Tong apparatus for threadedly connecting and disconnecting elongated members

摘要

A tong apparatus for threadedly connecting and disconnecting elongated members is provided with a housing having a slot for receiving members to be connected. A cage support is rotatably carried by the tong housing and includes a slot for aligning with the tong housing slot to receive the members. Cage apparatus are provided in the cage support and include a slot for aligning with the tong housing slot and cage support slot to receive the members with jaws pivotally supported by the cage and having gripping surface apparatus to grip one of the members. Apparatus are provided to rotate the cage support with apparatus to initially restrain relative rotation between the cage and the cage support upon rotation of the cage support, with the cage support and jaw including cooperating apparatus engageable upon rotation of the cage support to urge the jaws into gripping engagement with one of the members. The jaws are constructed and arranged in one embodiment to fit various sizes of elongated tubular members without any adjustment to the tong apparatus. Backup apparatus carried by the housing engage with the other member and hold it while the cage support, cage and jaws and rotated to rotate the other member to threadedly connect or disconnect the elongated members as desired.