted as an extractor, further comprising first and second driving flanges extending radially from the shaft between the ends, the first and second driving flanges being spaced apart and being adapted to operably receive a rotational force from the jaw assembly. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The improved sucker rod tong of claim 5, wherein the jaw assembly comprises jaws and an inner ring, and wherein the jaws engage the shaft between the first and second driving flanges for restricting axial movement of the coupling extractor, and wherein the inner ring engages the first and second driving flanges for imparting rotational movement to the coupling extractor. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The improved sucker rod tong of claim 1, wherein each end of the coupling extractor shaft is adapted as an extractor to provide an upper extractor end and a lower extractor end, further comprising upper and lower driving flanges extending radially from the shaft between the ends, the upper and lower driving flanges being located near the axial middle of the shaft and being spaced apart, wherein the driving flanges are adapted to operably receive a rotational force from the jaw assembly, the coupling extractor further comprising an enclosure around each extractor end for retaining shards from a coupling in the event that the coupling breaks or shatters. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The improved sucker rod tong of claim 7, wherein coupling extractor further comprises a centering flange mounted to the enclosure surrounding the upper extractor end, the centering flange extending radially with respect to the axis of the shaft, wherein the centering flange is adapted to essentially align the axis of the shaft with the center of the jaw assembly. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The improved sucker rod tong of claim 1, wherein each end of the coupling extractor shaft is adapted as an extractor to provide an upper extractor end and a lower extractor end, further comprising an upper backup wrench mounted to the body above an upper surface of the body, the upper backup wrench being adapted to hold an upper sucker rod while the upper extractor end of the coupling extractor engages and rotates a coupling to loosen the coupling from the upper sucker rod. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The improved sucker rod tong of claim 1, further comprising a hanger assembly connected to the body of the tong and an upper backup wrench received in the hanger assembly, the upper backup wrench being adapted to hold a sucker rod while the coupling extractor engages and rotates the coupling to loosen the coupling from the sucker rod. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The improved sucker rod tong of claim 1, wherein the shaft has an opposing end also adapted as an extractor for engaging the inside wall of a coupling for unscrewing the coupling from a sucker rod, the sucker rod tong being adapted for work on a sucker rod assembly that is oriented vertically in which case the coupling extractor is oriented vertically with an upper extractor end and a lower extractor end, and wherein the upper extractor end is adapted for removing a coupling attached to a lower end of a sucker rod and the lower extractor end is adapted for removing a coupling attached to an upper end of a sucker rod, further comprising a hanger assembly connected to the body of the tong and an upper backup wrench received in or engaged with the hanger assembly, the upper backup wrench being adapted to hold a sucker rod near a bottom end of the rod while the upper extractor end of the coupling extractor engages and rotates a coupling to loosen the coupling from the sucker rod, and the lower backup wrench being adapted to hold a sucker rod near an upper end of the sucker rod while the lower extractor end of the coupling extractor engages and rotates a coupling to loosen the coupling from the sucker rod. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The improved sucker rod tong of claim 1, wherein each end of the coupling extractor shaft is adapted as an easy-out extractor to provide an upper extractor end and a lower extractor end, further comprising a hanger assembly connected to the body of the tong and an upper backup wrench received in or engaged with the hanger assembly, the upper backup wrench being adapted to hold a sucker rod. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The improved sucker rod tong of claim 12, wherein each easy-out extractor is a tapered, left-handed spiral fluted length. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The improved sucker rod tong of claim 12, further comprising a driving flange extending radially form the coupling extractor shaft, a cylindrical enclosure surrounding each easy-out extractor, and a centering flange extending radially from one of the enclosures. ### Claim 15 A coupling extractor adapted for engagement in a sucker rod tong for breaking loose a threaded connection between a sucker rod and a coupling, comprising: a shaft having a length and opposing ends, each end being adapted as an extractor for engaging the inside wall of a coupling; and a driving flange mounted to or integral with the shaft between the ends, the driving flange extending radially with respect to the axis of the shaft. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The coupling extractor of claim 15, further comprising a shield surrounding each end of the shaft, each shield having a base mounted to the shaft, wherein an annular space is defined between an inside surface of the shield and an outside surface of the shaft. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The coupling extractor of claim 16, wherein a centering flange is mounted to an outside surface of one of the shields, the centering flange being adapted for engagement with a sucker rod tong for locating the coupling extractor with respect to the sucker rod tong. