Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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NEW AND IMPROVED COUPLING APPA~TUS
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A~stract of the Disclosure
For use in connecting first and second pipes, an
apparatus wh~ch incorporates an external sleeve adapted to
be abutted against a flange and positioned about a first
pipe and enclosing oppositely facing sets of tapered slips.
The slips incorporate serrations to enable them to grip the
first pipe. An encircling cavity receives fluid under high
pressure and hydraulically forces the two sets of slips to
an actuated position, fir~ly gripping the first pipe. This
provides a good mechanical connection of the connector to
the first pipe. The second pipe is preferably connected to
the flange. A separate set of fluid seals prevent leakage.
They are actuated by means of a second set of pistons which
hydraulically force the seal members with adequate pressure
to cause them to seal the connection of the first and second
pipes. The coupl~ng apparatus has a separate mechanical
coupling and an i~olated seal mechanism which are separately
actuated.
! Back round of the Di~closure
g
In installation of gatherlng lines at sea which
extend from submerged well head production equlpment to a
collection facility, it i9 necessary to install couplings.
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Often the collection pipe is welded in strings on the
surface and coated with concrete weight material to cause it
to sink. The surface welded connections cannot be used for
thle entirety of the length of the line from origin to
destination, and it is necessary to install a coupling which
is attached mechanically. It is the ~ort of coupling which
can be installed normally only once, and its correct
installation is necessary initially. The coupling must be
fluid tight and not require service or checking after
installation.
The pxesent invention is a coupling which ha~
the~e virtue~. It ~s a single coupling which isolates the
mechanical coupling of pipe from fluid coup}ing. It
, incorporate~ a mechanical coupling which Sears up under
loading placea on ~t, and has a separate fluid seal coupling
which ~s not lnflicted with the qubstantial mechanical load
carried by the mechanical coupling. The coupling apparatus
finds applicat$on at other locations such as on land.
Summa of the Disclosure
ry
The present invention cooperates with first and
~econd pipes to connect them. It includes a tubular sleeve
which encircles the first pipe. The tubular sleeve captures
on its interior two sets of latching mechanisms which work
against ona another~ Each set includes a taper, a serrated
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set of slips, and a piston which force~ the slip against the
taper, thereby causing the slips to grip and engage the
first pipe which is on the interior. ~ydraulic ~luid is
introduced between the piston~ under pressure to force them
apart. After the pistons move apart, they are held in
position by a ratchet mechanism connected between the two
pistons. The tubular ~leeve connects to a flange plate
which bolts to an enlarged housing attached to the end of
the second pipe. The enlarged housing receives a set of
~eal members on its lnterior asainst the exterior of the
first pipe which is telescoped into the housing. A 1uid
connection through the houslng lntroduces fluid against a
piston arrangement which pressurize~ the ~eal, thereby
forc$ng th~m into sealing engagement with the interior of
the houslng and the exterior o~ the ~ir~t pipe.
Description of the Drawing~
Fig. 1 is a sectional view of the coupling of the
present invention disclosing separate mechanical couplings
and ~eal members and means for actuating them and a novel
means for retaining the engaged position; and,
Fig. 2 ~s an enlarged sectional view showing
details of a ratchet means which holds the mechanical
coupling in th~ engaged position.
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D~scription of the Preferred ~mbodiment
In Fig. 1, the coupling 10 cooperates with a first
pipe 12 and a second pipe 14. The pipes 12 and 14 are equal
preferably in di~neter, though this is not mandaiory. The
S coupling 10 of the present invention contemplates the
attachment of an enlarged housing 16 to the pipe 14 by means
of welding or integral manufacture. The enlarged housing
has an internal diameter and length to receive the first
pipe 12 and the sealing apparatus of the coupling 10. The
enlarged housing extends to a flange plate 18 which is
abutted against a similar flange plate 20, and the ~wo are
joined by nuts and bolts threaded through bolt holes on a
common circle in the two flange plates 18 and 20.
