Articulated slip ram for tapered coiled tubing

Abstract

An articulated slip for a slip ram includes a plurality of articulated linked segments, attached to vertical pins or axles which are parallel to the axis of a coiled tubing, for rotatable movement of the linked segments. The articulated linked segments are concave for abutting contact with a tubular through the slip ram. The pins are mounted to a slip ram, which comprises a piston within a cylinder, in the conventional manner for a blowout preventer (BOP) ram. When the slip ram is actuated, the ram moves forward, wrapping the articulated elements around coiled tubing in a gripping motion, much like the fingers of a human hand.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A slip comprising: 
 a. a slip body;    b. arms extending from the slip body;    c. a first set of vertical pins attaching the arms to the slip body;    d. a plurality of linked segments coupled to the arms; and    e. a second set of vertical pins linking the segments in overlapping layers.    
     
     
         2 . The slip of  claim 1 , wherein each of the linked segments defines an arcuate interior surface.  
     
     
         3 . The slip of  claim 2 , wherein the arcuate interior surface defines threads.  
     
     
         4 . The slip of  claim 2 , wherein the arcuate interior surface includes a plurality of outwardly extending cones adapted to grip the surface of a tubular.  
     
     
         5 . A slip ram comprising: 
 a. a body having a vertical bore defining a vertical centerline and a horizontal bore extending laterally from the vertical bore;    b. a cylinder extending from the horizontal bore;    c. a piston within the cylinder;    d. a piston rod extending from the piston; and    e. a slip coupled to the piston rod within the horizontal bore, the slip comprising 
 i. a slip body;  
 ii. arms extending from the slip body;  
 iii. a first set of vertical pins attaching the arms to the slip body;  
 iv. a plurality of linked segments coupled to the arms; and  
 v. a second set of vertical pins linking the segments.  
   
     
     
         6 . The slip of  claim 5 , wherein each of the linked segments defines an arcuate interior surface.  
     
     
         7 . The slip of  claim 6 , wherein the arcuate interior surface defines threads.  
     
     
         8 . The slip of  claim 6 , wherein the arcuate interior surface includes a plurality of outwardly extending cones adapted to grip the surface of a tubular.