Abstract: A gripper is disclosed for gripping a tubular, e.g. to facilitate rotation of the tubular, the gripper including a body, the body having conformable material having an initial body shape, and the conformable material able to change the initial body shape upon contacting a tubular with the body, the tubular having a tubular shape, the conformable material able to conform to the tubular shape of the tubular to facilitate gripping of the tubular with the gripper. This abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure and is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims, 37 C.F.R. 1.72(b).

Abstract: A gripper is disclosed for gripping a tubular, e.g. to facilitate rotation of the tubular, the gripper including a body, the body having conformable material having an initial body shape, and the conformable material able to change the initial body shape upon contacting a tubular with the body, the tubular having a tubular shape, the conformable material able to conform to the tubular shape of the tubular to facilitate gripping of the tubular with the gripper. This abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure and is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims, 37 C.F.R. 1.72(b).

Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for measuring the torque applied to the drum shaft of a hoist. By measuring the torque on the drum shaft, the force or tension on the fast line can be accurately determined. If the force or tension on the dead line is also measured, the forces on the fast line and dead line can be used to determine the force applied to the load. One embodiment of the invention uses a transmission coupled to the drum shaft as a moment arm. The transmission is coupled to a fixed point by a strain-sensing element located some distance from the center of the drum shaft. The distance between the center of the drum shaft and the point along the transmission where the strain-sensing element is mounted provides the moment arm for measuring the torque on the drum shaft. Another embodiment of the invention provides “C”-shaped side plates to support and mount the main bearings of the drum shaft.