Apparatus and method for spinning pipe

Claim 2

Apparatus for spinning pipe, which comprises: a. a support, b. first and second jaws movably mounted on said support, c. power means to close said jaws with a large amount of force, d. an elongated closed-loop flexible drive element, said flexible drive element having an external portion and an inverse internal portion disposed within said external portion, said inverse internal portion being adapted to receive and engage the pipe to be spun, e. first and second wheels mounted, respectively, on said jaws, said wheels having extended therearound the return-bent portions at which said external portion of said flexible drive element connects to said internal portion thereof, f. roller means mounted on said jaws to engage the pipe in response to forcible closing of said jaws by said power means, and to prevent said flexible drive element or said wheels from being damaged or worn due to forcible engagement with said pipe in the vicinity of said wheels; and g. means to drive said flexible drive element, and thus effect spinning of said pipe, after said jaws have been closed by said power means, said drive means also being connected to effect driving of said roller means in such direction that said roller means serve as drive elements for aiding said flexible drive element in spinning said pipe, said driving of said roller means being such that said roller means impart driving torque to said pipe through the regions of engagement between said roller means and said pipe.

Claim 3

The invention as claimed in claim 1, in which said power means comprise cylinder means and associated piston means, and also comprise means to introduce pressurized fluid into said cylinder means.

Claim 4

The invention as claimed in claim 1, in which said flexible drive element is a chain, and in which said wheels are sprocket wheels meshed with said chain.

Claim 5

The invention as claimed in claim 3, in which said chain is a silent chain, in which said sprocket wheels are shaped to mesh with the teeth of said silent chain, in which the untoothed bearing edges of said chain are on the interior side of said inverse internal portion so that said bearing edges will engage the exterior cylindrical surface of said pipe when said jaws are closed, and in which said roller means prevent said chain from being compressed between said pipe and said wheels.

Claim 6

The invention as claimed in claim 1, in which said flexible drive element has such length that it prevents said jaws from closing into engagement with each other, said flexible drive element constituting when said pipe is disposed in said inverse internal portion the sole means for counterbalancing the force exerted by said power means, whereby said inverse internal portion is tensioned greatly and therefore bears with great force against said pipe.

Claim 7

The invention as claimed in claim 1, in which said flexible drive element is a chain comprising a large number of planar leaf links the ends of which overlap each other in alternating relationship, said overlapped ends being pivotally connected to each other by pivot pins, each of said leaf links having at one side thereof an untoothed bearing edge disposed at said inverse internal portion and adapted to forcibly engage the exteRior surface of said pipe without damaging the same, at least some of said links incorporating protuberances on the side thereof opposite said untoothed bearing edges, said protuberances forming part of said drive means recited in clause (g).

Claim 8

The invention as claimed in claim 1, in which said jaws are pivotally mounted on said support, and in which said jaws are devoid of any latch means for connecting said jaws to each other on the side of said pipe remote from said support.

Claim 9

The invention as claimed in claim 1, in which said roller means comprise rollers mounted on said first jaw in axial alignment with said first wheel, in which said roller means further comprise rollers mounted on said second jaw in axial alignment with said second wheel, and in which the diameters of said rollers are sufficiently large that said rollers engage said pipe when said jaws are closed and therefore relieve the pressures tending to damage said flexible drive element or said wheels.

Claim 10

The invention as claimed in claim 8, in which said diameters of said rollers are sufficiently large that said flexible drive element is, at the portion thereof adjacent said wheels, spaced away from said pipe.

Claim 11

The invention as claimed in claim 8, in which said rollers are connected to said wheels and therefore rotate therewith, whereby said rollers serve as drive rollers for aiding said flexible drive element in spinning said pipe.

Claim 12

The invention as claimed in claim 1, in which said means to drive said flexible drive element comprises a power-driven wheel drivingly engaged with said flexible drive element, and means to mount said power driven wheel in such manner that the axis thereof is fixed in position at all times when the apparatus is being employed to spin pipe having a fixed predetermined diameter.

