SE543770C2 - Holding device for a pipe gripping assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

Holding device for a pipe gripping assembly and a method therein, wherein the holding device is adapted to host at least one pipe contacting element in a space The holding device comprises an elastic element and a locking device, wherein the locking device is adapted to retain said pipe contacting element between the elastic element and said locking device in the space of the holding device.

Description

HOLDING DEVICE FOR A PIPE GRIPPING ASSEMBLY Technical field id="p-1" id="p-1"

[0001] The present invention relates generally to a holding device for a pipegripping assembly wherein the holding device is adapted to host a pipe contactingelement. ln a griping assembly multiple holding devices are arranged to grip a pipeand rotate it into or out of threaded engagement with another pipe.

Background art id="p-2" id="p-2"

[0002] ln prior art there are multiple problems with gripping assemblies used forrotating pipes in or out of threaded engagements. For example, most grippingassemblies requires large force to succeed in rotating the pipe. Using large forcecreates multiple problems and increase the risk for damage to the pipes,especially relating to the so-called egg effect wherein the pipe risks to adapt theform of an egg due to pressure from the gripping assembly. id="p-3" id="p-3"

[0003] Another common problem is that most gripping solution risk to damagethe threaded sections of the pipes if force is applied on the pipe at a location of thethreaded section. Yet another problem in the prior art is that gripping assembliestends to leave marks in the pipes from the jaws of the pipe contacting element.

Summary of invention id="p-4" id="p-4"

[0004] An object of the present invention is to address at least some of thedrawbacks of the prior art. Thus, an object of the present solution is to provide agripping assembly comprising a holding device that don't leave any marks in thepipe that is threaded into, or out of, engagement with another pipe. id="p-5" id="p-5"

[0005] Another object of the present solution is to provide a holding device for agripping arrangement that would require less force to rotate the pipe, thusovercoming most of the drawbacks with the prior art. id="p-6" id="p-6"

[0006] Thus, the solution relates to a holding device for a pipe grippingassembly, wherein the holding device is adapted to host at least one pipe contacting element. The holding device comprises a rubber element, two edges, a 201144SE gap and a Iocking device, wherein the locking device is adapted to lock said pipecontacting element into the holding device between the rubber element and saidlocking device. Furthermore, the space is confined by the locking device, therubber element, and two edges. Furthermore, the two edges have a shapeadapted to receive the pipe contacting element and restrict the movement of thepipe contacting element in a first and second direction, and wherein the two edgesfurther restricts the movement of the pipe contacting element in a third direction,said third direction being perpendicular to said first and second directions. Finally,the gap is arranged between the locking device and the pipe contacting element allowing for movement also in a direction away from the rubber element. id="p-7" id="p-7"

[0007] lt is one advantage with the present solution that the rubber elementenables that the pipe contacting element can move in a vertical direction, i.e. adirection along the extension direction of a pipe to be gripped, and thus reduces oreliminates the marks left in the pipe. When the pipe is threaded into and out ofengagement with another pipe there is movement due to the pitch of the thread.The movement has to be compensated for, either by allowing the pipe to slidewithin the engagement with the pipe contacting element or through allowing the pipe contacting element to move. id="p-8" id="p-8"

[0008] lt is another advantage with the present solution that the elasticity of therubber element allows for a controlled movement of the pipe contacting element,further reducing the risk for leaving marks in the pipe or damaging the pipe. id="p-9" id="p-9"

[0009] ln one embodiment the rubber element is an element that deformselastic. id="p-10" id="p-10"

[0010] ln one embodiment the rubber element is an element that allows formovement wherein the rubber element deforms elastic during rotation of the pipe and returns to its original form after rotation. id="p-11" id="p-11"

[0011] ln one embodiment further describing details of the holding device for thepipe gripping assembly, the holding device is adapted to host at least one pipe 201144SE Contacting element in a space. The holding device comprises a rubber elementand a Iocking device, wherein the Iocking device is adapted to retain said pipecontacting element between the rubber element and said Iocking device in thespace of the holding device. id="p-12" id="p-12"

