Pipe joint make-up or break-out tool

Claim 2

A tool for effecting relative rotation between two threaded pipes about an axis of said pipes, comprising: a first gripping assembly adapted to extend about and grip a first of said pipes, and including two jaws and a first hinge connection attaching said jaws together for relative swinging movement about a first hinge axis between open and closed positions; a second gripping assembly adapted to extend about and grip a second of said pipes, and including two additional jaws and a second hinge connection attaching said additional jaws together for relative swinging movement about a second hinge axis between open and closed positions; a power operated actuating unit for exerting force against said two gripping assemblies in a relation causing relative rotation between the pipes; said two hinge connections being receivable substantially in axial alignment with one another in a position in which the jaws of both gripping assemblies are openable; and a shoulder carried by a jaw of one of said gripping assemblies and engageable with a shoulder on a corresponding jaw of the other gripping assembly in a relation transmitting closing force from one jaw to the other when the two assembles are in said relative position in which they are openable.

Claim 3

A tool as recited in claim 1, including an additional shoulder carried by the other jaw of said other gripping assembly and engageable with the other jaw of said one gripping assembly in a relation transmitting closing movement thereto.

Claim 4

A tool for effecting relative rotation between two threaded pipes about an axis of said pipes, comprising: a first gripping assembly adapted to extend about and grip a first of said pipes, and including two jaws, pipe gripping means carried by both of said jaws, and a first hinge connection attaching said jaws together for relative swinging movement about a first hinge axis between open and closed positions; a second gripping assembly adapted to extend about and grip a second of said pipes, and including two additional jaws, additional pipe gripping means carried thereby, and a second hinge connection attaching said additional jaws together for relative swinging movement about a second hinge axis between open and closed positions; a power operated actuating unit for exerting force against said two gripping assemblies in opposite circular directions about said pipe axis and in a relation causing relation rotation between the pipes; means for transmitting actuating force from said unit to said first gripping assembly; and means for transmitting opposed actuating force from said actuating unit to said control gripping assembly at essentially the location of said second hinge axis and in a relation applying force to both of said additional jaws at essentially the location of said second hinge axis and in the same circular direction about said pipe axis.

Claim 5

A tool for effecting relative rotation between two threaded pipes about an axis of said pipes, comprising: a first gripping assembly adapted to extend about and grip a first of said pipes, and including two jaws, pipe gripping means carried by both of said jaws, and a first hinge connection attaching said jaws together for relative swinging movement about a first hinge axis between open and closed positions; a second gripping assembly adapted to extend about and grip a second of said pipes, and including two additional jaws, additional pipe gripping means carried thereby, and a second hinge connection attaching said additional jaws together for relative swinging movement about a second hinge axis between open and closed positions; a power operated actuating unit for exerting force against said two gripping assemblies in opposite circular directions about said pipe axis and in a relation causing relation rotation between the pipes; means for transmitting actuating force from said unit to said first gripping assembly; and means for transmitting opposed actuating force from said actuating unit to said control gripping assembly at essentially the location of said second hinge axis and in a relation applying force to both of said additional jaws at essentially the location of said second hinge axis and in the same circular direction about said pipe axis.

Claim 6

A tool as recited in claim 3, in which said actuating unit is a piston and cylinder merchanism applying actuating force to both of said additional jaws of said second gripping assembly generally transversely of said second hinge axis.

Claim 7

A tool as recited in claim 3, in which said actuating unit includes two parts which act in opposite directions against said gripping assemblies respectively and which are power reciprocable relative to one another along a reciprocation axis which essentially intersects said second hinge axis.

Claim 8

A tool as recited in claim 3, in which said first mentioned means connect said actuating unit to one of said jaws of said first gripping assembly at a location offset circular about said pipe axis from said first hinge axis.

Claim 9

A tool as recited in claim 3, in which said first mentioned means include a pivotal connection between said actuating unit and one of said jaws of said first gripping assembly.

Claim 10

A tool as recited in claim 3, in which said actuating unit is a piston and cylinder mechanism, and said first mentioned means include a pivotal connection attaching said mechanism to one of said jaws of said first gripping assembly for pivotal movement about an axis offset circularly from but essentially parallel to said first hinge axis.

Claim 11

A tool as recited in claim 3, in which said last mentioned means connect said actuating unit to said second gripping assembly for pivotal movement relative to both of said additional jaws about said second hinge axiS.

