Abstract:
A manual tong is disclosed which includes a composite belt, a handle assembly, and a jaw assembly, where the composite belt is designed to take the place of the convention linked chains used currently in manual tongs. The composite belt is held in place by a set of pins associated with the handle and jaw assemblies. Replacement of the linked chains with the composite belts improve tong safety, improve ease of use, lower cost, make adjustment easier and make belt replacement easier reducing down time and increasing tong utility so that one tong can be used for different pipe diameters by simply adjusting a length of the belt or a simple replacement of the belt with a different size belt.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    This application claims provisional priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/358,043, filed 19 Feb. 2002. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    The present invention relates to a tong including a composite belt and methods for making and using same.  
           [0004]    More particularly, the present invention relates to a tong including a handle assembly, a jaw assembly and a composite belt, where the belt is secured to the handle and jaw assemblies and the tong allows a pipe to be rotated or turned by detachably mounting the tong on a portion of the pipe, looping the belt over the outside of the pipe and tightening the belt to bring it into contact with the pipe surface and method for using the tong to rotate a pipe.  
           [0005]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0006]    Current tongs for use in the oil industry and other related industries use linked chains to wrap around piping (pipe strings) so that the pipe string can be broken-down or made up. Although these linked chains are manufactured to high precision and to withstand pressure well in excess of their operating limits, the chains can still fail, especially after long years of use. When such a linked chain fails, the chains can cause metal pieces to be ejected from the chain at relatively high velocity, which can and has resulted in injuries.  
           [0007]    Thus, there is a need in the art for a tong apparatus that replaces the linked chain with a pipe engaging member that reduces down time in the event of failure and reduces the risk of harm to personnel and other equipment in the event of failure.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    The present invention provides a tong apparatus including a composite belt.  
           [0009]    The present invention provides a tong apparatus including a handle structure, a jaw structure, a composite belt and a belt holding and locking structure.  
           [0010]    The present invention provides a tong apparatus including a handle assembly, a jaw assembly, a composite belt and a belt holding and locking assembly.  
           [0011]    The present invention provides a tong apparatus including a handle structure, a jaw structure, a composite belt and a belt holding and locking structure.  
           [0012]    The present invention provides a tong apparatus including a handle assembly, a jaw assembly, a composite belt and a belt holding and locking assembly.  
           [0013]    The present invention provides a tong apparatus including a handle, a jaw, a jaw-handle pin, a master pin, an idler sprocket, a lock pin, a release arm, a spring, a composite belt, a hook, hook pins, a clamping pin, a guide pin, a belt handle grip, a hanger, and optionally an insert, where one end of the belt is attached to the handle, while the other end is attached to the jaw.  
           [0014]    The present invention provides a tong apparatus including a handle, a jaw, a jaw-handle pin, a master pin, an idler sprocket, a lock pin, a release arm, a spring, a composite belt, a hook, hook pins, an anchor pin, a guide pin, a belt handle grip, a hanger, and optionally an insert, where one end of the belt is attached to the handle, while the other end is attached to the jaw.  
