Stabberless Elevator Assembly with Spider Interlock Control

Abstract

A collar locating assembly ensures that that an elevator slip assembly does not engage against a pipe collar or coupling. An interlock system controls the operation of elevator slips, as well as related spider slips, in order to prevent unwanted simultaneous disengagement of both elevator and spider slips.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . An elevator assembly for gripping a section of pipe having a collar comprising:
 a) a body member having a central bore extending there through and defining a slip bowl;   b) at least one slip member disposed within said slip bowl; and   c) a collar locator assembly for signaling when the collar of said pipe is positioned a predetermined distance above said elevator assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The collar locator assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said collar locator assembly further comprises:
 a) a base disposed on said elevator assembly; and   b) at least one finger member pivotally attached to said base and at least partially extending across the upper opening of said central bore of said elevator body member.   
     
     
         3 . The collar locator assembly of  claim 2 , further comprising a valve disposed beneath said at least one finger member, wherein said valve shifts when said at least one finger member pivots a predetermined distance. 
     
     
         4 . The collar locator of  claim 3 , wherein said at least one finger member comprises a pair of spaced apart and substantially parallel elongate finger members. 
     
     
         5 . The elevator assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a slip location register for signaling when said at least one slip member is fully engaged in gripping position against said pipe. 
     
     
         6 . The elevator assembly of  claim 5 , wherein said slip location register further comprises:
 a) at least one elongate actuation member connected to a slip leveling arm; and   b) a valve disposed beneath said at least one elongate actuation member, wherein said valve shifts when said slip leveling arm is in a predetermined position.   
     
     
         7 . A pipe gripping assembly comprising:
 a) an elevator assembly for gripping a first section of pipe having a collar comprising:
 i) a body member having a central bore extending there through and defining a slip bowl; 
 ii) at least one slip member disposed within said slip bowl; and 
 iii) a collar locator assembly for signaling when the collar of said pipe is positioned a predetermined distance above said elevator assembly; 
   b) a spider assembly for gripping a second section of pipe having a collar comprising:
 i) a body member having a central bore extending there through and defining a slip bowl; 
 ii) at least one slip member disposed within said slip bowl; and 
   c) a control assembly for controlling said elevator assembly and said spider assembly.   
     
     
         8 . The pipe gripping assembly of  claim 7 , wherein said collar locator assembly further comprises:
 a) a base disposed on said elevator assembly; and   b) at least one finger member pivotally attached to said base and at least partially extending across the upper opening of said central bore of said elevator body member.   
     
     
         9 . The pipe gripping assembly of  claim 8 , further comprising a valve disposed beneath said at least one finger member, wherein said valve shifts when said at least one finger member pivots a predetermined distance. 
     
     
         10 . The pipe gripping assembly of  claim 9 , wherein said at least one finger member comprises a pair of spaced apart and substantially parallel elongate finger members. 
     
     
         11 . The pipe gripping assembly of  claim 7 , further comprising an elevator slip location register for signaling when said at least one elevator slip member is fully engaged in gripping position against said pipe. 
     
     
         12 . The pipe gripping assembly of  claim 13 , wherein said elevator slip location register further comprises:
 a) at least one elongate actuation member connected to a slip leveling arm; and   b) a valve disposed beneath said indexing member, wherein said valve shifts when said slip leveling arm is in a predetermined position.   
     
     
         13 . The pipe gripping assembly of  claim 7 , wherein said control assembly comprises an operator console. 
     
     
         14 . The pipe gripping assembly of  claim 13 , wherein said control assembly is pneumatically, hydraulically or electrically powered.