Patent ID: 6270136
Filing Date: 2001-08-07
Classification: E21B

Abstract:
A tong for grasping a tubular member comprising:(1) a frame having a central pipe opening with a center region and an entry throat for receiving a tubular member to be grasped;(2) a thrust receiving jaw that is connected to the frame for fixing the position of a tubular member to be grasped within the pipe opening;(3) a displaceable jaw assembly comprising a radially displaceable pipe-engaging jaw mounted on a jaw carrier shaft having an inner jaw end and an outer wedge end, said jaw being mounted at the inner jaw end of the jaw carrier shaft for advancement of said jaw into the pipe opening;(4) a wedge with two face surfaces, one of said face surfaces being positioned against the outer wedge end of the jaw carrier shaft;(5) a thrusting seat coupled to the frame and contacted by the other of the face surfaces of the wedge; and(6) a linear actuator anchored at one end to the frame and directed at its other end to advance the wedge between the outer wedge end of the jaw carrier shaft and the thrusting seat,whereby activation of said linear actuator for movement of the wedge will advance the jaw carrier shaft and displaceable jaw inwardly with respect to the pipe opening to grasp a tubular member contained therein and wherein the jaw assembly and linear actuator are repositionable with respect to the frame to permit the accommodation of a range of pipe sizes.