Concentric low profile clamping systems and methods for making and breaking threaded connections

Abstract

A clamping system for making and breaking threaded connections between a first component and a second component includes a first clamp assembly and a second clamp assembly. The first clamp assembly includes a first clamp member and a second clamp member disposed about an opening in the first clamp assembly. The second clamp assembly includes a third clamp member and a fourth clamp member disposed about an opening in the second clamp assembly. The opening in the second clamp assembly being coaxially aligned with the opening in the first clamp assembly. The first clamp member and the second clamp member are configured to engage the first component. The third clamp member and the fourth clamp member are configured to engage the second component. The first clamp member and the second clamp member are configured to rotate the first component relative to the second component.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A clamping system for making and breaking threaded connections between a first component and a second component, the system comprising:
 a first clamp assembly including a first clamp member and a second clamp member disposed about an opening in the first clamp assembly, the opening in the first clamp assembly having a central axis; and   a second clamp assembly axially adjacent the first clamp assembly and including a third clamp member and a fourth clamp member disposed about an opening in the second clamp assembly, the opening in the second clamp assembly being coaxially aligned with the opening in the first clamp assembly;   wherein the first clamp member and the second clamp member are configured to move radially inward and outward relative to the central axis of the opening in the first clamp assembly between an advanced position engaging the first component and a withdrawn position radially spaced apart from the first component;   wherein the third clamp member and the fourth clamp member are configured to move radially inward and outward relative to the central axis of the opening in the second clamp assembly between an advanced position engaging the second component and a withdrawn position radially spaced apart from the second component;   wherein the third clamp member and the fourth clamp member are configured to prevent the rotation of the second component when in the advanced position;   wherein the first clamp member and the second clamp member are configured to rotate the first component relative to the second component when in the advanced position.   
     
     
         2 . The clamping system of  claim 1 , wherein the first clamp member and the second clamp member are configured to rotate the first component relative to the second component in a first direction about the central axis of the opening in the first clamp assembly to make a threaded connection between the first component and the second component, and configured to rotate the first component relative to the second component in a second direction about the central axis of the opening in the first clamp assembly opposite the first direction to break a threaded connection between the first component and the second component. 
     
     
         3 . The clamping system of  claim 2 , wherein the third clamp member has a radially inner side including a concave recess for receiving the second component and a pair of slots disposed on opposite sides of the concave recess;
 wherein the fourth clamp member has a radially inner side opposed the radially inner side of the third clamp member, wherein the radially inner side of the fourth clamp member includes a concave recess for receiving the second component and a pair of projections disposed on opposite sides of the concave recess;   wherein the projections are configured to slidingly engage the slots when the third clamp member and the fourth clamp member are in the advanced positions.   
     
     
         4 . The clamping system of  claim 2 , wherein the first clamp assembly further comprises:
 a first linear actuator coupled to the first clamp member and the second clamp member;   a second linear actuator coupled to the first clamp member and the second clamp member;   wherein the central axis is disposed between the first linear actuator and the second linear actuator;   wherein the first linear actuator and the second linear actuator are configured to transition the first clamp member and the second clamp member between the advanced and the withdrawn positions.   
     
     
         5 . The clamping system of  claim 4 , wherein the first clamp assembly further comprises:
 a third linear actuator coupled to the first clamp member; and   a fourth linear actuator coupled to the second clamp member;   wherein the central axis is disposed between the third linear actuator and the fourth linear actuator;   wherein the third linear actuator and the fourth linear actuator are configured to rotate the first clamp member and the second clamp member in a first direction about the central axis to make the threaded connection and rotate the first clamp member and the second clamp member in a second direction about the central axis that is opposite the first direction to break the threaded connection.   
     
     
         6 . The clamping system of  claim 5 , wherein each linear actuator has a central axis, a first end, a second end, and is configured to move the first end relative to the second end. 
     
     
         7 . The clamping system of  claim 6 , wherein the central axis of the first linear actuator, the second linear actuator, the third linear actuator and the fourth linear actuator lie in a common horizontal plane oriented perpendicular to the central axis of the opening in the first clamp assembly. 
     
     
         8 . The clamping system of  claim 5 , wherein the second clamp assembly further comprises:
 a fifth linear actuator coupled to the third clamp member; and   a sixth linear actuator coupled to the fourth clamp member;   wherein the fifth linear actuator and the sixth linear actuator are configured to transition the third clamp member and the fourth clamp member between the advanced and the withdrawn positions.   
     
     
         9 . The clamping system of  claim 8 , wherein each linear actuator has a central axis, a first end, a second end, and is configured to move the first end relative to the second end;
 wherein the central axis of the fifth linear actuator and the central axis of the sixth linear actuator are coaxially aligned and intersect the central axis of the opening in the second clamp assembly.   
     
