Stretchable elastomeric tubular gripping device

摘要

A selectably operable passive gripping device for gripping tubular materials has an elastomeric element which is provided with integrally bonded segmented end rings to prevent the extrusion of the elastomer when it is subjected to high compressive loads. The elastomeric element is molded so that its as-molded gripping surface interferes with the surface of tubular objects to be gripped. The elastomeric gripping element is mounted and supported by a structural element or housing and allows axial flow communication through the gripped tubular objects. The gripping device is used to lift tubular objects such as a tubular string used in oil field applications.

主权项

1. A gripping apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
(a) a structural element; (b) an elastomeric gripping element having
(i) a first end of the gripping element bonded to a first end of a first circumferential array of segmented antiextrusion end rings, wherein a second end of each antiextrusion end ring of the first array is attached to the structural element, and(ii) a second end of the gripping element bonded to a first end of a second circumferential array of segmented antiextrusion end rings, wherein a second end of each antiextrusion end ring of the second array is attached to a reciprocably movable end assembly; and (c) means for reciprocably moving the movable end assembly axially relative to a second end of the structural element to
a first position, wherein the elastomeric gripping element is stretched and is selectably coaxially positionable around an external diameter of a tubular object to be gripped and wherein opposed adjacent faces of adjacent antiextrusion end rings of both the first and the second arrays are moved to a first relative position to each other, ora second position, wherein the elastomeric gripping element is untensioned and is biased against an exterior surface of the tubular object and wherein opposed adjacent faces of adjacent antiextrusion end rings of both the first and the second arrays are moved to a second relative position to each other.