Tubular handling apparatus

1. A tubular handling assembly, comprising:

a mandrel;

a plurality of gripping elements for gripping a tubular, the plurality of gripping elements coupled to and rotatable with the mandrel;

one or more accumulators;

a first actuator configured to compress against the tubular and supply fluid to the one or more accumulators; and

a second actuator configured to receive fluid from at least one of the one or more accumulators and to actuate the plurality of gripping elements.

2. The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a third actuator configured to actuate the plurality of gripping elements.

3. The assembly of claim 2 , wherein the second actuator is configured to activate the third actuator.

4. The assembly of claim 3 , wherein the third actuator comprises an annular rod.

5. The assembly of claim 3 , wherein a single accumulator supplies fluid to the second actuator and the third actuator.

6. The assembly of claim 5 , further comprising a valve for controlling fluid communication between the accumulator and the third actuator.

7. The assembly of claim 3 , further comprising a tank in selective fluid communication with the first actuator, the second actuator, and the third actuator.

8. The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a valve for controlling fluid communication between the second actuator and the at least one of the plurality of accumulators.

9. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the one or more accumulators includes a first accumulator and a second accumulator.

10. The assembly of claim 9 , wherein the second actuator is activated by fluid from the first accumulator.

11. The assembly of claim 10 , wherein the second actuator is deactivated by fluid from the second accumulator.

12. The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a remote controller for operating the assembly.

13. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the assembly includes a single accumulator.

14. The assembly of claim 11 , further comprising a third actuator configured to actuate the plurality of gripping elements.

15. The assembly of claim 14 , wherein the second actuator is configured to activate the third actuator.

16. A method of handling a tubular, comprising:

supplying fluid from a first actuator to an accumulator;

supplying fluid from the accumulator to activate a second actuator;

using the second actuator to activate a third actuator;

moving a plurality of gripping elements into engagement with the tubular; and

supplying fluid from the accumulator to increase a pressure of the third actuator, wherein supplying fluid from the first actuator to the accumulator comprises compressing the first actuator against the tubular.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising supplying fluid from a tank to the third actuator when activated by the second actuator.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising returning fluid to the tank when the second actuator is deactivated.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising supplying fluid from the tank to the first actuator.

20. The method of claim 16 , further comprising controlling fluid communication between the accumulator and the second actuator by activating or deactivating a valve.

21. A method of handling a tubular, comprising:

supplying fluid from a first actuator comprising a piston and cylinder assembly to a first accumulator and a second accumulator;

supplying fluid from the first accumulator to activate a second actuator;

using the second actuator to activate a third actuator;

moving a plurality of gripping elements into engagement with the tubular; and

supplying fluid from the second accumulator to deactivate the second actuator.

22. The method of claim 21 , further comprising supplying fluid from a tank to the third actuator when activated by the second actuator.

23. The method of claim 21 , further comprising supplying fluid from a third accumulator to increase a pressure in the third actuator.