     
         10 . A clamping system for making and breaking threaded connections between a first component and a second component, the system comprising:
 an upper clamp assembly having an opening for receiving the first component, the opening of the upper clamp assembly having a central axis;   wherein the upper clamp assembly comprises:
 a first clamp member disposed about the opening; 
 a second clamp member disposed about the opening and circumferentially spaced from the first clamp member; 
 a first linear actuator coupled to the first clamp member and the second clamp member; 
 a second linear actuator coupled to the first clamp member and the second clamp member, wherein the first linear actuator and the second linear actuator are configured to move the first clamp member and the second clamp member radially inward and radially outward relative to the central axis of the opening of the upper clamp assembly; 
 a third linear actuator coupled to the first clamp member; and 
 a fourth linear actuator coupled to the second clamp member, wherein the third linear actuator and the fourth linear actuator are configured to pivot the first clamp member and the second clamp member together about the central axis of the opening of the upper clamp assembly; 
   a lower clamp assembly disposed below the upper clamp assembly and having an opening for receiving the second component aligned with the opening of the upper clamp assembly, the opening of the lower clamp assembly having a central axis;   wherein the lower clamp assembly comprises:
 a first clamp member disposed about the opening of the lower clamp assembly; 
 a second clamp member disposed about the opening of the lower clamp assembly and circumferentially spaced from the first clamp member of the lower clamp assembly; 
 a first linear actuator coupled to the first clamp member of the lower clamp assembly, wherein the first linear actuator of the lower clamp assembly is configured to move the first clamp member of the lower clamp assembly radially inward and radially outward relative to the central axis of the opening of the lower clamp assembly; and 
 a second linear actuator coupled to the second clamp member of the lower clamp assembly, wherein the second linear actuator of the lower clamp assembly is configured to move the second clamp member of the lower clamp assembly radially inward and radially outward relative to the central axis of the opening of the lower clamp assembly. 
   
     
     
         11 . The clamping system of  claim 10 , wherein each linear actuator has a central axis, a first end, and a second end, wherein each linear actuator is configured to move the first and second ends relative to each other. 
     
     
         12 . The clamping system of  claim 10 , wherein the central axis of each linear actuator of the upper clamp assembly lies in a first plane oriented perpendicular to the central axis of the upper clamp assembly; and
 wherein the central axis of each linear actuator of the lower clamp assembly lies in a second plane oriented perpendicular to the central axis of the lower clamp assembly.   
     
     
         13 . The clamping system of  claim 10 , wherein the first clamp member and the second clamp member of the upper clamp assembly are radially opposed one another;
 wherein the first clamp member and the second clamp member of the lower clamp assembly are radially opposed one another.   
     
     
         14 . The clamping system of  claim 10 , wherein the first linear actuator and the second linear actuator of the upper clamp assembly are disposed on opposite sides of the central axis of the upper clamp assembly. 
     
     
         15 . A method for making or breaking a threaded connection between a first component and a second component, the method comprising:
 (a) positioning an end of the first component within an opening in a first clamp assembly;   (b) positioning an end of the second component within an opening in a second clamp assembly disposed immediately adjacent the first clamp assembly;   (c) gripping the first component with a first clamp member and a second clamp member of the first clamp assembly;   (d) gripping the second component with a first clamp member and a second clamp member of the second clamp assembly; and   (e) simultaneously rotating the first clamp member and the second clamp member about a central axis of the first component to rotate the first component relative to the second component after (c) and (d).   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein (c) comprises moving the first clamp member and the second clamp member of the first clamp assembly radially inward toward the central axis of the first component; and
 wherein (d) comprises moving the first clamp member and the second clamp member of the second clamp assembly radially inward toward a central axis of the second component.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein (c) further comprises:
 contracting a first linear actuator having a first end coupled to the first clamp member of the first clamp assembly and a second end coupled to the second clamp member of the first clamp assembly; and   contracting a second linear actuator having a first end coupled to the first clamp member of the first clamp assembly and a second end coupled to the second clamp member of the first clamp assembly.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein (e) comprises:
 extending or contracting a third linear actuator having an end coupled to the first clamp member of the first clamp assembly; and   extending or contracting a fourth linear actuator having an end coupled to the second clamp member of the first clamp assembly.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein (d) comprises:
 extending a fifth linear actuator having an end coupled to the first clamp member of the second clamp assembly; and   extending a sixth linear actuator having an end coupled to the second clamp member of the second clamp assembly.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein (d) occurs before (c). 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising rotating the first component relative to the second component after (d) and before (c). 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 (f) disengaging the first component with the first clamp member and the second clamp member of the first clamp assembly; and   (g) rotating the first component relative to the second component after (c), (d) and (f).