Device for connecting casings

A device for use in apparatus connecting a new pipe (3) to an elongated, vertical casing (1), said apparatus having an elevator (4) for suspending the new pipe over an upper end of the casing and having a top drive (7) disposed above the elevator, said top drive having a rotatable output shaft, said device comprising:

• a pressure fluid operated, telescopic pipe device (9,10) having an upper end connected to the output shaft of said top drive (7), said telescopic pipe device having a downwardly extending, vertically movable member (10) with a lower end;
• and
• a catcher (11) coupled to the lower end of said telescopic pipe device and adapted to be inserted into an upper end of the new pipe when the new pipe is suspended from the elevator to establish a frictional connection with only a portion of an inner wall of the new pipe which is sufficient to enable the new pipe to be raised or lowered by movement of said vertically movable member, said frictional connection also being sufficient to resist torsional forces arising when the new pipe is engaged with the casing and rotated by said top drive, said catcher comprising;
• an elastic, inflatable bellows (15) formed of a preshaped, hollow body having a central sleeve portion surrounding said vertically movable member (10) which is positioned intermediate end portions, said end portions tapering in opposite directions from said central portion toward a respective end thereof, said respective ends of said end portions being attached fluid tightly and with torsional strength to said vertically movable member of said telescopic pipe device (9,10), said bellows (15) being dimensioned for unobstructed insertion/withdrawal in relation to the new pipe when in an uninflated state and, when in the inflated state, to establish the frictional connection with the portion of the inner wall of the new pipe (3).