US3703111A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pipe tongs
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-01-08
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Granted: 1972-11-21
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Expires: 1991-01-08
Abstract
Abstract A pair of tongs are suspended above the rotary table of an oil well, their jaws aligned to grip pipe which is screwed together, or unscrewed, in sections. The jaws of the tongs are actuated by a fluid-powered mechanism to obviate manual manipulation. The tongs are mounted and arranged so they may be swung with the pipe sections and kelly between a rotary table and a mousehole.
Inventors
- 👤 William Guier
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 07:42
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B19/00; E21B19/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
201 words
A pair of pipe tongs, including, a base member vertically extended and connected with the back-up tong of the pair of pipe tongs so as to enable the back-up tong to pivot in a horizontal plane and to at least two laterally spaced locations where there are pipe sections to be threaded together and unthreaded, a support structure for the lead tong of the pair of pipe tongs which is provided and arranged for the pivot of the tongs about the base member as the tongs wrench pipe sections to make-up and break-off the sections at each of the laterally spaced locations, a source of power capable of wrenching the lead tong in make-up and break-off; and a link adapted and arranged with the power source and lead tong and including a flexible cable detachably connected by one end to the lead tong and to a powered cathead as a source of power by the other end, the cable being selectively connected directly between the tong and cathead and conducted from the cathead around the vertical base member to the tong, such arrangement enabling the tong to be wrenched in either of its two directions of movement relative the back-up tong.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
201 words
A pair of pipe tongs, including, a base member vertically extended and connected with the back-up tong of the pair of pipe tongs so as to enable the back-up tong to pivot in a horizontal plane and to at least two laterally spaced locations where there are pipe sections to be threaded together and unthreaded, a support structure for the lead tong of the pair of pipe tongs which is provided and arranged for the pivot of the tongs about the base member as the tongs wrench pipe sections to make-up and break-off the sections at each of the laterally spaced locations, a source of power capable of wrenching the lead tong in make-up and break-off; and a link adapted and arranged with the power source and lead tong and including a flexible cable detachably connected by one end to the lead tong and to a powered cathead as a source of power by the other end, the cable being selectively connected directly between the tong and cathead and conducted from the cathead around the vertical base member to the tong, such arrangement enabling the tong to be wrenched in either of its two directions of movement relative the back-up tong.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
201 words
A pair of pipe tongs, including, a base member vertically extended and connected with the back-up tong of the pair of pipe tongs so as to enable the back-up tong to pivot in a horizontal plane and to at least two laterally spaced locations where there are pipe sections to be threaded together and unthreaded, a support structure for the lead tong of the pair of pipe tongs which is provided and arranged for the pivot of the tongs about the base member as the tongs wrench pipe sections to make-up and break-off the sections at each of the laterally spaced locations, a source of power capable of wrenching the lead tong in make-up and break-off; and a link adapted and arranged with the power source and lead tong and including a flexible cable detachably connected by one end to the lead tong and to a powered cathead as a source of power by the other end, the cable being selectively connected directly between the tong and cathead and conducted from the cathead around the vertical base member to the tong, such arrangement enabling the tong to be wrenched in either of its two directions of movement relative the back-up tong.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
201 words
A pair of pipe tongs, including, a base member vertically extended and connected with the back-up tong of the pair of pipe tongs so as to enable the back-up tong to pivot in a horizontal plane and to at least two laterally spaced locations where there are pipe sections to be threaded together and unthreaded, a support structure for the lead tong of the pair of pipe tongs which is provided and arranged for the pivot of the tongs about the base member as the tongs wrench pipe sections to make-up and break-off the sections at each of the laterally spaced locations, a source of power capable of wrenching the lead tong in make-up and break-off; and a link adapted and arranged with the power source and lead tong and including a flexible cable detachably connected by one end to the lead tong and to a powered cathead as a source of power by the other end, the cable being selectively connected directly between the tong and cathead and conducted from the cathead around the vertical base member to the tong, such arrangement enabling the tong to be wrenched in either of its two directions of movement relative the back-up tong.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
53 words
The tongs of claim 1, including, a piston-cylinder combination included in the link; and a hydraulic system to actuate the jaws of the tongs and connected to the piston-cylinder combination to develop a setting force on the tong dies proportional to the wrenching force applied to the lead tong from the power source.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
134 words
A pipe tong, including, a pair of jaws, means for actuating the jaws to grip and release a pipe section between the jaws, dies mounted in the pair of jaws, the dies shaped to fit recesses of the jaws so as to provide a range of articulation for each die in a horizontal plane to accomodate pipe sections of various pipe diameters as the dies engage each of the pipe sections; and a flexible cable connected to all the dies so as to exert a seating force on the dies in the jaw recesses loosely enough to permit the articulation of the dies but maintain the dies in their recesses during the complete cycle of gripping and releasing pipe sections, the dies and connected cable being manually removable and replaceable as as a unit.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
134 words
A pipe tong, including, a pair of jaws, means for actuating the jaws to grip and release a pipe section between the jaws, dies mounted in the pair of jaws, the dies shaped to fit recesses of the jaws so as to provide a range of articulation for each die in a horizontal plane to accomodate pipe sections of various pipe diameters as the dies engage each of the pipe sections; and a flexible cable connected to all the dies so as to exert a seating force on the dies in the jaw recesses loosely enough to permit the articulation of the dies but maintain the dies in their recesses during the complete cycle of gripping and releasing pipe sections, the dies and connected cable being manually removable and replaceable as as a unit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
The tong of claim 3, including, means connected to the jaws for hydraulic actuation of the jaws of the tong through the complete cycle of gripping and releasing pipe sections as the sections are made-up and broken-off.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
66 words
The tong of claim 4, in which the means for hydraulic actuation include, a first cylinder-piston combination connected to one jaw and a latch to open and close the jaws on a pipe section and open and close a latch for the jaws, and a second cylinder-piston combination connected to the latch to place a desired force on the dies through the latch as a link.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
128 words
A pipe tong, including, a frame member in the form of a flat plate, a pair of jaw members pivoted on the frame toward and away from a pipe section to be gripped by the jaw members, a first piston-cylinder mounted between the frame and one of the jaw members so that reciprocation of the piston will move the one jaw member toward and away from the other jaw member, a second piston-cylinder mounted on the frame member; and a latch between the one jaw member and the second piston-cylinder which latch is engaged when the first piston-cylinder moves the one jaw member toward the other jaw member to grip a pipe section, extension of the second piston-cylinder increasing the gripping force by the jaws through the latch.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
128 words
A pipe tong, including, a frame member in the form of a flat plate, a pair of jaw members pivoted on the frame toward and away from a pipe section to be gripped by the jaw members, a first piston-cylinder mounted between the frame and one of the jaw members so that reciprocation of the piston will move the one jaw member toward and away from the other jaw member, a second piston-cylinder mounted on the frame member; and a latch between the one jaw member and the second piston-cylinder which latch is engaged when the first piston-cylinder moves the one jaw member toward the other jaw member to grip a pipe section, extension of the second piston-cylinder increasing the gripping force by the jaws through the latch.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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US2737839A
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US2871743A
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-11-21 | 1976-05-22 | 1976-11-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-11-21 | 1980-05-22 | 1980-11-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-11-21 | 1984-05-22 | 1984-11-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |