Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
Background of the Invention
l. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to Y-type tool diverters for
guiding TFL tools into a selected flow path. More particu-
larly, the invention is directed to diverters having a system
of seals therein permitting removal of the diverter operating
shaft without depressurizing the body.
- 2. Description of the Prior Art
In order to economically produce oil and gas from deposits
located beneath the ocean floor, a single platform is fre-
quently used to provide production and service for many satel-
lite wells. The satellite wells are serviced by pumpdown or
TFL, meaning "through the flowline", equipment. Examples of
such TFL equipment, used by Otis Engineering Corporation, are
shown on pages 4069 through 4080 of the 1974-75 Composite
Catalogue of Oil Field Equipment and Services. Several wells
may be served from a common flowline. Therefore, it is neces-
sary to install a device in the common flowline to direct TFL
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tools, devices, and equipment to the desired well. A connector
containing a diverter is fre~uently installed in the common
flowline to direct the equipment into a branch line leading to
the well to be serviced.
Mechanisms much more complex than a simple Y-connector and
diverter have been developed to control the movement of tool
strings and/or fluid flow to underwater wells. Examples of
these complex mechanisms with rotary elements having multiple
drilled passageways are U.S. Patents 3,482,601; 3,545,474;
10 3,545,489; and 3,595,311. Several attempts have been made to
develop a satisfactory Y-connector and diverter to control the
movement of a tool string to an underwater well completion to
; avoid the high cost of the above, more complicated mechanisms.
U.S. Patent 3,472,317 shows a Y-connector and diverter.
The diverter operator relies upon a resilient spring to return
the diverter to its normal position.
U.S. Patent 3,599,711 shows a diverter pivoted by an arm
engaged by two pistons and two springs. The pistons act on
opposite sides of the arm to rotate the diverter. The springs
also cooperate on opposite sides of the arm to bias the di-
verter to its normal position.
U.S. Patent 3,758,072 shows a diverter operator consisting
of four pistons installed on opposite sides of an operating arm
to create rotational movement.
U.S. Patent 3,866,628 shows a Y-connector having a special
patent mechanism to hold the diverter in a desired position.
The above patents do not disclose any mechanism to allow
easy repair or replacement of the diverter operating mechanism
without depressurizing the associated flowline. The above
patents do not show or teach a reliable and rugged mechanism to
allow remote operation of the diverter.
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Summary of the Invention
One object of this invention is to provide an improved tool
diverter having an actuating means mounted on the body of the tool diverter
for engaging and pivoting the diverter means, with means for sealing between
said diverter means and said body to allow removal of the actuating means
from the body without having to depressurize the body.
According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a tool
diverter for joining a main flowline and a branch flowline comprising: tool
diverter body means connectable in a flow conductor system and having a flow
~ 10 passage therethrough diverging into two passages; diverter means mounted in
i said body means for pivotal movement between positions to open one while
closing the other of said flow passage branches to movement of tools there-
through; actuating means mounted on said body and engaging said diverter
means for pivoting said diverter means; and sealing means for sealing between
said diverter means and said body to allow removal of said actuating means
from said body means without having to depressurize the body means.
According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a
tool diverter for joining a main flowline to a branch flowline comprising:
~` a tool diverter body having a plurality of interior flow passages; diverter
means pivotally mounted within said diverter body and movable to selected
positions to open a selected one and close the other said interior passages;
actuating means mounted on the exterior of said tool diverter body; operating
shaft means integrally connected to said actuating means and extending into
the interior of said diverter body and releasably engaging said diverter
means and adapted for pivotally moving said diverter means to said selected
positions; a sealing gland surrounding a portion of said operating shaft and
slidably supporting said operating shaft within said diverter body; and seal-
ing means on said sealing gland which permits removal of said operating shaft
and actuating means without having to depressurize the interior of said
diverter body.
According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a
tool diverter for joining a main flowline to a branch flowline comprising:
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a Y-connector body having a Y-shaped bore therethrough; a diverter member
pivotally mounted within said Y-connector body; an operating shaft having one
end releasably engaging said diverter member and the other end extending
from said Y-connector body; a sealing gland held within said Y-connector
body surrounding a portion of said operating shaft and slidably receiving the
portion of said operating shaft within said Y-connector body; external
actuating means for rotating said operating shaft, said actuating means
carried by the exterior of said Y-connector body; a sealing surface on said
diverter member around said operating shaft; and a sealing surface on said
sealing gland engageable with said sealing surface on said diverter member
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and forming a fluid-tight seal when said operating shaft is removed from
said diverter.
