Patent ID: 7891469

Claim:
A slip carrier assembly for use in a rotary table of a drilling rig, said rotary table having rotational drive recesses and an opening for insertion of a length of pipe, the slip carrier assembly comprising: a) a plurality of slip carriers with a mounting structure for supporting said plurality of slip carriers, said mounting structure comprised of a ring configured to fit said rotational drive recesses of said rotary table, each of said slip carriers secured to said ring within said opening of said rotary table of said drilling rig, each of said slip carriers having a corresponding slip and a slipway for support and retention of said corresponding slip for relative vertical movement of said corresponding slip, and whereby each said slip carrier of said plurality of slip carriers is radially restrained directly by said rotary table opening and wherein said slip carriers remain in a secured position with respect to said ring and said rotary table opening; b) each said corresponding slip arranged for mounting on said corresponding slip carrier of said plurality of slip carriers and having a mating surface for attachment and movement on said corresponding slip carrier; and c) at least one pipe gripping die arranged for mounting on each said slip, said die having gripping surfaces for gripping the surface of said pipe.