Load cell for a tong assembly

1. A load cell for use with a tong assembly, comprising

a body;

a chamber formed in the body;

a strain gauge disposed in the chamber;

a first eye for pivotal coupling to the tong assembly;

a second eye for pivotal coupling to the tong assembly; and

a biasing member disposed around the second eye for biasing the body relative to the tong assembly.

2. The load cell of claim 1 , wherein the biasing member includes a hole in alignment with the second eye.

3. The load cell of claim 2 , wherein the biasing member extends beyond the body.

4. The load cell of claim 1 , wherein the strain gauge is disposed on a thin wall section of the body.

5. The load cell of claim 1 , further comprising an external plug for data communication with the strain gauge.

6. The load cell of claim 5 , further comprising a channel formed in the body, the channel extending between the chamber and the plug.

7. The load cell of claim 1 , further comprising an electrical board disposed in the chamber and in communication with the strain gauge.

8. The load cell of claim 7 , wherein the electrical board is disposed in the chamber along a longitudinal axis of the body.

9. The load cell of claim 1 , further comprising a bearing disposed in the second eye.

10. The load cell of claim 1 , further comprising a plate enclosing the chamber.

11. The load cell of claim 10 , wherein the plate is sealingly and elastically mounted to the body.

12. The load cell of claim 1 , further comprising a retainer for retaining the biasing member on the body.

13. The load cell of claim 4 , wherein the thin wall section of the body defines a portion of the chamber and is disposed between the first eye and the second eye.

14. The load cell of claim 9 , further comprising a bearing retainer for retaining the bearing in the second eye.

15. A tubular handling apparatus, comprising:

a power tong;

a backup tong; and

a load transfer assembly connected between the power tong and the backup tong, wherein the load transfer assembly includes a load cell, the load cell having:

a body;

a chamber formed in the body;

a strain gauge disposed in the chamber;

a first eye for pivotal coupling to power tong;

a second eye for pivotal coupling to backup tong; and

a biasing member disposed around the second eye for biasing the body relative to the backup tong.

16. The tubular handling apparatus of claim 15 , further comprising a retainer for retaining the biasing member on the body.

17. The tubular handling apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the strain gauge is disposed on a thin wall section of the body.

18. The tubular handling apparatus of claim 15 , further comprising a plug for data communication.

19. The tubular handling apparatus of claim 15 , further comprising a plate for enclosing the chamber.

20. A method of measuring a torque applied between a first tubular and a second tubular, comprising:

gripping the first tubular using a power tong;

gripping the second tubular using a backup tong;

applying a torque to the first tubular using a power tong;

measuring the torque using a load cell;

bending the load cell relative to the backup tong while measuring the torque; and

returning the load cell into alignment with the backup tong using a biasing member, the biasing member disposed around an eye formed at one end of a body of the load cell.