Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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POWER TONG
Background
100011 In the oil and gas industry, tongs are typically used to grip tubular
members for connecting
and disconnecting two tubular members. More particularly, a first type of tong
(i.e., a power tong)
rotates a first threaded tubular member, while a second type of tong (i.e., a
backup tong) secures a
second threaded tubular member against rotation. A single wellbore can have
tubular members of
varying diameters introduced therein. As the diameter increases, the torque
required to achieve
satisfactory makeup of a threaded connection may also increase. To achieve
high make-up/break-
out torque, the tong may use a plurality of jaws, which are fitted with dies,
to provide adequate
radial gripping force while avoiding deformation of the tubular member. The
gripping force may
be distributed more evenly circumferentially around the tubular member by
increasing the number
of jaws around the tubular member.
100021 Conventional power tongs come in different types. One type includes a
simple slotted
rotary gear and retractable jaws that move radially by rotating the gear.
Typically, this type has a
limited range of torque due to a limited number of jaws in the tong. A second
type includes a
simple slotted rotary gear and pivoting jaws. The tubular members gripped by
the tong can vary
in diameter (e.g., due to industry standard tolerances even between tubular
members that are
nominally the same diameter). This can result in the pivoting jaws gripping
the tubular member
in a slightly eccentric position, which can result in uneven loading and
potentially deformation of
the tubular member, especially in high-torque applications. A third type of
power tong includes a
rotary gear and retractable jaws that move radially by rotating the gear. The
gear includes a first
rotary gear segment in a body of the power tong, and a second rotary gear
segment in a door of the
power tong. When the second rotary gear segment is aligned with the door and a
slot (or "throat")
in the body, the door can be opened, with the second rotary gear segment
moving along with the
door, thereby exposing the throat and allowing the tubular member to be
inserted or removed
laterally therethrough. This design ensures a generally uniform, centralized
gripping of the tubular
members. While this design is employed in the oilfield, having a segmented
rotary gear
complicates the operation of the tongs because it requires precisely
positioning the rotary gear with
respect to the tong body, so as to allow the door with the second rotary gear
segment to swing
open, away from the first rotary gear segment, and expose the slot for lateral
movement of the
tubular member.
1
Summary
[0003] Embodiments of the disclosure may provide a power tong that includes a
body defining a
throat, a cage plate assembly, and a gear that is rotatable relative to the
cage plate assembly and
the body. The cage plate assembly includes a first portion that defines a gap
that corresponds to
the throat of the tong and a second portion that fits in the gap of the first
portion. Whenever a
throat of the first portion is properly aligned with a throat of the rotary
gear and the tong body, the
door of the tong can then be opened. The second portion will move with the
door when opened.
Both the first and second portion of the cage plate assembly include an upper
plate, a lower plate,
and an interconnecting structure. The gear defines a slot laterally
therethrough that is alignable
with the throat so as to allow a tubular to be received therethrough. An inner
surface of the gear
includes at least three sets of cam surfaces, wherein each set of cam surfaces
comprises a first cam
surface and a second cam surface, and wherein the first cam surface and the
second cam surface
are positioned at different axial elevations with respect to a central
longitudinal axis through the
gear. The tong also includes at least three jaws coupled to the cage plate
assembly such that the at
least three jaws are radially movable with respect to the cage plate assembly
and are prevented
from circumferential movement with respect thereto. The at least three jaws
are engageable with
the at least three sets of cam surfaces such that rotation of the gear
relative to the cage plate
assembly causes the at least three jaws to move in a radial direction between
a retracted position
and an extended position.
[0004] Embodiments of the disclosure may also provide a rotary gear for the
tong. The gear
includes a substantially C-shaped member. An inner circumferential surface of
the member
includes one or more sets of cam surfaces. Each set of cam surfaces includes a
first cam surface
for make-up of tubular connections and a second cam surface for break-out of
tubular connections.
The first cam surface and the second cam surface are circumferentially-
overlapping and positioned
at different axial elevations with respect to a central longitudinal axis
through the member.
[0005] Embodiments of the disclosure may also provide a method for making-up
or breaking-out
a tubular connection. The method includes opening a door of a tong to expose a
slot formed in a
gear of the tong, the slot being aligned with a gap in a first portion of a
cage plate assembly and a
slot defined in the body of the tong the cage plate assembly comprising a
second portion that moves
along with the door and when the door is pivoted open and at least one of
three jaws fits in the gap
of the first portion of the cage plate assembly. The method also includes
introducing a tubular
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from any gear segments. The method also includes rotating the tubular using
the tong after the at
least three jaws contact the tubular member.