[0012] ln the art is it common to refer to the holding device for the pipe grippingassemblies as a jaw and the pipe contacting element is typically called a dice. Theinvention as described herein is however not limited to the traditional form of adice or jaw, the solution is for example usable with other iterations of pipe grippingassemblies. id="p-13" id="p-13"

[0013] ln one embodiment the two edges each comprises a surface arranged torestrict movement of the pipe contacting element in a direction perpendicular tothe extension direction of the pipe to be gripped. id="p-14" id="p-14"

[0014] ln one embodiment the two edges have a shape making the space ashallow frusto-cone, i.e. the space is wider closer to the center of the holdingdevice than to the edge. This enables that the pipe contacting element can be heldin place. The pipe contacting element has a mirrored corresponding shape. id="p-15" id="p-15"

[0015] ln other embodiment the shape of the edges is rounded, have squareindentations, or any other form that allows for the movement of the pipe contactingelement to be restricted such that the pipe contacting element is kept in position ofthe space. id="p-16" id="p-16"

[0016] ln one embodiment of the holding device the first and second directionare directions that are perpendicular to the extension direction of a pipe to begripped. The extension direction of a pipe to be gripped is the same direction as alongitudinal direction of the pipe. id="p-17" id="p-17"

[0017] ln one embodiment of the holding device, the rubber element is arranged in an aperture going through the holding device. 201144SE id="p-18" id="p-18"

[0018] ln one embodiment the rubber element has one larger section and onesmaller section, wherein the smaller section is adapted to extend into the spaceand the larger section is adapted to retain the rubber element between the holdingdevice and a surface the holding device is mounted to. id="p-19" id="p-19"

[0019] ln one embodiment of the rubber element and the locking device arearranged to abut the pipe contacting element at opposite sides of a longitudinaldirection of the pipe contacting element. id="p-20" id="p-20"

[0020] ln one embodiment of the holding device the rubber element has anelasticity allowing movement of the pipe contacting element corresponding to thepitch of a threaded section of a pipe adapted to be rotated between 20 and 45degrees by a pipe gripping assembly. id="p-21" id="p-21"

[0021] ln one embodiment of the holding device the rubber element has adiameter between 2 and 10 mm. id="p-22" id="p-22"

[0022] ln one embodiment of the holding device the pipe contacting elementcomprises multiple jaws for enhanced grip to a pipe. id="p-23" id="p-23"

[0023] ln one embodiment the holding device is arranged in a pipe grippingassembly comprising at least two holding devices fastened each to a grippingbody.

Brief description of drawinqs id="p-24" id="p-24"

[0024] The invention is now described, by way of example, with reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which: id="p-25" id="p-25"

[0025] Fig. 1 illustrates a holding device with a locking device, a rubber element,and a space for a pipe contacting element. id="p-26" id="p-26"

[0026] Fig. 2 illustrates a holding device with a locking device, a rubber element,and a pipe contacting element arranged in the space for the pipe contactingelement locked between the locking device and the rubber element. 201144SE id="p-27" id="p-27"

[0027] Fig. 3 illustrates a top view of one embodiment of a holding device wherein a first and second edge is visible. id="p-28" id="p-28"

[0028] Fig. 4 illustrates a top view of one embodiment of a pipe contacting element.[0029] Fig. 5 illustrates an isometric view of an elastic element. id="p-30" id="p-30"

[0030] Fig. 6 illustrates one embodiment of an isometric view of a holding devicewith a pipe contacting element, wherein the pipe contacting element is illustratedin a state wherein the pipe contacting element is partly in place during anexchange process of the pipe contacting element id="p-31" id="p-31"

[0031] Fig. 7 illustrates one embodiment of a rear view of the holding device wherein an aperture adapted to host a rubber element is illustrated. id="p-32" id="p-32"

[0032] Fig. 8 illustrates one embodiment of an isometric view of a holding devicewherein it is illustrated how the rubber element in one embodiment is arranged extending through the holding device. id="p-33" id="p-33"

[0033] Fig. 9 illustrates one embodiment of holding devices with multiple pipecontacting elements arranged in a pipe gripping assembly. id="p-34" id="p-34"

[0034] Fig. 10a illustrates one embodiment of a holding device. id="p-35" id="p-35"

[0035] Fig. 10b illustrates one state of the rubber element in the embodiment offigure 10a. id="p-36" id="p-36"

[0036] Fig. 10c illustrates another state of the rubber element in the embodiment of figure 10a.

