Abstract:
A tubing grab assembly to retain and lift tubing, pipes, tubulars or other cylindrical objects. The assembly includes a pair of opposed jaws and a housing having a cavity. A least one of the opposed jaws has a shaft therethrough to permit rotation of the jaw with respect to the housing between a closed position and an open position. A jaw spring forces the movable jaw toward the closed position. A retractable spring trigger mechanism locks the pair of opposed jaws in the closed position.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a tubing grab assembly in order to grab, secure, lift and move a wide variety of tubing, pipes, tubulars or other cylindrical objects. 
     2. Prior Art 
     There are a number of applications that utilize metal tubing, pipes or tubulars which are connected to each other end to end. One application would be a pipeline for transportation of liquids or gases which is assembled from multiple sections. In another application, various liquids or gases are distributed through networks of pipes. In yet another application, a plurality of tubing is connected end to end for subterranean downhole exploration drilling and production activities. When a drill is lowered, successive sections of tubing are connected to the drill bit and lowered into a well. When the drill bit requires changing, the entire process is reversed. The tubing sections are often stored near the drilling operations in the horizontal position on the ground or on racks. 
     The sections of tubing are connected in a number of way. For threaded tubing, one end of each tubing contains an external threaded end while the opposed end contains an enlarged end with internal threads. Other connections include flanged ends which arc bolted or fastened together. 
     Various existing types of mechanisms are utilized at present to grab or clamp and then lift the tubing. For example, scissor type devices of various sorts are known and utilized. 
     The present invention provides a light, compact and portable assembly to easily secure to tubing, pipes or tubulars in order to move the tubing from a horizontal to a vertical orientation and vice versa. 
     The present invention also provides a tubing grab assembly that may be lowered and automatically clamped onto a tubing, pipe or tubular. 
     The present invention also provides a tubing grab assembly requiring no other tools to operate. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate the sequential use or operation of a tubing grab assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of the tubing grab assembly while  FIG. 4  illustrates an exploded view of the tubing grab assembly shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIGS. 5A ,  5 B,  5 C,  5 D, and  5 E illustrate sectional views taken along section line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 3  showing a sequence in order to engage and retain a tubing; and 
         FIGS. 6A ,  6 B,  6 C,  6 D, and  6 E illustrate sectional views of a second preferred embodiment of the tubing grab assembly showing a sequence to engage and retain a tubing. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The embodiments discussed herein are merely illustrative of specific manners in which to make and use the invention and are not to be interpreted as limiting the scope of the instant invention. 
     While the invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be noted that many modifications may be made in the details of the invention&#39;s construction and the arrangement of its components without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure. It is understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments set forth herein for purposes of exemplification. 
     Referring to the drawings in detail,  FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate the use or operation of a tubing grab assembly  10  of the present invention. The tubing grab assembly  10  may be utilized to grab, secure, lift and move a wide variety of flanged tubing, tubulars, pipes or other cylindrical objects. As seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , one type of flanged tubing  12  includes an end  14  with external threads and an opposed, enlarged end  16 . The enlarged end  16  has internal threads to mate with an adjacent tubing section and has an outside diameter larger than the diameter of the tubing. Accordingly, the transition between the tubing  12  and the enlarged flanged end  16  forms an interference or shoulder. 
     The tubing grab assembly  10  of the present invention is utilized to move the tubing  12  from a substantially horizontal position to a substantially vertical orientation. The tubing  12  is often stored or transported in a horizontal position.  FIG. 1  illustrates the tubing  12  in a horizontal position on a rack  18 . As will be described in detail herein, the tubing grab assembly  10  is brought and secured to outer circumference of the tubing. 
     In order to move the tubing  12  from a horizontal position shown in  FIG. 1  toward the vertical position shown in  FIG. 2 , the tubing grab assembly  10  will be brought to and then installed around the tubing  12  as will be described herein. Either before the tubing grab assembly  10  is secured to the tubing or after, a hook or shackle  20  will be connected to the tubing grab assembly  10 . The shackle  20  will, in turn, be connected to a wire line, rope, or other hoisting device (not shown) in order to lift the tubing grab assembly  10  and the accompanying tubing  12  in the direction illustrated by arrow  22 . 