Alternatively, an encircling clam~ can be used to fasten the
flange plates together. The flange plate 20 is connected to
a tubular sleeve 22 which is concentrically located around
the first plpe 12. The space inside the tubular sleeve
generally receive~ that portion of the equipment which
provides the mechanical connection of the two pipes. By
contrast, the cavity in3ide the housing 16 receives the seal
portion.
The equipment is assembled in the manner shown in
Fig. 1 and the mechanical coupling is made first by
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application of extremely high fluid pressure thereto. After
it has been made fast, the seal apparatu~ in the housing 16
is then actuated to sealing engagement and made fast. This
will be explained in deta11. The tubular sleeve 22 is
threaded at 23 to engage a hollow member 24 which serves as
a taper. The member 24 has a ~loping ~nternal face.. The
tapered body 24 fits about the pipe 12 but it is not
necessary that ~t form a leak-proof connection therewith or
even contact the pipe surface. The tapered body 24 works
again~t a tapered ~lip 25 which i8 ormed of cyl~ndrical
stock. The 51ip 25 has a set of serrations or thrsaas on
its inner face against the pipe. They are normally spaced
slightly about the pipe in the disas~embled state. The
tapered slip 25 has an external tapered face ex~ending along
its exter~or which ha~ an angle matching that of th~ tapered
face on ~he body 24. In the relaxed condition of Fig. 1,
the two faces match and contact along their ength. The
tapered slip 25 incorporates an abutting end face 26. Force
applied to the face 26 forces the ~lip 25 against the
tapered body 24 and deflect~ ~t inwardly. The sl~p 25 has
at lea~t two and as many as nece~sary 810t8 cut therein from
each end ana interleaved to permlt lt to deflect inwardly
more read1ly as $t i5 pushed to the left as viewed in Fig.
1~ The slots accomodate shrinkage of the encircling tubular
body as it 18 radially loaded. When it i8 forc~d to the
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left, the thread~ or serrations on its inter~ or faCQ com~
.Lnto contact with the first pipe 12 and grip it irm1y.
A ~l~dable piston 28 abuts the face 26 of the slip
25. The p~ston 28 1~ concentrically arranged around the
'pipe 12 and bears again~t the en~ face 26. The piston
~nc~rporates a seal member 30 which prevents lea~age of
pressure flu~d therepast. The piston bears against the face
26 and i~ sized to fit snuggly ~n the tubular sleeve 22. It
i~ not necessary that it contact the pipe. The piston 28
incorporates a shoulder 3~ and has an extended body portion
34 wh~ch ~ of reduced d~ameter. This defines an external
step fully encirallng the pi~on 28 to ena~le a second
pi~ton to be 81~ dably posit~oned against the ~houlder 3~ and
telesaope~ around the relatively narrow neck portion 34.
lS The nec~ port~on 34 term~natQs ln a set of elongate f~ngers
36. Th~ flngers 36 def~ne a set of collet finger~ separated
I ~y ln~ividual lengthwise grooves 40. The grooves 40
¦ separate the ~lngers, and the finger~ are thus able ~o
I Aeflect ~nwardly and outwardly ln response to lateral
1 20 loading. ~he fingers 36 support f~ nger tip~ 3B which have a
` ~et o thraaas cut ln ~he~r exterior face. Treat~ng all the
: fingers collectively, the finger tlp~ 38 are collect~vely
machined with a set of threads better illu~trated at 44 ln
th~ low~r half of F~g. 1. The thread3 44 ~erve as a ratchet
m~chan~sm whlch will be mor~ fuliy de~cribed.