Claim 12

A tool as recited in claim 3, in which said actuating unit is a piston and cylinder mechanism exerting force against said second gripping assembly at said second hinge axis in a direction extending esssentially tangentially with respect to an arcuate path of movement of said second hinge connection about the pipe axis relative to said first gripping assembly.

Claim 13

A tool as recited in claim 3, in which said actuating unit is a fluid pressure operated mechanism having a cylinder connected by said first means to one of said jaws of said first gripping assembly for relative pivotal movement about an axis offset circularly from but essentially parallel to said pipe axis, and having a relatively reciprocable piston pivotally connected to both of said additional jaws of the second gripping assembly for pivotal movement relative to both of said additional jaws about said second hinge axis.

Claim 14

A tool as recited in claim 3, including a second power operated actuating unit for exerting force in opposite directions against said two gripping assemblies and coacting with said first actuating unit to relatively rotate said gripping assemblies, means for transmitting actuating force from said second unit to said second gripping assembly, and means for transmitting actuating force from said second unit to said first gripping assembly at essentially the location of said first hinge axis and in a relation applying force to both of said jaws of the first gripping assembly at essentially the location of said first hinge axis and in a common circular direction which is the opposite of the direction in which said first actuating unit exerts force against said second gripping assembly.

Claim 15

A tool as recited in claim 3, in which said power operated actuating unit is a piston and cylinder mechanism connected by said last mentioned means for pivotal movement relative to both of said jaws of said second gripping assembly about essentially said second hinge axis; there being a second piston and cylinder actuating unit exerting force in opposite directions against said second gripping assembly, and against both jaws of said first gripping assembly in a common direction and at essentially the location of said first hinge axis.

Claim 16

A tool as recited in claim 3, in which said second hinge connection includes a hinge pin connecting said additional jaws together for relative swinging movement, said last mentioned means of claim 3 including a power actuated part for applying force from said unit to said second gripping assembly and pivotally connected to a portion of said hinge pin for pivotal movement relative to both of said additional jaws about said second hinge axis.

Claim 17

A tool as recited in claim 3, in which said last mentioned means connect said actuating unit to said second gripping assembly at a location axially between said two hinge connections.

Claim 18

A tool as recited in claim 3, in which said actuating unit is connected by said last mentioned means to said jaws of said second gripping assembly at a location axially between said two hinge connections, there being a second actuating unit for relatively turning said gripping assemblies and pivotally connected to the jaws of said first gripping assembly for relative pivotal movement about essentially said first hinge axis and at a location axially between said two hinge connections.

Claim 19

A tool as recited in claim 3, in which said two hinge connections include two hinge pins which in one condition of the tool are in essential axial alignment and extend through hinge loops of the jaws of the two gripping assemblies respectively, said actuating unit including a piston and cylinder merchanism, said last mentioned means of claim 3 including a connector part on said piston and cylinder mechanism pivotally connected to an end of one of said hinge pins axially between said loops of the jaws of the two gripping assemblies, there being a second actuating unit having a connector part pivotally connected to an end of the other hinge pin, at a location axially between said loops of the jaws of the two gripping assemblies, and axially adjacent said first mentioned connector part.

Claim 20

A tool as recited in claim 3, in which said pipe gripping means of the two gripping assemblies include gripping dies mounted to said jaws of both assemblies for relative radial movement, and power operated means for actuating said dies radially inwardly and outwardly relative to the carrying jaws and toward and away from a pipe to be gripped.

Claim 21

A tool as recited in claim 3, in which said pipe gripping means of said two assemblies include on each jaw a first pipe gripping die mounted to the jaw for relative movement radially inwardly and outwardly, a relatively fixed die, and a piston and cylinder mechanism for actuating said first mentioned die inwardly and outwardly relative to the associated jaw.

Claim 22

A tool as recited in claim 3, including shoulders on said two gripping assemblies interengageable to retain the two assemblies against relative axial separating movement.

Claim 23

A tool as recited in claim 3, in which sid first mentioned means include axially spaced plates connected to a jaw of said first gripping assembly and pivotally mounting said actuating unit, one of said plates having an arcuate inner edge portion forming a shoulder engageable with a coacting shoulder carried by a jaw of said second gripping assembly in a relation retaining said assemblies against relative axial separating movement.

