Patent ID: 8181721

Claim:
A top drive track and slide assembly comprising: a. a modular torque track assembly configured to connect on a drilling rig between a crown of a derrick and a bottom portion of the drilling rig; and b. a torque track slide assembly configured to connect to a top drive housing of a top drive, and configured to slidably engage the modular torque track assembly, the torque track slide assembly comprising: (i) a slide body comprising: (a) a first side wall, a second side wall, and a back wall connected between the first side wall and the second side wall; (b) a first extension connected to the first side wall and disposed parallel to the back wall; (c) a second extension connected to the second side wall and disposed parallel to the back wall; and (d) an opening formed axially between the first extension and the second extension, wherein the modular torque track assembly is configured to be engaged within the opening, and wherein the torque track slide assembly is configured to slide along the modular torque track assembly; (ii) a top plate and a bottom plate connected to the slide body for reacting torque applied to the slide body and securing the slide body to the top drive housing; (iii) a plurality of corner ridges extending axially along: (a) a connection of the first side wall and the back wall; (b) a connection of the second side wall and the back wall; (c) a connection between first side wall and the first extension; and (d) a connection between the second side wall and the second extension, wherein each corner ridge extends within the slide body towards the opening; (iv) a first insert on the back wall interlocking a second insert on the first side wall and interlocking a third insert on the second side wall, wherein the first insert is interlocked with the plurality of corner ridges that extend axially along the connection of the first side wall and the back wall and with the plurality of corner ridges that extend axially along the connection of the second side wall and the back wall; (v) a fourth insert on the first extension interlocking with the second insert, wherein the fourth insert is interlocked with the plurality of corner ridges that extend axially along the connection of the first side wall and the first extension; (vi) a fifth insert on the second extension interlocking with the third insert, wherein the fifth insert is interlocked with the plurality of corner ridges that extend axially along the connection of the second side wall and the second extension, wherein each insert comprises a plurality of interlocking tabs interlocked with a plurality of interlocking spaces of adjacent inserts, and wherein each insert comprises: polyamide, a polymer configured to be non-deforming in the presence of torque, or a polytetrafluoroethylene polymer; and (vii) a plurality of insert fasteners engaging through the first extension and the second extension securing the fourth insert and the fifth insert to the slide body.