[0006] The foregoing summary is intended merely to introduce a subset of the
features more fully
described of the following detailed description. Accordingly, this summary
should not be
considered limiting.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0007] The accompanying drawing, which is incorporated in and constitutes a
part of this
specification, illustrates an embodiment of the present teachings and together
with the description,
serves to explain the principles of the present teachings. In the figures:
[0008] Figure 1A illustrates a perspective view of a tong for gripping a
tubular, according to an
embodiment.
[0009] Figure 1B illustrates a perspective view of a cage plate assembly of
the tong with other
components of the tong removed for clarity, according to an embodiment.
[0010] Figure 2A illustrates a perspective view of three jaws positioned
radially-inward from a
gear, according to an embodiment.
[0011] Figure 2B illustrates a perspective view of one or more rollers
interfacing with an upper
plate, according to an embodiment.
[0012] Figure 2C illustrates a perspective view of one or more rollers
interfacing with the gear,
according to an embodiment.
[0013] Figure 3A illustrates a top view of the gear showing the jaws spaced
radially-apart from a
tubular member, according to an embodiment.
[0014] Figure 3B illustrates a top view of the gear showing the jaws gripping
the tubular member
in a make-up direction, according to an embodiment.
[0015] Figure 3C illustrates a top view of the gear showing the jaws gripping
the tubular member
in a break-out direction, according to an embodiment.
100161 Figure 4A illustrates a top view of the gear with the jaws removed for
clarity, according to
an embodiment.
[0017] Figure 4B illustrates a perspective view of the gear with the jaws
removed for clarity,
according to an embodiment.
3
member laterally into the slot while the door is open, closing the door, and
rotating the gear relative
to the cage plate assembly. Rotating the gear causes the at least three jaws
to engage the at least
three sets of cam surfaces via respective first and second cam surface at each
of the sets of cam
surfaces that are positioned at different axial elevations with respect to a
central longitudinal axis
through a center of the gear, respectively, defined on an inner surface of the
gear, so as to move
the at least three jaws radially inward and into contact with the tubular
member. At least one of
the three jaws is coupled to the second portion of the cage plate assembly and
initially aligned with
the slot. The method also includes rotating the tubular member using the tong
after the at least
three jaws contact the tubular member.
[0006] The foregoing summary is intended merely to introduce a subset of the
features more fully
described of the following detailed description. Accordingly, this summary
should not be
considered limiting.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0007] The accompanying drawing, which is incorporated in and constitutes a
part of this
specification, illustrates an embodiment of the present teachings and together
with the description,
serves to explain the principles of the present teachings. In the figures:
[0008] Figure lA illustrates a perspective view of a tong for gripping a
tubular, according to an
embodiment.
[0009] Figure 1B illustrates a perspective view of a cage plate assembly of
the tong with other
components of the tong removed for clarity, according to an embodiment.
[0010] Figure 2A illustrates a perspective view of three jaws positioned
radially-inward from a
gear, according to an embodiment.
[0011] Figure 2B illustrates a perspective view of one or more rollers
interfacing with an upper
plate, according to an embodiment.
[0012] Figure 2C illustrates a perspective view of one or more rollers
interfacing with the gear,
according to an embodiment.
[0013] Figure 3A illustrates a top view of the gear showing the jaws spaced
radially-apart from a
tubular member, according to an embodiment.
[0014] Figure 3B illustrates a top view of the gear showing the jaws gripping
the tubular member
in a make-up direction, according to an embodiment.
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[0015] Figure 3C illustrates a top view of the gear showing the jaws gripping
the tubular member
in a break-out direction, according to an embodiment.
[0016] Figure 4A illustrates a top view of the gear with the jaws removed for
clarity, according to
an embodiment.
[0017] Figure 4B illustrates a perspective view of the gear with the jaws
removed for clarity,
according to an embodiment.
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[0018] Figure 5 illustrates a perspective view of an outer surface of one of
the jaws, according to
an embodiment.
[0019] Figure 6 illustrates a flowchart of a method for making-up or breaking-
out a tubular
connection, according to an embodiment.
