Tools – Wrench – screwdriver – or driver therefor – Machine
Reexamination Certificate
2000-12-05
2001-12-11
Smith, James G. (Department: 3723)
Tools
Wrench, screwdriver, or driver therefor
Machine
C081S013000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06327937
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to tools and, more particularly, to bolt holders.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Removing the oversized, threaded fasteners from the flanges found on wellheads in oilfield environments is especially difficult. Not only is the work backbreaking, often requiring that a sledgehammer be swung repeatedly at a specialized wrench to turn the fasteners, but it is dangerous since done in the presence of pressurized and highly flammable fluids. Unfortunately, many individuals have suffered physical injury performing this particular task. A need, therefore, presently exists for a tool that permits flange fasteners to be removed with ease and safety.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In light of the problems associated with the prior art, it is a principal object of the invention to provide a wrench for use in oilfield settings that will grip, say, nuts on opposite ends of a bolt and turn one of the nuts while holding the other motionless. The wrench works in conjunction with the hydraulic tongs on a workover rig. The tongs supply torque to the wrench to either tighten or loosen a selected nut or other threaded fastener. It is believed that such a wrench will save time and reduce injuries.
It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof in a wrench for the purposes described which is lightweight in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, and dependable in use.
Briefly, the wrench in accordance with this invention achieves the intended objects by featuring an elongated body with a pair of drive dogs affixed to its opposed ends. A pair of primary socket members is releasably attached to the drive dogs for holding and turning a first nut. A pair of spaced-apart collars encircles the body and a sliding sleeve is slidably and rotatably positioned on the body therebetween. A retaining arm extends from the sliding sleeve and carries an extensible backup assembly. The backup assembly has a support bracket releasably secured to the retaining arm and a carrier bracket attached to the support bracket by means of a spring. The carrier bracket has a threaded aperture from which a threaded rod extends. A secondary socket member is attached to the threaded rod and has a pair of backup sockets for selectively holding a second nut in axial alignment with the first nut.
The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 447706 (1891-03-01), Vernon
patent: 615273 (1898-12-01), Higdon
patent: 1208449 (1916-12-01), Attwasser
patent: 1260698 (1918-03-01), Moore et al.
patent: 1406824 (1922-02-01), Dennis
patent: 2394027 (1946-02-01), Vlass
patent: 2454027 (1948-11-01), Baeza
patent: 3277749 (1966-10-01), Osburn et al.
patent: 3731559 (1973-05-01), Krupke
patent: 516713 (1955-09-01), None
Greiner Stephen R.
Smith James G.
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