Patent ID: 7984757

Claim:
A drilling rig with a top drive having an airlift thread compensator for drilling in a well bore, the drilling rig comprising: a. a derrick having a crown; b. a torque track suspended from the crown, wherein a bottom of the torque track is connected to a bottom of the drilling rig; c. a hook secured to a cable, wherein the cable extends from the hook over at least one sheave mounted to a top of the derrick and is connected to a drawworks; d. a drawworks motor for turning the drawworks and raising or lowering the hook; and e. a top drive having a sliding engagement on the torque track and removably affixed to the hook, the top drive comprising: (i) an airlift thread compensator comprising a bail for engaging the hook and an airlift box connected to the bail, wherein the airlift box comprises: (a) a first enclosure side comprising a first pin slot; (b) a second enclosure side comprising a second pin slot; (c) a bail pin extending from the first enclosure side to the second enclosure side, wherein the bail pin is movably engaged within the first pin slot and the second pin slot; and (d) an airbag with an inflator valve disposed within the airlift enclosure, wherein the airbag is connected to the bail pin; (ii) a first upper link and a second upper link, each connected to the bail pin; (iii) a bearing housing connected to the first upper link and to the second upper link, wherein the bearing housing supports a rotatable stem; (iv) a motor splinably connected to the rotatable stem and mounted to the bearing housing; (v) a heavy thrust bearing disposed about the rotatable stem; (vi) a first lower link and a second lower link, each connected to the bearing housing; (vii) an inside blow out preventer connected to the rotatable stem; (viii) a saver sub connected to the inside blow out preventer; (ix) a torque wrench assembly connected to the bearing housing; (x) an elevator connected to the first lower link and to the second lower link, wherein the hook raises and lowers the top drive allowing drilling using a tubular in a well bore; and (xi) an airlift enclosure, wherein the airlift enclosure comprises: (a) a rear enclosure side connected to the first enclosure side and to the second enclosure side; (b) an airlift enclosure bottom connected to the rear enclosure side, to the first enclosure side, and to the second enclosure side, wherein the airbag is connected to the airlift enclosure bottom; and (c) a top enclosure side connected to the rear enclosure side opposite airlift enclosure bottom, wherein the bail pin extends beneath the top enclosure side within the airlift enclosure.