Patent ID: 7909120
Filing Date: 2011-03-22
Classification: E21B

Abstract:
1. A gripping tool, comprising: at least one body including an associated load adaptor adapted to be connected to and interact with one of a drive head or reaction frame; a gripping assembly carried by the at least one body, having at least one grip surface adapted to move from a retracted position to an engaged position to radially engage the grip surface with at least one of an interior surface or an exterior surface of a work piece upon relative axial displacement of the at least one body relative to the grip surface in at least one axial direction; and a linkage acting between the at least one body and the gripping assembly which translates at least one range of rotational movement in at least one rotational direction into axial movement that tends to urge the grip surface into the engaged position and, upon engagement, exert an axial force which increases with increased rotation and correlatively activates radial tractional engagement of the grip surface with the work piece, wherein rotational movement to activate the linkage is bi-directional, triggered by either clockwise or counter-clockwise rotation of the load adaptor relative to the grip surface.