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A secona piston 48 has an elongate tubular portion
50 whlch abuts the shoulder 32 of ~he f~rst pi~ton 28. The
tubular portion extends over the neck portion 34 of th~
firQt piston. The second piston i~ provided with a ~eal
means 52 whiah engages the surrounding tubular sleeve 22. A
sscond seal member 54 $~ located on the interior of the
tubular portion 50 ana seals against the narrow neck portion
34 of the first pi~ton 28. The interior surface of the
narrow neck portion 50 i5 threaded for about one-half of lt~
length at ~a. The thread 58 engages the thread 44 at the
collet f~nger tip~ 38. The threads ~8 pref~rably are cut to
def~ne a ratchet mechan~m. They are cut w~th one angled
face and a ~ran~verse face. The tran~verse face 1OOkB
towar~ the flr~t plst~n 28. The threads ~4 and 58 define a
1 15 loc~$ng thread~d arrangement. The pls~on 28 i8
f hydraullcally forced away from the p~ston 58, ¢aus$ng the
aollet finger~ 36 to ratchet as they are forced axially away
from the max$mum penetration in~o the ~econd piston, without
rotation. ~owever, they cannot ratchet to enable movement
ln the oppos~e d~rect~on~ Maximum penetration on
rethreading ~ achieved only by rotat~on. Thi~ i~
CO~V~niQnt at ~he time of a~sembly.
The pi3~0ns are able to be forced apart by the
introduction of hydraul~c flu~d through a fltting 60. Ater
they have been forced apart, they ar8 held apart by the
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ratchet mecllani~m. The ratche~ mechanism malntains i~9
position indefinitely.
The first piston 2~ sets a first slip 25. The
sec~nd piston 48 works against a second slip 62. The slip
62 is constructed identically to the slip 25. It is
pr~vided with a facing transverse shoulder which contacts
the second piston. It has a tapered outer surface and an
axlally formed central passage with threads ~ormed therein
to enable it to grip the plpe 12. ~he tapered slip 62 is
telescoped into a tapered body 64. The tapered body is
captured lnside ~he tubular 31eeve 22 and abuts the flange
plate 20. It ~s fixed in position and is not movable. Th~
51ip 62 iS moved by forcing it to the interior of the
tapered body 64. The slip 62 also has set~ of interleave~
ax~al ~lot~ to enable contract~on toward the pipe 12.
The housing 16 receiveR that port~on o~ the
equipment which provldes the fluid seal. ~he mechanical
connection ls achleved to the left of the flange plates 18
and 20~ On the rlght slae of the flange plates is a spacer
meMber 66. A stacX of 8eAl~ is shown at 68. Another
~pacer, a lantern ring, ~ 8 shown at 70. An additional set
of seals 72 ~8 included. ~he seals can be che~ron ~eal~ or
a~y other su1table form of seal. The ~eals are brought ~nto
contaat with the lnner faae of the hous~ng 16 and the
external face of the p~pe 12. The 8eal8 are compres~ed into
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sealing contact by a piston 74. The piston 74 incorporates
a seal ring 76 on it~ exterior to prevent leakage therepast.
For reduction of cost in manufacturing, the piston 74 i8
preferably ldentical to the first piston 28 previously
~ r~bed. The pin~ton 74 does not ordinarily carry the
~ inflicted on the piston 28. A second piston 78 is
preferably s~milar or identical to the second piston 48
pre'.r' ou81y described. The ~irst and second pistons 74 and
78 incorporate outwardly faclng seal rings to prevent
leaXage therepast~ The ~econd piston 78 extend~ over a
relatively narrow neck port~on on the first piston and the
two are appropriately sealed. The second piston has a set
of nternal threads which are engaged by a set of collet
fingQr3. Thi~ enables ~he pistons 74 and 78 to be forced
apaxt hy~raulcally a~d maintaln their po~ltlon after relief
of hydraulic pressure. Fig~ 1 further discloses a thre~ded
fi~ting 80 ad~acent the ~pacer 70 and in the midst of all of
the seals. A hydraulic fitting 82 open~ into the space
between the first and ~econd pistons~ There i~ a small
enclrcling volume ~etween the first and ~econd pistons in
communlcation with the port 82 to enable flu~d pressure to
be ~ntro~uced~ The plstonfi 74 and 78 are held apart ~y a
ratchet mechan~m ~milar to the one previou~ly aescr~bed.
For operat~on, the hou~lng 16 i~ attached to the
cond pipe 14 by welding or ~ntegral manufacture. The
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fluid pressure seal apparatu~ is posit~oned ~n the housing
16. The tubular sleeve 22 and all of the apparatus on its
~nterlor i~ telescoped over the end of the first pipe 1~.