           [0015]    The present invention provides method for turning a pipe including positioning a tong apparatus of this invention at a desired position on the pipe, wrapping the belt around the pipe, threading the belt through the locking structure, and tightening the belt against the pipe at the desired position. The method can also include turning the pipe using the tong handle. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]    The invention can be better understood with reference to the following detailed description together with the appended illustrative drawings in which like elements are numbered the same:  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 1A depict a top plan view of one preferred embodiment of the tong apparatus of this invention;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 1B depicts a top cut away view of the tong apparatus of FIG. 1;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 2A depicts a top plan view of another preferred embodiment of the tong apparatus of this invention;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 2B depicts a top cut away view of the tong apparatus of FIG. 2;  
         [0021]    FIGS.  3 A-D depict a top and side views of belt configurations of this invention;  
         [0022]    FIGS.  4 A-E depict views of surfaces of the belts of FIGS.  3 A-D;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 4F depicts a top view of a belt with angled ribs and valleys;  
         [0024]    FIGS.  5 A-B depict two preferred embodiments of a two ply belt; and  
         [0025]    FIGS.  5 C-D depict a top view and a side view of a preferred embodiment of a multi-ply belt.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0026]    The inventor has found that a pipe tong can be constructed using a non-continuous composite belt instead of a linked chain to engage a pipe and allow the tong to turn the pipe. The inventor has found that the composite belt yields a lighter weight tong with improved safety because failure of the composite belt reduces the risk of catastrophic failure of a linked-chain and reduces the risk of injury to workers from flying metal fragments. Moreover, the inventor has found that tongs including composites belts are easier to attach, maintain, and adjust than tongs with traditional linked chain engaging members. Furthermore, the inventor has found that tongs including composite belts allow for easier belt replacement in the event of belt failure, than is true for replacing a failed chain in conventional linked-chain tongs.  
         [0027]    The tongs of this invention share some structural elements of traditional linked chain tongs. The tongs include a jaw assembly pivotally mounted on, connected to or attached to a handle assembly. The jaw assembly and belt are adapted to engage a pipe allowing the pipe to be rotated or turned. The belt is adapted to extend around the pipe and is anchored at one end to the jaw assembly and at its other end to the handle assembly. The belt is then tightened about the pipe via a ratchet or sprocketed subassembly associate with the handle assembly. Once tightened about the pipe, the belt and optionally a pipe engaging insert associated with the jaw assembly permits force to be transferred from the handle assembly to the pipe imparting a rotational motion of the pipe. Thus, the belt and jaw assembly forms a loop around the pipe.  
         [0028]    The composite belts to be used in the tongs of this invention include a polymeric matrix reinforced by longitudinally extending continuous fibers, yarn, woven strings, wires, fiber bundles, wire bundles, fabric, meshes or mixtures or combinations thereof. The continuous fibers or wires or bundles thereof generally run parallel down the length of the belt at a desired spacing along the width of the belt. Preferably, the spacing is sufficient to allow complete encapsulation of each fiber, wire or bundle in the polymeric matrix. Although continuous fibers are preferred, thin metal wires can also be used or a combination of fibers and metal wires or bundles comprising fibers and wires can be used.  
         [0029]    Suitable polymeric matrices for use in the belts of this invention include, without limitation, any type of plastic, thermoplastic or thermosetting material such as elastomers, thermoplastic elastomers, epoxy resins, phenolic resins, urethanes, or mixtures or combinations thereof. Generally, the matrices are cured with the fibers or wires or bundles embedded in the matrix. The curing can be accomplished by any curing method known in the art depending on the nature of the polymers making up the matrix including, without limitation, radiation curing, heat curing, light curing, or mixtures or combinations thereof. The curing can also be enhanced or accelerated by chemical cure system as is well known in the art. The matrices can also include additives such as filler including carboneous fillers such as carbon black or the like, fiber fillers such as chopped fibers including the fibers set forth below for the continuous fibers, and inorganic fillers such as silica, clay, calcium carbonate, zeolites, mordenites, fugacites, or the like or mixtures or combinations thereof. For further details relating to polymeric matrices and/or their cure systems the readers is directed to the following U.S. Pat. Nos.: 3,257,346, 3,517,722, 3,738,948, 3,931,090, 3,933,732, 4,130,519, 4,605,696, 4,633,912, 4,684,421, 5,254,616, 5,091,449, incorporated herein by reference. The matrices can also include anti-degradants such as anti-oxidants, anti-ozonants, or the like, plasticizers, flow enhancers, or the like.  
