Griphead Assembly for Manipulating Tubulars for Subterranean Operations

Abstract

A griphead including a housing having a first bumper, and a jaw assembly comprising at least a first arm, wherein the first arm is configured to be actuated between an open position and closed position by controlling a relative position of the first arm relative to the bumper.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A griphead for use in manipulating tubulars for subterranean operations comprising:
 a housing comprising a first bumper; and   a jaw assembly comprising at least a first arm, wherein the first arm is configured to be actuated between an open position and closed position by controlling a relative position of the first arm relative to the bumper.   
     
     
         2 . A griphead for use in manipulating tubulars for subterranean operations comprising:
 a housing comprising a first bumper and a second bumper different than the first bumper; and   a jaw assembly comprising a first arm and a second arm, wherein the jaw assembly is configured to be moveable between an open position and a closed position, wherein in the open position the first arm is spaced apart from the first bumper and the second arm is spaced apart from the second bumper, and in a closed position the first arm is configured to be engaged with the first bumper and the second arm is configured to be engaged with the second bumper.   
     
     
         3 . A griphead for use in manipulating tubulars for subterranean operations comprising:
 a housing comprising a bumper; and   a jaw assembly comprising at least a first arm, wherein the first arm is configured to be actuated between an open position and closed position; and   a central arm configured to engage a tubular, wherein the gripping force on the tubular is controlled by a position of the central arm relative to the jaw assembly.   
     
     
         4 . The griphead of any of  claims 1 ,  2 , and  3 , wherein the first arm comprises an upper surface, and a first pin extending from the upper surface, wherein the first pin is configured to engage a first slot in the housing. 
     
     
         5 . The griphead of  claim 4 , wherein the first pin is configured to translate between a first position and a second position within the first slot. 
     
     
         6 . The griphead of  claim 5 , wherein the first position of the first pin corresponds to an open position of the first arm and a second position of the first pin within the first slot corresponds to a closed position of the first arm. 
     
     
         7 . The griphead of any of  claims 1  and  3 , further comprising a second arm spaced apart from the first arm, wherein the second arm is configured to be actuated between an open position and a closed position by controlling a relative position of the second arm relative to a second bumper. 
     
     
         8 . The griphead of  claim 7 , wherein in the open position the second arm is spaced apart from the second bumper. 
     
     
         9 . The griphead of  claim 7 , wherein in the closed position the second arm is abutting at least a portion of the second bumper. 
     
     
         10 . The griphead of  claim 7 , wherein the second arm comprises an upper surface, and a second pin extending from the upper surface, wherein the second pin is configured to engage a second slot in the housing. 
     
     
         11 . The griphead of  claim 10 , wherein the second pin is configured to translate between a first position and a second position within the second slot. 
     
     
         12 . The griphead of  claim 11 , wherein the first position of the second pin corresponds to a closed position of the second arm and a second position of the second pin within the slot corresponds to an open position of the second arm. 
     
     
         13 . The griphead of  claim 2 , wherein the first arm comprises an upper surface, and a first pin extending from the upper surface, wherein the first pin is configured to engage a first slot in the housing, and wherein the second arm comprises an upper surface, and a second pin extending from the upper surface, wherein the second pin is configured to engage a second slot in the housing. 
     
     
         14 . The griphead of  claim 13 , wherein the first pin is configured to translate between a first position and a second position within the first slot, and wherein the second pin is configured to translate between a first position and a second position within the second slot. 
     
     
         15 . The griphead of any of  claims 1 ,  2 , and  3 , wherein the jaw assembly is configured to be translated in a linear direction relative to the housing causing rotational movement the first arm. 
     
     
         16 . The griphead of any of  claims 1 ,  2 , and  3 , wherein the first arm is configured to be moved from an open position to a closed position by moving the jaw assembly relative to the housing and abutting a surface of the first arm against the first bumper and urging rotational movement of the first arm to the closed position. 
     
     
         17 . The griphead of any of  claims 1  and  3 , further comprising a second arm spaced apart from the first arm, wherein the second arm is configured to be actuated between an open position and a closed position by controlling a relative position of the second arm relative to a second bumper. 
     
     
         18 . The griphead of any of  claim 17 , wherein the second arm is configured to be moved from an open position to a closed position by moving the jaw assembly relative to the housing and abutting a surface of the second arm against the second bumper and urging rotational movement of the second arm to the closed position. 
     
     
         19 . The griphead of  claim 2 , wherein the second arm is configured to be moved from an open position to a closed position by moving the jaw assembly relative to the housing and abutting a surface of the second arm against the second bumper and urging rotational movement of the second arm to the closed position. 
     
     
         20 . The griphead of any of  claims 1 ,  2 , and  3 , wherein the jaw assembly comprises an actuator box, and wherein the actuator box is configured to be translated in a linear direction relative to the housing causing rotational movement and linear movement of the first arm. 
     
     
         21 . The griphead of any of  claims 1 ,  2 , and  3 , further comprising a sensor configured to measure a diameter of a tubular. 
     
     
         22 . The griphead of  claim 21 , wherein a grip pressure of the jaw assembly is adjusted based on a diameter of the tubular. 
     
     
         23 . The griphead of  claim 21 , wherein a grip pressure is configured to be adjusted based on a pressure applied by a piston to an actuator box of the jaw assembly.