GB1450332A - Gripping devices - Google Patents

Abstract

1450332 Grlpper DRESSER INDUSTRIES Inc 19 Feb 1974 [12 March 1973] 7563/74 Heading B8H A gripping device 10 for use in lifting a section of pipe 23 comprises a body 19 having an opening 24 which receives the pipe section 23, a movable jaw comprising jaw block 37 and jaw inserts 40, 41 being engageable with the pipe section, and the body 19 is attachable to a rig (not shown) by means of an anchor shackle 11 to which a wire rope 12 is attached, the latter extending about a sheave 21 on the body 19 to a lever 16 pivotally mounted at 35 and having an arm 38 pivotally connected by a pin 39 to the jaw block 37. In operation of the device 10 the pipe section 23 is located in the opening 24 and latch member 25 is moved from its full line to its phantom line position to close the side of the opening 24. A rope 44 is then pulled, which causes elongation of a spring 18 connected between the body 19 and rope 12 thereby causing upward movement of the lever 16 relative to body 19 and thus the movement of inserts 40, 41 into engagement with the pipe section 23 which is gripped between the inserts 40, 41 and the opposite wall of the opening 24. The device 10 is then lifted and the weight of the pipe section 23 maintains the spring elongated, and on reaching a desired location the pipe section 23 is set down and due to the removal of its weight the spring 18 returns to its normal condition whereby the lever 16 moves downwardly and the jaw inserts 40, 41 move out of engagement with the pipe section 23. In a second embodiment of gripping device, Fig. 3 (not shown), the spring 18 is replaced by a spring (61) which is connected between a lever (57) and the body (54) of the device.