Patent ID: 7784834
Filing Date: 2010-08-31
Classification: E21B,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A top drive system comprising two threadedly connected tubulars, a plurality of longitudinal ridges formed on an outside surface of each of respective mating ends of each tubular, the longitudinal ridges being essentially parallel to the central axis of the respective connected tubulars, the number of longitudinal ridges of each of the two tubulars differing only by one to allow respective longitudinal ridges of a positive, releasable locking clamp to easily mesh with the respective longitudinal ridges on the outside surface of each of respective mating ends of each tubular and to allow the clamp to easily clamp onto the respective longitudinal ridges on the outside surface of each of respective mating ends of each tubular, the positive, releasable locking clamp, the clamp comprising a body with two sets of mating longitudinal ridges on its inside surface that match in number and spacing with respective said longitudinal ridges on the outside surface of each of the respective mating ends of each tubular, the mating longitudinal ridges for clamping together the two tubulars and to prevent relative rotation between the two tubulars, one set of the clamp mating longitudinal ridges are located above the second set of the clamp mating longitudinal ridges.