Gripper assembly for a coiled tubing injector
AssigneeEnQuest Energy Solutions, LLC
InventorsJamie Stewart, Weldon Edward Brunson, JR., Gregory L. Pipal, Derrick Daigle
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A gripper assembly for a coiled tubing injector includes a gripper block configured to grip a tubular member, wherein the gripper block includes a gripper key and a channel, and a carrier configured to couple to a chain of the coiled tubing injector, wherein the carrier includes a carrier key, wherein the carrier key is receivable within the channel of the gripper block whereby the gripper block encloses the carrier key and the gripper key interlocks with the carrier key.
Claims20
A gripper assembly for a coiled tubing injector, comprising:
- a gripper block configured to grip a tubular member, wherein the gripper block comprises a gripper key and a channel;
- and
- a carrier configured to couple to a chain of the coiled tubing injector, wherein the carrier comprises a carrier key, wherein the carrier key is receivable within the channel of the gripper block whereby the gripper block encloses the carrier key and the gripper key interlocks with the carrier key.
A coiled tubing injector, comprising:
- a frame, wherein a drive sprocket is coupled to the frame;
- a chain driven by the drive sprocket, wherein a plurality of gripper assemblies are coupled to the chain;
- a traction skate configured to apply a clamping force against the plurality of gripper assemblies;
- wherein at least one gripper assembly of the plurality of gripper assemblies comprises:
- a gripper block configured to grip a tubular member, wherein the gripper block comprises a gripper key and a channel;
- a carrier configured to couple to a chain of the coiled tubing injector, wherein the carrier comprises a carrier key, wherein the carrier key is receivable within the channel of the gripper block whereby the gripper block encloses the carrier key and the gripper key interlocks with the carrier key.
A method of assembling a gripper assembly for a coiled tubing injector, comprising:
- (a) displacing a gripper block of the gripper assembly relative to a carrier of the gripper assembly in a first direction whereby a gripper key of a gripper block of the gripper assembly is displaced through a gap formed between adjacently positioned carrier keys of the carrier;
- and
- (b) displacing the gripper block relative to the carrier in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction whereby at least one of the carrier keys is received in a channel of the gripper block such that the gripper block encloses the at least one carrier key received in the channel and the gripper key interlocks with the at least one carrier key.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.