Patent ID: 8419097

Claim:
A gripper for petroleum pipes, the gripper including: a housing; two gripper arms, wherein the gripper arms are provided, at first end portions, with gripping surfaces and are pivotable, at opposite end portions, around respective first axes; first pivotal links connecting each of the gripper arms to the housing, each of the first pivotal links being pivotably connected to the respective gripper arm around a second axis which is between the gripping surface and the first axis, and each of the first pivotal links being pivotably connected to the housing around a third axis; and second pivotal links around the first axis connecting each of the gripper arms to the housing, wherein each of the second pivotal links is pivotably connected to the housing on a respective fourth axis fixed relative to the housing, the two first pivotal links being independently pivotable from the two second pivotal links; wherein the distance between the first axis and the fourth axis is shorter than the distance between the second axis and the third axis; and wherein the housing includes an abutment surface for the petroleum pipe.