Serviceable gripping systems for top drives
AssigneePatterson-UTI Drilling Company LLC
InventorsDragan RADOJEVIC, Pavel SHPAK, Daniel VEGA
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Abstract
A top drive system comprises a top drive and a tubular gripping system connected to the top drive. A compression assembly is provided which applies a compressive force to a tubular. The main body of the tubular gripping system defines a cavity that is shaped to receive an actuator of the compression assembly. The actuator can be removed from the cavity while the tubular gripping system is connected to the top drive, thereby facilitating maintenance of the actuator and reducing downtime of the top drive.
Claims23
An apparatus for a top-drive drilling system, the apparatus comprising:
- a tubular gripping system comprising a main body, and a compression assembly comprising an actuator;
- wherein the main body is shaped to define a cavity for receiving the actuator and the actuator is removably mountable to the main body inside the cavity for generation of compressive force applicable to a tubular.
An apparatus for a top drive drilling system, the system comprising:
- a tubular gripping system comprising a main body, and a compression assembly comprising an actuator;
- wherein the actuator is removably mountable to the main body for generation of compressive force applicable to a tubular.
A method of servicing a tubular gripping system for a top-drive drilling system, the method comprising:
- detaching an actuator from a main body of the tubular gripping system while the main body is connected to a top drive of the top-drive drilling system;
- and
- removably mounting a second actuator to the main body while the main body is connected to the top drive.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.