100201 It should be noted that some details of the figure have been simplified
and are drawn to
facilitate understanding of the embodiments rather than to maintain strict
structural accuracy,
detail, and scale.
Detailed Description
[0021] Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the present
teachings, examples
of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawing. In the drawings, like
reference numerals
have been used throughout to designate identical elements, where convenient.
The following
description is merely a representative example of such teachings.
[0022] Figure lA illustrates a perspective view of a tong 100 for gripping a
tubular member,
according to an embodiment. The tong 100 may be a power tong. The tong 100 may
include a
body 110 and a door 120. The door 120 may be attached to the body 110 such
that the door 120
may pivot or otherwise move between an open position (shown in Figure 1) and a
closed position,
in which the door 120 can be latched or otherwise secured in place to the body
110.
[0023] The tong 100 may include one or more cage plates, which are rotatable
relative to the body
110, but may initially be constrained from rotation via a brake band 113
attached to the body 110.
Two cage plates, which form a cage plate assembly 136, are shown in Figure 1B.
The cage plate
assembly 136 includes a first portion 137A, including a portion of an upper
plate 130A, a portion
of a lower plate 132A, and an interconnecting structure 138A, and a second
portion 137B,
including a portion of an upper plate 130B, a portion of a lower plate 132B,
and an interconnecting
structure 138B. The first and second portions 137A, 137B of the cage plate
assembly 136 are
coaxially interfaced with the body 110 via guide rollers. Accordingly, the
second portion 137B of
the cage plate assembly 136 is configured to fit within a gap formed in the
first portion 137A when
the door 120 is closed. One or more radial slots 133 may be formed in the
lower surface of the
upper cage plate 130A, 130B, and one or more radial slots 134 may be formed in
the upper surface
of the lower cage plate 132A, 132B.
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[0024] Returning back to Figure 1A, the tong 100 may also include one or more
jaws, for example,
at least three jaws 140A, 140B, 140C. The jaw 140B is obstructed from view in
Figure 1, but
shown, e.g., in Figure 2A. The jaws 140A, 140B, 140C may be coupled to and/or
positioned
between the upper and lower cage plates 130, 132. For example, two of the jaws
140A, 140B may
be coupled to and positioned between the first (e.g., body) portions 130A,
132A of the upper and
lower cage plates, and one of the jaws 140C may be coupled to and positioned
between the second
(e.g., door) portions 130B, 132B of the upper and lower cage plates. The jaws
140A, 140B, 140C
may also include ribs 143, 144 that are configured to fit within or otherwise
engage the
corresponding slots 133, 134 of the cage plates 130, 132. As shown, the ribs
143, 144 may be or
include protrusions on the upper and/or lower surfaces of the jaws 140A, 140B,
140C. The
engagement between the ribs 143, 144 and the slots 133, 134 may allow the jaws
140A, 140B,
140C to move radially-inward and radially-outward with respect to a central
longitudinal axis 112
through the tong 100. However, the jaws 140A, 140B, 140C may remain
rotationally-stationary
(and/or rotated together) with respect to the cage plates 130, 132. In some
embodiments, the slots
133, 134 and ribs 143, 144 may be shaped to provide a dovetail connection
(e.g., undercut). It will
be appreciated that a variety of structures may be employed to provide the
slots 133, 134 and ribs
143, 144, whether integrally formed with the jaws 140A, 140B, 140C and/or the
upper and lower
cage plates 130, 132, or coupled therewith.
[0025] The tong 100 may also include a gear 150. The gear 150 may include a C-
shaped member,
e.g., a portion of a circular ring with a slot cut in it to allow admission of
a tubular member laterally
therein. For example, the gear 150 may be a solid, one-piece rotary gear with
a circumferential
slot (i.e., throat) 151. The tong 100 may not include a separate gear segment,
as in some tongs,
thus leaving the door 120 free from any part of the gear 150 or separate
segment of gear, when the
door 120 is hinged open and closed. As such, no part of the gear 150 may move
with the door 120
in some embodiments. Further, the slot 151 may be considered an "open throat,"
since it is not
filled with a gear segment. The gear 150 may be positioned axially-between the
cage plates 130,
132 of the body 110. The gear 150 may also be positioned radially-outward from
the jaws 140A,
140B, 140C. The gear 150 may be configured to rotate around the axis 112.
