US 12,292,151 B2
Gripper assembly for pipeline isolation tool and methods of use
Paul Giles, Houston, TX (US); and Humon Glenn Fardsalehi, Houston, TX (US)
Assigned to TDW Delaware, Inc., Wilmington, DE (US)
Filed by TDW Delaware, Inc., Wilmington, DE (US)
Filed on Dec. 14, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/540,490.
Application 18/540,490 is a division of application No. 17/410,823, filed on Aug. 24, 2021, granted, now 11,859,752.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/069,349, filed on Aug. 24, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2024/0110658 A1, Apr. 4, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
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)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A gripper assembly comprising:
an actuator plate, the actuator plate including at least two actuator wedges;
a bowl;
a gripper unit, the gripper unit including a gripper body positioned between the actuator plate and the bowl, the gripper body abutting the bowl and including at least two bowl wedges; and
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;
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.