Description of embodiments id="p-37" id="p-37"

[0037] ln the following, a detailed description of the different embodiments of theinvention is disclosed under reference to the accompanying drawings. Allexamples herein should be seen as part of the general description and are 201144SE therefore possible to combine in any way of general terms. Individual features ofthe various embodiments and aspects may be combined or exchanged unlesssuch combination or exchange is clearly contradictory to the overall function of theholding device. id="p-38" id="p-38"

[0038] Figure 1 illustrates a holding device 2 for a gripping assembly 1. Theholding device 2 comprises means for attaching the holding device 2 to a grippingassembly and comprises a space 6 for hosting a pipe contacting element 3. Thespace 6 has in the embodiment as illustrated in figure 1 sections comprising a highfriction material, such as wolfram carbide or another high friction material. Thehigh friction material is for example sprayed as a surface coating in sections 61 ofthe space 6. ln one embodiment the space 6 is entirely coated with a high frictionmaterial, in another only part of the space is coated with the high friction material,in yet another embodiment no high friction material is used. ln one embodiment,not illustrated, is the high friction material instead coated on the back side of thepipe contacting element 3, however for cost reasons this is in most embodimentsavoided. The pipe contacting element 3 is a replaceable part that is replacedmultiple times during the lifetime of the holding device 2. id="p-39" id="p-39"

[0039] Figure 1 further illustrates one embodiment of the rubber element 5, infigure 1 located near the bottom part of the space 6. The locking device 4 is alsoillustrated and located on the opposite side of the space 6 in relation to the rubber element 5. id="p-40" id="p-40"

[0040] Figure 2 illustrates a holding device 2 wherein a pipe contacting element3 is hosted in the space 6 of the holding device 2. The embodiment as illustratedin figure 2 illustrates a holding device 2 corresponding to the holding device 2 asillustrated in figure 1. The pipe contacting element 3 will be further described in relation to figures 4 and 6. id="p-41" id="p-41"

[0041] Figure 3 illustrates a top view of the holding device 2 wherein the lockingdevice 4, part of the rubber element 5, and the space 6 is clearly visible. As 201144SE illustrated in figure 3 the space 6 is open from the top to allow a pipe Contactingelement 3, not shown in figure 3, to slide into the space 6. The edges, 2a and 2b,have a form that together restricts movement of the pipe contacting element 3sideways and fon/vard, or in at least three directions, right, left, and fon/vard. Theedges 2a, 2b may have different forms, such as having an angle that is less than90 degrees as illustrated in figure 3 but it could also be a radius or any othersuitable form that restricts movement of the pipe contacting element 3. id="p-42" id="p-42"

[0042] Figure 4 illustrates a pipe contacting element 3 comprising correspondingedges 22a, 22b that have an inverted shape of the edges 2a, 2b of the holdingdevice 2. The corresponding edges 22a, 22b might in different embodiments havedifferent shapes, however their purpose is to retain the pipe contacting element 3in at least a first, second, and third direction, or at least two dimensions. id="p-43" id="p-43"

[0043] Figure 4 further illustrates multiple jaws 10 arranged on the pipecontacting element 3 to provide better grip of a pipe. lt shall be noted that theentire pipe contacting element 3 sometimes is called a jaw in the art of the field. id="p-44" id="p-44"

