Power positioner for power tong units

Abstract

A power tong positioner comprises a vertically movable pedestal with a horizontally disposed sliding carriage mounted atop it, and a ring and pinion gear assembly to rotate the carriage in a horizontal plane. Preferably, the carriage has rollers to ease back-and-forth horizontal movement, under the influence of hydraulic cylinders. A twin-armed lift assembly is pivotally mounted on the roller carriage, and a pair of hydraulic cylinders attached between the roller carriage and the lift assembly pivots the frame on the carriage. The power tong hangs from the lift assembly. The power tong may be positioned at a desired location by a combination of movement of the pedestal, the sliding carriage, and the pivoting lift assembly. Controls for the positioner and the power tong may be mounted on the front of the tong, at a remote control panel connected by an umbilical, or a remote radio frequency signal control panel.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A tong positioner, comprising: 
 a) a vertically movable pedestal having a base and a sliding carriage mounted thereon, said sliding carriage movable back and forth in a substantially horizontal plane, and a means for moving said pedestal up and down and said sliding carriage back and forth;    b) a lift assembly pivotally mounted on said sliding carriage, and a means for pivoting said lift assembly about its mounting point;    c) a means for suspending a power tong from said lift assembly; and    d) controls operationally connected to said positioner, for moving said pedestal up and down, said sliding carriage horizontally back and forth, and for pivoting said lift assembly.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 a) said means for moving said pedestal up and down comprises a hydraulic cylinder;    b) said means for moving said sliding carriage back and forth comprises a hydraulic cylinder mounted between said base and said sliding carriage;    c) said means for pivoting said lift assembly about its mounting point comprises a hydraulic cylinder mounted between said base and said sliding carriage,    d) said base is pivotally mounted on said pedestal, and further comprising a pinion and ring gear assembly permitting powered rotation of said base.    
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said lift assembly comprises a pair of arms pivotally mounted to said carriage.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein said means for suspending a power tong from said lift assembly is a gambrel, and further comprising a stabilizer operationally connected to said gambrel.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein said stabilizer comprises a hydraulic cylinder mounted between said gambrel and said arms.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein said controls are mounted on said power tong.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein said controls are mounted at a remote control panel and connected to said positioner by a control umbilical.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein said controls are mounted at a remote control panel and communicate with said positioner via radio wave communication.  
     
     
         9 . A powered positioner for vertical and horizontal positioning of power tongs, comprising: 
 a) a vertically movable pedestal having a base rotatably mounted thereon, and a pinion and ring gear assembly controlling rotation therebetween;    b) a carriage mounted on said base with a plurality of rollers disposed between said base and said carriage;    c) at least one hydraulic cylinder mounted between said carriage and said base, whereby movement of said hydraulic cylinder moves said carriage back and forth;    d) a pair of arms pivotally mounted on said carriage, with hydraulic cylinders mounted between said frame and said carriage, such that extension and contraction of said hydraulic cylinders moves said arms rotatably around said pivot point; and    e) a means for suspending a power tong from said frame.    
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising: 
 f) controls for up and down movement of said pedestal; rotary movement of said base on said pedestal; back-and-forth movement of said carriage on said base; pivotal movement of said arms.    
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein said means for suspending a power tong from said frame further comprises a spring means.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein said spring means comprises a pneumatic cylinder.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising stabilizer means connected between said gambrel and said lift arm.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising controls mounted on a remote control panel, connected via an umbilical.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising controls mounted on a remote control panel, operable via radio frequency.