Claim 24

A tool as recited in claim 21, including a second actuating unit, two spaced plates mounting said second actuating unit to a jaw of said second gripping assembly pivotally, one of said last mentioned plates having an inner arcuate edge portion forming a shoulder coacting with a shoulder carried by a jaw of said first gripping assembly to coact with said first mentioned shoulders in retaining said assemblies against relative axial separation.

Claim 25

A tool as recited in claim 3, in which said second hinge axis follows an arcuate path about said pipe axis relative to said first gripping assembly upon relative rotation of the assemblies, said last mentioned means of claim 3 including a reciprocally moveable force transmitting part moving along a line which is approximately tangential with respect to said arcuate path at opposite ends of said path, but is more precisely tangential with respect to an arc about said pipe axis at an intermediate point along said path.

Claim 26

A tool for effecting relative rotation between two threaded pipes about an axis of said pipes, comprising: a first gripping assembly adapted to extend about and grip a first of said pipes, and including two approximately semi-circular jaws, pipe gripping dies carried by said jaws, powered means carried by the jaws for moving at least one of said dies radially inwardly and outwardly, a first hinge connection at first ends of said jaws attaching them together for relative swinging movement about a first hinge axis between open and closed positions, and a latch for detachably connecting second ends of the jaws together in closed relation; a second gripping assembly adapted to extend about and grip a second of said pipes, and including two approximately semi-circular additional jaws, additional pipe gripping dies carried by said jaws, powered means for moving at least one of said additional dies radially inwardly and outwardly, a second hinge connection at first ends of said additional jaws attaching them together for relative swinging movement about a second hinge axis between open and closed positions, and a latch for detachably connecting second ends of said additional jaws together in closed relation; first and second actuating units located at opposite sides of said hinge connections and each including relatively reciprocable piston and cylinder parts for exerting force against said two gripping assemblies in a relation causing relative rotation between the pipes; means connecting one of said piston and cylinder parts of said first actuating unit to said second hinge connection for pivotal movement relative to both of said additional jaws about said second hinge axis and in a relation applying actuating force to both of said additional jaws at essentially said second hinge axis and in a common circular direction; means connecting the other of said piston and cylinder parts of said first actuating unit to one of said jaws of said first gripping assembly at a location offset circularly from said first hinge axis; means connecting one of said parts of said second actuating unit to said first hinge connection for pivotal movement relative to both of said jaws of said first gripping assembly about said first hinge axis and in a relation applying actuating force to both of said jaws of said firt gripping assembly at essentially said first hinge axis and in a common direction; and means connecting the other of said parts of said second actuating unit to one of said jaws of said second gripping assembly at a location offset circularly from said second hinge axis.

Claim 27

A tool for effecting relative rotation between two threaded pipes about an axis of said pipes, comprising: a first gripping assembly adapted to extend about and grip a first of said pipes, and including two approximately semi-circular jaws, pipe gripping dies carried by said jaws, powered means carried by the jaws for moving at least one of said dies radially inwardly and outwardly, a first hinge connection at first ends of said jaws attaching them together for relative swinging movement about a first hinge axis between open and closed positions, and a latch for detachably connecting second ends of the jaws together in closed relation; a second gripping assembly adapted to extend about and grip a second of said pipes, and including two approximately semi-circular additional jaws, additional pipe gripping dies carried by said jaws, powered means for moving at least one of said additional dies radially inwardly and outwardly, a second hinge connection at first ends of said additional jaws attaching them together for relative swinging movement about a second hinge axis between open and closed positions, and a latch for detachably connecting second ends of said additional jaws together in closed relation; first and second actuating units located at opposite sides of said hinge connections and each including relatively reciprocable piston and cylinder parts for exerting force against said two gripping assemblies in a relation causing relative rotation between the pipes; means connecting one of said piston and cylinder parts of said first actuating unit to said second hinge connection for pivotal movement relative to both of said additional jaws about said second hinge axis and in a relation applying actuating force to both of said additional jaws at essentially said second hinge axis and in a common circular direction; means connecting the other of said piston and cylinder parts of said first actuating unit to one of said jaws of said first gripping assembly at a location offset circularly from said first hinge axis; means connecting one of said parts of said second actuating unit to said first hinge connection for pivotal movement relative to both of said jaws of said first gripping assembly about said first hinge axis and in a relation applying actuating force to both of said jaws of said firt gripping assembly at essentially said first hinge axis and in a common direction; and means connecting the other of said parts of said second actuating unit to one of said jaws of said second gripping assembly at a location offset circularly from said second hinge axis.

