Tongs having torque indicator thereon
AssigneeWilson Industries, Inc.
InventorPaul M. Nelson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A tongs having gripping jaws and a handle for applying an actuating force thereto is characterized by a sensing unit mounted in a force-receiving relationship with the handle. The sensing unit is responsive to a compression or tension force imposed thereon when an actuating force is applied to the handle to generate a signal functionally related to the magnitude of the actuating force. A readout device may be connected to the sensing unit and responsive to the signal generated therefrom to provide a visual indication in any predetermined units of the magnitude of the force imposed on the handle or the torque imposed by the jaws resulting therefrom.
Claims7
A tongs for making and breaking a joint between adjacent threaded members in oil field applications, comprising:
- jaws for grippingly engaging one of the threaded members;
- a handle by which an actuating force is applied to the jaws to effect the making or breaking of the joint, the handle having a cut-out portion therein, the cut-out portion being disposed in the extremity of the handle proximal the jaws;
- a single sensing unit mounted within the cut-out portion in a force-receiving relationship with respect to the handle for generating a signal functionally related to the force applied to the handle to effect the making or breaking of the joint, the sensing unit being free to move slightly in a lateral direction both perpendicular to and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the handle and in a direction both forward and away from the handle;
- and
- a readout device responsive to the signal generated by the sensing unit for generating a visual indication in predetermined units representative of the magnitude of the actuating force applied to the handle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.