Patent ID: 7117938

Claim:
Drilling rig apparatus for connecting and disconnecting well pipe comprising, a base fixed for no movement relative to a drilling rig floor spaced about a well opening defining a well axis in the rig floor above a rotary table, said base having a frame with a slot formed therein, a remotely controlled power slip apparatus disposed in said slot for insertion and withdrawal of slips in said rotary table, a remotely controlled lifting mechanism coupled to said base and translatable vertically parallel to said well axis, a powered wrench assembly carried by said lifting mechanism including a lower wrench arranged and designed for gripping a lower box coupling of a drill pipe section at said well opening and an upper wrench arranged and designed for spinning an upper pin coupling into or out of threaded engagement with said box coupling and designed and arranged for gripping and torquing said pin coupling for make up torquing or break out torquing.