Improved oilfield tubular elevator and method for using same

摘要

An elevator for lifting and/or lowering an oilfield tubular comprising
a) a U-shaped elevator body having an end portion and first and second arms extending from said end portion, said first and second arms being separated by a distance larger than an outside diameter of the tubular to be lifted and/or lowered;
b) a first latching mechanism carried by said first arm;
c) a second latching mechanism carried by said second arm,
wherein, each of said latching mechanisms having an open position and a closed position, and each of said latching mechanisms being structured such that said latching mechanisms move to a closed position to entrap the tubular in the elevator by the first and second latching mechanisms; and wherein the latching mechanisms make contact with the tubular such that a portion of the circumference of the tubular is not within any part of the elevator.