Elevator With Dual Lifting Ears

Abstract

A pipe elevator having at least two pairs of opposing hanger ears is provided. One pair of hanger ears is sized to support the maximum load capacity of the elevator and these hanger ears are configured to match with draw-works lifting links having the maximum elevator load capacity. At least one pair of hanger ears is sized to support a desired subsequent elevator loading and these hanger ears are configured to match with a subsequent draw-works lifting links sufficient to support the desired subsequent elevator loading. A pipe support assembly is further provided for holding the pipe within the elevator.

I claim: 
     
         1 . An elevator for support a length of pipe comprising:
 (a) a body; and   (b) at least two pairs of hanger ears attached to said body, each said pair of hanger ears configured to have a different maximum load capacity.   
     
     
         2 . The elevator recited in  claim 1  wherein each hanger ear of said pair of hanger ears is configured to match with a selected corresponding lifting link. 
     
     
         3 . The elevator recited in  claim 2  wherein said selected corresponding lifting link has a load capacity less than or equal to the load capacity of said matching hanger ear. 
     
     
         4 . The elevator recited in  claim 3 , further comprising ear guards upon each said pair of hanger ears. 
     
     
         5 . The elevator recited in  claim 4  wherein each said hanger ear has a shape and a profile that prevents attachment of a non-corresponding lifting link. 
     
     
         6 . The elevator recited in  claim 5  wherein said ear guards on said hanger ears prevent the attachment of a non-corresponding lifting link. 
     
     
         7 . The elevator recited in  claim 3  further comprising a pipe support assembly. 
     
     
         8 . The elevator recited in  claim 7  wherein said pipe support assembly is comprised of a plurality of extendable and retractable slips and wherein at least one pipe gripping die is mounted on each of said slips. 
     
     
         9 . A pipe elevator comprising:
 (a) a body:   (b) a first pair of hanger ears attached to said body, said first pair of hanger ears sized to support a desired maximum load capacity; and   (c) a second pair of hanger ears attached to said body, said second pair of hanger ears sized to support a desired secondary load capacity.   
     
     
         10 . The pipe elevator recited in  claim 9 , wherein:
 (a) said ears of said first pair of hanger ears are shaped to match with a pair of lifting links sized and configured to correspond with the load capacity of said first pair of hanger ears; and   (b) said ears of said second pair of hanger ears are shaped to match with a pair of lifting links sized and configured to correspond with the load capacity of said second pairs of hanger ears.   
     
     
         11 . The pipe elevator recited in  claim 10 , further comprising ear guards positioned on each said ear of said first and second pair of hanger ears. 
     
     
         11 . The pipe elevator recited in  claim 11  wherein said body is ring-shaped to provide a central opening for receiving a pipe segment. 
     
     
         13 . The pipe elevator as recited in claim  12 , further comprising:
 (a) a plurality of slips distributed peripherally about said central opening of said ring-shaped body;   (b) a plurality of pipe gripping dies distributed on each said slip;   (c) a timing ring;   (d) a linkage attaching each said slip to said timing ring; and   (e) a plurality of hydraulic cylinders mounted to said body, said hydraulic cylinders having an extendable and retractable piston rod attached to said timing ring.   
     
     
         14 . The pipe elevator as recited in  claim 13  wherein each said slip of said plurality of slips is slidably mounted upon a vertically oriented inwardly tapered plate. 
     
     
         15 . The pipe elevator as recited in  claim 14  wherein said gripping dies have a V-shaped pipe engagement surface. 
     
     
         16 . A method of for attaching a pipe segment to a wellbore pipe string comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing a pipe elevator having at least two pairs of hanger ears, each said pair of hanger ears having a different maximum load capacity;   (b) selecting a first pair of hanger ears of a desired load capacity from said provided pairs of hanger ears;   (c) providing a plurality of sets of lifting links, said pairs of lifting links configured to have a different load capacity;   (d) selecting a first set of lifting links, said first set of lifting links having a load capacity matching said desired load capacity of said first selected pair of hanger ears;   (e) attaching said first set of lifting links to said first selected pair of hanger ears; and   (f) raising said first set of lifting links thereby lifting said elevator on said first selected pair of hanger ears whereby a pipe segment is supported on said elevator.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising the additional steps of:
 (a) detaching said first set of lifting links from said first selected pair of hanger ears;   (b) selecting a second pair of hanger ears from said provided pairs of hanger ears;   (c) selecting a second set of lifting links from said provided plurality of sets of lifting links, said second set of lifting links having a load capacity matching said load capacity of said second selected pair of hanger ears;   (d) attaching said second set of lifting links to said second selected pair of hanger ears; and   (e) raising said second set of lifting links thereby lifting said elevator on said second selected pair of hanger ears whereby a pipe segment is supported on said elevator.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein said pipe elevator has a pipe support assembly comprising:
 (a) a plurality of slips distributed peripherally about a central opening in said elevator; 
 (b) a plurality of pipe gripping dies distributed on each said slip; 
 (c) a timing ring; 
 (d) a linkage attaching each said slip to said timing ring; and 
 (e) a plurality of hydraulic cylinders mounted to said body, said hydraulic cylinders having an extendable and retractable piston rod attached to said timing ring whereby extension and retraction of said piston rod will move said plurality of slips to hold and release said pipe segment.