Adjustable tubular elevator

Abstract

In an example, a tubular elevator for a drill rig can include a plurality of size adjusting systems radially arranged about a housing of the tubular elevator and which can be configured to cooperate to adjust a diameter of a through opening of the tubular elevator to accommodate various tubular sizes. The tubular elevator can also include a slip component which can include a wedge arranged on a radially inner portion of each of the size adjusting systems and which can be configured to cooperate to further constrict the diameter of the through opening when a tubular can be suspended by the tubular elevator.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tubular elevator for a drill rig, the tubular elevator comprising:
 a plurality of size adjusting systems radially arranged about a housing of the tubular elevator and configured to cooperate to adjust a diameter of a through opening of the tubular elevator to accommodate various tubular sizes; and   a slip component comprising a wedge arranged on a radially inner portion of each of the size adjusting systems and configured to cooperate to further constrict the diameter of the through opening when a tubular is suspended by the tubular elevator.   
     
     
         2 . The tubular elevator of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of size adjusting systems are configured to travel between a retracted position, wherein the respective slip components are not contacting the tubular, and an engaged position, wherein the respective slip components are contacting the tubular. 
     
     
         3 . The tubular elevator of  claim 2 , wherein the movement of the size adjusting systems serves the function of both:
 engaging and disengaging the tubular; and   accommodating various tubular sizes.   
     
     
         4 . The tubular elevator of  claim 1 , further comprising the housing, wherein a radially inner portion of the housing is configured to engage with a radially outer portion of the size adjusting systems, the housing comprising:
 one or more hinges, configured to allow one or more elevator doors in the housing to open to allow a tubular to be passed into the through opening laterally.   
     
     
         5 . The tubular elevator of  claim 4 , the housing comprising a latching mechanism, configured to hold the one or more elevator doors closed when the tubular elevator is engaged position with a tubular. 
     
     
         6 . The tubular elevator of  claim 4 , wherein a radially outer portion of the housing is configured to engage with a pair of links of the drill rig. 
     
     
         7 . The tubular elevator of  claim 1 , wherein a radially inner surface of the slip component is configured to engage with the tubular, wherein the tubular elevator is configured to engage with a range of tubular sizes spanning at least 4 inches. 
     
     
         8 . The tubular elevator of  claim 7 , wherein the radially inner surface of the slip component includes two engagement arms, wherein an angle formed by the engagement arms is configured to be adjustable such that a face of the engagement arms is substantially tangential to a tubular surface across the range of tubular sizes. 
     
     
         9 . The tubular elevator of  claim 8 , wherein the angle formed by the engagement arms is configured to be adjusted by a force from a tubular engaging with the two engagement arms. 
     
     
         10 . The tubular elevator of  claim 1 , further comprising the drill rig, the drill rig comprising:
 a traveling block supported by a mast, wherein the tubular elevator is connected to the traveling block by a pair of links.   
     
     
         11 . The tubular elevator of  claim 1 , wherein the tubular elevator is configured to engage with a portion of a tubular that has a consistent diameter. 
     
     
         12 . A tubular elevator for a drill rig, the tubular elevator comprising:
 two or more slip assemblies, arranged around a perimeter of a housing of the tubular elevator, each of the slip assemblies including:
 an outer wedge, generally fixed relative to the housing, wherein a radially inward portion of the outer wedge includes a first inclined plane facing radially inward, wherein a bottom portion of the first inclined plane is radially inward compared to a top portion of the first inclined plane; 
 an intermediate wedge, wherein a radially outward portion of the intermediate wedge is slidably engaged with the first inclined plane, wherein the intermediate wedge moves towards a center axis of a through opening of the tubular elevator when the intermediate wedge slides downward, wherein a radially inward portion of the intermediate wedge includes a second inclined plane facing radially inward, wherein a bottom portion of the second inclined plane is radially inward compared to a top portion of the second inclined plane; and 
 an inner wedge, wherein a radially outward portion of the inner wedge is slidably engaged with the second inclined plane, wherein the inner wedge moves towards the center axis of the through opening when the inner wedge slides downward. 
   
     
     
         13 . The tubular elevator of  claim 12 , wherein the slip assemblies comprise an actuator, wherein a first end of the actuator is coupled to the outer wedge and a second end of the actuator is coupled to the intermediate wedge, wherein the actuator is configured to control a position of the intermediate wedge along the first inclined plane between a retracted position, wherein the slip assembly is not contacting a tubular, to an engaged position, wherein the slip assembly is contacting the tubular. 
     
     
         14 . The tubular elevator of  claim 13 , comprising a spring element, configured to bias the inner wedge in an upward direction along the second inclined plane. 
     
     
         15 . The tubular elevator of  claim 12 , further comprising the housing, the housing comprising:
 one or more hinges, configured to allow one or more elevator doors in the housing to open to allow a tubular to be passed into the through opening laterally.   
     
     
         16 . The tubular elevator of  claim 12 , wherein a radially inner surface of the inner wedge includes two engagement arms configured to engage with the tubular, wherein an angle formed by the engagement arms is configured to be adjustable such that a face of the engagement arms is substantially tangential to a tubular surface across a range of tubular sizes. 
     
     
         17 . The tubular elevator of  claim 12 , wherein a second angle of the second inclined plane relative to the center axis of the through opening is less than a first angle of the first inclined plane relative to the center axis of the through opening. 
     
     
         18 . The tubular elevator of  claim 17 , wherein the second angle is between 9 and 14 degrees and wherein the first angle is between 14 and 35 degrees. 
     
     
         19 . The tubular elevator of  claim 12 , wherein the slip assemblies are configured such that frictional forces acting on the intermediate wedge exceed an upward force caused by differing angles of the first inclined plane and the second inclined plane. 
     
     
         20 . A method of using a tubular elevator, the method comprising:
 opening one or more elevator doors of the tubular elevator;   passing a tubular laterally into a through opening of the tubular elevator through the elevator doors while the tubular elevator is in a retracted position;   closing the one or more elevator doors;   engaging three slip assemblies of the tubular elevator with the tubular;   centering the tubular within the through opening; and   transferring a weight of the tubular to the tubular elevator.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein centering the tubular within the through opening includes:
 monitoring respective positions of the three slip assemblies; and   adjusting the three slip assemblies so that the tubular is centered within the through opening.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein monitoring a position of the three slip assemblies includes monitoring respective actuators of the three slip assemblies. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein centering the tubular within the through opening includes engaging the three slip assemblies so that each of the slip assemblies starts a specified distance from a center axis of the through opening and travels at a same rate toward the center axis of the through opening. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 20 , comprising engaging one or more additional slip assemblies following centering the tubular within the through opening.