         [0030]    In a preferred embodiment, the load bearing cords are encased in a polymeric matrix such as an urethane sheath. Thus, if the cords are loaded to their break point, they break one at a time, and after they all are completely broken, they remain within the matrix or sheath, preventing the cords from flying apart or the belt from flying apart. Generally, the urethane sheath or polymeric matrix encasing the cords is formulated to stretch with a maximum elongation to break of about 700% of its original length, with the main objective being that the fiber, wire or bundle break prior to the matrix. The ability for the sheath or matrix material to elongate to several times its original length before break, allows the handle to fold over safely in a controlled manner, while the tong and belt assembly maintain their integrity. If a failure occurs, no shrapnel is generated and because the handle is designed to be much stronger than the belt, the entire assembly is designed for belt failure, a safe failure mode (cord breaking within the encasing or surrounding polymeric matrix or sheath), eliminating any danger to nearby personnel.  
         [0031]    Suitable continuous fibers for use in this invention include, without limitation, carbon fibers, boron-nitride fibers, polyamide fibers, polyimide fibers, glass fibers, or mixtures or combinations thereof. Sometimes the fibers can be coated with or treated with a material that will increase adhesion between the matrix and the fiber. Such treatments can also include physical treatments such as ion bombardments or ion implantations. However, many of these treatments may increase adhesion and/or bonding interactions between the fiber and the matrix, these treatments tend to reduce the tensile strength of the fibers. Therefore, the treatments are used only when the treated fiber has adequate tensile strength for the intended application.  
         [0032]    Suitable metal wires include, without limitation, iron alloy wires or other similar metal wires having high tensile strengths. Generally, iron allow wires are coated with a bonding layer including copper, zinc, cobalt, brass, bronze, nickel, or the like or mixtures or combinations thereof. These coating improve the adhesion and/or bonding between the metal surface and polymeric matrix.  
         [0033]    Referring now to FIGS. 1A&amp;B, a preferred embodiment of a tong apparatus of this invention, generally  100 , is shown to include a handle assembly  110 , a composite belt  140  and a jaw assembly  160 , where the tong  100  is adapted to engage a surface  102  of a pipe  104  so that the pipe  104  can be rotated or turned.  
         [0034]    The handle assembly  110  includes a handle  112 , which is designed to transmit rotational force to the pipe  104 , and a jaw-handle pin  114 , which is designed to pivotally mount the jaw assembly  160  on the handle assembly  110  and to provide leverage to tighten the belt  140  adequately about the pipe  104  and to bring the belt  140  into contact with the surface  102  of the pipe  104  and to maintain contact between the jaw assembly  160 , the belt  140  and the pipe surface  102  so that the pipe  104  can be rotated or turned. The handle assembly  110  also includes a belt adjusting-locking assembly  116  having a master pin  118 , an idler sprocket  120 , a lock pin  122  and a spring loaded release arm assembly  124  having a release arm  126  and a spring  128 . While the release arm assembly  124  is shown with spring  128 , the assembly  124  well work equally well with any other type of biasing means well known in the art. The adjusting-locking assembly  116  produces a locking force on the belt  140  when tension on the belt  140  causes the sprocket  120  to be pulled into the master and lock pins  118  and  122 . The release arm  126  is adapted to swing the sprocket  120  away from the pins  118  and  122  to allow for belt clearance for subsequent belt length adjustment, while the spring  126  provides an self-energizing, initial clamping force on the belt  140 . The handle assembly  110  also includes a hanger  130  adapted to suspend the tong  100  when working on a pipe that is oriented vertically.  
         [0035]    The belt  140  comprises a high tensile strength fiber reinforced polymeric matrix, where the belt  140  is adapted to maintain intimate contact between the tong  100  and the pipe  104 . The belt  140  is described in more detail in association with FIGS.  3 A-D and FIGS.  4 A-E. As seen here, the belt  140  includes teeth, ribs or ridges (see FIGS.  4 A-E) on a pipe engaging surface  144 , while a non-engaging surface  146  is smooth. Of course, both surfaces can include teeth, ribs or ridges. The teeth, ribs or ridges form valleys therebetween, where the teeth, ribs or ridges and the valleys are adapted to provide channels for liquid and/or semi-solid contaminants on the surface  102  of the pipe  104  to be squeezed away from the surface  102  of the pipe  104  as the belt  140  is tightened about the pipe  104 . This squeezing action is designed to improve contact between the engaging surface  144  of the belt  140  and the surface  102  of the pipe  104 . The belt  140  can also include a belt handle grip  150  adapted to provide a convenient method for pulling on an adjustable end  152  of the belt  140  for belt adjustment. The other end  154  of the belt  140  is fixed in place in the clamping assembly of the jaw assembly described below. The belt  140  can provide some or all of the frictional interface between the tong  100  and the pipe  104  for transmitting torque from the handle  112  to the pipe  104 .  
