Patent ID: 8474806

Claim:
A pipe gripping apparatus comprising: a first jaw having a pipe-contacting surface at one end thereof; a second jaw having a pipe-contacting surface at one end thereof; a tongue having a pipe-contacting surface at one end thereof; a first and second pivot point located on the first jaw; a first link pivotally connected between the second pivot point on the first jaw and the tongue; a first and second pivot point located on the second jaw; a second link pivotally connected between the second pivot point on the second jaw and the tongue; the first jaw having a first distance between the pipe-contacting surface of the first jaw and the first pivot point of the first jaw and a second distance between the first pivot point of the first jaw and the second pivot point of the first jaw, the first and second distances of the first jaw being unequal; the second jaw having a first distance between the pipe-contacting surface of the second jaw and the first pivot point of the second jaw and a second distance between the first pivot point of the second jaw and the second pivot point of the second jaw, the first and second distances of the second jaw being unequal; and an actuator connected to the tongue, the actuator for moving the first and second jaws and the tongue such that the pipe-contacting surfaces thereof move radially inwardly for a substantially identical distance.