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The coupling extractor of claim 17, further comprising a second driving flange mounted to or integral with the shaft between the ends, wherein the coupling extractor has a pair of parallel and spaced-apart driving flanges near the axial middle of the shaft entending radially from the shaft. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The coupling extractor of claim 18, wherein each extractor end of the shaft is a tapered spiral fluted length. ### Claim 20 A method for removing a coupling from a sucker rod using a sucker rod tong having a rotatable jaw assembly, comprising the steps of: hoisting a pull-length of a sucker rod assembly out of a well bore; engaging the jaw assembly of the sucker rod tong with the sucker rod assembly at a coupling joining first and second sucker rods; unthreading the coupling from the first sucker rod; placing a coupling extractor in the jaw assembly, wherein the coupling extractor comprises a shaft having an extractor end portion adapted to grip the inside wall of the coupling; engaging the extractor end portion with the inside wall of the coupling; and operating the sucker rod tong to rotate the jaw assembly, thereby rotating the coupling extractor, wherein the extractor end portion engages the inside wall of the coupling and unscrews the coupling from the second rod. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, wherein the coupling extractor has a driving flange adapted to receive a rotational force from the jaw assembly. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein the coupling extractor has a shield surrounding the extractor end portion. ### Claim 23 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, wherein the extractor end portion comprises a tapered, spiral fluted length. ### Claim 24 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, wherein the first sucker rod is below the coupling and the coupling remains on the second sucker rod above the coupling, further comprising the step of engaging an upper backup wrench with the second sucker rod to hold the second sucker rod against a rotational force, wherein the upper backup wrench is movably connected to the sucker rod tong. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The method of claim 24, wherein the upper backup wrench is connected to a piston and extends and retracts. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The method of claim 25, wherein the coupling extractor has an extractor end portion on each end of the shaft, a driving flange extending radially from the shaft, and a shield surrounding each extractor end portion. ### Claim 27 A retrofit kit for improving a sucker rod tong having a body and a rotatable jaw assembly engaged in the body, comprising: a coupling extractor adapted to fit within the jaw assembly, the coupling extractor comprising a shaft having an extractor end portion on each end and a shield surrounding each extractor end portion, wherein the extractor end portion is adapted to engage an inside wall of a coupling for unscrewing the coupling from a sucker rod; a hanger assembly adapted to connect to the body of the sucker rod tong; and a backup wrench, wherein the hanger assembly is adapted to movably receive the backup wrench. ### Claim 28 In a sucker rod tong comprising a body having an opening adapted to receive a sucker rod assembly, a rotatable jaw assembly operably engaged in the body at the opening and adapted to engage the sucker rod assembly, a powered mechanism adapted to rotate the jaw assembly and a backup wrench operably positioned with respect to the jaw assembly, wherein the sucker rod assembly includes a sucker rod having a threaded end and a coupling having a threaded inside wall that is threaded onto the threaded end of the sucker rod, and wherein the backup wrench is adapted to hold the sucker rod, the improvement comprising: a coupling extractor removably engaged with the jaw assembly, the coupling extractor having a coupling engaging member adapted to engage the inside wall of the coupling, wherein the coupling extractor is adapted for rotation by the jaw assembly thereby providing rotation of the coupling engaging member, and wherein the sucker rod tong and the coupling extractor are adapted to operate in a manner whereby the backup wrench holds the sucker rod while the coupling extractor unscrews the coupling from the sucker rod. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The improved sucker rod tong of claim 28, wherein the coupling engaging member is selected from the group comprising an easy-out extractor, a pipe nipple extractor and an internal pipe wrench. ### Claim 30 (depends on 28) The improved sucker rod tong of claim 28, wherein the coupling extractor comprises a shaft having the coupling engaging member on at least one end of the shaft, the coupling extractor further comprising a driving flange that extends radially outward from the shaft, wherein the driving flange is adapted for receiving a rotational force from the jaw assembly. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The improved sucker rod tong of claim 30, wherein the coupling extractor further comprises a shield surrounding the shaft. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The improved sucker rod tong of claim 31, wherein the shaft has a coupling engaging member on each end, and wherein each coupling engaging member is an easy-out extractor comprising a spiral fluted length. ### Claim 33 (depends on 28) The improved sucker rod tong of claim 28, wherein the coupling extractor comprises a shaft having an easy-out extractor on each end, further comprising a hanger assembly and a backup wrench moveably engaged with the hanger assembly. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) The improved sucker rod tong of claim 33, further comprising an enclosure that surrounds the easy-out extractor on each end of the shaft for retaining shards from the coupling in the event that the coupling breaks.