US 5,669,653 AGranted

Fluid powered backup tong and method

AssigneeBilco Tools, Inc.

InventorDennis J. Penisson

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Abstract

The backup tong 10, 110 includes a fluid powered cylinder assembly 72, 172. A wedge 80, 180 is provided at the end of a cylinder rod 76, 176 and forces multiple dies into gripping engagement with the tubular. A pair of links 30, 32 or 130, 132 are driven laterally outward from the centerline 28, 128 of the tong body by the wedge 80, 180, thereby forcing the dies to bite the tubular. The design of the tong is relatively simple and has few moving parts, yet is highly rugged and dependable. Dies 62, 64 and 66 or 162, 164 and 166 may together provide circumferential engagement of at least 270.degree. with a tubular, thereby reliably gripping and minimizing damage to the tubular. The tong 10 includes a door jaw latch pin 58, and is particularly well suited for use on dual tubing strings where there is little axial spacing between the tubing strings.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A backup tong for gripping engagement with an oilfield tubular, comprising:

a tong body having a throat for laterally moving the tong body on and off the oilfield tubular in a direction generally aligned with a centerline of the tong body;
a first link pivotally mounted to the tong body about a first pivot;
a second link pivotally mounted to the tong body about a second pivot;
a first jaw block pivotally mounted to the first link about a third pivot, the first jaw block supporting a first die thereon for gripping engagement with the oilfield tubular;
a second jaw block pivotally mounted to the second link about a fourth pivot, the second jaw block supporting a second die thereon for gripping engagement with the oilfield tubular;
a hydraulic cylinder assembly mounted on the tong body and having a cylinder body and a cylinder rod extending from the cylinder body, the hydraulic cylinder assembly being mounted on the tong body such that the cylinder rod is movable along the centerline of the tong body;
and
a wedge mounted on the cylinder rod, the wedge having first and second cam surfaces thereon provided on opposing sides of the centerline of the tong body for engagement with the first and second links, respectively, to force the first and second dies into gripping engagement with the oilfield tubular, each of the first and second cam surfaces having an initial high cam angle for moving the dies toward engagement with the tubular, and a subsequent low cam angle inclined at an angle less than the high cam angle with respect to the centerline of the tong body for gripping engagement of the respective first die and the second die with the oilfield tubular.

5 more elements

A backup tong for gripping engagement with an oilfield tubular, comprising:

a tong body having a throat for laterally moving the tong body on and off the oilfield tubular in a direction generally aligned with a centerline of the tong body, the tong body including upper and lower spaced apart tong plates;
a first link pivotally mounted to the tong body about a first pivot and spaced between the upper and the lower tong plates;
a second link pivotally mounted to the tong body about a second pivot and spaced between the upper and the lower tong plates;
a first jaw block pivotally mounted to the first link about a third pivot, the first jaw block supporting a first die thereon for gripping engagement with the oilfield tubular;
a second jaw block pivotally mounted to the second link about a fourth pivot, the second jaw block supporting a second die thereon for gripping engagement with the oilfield tubular;
a third jaw block mounted on the tong body between the upper and the lower tong plates and supporting a third die thereon for gripping engagement with the oilfield tubular;
a hydraulic cylinder assembly mounted on the tong body between the upper and the lower tong plates, the hydraulic cylinder assembly including a cylinder body and a cylinder rod extending from the cylinder body;
and
a wedge mounted on the cylinder rod, the wedge having first and second cam surfaces thereon for engagement with the first and second links, respectively.

6 more elements

A backup tong for gripping engagement with an oilfield tubular, comprising:

a tong body having a throat for laterally moving the tong body on and off the oilfield tubular in a direction generally aligned with a centerline of the tong body;
a first link pivotally mounted to the tong body about a first pivot;
a second link pivotally mounted to the tong body about a second pivot;
a first jaw block pivotally mounted to the first link about a third pivot, the first jaw block supporting a first die thereon for gripping engagement with the oilfield tubular;
a second jaw block pivotally mounted to the second link about a fourth pivot, the second jaw block supporting a second die thereon for gripping engagement with the oilfield tubular;
a third jaw block mounted on the tong body and supporting a third die thereon for gripping engagement with the oilfield tubular;
a hydraulic cylinder assembly mounted on the tong body, the hydraulic cylinder assembly including a cylinder body and a cylinder rod extending from the cylinder body, and
a wedge mounted on the cylinder rod, the wedge having first and second cam surfaces thereon for engagement with the first and second links, respectively.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.