Top drive assembly

Abstract

A top drive assembly for wellsite operations may include a quill, a swivel including a swivel housing and a swivel bearing therein in which the quill is supported, a drive system for applying torque to the quill, and link arm hangers extending from the swivel housing and formed to accept and retain link arms.

1 . A top drive assembly for wellsite operations, the top drive assembly comprising: a quill; a swivel including a swivel housing and a swivel bearing therein in which the quill is supported; a drive system for applying torque to the quill; and link arm hangers extending from the swivel housing and formed to accept and retain link arms.  
   
   
       2 . The top drive assembly of  claim 1  wherein the link arm hangers are formed integral with the swivel housing.  
   
   
       3 . The top drive assembly of  claim 1 , the drive system being positioned above the swivel.  
   
   
       4 . The top drive assembly of  claim 1  wherein the drive system is detachably connected to the swivel.  
   
   
       5 . The top drive assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a grabber assembly detachably connected to the swivel.  
   
   
       6 . A top drive assembly comprising: a quill; a swivel including a swivel housing and a swivel bearing therein for supporting the quill; and link arm hangers connected for load transfer to the swivel housing, the top drive assembly defining a first load path through the quill and the swivel and a second load path directly from the link hangers to the swivel.  
   
   
       7 . The top drive assembly of  claim 6  further comprising a link arm connected on each link hanger and the second load path extends from link arms to the link arm hangers.  
   
   
       8 . The top drive assembly of  claim 6  wherein the drive system is operable to drive the quill with a load passing through the first load path.  
   
   
       9 . The top drive assembly of  claim 6  wherein the drive system is operable to drive the quill while a load passes through the second load path.  
   
   
       10 . The top drive assembly of  claim 6  further comprising a connection on the swivel housing to a top drive hoisting apparatus.  
   
   
       11 . A top drive assembly for wellsite operations, the top drive assembly comprising: a quill; a swivel including a swivel housing and a swivel bearing therein in which the quill is supported; a drive system for applying torque to the quill; and a drive system support surface on the swivel housing and formed to detachably connect the drive system.  
   
   
       12 . The top drive assembly of  claim 11  wherein the swivel and the drive system each include separate lubricant supplies.  
   
   
       13 . The top drive assembly of  claim 11  wherein the swivel and the drive system each are separately sealed.  
   
   
       14 . The top drive assembly of  claim 11  wherein the quill and drive system are releasably connected by a spline interface.  
   
   
       15 . The top drive assembly of  claim 11  further comprising a front interface surface on the swivel housing for detachably connecting a grabber assembly.  
   
   
       16 . The top drive assembly of  claim 11  further comprising a rear interface surface on the swivel for detachable connection of a torque track.  
   
   
       17 . The top drive assembly of  claim 11  further comprising a pull down interface formed on the swivel housing.  
   
   
       18 . The top drive assembly of  claim 11  further comprising a pair of link hangers formed integral with the swivel housing.  
   
   
       19 . A top drive assembly swivel comprising: a swivel housing and a swivel bearing therein, the swivel housing including a connector for accepting connection to a string hoisting apparatus and a pair of link arm hangers extending therefrom.  
   
   
       20 . The top drive assembly swivel of  claim 19  further comprising a drive system support surface positioned on top of the swivel housing.  
   
   
       21 . The top drive assembly swivel of  claim 20  wherein the drive system support surface includes bolt holes for detachably connecting the drive system.  
   
   
       22 . The top drive assembly swivel of  claim 19  further comprising a front interface surface on the swivel housing for detachably connecting a grabber assembly.  
   
   
       23 . The top drive assembly swivel of  claim 19  further comprising a rear interface surface on the swivel for detachable connection of a torque track.  
   
   
       24 . The top drive assembly swivel of  claim 19  further comprising a pull down interface formed on the swivel housing.  
   
   
       25 . The top drive assembly swivel of  claim 19  further comprising a pair of link hangers formed integral with the swivel housing.  
   
   
       26 . The top drive assembly swivel of  claim 19  further comprising a link arm hanger thereon, the link arm hanger including a saddle-shaped support surface including a convex curvature over its long axis and a convex curvature over an axis perpendicular to the long axis.