Modular Floor Wrench with Central Bearing for Drill Pipe
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional automated floor wrenches for drilling rigs often cause premature pipe wear and deformation due to high force requirements, leading to scoring and squashing of the drill pipe, and lack efficient torque distribution and alignment.
Innovation Solution
A modular automated floor wrench with a tong assembly comprising upper and lower tongs pivotably connected, a central bearing for rotational coupling, and a ram assembly that moves between open and closed positions to provide 360-degree radial contact, reducing force concentration and accommodating varying pipe sizes, with die rams for precise torque application.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If conventional automated floor wrenches use two or three rams to grip the pipe, then the wrench can apply sufficient force to grip and rotate the drill pipe, but the force concentration at two or three points causes pipe scoring, squashing, and premature wear
Solution Approach 1:
The tong assembly is divided into multiple tong blocks (at least four) spaced around the pipe circumference, with each block having its own die ram assembly. This segments the gripping force application into multiple points, distributing the load and preventing concentration at only two or three points, thereby reducing pipe scoring and squashing while maintaining sufficient total gripping force.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a limited-point gripping system (2-3 rams) to a multi-point circumferential gripping system (at least 4 tong blocks spaced around the pipe). This dimensional expansion in the radial arrangement allows force distribution around the entire pipe circumference, eliminating the harmful concentration effect while preserving the necessary gripping capability.
2Device complexity
If conventional wrenches use two or three rams spaced apart, then the structure is simpler, but the pipe becomes deformed or squashed at the contact points
Solution Approach 1:
The tong assembly is segmented into multiple independent tong blocks (at least four) distributed around the pipe circumference, with each block containing a die ram assembly. This segmentation increases the number of contact points from 2-3 to at least 4, providing more distributed support points that prevent pipe deformation and squashing while maintaining manageable structural complexity through modular design.
3Ease of operation
If the ram assembly is fully retractable to open position, then the tong assembly can easily open to receive pipe, but torque application during operation may be less effective
Solution Approach 1:
The die ram assemblies are designed with dynamic adjustment capability, allowing them to extend and retract independently of the main tong opening/closing motion. During operation, the dies can be extended to contact the pipe and apply full torque, while the tong blocks remain in position. This dynamic control allows the system to optimize for both ease of opening (retracted state) and effective torque application (extended state) at different operational phases.
Data Source
AI summary
A wrench for making up or breaking up a pipe joint is provided. The wrench comprises a tong assembly having an upper tong and a lower tong. The upper tong has a first upper tong half pivotably connected to a second upper tong half at their first ends. The lower tong has a first lower tong half pivotably connected to a second lower tong half at their first ends. A central bearing operatively couples the upper tong and the lower tong to allow the upper tong to rotate relative to the lower tong or vice versa. The tong assembly has a ram assembly for pushing or pulling the upper tong at a tangential location thereof and the ram assembly is retracted or extended to move the tong assembly between an open position, a closed position, and a rotated closed position where the upper tong is rotated relative to the lower tong.