Adjustable breakout wrench with meshing jaws for use in a drilling rig

Abstract

A breakout wrench for a drilling rig is disclosed. The breakout wrench includes a wrench body, a first jaw operatively supported by the wrench body and movable relative to the wrench body by a first actuator, and a second jaw operatively supported by the wrench body and movable relative to the wrench body by a second actuator. The first jaw includes a male jaw block with a grip surface and a female jaw block with a grip surface. The second jaw includes a male jaw block with a grip surface and a female jaw block with a grip surface. A jaw opening is defined between the first jaw and the second jaw, and the first jaw and the second jaw are configured to mesh together to vary a size of the jaw opening.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A breakout wrench for a drilling rig, comprising:
 a wrench body;   a first jaw operatively supported by the wrench body and movable relative to the wrench body by a first actuator, the first jaw comprising a male jaw block including a grip surface and a female jaw block including a grip surface; and   a second jaw operatively supported by the wrench body and movable relative to the wrench body by a second actuator, the second jaw comprising a male jaw block including a grip surface and a female jaw block including a grip surface;   wherein a jaw opening is defined between the first jaw and the second jaw, and wherein the first jaw and the second jaw are configured to mesh together to vary a size of the jaw opening.   
     
     
         2 . The breakout wrench of  claim 1 , wherein the first jaw and the second jaw are arranged on the wrench body so as to be mirrored opposites. 
     
     
         3 . The breakout wrench of  claim 1 , wherein the first jaw and the second jaw are arranged so as to be diametrically opposed about the wrench body. 
     
     
         4 . The breakout wrench of  claim 1 , wherein a longitudinal axis of the first jaw is generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the second jaw. 
     
     
         5 . The breakout wrench of  claim 1 , wherein the first jaw and the second jaw mesh together at two separate locations spaced apart along a length of the first jaw and the second jaw. 
     
     
         6 . The breakout wrench of  claim 1 , wherein the female jaw block of the first jaw is configured to receive the male jaw block of the second jaw and the female jaw block of the second jaw is configured to receive the male jaw block of the first jaw to mesh the first jaw and the second jaw together. 
     
     
         7 . The breakout wrench of  claim 1 , wherein the grip surface of the male jaw block of the first jaw is angled relative to the grip surface of the female jaw block to define a first jaw block angle, and the male jaw block of the second jaw is angled relative to the grip surface of the female jaw block to define a second jaw block angle. 
     
     
         8 . A method of operating a breakout wrench for a drilling rig, comprising:
 providing the breakout wrench including a wrench body, a first jaw operatively supported by the wrench body and movable relative to the wrench body by a first actuator, and a second jaw operatively supported by the wrench body and movable relative to the wrench body by a second actuator, wherein a jaw opening is defined between the first jaw and the second jaw;   operating the breakout wrench to close the first jaw and the second jaw to define a first jaw opening configured to receive drill pipe having a first diameter; and   operating the breakout wrench to further close the first jaw and the second jaw to define a second jaw opening configured to receive drill pipe having a second diameter, wherein the first jaw and the second jaw mesh together to define the second jaw opening.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the first diameter of drill pipe is larger compared to the second diameter of drill pipe. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising operating the breakout wrench to break or establish a connection between drill pipe having the first diameter. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising operating the breakout wrench to break or establish a connection between drill pipe having the second diameter. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the first jaw and the second jaw move in parallel during operation of the breakout wrench. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the first jaw comprises a male jaw block including a grip surface and a female jaw block including a grip surface, the second jaw comprises a male jaw block including a grip surface and a female jaw block including a grip surface, and the method further comprises:
 operating the breakout wrench to fit the first jaw and the second jaw together such that the female jaw block of the first jaw receives the male jaw block of the second jaw and the female jaw block of the second jaw receives the male jaw block of the first jaw.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising engaging the drill pipe with the first jaw and second jaw at four separate contact locations about the drill pipe. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the first jaw defines two contact locations about the drill pipe and the second jaw defines two contact locations about the drill pipe. 
     
     
         16 . A jaw for a breakout wrench, comprising:
 a mounting block that extends from a first end to a second end to define a longitudinal axis of the jaw;   a male jaw block attached to the mounting block and including a grip surface and a finger that projects from the male jaw block toward the first end of the mounting block; and   a female jaw block attached to the mounting block and including a grip surface and a slot, wherein the slot is sized to receive the finger of another male jaw block.   
     
     
         17 . The jaw of  claim 16 , wherein the slot defines a pair of arms that project from the female jaw block toward the second end of the mounting block. 
     
     
         18 . The jaw of  claim 16 , wherein the male jaw block includes a male grip insert removably attached to the male jaw block, the male grip insert defining the grip surface of the male jaw block, and wherein the female jaw block includes a female grip insert removably attached to the female jaw block, the female grip insert defining the grip surface of the female jaw block. 
     
     
         19 . The jaw of  claim 18 , wherein the jaw further includes a locking block attached to mounting block between the between the male jaw block and the female jaw block, the locking block being configured to secure the male grip insert to the male jaw block and the female grip insert to the female jaw block. 
     
     
         20 . The jaw of  claim 18 , wherein the male grip insert defines part of the finger and the female grip insert defines part of the slot. 
     
     
         21 . The jaw of  claim 16 , wherein the grip surface of the male jaw block and the grip surface of the female jaw block each comprise a plurality of splines.