Rocking jaw gripper for restraining tubulars

A rocking jaw gripper for restraining tubulars, the rocking jaw gripper comprising:

• a. a first rocker arm jaw spaced apart from a second rocker arm jaw, wherein the first rocker arm jaw and the second rocker arm jaw comprise:
• (i) a rocker jaw body comprising:
• (a) a face having tong die grooves with groove edges;
• and
• (b) a tong die in each tong die groove;
• (ii) a holding means for each tong die providing a holding compression to prevent the tong dies from sliding out of the tong die grooves;
• (iii) a first pair of side flanges extending from the rocker jaw body and a second pair of side flanges extending from the rocker jaw body, wherein each side flange and is curved and is configured to prevent deformation during movement;
• and
• (iv) a tail extending from the rocker jaw body, wherein the tail has a tail hole;
• b. an arm connected with the first rocker arm jaw;
• c. a gripping frame connected with the arm, wherein the gripping frame comprises:
• (i) a top plate with a top rocker recess, wherein the top rocker recess comprises:
• (a) a first straight edge portion sequentially connected with a first concave edge portion having a first concave edge radius;
• (b) a second straight edge portion sequentially connected with a second concave edge portion having a second concave edge radius;
• and
• (c) a top convex edge disposed between the first concave edge portion and the second concave edge portion, wherein the top convex edge has a top convex edge radius which is configured to allow pivoting of the rocker jaw;
• (ii) a top fastening hole disposed proximate to the top rocker recess;
• (iii) a top plate hinge opening disposed opposite a top plate locking opening formed in the top plate;
• (iv) a bottom plate with a bottom rocker recess, wherein the bottom rocker recess comprises:
• (a) a bottom first straight edge portion sequentially connected with a bottom first concave edge portion having a first bottom concave edge radius;
• (b) a bottom second straight edge portion sequentially connected with a bottom second concave edge portion having a second bottom concave edge radius;
• and
• (c) a bottom convex edge disposed between the bottom first concave edge portion and the bottom second concave edge portion, wherein the bottom convex edge has a bottom convex radius which is configured to allow pivoting of the rocker jaw;
• (v) a bottom fastening hole disposed proximate to the bottom rocker recess, wherein the second rocker arm is operatively aligned with the bottom fastening hole, wherein the top convex radius and the bottom convex radius allow for self-centering of the second arm rocker jaw in the top rocker recess and the bottom rocker recess;
• (vi) a bottom plate hinge opening disposed opposite a bottom plate locking opening formed in the bottom plate;
• and
• (vii) spacing bars separating the top plate and the bottom plate, wherein the spacing bars align the top fastening hole with the bottom fastening hole, align the top plate hinge opening with the bottom plate hinge opening, and align the top plate locking opening with the bottom plate locking opening, and wherein the rocker jaw body has an outer diameter configured to provide a flush fit between the rocker jaw body and the top rocker recess and the bottom rocker recess;
• d. a locking pin connecting the chain cylinder and the gripping frame through the top plate and the bottom plate;
• e. a hinge pin connecting the arm with the gripping frame through the top plate and the bottom plate;
• and
• f. a plate jaw fastener retaining the rocker jaw body between the top plate and the bottom plate by engaging the tail hole of the rocker jaw body.