Patent ID: 8696041
Filing Date: 2014-04-15
Classification: E21B

Abstract:
1. An assembly for gripping cylindrical bodies comprising: a) a cylindrical bowl having first and second axially aligned open ends with an inner surface inclined inwardly in the direction from said first open end toward said second open end; b) gripping jaws comprising at least two cooperating arcuate segments which define a hollow cylinder having first and second axially aligned open ends, a generally cylindrical inner surface and an outer surface inclined inwardly in the direction from said first open end toward said second open end and cooperating with said inwardly inclined inner surface of said bowl to urge said cooperating segments inwardly when moved axially with respect to said bowl; and c) each of said cooperating segments having a substantially T-shaped tongue extending from one lateral edge thereof which cooperates with a mating substantially T-shaped slot in the lateral edge of an adjacent cooperating arcuate segment to substantially prohibit axial movement of said segments with respect to each other and permit radial movement of said segments with respect to each other only to the extent permitted by movement of said T-shaped tongue in said T-shaped slot.