         [0036]    The jaw assembly  160  is pivotally mounted on the jaw pin  114  and includes two jaw plates  162  and a hook assembly  164 . The hook assembly  164  anchors the belt  140  to the jaw assembly  160 . The hook assembly  164  includes a clamping pin  166  and a guide pin  168 . The clamping pin  166  is adapted to clamp the free end  154  of the belt  140  against a portion  170  of the belt  140  that is under tension. The guide pin  168  re-routes the belt  140  (the belt  140  loops around the guide pin  168 ) to provide for clamping of the free end  154  underneath the belt portion  170  which is under tension. Such a pin arrangement provides for a clamping force on the free end  154  of the belt  140  that is proportional to the belt tension and as such will prevent slippage of the belt  140 . The hook assembly  164  also includes a hook  172  having recessed hooking regions  174  adapted to receive a hook pin  176  extending from each jaw plate  162 , where the hooks  172  are separated by a central tab  178 . The hook assembly  160  also includes a hook handle  180  adapted to move the hook assembly  164  from an engaged state to an unengaged state.  
         [0037]    The jaw plates  162  are designed to engage the pipe surface  102  at their exterior surface  182 . The jaw assembly  160  can also include an insert  184  which is a toothed metallic part with high hardness to penetrate the surface  102  of the pipe  104  to provide additional tong engagement of the pipe surface  102 , i.e., provide a high shear stress engagement between the tong and the pipe as a means of transmitting torque to the pipe. In some instances the insert  184  may be smooth or even absent when adequate frictional forces are provided by the belt and jaw assembly.  
         [0038]    The tong  100  is used by positioning the tong  100  on the pipe  104  so that the outer surface  182  of the jaw plates  162  engage the pipe surface  102 . Next, the free belt end  154  is threaded through the belt adjusting-locking assembly  116  as shown in FIG. 1B and then around the pipe  104 . Once the belt end  154  is extended around the pipe  104 , the belt end  154  is threaded through the hook assembly  164  as shown again in FIG. 1B. The belt handle  150  is then pulled to adjust the belt  140  pulling the idle sprocket  120  into the pins  118  and  122  and applying tension to clamp the belt end  154  in the hook assembly  164 . The handle  112  can then be used to rotate the pipe via the belt engaging surface  144  and the jaw surface  182 .  
         [0039]    Referring now to FIGS. 2A&amp;B, another preferred embodiment of a tong apparatus of this invention, generally  200 , is shown to include a handle assembly  210 , a composite belt  240  and a jaw assembly  260 , where the tong  200  is adapted to engage a surface  202  of a pipe  204  so that the pipe  204  can be rotated or turned.  
         [0040]    The handle assembly  210  includes a handle  212 , which transmits rotational force to the pipe  204 , and a jaw-handle pin  214 , which provides a pivoting mount for the jaw assembly  260  to provide leverage to tighten the belt  240  adequately about the pipe  204 , to bring the belt  240  into contact with the pipe  204  and to maintain contact between the jaw assembly  260 , the belt  240  and the pipe  204 . The handle assembly  210  also includes a belt adjusting-locking assembly  216  having a master pin  218 , an idler sprocket  220 , a lock pin  222 , an anchor pin  224  and a spring loaded release arm assembly  226  having a release arm  228  and a spring  230 . The adjusting-locking assembly  216  produces a locking force on the belt  240  when tension on the belt  240  causes the sprocket  220  to be pulled into the master and lock pins  218  and  222 . The anchor pin  224  is adapted to clamp a free end  252  of the belt  240  under a tensile section  253  of the belt  240 . This arrangement of pins provides belt clamping so that the force on the free end of the belt is proportional to the belt tension, which reduces or prevents belt slippage. The release arm  228  is adapted to swing the sprocket  220  away from the pins  218  and  222  to allow for belt clearance for subsequent belt length adjustment, while the spring  230  provides an self-energizing, initial clamping force on the belt  240 . The handle assembly  210  also includes a hanger  236  adapted to suspend the tong  200  when working on a pipe that is oriented vertically.  