     As the tubing  12  is transitioned from horizontal to vertical, the enlarged end  16  acts as an interference to prevent the tubing grab assembly  10  from moving axially along the tubing and slipping off. 
       FIG. 2  shows the tubing grab assembly  10  with the tubing in a substantially vertical orientation. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of the tubing grab assembly  10  while  FIG. 4  illustrates an exploded view of tubing grab assembly  10  shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     The tubing grab assembly  10  includes a pair of opposed jaws  30  and  32 . In the first preferred embodiment shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , one of the jaws  30  is integral with a housing  34 . Both jaws  30  and  32  have gripping edges  36  and  38 , respectively, which will mate with the outside surface of the tubing  12  (not shown in  FIG. 3  or  4 ). The gripping edges  36  and  38  may be arcuate as shown, may have teeth (not shown), or may be angular (not shown). 
     At least one of the opposed jaws is permitted to rotate with respect to the housing  34 . The jaw  32  has a shaft  40 , bolt or pin which passes through a cavity  42  in the housing  34  and through an opening  44  in the jaw  32 . A nut  46  secures the bolt  40  in place. The bolt  40  acts as an axis around which the jaw  32  rotates. Other types of shaft mechanisms may be employed within the spirit or scope of the present invention. 
     The jaw  30  is stationary and the jaw  32  rotates between a normally closed position shown in  FIG. 3  and an open position. 
     A coil jaw spring  50  is retained in a recess in the cavity  42  of the housing  34 . The coil spring may be compressed under force. The coil jaw spring  50  extends from the recess and engages the jaw  32  to force the jaw  32  toward the closed position. 
     The tubing grab assembly  10  also includes a connection mechanism such as an eye  24  or a pair of eyes extending from opposed sides of the housing  34 . The eye  24  would be utilized to connect to a shackle or hook. 
     The tubing grab assembly  10  also includes a spring trigger mechanism. The spring trigger mechanism includes a manually operated trigger  54  having a receptacle therein to receive a coil trigger spring  56  and a guide pin  58 . The spring  56  and the guide pin  58  are axially aligned with each other. The diameter of the receptacle is slightly larger than the spring or guide pin. The spring  56  is normally extended but may be compressed under force. The guide pin  58  may be retained in the housing  34  by a lock pin  60  (visible in  FIG. 4 ). 
       FIGS. 5A ,  5 B,  5 C,  5 D, and  5 E illustrate sectional views taken along section line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 5A through 5E  illustrate sequential views of the tubing grab assembly  10  brought adjacent to and engaged with a tubing  12 . In  FIG. 5A , the jaws  30  and  32  are brought adjacent to the tubing  12  in a direction perpendicular to the axis of tubing  12 . The jaws  30  and  32  are locked with respect to each other in  FIG. 5A . 
     As seen in  FIG. 5B , the trigger  54  is then manually retracted so that the coil spring  56  is compressed in the receptacle and the trigger  54  is retracted from a void portion  52  of the jaw  32 . The void portion  52  of the jaw  32  together with the opposed jaw  30  forms a recess for the trigger  54  when it is extended. 
     When the trigger  54  has been manually retracted, the jaw  32  is no longer in the locked position. As seen in  FIG. 5C , as the tubing  12  is brought into the jaws  30  and  32  or the assembly  10  is brought toward the tubing  12 , the jaw  32  will be free to rotate about the bolt  40  in order to move the opposed jaws to the open position. The force of the tubing moving into the jaws  30  and  32  overcomes the force of the jaw spring  50 . 
