Adjustable breakout wrench for a mining machine

Abstract

A breakout wrench assembly for a drill rig includes two support shafts. Each of the two support shafts is configured to extend in a direction relative to a drill pipe on a drill rig. The breakout wrench assembly also includes a carrier coupled to the two support shafts. The carrier is movable linearly along the two support shafts. The breakout wrench assembly also includes a breakout wrench pivotally coupled to the carrier or to one of the two support shafts. The breakout wrench includes a first end coupled to the carrier or to one of the two support shafts, and a second, opposite end configured to engage the drill pipe.

1 . A breakout wrench assembly for a drill rig, the breakout wrench assembly comprising:
 two support shafts, wherein each of the two support shafts is configured to extend in a direction relative to a drill pipe on a drill rig;   a carrier coupled to the two support shafts, wherein the carrier is movable linearly along the two support shafts; and   a breakout wrench pivotally coupled to the carrier or to one of the two support shafts, the breakout wrench having a first end coupled to the carrier or to one of the two support shafts, and a second, opposite end configured to engage the drill pipe.   
     
     
         2 . The breakout wrench assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising an actuating mechanism to pivot the breakout wrench relative to the carrier. 
     
     
         3 . The breakout wrench assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the carrier includes a top plate and a bottom plate, and wherein the actuating mechanism is disposed between the top plate and the bottom plate. 
     
     
         4 . The breakout wrench assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising an actuating mechanism to move the carrier linearly along the two support shafts. 
     
     
         5 . The breakout wrench assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the actuating mechanism is disposed between the two support shafts, and includes a body and a rod that moves relative to the body and slides within the body. 
     
     
         6 . The breakout wrench assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the actuating mechanism is a first actuating mechanism, and wherein the breakout wrench assembly further includes a second actuating mechanism to pivot the breakout wrench relative to the carrier. 
     
     
         7 . The breakout wrench assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the first actuating mechanism is hydraulically or pneumatically operated, and wherein the second actuating mechanism is hydraulically or pneumatically operated. 
     
     
         8 . The breakout wrench assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the carrier includes a top plate and a bottom plate spaced apart from the top plate. 
     
     
         9 . The breakout wrench assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the carrier includes two parallel tubes extending between the top plate and the bottom plate, wherein each of the two parallel tubes is sized and shaped to receive one of the two support shafts. 
     
     
         10 . The breakout wrench assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the carrier further includes a first bearing disposed within one of the two tubes, and a second bearing disposed within the other of the two tubes. 
     
     
         11 . The breakout wrench assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the carrier includes a first mounting aperture extending through at least a portion of the top plate, and a second mounting aperture extending through at least a portion of the bottom plate. 
     
     
         12 . The breakout wrench assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the carrier includes a pin that extends into both the first mounting aperture and the second mounting aperture, wherein the pin supports the first end of the breakout wrench. 
     
     
         13 . The breakout wrench assembly of  claim 8 , further comprising an actuating mechanism to move the carrier linearly along the two support shafts, wherein the carrier includes a first aperture extending through the top plate, and a second aperture extending through the bottom plate, and wherein the actuating mechanism extends through both the first aperture and the second aperture. 
     
     
         14 . The breakout wrench assembly of  claim 13 , further comprising a mounting assembly coupled to the top plate, wherein the mounting assembly includes two pillow blocks coupled to the top plate, and wherein the actuating mechanism includes a trunnion mount that is supported by the two pillow blocks. 
     
     
         15 . The breakout wrench assembly of  claim 14 , further comprising a base plate coupled to the two support shafts, the base plate including an actuating mechanism mounting assembly having a split mounting block and a pin extending across the split mounting block and coupled to an end of the actuating mechanism. 
     
     
         16 . The breakout wrench assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the pin extends perpendicular to the trunnion mount. 
     
     
         17 . A drill rig comprising:
 a base;   a drill tower extending from the base;   a drill pipe coupled to and extending from the drill tower; and   the breakout wrench assembly of  claim 1 .   
     
     
         18 . A breakout wrench assembly for a drill rig, the breakout wrench assembly comprising:
 two support shafts, wherein each of the two support shafts is configured to extend in a direction relative to a drill pipe on a drill rig;   a carrier coupled to the two support shafts, wherein the carrier is movable linearly along the two support shafts, wherein the carrier includes a top plate and a bottom plate;   a breakout wrench pivotally coupled to the carrier or to one of the two support shafts, the breakout wrench having a first end coupled to the carrier or to one of the two support shafts, and a second, opposite end configured to engage the drill pipe;   a first actuating mechanism to pivot the breakout wrench relative to the carrier, wherein the first actuating mechanism is disposed between the top plate and the bottom plate; and   a second actuating mechanism disposed between the two support shafts, wherein the second actuating mechanism includes a body and a rod that moves relative to the body and slides within the body.   
     
     
         19 . The breakout wrench assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the carrier includes two parallel tubes extending between the top plate and the bottom plate, wherein each of the two parallel tubes is sized and shaped to receive one of the two support shafts. 
     
     
         20 . The breakout wrench assembly of  claim 18 , further comprising a base plate coupled to the two support shafts, the base plate including an actuating mechanism mounting assembly having a split mounting block and a pin extending across the split mounting block and coupled to an end of the second actuating mechanism.