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

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    This application claims provisional priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/358,046, filed Feb. 19, 2002. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    The present invention relates to a tong including a continuous 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, a hook plate assembly and a continuous composite belt, where the belt is secured to the hook plate and jaw assemblies and methods for making and using the tong to rotate or turn 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 the piping so that the pipe 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. However, when such linked chains fail, the chains can cause metal pieces to be ejected from the chain at relatively high velocity.  
           [0007]    Thus, there is a need in the art for a tong apparatus including a continuous composite belt in place of a chain to reduce down time in the event of a tong failure and to reduce the risk of harm to personnel and/or other equipment in the event of tong failure.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    The present invention provides a tong apparatus including a continuous composite belt adapted to act, along with the a jaw, as the pipe engaging part tong, where the word continuous means that the belt is in the form of a loop like a rubber band.  
           [0009]    The present invention provides a tong apparatus including a handle, a jaw, and a continuous composite belt.  
           [0010]    The present invention provides a tong apparatus including a handle assembly, a jaw assembly, a hook plate assembly and a continuous composite belt.  
           [0011]    The present invention provides a tong apparatus including a handle, a jaw, a jaw pin, a continuous composite belt, a top hook plate, a bottom hook plate, a hook pin, hook grip pins and a latch pin.  
           [0012]    The present invention provides a tong apparatus including a handle, a jaw, a jaw pin, a continuous composite belt, a top hook plate, a bottom hook plate, a hook pin, hook grip pins, a latch pin and a hanger.  
           [0013]    The present invention provides a tong apparatus including a handle, a jaw, a jaw pin, a continuous composite belt, a top hook plate, a bottom hook plate, a hook pin, a hook grip pin, a latch pin, a spring, a hanger, and a bumper.  
           [0014]    The present invention provides method for turning a pipe including detaching one end of the belt from a tong apparatus of this invention including a continuous composite belt, wrapping the belt around the pipe, positioning the tong apparatus at a desired position on the pipe, reattaching the end of the belt to the tong, and applying a force to the handle of the tong to turn the pipe. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]    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:  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 1 depicts a top plan view of one preferred embodiment of the tong apparatus of this invention;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 2A depicts a top view of a preferred embodiment of a handle assembly of the tong apparatus of FIG. 1;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 2B depicts a side view of the handle assembly of FIG. 2A;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 2C depicts a front view of the handle assembly of FIG. 2A;  
         [0020]    FIGS.  3 A-D depict a top and side views of belt constructions of this invention;  
         [0021]    FIGS.  3 E-I depict views of surfaces of the belts of FIGS.  3 A-D;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 3J depicts a top view of a belt construction having angled ribs and valleys;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIGS. 3K&amp;L depict sides views of preferred embodiments of two ply belts;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIGS. 3M&amp;N depict a top view and side view, respectively, of a preferred embodiment multi-ply belt;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 4A depicts a top view of a top hook plate of FIG. 1;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 4B depicts a top view of a bottom hook plate of FIG. 1;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 5A depicts a front view of the jaw assembly of FIG. 1; and  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 5B depicts a side view of the jaw assembly of FIG. 5A. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0029]    The inventors have found that a tong can be constructed using a continuous composite belt instead of a linked chain to engage a pipe, casing or the like to turn the pipe. The inventors have found that the continuous composite belt yields a lighter weight tong with improved safety because catastrophic failure of a linked-chain can result in a risk of injury to workers due for example to flying metal fragments, while failure of the continuous composite belt would reduce or substantially eliminate any worker risk. Moreover, the inventors have found that tongs including continuous composites belts are easier to attach, maintain, and adjust compared to tongs with traditional linked chain engaging members. Furthermore, the inventors have found that tongs including continuous composite belts allow for faster and easier field repair, because when a belt fails, a new belt can be attached quickly by simply removing two pins in the tong.  
         [0030]    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 continuous belt is adapted to engage a portion of the pipe and the jaw is adapted to engage the same portion of the pipe, but opposite the belt. The belt is anchored to the tong at two places using removable pins. Preferably, the belt attaches at one end to the jaw assembly and at the other end to the hook assembly via the pins. Optionally, the belt can be tightened about the pipe. Once the belt is looped about the pipe and reattached to the tong and optionally tightened about the pipe, the tong permits force to be transferred from the handle assembly to the pipe via the belt and jaw resulting in rotation of the pipe.  
