US 11,859,752 B2
Gripper assembly for pipeline isolation tool and methods of use
Paul Giles, Houston, TX (US); and Humon Glenn Fardsalehi, Baton Rouge, LA (US)
Assigned to SAFE ISOLATIONS LLC, Houston, TX (US)
Filed by Safe Isolations LLC, Houston, TX (US)
Filed on Aug. 24, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/410,823.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/069,349, filed on Aug. 24, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0057037 A1, Feb. 24, 2022
Int. Cl. F16L 55/136 (2006.01); F16L 55/132 (2006.01); F16L 55/128 (2006.01)
CPC F16L 55/136 (2013.01) [F16L 55/132 (2013.01); F16L 55/1283 (2013.01)] 6 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A gripper assembly comprising:
an actuator plate, the actuator plate including at least two actuator wedges;
a bowl, the bowl including at least two bowl wedges;
at least two circumferential wedge sets, each circumferential wedge set positioned between the actuator plate and the bowl, each circumferential wedge set including a first circumferential wedge and a second circumferential wedge, each circumferential wedge set positioned such that an actuator wedge and a bowl wedge engage between the first and second circumferential wedges; and
a gripper unit, the gripper unit including a gripper body, the gripper body positioned between the actuator plate and the bowl, the gripper body positioned between and abutting a first circumferential wedge of a first circumferential wedge set and a second circumferential wedge of a second circumferential wedge set.