Safety device for handling casing

Abstract

A safety tool that removes thread protectors from casing and handles the casing while on a rig floor, for example, oil field casing, as the casing is being installed. It is a safety device because it allows the user to handle the moving end of a long length of casing and align that end with casing that it is being threaded to. Inserts are used to accommodate various sizes of pipe.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A safety device for handling threaded casing said device comprising:
 a cylindrical housing comprising two, separate, essentially identical, one-half clam shell configurations having vertical edges;   said cylindrical housing having a first end and a second end, each of said first end and second end being larger in diameter than the diameter of the cylindrical housing;
 each one-half clam shell configuration having fixedly attached thereto, near an edge, one-half of a hinge mechanism; 
 each one-half clam shell configuration having a gripping handle fixedly attached thereto near the edge opposite said hinges, said gripping handles being vertically oriented on said one-half clam shell configuration, closely adjacent to each other. 
   
     
     
         2 . A device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said hinges are tab hinges and said one-half of said hinges on said edge of said one-half clam shell configuration are both inside the location of said other one-half of said hinges on said separate, essentially identical, one-half claim shell configuration. 
     
     
         3 . A device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said one-half hinge mechanism is nearer said fluted ends and said other one-half hinge mechanism is located inside said one-half hinge mechanism near said fluted ends. 
     
     
         4 . A device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said hinges are hardware hinges. 
     
     
         5 . A device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein there are two said hinges. 
     
     
         6 . A device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein there are three said hinges. 
     
     
         7 . A device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the hinge is built into the body of said device and consists of a hinge with a cap to hold a pin in place. 
     
     
         8 . A device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the device is manufactured from metal. 
     
     
         9 . A device as claimed in  claim 7  wherein the metal is steel. 
     
     
         10 . A device as claimed in  claim 7  wherein the metal is iron. 
     
     
         11 . A device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the device is manufactured from hard plastic. 
     
     
         12 . A device as claimed in  claim 11  wherein the hard plastic is cross-linked polyethylene. 
     
     
         13 . A safety device for handling threaded casing said device comprising:
 a cylindrical housing comprising two, separate, essentially identical, one-half clam shell configurations having vertical edges;   said cylindrical housing having a first end and a second end, each of said first end and second end being larger in diameter than the diameter of the cylindrical housing;
 each one-half clam shell configuration having fixedly attached thereto, near an edge, one-half of a hinge mechanism; 
 each one-half clam shell configuration having a gripping handle fixedly attached thereto near the edge opposite said handle, said gripping handles being vertically oriented on said one-half clam shell configuration, closely adjacent to each other; 
 each said one-half clam shell configuration having at least two interior inserts positioned along a wall, said inserts being fixedly detachable to said cylindrical housing. 
   
     
     
         14 . The safety device as claimed in  claim 13  wherein said inserts are manufactured from metal.