Patent ID: 8752619

Claim:
An apparatus for suspending a well string along a generally vertical axis, comprising: a base plate having a slotted opening for receiving a component of the well string that is disposed generally along the axis; a clamp mechanism supported from the base plate comprising a first clamp body supported for linear motion relative to the base plate and positioned on a first side of the axis, and a second clamp body supported for linear motion relative to the base plate and positioned on a second side of the axis, the first and second clamp bodies including gripping surfaces for engaging the well string component received in the opening; and a drive mechanism coupled to the clamp bodies and configured to move the clamp bodies toward the axis and to bring the gripping surfaces into engagement with the well string component: wherein at least one of the clamp bodies comprises: at least one receiving recess having a concave surface; a carrier member disposed in the receiving recess and having a convex surface facing the concave surface of the receiving recess, and having at least one receiving recess having a concave surface; an insert member disposed in the carrier member and having a convex surface facing the concave surface of the carrier member, and having a gripping surface for gripping the well string component.