초록 ▼

An apparatus to limit movement of gripping members relative to an elevator includes a locking arm coupled to the gripping members and a first engagement arm. The locking arm includes a set of teeth disposed longitudinally thereon, and the first engagement arm includes a first set of complimentary te

An apparatus to limit movement of gripping members relative to an elevator includes a locking arm coupled to the gripping members and a first engagement arm. The locking arm includes a set of teeth disposed longitudinally thereon, and the first engagement arm includes a first set of complimentary teeth configured to engage with the set of teeth of the locking arm. The first engagement arm is moveable between a disengaged position, in which the first engagement arm and the locking arm are relatively moveable, and an engaged position, in which the first engagement arm allows the locking arm to move in a first direction but prevents the locking bar from moving in a second direction by more than a selected distance. The teeth of the locking arm engage the first set of complimentary teeth of the first engagement arm when the first engagement arm is in the engaged position.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An apparatus to limit movement of gripping members relative to an elevator, comprising: a locking arm coupled to the gripping members, the locking arm having a set of teeth disposed longitudinally thereon;a first engagement arm having a first set of complimentary teeth configured to engage with t

1. An apparatus to limit movement of gripping members relative to an elevator, comprising: a locking arm coupled to the gripping members, the locking arm having a set of teeth disposed longitudinally thereon;a first engagement arm having a first set of complimentary teeth configured to engage with the set of teeth of the locking arm, wherein the first engagement arm is moveable between a disengaged position, in which the first engagement arm and the locking arm are relatively moveable, and an engaged position, in which the first engagement arm allows the locking arm to move in a first direction but prevents the locking arm from moving in a second direction by more than a selected distance;a disengagement member coupled to the first engagement arm; anda plate disposed on an outer surface of the elevator,wherein the teeth of the locking arm engage the first set of complimentary teeth of the first engagement arm when the first engagement arm is in the engaged position,wherein a portion of the plate is configured to engage with a portion of the disengagement member, andwherein, when the disengagement member is engaged with the plate, the first engagement arm is maintained in the disengaged position. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a second engagement arm coupled to the first engagement arm, the second engagement arm having a second set of complimentary teeth. 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the second set of complimentary teeth of the second engagement arm are longitudinally offset from the first set of complimentary teeth of the first engagement arm by a predetermined distance that is less than the length of a pitch of at least one of the first set of complimentary teeth and the second set of complimentary teeth. 4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the second set of complimentary teeth of the second engagement arm are longitudinally offset from the first set of complimentary teeth of the first engagement arm. 5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein: the second set of complimentary teeth are configured to engage with the set of teeth of the locking arm,the second engagement arm is moveable between a disengaged position, in which the second engagement arm and the locking arm are relatively moveable, and an engaged position, in which the second engagement arm allows the locking arm to move in the first direction but prevents the locking arm from moving in the second direction by more than the selected distance, andwhen the disengagement member is engaged with the plate, the second engagement arm is maintained in the disengaged position. 6. An apparatus to grip a tubular, comprising: an annular body having a bore formed therethrough, wherein the bore is configured to receive the tubular;a timing ring disposed within the annular body such that the timing ring is movable axially relative to the bore of the annular body, the timing ring having a locking arm formed thereon;a plurality of slips engaged with the timing ring, the plurality of slips being moveable radially and axially between a disengaged position and an engaged position, wherein the slips and the tubular are relatively moveable in the disengaged position, and wherein the plurality of slips are engaged with the tubular in the engaged position; anda first engagement arm configured to engage with the locking arm; anda yoke pivotably connected to the annular body,wherein the first engagement arm is movable between a disengaged position, in which the first engagement arm and the locking arm are relatively moveable, and an engaged position, in which the first engagement arm allows the locking arm to move in a first direction but restrains the locking arm from moving in a second direction by more than a selected distance, andwherein the yoke is coupled to the timing ring such that movement of the yoke in the first direction causes movement of the timing ring and of the plurality of slips in the second direction towards the disengaged position. 7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising: a disengagement member coupled to the first engagement arm; anda plate disposed on an outer surface of the elevator,wherein a portion of the plate is configured to engage with a portion of the disengagement member,wherein, when the disengagement member is engaged with the plate, the first engagement arm is maintained in the disengaged position. 8. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising: a second engagement arm coupled to the first engagement arm, wherein the second engagement arm is configured to engage with the locking arm. 