         [0041]    The belt  240  comprises a high tensile strength fiber reinforced polymeric matrix, where the belt  240  is adapted to maintain intimate contact between the tong  200  and the pipe surface  202 . The belt  240  is described in more detail in association with FIGS.  3 A-D and FIGS.  4 A-E. As seen here, the belt  240  includes a pipe engaging surface  242  having teeth, ribs or ridges (see FIGS.  4 A-E) for engaging the pipe surface  202  and a smooth non-engaging surface  244 . The teeth, ribs or ridges form valleys therebetween as shown in FIGS.  4 A-E, which are adapted to provide channels for liquid and/or semi-solid contaminants on the surface  202  of the pipe  204  to be squeezed away from the surface  202  of the pipe  204  as the belt  240  is tightened about the pipe  204 . This squeezing action is designed to improve contact between the engaging surface  242  of the belt  240  and the surface  202  of the pipe  204 . The belt  240  can also include a belt handle grip  250  encasing an opposite end  254  of the belt  240  and adapted to provide a convenient method for pulling on the belt end  254  for belt adjustment. The free end  252  of the belt  240  is fixed in place in the clamping assembly  216  of the handle assembly  210  as described above. The belt  240  can provide some or all of the frictional interface between the tong  200  and the pipe  204  for transmitting torque from the handle  212  to the pipe  204 .  
         [0042]    The jaw assembly  260  includes two jaws  262  pivotally mounted on the jaw pin  214  and a hook assembly  264 . The hook assembly  264  connects the belt  240  to the jaw assembly  260 . The hook assembly  264  includes and a turn pin  266 . The turn pin  266  is adapted to allow the belt  240  to be looped around the pin  266  so that the belt  240  is doubled about the pipe  204 . Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 2C, the hook assembly  264  can include a turn pin  266  and a guide pin  268 , where the guide pin  268  re-routes the belt  240  to allow the tensile force to be concentrated on a double thickness of the belt  240  reducing tensile force on a portion  270  of the belt  240  that loops around the turn pin  266 . The hook assembly  264  also includes a hook  272  having two recessed hooking regions  274  adapted to receive hook pins  276  on each jaw  262  separated by a central tab  278 . The hook assembly  260  also includes a hook handle  280  adapted to move the hook assembly  264  from an engaged state to an non-engaged state.  
         [0043]    The jaws  262  are designed to engage the pipe surface  202  at their exterior surface  282 . The jaw assembly  260  can also include an insert  284  which is a toothed metallic part with high hardness to penetrate the surface  202  of the pipe  204  to provide additional tong engagement force against the pipe, i.e., provide a high shear stress engagement between the tong and the pipe as a means of transmitting torque to the pipe. In some instances, the insert  284  may be smooth or even absent when adequate frictional force is provided by the belt and jaw assembly.  
         [0044]    The tong  200  is used by positioning the tong  200  on the pipe  204  so that the outer surface  282  of the jaws  262  engage the pipe surface  202 . Next, the free belt end  252  is threaded through the belt adjusting-locking assembly  216  as shown in FIG. 2B and then around the pipe  204 . Once the belt end  252  is extended around the pipe  204 , the belt end  252  is threaded through the hook assembly  264  as shown again in FIG. 2B. The belt handle  250  is then pulled to adjust the belt  240  pulling the idle sprocket  220  into the pins  218  and  222  and applying tension to clamp the belt end  252  in the hook assembly  264 . The handle  212  can then be used to rotate the pipe via the belt engaging surface  242  and the jaw surface  282 .  
