A back-up wrench device of a top drive assembly of a drilling rig comprises a gripper device operable to grip an end of a drill pipe, and at least one fluid actuator operable to compensate for thread travel during makeup or breakout operations. The back-up wrench device can comprise a first housing coupled to the gripper device and a second housing coupled to a support structure of the top drive assembly, and can comprise a primary hydraulic housing movably coupled to the first and second housings. The at least one fluid actuator can include upper and lower fluid actuators each movable through upper and lower fluid chambers of the primary hydraulic housing during respective makeup and breakout operations to compensate for thread travel. Associated systems and methods for thread compensation with the back-up wrench are provided.

A wrench assembly comprises upper and lower clamp assemblies each having a plurality of grip assemblies, a plurality of torqueing cylinders, and a hydraulic circuit. The hydraulic circuit is in fluid communication with the grip assemblies and the torqueing cylinders and is configured to control a gripping force applied by the grip assemblies relative to a torqueing force applied by the torqueing cylinders. The hydraulic circuit is configured to maintain the gripping force in a proportional relationship with the torqueing force.

An improved multi-bolt and nut torque wrench for installing and removing bolts or nuts from flanged joints or the like which includes a plurality of torque stations having a plurality of high torque wrenches for engaging the heads of the bolts or nuts during a high torque phase of removal or installation; a plurality of low-torque motors operatively engaged with the wrenches for rotating the bolts or nuts during the low torque phase of removal or installation; a source of hydraulic fluid for driving the low-torque motors during the low-torque phase, and driving the high-torque wrenches during the high torque phase; and a mechanism for switching between the two phases depending on the torque needed.

The present invention discloses a system comprising a hydraulic plate assembly, a hydraulic grapple pipe connection assembly, hydraulic circuit assembly, or a combination thereof to set and attach pipe connections to equipment, such as oilfield equipment and method(s) of using the system. The use of this system makes the process of attaching the connections to the pipe safe, quick and easy.

A system with a wrench coupled to a rig floor, and the wrench can include a plurality of grippers, a linkage mechanism that couples the plurality of grippers together, and a plurality of actuators coupled to the linkage mechanism, with the plurality of actuators used to apply a force to the linkage mechanism in opposite directions, and with the linkage mechanism configured to evenly distribute the force between the plurality of grippers. The wrench can support a torque wrench or a backup tong of an iron roughneck.

A torque slider tong assembly provides a safe, convenient, light weight, portable, hand-operable dual pipe wrench for use in makeup and breakout of tubular connections. The torque-slider tong assembly includes a backup arm forming a first pipe wrench gripping a first pipe, a torque arm forming a second pipe wrench gripping a second pipe, and an actuator providing motive force moving the torque arm relative to the backup arm transverse to the pipes, which rotates the pipes relative to each other. A torque slider adjustably connects the actuator to the backup arm to adjust the mechanical advantage between the backup arm and the torque arm providing additional setup flexibility. Similarly, a movable pivot point, such as a clevis, adjustably connects the actuator to the torque arm providing additional setup flexibility. Quick-change pins allow positional adjustment of multiple components.

A drill rod clamping system for securing a drill rod in a selected position. The drill rod clamping system has a hollow spindle with an upper portion that defines axial slots and a base portion that defines at least one radial opening. A plurality of jaws are moveable radially inwardly to a drill rod gripping position and radially outwardly to a drill rod releasing position. Each jaw is received within a respective axial slot of the hollow spindle. An actuator moves the plurality of jaws between the drill rod gripping position and the drill rod releasing position. A compressed gas spring assembly exerts force on the actuator to close the jaws. A hydraulic operator exerts force on the actuator to overcome the force of the compressed gas spring assembly to open the jaws. The radial openings of the base portion of the spindle permit flushing of material flowing within the spindle.

An exit side pipe handling and vise tool. The tool may be suspended from an arm of a hydraulic machine and rotated and pivoted relative to the arm. The tool comprises two retainer assemblies, two vise assemblies, and a roller assembly each suspended from a linear frame. Each of the retainer assemblies is movable relative to the frame in a direction transverse to a length of the frame. The vise assemblies are in side-by-side configuration to break a connection between adjacent pipe segments. The roller assembly defines rollers having a spiral ramp disposed on an external surface to encourage axial movement of a pipe segment during rotation thereof.

A quick release die block system for the gripper of a backup wrench is disclosed. The quick release die block system can include a die block releasably coupled to a die block support. A lock mechanism can include one or more lock pins moveably supported and can be operable with the die block and the die block support, The lock mechanism can also include a lock mechanism interface accessible via a passage in the die block, and can be adapted to releasably secure the die block to the die block support.

A tubular gripping assembly includes a power tong housing configured to actuate between an open position and a closed position, one or more valves coupled to the power tong housing, an inflatable bladder apparatus coupled to an inner surface of the power tong housing and configured to grip a tubular member when the power tong housing is in the closed position and the inflatable bladder apparatus is inflated, a latch mechanism configured to secure the power tong housing in the closed position and configured to allow the power tong housing to actuate to the open position, and a remote-controller device in wireless communication with the one or more valves. The remote-controller device is configured to control the power tong housing, the inflatable bladder apparatus, and the latch mechanism.