Single joint elevator having deployable jaws

摘要

The present invention provides an apparatus and a method for lifting a single joint of pipe. The single joint elevator of the present invention comprises, in one embodiment, a pair of deployable jaws cooperating with a pair of static jaws to secure a pipe within the slot of a generally horseshoe-shaped body. The deployable jaws of the single joint elevator of the present invention may be rotatably deployable or translatably deployable, or both. In one embodiment, each jaw, including the static jaws and the deployable jaws, comprises a pipe slip movably disposed within the jaw to secure a pipe segment within the slot and to self-tighten as the weight of the pipe segment secured within the single joint elevator is transferred to the slips and the jaws.

主权项

1. A method for securing a pipe segment to a lift line, the method comprising:
deploying a first positioning cylinder; deploying a second positioning cylinder; deploying a first deployable jaw from a removed position to a deployed position; deploying a second deployable jaw from the removed position to the deployed position; mechanically locking each of the first deployable jaw and the second deployable jaw in the deployed position; lifting the pipe segment by activation of a winch and cable coupled to a single joint elevator; sensing deployment of the first positioning cylinder; and sensing deployment of the second positioning cylinder, wherein deployment of the second deployable jaw is prevented until after the first deployable jaw is mechanically locked in the deployed position.