     As seen in  FIG. 5D , once the tubing  12  is within the jaws  30  and  32 , the jaw  32  will rotate about the bolt back to the closed position by force of extension of the jaw coil spring  50 . Thereafter, the tubing grab assembly  10  may be placed in the locked position by releasing the trigger  54 . The force of the trigger coil spring  56  urges the trigger  54  into the recess formed by the void portion  52  in the jaw  32  and the jaw  30 . 
     Once in the position shown in  FIG. 5E , the jaws  30  and  32  are locked and may not he moved. Accordingly, the grab assembly is locked to the tubing  12 . The foregoing sequence may be accomplished by lowering the tubing into the jaws of the assembly or lowering the jaws of the assembly on to the tubing  12 . The tubing grab assembly will be secured to the tubing adjacent the shoulder formed by the enlarged end. As the grab assembly  10  is lifted, the grab assembly  10  rests against and mates with the tubing. 
       FIGS. 6A ,  6 B,  6 C,  6 D, and  6 E illustrate a second, alternate preferred embodiment  70  of the present invention shown in the sectional view. 
     The tubing grab assembly  70  includes a pair of opposed jaws  72  and  74 . Each of the jaws  72  and  74  has a gripping edge  76  and  78 , respectively, which mate with the outside surface of the tubing  12 . The gripping edges  76  and  78  may be arcuate, may have teeth, or may be angular. 
     Each of the jaws  72  and  74  has a shaft, pin or bolt,  80  and  82 , respectively, which passes through a cavity  84  in a housing  95 . The bolts  80  and  82  also pass through openings in the jaws  72  and  74 , respectively. A nut  86  and  88  secures each of the bolts  80  and  82  in place. Each bolt acts as an axis around which the jaw rotates. 
     Each of the jaws  72  and  74  rotates between a normally closed position and an open position. Coil jaw springs  90  and  92  are retained in recesses in a cavity  84  of the housing  95 . The coil jaw springs  90  and  92  engage the jaws  72  and  74 , respectively, to force them toward the closed position. The coil springs may be compressed under force. 
     The tubing grab assembly  70  also includes a connection mechanism, such as an eye  94  or a pair of eyes extending from opposed sides of the housing  95 . The eye  94  would be used to connect to a shackle or hook. 
     The tubing grab assembly  70  also includes a spring trigger mechanism. The spring trigger mechanism includes a manually operated trigger  96  having a receptacle therein to receive a coil trigger spring  98  and a guide pin  100 . The spring  98  and the guide pin  100  are axially aligned with each other. The diameter of the receptacle is slightly larger than the spring or guide pin. The guide pin  100  may be retained in the housing  95  by a lock pin  102 . 
       FIGS. 6A ,  6 B,  6 C,  6 D, and  6 E illustrate sectional views and also illustrate a sequence to engage and lock a tubing. In  FIG. 6A , the locked jaws  72  and  74  are brought adjacent to the tubing  12 . As seen in  FIG. 6B , the trigger  96  is then manually retracted so that the coil spring  98  is compressed in the receptacle and the trigger  96  is retracted from void portions in the jaws  72  and  74  which form a recess for the trigger  96 . 
     When the trigger  96  is manually retracted, the jaws  72  and  74  are no longer in the locked position. As seen in  FIG. 6C , the jaws  72  and  74  are free to rotate about the bolts  80  and  82 , respectively. 
     As seen in  FIG. 6D , once the tubing is within the jaws  72  and  74 , the jaws  72  and  74  will rotate back to the closed position by force of extension of the coil springs  90  and  92 . 
     Thereafter, the tubing grab assembly  70  may be placed in the locked position by releasing the trigger  96 . The force of extension of the trigger coil spring urges the trigger  96  into the recesses formed by the void portions in the jaws  72  and  74 . 
     Once in the position shown in  FIG. 6E , the jaws  72  and  74  are locked and may not he moved. Accordingly, the tubing  12  is locked in place. 
     Whereas, the present invention has been described in relation to the drawings attached hereto, it should be understood that other and further modifications, apart from those shown or suggested herein, may be made within the spirit and scope of this invention.