Abstract:
A safety tool takes the form of a base plate having a plurality of mounting apertures for selectively mounting one or more pipe engaging members. The mounting apertures are arranged in a symmetrical grid such that the pipe engaging members may be selectively mounted upon the base plate in any of a plurality of orientations. One or more hoisting apertures may be provided on the base plate for utilization of a mechanical hoist in the lifting operation. A handle, which may be removable, may be provided on the base plate for manual manipulation of the tool. The symmetrical grid enables utilization of the tool with one, two or several pipe engaging members or with the pipe engaging member or members in various orientations with respect to the base plate.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims priority, under 35 U.S.C. § 120, to P.C.T. international patent application Serial No. PCT/US03/02368 filed Jan. 24, 2003 and designating the United States of America, which claims all available benefit, under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e), of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/351,750 filed Jan. 25, 2005. By this reference, the full disclosures, including the claims and drawings, of P.C.T. international patent application Serial No. PCT/US03/02368 and U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/351,750 are incorporated herein as though now set forth in their respective entireties. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to pipe-handling tools. More specifically, the present invention relates to a multiple-configuration tool for handling a variety of sizes, shapes and weights of pipe, as particularly useful in the oilfield and similar industries.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     In oilfield operations, it is frequently necessary to manually lift and carry oilfield pipe or “frac” pipe. Similarly, in fire fighting operations, fire hoses must be lifted and carried by hand. Typically, such pipes and hoses must be handled under wet and slippery conditions, which are generally hazardous to the personnel involved. Additionally, such pipes and hoses are generally quite heavy and difficult to handle, even under dry conditions, causing extreme physical fatigue in of personnel involved.  
         [0004]     Although devices have been proposed for more safely handling pipes and hoses, such devices generally suffer impracticalities that militate away from their widespread use. In particular, the previously proposed devices are limited to very specific applications, resulting in a necessity to purchase a separate device for each particular use. For example, large and small pipes generally cannot both be handled by a single device. Likewise devices with the structural integrity necessary for handling heavy pipes are generally too heavy for safe manual use. Finally, the previous devices are limited in the manner in which they may be used in cooperation with mechanical hoists.  
         [0005]     It is therefore an overriding object of the present invention to provide a single pipe-handling tool that may be readily and economically configured to meet the particular needs of the widest variety of pipe-handling applications.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     In accordance with the foregoing objects, the present invention—a pipe-handling tool—generally comprises a tool comprising a base plate having a plurality of mounting apertures for selectively mounting one or more pipe engaging members; at least one pipe engaging member; and wherein said mounting apertures are arranged in a symmetrical grid such that said pipe engaging member may be selectively mounted upon said base plate in any of a plurality of orientations. One or more hoisting apertures may be provided on the base plate for utilization of a mechanical hoist in the lifting operation. Additionally, or in the alternative, a handle, which may be removable, may be provided on the base plate for manual manipulation of the tool. The symmetrical grid enables utilization of the tool with one, two or several pipe engaging members or with the pipe engaging member or members in various orientations with respect to the base plate, thereby enabling the tool to be readily adapted for a wide variety of pipe handling operations.  
         [0007]     Finally, many other features, objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the relevant arts, especially in light of the foregoing discussions and the following drawings, exemplary detailed description and appended claims. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]     Although the scope of the present invention is much broader than any particular embodiment, a detailed description of the preferred embodiment follows together with illustrative figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like components, and wherein:  
         [0009]      FIG. 1  shows, in a perspective view, the preferred embodiment of the pipe-handling tool of the present invention;  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  shows, in a perspective view, a second configuration of the pipe-handling tool of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  shows, in an exploded perspective view, the pipe-handling tool of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0012]      FIG. 4  shows, in a rear elevational view, the pipe-handling tool of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0013]      FIG. 5  shows, in a partially cutaway side elevational view, the pipe-handling tool of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0014]      FIG. 6  shows, in a perspective view, the pipe-handling tool of  FIG. 1  as employed in a first application;  
         [0015]      FIG. 7  shows, in a perspective view, the pipe-handling tool of  FIG. 1  as employed in a second application; and  
         [0016]      FIG. 8  shows, in a perspective view, the pipe-handling tool of  FIG. 1  as employed with the assistance of a mechanical hoist in the application of  FIG. 7 .  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0017]     Although those of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize many alternative embodiments, especially in light of the illustrations provided herein, this detailed description is exemplary of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the scope of which is limited only by the claims appended hereto.  