Claim 13

Apparatus for rotating pipe about the longitudinal axis thereof, which comprises: a. an elongated flexible drive element adapted to engage a pipe along a substantial arc of the exterior surface thereof, to thereby rotate the pipe about the longitudinal axis thereof, said flexible drive element being a closed loop having an external portion and an inverse internal portion, the interior surface of said inverse portion engaging the exterior surface of said pipe around a major portion of the pipe circumference, b. drive roller means adapted to engage said pipe to rotate the same about the longitudinal axis thereof, said flexible drive element and said drive roller means engaging said pipe simultaneously with each other, said drive roller means engaging said pipe adjacent the return-bent portions at which said external portion of said flexible drive element connects to said inverse internal portion thereof, said return-bent portions being respectively mounted around wheels, said roller means comprising rollers drivingly related to said wheels for driving thereby, and c. means to forcibly drive said flexible drive element and said rollers to thus effect rotation of said pipe about the longitudinal axis thereof due to the conjoint operation of said flexible drive element and said rollers, said drive means being such that said flexible drive element imparts driving torque to said pipe through the arc of engagement between said flexible drive element and said exterior surface, said drive means also being such that said rollers impart driving torque to said pipe through the regions of engagement between said rollers and said exterior surface.

Claim 14

Apparatus for rotating pipe about the longitudinal axis thereof, which comprises: a. an elongated flexible drive element adapted to engage a pipe along a substantial arc of the exterior surface thereof, to thereby rotate the pipe about the longitudinal axis thereof, said flexible drive element being a closed loop having an external portion and an inverse internal portion, the interior surface of said inverse portion engaging the exterior surface of said pipe around a major portion of the pipe circumference, b. drive roller means adapted to engage said pipe to rotate the same about the longitudinal axis thereof, said flexible drive element and said drive roller means engaging said pipe simultaneously with each other, said drive roller means engaging said pipe adjacent the return-bent portions at which said external portion of said flexible drive element connects to said inverse internal portion thereof, said return-bent portions being respectively mounted around wheels, said roller means comprising rollers drivingly related to said wheels for driving thereby, and c. means to forcibly drive said flexible drive element and said rollers to thus effect rotation of said pipe about the longitudinal axis thereof due to the conjoint operation of said flexible drive element and said rollers, said drive means being such that said flexible drive element imparts driving torque to said pipe through the arc of engagement between said flexible drive element and said exterior surface, said drive means also being such that said rollers impart driving torque to said pipe through the regions of engagement between said rollers and said exterior surface.

Claim 15

The invention as claimed in claim 12, in which said rollers are coaxial with said wheels and are rigidly connected thereto for conjoint rotational movement.

Claim 16

The invention as claimed in claim 13, in which the diameters of said rollers are sufficiently large to prevent damage to said flexible drive element or said wheels due to forcible engagement with said pipe.

Claim 17

The invention as claimed in claim 12, in which said flexible drive element is a silent chain.

Claim 18

A pipe-spinning apparatus for spinning pipe at the wellheads of oil wells, which comprises: a. a movable support, b. first and second jaws pivotally mounted on said support for pivotal movement in such manner that the distal ends of said jaws move toward and away from each other as said jaws close and open, said distal ends being so related to each other that, unless restrained, they would touch upon closing movement of said jaws, c. piston and cylinder means connected to said jaws to forcibly close the same and thereafter open them, d. first and second ''''silent-chain'''' sprocket wheels rotatably mounted, respectively, at end portions of said first and second jaws, e. a silent chain having an external portion and an inverse internal portion, said external and internal portions connecting to each other at return-bent portions which bend around and mesh with said first and second sprocket wheels, said internal portion being adapted to receive the pipe to be spun, f. a drive sprocket wheel mounted on said movable support and meshed with said chain, the length of said chain being such that when said inverse chain portion encompasses a pipe of predetermined diameter said jaws may not be closed sufficiently far to cause said distal ends thereof to touch each other, g. means mounted on said support to drive said drive sprocket wheel, h. first and second roller means respectively mounted at said end portions of said first and second jaws, said first and second roller means being respectively coaxial with said first and second sprocket wheels, said roller means having diameters sufficiently large to prevent said return-bent chain portions from being compressed between said pipe and said first and second sprocket wheels, and i. means provided to drivingly connect in positive manner said first roller means to said first sprocket wheel, and said second roller means to said second sprocket wheel, whereby said roller means constitute friction-drive rollers which cooperate with said inverse internal portion in spinning said pipe.

