Variable diameter pipe clamp apparatus and torque module therefore

1. A pipe clamp apparatus for making up and breaking out pipe at an oil rig site, comprising:

a main body section,

a set of left and right articulating fingers on either side of the main body section, the left and right fingers pivotable in relation to the main body section, and

a pusher bar supporting each of the main body section and left and right articulating fingers,

each of the main body section, left and right articulating fingers including a pipe die thereon for providing a roughened surface for gripping a portion of a pipe,

the pusher bar moving forward to engage the main body section and left and right fingers toward a pipe for a first contact to a pipe surface by the pipe die of the main body section, with the articulating left and right fingers pivotable around the pipe for a second contact to the pipe surface by the pipe dies of the left and right articulating fingers so as to apply a uniform gripping load around the pipe that is pipe diameter independent

wherein the pipe clamp apparatus is configured to automatically adjust to pipe diameters in a range of between 4″ to 10″.

2. The pipe clamp apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second contact occurs after the first contact.

3. The pipe clamp apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the pipe clamp apparatus remains in a biased open position when not under tension of the pipe.

4. The pipe clamp apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a pair of torsion springs which bias the left and right articulating fingers in an open position when the clamp apparatus is not under tension of a pipe.

5. The pipe clamp apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a back body spring between the main body section and the pusher bar to maintain a ½″ clearance there between.

6. A combination for making up and breaking out pipe at an oil rig site, comprising:

a torque module, the torque module including:

a pair of hydraulic motors,

a torque transmission driven by the motors,

a herringbone gear segment driven by the transmission to rotate the torque module, and

a pair of clamp cylinders actuated by the transmission, and

at least one pipe clamp apparatus actuated by at least one of the clamp cylinders to apply a uniform gripping load around a pipe that is pipe diameter independent

wherein the at least one pipe clamp apparatus is configured to automatically adjust to pipe diameters in a range of between 4″ to 10″.

7. The combination of claim 6 , wherein the pipe clamp apparatus further includes

a main body section,

a set of left and right articulating fingers on either side of the main body section, the left and right fingers pivotable in relation to the main body section, and

a pusher bar supporting each of the main body section and left and right articulating fingers

the pusher bar moving forward under power of a clamp cylinder to engage the main body section and left and right fingers toward a pipe for a first contact to a pipe surface by the main body section, with the articulating left and right fingers pivotable around the pipe for a second contact to the pipe surface so as to apply a uniform gripping load around the pipe that is pipe diameter independent.

8. The combination of claim 7 , wherein the second contact occurs after the first contact.

9. The combination of claim 7 , wherein each of the main body section, left and right articulating fingers including a pipe die thereon for providing a roughened surface for gripping a portion of the pipe.

10. The combination of claim 6 , wherein the torque module is configured to rotate up to 52 degrees clockwise or counterclockwise from a neutral position.

11. The combination of claim 6 , wherein the 52 degree rotation is done in a continuous, unbroken step operation.

12. The combination of claim 6 , wherein the torque module is configured to provide up to 150,000 ft-lbs of torque.

13. A combination for making up and breaking out pipe at an oil rig site, comprising:

a torque module, the torque module including:

a pair of hydraulic motors,

a torque transmission driven by the motors,

a herringbone gear segment driven by the transmission to rotate the torque module up to 52 degrees clockwise or counterclockwise from a neutral position in a continuous operation, and

a pair of clamp cylinders actuated by the transmission, and

a pipe clamp apparatus actuated by at least one of the clamp cylinders to apply a uniform gripping load around a pipe, the pipe clamp apparatus being configured to automatically adjust to pipe diameters in a range of between 4″ to 10″.

14. The combination of claim 13 , wherein the torque module further includes a load cell employed to measure actual torque at the pipe.

15. The combination of claim 13 , wherein the torque module hydraulic motors are configured to drive the torque transmission so as to provide up to 150,000 ft-lbs of torque.