Accordingly, the
gear 150 may be configured to rotate to an open position. In the open
position, the slot 151 in the
gear 150 is aligned with a corresponding slot (i.e., throat) 111 in the body
110 and a slot 131 in
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the cage plate assembly 136 to allow a tubular member to be inserted laterally-
therethrough or
removed laterally-therefrom.
[0026] Figure 2A illustrates a perspective view of the gear 150 and the jaws
140A, 140B, 140C
with the body 110, the door 120, and the plates 130, 132 omitted for clarity,
according to an
embodiment. When the door 120 is closed, the jaws 140A, 140B, 140C may be
spaced evenly
around the axis 112 (e.g., 1200 apart from one another). This spacing may
evenly distribute the
forces applied to a tubular member, minimizing the likelihood of crushing or
damaging the tubular
member. As mentioned above, due to the engagement between the jaws 140A, 140B,
140C and
the cage plates 130, 132, which prevents the jaws 140A, 140B, 140C from moving
circumferentially with respect to the cage plates 130, 132, the jaws 140A,
140B, 140C may be
configured to move radially in response to rotation of the gear 150 with
respect to the cage plates
130, 132. More particularly, the jaws 140A, 140B, 140C are shown moved
radially-outward with
respect to the axis 112 (e.g., to release a tubular member 160). When the gear
150 rotates in either
direction relative to the position of the jaws 140A, 140B, 140C (as shown in
Figure 2A), the jaws
140A, 140B, 140C are moved radially-inward from a retracted position to an
extended position to
grip the tubular member 160. Movement of the rotary gear 150 relative to the
jaws 140A, 140B,
140C in a clockwise direction causes the jaws 140A, 140B, 140C to grip the
tubular member 160
for make-up. Movement of the rotary gear 150 in a counter-clockwise direction
causes the jaws
140A, 140B, 140C to grip the tubular member 160 for break-out.
[0027] As the jaws 140A, 140B, 140C move radially-inward toward the tubular
member 160, the
jaws 140A, 140B, 140C may make contact with the outer surface of the tubular
member 160. Any
slight deviation in the diameter of the tubular member 160 may cause the jaws
140A, 140B, 140C
to move slightly radially-outward or slightly radially-inward, depending on
whether the tubular
member 160 is oversized or undersized.
[0028] Figure 2B illustrates a perspective view of one or more rollers 170
interfacing with the
upper cage plate 130, and Figure 2C illustrates a perspective view of one or
more rollers 172
interfacing with the gear 150, according to an embodiment. The combination of
the rollers 170
and 172 allow the rotary gear 150 to rotate with respect to the upper and
lower cage plates 130,
132, while transferring radial load from the rotary gear 150 to the cage
plates 130, 132 and to the
body 110.
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[0029] After engagement of the tubular member, the upper and lower cage plates
130, 132, on
both the body 110 and the door 120, may be configured to move in response to
continued rotation
of the gear 150, transmitted to the cage plates 130, 132 by the jaws 140A,
140B, 140C. Such
rotational forces overcome the friction applied by the brake band 113,
resulting in the cage plates
130, 132 and thus the jaws 140A, 140B, 140C rotating. In other words, when the
jaws 140A,
140B, 140C are engaged with the tubular member 160 and can no longer move
radially-inward,
the jaws 140A, 140B, 140C begin rotating about the axis 112 together with the
gear 150, and the
engagement between the slots 133, 134 and ribs 143, 144 drives the cage plates
130, 132 around
the axis 112 together with the jaws 140A, 140B, 140C. For example, the rollers
170 may be
positioned within a groove 135 on the inside of the cage plates 130, 132. As
the cage plates 130,
132 turn, the rollers 170 may force the cage plates 130, 132 to maintain the
same axis of rotation
as the gear 150. The gear 150 may also include a groove 155 that interfaces
with rollers 172,
which perform a similar function, maintaining the common rotational axis for
the cage plates 130,
132 and the gear 150. This is shown in Figure 2C.
[0030] Figure 3A illustrates a top view of the gear 150 showing the jaws 140A,
140B, 140C spaced
radially-apart from the tubular member 160, according to an embodiment. Figure
3B illustrates a
top view of the gear 150 showing the jaws 140A, 140B, 140C gripping the
tubular member 160 in
a make-up direction, according to an embodiment. Figure 3C illustrates a top
view of the gear 150
showing the jaws 140A, 140B, 140C gripping the tubular member 160 in a break-
out direction,
according to an embodiment.