         [0031]    The continuous 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. In the case of continuous fibers, strings, yarn, wires or bundles, they generally run parallel at a desired spacing relative to the width of the continuous belt. Preferably, the spacing is sufficient to allow complete encapsulation of each fiber, wire or bundle in the polymeric matrix. Although continuous fibers, yarns or woven strings 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. In the case of fabric and/or meshes, the fabric preferably has sufficient openings to allow the matrix material to embed the fabric or mesh.  
         [0032]    Suitable polymeric matrices for use in the continuous belts of this invention include, without limitation, any type of 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, yams, string, 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 mixture 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.  
         [0033]    Suitable continuous fibers, yams or woven string for use in this invention include, without limitation, carbon fibers, boron-nitride fibers, polyamide fibers, polyimide fibers, glass fibers, or mixtures or combinations thereof. The fibers can be also coated with a bonding material and/or chemically and/or physically treated to increase adhesion between the matrix and the fiber. Such treatments can also include physical treatments such as ion bombardments or ion implantations. Although 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.  
         [0034]    Suitable metal wires include, without limitation, iron alloy wires or other similar metal wires having high tensile strengths. Generally, iron alloy wires are coated with a micro bonding layer including copper, zinc, cobalt, brass, bronze, nickel, or the like or mixture or combinations thereof. These coating improve the adhesion and/or bonding between the metal surface and polymeric matrix.  
         [0035]    Preferred belts are manufactured by Roblon A/S and sold by Tasmanian Tool Company, Inc. of Lafayette, La.  
         [0036]    Referring now to FIG. 1, one preferred embodiment of a tong apparatus, generally  100 , of this invention is shown to include a handle assembly  200 , a continuous composite belt  300 , a hook plate assembly  400  and a jaw assembly  500 , 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. The apparatus  100  also includes a hanger  106  adapted to allow the apparatus  100  to be hung when attached to vertically oriented pipe. The apparatus  100  also includes a belt pin  108 , which can be held in place with a retaining ring  110 . The apparatus  100  also includes alignment and spacing bolts  112 . The apparatus  100  also includes a handle pin  114  (shown as a latch pin here), where the handle pin  114  is adapted to pivotally mount the hook plate assembly  400  on the handle assembly  200 . The apparatus  100  also includes a jaw pin  116 , which can be held in place with a retaining ring  118  and adapted to pivotally mount the jaw assembly  500  on the handle assembly  200 .  
         [0037]    Referring now to FIGS.  2 A-C, the handle assembly  200  includes a handle  202 , a jaw pin aperture  204 , a hook plate assembly pin aperture  206  and a hanger aperture  208 . The handle  202  is adapted to transmit rotational force to the pipe  104  via the belt  300  and the jaw assembly  500 . The jaw pin aperture  204  is adapted to receive the jaw pin  116  and to allow the jaw assembly  500  to be pivotally mounted on the handle  202 . The hook plate assembly pin aperture  206  is adapted to receive the hook pin  114  and to allow the hook plate assembly  400  to be pivotally mounted to the handle  202 . The hanger aperture  208  is adapted to receive a hanger  106 . The handle assembly  200  optionally includes an end aperture  210  for hanging the tong  100 , when not in use. Looking at FIG. 2A, the handle assembly  200  is of a general triangular shape with each aperture  206 ,  208  and  210  at the vertices of the triangle. Looking at FIGS. 2B&amp;C, the handle  202  includes a rectangular-shaped head  212  which tapers to a rectangular tail  214 . The rectangular head  212  includes a jaw receiving cavity  216  and jaw pin protrusions  218 . The cavity  216  is designed to allow the jaw assembly  500  to pivot when mounted on the handle assembly  200 .  
         [0038]    Referring now to FIG. 1 and 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 and 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.  
         [0039]    Referring now to FIGS.  3 E-I, several illustrative examples of ribbed belts  300  are shown. Looking at FIG. 3E, the ribs  310  and the valleys  312  are substantially rectangular (where rectangular includes a square) in shape. Looking at FIG. 3F, the ribs  310  and the valleys  312  are shown as substantially trapezoidal in shape. Looking at FIG. 3G, the ribs  310  are substantially dome shaped and the valleys  312  are substantially rounded rectangles in shape. Looking at FIG. 3H, 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. 3I, 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 .  
         [0040]    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. 3J, where the belt  300  has angled ribs  310  and valleys  312 .  