The first pipe 12 is stabbed ~nto the housing 16 and abutted`
against the far end of the housing. The flange plate 20 i~
moved against the flange plate 18 and the two flanges are
made fast with appropriate nuts and bolts, or a flange
clamp. It is preferable to lock the mechanical anchor
f~rst. ~ydraulic fluid is introduced through the fitting 60
at extremely high pressures. There ~ a ~mall cylindrical
vol~me to receiv~ hydraulic fluid betwoen ~he first and
second piston~. It is introduced into thi-~ spaae. As the
pres~ure ig increa~ed, the fir~t and second pistons are
forced apart as illustrated ln F1~. 2. As th~y move apart,
they forae ~he tapered slips 25 and 62 away from one another
and against the surrounding tapered bod~e~ 24 and Ç4,
respeoti~ely. This mo~ement of the tapered slips forces
them into firm binding grip aroun~ the first pip~ 12,
thereby secur$ng the apparatu~ to the first p~pe. When an
ade~uate gri~ i achieved, it can then be rele~sed~ A~ the
p~3ton~ move apart, the collet finger~ 36 aro pulled from
th~ thread~ 5B on th~ interior of the ~econd pis~on. A~ t~e
~irs~ pis~on mov~s ~o the left, the collet fingers 36 ride
o~er ~he cre~t of ~he threads 58. As th~ fingers 36 ride
~Yer th~ ~hreads, th~y ~o~e to the left untll the Beparation
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of the two pistons is completed. When the fluid pressure is
removed, there will be a tendancy of the collet flngers to
slide back to the right. This i~ accomodated only slightly
as the external threads 44 mesh with the internal threads
58. The threads permit only ~light movement back to the
right, and this movement ~s limited onto that required to
enable the collet finger~ to deflect outwardly and achieYe
complete facial contact with the threads 58.
~ne fitting 60 can conveniently be closed over
with a cap to seal hydraullc fluid in the equ~pment.
~ydraulic oil wh~ch will be protective to the parts of the
equipment i~ preferably use~. ~f the apparatus is placed
under water for a long lnterval, water might intrude along
the surface of the plpe 12, but it cannot ordinarily come
in~o contact w~th the machined faces of the piston~. ThQ
cap on the fittiny 60 can be removed mu¢h later and
additional pre~sure fluid applied to the apparatus D
Th~ mechanical connective means ha~ ~een
described. Fluld pressure 18 appl~ed to ths f~tt~nq 82 to
perfect the leak-pr~of seal. Fluid ~s introduced ~etwesn
th~ first and ~econd p~ ston~ 74 an~ 78. Adequate pre~ur~
for operat~ng th~ ~eals ~8 a~d 72 is introduced~
~xces~ively ~arge press~re is not normally required. Ater
adequate pres~ur~ i8 attain~d~ the ~eal~ are compresssd and
move radially ~nwardly snd outwardly to pe~fect 6e~1ing
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ca,ntact with the concentrically arranged tubular members
about the seal. The fitting 80 permit~ auxillary acce~s to
the seals. The fitting i~ preferably capped after a seal
has been consummated. A small line connected to the fitting
80 collects any leakage. The piston 78 cannot ~ove to the
right, 80 movement is by the first piston to th~ left.
The pipe 12 is ~tabbed in~o the seals 68 and 72
where its penetration i8 limited by an end abutting
shou~der. However, it is not necessary for the pip~ 12 to
penetrate to the shoulder, or for the shoulder to be
incorporated ~n the housing 16. The pipe 14 conveniently
connects to a flange tnot shown~ or other down~tream
equipment. The seal section of apparatus to the right of
the flange 18 can be removed and reused. Subsequent reuse
requires d$sassembly of the nest of ~eal members and
rethread~ng of the ratchet mechanism between the pistons 74
and 78 to the lllustrated position ~f Fi~. 1.
Th~ foregoing i9 dir~cted to a descript~on and
installatlon of the present invention. Many alterations and
variat~ons can be incorporated without departing from the
scope of the present invention.
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