         [0018]     Referring now to the figures, the pipe-handling tool  20  of the present invention is shown to generally comprise a base plate  21  upon which is mounted one or more clamping units  40 ,  41 ,  42  for engaging a pipe or hose. As particularly shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , and as will be better understood further herein, the pipe-handling tool  20  of the present invention is specifically adapted to be readily reconfigured to meet the needs of a wide variety of pipe-handling applications. For example, as shown in  FIG. 1 , a first clamping unit  40 , a second clamping unit  41  and a third clamping unit  42  may be simultaneously secured to the base plate  21  for heavy duty applications such as the towing of a heavy pipe under electrical wires or the insertion of a long and heavy pipe into a rat hole. On the other hand, the first clamping unit  40  and the third clamping unit  42  may be removed, as shown in  FIG. 2 , thereby leaving only the second clamping unit  42  in place for light duty applications such as the manual repositioning of a short pipe. In this manner, the pipe-handling tool  20  of the present invention may be selectively strengthened as required for heavy, mechanical hoist assisted operations yet may be made as light as possible for those operations in which the pipe will be handled manually. Additionally, as also will be better understood further herein, the pipe-handling tool  20  is specifically adapted for configuration in a manner extremely conducive to the handling of curved pipes. In particular, as shown in  FIG. 6 , the pipe-handling tool  20  may be configured with only the second clamping unit  41  affixed to the base plate  21  in an orientation perpendicular to the orientation of the clamping units  40 ,  41 ,  42  as depicted in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . In this configuration, a hoisting hook  51  may be utilized with the tool  20  to handle a large and heavy curved pipe.  
         [0019]     Referring now to  FIGS. 3 through 5 , the construction of the pipe-handling tool  20  is detailed. While various assemblies and sub-assemblies are described, it should be noted throughout that the pipe-handling tool  20  of the present invention is specifically designed to enable a user to select from a multitude of possible configurations according to the user&#39;s particular immediate need. With this in mind, it is noted that at least some of the assemblies and/or sub-assemblies will only be utilized in certain applications or will be utilized in varying manners depending upon the application. In any case, as best shown in  FIG. 3 , the pipe-handling tool  20  of the present invention may be considered an assembly comprising a base plate  21  having attached thereto one or more clamping units  40 ,  41 ,  42 . A carrying handle  26  may be dependently attached to the base plate  21  for manually carrying a gripped pipe or for facilitating placement of a gripped pipe even though the pipe-handling tool  20  may be utilized in conjunction with a mechanical hoist. Additionally, a release handle  34  serves to secure a piston  45  within a piston bore  43  of each clamping unit  40 ,  41 ,  42  as well as to operate the pistons  45  for the release of a gripped pipe.  
         [0020]     As shown in  FIGS. 3 through 5 , the base plate  21  preferably comprises a high-strength alloy material milled or laser cut for dependently supporting the clamping units  40 ,  41 ,  42  and the carrying handle  26 . Additionally, one or more hoisting  25  apertures are preferably provided at strategic locations on the base plate  21  for receiving a hoisting hook  51  as may be required in certain applications. As best shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , a plurality of clamping unit mounting apertures  22  through the base plate  21  are provided for receiving therethrough Allen head screws  55  utilized to dependently secure thereto one or more of the clamping units  40 ,  41 ,  42 . As shown in the figures, the clamping unit mounting apertures  22  are preferably placed on a symmetrical grid  23  such that the clamping units  40 ,  41 ,  42  may be oriented vertically as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  or may be oriented horizontally as shown in  FIG. 6 . Finally, the base plate  21  is provided with a plurality of threaded holes  24  for receiving Allen head screws  29  utilized to secure the carrying handle  26  to the base plate  21 .  
         [0021]     As also shown in  FIGS. 3 through 5 , the carrying handle  26  preferably comprises a C-shaped base  27  having a plurality of mounting apertures  28  through the lower portion thereof for affixing the carrying handle  26  to the base plate  21  with a plurality of Allen head mounting screws  29 . Two Allen head screws  33  are utilized to secure an aluminum rod  30  between the distal ends of the base  27 . An aluminum sleeve  31 , which may be provided with diamond cuts  32  for better gripping, is rotatably supported upon the rod  30 . In this manner, a user may have a sure grasp upon the carrying handle  26  notwithstanding that the pipe-handling tool  20  may swing freely with respect to the sleeve  31 , thereby minimizing strain upon the user&#39;s wrist as may otherwise occur were the handle to be fixed.  
         [0022]     Like the carrying handle  26 , the release handle  34  also comprises a C-shaped base  35 . The underside  36  of the release handle  34 , however, comprises a plurality of threaded holes  37  for receiving one or more of the pistons  45  of the clamping units  40 ,  41 ,  42 , as will be better understood herein. Although those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the finger grip  38  of the release handle  34  may rotate upon a rod such as the rod  30  provided for the carrying handle  26 , Applicant has found it suitable to simply provide a finger grip  38  secured with a plurality Allen head screws  39  between the distal portion of the arms of the base  35 .  
