Elevator grip lifting and rotary slip holding system

Abstract

An elevator grip or rotary slip grip system, comprising a cage spacer adaptably mountable to an upper surface of an elevator or slip body, a dog cage having a plurality of openings, a plurality of locking dogs adaptably mountable to a plurality of seats in the elevator or slip body, wherein each of the plurality of locking dogs has a front surface to engage an object and wherein the front surface of each of the plurality of locking dogs is disposed through each of the plurality of openings in the dog cage is disclosed. A method of using the elevator grip or rotary slip grip system is also disclosed.

1 - 57 . (canceled) 
     
     
         58 . A rotary slip grip system, comprising:
 (a) a cage spacer adaptably mountable to an upper surface of a slip body;   (b) a dog cage having a plurality of openings, wherein the dog cage is movably attached to the slip body and vertically positioned by the cage spacer; and   (c) a plurality of locking dogs adaptably mountable to a plurality of seats in the slip body, wherein each of the plurality of locking dogs has a front surface to engage an object and wherein the front surface of each of the plurality of locking dogs is disposed through each of the plurality of openings in the dog cage.   
     
     
         59 . The rotary slip grip system of  claim 58 , wherein the cage spacer comprises a central, upper lip to prevent accumulation of debris. 
     
     
         60 . The rotary slip grip system of  claim 58 , wherein the cage spacer comprises two half-rings adaptable mountable to the upper surface of the slip body, wherein the two half-rings come together to form a ring shape when the rotary slip grip system is in a closed position. 
     
     
         61 . The rotary slip grip system of  claim 60 , wherein each half-ring of the cage spacer comprises a central, upper lip to retain an upper lip of the dog cage when the rotary slip grip system is in the closed position. 
     
     
         62 . The rotary slip grip system of  claim 58 , wherein the dog cage comprises two half-cylinders, wherein the two half-cylinders come together to form an open cylinder shape when the rotary slip grip system is in a closed position. 
     
     
         63 . The rotary slip grip system of  claim 58 , wherein each of the plurality of openings are an inverted “T” shape, a rectangle shape, a square shape, a “T” shape or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         64 . The rotary slip grip system of  claim 58 , wherein each of the plurality of openings are a “T” shape. 
     
     
         65 . The rotary slip grip system of  claim 58 , wherein each of the plurality of locking dogs are a cubic shape, a cuboid shape, a cylinder shape, a square pyramid shape, a trapezoidal prism shape, a triangle prism shape or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         66 . The rotary slip grip system of  claim 58 , wherein each of the plurality of locking dogs are a cuboid shape. 
     
     
         67 . The rotary slip grip system of  claim 58 , wherein each of the plurality of locking dogs comprise an extension on each side. 
     
     
         68 . The rotary slip grip system of  claim 58 , wherein each of the plurality of locking dogs comprise a cylindrical extension on each side. 
     
     
         69 . The rotary slip grip system of  claim 58 , wherein the rotary slip grip system further comprises a compression spring disposed between each of the plurality of locking dogs and the slip body. 
     
     
         70 . The rotary slip grip system of  claim 58 , wherein one or more of the cage spacer, the dog cage and the locking dogs are constructed of an alloy steel. 
     
     
         71 . The rotary slip grip system of  claim 58 , wherein one or more of the cage spacer, the dog cage and the plurality of locking dogs are constructed of an American Iron and Steel (AISI) 4000 Series alloy steel or equivalent material. 
     
     
         72 . The rotary slip grip system of  claim 58 , wherein the plurality of locking dogs is constructed of a carburizing alloy steel. 
     
     
         73 . The rotary slip grip system of  claim 58 , wherein the plurality of locking dogs is constructed of an American Iron and Steel (AISI) 8620 carburizing alloy steel or equivalent material. 
     
     
         74 . The rotary slip grip system of  claim 58 , wherein the plurality of locking dogs has a Carbide coating or equivalent coating. 
     
     
         75 . The rotary slip grip system of  claim 58 , wherein the plurality of locking dogs has a Carbide coating with about 6% Cobalt binder or equivalent material. 
     
     
         76 . The rotary slip grip system of  claim 58 , wherein the rotary slip grip system is capable of griping objects that have a variable exterior surface. 
     
     
         77 . The rotary slip grip system of  claim 58 , wherein the rotary slip grip system is capable of griping pipe having an outer diameter from about 2⅞ inches to about 6⅝ inches. 
     
     
         78 . The rotary slip grip system of  claim 58 , wherein the rotary slip grip system is capable of suspending about 175 tons. 
     
     
         79 . A rotary slip grip system, comprising:
 (a) a cage spacer fixedly attached to a slip body;   (b) a dog cage having a plurality of openings, wherein the dog cage is movably attached to the slip body and vertically positioned by the cage spacer; and   (c) a plurality of locking dogs adaptably mountable to a plurality of seats in the slip body, wherein each of the locking dogs has a front surface to engage an object and wherein the front surface of each of the plurality of locking dogs is disposed through each of the plurality of openings in the dog cage.   
     
