Did You Know...
...Chester Carlson was a patent agent who tired of having to make multiple copies of patent applications using the only duplication method available at the time: carbon paper. In 1959 he came up with a new copying system and took it to IBM for evaluation. The "experts" at IBM determined potential sales to be only 5,000 units because people wouldn't want to use a bulky machine when they had carbon paper. Carlson's invention was the xerography process, the company founded on the system is Xerox.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7975572 | Methods and apparatus for make up and break out of tubular connections A gripping apparatus and a method apparatus for making up and breaking out tubular connections. In one embodiment, the gripping apparatus comprises an outer gear, a plurality of rollers coupled to the outer gear, an inner ring, a passive jaw, and a pair of active ja... | 07/12/2011 |
| 7762160 | Power tong cage plate lock system An open-throat power tong for making up or breaking apart an oilfield tubular connection, includes a cage plate lock system. The lock system connected to each cage plate extends across the space provided by the open throat in the cage plate when locked in the closed... | 07/27/2010 |
| 7717014 | Torque drive for making oil field connections A power tong system for precisely making up a connection between two elongated elements, such as sucker rods, into an operative string for petroleum well installations. High precision is attainable to secure the full advantages of prestressing the coupling by combin... | 05/18/2010 |
| 7621202 | Method and apparatus for forming tubular connections The apparatus of the present invention is directed to a replacement cage assembly (106) to modify a conventional power tong (100) to enable the power tong to grip and rotate smaller diameter tubular segments (90). The method of the invention is ... | 11/24/2009 |
| 7395855 | Radially moving slips Slips (1, 21, 41) for engaging any jointed, coiled or flexible tubular with substantially no scoring, gouging or scraping, such as when supporting a drill string in a borehole or gripping a tubular (2, 22) during the connection or disconnection of a to... | 07/08/2008 |
| 7367402 | Blow-out preventor make/break tool The present invention provides a tubular make/break tool having a body section and a center weldment positioned within the body section. There are at least two linear actuators in opposed orientation disposed in the body section and the linear actuators are connecte... | 05/06/2008 |
| 7313986 | Tubular-drill bit connect/disconnect apparatus An apparatus for rotating a tubular with respect to a drill bit, e.g., for making or breaking a connection between a tubular and a drill bit, the apparatus, in at least certain aspects including a frame, gripper apparatus connected to the frame for gripping and rota... | 01/01/2008 |
| 7270189 | Top drive assembly A top drive assembly for wellsite operations may include a quill, a swivel including a swivel housing and a swivel bearing therein in which the quill is supported, a drive system for applying torque to the quill, and link arm hangers extending from the swivel housin... | 09/18/2007 |
| 7255025 | Power tong with sliding jaw A power tong (1) or back-up tong has a sliding jaw assembly (6) that may be advanced into the throat (4) of the tong for engagement with a pipe. A camming surface (11) on the inside circumference of the ring gear (10) advances the ... | 08/14/2007 |
| 7237456 | Power tong with reduced die markings A power tong 10 rotates a tubular during makeup or breakout of the threaded connection. A tong frame 12, a rotatable ring 20, and a cage plate assembly may each have an open throat for receiving the tubular. A plurality of dies 32 are pre... | 07/03/2007 |
| 7219580 | Cam follower for power tongs and other uses A power tong or back-up tong has a jaw assembly that is advanced into engagement with a pipe through a cam follower that contacts the camming surface on the inside circumference of a ring gear, the cam follower being in the form of a series of roller elements arrang... | 05/22/2007 |
| 7213656 | Apparatus and method for facilitating the connection of tubulars using a top drive An apparatus and method for facilitating the connection of tubulars using a top drive and is, more particularly but not exclusively, intended for facilitating the connection of a section or stand of casing to a string of casing. ... | 05/08/2007 |
