Patent ID: 7752945

Claim:
A system to rotate a pipe segment comprising: a top drive movable on a rig along an axis; a sprag support coupled to the top drive to move therewith; at least one flexible primary sprag comprising a base secured to the sprag support, a top generally opposite the base to engage a wall of the pipe segment, and an interrupted side and an opposite side intermediate the top and the base; wherein the sprag support is receivable at least one of within a bore of and about the end of the pipe segment to engage the top of the at least one primary sprag with the wall of the pipe segment; wherein rotation of the sprag support in a first direction applies a force to the top of the at least one primary sprag toward the interrupted side to facilitate slippage between the wall and the at least one primary sprag; and wherein rotation of the sprag support in a second direction opposite the first direction applies a force to the top of the at least one primary sprag to cause the at least one primary sprag to grip and rotate the pipe segment with the sprag support.