Method of rotating a tubular member

A method of rotating a tubular member while passing through a slip assembly of a drilling rig, the slip assembly including an outer body fixed with respect to a powered rotary table and a plurality of slips for gripping engagement with the tubular member to prevent substantial inadvertent axial movement of the tubular member with respect to the drilling rig, the method comprising:

• supporting a closed loop cam ring on the slip assembly, the cam ring having a plurality of interior camming surfaces thereon;
• rotating a cage plate assembly with respect to the cam ring to move each of a plurality of gripping heads radially into gripping engagement with the tubular member;
• positioning an axial adjustment member for allowing limited axial movement of the cage plate assembly with respect to the slip assembly body, such that each of the plurality of gripping heads retain gripping engagement with the tubular member while moving axially with respect to the slip assembly body in response to limited axial movement of the plurality of slips with respect to the slip assembly body;
• and
• rotating the rotary table and the cam ring interconnected therewith to rotate the tubular member.

A method of rotating a tubular member passing through a slip assembly of a drilling rig, the slip assembly including an outer body and a plurality of slips for gripping engagement with the tubular member to prevent substantial inadvertent axial movement of the tubular member, the tool comprising:

• supporting a cam ring on the slip assembly, the cam ring having one or more interior camming surfaces thereon;
• rotating a cage plate assembly with respect to the cam ring to move one or more gripping heads radially into gripping engagement with the tubular member;
• removably interconnecting the slip assembly body and the cage plate assembly with first and second tool mounts;
• each of the first and second tool mounts having a generally U-shaped cross-sectional configuration;
• and
• supporting the cam ring on the tool mount with a plurality of biasing members which allow limited axial movement of the cam ring with respect to the slip assembly body, such that the one or more gripping heads retain gripping engagement with the tubular member while moving axially with respect to the slip assembly body in response to limited axial movement of the plurality of slips with respect to the slip assembly body.