         [0041]    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. 3L, a preferred embodiment of a two-ply belt  320  is shown to include a first reinforced ply  322  and a second reinforced ply  324 , where the fibers or fiber bundles  326  and  328  of the plies  322  and  324 , respectively, are aligned one on top of the other. Referring now to FIG. 3B, another preferred embodiment of a two-ply belt  320  is shown to include a first reinforced ply  322  and a second reinforced ply  324 , where the fibers or fiber bundles  326  and  328  of the plies  322  and  324 , respectively, are offset. Referring now to FIGS. 5C&amp;D, a preferred embodiment multi-ply belt  350  is shown to include a first reinforced ply  352  and a second reinforced ply  354  separated by a matrix ply  356 . In the first ply  352 , fibers or fiber bundles  358  are biased and extend at a first angle α relative to a central longitudinal axis  360 , while in the second ply  354 , fibers or fiber bundles  362  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  350  will also preferably include longitudinally extending end caps  364  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.  
         [0042]    Referring now to FIG. 1 and FIGS. 4A&amp;B, the hook plate assembly  400  includes a top plate  402  and a bottom plate  404 . Each plate  402  and  404  includes a belt pin aperture  406  with retaining ring  110 , a handle pin aperture  408 , and an auxiliary aperture  410 . The auxiliary aperture  410  is used to adjust the tong  100  by moving the hook plate assembly  400  so that the auxiliary aperture  410  aligns with the hook plate assembly pin aperture  206  of the handle assembly  200 . The belt pin aperture  406  is adapted to receive and retain the belt pin  108  by retaining ring  110 . The handle pin aperture  408  is adapted to receive and retain the handle pin  114 , which is a latch pin. The auxiliary pin aperture  410  is adapted to facilitate the use of the tong  100  with a coupling in lieu of the pipe body. The pin aperture  410  can also include a retaining ring (not shown). The embodiment of FIG. 1 shows the belt pin  108  to have a retaining ring  110 , while the handle pin  114  is a latch pin. In another preferred embodiment, the belt pin  108  is a latch pin and the handle pin  114  has a retaining ring. In yet, other preferred embodiments, both the belt pin  108  and the handle pin  114  include retaining rings or both are latch pins.  
         [0043]    The belt retaining pin  108  is adapted to be inserted through the first end  306  of the belt  300  (see FIG. 1) so that the belt  300  is positioned between the two plates  402  and  404 . Each plate  402  and  404  is in the form of a complex curvilinear shape  414  having a jaw engaging concave region  416 , three other concave regions  418   a - c  and four convex regions  420   a - d . Of course, one of ordinary skill in the art should recognize that the exact shape of the hook plates  402  and  404  can be of any shape. The hook plates  402  and  404  also include two alignment apertures  422  adapted to receive the alignment and spacing bolts  112 .  
         [0044]    Referring now to FIGS. 5A&amp;B, the jaw assembly  500  includes a body  502  having a jaw pin aperture  504  adapted to receive the jaw pin  116 . The jaw pin  116  is adapted to be inserted through the jaw aperture  504  and through the handle assembly  200  to pivotally mount the jaw assembly  500  on the handle assembly  200  and retain the other end  308  of the belt  300  (see FIG. 1). The jaw assembly  500  also includes a reinforcing cross member or web  506 , a front flange  508 , a rear flange  510 , sides flange  512  and a side plate  514 . The jaw assembly  500  also includes toothed pipe engaging members  516  situated on side flanges  512 .  
         [0045]    One of ordinary skill in the art should recognize that other designs of a handle assembly, a jaw assembly and a continuous composite belt can be constructed to accomplish the same goal of this invention, which is a tong including a continuous composite belt to engage and turn the pipe instead of a linked metal chain or other metal chain like device. The continuous composite belt constructed of a fiber or wire reinforced polymer matrix does not fail in a potentially dangerous fashion as is the case for metal linked pipe engaging devices associated with a conventional tong.  
         [0046]    When using the tong  100  of FIG. 1, the belt end  306  is taken off by removing one of the hook plates  402  or  404 . The belt  300  is then wrapped around the pipe  104 . The belt end  306  is then slipped back over the belt pin  108  and the hook plate  402  or  404  reset and the pins latched or retained in place. The handle  202  can then be used to impart a torque to the pipe  104  via the belt.  
         [0047]    All references cited herein are incorporated 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.