Claim 19

A pipe-spinning apparatus for spinning pipe at the wellheads of oil wells, which comprises: a. a movable support, b. first and second jaws pivotally mounted on said support for pivotal movement in such manner that the distal ends of said jaws move toward and away from each other as said jaws close and open, said distal ends being so related to each other that, unless restrained, they would touch upon closing movement of said jaws, c. piston and cylinder means connected to said jaws to forcibly close the same and thereafter open them, d. first and second ''''silent-chain'''' sprocket wheels rotatably mounted, respectively, at end portions of said first and second jaws, e. a silent chain having an external portion and an inverse internal portion, said external and internal portions connecting to each other at return-bent portions which bend around and mesh with said first and second sprocket wheels, said internal portion being adapted to receive the pipe to be spun, f. a drive sprocket wheel mounted on said movable support and meshed with said chain, the length of said chain being such that when said inverse chain portion encompasses a pipe of predetermined diameter said jaws may not be closed sufficiently far to cause said distal ends thereof to touch each other, g. means mounted on said support to drive said drive sprocket wheel, h. first and second roller means respectively mounted at said end portions of said first and second jaws, said first and second roller means being respectively coaxial with said first and second sprocket wheels, said roller means having diameters sufficiently large to prevent said return-bent chain portions from being compressed between said pipe and said first and second sprocket wheels, and i. means provided to drivingly connect in positive manner said first roller means to said first sprocket wheel, and said second roller means to said second sprocket wheel, whereby said roller means constitute friction-drive rollers which cooperate with said inverse internal portion in spinning said pipe.

Claim 20

The invention as claimed in claim 16, in which means are provided to adjust the position of the axis of said drive sprocket wheel, and to lock said axis in adjusted position, whereby to adapt the apparatus for spinning pipes of different diameters.

Claim 21

The invention as claimed in claim 16, in which additional sprocket wheels for said silent chain are respectively mounted at the pivot axes of said first and second jaws, said additional sprocket wheels being meshed with said chain.

Claim 24

Apparatus for rotating about the longitudinal axis thereof a pipe which has a substantially cylindrical exterior surface, which apparatus comprises: a. a support, b. first and second jaws mounted on said support anD movable between an open position in which said first and second jaws are relatively remote from each other and a closed position in which said first and second jaws are relatively close to each other, c. an elongated closed-loop flexible chain, said chain comprising a large number of planar leaf links the ends of which overlap each other in alternating relationship, and pivot pins pivotally connecting said overlapped ends together, said leaf links being in a relatively high density such that there is a close spacing between adjacent links at the central portions thereof intermediate adjacent ones of said pivot pins, said leaf links having on one side thereof untoothed bearing edge portions adapted to forcibly engage the substantially cylindrical exterior surface of the pipe without damaging the same, and having protuberance means on the other side thereof, d. wheel means comprising a plurality of wheels including first and second wheels mounted, respectively, on said first and second jaws, said chain being mounted around said wheel means in such manner that, when said jaws are in said closed position, there is an external chain section, an inverse internal chain section disposed within said external section, and junction regions between said external and internal chain sections return-bent and extending respectively around said first and second wheels, said internal chain section being adapted to receive said pipe and being so oriented that said untoothed bearing edge portions of said leaf links in said internal chain section engage said substantially cylindrical exterior surface of said pipe, said internal chain section engaging, when said jaws are in said closed position, said substantially cylindrical exterior surface of said pipe about a majority of the circumference thereof but not about the full circumference, e. rollers mounted on said jaws to engage said substantially cylindrical exterior surface of said pipe adjacent said junction regions, said rollers having peripheral surfaces which are closer to said exterior pipe surface than are said leaf links and said first and second wheels so that said rollers engage said exterior pipe surface and prevent said leaf links and said first and second wheels from being damaged or worn due to forcible compression of said leaf links between said exterior pipe surface and said first and second wheels, f. power means selectively operable for moving said jaws to said open position thereof and for moving said jaws to said closed position thereof, such that said internal chain section so engages said substantially cylindrical surface of said pipe, and for causing a large tension to be created in said chain, thereby causing said untoothed bearing edge portions of said leaf links in said internal chain section to engage with great force said substantially cylindrical exterior surface of said pipe so received, said jaws operating, when in said closed position, to hold said pipe in position in said internal chain section, and g. means to drive said chain, and thus effect rotation of said pipe about the longitudinal axis thereof, when said jaws are in said closed position and said chain has thus been tensioned, said means to drive said chain including at least one of the wheels in said wheel means, said one wheel incorporating protuberance means meshing with said protuberance means of said leaf links on said other side of said leaf links, said means to drive said chain further including power means for rotating said one wheel for causing said protuberance means thereof to react with said protuberance means of said leaf links on said other side of said leaf links and thus advance said chain.