[0031] Figures 4A and 4B illustrate a top view and a perspective view,
respectively, of the gear
150 with the jaws 140A, 140B, 140C removed for clarity, according to an
embodiment. An inner
radial surface 152 of the gear 150 may include a set of cam surfaces 154 for
each jaw 140A, 140B,
140C. Thus, the sets of cam surfaces 154 may be circumferentially-offset from
one another at
(e.g., substantially uniform) intervals around the gear 150. Each set of cam
surfaces 154 may
include a plurality of cam surfaces. More particularly, each set of cam
surfaces 154 may include
one or more first cam surfaces (one is shown: 156) for make-up of two tubular
members and one
or more second cam surfaces (two are shown: 158A, 158B) for break-out of two
tubular members.
As shown, the first cam surface 156 and the second cam surfaces 158A, 158B may
be positioned
at different elevations with respect to the axis 112. For example, the first
cam surface 156 may be
positioned axially-between the upper and lower second cam surfaces 158A, 158B.
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[0032] The radial distance from the center of the gear 150 to the surface of
the first cam surface
156 (with respect to the axis 112) may decrease proceeding in a first
circumferential direction (e.g.,
counterclockwise) until it reaches an end point 157. The radial distance from
the center of the gear
150 to the surface of the second cam surfaces 158A, 158B may decrease
proceeding in a second
circumferential direction (e.g., clockwise) until they reach an end point 159.
The radial distance
from the center of the gear 150 to the surface of the first cam surface 156
and the surface of the
second cam surfaces 158A, 158B may be equal at a circumferential point 153.
The first cam
surface 156 and the second cam surfaces 158A, 158B may be circumferentially
overlapping, but
may not intersect axially. The radial distance from the center of the gear 150
to the surface of the
first cam surface 156 may be greater than the radial distance to the surface
of the second cam
surfaces 158A, 158B (e.g., forming a slot) on a first circumferential side of
the circumferential
point 153. The radial distance from the center of the gear 150 to the surface
of the first cam surface
156 may be less than the radial distance to the surface of the second cam
surfaces 158A, 158B
(e.g., forming a protrusion) on a second circumferential side of the
circumferential point 153. This
design may allow each jaw 140A, 140B, 140C to travel a larger radial distance
toward and away
from the tubular member 160, over a shorter circumferential distance compared
to conventional
designs to ensure that the jaws 140A, 140B, 140C will grip the tubular member
160. This reduction
in circumferential travel to effect sufficient radial travel for the jaws
140A, 140B, 140C by
providing such overlapping cam-surfaces allows for the use of three jaws that
are substantially
equally spaced apart in a single, C-shaped rotary gear 150, without a door-
segment for the gear
150.
[0033] Figure 5 illustrates a perspective view of an outer radial surface 142
of one of the jaws
140A, according to an embodiment. The outer radial surface 142 of the jaw 140A
may be
configured to contact the inner radial surface 152 of the gear 150. The outer
radial surface 142 of
the jaw 140A may include a plurality of cam surfaces. More particularly, the
outer radial surface
142 of the jaw 140A may include one or more first cam surfaces (one is shown:
146) for make-up
and one or more second cam surfaces (two are shown: 148A, 148B) for break-out.
The first cam
surface 146 and the second cam surfaces 148A, 148B may be positioned at
different axial
elevations. As shown, the first cam surface 146 may be positioned axially-
between upper and
lower second cam surfaces 148A, 148B. In addition, a circumferential gap 145
may be present
between the first cam surface 146 and the second cam surfaces 148A, 148B.
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[0034] The radial distance from the gripping surface of the jaw to of the
first cam surface 146 may
decrease proceeding in a first circumferential direction (e.g.,
counterclockwise from the center of
the jaw). The radial distance from the gripping surface of the jaw to the
second cam surfaces
148A, 148B may decrease proceeding in a second circumferential direction
(e.g., clockwise from
the center of the jaw).
100351 Figure 6 illustrates a flowchart of a method 600 for making-up or
breaking-out a tubular
connection (e.g., between two tubular members 160), according to an
embodiment. The method
600 may include opening the door 120 of the tong 100, as at 602. The method
600 may then
include introducing the tong 100 laterally-onto/around the tubular member 160
when the door 120
is open, as at 604. The slot 111 in the body 110 may be aligned with the slot
151 in the gear 150
(as well as the slot 131 in the first portion of the cage plate assembly 136)
when the tong 100 is
introduced laterally-onto/around the tubular member 160. The method 600 may
also include
closing the door 120 with the tubular member 160 positioned within the tong
100, as at 606.
