Patent ID: 7784551

Claim:
A device for making up a pipe with a string of pipe being lowered into a well, comprising: a mandrel including an upper end for securing to a drive assembly of a drill rig for rotation therewith, a lower end for insertion into a pipe, and a long axis extending between through the upper end and the lower end; a threaded interval on an outer surface of the mandrel for threaded engagement with a threaded upper end of the pipe; and an axial force generating assembly carried on the mandrel and having a contact surface that is positioned to engage a rim of the pipe when the pipe is in threaded engagement with the threaded interval, the contact surface being between the upper end and the threaded interval, the contact surface being axially movable relative to the threaded interval, the force generating assembly being driveable to apply a downward directed axial load through the contact surface to the rim of the pipe to more firmly secure the pipe to the threaded interval.