         [0023]     As particularly shown in  FIGS. 3 through 5 , each clamping unit  40 ,  41 ,  42  is provided with a tubular piston bore  43  in which may be inserted a piston  45 . Each piston  45  comprises a neck  46 , having a male threaded end  47 , and a plunger  49 . As each piston  45  is inserted into a respective clamping unit  40 ,  41 ,  42 , a piston spring  50  is compressed between a shoulder  48  on the plunger  49  and a shoulder  44  on the upper portion of the tubular piston bore  43 . The inserted piston  45  is then screwed into one of the threaded holes  37  on the underside  36  of the base of the release handle  34 . In this manner, the release handle  34  cooperates with the clamping units  40 ,  41 ,  42  to secure the pistons  45  in position in the respective clamping units  40 ,  41 ,  42 . In operation, pulling the release handle  34  away from the installed clamping units  40 ,  41 ,  42  causes retraction of the plungers  49  into the clamping units  40 ,  41 ,  42  for gripping or release of a pipe  52 . When the release handle  34  is in its normal position, biased against the clamping units  40 ,  41 ,  42  by the piston springs  50 , the plungers  49  securely hold a pipe  52  within the scoop  54  of each clamping unit  40 ,  41 ,  42 .  
         [0024]     Referring now to  FIGS. 1, 2  and  6  through  8 , the preferred operation of the present invention is detailed. In particular, as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 6 , various applications may dictate the use of only a single clamping unit, such as the second clamping unit  41  shown in each figure. For example, the configuration of  FIG. 2  is particularly useful for the manual handling of a short length of relatively lightweight pipe. In this case, the user simply grasps the pipe-handling tool  20  by the carrying handle  26  and presses the pipe-handling tool  20  downward onto a pipe  52  in a position like that shown in  FIG. 7 . The downward force of the pipe-handling tool  20  will cause the piston  45  to retract against the piston spring  50  into the piston bore  43  allowing the pipe  52  to come to rest within the scoop  54  of the clamping unit  41 . Once inserted, the pipe  52  will slide out of the way of the piston  45 , thereby allowing the piston  45  to again extend from the piston bore  43 . The plunger  49  portion of the piston  45  will then hold the pipe  52  securely between the plunger and the scoop  54  of the clamping unit  41 . At this point, the pipe  52  may be securely handled with the user safely grasping the pipe-handling tool  20  by the carrying handle  26 . After the user has performed his or her task with respect to the pipe  52 , the release handle  34  is simply pulled to cause the plunger  49  to retract into the piston bore  43 , thereby allowing the pipe  52  to be released from the pipe-handling tool  20 .  
         [0025]     A similar application is depicted in  FIG. 6 . In this case, however, it is noted that the pipe  52  has a curved shaped. While the configuration of  FIG. 2  would be suitable for grasping such a pipe  52 , the configuration of  FIG. 6  is preferred in cases where the pipe  52  is extremely heavy and must be handled with the assistance of a hoisting hook  51 . In this instance, the clamping unit  41  is preferably aligned with the hoisting apertures  25  such that a single clamping unit  41  may be utilized, as is often necessary with a curved pipe  52 , without excessive lateral forces being applied to the plunger  49 .  
         [0026]     As shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , a large and heavy pipe  52  may be handled utilizing the pipe-handling tool  20  configured with three clamping units  40 ,  41 ,  42 . In this case, the pipe-handling tool  20  is applied to the pipe as previously described and, thereafter, a hoisting hook  51  is inserted through one of the hoisting apertures  25 . Applicant has found that the additional strength provided by the multiple clamping units  40 ,  41 ,  42  allows for even a very large and heavy pipe to be handled in the completely vertical orientation shown in  FIG. 8 , where the pipe  52  has slid through the clamping units  40 ,  41 ,  42  such that the flange  53  of the pipe  52  rests adjacent the first clamping unit  40 .  
         [0027]     Although not shown in the figures, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that other configurations of the pipe-handling tool  20  of the present invention may also be desirable. For example, it may be desirable to use only the first clamping unit  40  and the third clamping unit  42  in an application where a curved pipe  52 , such as shown in  FIG. 6 , has a flange  53  at the desired lifting point. In this case, the flange  53  may be positioned in the open space provided by removal of the second clamping unit  41 . Additionally, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that certain applications will require only the additional strength of two clamping units. For example, towing of a pipe  52  beneath low electrical wires is one such application. In this case, the user has the option of adding only a second clamping unit should the pipe-handling tool  20  have been previously configured with only a single clamping unit. In this manner, time may be saved through the flexibility of the pipe-handling tool  20  of the present invention.  
         [0028]     While the foregoing description is exemplary of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, those of ordinary skill in the relevant arts will recognize the many variations, alterations, modifications, substitutions and the like as are readily possible, especially in light of this description, the accompanying drawings and claims drawn thereto. In any case, because the scope of the present invention is much broader than any particular embodiment, the foregoing detailed description should not be construed as a limitation of the scope of the present invention, which is limited only by the claims appended hereto.