Torque wrench

Abstract

A system with a wrench coupled to a rig floor, and the wrench can include a plurality of grippers, a plurality of grippers, wherein a first gripper is mounted to a piston assembly having a longitudinal center axis, a linkage mechanism, that can include first and second pivot arms, can couple the plurality of grippers together, and a plurality of actuators configured to rotate the first and second pivot arms, where the first gripper is moved along the longitudinal center axis in response to rotation of the first and second pivot arms.

1 . A system for conducting a subterranean operation, the system comprising:
 a wrench coupled to a rig floor, the wrench comprising:
 a plurality of grippers, wherein a first gripper of the plurality of grippers is mounted to a piston assembly having a longitudinal center axis; 
 a linkage mechanism that couples the plurality of grippers together, the linkage mechanism comprising first and second pivot arms; and 
 a plurality of actuators that are configured to rotate the first and second pivot arms, wherein the first gripper is moved along the longitudinal center axis in response to rotation of the first and second pivot arms. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein first and second actuators of the plurality of actuators are configured to extend the plurality of grippers radially inwardly into engagement with a tubular or retract the plurality of grippers radially outwardly away from engagement with the tubular. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the first actuator is coupled to a left pivot arm and the second actuator is coupled to a right pivot arm, and wherein the left pivot arm and the right pivot arm are coupled, via the linkage mechanism, to a coupling of a piston assembly. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the wrench further comprises an opening configured to receive a tubular, the opening having a center axis, wherein simultaneous extension of the first actuator and the second actuator moves the coupling toward the center axis of the opening, and wherein simultaneous retraction of the first actuator and the second actuator moves the coupling away from the center axis of the opening. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein first and second actuators of the plurality of actuators are configured to extend and move the piston assembly toward a center axis of an opening in the wrench, and wherein the first and second actuators are configured to retract and move the piston assembly away from the center axis. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the piston assembly comprises a piston and a coupling, and wherein the coupling is rotationally coupled to the linkage mechanism and the piston is slidingly coupled to the coupling. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein a biasing device biases the piston toward a retracted position relative to the coupling and resists movement of the piston towards an extended position relative to the coupling. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the coupling is moved toward the center axis when the first and second actuators are extended, and wherein the coupling is moved away from the center axis when the first and second actuators are retracted. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein a stop prevents movement of the piston away from the center axis by a predetermined distance, wherein the biasing device allows the coupling to move relative to the piston when the stop engages the piston, and wherein the biasing device urges the piston toward the retracted position relative to the coupling. 
     
     
         10 . A system for conducting a subterranean operation, the system comprising:
 a wrench coupled to a rig floor, the wrench comprising:
 a plurality of grippers, wherein a first gripper of the plurality of grippers is mounted to a piston assembly having a longitudinal center axis; 
 a linkage mechanism that couples the plurality of grippers together; and 
 a plurality of actuators, wherein each of the plurality of actuators are configured to apply a force to the linkage mechanism in a direction that is perpendicular to the longitudinal center axis, and wherein the linkage mechanism is configured to distribute the force between the plurality of grippers. 
   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of actuators comprise a first actuator and a second actuator, and wherein the linkage mechanism comprises a left pivot arm and a right pivot arm. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the first actuator is configured to apply a first force to the left pivot arm and the left pivot arm is configured to apply a second force to the piston assembly in response to application of the first force to the left pivot arm, and wherein the second force is greater than the first force. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the first actuator is coupled to the left pivot arm at a first location that is spaced away from a left pivot axis by a first distance along a first portion of the left pivot arm, wherein the left pivot arm is configured to rotate about the left pivot axis, wherein a left link is coupled to the left pivot axis at a second location that is spaced away from the left pivot axis by a second distance along a second portion of the left pivot arm that is opposite, relative to the left pivot axis, the first portion of the left pivot arm. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the second actuator is configured to apply a third force to the right pivot arm and the right pivot arm is configured to apply a fourth force to the piston assembly in response to application of the third force to the right pivot arm, and wherein the fourth force is greater than the third force. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the second actuator is coupled to the right pivot arm at a first location that is spaced away from a right pivot axis by a third distance along a first portion of the right pivot arm, wherein the right pivot arm is configured to rotate about the right pivot axis, wherein a right link is coupled to the right pivot axis at a second location that is spaced away from the right pivot axis by a fourth distance along a second portion of the right pivot arm that is opposite, relative to the right pivot axis, the first portion of the right pivot arm. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the third distance is greater than the fourth distance. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the second force is applied to the piston assembly via a left link coupled between the left pivot arm and the piston assembly, and wherein the fourth force is applied to the piston assembly via a right link coupled between the right pivot arm and the piston assembly. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein application of the second force and the fourth force moves the piston assembly toward or away from a center axis of the wrench. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the wrench further comprises an opening configured to receive a tubular, the opening having a center axis, wherein simultaneous extension of the plurality of actuators moves the piston assembly toward the center axis of the opening, and wherein simultaneous retraction of the plurality of actuators moves the piston assembly away from the center axis of the opening.