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein: the locking arm has a set of teeth disposed longitudinally thereon;the first engagement arm has a first set of complimentary teeth configured to engage with the set of teeth of the locking arm; andthe second engagement arm has a second set of complimentary teeth configured to engage with the set of teeth of the locking arm. 10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the second set of complimentary teeth of the second engagement arm are longitudinally offset from the first set of complimentary teeth of the first engagement arm by a predetermined distance that is less than the length of a pitch of at least one of the first set of complimentary teeth and the second set of complimentary teeth. 11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the second set of complimentary teeth of the second engagement arm are longitudinally offset from the first set of complimentary teeth. 12. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising: a slip release arm pivotably connected to the annular body, the slip release arm configured to receive the yoke when the slips are in the disengaged position such that the yoke and the plurality of slips are locked in the disengaged position. 13. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising: a slip locking member pivotably connected to the slip release arm, the slip locking member configured to engage with a portion of the annular body, wherein engagement between the slip locking member and the annular body prevents the slip release arm from releasing the yoke and prevents the plurality of slips from moving into the engaged position. 14. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising: a release bar pivotably connected to the slip release arm and engaged with the slip locking member,wherein moving the release bar to a disengaged position disengages the slip locking member from the annular body and allows the slip release arm to release the yoke and allows the plurality of slips to move into the engaged position. 15. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the yoke comprises: a receptacle formed therethrough, the receptacle configured to receive an elongate member. 16. A method to engage and disengage a tubular member, comprising: moving a plurality of slips from a disengaged position into an engaged position, in which the plurality of slips engage the tubular member, wherein the plurality of slips are coupled to a timing ring, the timing ring having a locking arm formed thereon; andengaging the locking arm with a first engagement arm, allowing movement of the plurality of slips in a first direction towards the engaged position and limiting movement of the plurality of slips in a second direction towards the disengaged position, wherein engaging the locking arm with the first engagement arm comprises: engaging a first set of complimentary teeth of the first engagement arm with a set of teeth formed longitudinally on the locking arm;engaging the locking arm with a second engagement arm, allowing movement of the plurality of slips in the first direction towards the engaged position and limiting movement of the plurality of slips in the second direction towards the disengaged position, wherein engaging the locking arm with the second engagement arm comprises: engaging a second set of complimentary teeth of the second engagement arm with the set of teeth of the locking arm,wherein the second engagement arm is coupled to the first engagement arm, andwherein the first set of complimentary teeth and the second set of complimentary teeth are longitudinally offset such that when the first set of complimentary teeth of the first engagement arm are engaged with the set of teeth of the locking arm, the second set of complimentary teeth of the second engagement arm are at least partially disengaged from the set of teeth of the locking arm. 17. The method of claim 16, further comprising: disengaging the first engagement arm and the second engagement arm from the locking arm, allowing the plurality of slips to move in the second direction into the disengaged position. 18. The method of claim 17, wherein disengaging the first engagement arm and second engagement arm from the locking arm comprises: moving a disengagement member in an outward direction, away from the locking arm, wherein moving the disengagement member in the outward direction disengages the first engagement arm and the second engagement aim from the locking arm, allowing the slips to move in the second direction into the disengaged position. 19. An apparatus to grip a tubular, comprising: an annular body having a bore formed therethrough, wherein the bore is configured to receive the tubular;a timing ring disposed within the annular body such that the timing ring is movable axially relative to the bore of the annular body, the timing ring having a locking arm formed thereon, wherein the locking arm has a set of teeth disposed longitudinally thereon;a plurality of slips engaged with the timing ring, the plurality of slips being moveable radially and axially between a disengaged position and an engaged position, wherein the slips and the tubular are relatively moveable in the disengaged position, and wherein the plurality of slips are engaged with the tubular in the engaged position; anda first engagement arm configured to engage with the locking arm, the first engagement arm having a first set of complimentary teeth configured to engage with the set of teeth of the locking arm;a second engagement arm configured to engage with the locking arm, the second engagement arm having a second set of complimentary teeth configured to engage with the set of teeth of the locking arm,wherein the first engagement arm is movable between a disengaged position, in which the first engagement arm and the locking arm are relatively moveable, and an engaged position, in which the first engagement arm allows the locking arm to move in a first direction but restrains the locking arm from moving in a second direction by more than a selected distance,wherein the second engagement arm is movable between a disengaged position, in which the second engagement arm and the locking arm are relatively moveable, and an engaged position, in which the second engagement arm allows the locking arm to move in the first direction but restrains the locking arm from moving in the second direction by more than the selected distance,wherein the first set of complimentary teeth are configured to engage the set of teeth of the locking arm when the first engagement arm is in the engaged position,wherein the second set of complimentary teeth are configured to engage the set of teeth of the locking arm when the second engagement arm is in the engaged position, andwherein the first set of complimentary teeth and the second set of complimentary teeth are longitudinally offset from each other.