| 7204173 | Rotatable die tong jaw Power tong jaws comprising one or more dies which are rotatable. ... | 04/17/2007 |
| 7188547 | Tubular connect/disconnect apparatus An apparatus for rotating a tubular, the apparatus, in at least certain aspects including a frame, a rocker assembly connected to the frame, the rocker assembly including a top rocker arm pivotably mounted to the frame, and a bottom rocker arm pivotably mounted to t... | 03/13/2007 |
| 7114235 | Automated pipe joining system and method A method and apparatus for making and breaking tubular connections at the surface of a well by utilizing a pipe joining system. The pipe joining system includes a movable support frame for supporting and integrating on a rig floor the tools associated with making an... | 10/03/2006 |
| 7100697 | Method and apparatus for reforming tubular connections The present invention generally relates to methods and apparatus for connecting tubulars and reforming the connection between the tubulars. In one aspect of the invention, the tubulars are aligned, connected, and then reformed at the connection. In one embodiment, t... | 09/05/2006 |
| 7073598 | Apparatus and methods for tubular makeup interlock The present invention provides for an apparatus and methods to prevent an operator from inadvertently dropping a string into a wellbore during assembling and disassembling of tubulars. Additionally, the apparatus and methods can be used to for running in casing, run... | 07/11/2006 |
| 7069817 | Power tongs Damage to pipe resulting from non-uniform application of gripping forces is minimized by modified power tongs employing pivoting jaws which automatically adjust to the circumference of the pipe. The pivoting jaws pivot about mounting pins which pass through an elong... | 07/04/2006 |
| 7036397 | Granular particle gripping surface An improved die insert for gripping oil field tubular members in tubular handling systems such as power tongs, slips, safety clamps and the like. The die insert has a gripping surface which comprises a backing surface adapted to contact the tubular member. The backi... | 05/02/2006 |
| 7028586 | Apparatus and method relating to tongs, continous circulation and to safety slips A tong system includes an upper tong having grips for gripping a tubular and a rotation mechanism to rotate the grips and the tubular. A lower tong also has grips and a rotation mechanism to rotate the grips to provide rotation to a lower tubular, such that the uppe... | 04/18/2006 |
| 7028585 | Wrenching tong Apparatus for applying torque to a first tubular relative to a second tubular, the apparatus comprising a first tong for gripping the first tubular and a second tong for gripping the second tubular, wherein the first tong is provided with teeth around a peripheral s... | 04/18/2006 |
| 7021374 | Method and apparatus for connecting tubulars using a top drive An apparatus for facilitating the connection of tubulars, said apparatus comprising a winch (15), at least one wire line (4, 5), and a device (2) for gripping the tubular (3), the arrangement being such that, in use, the winch (15)... | 04/04/2006 |
| 7017450 | Tong jaw and a method for constructing the tong jaw A method for constructing a power tong jaw, including the steps of: (1) providing a substantially flat upper plate and a substantially flat lower plate; (2) providing at least two separately formed substantially elongated column members, at least one of the column m... | 03/28/2006 |
| 7013759 | Apparatus for handling tubulars and method A device for torquing a tubular connection. The device comprises an upper assembly having an upper jaw member, a lower assembly having a lower jaw member, an upper gear for advancing the upper jaw member, and a lower gear for advancing the lower jaw member. The uppe... | 03/21/2006 |
| 7004259 | Apparatus and method for facilitating the connection of tubulars using a top drive An apparatus for facilitating the connection of tubulars using a top drive, the apparatus comprising a supporting member (13) connectable to said top drive (3) characterized in that it further comprises an internal tool (30) for engaging said tu... | 02/28/2006 |
| 7000502 | Drillpipe spinner The invention relates to an improved drill pipe spinner. The improved spinner may be used as a stand-alone piece of pipe handling equipment or may be used in an Iron Roughneck. The spinner comprises a pair of clamping arms that are movable between an open position a... | 02/21/2006 |
