Cylinder gripping apparatus

A cylinder gripping apparatus, comprising:

• a jaw, said jaw having a friction surface adapted for gripping a cylinder, said jaw having a first bearing groove;
• a body, said body being adapted to axially receive the cylinder, said body having a side wall, said side wall of said body having a second bearing groove, said body having a front and a rear;
• and,
• an angularly disposed floating force translation lug, said lug being engageable in said first and second bearing grooves, said lug being adapted to operatively associate said jaw with said body, said lug being adapted to urge said jaw into gripping engagement with the cylinder when said jaw is urged generally rearwardly with respect to said body, said lug being adapted to permit said jaw to disengage the cylinder when said jaw is urged generally forwardly with respect to said body.

A hydrostatic testing apparatus for capping an open end of a pipe comprising:

• a jaw, said jaw having a first bearing groove, said jaw having a friction surface adapted for gripping the pipe;
• a body, said body being adapted to axially receive a pipe, said body having a second bearing groove;
• and,
• a force translation lug, said lug being unconnected to said body and said jaw, said lug being disposable against said body and against said jaw, said lug being adapted to rotatively engage within said first and second bearing grooves, said lug being operable to urge said friction surface of said jaw against an outside surface of the pipe when said lug is rotated in a first sense with respect to said body.

A cylinder gripping apparatus, comprising:

• a body, said body being adapted to axially receive a cylinder;
• a cam arm pivotally attached to said body, said cam arm having a generally arcuate cam surface;
• and,
• a jaw, said jaw having a friction surface adapted for gripping the cylinder, said jaw having a groove in a surface generally opposite to said friction surface, said groove being adapted to receive said cam arm, said cam arm being operable to urge said jaw into engagement with an outer surface of the cylinder when said cam arm is rotated with respect to said body.

A cylinder gripping apparatus, comprising:

• a jaw, said jaw having a friction surface adapted for gripping a cylinder, said jaw being adapted to dispose against a force translation lug;
• a body, said body being adapted to axially receive the cylinder, said body having a side wall, said side wall of said body being adapted to dispose against a force translation lug, said body having a front and a rear;
• and,
• an angularly disposed force translation lug, said lug having at least one generally spherical end, said lug being interposed between said body and said jaw, said lug being adapted to urge said jaw into gripping engagement with the cylinder when said jaw is urged generally rearwardly with respect to said body, said spherical end of said lug being adapted to engage a generally corresponding spherical groove, said spherical end and said spherical groove being operable to permit said jaw to engage the cylinder in generally corresponding alignment with the cylinder.

A platform jacking apparatus, comprising:

• a body, said body being connectable to a platform, said body having a guide sleeve, said body being adapted to axially receive a platform leg,
• a first set of jaws, said jaws being adapted to grip the platform leg, said jaws being in operative association with said body, said jaws being adapted to provide a first radial counterforce in response to an axial force upon the platform leg, said first radial counterforce being proportional to said axial force,
• a jaw housing, said jaw housing being adapted to axially receive the platform leg, said jaw housing being adapted to coaxially fit within said guide sleeve of said body, said jaw housing being adapted to reciprocally slide within said guide sleeve,
• a second set of jaws, said jaws being adapted to grip the platform leg, said jaws being in operative association with said jaw housing, said jaws being adapted to provide a second radial counterforce in response to said axial force, said second radial counterforce being proportional to said axial force,
• actuation means connected to said body and disposed against said jaw housing for reciprocally moving said jaw housing within said guide sleeve, said actuation means being operable to extend and retract said jaw housing within said guide sleeve;
• said first jaws being mutually cooperable with said second jaws and said actuation means to grip the platform leg when said second jaws are disengaged from the platform leg and said jaw housing is being retracted by said actuation means;
• and,
• said second jaws and said actuation means being mutually cooperable with said first jaws to grip the platform leg when said first jaws are disengaged from the platform leg and said jaw housing is being extended by said actuation means, said actuation means, said second jaws, said jaw housing, and said body being operable to raise the platform when said jaw housing is extended by said actuation means.

A member gripping apparatus, comprising:

• a jaw, said jaw having a friction surface adapted for gripping a member, said jaw having a first bearing groove;
• a body, said body being adapted to axially receive the member, said body having a side wall, said side wall of said body having a second bearing groove, said body having a front and a rear;
• and,
• an angularly disposed floating force translation lug, said lug being engagable in said first and second bearing grooves, said lug being adapted to operatively associate said jaw with said body, said lug being adapted to urge said jaw into gripping engagement with the member when said jaw is urged generally rearwardly with respect to said body, said lug being adapted to permit said jaw to disengage the member when said jaw is urged generally forwardly with respect to said body.

A bar gripping apparatus for gripping a bar having a predetermined cross-sectional shape, comprising:

• a body, said body being adapted to axially receive a bar;
• a cam arm pivotally attached to said body, said cam arm having a generally arcuate cam surface;
• and,
• a jaw, said jaw having a friction surface adapted for gripping the bar, said friction surface being adapted to conform to the shape of an outer surface of the bar, said jaw having a groove in a surface generally opposite to said friction surface, said groove being adapted to receive said cam arm, said cam arm being operable to urge said jaw into engagement with the outer surface of the bar when said cam arm is rotated with respect to said body.

A member gripping apparatus, comprising:

• a jaw, said jaw having a friction surface adapted for gripping a member, said jaw being adapted to dispose against a force translation lug;
• a body, said body being adapted to axially receive the member, said body having a side wall, said side wall of said body being adapted to dispose against a force translation lug, said body having a front and a rear;
• and,
• an angularly disposed force translation lug, said lug having at least one generally spherical end, said lug being interposed between said body and said jaw, said lug being adapted to urge said jaw into gripping engagement with the member when said jaw is urged generally rearwardly with respect to said body, said spherical end of said lug being adapted to engage a generally corresponding spherical groove, said spherical end and said spherical groove being operable to permit said jaw to engage the member in generally corresponding alignment with the member.