[0044] Figure 5 illustrates an rubber element 5 having two different diameters,the smaller diameter is adapted to extend into the space 6 of the holding device 2and the larger diameter is adapted to extend part or entirely through the holdingdevice 2. ln figure 5 the rubber element 5 has a round shape, however it shall benoted that the rubber element 5 might have different forms such as triangular orrectangular within the scope of the solution as described herein. id="p-45" id="p-45"

[0045] Figure 6 illustrates a pipe contacting element 3 partly placed within thespace 6 and thus illustrates how the pipe contacting element 3 is exchanged. Theholding device 2 in general has a longer lifetime than the pipe contacting element3. id="p-46" id="p-46"

[0046] Figure 7 illustrates a back view of the holding device 2 which in use isarranged towards a surface of a pipe gripping assembly. The holding device 2comprises an aperture 7 to host the rubber element 5. The rubber element 5 is 201144SE placed through the aperture 7 extending into the space 6. When the holding device2 is mounted to the pipe gripping assembly the rubber element 5 is kept in placesince it only may be removed through the back of the holding device 2. id="p-47" id="p-47"

[0047] Figure 8 illustrates a partly transparent view wherein it is shown how therubber element 5 in one embodiment extends through the holding device 2. id="p-48" id="p-48"

[0048] Figure 9 illustrates one embodiment of a pipe gripping assembly 1wherein a pipe 100 is about to be gripped. The pipe gripping assembly 1 can forexample comprise any suitable number of holding devices 2. id="p-49" id="p-49"

[0049] Figure 10a illustrates a holding device 2 wherein the function of therubber element 5 is further emphasized. Figure 10b and 10c illustrates differentstates of the rubber element 5, wherein figure 10b illustrates a non-compressedrubber element 5 at a normal state and figure 10c illustrates a compressed rubberelement 5 at a stage wherein a pipe is turned causing the rubber element 5 to be compressed. id="p-50" id="p-50"

[0050] Figure 10a further illustrates one embodiment of the holding device 2wherein a gap 51 is arranged between the locking device 4 and the pipecontacting element 3 allowing for movement also in a direction away from therubber element 5 wherein. ln this embodiment, there is no need for a rubberelement above the pipe contacting element 3 due to gravity.

Claims (8)

1. A holding device (2) for a pipe gripping assembly (1), wherein the holdingdevice (2) is adapted to host at least one pipe Contacting element (3) in a space(6) characterized in that the holding device (2) comprises a rubber element (5), two edges (1a, 2b), a gap (51) and a locking device (4), wherein the locking device (4) is adapted to retain said pipe contacting element (3) between the element (5) and said locking device (4) in the space (6)of the holding device (2); the space (6) is confined by the locking device (4), the element (5), and two edges (2a, 2b); the two edges (2a, 2b) have a shape adapted to receive the pipe contactingelement (3) and restrict the movement of the pipe contacting element (3) in a firstand second direction, and wherein the two edges (2a, 2b) further restricts themovement of the pipe contacting element (3) in a third direction, said third direction being perpendicular to said first and second directions; and the gap (51) is arranged between the locking device (4) and the pipe contacting element (3) allowing for movement also in a direction away from the element (5).

2. The holding device (2) according to claim 1, wherein said first andsecond direction both are perpendicular to the extension direction of a pipe to be gnpped.

3. The holding device (2) according to claims 1 or 2, wherein the element (5) is arranged in an aperture (7) going through the holdingdevice (2).

4. The holding device (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the jj element (5) and the locking device (4) are arranged to abut the pipe Contacting element (3) at opposite sides of a Iongitudinal direction of the pipeContacting element (3).

5. The holding device (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the element has an elasticity allowing movement of the pipecontacting element (3).

6. The holding device (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the :lëš :l\\- . \ element has a diameter between 2 and 10 mm.

7. The holding device (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein thepipe contacting element (3) comprises multiple jaws (10) for enhanced grip to a pipe.

8. The holding device (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein theholding device (2) is arranged in a pipe gripping assembly (1) comprising at leasttwo holding devices (2) fastened each to a gripping body (101).