Safety net for a drill rig

Abstract

A safety net for a top drive including: a body having an upper end and a lower end, the upper end including fasteners for connecting the upper end of the safety net to the top drive and the lower end including an inwardly directed return for extending inwardly beneath the underside of the top drive; and an opening through the body for accessing the top drive from outside the net.

1 . A safety net for a top drive, the safety net comprising:
 a body having an upper end and a lower end, the upper end including fasteners for connecting the upper end of the safety net to the top drive and the lower end including an inwardly directed return for extending inwardly beneath the underside of the top drive; and   an opening through the body for accessing the top drive from outside the net.   
   
   
       2 . The safety net of  claim 1  further comprising fasteners on the lower end for the lower end of the safety net to the top drive. 
   
   
       3 . The safety net of  claim 1  comprising at least one mesh section and reinforcements secured to the at least one mesh section. 
   
   
       4 . The safety net of  claim 1  wherein the fasteners include straps. 
   
   
       5 . The safety net of  claim 1  further comprising bolt receiving eyelets along the lower end. 
   
   
       6 . The safety net of  claim 1  including materials resistant to breakdown by heat and oil. 
   
   
       7 . The safety net of  claim 1  further comprising a second net part including a top end supported by the bottom end and a necked portion extending from the top end. 
   
   
       8 . The safety net of  claim 7  wherein the lower end includes an annular, inwardly directed flange defining the limits of a lower opening and wherein the second net part includes an annular radially outwardly extending flange on its top end formed to be supported on the annular, inwardly directed flange, while the necked portion extends downwardly through the lower opening. 
   
   
       9 . The safety net of  claim 1  further comprising bolt receiving eyelets along the lower end. 
   
   
       10 . The safety net of  claim 1  wherein the annular, inwardly directed flange and the annular radially outwardly extending flange coact to allow the second net part to swivel about a long axis passing through the plane of the lower opening. 
   
   
       11 . A top drive installation comprising:
 a top drive supported in a rig, the top drive including a motor housing including a top end, an underside and a quill extending from the underside;   a safety net installed on the top drive, the safety net including an upper end; a lower end including an inwardly directed extension for extending inwardly beneath the underside of the top drive; and fasteners for connecting the safety net to the top drive.   
   
   
       12 . The top drive installation of  claim 11  wherein the safety net is installed about the motor housing. 
   
   
       13 . The top drive installation of  claim 11  wherein the safety net is installed below the motor housing. 
   
   
       14 . The top drive installation of  claim 11  wherein the safety net is installed about the back up wrench. 
   
   
       15 . The top drive installation of  claim 11  wherein the safety net includes a first part installed about the motor housing and a second part installed below the motor housing. 
   
   
       16 . The top drive installation of  claim 15  wherein the second part is secured to rotate with components below the motor housing, while the first part is fixed to the motor housing. 
   
   
       17 . The top drive installation of  claim 15  wherein the second part is rotatable about the axis of rotation of the quill 
   
   
       18 . The top drive installation of  claim 17  wherein the second part is supported by and rotates relative to the first part. 
   
   
       19 . The top drive installation of  claim 15  wherein the first part is affixed at its bottom end to the motor housing by the lower motor housing bolts.