Claim 25

Apparatus for rotating about the longitudinal axis thereof a pipe which has a substantially cylindrical exterior surface, which apparatus comprises: a. a support, b. first and second jaws mounted on said support anD movable between an open position in which said first and second jaws are relatively remote from each other and a closed position in which said first and second jaws are relatively close to each other, c. an elongated closed-loop flexible chain, said chain comprising a large number of planar leaf links the ends of which overlap each other in alternating relationship, and pivot pins pivotally connecting said overlapped ends together, said leaf links being in a relatively high density such that there is a close spacing between adjacent links at the central portions thereof intermediate adjacent ones of said pivot pins, said leaf links having on one side thereof untoothed bearing edge portions adapted to forcibly engage the substantially cylindrical exterior surface of the pipe without damaging the same, and having protuberance means on the other side thereof, d. wheel means comprising a plurality of wheels including first and second wheels mounted, respectively, on said first and second jaws, said chain being mounted around said wheel means in such manner that, when said jaws are in said closed position, there is an external chain section, an inverse internal chain section disposed within said external section, and junction regions between said external and internal chain sections return-bent and extending respectively around said first and second wheels, said internal chain section being adapted to receive said pipe and being so oriented that said untoothed bearing edge portions of said leaf links in said internal chain section engage said substantially cylindrical exterior surface of said pipe, said internal chain section engaging, when said jaws are in said closed position, said substantially cylindrical exterior surface of said pipe about a majority of the circumference thereof but not about the full circumference, e. rollers mounted on said jaws to engage said substantially cylindrical exterior surface of said pipe adjacent said junction regions, said rollers having peripheral surfaces which are closer to said exterior pipe surface than are said leaf links and said first and second wheels so that said rollers engage said exterior pipe surface and prevent said leaf links and said first and second wheels from being damaged or worn due to forcible compression of said leaf links between said exterior pipe surface and said first and second wheels, f. power means selectively operable for moving said jaws to said open position thereof and for moving said jaws to said closed position thereof, such that said internal chain section so engages said substantially cylindrical surface of said pipe, and for causing a large tension to be created in said chain, thereby causing said untoothed bearing edge portions of said leaf links in said internal chain section to engage with great force said substantially cylindrical exterior surface of said pipe so received, said jaws operating, when in said closed position, to hold said pipe in position in said internal chain section, and g. means to drive said chain, and thus effect rotation of said pipe about the longitudinal axis thereof, when said jaws are in said closed position and said chain has thus been tensioned, said means to drive said chain including at least one of the wheels in said wheel means, said one wheel incorporating protuberance means meshing with said protuberance means of said leaf links on said other side of said leaf links, said means to drive said chain further including power means for rotating said one wheel for causing said protuberance means thereof to react with said protuberance means of said leaf links on said other side of said leaf links and thus advance said chain.