This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.
63/035,424, filed June 5, 2020, the contents of which are fully incorporated herein by
reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONS
[0002] Tubular drilling, reaming and running tools are mechanisms used in well bore completion services and are used to grip, rotate and reciprocate sections of tubular or an entire string of tubulars installed in an oil and gas wellbore. The engagement, disengagement and operation of tubular(s) can be performed mechanically using the power provided by the top drive or by using an external source of energy.
[0003] Conventional mechanically activated tubular drilling, reaming and running tools require a torsional reaction against the tubular to operate, engage or disengage the tool. Typically, the "bumper plate" is designed to engage the exposed face of the tubular and requires a compressive load at this interface. The friction component of this compressive load provides said torsional resistance. The ability or lack thereof for these types of tubular drilling, reaming, and running tools to develop adequate torsional resistance consistently, is dependent on many factors including set­down load, friction
enhancing components, materials and inner springs.
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[0004] The exposed face of the tubular is usually the female half of a threaded connection, sometimes referred to as a coupling. Depending on the frictional resistance between the coupling face and the tool has proven to be problematic because a considerably small surface area of the tubular face implies a great and sometimes dangerous set­down force required to generate adequate torsional resistance. This can cause severe damage to the tubular connection and therefore cause catastrophic failure including loss of life and possible loss of control of the well.
[0005] Thus, there is a need for a mechanically activated tool that is not dependent on this set down force or the frictional characteristics on the tubular connection.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONS
[0006] In a preferred embodiment, the present inventions rely on fluid pressure to provide an alternative means to facilitate the torque reaction required to set or release slips from a pipe and eliminate the need for set down force or other frictional measures on a tubular.
[0007] One method utilized to create this reaction force relies on a series of gears interconnected with each other through a fluid driven clutch that can be engaged and disengaged. The hold back torque generated through the clutch driven system when coupled to a power screw female (threaded nut), can convert the rotational motion of the top drive to axial motion of the slips facilitating the tool to grip or release the tubular.
[0008] Another technique to create the reactionary force is to utilize a series of axial pistons attached to the moveable half of a hirth coupling, or other friction member, e.g. brake pad material or similar material used to create frictional forces between two
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surfaces sufficient to transfer torque. In the current inventions the preferred method is a hirth coupling. However, this is not the only device that can be used.
[0009] Shifting the torsional reaction from tool­tubular interface to the top drivetubular running tool interface eliminates potential damage to the critical threads of both the pin and receiving female threads of the tubular.
[00010] Both methods of the current inventions provide the reaction force (torque) from the rig’s top drive system. This eliminates the need to rely on the friction created between the female end of the tubular and tool.
[00011] It will be evident with the inventions that little to no set down weight on the tubular is needed to facilitate setting or releasing the slips. The first embodiment of the current inventions utilizes a power screw (male thread) and nut (female thread). The female thread is kept from rotating via a series of gears and a fluid operated clutch. The gear arrangement delivers a multiplication effect to the torque output of the clutch.
[00012] The clutch essentially acts as a holding brake to the female thread until the desired torque and thereby the set force on the tubular is reached. The driller can engage the clutch from the driller’s cabin and re­engage at any time in case the slips need to reset on the pipe.

CLAIMS
1. An apparatus for transferring torque comprising:
a main tool body;
a main tool shaft disposed in the main tool body;
a power screw male thread disposed around the main tool shaft;
a power screw female thread movably engaged with the power screw
male thread;
a gear assembly connected to the power screw female thread;
a clutch connected to the gear assembly, the clutch having an engaged
position and a disengaged position, the clutch and gear assembly cooperating to restrict
rotation of the power screw female thread when the clutch is in its engaged position,
the clutch and gear assembly cooperating to permit rotation of the power screw female
thread when the clutch is in its disengaged position; and
a set of slips connected to the main tool body, the set of slips having a set
position in which the set of slips are adapted to engage a tubular member, the set of
slips having a released position in which the set of slips are adapted to disengage from
the tubular member, the set of slips being moved into the set position when the clutch
is in its engaged position, and the set of slips being moved into the released position
when the clutch is in its disengaged position.