[0036] For make-up, the method 600 may include rotating the gear 150 in a make-
up direction
(e.g., clockwise), as at 608. The gear 150 may be rotated by a hydraulic
motor. In response to
rotating in the make-up direction, the first cam surfaces 156 of the gear 150
may slide along the
first cam surfaces 146 of the jaws 140A, 140B, 140C, causing the jaws 140A,
140B, 140C to move
radially-inward and grip the outer surface of the tubular member 160. For
break-out, the method
600 may include rotating the gear 150 in a break-out direction (e.g.,
counterclockwise), as at 610.
In response to rotating in the break-out direction, the second cam surfaces
158A, 158B of the gear
150 may slide along the second cam surfaces 148A, 148B of the jaws 140A, 140B,
140C, causing
the jaws 140A, 140B, 140C to move radially-inward and grip the outer surface
of the tubular
member 160. In some applications, connections may require more torque for
break-out operations
than make-up operations, and thus in some embodiments, the second (e.g., break-
out) cam surfaces
158A, 158B may have a greater aggregate surface area than the first (e.g.,
make-up) cam surface
156.
100371 After either 608 or 610, the method 600 may include rotating the
tubular member 160 using
the tongs 100, as at 612. Once the tubular member 160 is gripped by the jaws
140A, 140B, 140C,
continued rotation of the gear 150 may cause the jaws 140A, 140B, 140C, and
the tubular member
160 gripped by the jaws 140A, 140B, 140C, to rotate about the axis 112. As
mentioned above,
rotation of the jaws 140A, 140B, 140C may cause the cage plates 130, 132 to
rotate about the axis
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112 due to the engagement of the slots 133, 134 and the ribs 143, 144. For
right-handed threaded
connections, rotation of the tubular member 160 in the clockwise direction may
lead to the make-
up of the tubular member 160 with another tubular member, and rotation of the
tubular member
160 in the counterclockwise direction may lead to the break-out of the tubular
member 160 from
another tubular member. For left-handed threaded connections, rotation of the
tubular member
160 in the counter-clockwise direction may lead to the make-up of the tubular
member 160 with
another tubular member, and rotation of the tubular member 160 in the
clockwise direction may
lead to the break-out of the tubular member 160 from another tubular member.
[0038] The method 600 may also include rotating the gear 150 in an opposing
direction (e.g.,
counterclockwise after make-up or clockwise after break-out), as at 614. This
may cause the jaws
140A, 140B, 140C to move radially-outward and release the tubular member 160.
This may also
cause the slot 151 in the gear 150 to once again align with the slot 111 in
the body 110 (and the
slot 131 in the cage plate assembly 136). The method 600 may also include
opening the door 120,
as at 616. The method 600 may also include removing the tong 100 laterally
from the tubular
assembly 160, as at 618.
[0039] As used herein, the terms "inner" and "outer"; "up" and "down"; 'upper"
and "lower";
"upward" and "downward"; "above" and "below"; "inward" and "outward"; "uphole"
and
"downhole"; and other like terms as used herein refer to relative positions to
one another and are
not intended to denote a particular direction or spatial orientation. The
terms "couple," "coupled,"
"connect," "connection," "connected," "in connection with," and "connecting"
refer to "in direct
connection with" or "in connection with via one or more intermediate elements
or members."
[0040] While the present teachings have been illustrated with respect to one
or more
implementations, alterations and/or modifications may be made to the
illustrated examples without
departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims. In addition, while
a particular feature
of the present teachings may have been disclosed with respect to only one of
several
implementations, such feature may be combined with one or more other features
of the other
implementations as may be desired and advantageous for any given or particular
function.
Furthermore, to the extent that the terms "including," "includes," "having,"
"has," "with," or
variants thereof are used in either the detailed description and the claims,
such terms are intended
to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term "comprising." Further, in the
discussion and claims
herein, the term "about" indicates that the value listed may be somewhat
altered, as long as the
alteration does not result in nonconformance of the process or structure to
the illustrated
embodiment.
[0041] Other embodiments of the present teachings will be apparent to those
skilled in the art from
consideration of the specification and practice of the present teachings
disclosed herein. It is
intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only.
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