Local electric power generation for tong control system

Abstract

A method and apparatus for tong power and control. A tong includes a tong control system; and a local electric power generation system, wherein the tong control system is powered by the local electric power generation system. A method includes supplying hydraulic power to a motor on a tong; driving an electric generator on the tong with the motor; and supplying electric power to a tong control system on the tong. A method includes installing a tong control system on a tong; and installing a local electric power generation system on the tong, wherein the tong control system is powered by the local electric power generation system.

1 . A tong comprising:
 a tong control system; and   a local electric power generation system, wherein the tong control system is powered by the local electric power generation system.   
     
     
         2 . The tong of  claim 1 , wherein the tong control system comprises:
 a torque sensor;   a turns counter;   a tubular gripping actuator; and   a tubular turning actuator.   
     
     
         3 . The tong of  claim 2 , wherein the tong control system further comprises a clock. 
     
     
         4 . The tong of  claim 2 , wherein the tong control system further comprises a jaw positioning actuator. 
     
     
         5 . The tong of  claim 2 , wherein the tong control system further comprises data storage and a data processor. 
     
     
         6 . The tong of  claim 2 , wherein the tong control system further comprises a hydraulic power control actuator. 
     
     
         7 . The tong of  claim 1 , wherein the local electric power generation system comprises:
 a motor; and   an electric generator.   
     
     
         8 . The tong of  claim 7 , wherein the motor directly drives the electric generator. 
     
     
         9 . The tong of  claim 7 , wherein the motor is dedicated to drive only the electric generator. 
     
     
         10 . The tong of  claim 7 , wherein the local electric power generation system further comprises a battery system. 
     
     
         11 . The tong of  claim 1 , further comprising a frame, wherein the local electric power generation system is disposed on the frame. 
     
     
         12 . The tong of  claim 1 , further comprising electrical equipment, wherein the local electric power generation system powers the electrical equipment, and the electrical equipment is located on a stationary portion of the tong. 
     
     
         13 . The tong of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a hydraulic coupler; and   a plurality of jaws, wherein:
 power for the plurality of jaws comes through the hydraulic coupler; 
 the local electric power generation system comprises a hydraulic motor; and 
 power for the hydraulic motor comes through the hydraulic coupler. 
   
     
     
         14 . The tong of  claim 13 , further comprising a volume control valve between the hydraulic coupler and the hydraulic motor. 
     
     
         15 . The tong of  claim 1 , wherein the tong control system comprises wireless communication equipment. 
     
     
         16 . A method comprising:
 supplying hydraulic power to a motor on a tong;   driving an electric generator on the tong with the motor; and   supplying electric power to a tong control system on the tong.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising supplying electric power to a battery system on the tong. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the electric power is supplied to the tong control system by at least one of the electric generator and the battery system. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 stopping the driving the electric generator with the motor; and   while the driving is stopped, continuing to supply electric power to the tong control system.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the electric power is supplied to the tong control system by the battery system while the driving is stopped. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising recording operational status information while the driving is stopped. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 supplying electric power to a battery system on the tong;   then disconnecting the hydraulic power supply from the motor and the electric power from the tong control system, leaving the battery system charged;   then supplying electric power to the tong control system with the battery system.   
     
     
         23 . A method comprising:
 installing a tong control system on a tong; and   installing a local electric power generation system on the tong, wherein the tong control system is powered by the local electric power generation system.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the tong is located on a rig floor, the method further comprising disconnecting from the tong and removing from the rig floor at least one of programmable logic controllers, input/output systems, joint-analyzed makeup systems, junction boxes, cables, connectors, and electrical couplings.