Connector system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10167681-B2
Application number	US-201414587912-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 31, 2014
Priority date	Dec 31, 2014
Publication date	Jan 1, 2019
Grant date	Jan 1, 2019

Abstract

A system including a connector system configured to couple a first tubular to a second tubular, including a sleeve configured to couple to an exterior surface of the first tubular, wherein the sleeve comprises a coupling feature, a lock ring configured to couple to the exterior surface of the second tubular and radially engage the coupling feature on the sleeve, and a support ring configured to energize the lock ring into engagement with the sleeve.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system, comprising:
a connector system configured to couple a first tubular component to a second tubular component, comprising:
a sleeve configured to couple to a first exterior surface of the first tubular component, wherein the sleeve comprises a coupling feature, and the sleeve comprises a first tool coupling configured to couple with a tool;
a lock ring configured to couple to a second exterior surface of the second tubular component, wherein the lock ring comprises a first tapered surface, and the lock ring is configured to move along a first path of movement in an outward radial direction and radially engage the coupling feature on the sleeve; and
a support ring comprising a second tapered surface and a second tool coupling configured to couple with the tool, wherein the sleeve is configured to be disposed about both the lock ring and the support ring to align the tool with the support ring, wherein the support ring is configured to move along a second path of movement in an axial direction in response to the tool, engage the second tapered surface against the first tapered surface, and drive the lock ring along the first path of movement in the outward radial direction into engagement with the coupling feature of the sleeve.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the lock ring comprises one or more protrusions configured to engage the sleeve, and the coupling feature comprises one or more grooves configured to receive the lock ring.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first tool coupling of the sleeve comprises a first radial tool coupling.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the second tool coupling of the support ring comprises a second radial tool coupling.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the sleeve comprises a radial aperture configured to pass a radial portion of the tool through the sleeve and couple to the second radial tool coupling of the support ring.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the first radial tool coupling is disposed on an exterior surface of the sleeve.

7. The system of claim 1 , comprising the tool coupled with the first tool coupling of the sleeve, wherein the tool has a radial portion and an axial drive portion configured to move the radial portion along a third path of movement in the axial direction to drive the support ring along the second path of movement.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the axial drive portion comprises a threaded shaft oriented in the axial direction, and the radial portion comprises a stud oriented in the outward radial direction.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the coupling feature comprises first threads and the lock ring comprises second threads, and the first and second threads engage one another to engage the first tubular component to be compressed against the second tubular component.

10. The system of claim 7 , wherein the axial drive portion comprises a piston in a housing, and the piston is configured to move in the axial direction in response to a fluid pressure.

11. A system, comprising:
a mineral extraction system, comprising:
a first tubular component;
a second tubular component comprising an annular groove; and
a connector system configured to couple the first tubular component to the second tubular component, comprising:
a sleeve configured to couple to the first tubular component, wherein the sleeve comprises a coupling feature;
a lock ring configured to be disposed in the annular groove of the second tubular component radially between the second tubular component and the sleeve, wherein the lock ring comprises a first tapered surface, and the lock ring is configured to move along a first path of movement in an outward radial direction and radially engage the coupling feature on the sleeve; and
a support ring configured to be disposed in the annular groove of the second tubular component adjacent the lock ring and radially between the second tubular component and the sleeve, wherein the sleeve is configured to be disposed about both the lock ring and the support ring, wherein the support ring comprises a second tapered surface, wherein the support ring is configured to move along a second path of movement in an axial direction, engage the second tapered surface against the first tapered surface, and drive the lock ring along the first path of movement in the outward radial direction into engagement with the coupling feature of the sleeve.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the coupling feature comprises one or more grooves configured to receive the lock ring.

13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the sleeve comprises a first tool coupling and the support ring comprises a second tool coupling, and the first and second tool couplings are configured to couple with a tool configured to drive movement of the support ring along the second path of movement.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the first tool coupling comprises a first radial tool coupling and the second tool coupling comprises a second radial tool coupling.

15. The system of claim 11 , comprising a tool coupled to an outer circumference of the sleeve, wherein the tool has a radial portion and an axial drive portion configured to move the radial portion along a third path of movement in the axial direction to drive the support ring along the second path of movement.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the axial drive portion comprises a threaded shaft oriented in the axial direction, and the radial portion comprises a stud oriented in the outward radial direction.

17. The system of claim 15 , wherein the axial drive portion comprises a piston in a housing, and the piston is configured to move in the axial direction in response to a fluid pressure.

Assignees

• Cameron Int Corp

Inventors

• Nguyen Dennis P

Classifications

• E21B17/046 Primary

  with ribs, pins, or jaws, and complementary grooves or the like, e.g. bayonet catches · CPC title

• E21B33/038

  Connectors used on well heads, e.g. for connecting blow-out preventer and riser · CPC title

• F16L37/15

  the element being a wedge · CPC title

• F16L25/009

  Combination of a quick-acting type coupling and a conventional one · CPC title

• F16L25/00 Primary

  Construction or details of pipe joints not provided for in, or of interest apart from, groups F16L13/00 - F16L23/00 (adjustable or allowing movement F16L27/00; with fluid cut-off means F16L29/00; quick-acting F16L37/00; for double-walled or multi-channel pipes F16L39/00; connecting arrangements or other fittings specially adapted to be made of plastics or to be used with pipes made of plastics F16L47/00; specially adapted for pipes of brittle material F16L49/00) · CPC title