| 6990876 | Power tongs A power tong apparatus for rotating a pipe comprises a tong housing and a ring gear, rotatably mounted in the tong housing. A top cage plate is positioned above an inner portion of the ring gear and a corresponding bottom cage plate is positioned below the inner por... | 01/31/2006 |
| 6988428 | Power tong with linear camming surfaces In a pivoting-jaw power tong, each primary camming surface of the rotary gear has a substantially linear rather than curved configuration. Each primary camming surface forms an acute angle with a radial line extending from the rotary gear centerline to the point whe... | 01/24/2006 |
| 6976298 | Methods and apparatus for connecting tubulars using a top drive An apparatus for facilitating the connection of tubulars using a top drive, the apparatus comprising a stator attachable to said top drive, and a supporting member for supporting a tool, wherein means are provided to allow substantially horizontal movement of said s... | 12/20/2005 |
| 6948904 | Hydraulically actuated casing slip lifter with hinged wrap arm assembly A casing slip lifter includes a frame, upper and lower lift arm assemblies, at least one air cylinder connected to a pipe that rotates to pivot the arm assemblies, and a wrap arm to which the slips are attached and which is coupled to the arm assemblies by a hinge. ... | 09/27/2005 |
| 6814149 | Apparatus and method for positioning a tubular relative to a tong An apparatus and a method for positioning a tubular relative to a tong is provided. In one aspect, a positioning tool may be mounted on a lower portion of the tong. The positioning tool includes a positioning member for determining a position of the tubular and a ce... | 11/09/2004 |
| 6761090 | Camming system for power tong jaws A power tong or back-up tong has a jaw assembly that is advanced into engagement with a pipe through a cam follower that contacts the camming surface on the inside circumference of a ring gear, the cam follower being in the form of a series of roller elements arrang... | 07/13/2004 |
| 6755097 | Granular particle gripping surface An improved die insert for gripping oil field tubular members in tubular handling systems such as power tongs, slips, safety clamps and the like. The die insert has a gripping surface which comprises a backing surface adapted to contact the tubular member. The backi... | 06/29/2004 |
| 6619160 | Sliding jaw adaptor for pivoting jaw power tong A jaw adapter for use in a pivoting jaw power tong having a cage plate designed to house a pivoting jaw member. The jaw adapter includes an adapter body shaped to fit between the cages plates of a pivoting jaw power tong. The adapter body further includes... | 09/16/2003 |
| 6378399 | Granular particle gripping surface An improved die insert for gripping oil field tubular members in tubular handling systems such as power tongs, slips, safety clamps and the like. The die insert has a gripping surface which comprises a backing surface adapted to contact the tubular member... | 04/30/2002 |
| 6332377 | Gripping arrangement for gripping casing A gripping arrangement for gripping casing is both sufficiently flexible to conform to said casing and substantially inelastic. In a preferred embodiment the gripping arrangement comprises a sheet of zircon paper bonded to a flexible metal carrier plate w... | 12/25/2001 |
| 6330911 | Tong A tong for rotating tubulars, the tong having, in certain embodiments, a tong outer case, a rotary movably mounted in the case for rotating a tubular, apparatus for rotating the rotary to rotate the tubular, at least one gripper or jaw movably mounted in ... | 12/18/2001 |
| 6279426 | Power tong with improved door latch An open throat power tong 10 for making up and/or breaking apart an oilfield tubular connection includes an open throat in the tong body 15. Motors 18, 20 rotate a partial ring member 12 and a pair of heads 16 with respect to the tong body. A door 40, 140... | 08/28/2001 |
| 6237445 | Gripping apparatus for power tongs and backup tools Apparatus for gripping tubular members including self aligning gripping jaws with high coefficient of friction for resisting force applied to the elongated member to prevent rotation either clockwise or counterclockwise. Linear cams and cam rollers actuat... | 05/29/2001 |
| 6116118 | Gripping apparatus for power tongs and backup tools Apparatus for gripping tubular members including self aligning gripping jaws with high coefficient of friction for resisting force applied to the elongated member to prevent rotation either clockwise or counterclockwise. Linear cams and cam rollers actuat... | 09/12/2000 |