         [0045]    Referring now to FIGS.  3 A-D, two illustrative examples of belts, generally  300 , are shown as comprising a high tensile strength fiber reinforced polymeric matrix  302  including a plurality of spaced apart, parallel longitudinally extending continuous fiber bundles  304  encased or embedded in the polymeric matrix  302 . Looking at FIGS. 3A&amp;B, one embodiment of the belt  300  is shown to include two smooth surfaces  306  and  308 . Looking at FIGS. 3C&amp;D, another preferred embodiment of the belt  300  is shown to further include laterally extending teeth, ribs or ridges  310  and valleys or grooves  312  on the surface  306  which becomes the pipe engaging surface as described above.  
         [0046]    Referring now to FIGS.  4 A-E, several illustrative examples of ribbed belts  300  are shown. Looking at FIG. 4A, the ribs  310  and the valleys  312  are substantially rectangular (where rectangular includes a square) in shape. Looking at FIG. 4B, the ribs  310  and the valleys  312  are shown as substantially trapezoidal in shape. Looking at FIG. 4C, the ribs  310  are substantially dome shaped and the valleys  312  are substantially rounded rectangles in shape. Looking at FIG. 4D, the ribs  310  and the valleys  312  are non-symmetric trapezoids in shape, where each trapezoid have a vertical edge  314  and a slanting edge  316  giving rise to a right-hand oriented rib pattern  318 . Looking at FIG. 4E, the ribs  310  and the valleys  312  are non-symmetric trapezoids in shape, where each trapezoid have a vertical edge  320  and a slanting edge  322  giving rise to a left-hand oriented rib pattern  324 .  
         [0047]    Of course, one of ordinary skill in the art can clearly recognize that other rib and valley geometrical shapes can be constructed and that the belts could include mixtures or combinations thereof. In fact, the ribs and valleys do not have to extent longitudinally, but can extend at an angle as shown in FIG. 4F, where the belt  300  has angled ribs  310  and valleys  312 .  
         [0048]    Alternatively, the belt can include more than one ply of reinforcing fibers. In one preferred embodiment of a multi-ply constructions, two fiber reinforced plies are simply staked one on top of the other. Referring now to FIG. 5A, a preferred embodiment of a two-ply belt  500  is shown to include a first reinforced ply  502  and a second reinforced ply  504 , where the fibers or fiber bundles  506  and  508  of the plies  502  and  504 , respectively, are aligned one on top of the other. Referring now to FIG. 5B, another preferred embodiment of a two-ply belt  500  is shown to include a first reinforced ply  502  and a second reinforced ply  504 , where the fibers or fiber bundles  506  and  508  of the plies  502  and  504 , respectively, are offset. Referring now to FIGS. 5C&amp;D, a preferred embodiment multi-ply belt  550  is shown to include a first reinforced ply  552  and a second reinforced ply  554  separated by a matrix ply  556 . In the first ply  552 , fibers or fiber bundles  558  are biased and extend at a first angle a relative to a central longitudinal axis  560 , while in the second ply  554 , fibers or fiber bundles  562  are also biased and extend at a second angle β, where β preferably is equal to −α as shown. Because the reinforcing plies are cut on a bias, the belt  550  will also preferably include longitudinally extending end caps  564  comprising the polymer matrix to protect the cut ends of the fibers or fiber bundles. Of course, the number of plies can be increased limited only to thickness and weight considerations.  
         [0049]    All references cited herein are incorporated herein by reference. While this invention has been described fully and completely, it should be understood that the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described. Although the invention has been disclosed with reference to its preferred embodiments, from reading this description those of skill in the art may appreciate changes and modification that may be made which do not depart from the scope and spirit of the invention as described above.