     
         80 . The rotary slip grip system of  claim 79 , wherein the cage spacer comprises a central, upper lip to prevent accumulation of debris. 
     
     
         81 . The rotary slip grip system of  claim 79 , wherein the cage spacer comprises two half-rings adaptable mountable to the upper surface of the slip body, wherein the two half-rings come together to form a ring shape when the rotary slip grip system is in a closed position. 
     
     
         82 . The rotary slip grip system of  claim 81 , wherein each half-ring of the cage spacer comprises a central, upper lip to retain an upper lip of the dog cage when the rotary slip grip system is in the closed position. 
     
     
         83 . The rotary slip grip system of  claim 79 , wherein the dog cage comprises two half-cylinders with an upper lip and a lower opening. 
     
     
         84 . The rotary slip grip system of  claim 79 , wherein each of the plurality of openings are an inverted “T” shape, a rectangle shape, a square shape, a “T” shape or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         85 . The rotary slip grip system of  claim 79 , wherein each of the plurality of openings are a “T” shape. 
     
     
         86 . The rotary slip grip system of  claim 79 , wherein each of the plurality of locking dogs are a cubic shape, a cuboid shape, a cylinder shape, a square pyramid shape, a trapezoidal prism shape, a triangle prism shape or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         87 . The rotary slip grip system of  claim 79 , wherein each of the plurality of locking dogs are a cuboid shape. 
     
     
         88 . The rotary slip grip system of  claim 79 , wherein each of the plurality of locking dogs comprise an extension on each side. 
     
     
         89 . The rotary slip grip system of  claim 79 , wherein each of the plurality of locking dogs comprise a cylindrical extension on each side. 
     
     
         90 . The rotary slip grip system of  claim 79 , wherein the rotary slip grip system further comprises a plurality of cage return springs disposed between the cage spacer and the dog cage. 
     
     
         91 . The rotary slip grip system of  claim 79 , wherein the rotary slip grip system further comprises a compression spring disposed between each of the plurality of locking dogs and the slip body. 
     
     
         92 . The rotary slip grip system of  claim 79 , wherein one or more of the cage spacer, the dog cage and the locking dogs are constructed of an alloy steel. 
     
     
         93 . The rotary slip grip system of  claim 79 , wherein one or more of the cage spacer, the dog cage and the plurality of locking dogs are constructed of an American Iron and Steel (AISI) 4000 Series alloy steel or equivalent material. 
     
     
         94 . The rotary slip grip system of  claim 79 , wherein the plurality of locking dogs is constructed of a carburizing alloy steel. 
     
     
         95 . The rotary slip grip system of  claim 79 , wherein the plurality of locking dogs is constructed of an American Iron and Steel (AISI) 8620 carburizing alloy steel or equivalent material. 
     
     
         96 . The rotary slip grip system of  claim 79 , wherein the plurality of locking dogs has a Carbide coating or equivalent coating. 
     
     
         97 . The rotary slip grip system of  claim 79 , wherein the plurality of locking dogs has a Carbide coating with about 6% Cobalt binder or equivalent material. 
     
     
         98 . A method of using a rotary slip grip system, the method comprising:
 (a) providing the rotary slip grip system of  claim 58 ;   (b) opening the rotary slip grip system;   (c) positioning the rotary slip grip system around an object to be suspended; and   (d) closing the rotary slip grip system and allowing the plurality of locking dogs to engage the object.   
     
     
         99 . The method of  claim 98 , wherein step (a) comprises: lowering an object to be suspended into a bore of a drilling rig floor and providing the rotary slip grip system. 
     
     
         100 . The method of  claim 98 , wherein step (b) comprises: unlatching an external lock and opening the rotary slip grip system. 
     
     
         101 . The method of  claim 99 , wherein step (c) comprises: positioning the rotary slip grip system around the object and lowering the rotary slip grip system into the bore of the drilling rig floor. 
     
     
         102 . The method of  claim 101 , wherein step (d) comprises lowering the object and allowing the plurality of locking dogs to engage the object, comprises closing the rotary slip grip system, and latching the external lock. 
     
     
         103 . The method of  claim 98  further comprising (e) suspending the object. 
     
     
         104 . The method of  claim 103 , wherein step (e) comprises suspending the object using an elevator. 
     
     
         105 . The method of  claim 103  further comprising (f) lifting the object. 
     
     
         106 . The method of  claim 105 , wherein step (f) comprises lifting the object by using an elevator. 
     
     
         107 . The method of  claim 105  further comprising (g) un-wedging the plurality of locking dogs. 
     
     
         108 . The method of  claim 107 , wherein step (g) comprises un-wedging the plurality of locking dogs by lifting the object up slightly using an elevator. 
     
