Patent ID: 6913096

Claim:
A top drive well drilling apparatus comprising: a body with means for suspending the body from a drilling rig; a motor secured to the body, the motor having a central passage defining a rotational axis, the central passage being adapted to receive a tubular drive shaft; a pipe gripping assembly which underlies and is in axial alignment with the central passage; and means for rotating the pipe gripping assembly independent of the motor for orientation of the pipe gripping assembly; means being provided for moving the body laterally whereby the pipe gripping assembly can be moved into engagement with a pipe in a mouse hole of the drilling rig; and the means for moving the body laterally including a travel member which moves substantially vertically up and down the drilling rig, a torque restraint arm being pivotally mounted to the travel member and pivotally mounted to the body, the torque restraint arm being angularly adjustable by means of a first fluid actuated extendible cylinder, thereby moving the body laterally.