US Patent 9784053 Mousehole tubular retention system

The systems, devices, and methods described herein describe a tubular retention system arranged over a mousehole. The tubular retention system includes load bearing plates that are mutually opposed, vertically aligned, and connected to an eternal support structure via upper and lower links that, together, form a parallelogram shape movable to engage tubulars of varying diameters. The load bearing plates are pulled down by a biasing system to engage the tubular and synchronized by a lifting ring connecting the load bearing plates together. Mutually opposing deflector plates are connected to the load bearing plates and move in response to the downward movement of the load bearing plates, providing a centering force against the tubular to assure proper retention once the load bearing links engage the tubular. An upward force enables the load bearing plates to return upward and outward to release the tubular.