Internal wrench for a top head drive assembly

Patent · Tue Aug 09 00:00:00 EDT 1988

OSTI ID:6439645

Haney, K M

This patent describes an apparatus for applying a torque to a tubular in an earth drilling machine of the type having a top head drive assembly, wherein the tubular defines an upper threaded end. The apparatus consists of: a body having an upper portion and a lower portion, the body defining a passageway which extends between the upper and lower portions; means for supporting the upper portion of the body under the top head drive assembly; a plug mounted to an intermediate portion of the body, the plug defining a set of threads configured to threadedly engage the upper threaded end of the tubular to create a fluid tight seal with the tubular; means for releasably engaging the lower portion of the body with an interior surface of the tubular positioned below the threaded end, the engaging means movable between a disengaged position in which the body is free to rotate independently of the tubular, and at least one engaged position, in which the body and the tubular are mechanically engaged with one another to rotate together; and means for moving the engaging means away from at least one engaged position to free the body for rotation with respect to the tubular to engage the plug threads with the upper threaded end of the tubular to seal off the tubular.

• Assignee: W-N Apache Corp., Wichita Falls, TX
• Patent Number(s): US 4762187
• OSTI ID: 6439645
• Resource Relation: Patent File Date: Filed date 29 Jul 1987
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
03 NATURAL GAS
DRILLS
GEARS
CLOSURES
DESIGN
DRAG
NATURAL GAS WELLS
OIL WELLS
OPERATION
RINGS
ROCK DRILLING
SUPPORTS
THREADED JOINTS
TORQUE
DRILLING
DRILLING EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
JOINTS
MACHINE PARTS
MECHANICAL STRUCTURES
WELLS
020300* - Petroleum- Drilling & Production
030300 - Natural Gas- Drilling
Production
& Processing