     
         109 . The method of  claim 107  further comprising (h) lifting the rotary slip grip system and allowing the plurality of locking dogs to disengage the object. 
     
     
         110 . The method of  claim 109 , wherein step (h) comprises lifting the rotary slip grip system from the bore of the drilling rig floor using an elevator and allowing the plurality of locking dogs to disengage the object. 
     
     
         111 . The method of  claim 109  further comprising (h) lifting the rotary slip grip system from the bore of the drilling rig floor using an actuation system and allowing the plurality of locking dogs to disengage the object. 
     
     
         112 . The method of  claim 109  further comprising (i) opening the rotary slip grip system. 
     
     
         113 . The method of  claim 112 , wherein step (i) comprises unlatching the external lock and opening the rotary slip grip system. 
     
     
         114 . The method of  claim 98  further comprising:
 (e) suspending the object; 
 (f) lifting the object; 
 (g) un-wedging the plurality of locking dogs by lifting the object slightly using an elevator; 
 (h) lifting the rotary slip grip system and allowing the plurality of locking dogs to disengage the object; and 
 (i) unlatching the external lock and opening the rotary slip grip system. 
 
     
     
         115 . The rotary slip grip system of  claim 58 , wherein the rotary slip grip system further comprises a first actuation means to force the plurality of locking dogs to engage an object and to hold tension on the object to be lifted or suspended. 
     
     
         116 . The rotary slip grip system of  claim 114 , wherein the first actuation means is hydraulic actuation, manual actuation, mechanical actuation or pneumatic actuation. 
     
     
         117 . The rotary grip system of  claim 79 , wherein the rotary slip grip system further comprises a first actuation means to force the locking dogs to engage an object and to hold tension on the object to be lifted or suspended. 
     
     
         118 . The elevator grip system of  claim 117 , wherein the first actuation means is hydraulic actuation, manual actuation, mechanical actuation or pneumatic actuation. 
     
     
         119 . The rotary slip grip system of  claim 58 , wherein the rotary slip grip system further comprises a second actuation means to force to lift the rotary slip grip system from a bore of the drilling rig floor. 
     
     
         120 . The rotary slip grip system of  claim 119 , wherein the second actuation means is hydraulic actuation, mechanical actuation or pneumatic actuation. 
     
     
         121 . The rotary slip grip system of  claim 119 , wherein the slip body comprises a first slip body and a second slip body; and
 wherein the second actuation means comprises an actuation system, the actuation system comprising:
 a first actuation body; 
 a second actuation body; 
 a first lift arm having a first end and a second end, wherein the first actuation body is movably attached to the first end of the first actuation lift arm and the second end of the first lift arm is movably attached to the first slip body; 
 a second lift arm having a first end and a second end, wherein the second actuation body is movably attached to the first end of the second lift arm and the second end of the second lift arm is movably attached to the second slip body; 
 a first cam shaft having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the first cam shaft is movably attached to the first end of the first lift arm; 
 a second cam shaft having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the second cam shaft is moveably attached to the first end of the second lift arm; 
 a first drive arm having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the drive arm is movably attached to the second end of the first cam shaft and the second end of the first drive arm is attached to the second end of the second cam shaft; 
 a second drive arm having a first end and a second end, wherein the second end of the second cam shaft is movably attached to the first end of the second drive arm; and 
 a cylinder having a cylinder rod, wherein and the second end of the second drive arm is movably attached to the cylinder rod. 
   
     
     
         122 . The rotary slip grip system of  claim 79 , wherein the slip grip system further comprises a second actuation means to lift the rotary slip grip system from a bore of a drilling rig floor. 
     
     
         123 . The rotary slip grip system of  claim 121 , wherein the second actuation means is hydraulic actuation, mechanical actuation or pneumatic actuation. 
     
     
         124 . The rotary slip grip system of  claim 123 , wherein the slip body comprises a first slip body and a second slip body; and
 wherein the second actuation means comprises an actuation system, the actuation system comprising:
 a first actuation body; 
 a second actuation body; 
 a first lift arm having a first end and a second end, wherein the first actuation body is movably attached to the first end of the first actuation lift arm and the second end of the first lift arm is movably attached to the first slip body; 
 a second lift arm having a first end and a second end, wherein the second actuation body is movably attached to the first end of the second lift arm and the second end of the second lift arm is movably attached to the second slip body; 
 a first cam shaft having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the first cam shaft is movably attached to the first end of the first lift arm; 
 a second cam shaft having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the second cam shaft is moveably attached to the first end of the second lift arm; 
 a first drive arm having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the drive arm is movably attached to the second end of the first cam shaft and the second end of the first drive arm is attached to the second end of the second cam shaft; 
 a second drive arm having a first end and a second end, wherein the second end of the second cam shaft is movably attached to the first end of the second drive arm; and 
 a cylinder having a cylinder rod, wherein and the second end of the second drive arm is movably attached to the cylinder rod.