Patent ID: 7296632

Claim:
A tool for aligning a segment of casing joint to be run suspended from a top drive assembly with a casing string in a well bore, comprising: an upper linear actuator assembly having a central body connectable to the top drive assembly, the central body being within a sleeve, the sleeve adapted to be selectively movable relative to the central body upon actuation, the sleeve functionally associated with the segment, the sleeve and the central body having a substantially similar length prior to actuation, the sleeve having a length less than a length of the central body upon actuation of the upper linear actuator, thereby moving the segment for alignment with the string; and a lower actuation assembly having an upper end connectable to the central body of the upper actuator assembly and a stinger adapted to selectively engage the segment, wherein upon actuation of the upper actuator assembly, the stinger engages the segment thereby substantially aligning the segment with the string below.