Connection methods and systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9810354-B2
Application number	US-201414251563-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 11, 2014
Priority date	Jan 22, 2008
Publication date	Nov 7, 2017
Grant date	Nov 7, 2017

Abstract

Various novel connectors are provided. In one embodiment, the connector includes a collar configured to receive first and second components. In this embodiment, the connector may also include a load ring configured to be received in a groove of the second component and to move into and out of engagement with the collar when the second component is received by the collar. The connector of this illustrative embodiment may also include a cotter configured for installation to the second component and to inhibit disengagement of the load ring from the collar. In some embodiments, engagement of the load ring and the collar effects securing of the first and second components to one another. Other devices, systems, and methods related to connectors are also disclosed.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system, comprising:
a coupling, comprising:
a collar comprising first threads along a first end portion and second threads along a second end portion;
a first load ring having first mating threads; and
at least one anti-rotation structure configured to be disposed in a first position to block rotation of the first load ring and guide movement of the first load ring along a first axial path in a first threaded engagement between the collar and the first load ring, wherein the first threaded engagement comprises the first threads mated with the first mating threads, and the at least one anti-rotation structure is configured to be removed from the first position to enable rotation of the first load ring after the first load ring and the collar are coupled together via the first threaded engagement.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one anti-rotation structure comprises an axial structure, an axial opening, or a combination thereof.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first load ring comprises a first split load ring.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the at least one anti-rotation structure is disposed in a first split in the first split load ring.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the at least one anti-rotation structure comprises a key having a fastener receptacle to receive a radial fastener.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the first split ring comprises a first fastener receptacle disposed in a first circumferential end portion and a second fastener receptacle disposed in a second circumferential end portion, the first and second circumferential end portions are disposed about the first split, and the first and second fastener receptacles are configured to receive respective first and second radial fasteners.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the collar comprises a window selectively disposed about the key, the first circumferential end portion, and the second circumferential end portion.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one anti-rotation structure comprises a rod.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the coupling comprises a second load ring having second mating threads configured to selectively mate with the second threads of the collar in a second threaded engagement.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the at least one anti-rotation structure is configured to block rotation of the second load ring and guide movement of the second load ring along a second axial path in the second threaded engagement between the collar and the second load ring.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the at least one anti-rotation structure comprises a common anti-rotation structure selectively used to guide movement of the first load ring along the first axial path in the first threaded engagement between the collar and the first load ring or to guide movement of the second load ring along the second axial path in the second threaded engagement between the collar and the second load ring.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the at least one anti-rotation structure comprises a first anti-rotation structure configured to guide movement of the first load ring along the first axial path in the first threaded engagement between the collar and the first load ring and a second anti-rotation structure configured to guide movement of the second load ring along the second axial path in the second threaded engagement between the collar and the second load ring.

13. The system of claim 9 , wherein the first load ring is disposed along a first groove in a first component, and the second load ring is disposed along a second groove in a second component.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the first groove comprises a tapered groove.

15. The system of claim 13 , wherein the collar is selectively fastened to the first component with one or more fasteners after the first load ring and the collar are coupled together via the first threaded engagement.

16. The system of claim 13 , wherein the first load ring couples the collar to the first component and the second load ring couples the collar to the second component, wherein the first load ring and the collar are configured to rotate together to facilitate coupling of the second load ring and the collar via the second threaded engagement.

17. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first load ring couples the collar to a first component, and the second threads couple the collar to a second component.

18. The system of claim 1 , comprising one or more mineral extraction components coupled together via the coupling.

19. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one anti-rotation structure is configured to block rotation of the first load ring relative to a first coupling portion, and the at least one anti-rotation structure is configured to guide movement of the first load ring along the first axial path relative to the first coupling portion.

20. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one anti-rotation structure is configured to removably couple to the first load ring.

21. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one anti-rotation structure extends axially along at least half of an entire axial length of the first load ring.

22. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one anti-rotation structure extends axially along at least all of an entire axial length of the first load ring.

23. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first load ring is configured to move along the first axial path relative to the at least one anti-rotation structure while the collar progressively threads with first load ring via the first threads mated with the first mating threads.

24. The system of claim 1 , wherein the collar is configured to rotate relative to the first load ring while the at least one anti-rotation structure blocks rotation of the first load ring and guides movement of the first load ring along the first axial path.

25. The system of claim 1 , wherein the collar is selectively fastened to the first load ring with one or more fasteners after the first load ring and the collar are coupled together via the first threaded engagement.

26. A system, comprising:
a coupling, comprising:
a collar comprising first threads along a first end portion and second threads along a second end portion;
a first split load ring having a first split between first opposite circumferential end portions of the first split load ring; and
a first anti-rotation structure configured to selectively mount in the first split between the first opposite circumferential end portions of the first split load ring, wherein the first anti-rotation structure is configured to block rotation of the first split load ring and guide movement of the first split load ring along a first axial path, wherein the first split load ring comprises first mating threads configured to selectively engage with the first threads during the movement of the first split load ring along the axial path.

27. The system of claim 26 , comprising a second split load ring having a second split between second opposite circumferential end portions of the second split load ring, wherein the second split load ring comprises second mating threads configured to selectively engage with the second threads.

28. The system of claim 26 , wherein the first anti-rotation structure is configured to extend lengthwise in an axial direction along the first spl

Assignees

• Cameron Int Corp

Inventors

• Guidry Kirk P
• Nguyen Dennis P
• Wilhelmi Joseph R
• Shinn Terry L

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

• F16L19/0206 Primary

  the collar not being integral with the pipe · CPC title

• Y10T29/49947

  by applying separate fastener · CPC title

• F16L37/138

  using an axially movable sleeve · CPC title