Claim 28

A tool for effecting relative rotation between two threaded pipes about an axis of said pipes, comprising: a first gripping assembly adapted to extend about and grip a first of said pipes, and including two approximately semi-circular jaws, pipe gripping dies carried by said jaws, piston and cylinder means carried by the jaws for moving at least one of said dies radially inwardly and outwardly, a first hinge pin at first ends of said jaws attaching them together for relative swinging movement about a first hinge axis between open and closed positions, and a latch for detachably connecting second ends of the jaws together in closed relation; a second gripping assembly adapted to extend about and grip a second of said pipes, and including two approximately semi-circular additional jaws, additional pipe gripping dies carried by said jaws, piston and cylinder means for moving at least one of said additional dies radially inwardly and outwardly, a second hinge pin at first ends of said additional jaws attaching them together for relative swinging movement about a second hinge axis between open and closed positions, and a latch for detachably connecting second ends of said additional jaws together in closed relation; first and second actuating units located at opposite sides of said hinge connections and each including relatively reciprocable piston and cylinder parts for exerting force against said two gripping assemblies in a relation causing relative rotation between the pipes; a connector loop on one of said parts of said first actuating unit received rotatably about an end of said second hinge pin at a location near said first hinge pin and connecting said one part to said pin for pivotal movement relative to both of said additional jaws about said second hinge axis and in a relation applying actuating force to both of said additional jaws at essentially said second hinge axis and in a common circular direction; means connecting the other of said piston and cylinder parts of said first actuating unit pivotally to one of said jaws of said first gripping assembly at a location offset circularly from said first hinge axis; a connector loop on one of said parts of said second actuating unit received rotatably about an end of said first hinge pin at a location near said second hinge pin and adjacent said first mentioned loop and connecting said one part of said second actuating unit to said first hinge pin for pivotal movement relative to both of said jaws of said first gripping assembly about saif first hinge axis and in a relation applying actuating force to both of said jaws of said first gripping assembly at essentially said first hinge axis and in a common direction; and means connecting the other of said parts of said second actuating unit to one of said jaws of said second gripping assembly pivotally at a location offset circularly from said second hinge axis.

Claim 29

A tool for effecting relative rotation between two threaded pipes about an axis of said pipes, comprising: a first gripping assembly adapted to extend about and grip a first of said pipes, and including two approximately semi-circular jaws, pipe gripping dies carried by said jaws, piston and cylinder means carried by the jaws for moving at least one of said dies radially inwardly and outwardly, a first hinge pin at first ends of said jaws attaching them together for relative swinging movement about a first hinge axis between open and closed positions, and a latch for detachably connecting second ends of the jaws together in closed relation; a second gripping assembly adapted to extend about and grip a second of said pipes, and including two approximately semi-circular additional jaws, additional pipe gripping dies carried by said jaws, piston and cylinder means for moving at least one of said additional dies radially inwardly and outwardly, a second hinge pin at first ends of said additional jaws attaching them together for relative swinging movement about a second hinge axis between open and closed positions, and a latch for detachably connecting second ends of said additional jaws together in closed relation; first and second actuating units located at opposite sides of said hinge connections and each including relatively reciprocable piston and cylinder parts for exerting force against said two gripping assemblies in a relation causing relative rotation between the pipes; a connector loop on one of said parts of said first actuating unit received rotatably about an end of said second hinge pin at a location near said first hinge pin and connecting said one part to said pin for pivotal movement relative to both of said additional jaws about said second hinge axis and in a relation applying actuating force to both of said additional jaws at essentially said second hinge axis and in a common circular direction; means connecting the other of said piston and cylinder parts of said first actuating unit pivotally to one of said jaws of said first gripping assembly at a location offset circularly from said first hinge axis; a connector loop on one of said parts of said second actuating unit received rotatably about an end of said first hinge pin at a location near said second hinge pin and adjacent said first mentioned loop and connecting said one part of said second actuating unit to said first hinge pin for pivotal movement relative to both of said jaws of said first gripping assembly about saif first hinge axis and in a relation applying actuating force to both of said jaws of said first gripping assembly at essentially said first hinge axis and in a common direction; and means connecting the other of said parts of said second actuating unit to one of said jaws of said second gripping assembly pivotally at a location offset circularly from said second hinge axis.