Multi-Faceted Gripper Block for Coiled Tubing Injector

Abstract

An improved multi-faceted gripper block to improve the interchangeability of gripper blocks when the need arises to change the size of the diameter material (e.g. tubing, cable, plastic, wire, hoses, or pipe) or to improve the interchangeability of gripper blocks when the need arises to change one or more gripper blocks due to unservicability. The gripper block assembly comprises a carrier body being connectable to a gripper chain in an injector apparatus, a removable and rotatable gripper block insert having one or more longitudinal sides created with one of many types of known gripping channels or surfaces for engaging tubing or other or other such elongated items. The gripper block insert can be secured into the carrier and can be removed and then replaced or rotated without removing a serviceable carrier.

1 . A multi-faceted gripper block for use in connection with a device having at least one gripper chain and at least one carrier body for moving a rod, pipe, coiled tubing, cable, or like elongated object, the multi-faceted gripper block comprising:
 a gripper block insert having a longitudinal axis and at least two longitudinal sides oriented to fit into the carrier body;   a laterally oriented means of attaching the gripper block insert to the carrier body;   wherein the gripper block insert comprises at least two longitudinal sides that contain a gripping region for engaging the elongated object and transmitting injection and extraction forces upon the elongated object, wherein only one longitudinal side containing a gripping region is capable of contact with the elongated object at a time;   wherein the gripper block insert can be unattached from the carrier body and reattached to the carrier body and have a different longitudinal side containing a gripping region in contact with the elongated object.   
     
     
         2 . The multi-faceted gripper block of  claim 1 , wherein the laterally oriented means of attaching the gripper block insert to the carrier body comprises a securing device that passes through a lateral axis bore in the gripper block insert and attaches to the carrier body. 
     
     
         3 . The multi-faceted gripper block of  claim 2 , wherein the securing device comprises a pin or a bolt. 
     
     
         4 . The multi-faceted gripper block of  claim 1 , wherein the carrier body is connecting to chains, belts, cables, gears, cables or other means of imparting movement to the carrier body. 
     
     
         5 . The multi-faceted gripper block of  claim 1 , wherein the carrier body has a hollow cavity wherein the gripper block insert can be inserted and secured. 
     
     
         6 . The multi-faceted gripper block of  claim 1 , wherein the gripper block insert has three or more longitudinal sides that may be capable of providing a gripping region to grip tubing or other elongated objects. 
     
     
         7 . The multi-faceted gripper block of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the longitudinal sides of the gripper block insert are prepared with a single-sized surface for gripping tubing or other elongated objects. 
     
     
         8 . The multi-faceted gripper block of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the longitudinal sides of the gripper block insert are prepared with multiple-sized surfaces for gripping the tubing or other elongated objects. 
     
     
         9 . The multi-faceted gripper block of  claim 1 , wherein the gripper block insert can be removed from the carrier body without removing the carrier body from the chains, or other conveying devices and reinserted without removing the carrier body from the chains, or other conveying devices. 
     
     
         10 . The multi-faceted gripper block of  claim 1 , wherein the inner rear surface of the gripper block insert comprises a material that provides a damping effect on any gripper block insert and carrier body contact points. 
     
     
         11 . An injector apparatus comprising:
 a carrier body connectable to a gripper chain assembly;   a gripper block insert that can be inserted into the carrier body, the gripper block insert being removable and rotatable with respect to the carrier body;   the gripper block insert having two or more longitudinal sides created with a gripping region for engaging tubing or other elongated items;   a laterally oriented means of attaching the gripper block insert to the carrier body;   wherein the gripper block insert can be unattached from the carrier body and reattached to the carrier body and have a different longitudinal side containing a gripping region in contact with the elongated object.   
     
     
         12 . The multi-faceted gripper block of  claim 11 , wherein the laterally oriented means of attaching the gripper block insert to the carrier body comprises a securing device that passes through a lateral axis bore in the gripper block insert and attaches to the carrier body. 
     
     
         13 . The multi-faceted gripper block of  claim 12 , wherein the securing device comprises a pin or a bolt. 
     
     
         14 . The multi-faceted gripper block of  claim 11 , wherein the carrier body is connecting to chains, belts, cables, gears, cables or other means of imparting movement to the carrier body. 
     
     
         15 . The multi-faceted gripper block of  claim 11 , wherein the carrier body has a hollow cavity wherein the gripper block insert can be inserted and secured. 
     
     
         16 . The multi-faceted gripper block of  claim 11 , wherein the gripper block insert has three or more longitudinal sides that may be capable of providing a gripping region to grip tubing or other elongated objects. 
     
     
         17 . The multi-faceted gripper block of  claim 11 , wherein one or more of the longitudinal sides of the gripper block insert are prepared with a single-sized surface for gripping tubing or other elongated objects. 
     
     
         18 . The multi-faceted gripper block of  claim 11 , wherein one or more of the longitudinal sides of the gripper block insert are prepared with multiple-sized surfaces for gripping the tubing or other elongated objects. 
     
     
         19 . The multi-faceted gripper block of  claim 11 , wherein the gripper block insert can be removed from the carrier body without removing the carrier body from the chains, or other conveying devices and reinserted without removing the carrier body from the chains, or other conveying devices. 
     
     
         20 . The multi-faceted gripper block of  claim 11 , wherein the inner rear surface of the gripper block insert comprises a material that provides a damping effect on any gripper block insert and carrier body contact points.