` According to yet another aspect of the invention there is provided
in a connector for joining a main flowline to a branch flowline, having a
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diverter member pivotally mounted within said connector on an operating shaft
extending from said connector, and said operating shaft rotatable by an
external actuator mounted on said connector, said external actuator compris-
ing: a housing releasably mounted on said connector, said housing containing
a hydraulic chamber; a piston disposed within said hydraulic chamber and seal-
ing said chamber into two variable capacity zones; means for communicating
hydraulic fluid to and from each zone; a cam cylinder connected to said
operating shaft and rotatably mounted within said housing; a guide cylinder
installed between said housing to prevent rotational movement of said guide
cylinder; a wrist pin joining said piston and said cam cylinder, said wrist
pin extending through helical openings in opposite sides of said cam cylinder,
and each end of said wrist pin engaging in a longitudinal slot in opposite
sides of said guide cylinder, whereby linear movement of said piston is
translated into rotary movement of said operating shaft.
Brief Description of the Drawings
Figure 1 is a vertical partial cross section of a Y-connector
joining a main flowline and a branch flowline having a diverter at the
junction of the flowlines.
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Figure 2 is a view partially in section and partially in elevation
of a Y-connector having a manual operator.
Figure 2A is a view in elevation showing the locking plate for the
manual operator.
Figure 3 is an exploded view of the mateable sealing surfaces on
the diverter and the sealing gland.
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,~ Figure 4 is a vertical cross section view of a portion of a Y-
connector having a hydraulic operator.
~igure 5 is an exploded view showing the mechanism for translating
linear movement of a hydraulic piston into rotary movement of the operating
, shaft.
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Brief_~ etion of the Preferred Embodiments
Referring to Figure 1, a Y-connector 10 is shown having a
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main flowline or main passageway 11 and a branch flowline or
:: secondary passage 12. Diverter member 13 is shown in first
position to allow unobstructed movement of a tool string (not
shown) through main flowline 11. When pivoted to the second
position shown in dotted lines, the diverter member 13 closes
the main flowline and opens the branch flowline to allow a tool
string to move therethrough. Diverter member 13 is pivoted
from one position to the other by rotation of an operating
shaft 14. The one end of operating shaft 14 has a square cross
section engaged in a blind opening 15 in diverter 13. Operat-
~: ing shaft 14 is slida~le axially within opening 15.
Referring to Figures 2 and 2A, a manual operator is shown
generally at 20 for rotating operating shaft 14 to position
diverter 13. The manual operator 20 is releasably mounted on
the exterior of a Y-connector body 16 by a coupling 26. The
connector body 16 has a threaded passageway 17 normal to the
main flowline 11 and branch flowline 12 near the juncture of
the two flowlines. A flange 18 is formed on the exterior of
the body around passageway 17 to receive coupling 26.
A sealing gland 21 is threaded as at 23 into passageway
17. The sealing gland 21 has a bore 22 which accommodates a
portion of the operating shaft 14 providing a journal surface
for rotational support of the operating shaft 14. The portion
of the operating shaft 14 within the sealing gland 21 has a
circular cross section and is slidable axially within bore 22.
Engagement of the inner end of the gland means 21 with the
diverter member, in a manner to be explained, forms a metal-to-
metal seal which prevents leakage of fluids through gland bore
22. Leakage of fluids between the gland means and the body is
prevented by O-ring 24 disposed as shown in a suitable external
annular groove on the gland means where it sealingly engages
the counter-bore formed in body 16 at the outer end of threaded
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aperture 17. The sealing gland 21 could also be used in a con-
nector joining a main flowline to more than one branch flowline.
The sealing gland 21 could also be used in an X-connector.
Manual operator means 20 includes a housing 25 which is
generally cylindrical having a longitudinal passageway lg
therethrough which can be aligned axially with passage 17. One
end of housing 25 has a hub or flange 43 which is compatible
with flange lg. A seal ring 44 seals the space between these
flanges. The operator housing 25 is releasably attached to the
diverter body 16 by a coupling 26 joining flange 43 to flange
18 with the seal ring 44 therebetween. The housing 25 supports
the outer portion of the operating shaft 14. The outer end of
the operating shaft 14 extends through an opening 27 in the
outer end of the housing 25. Seals 28, carried by the housing
25, prevent fluid communication from the interior of Y-connector
10 along operating shaft 14. A handle 29 can be attached to
the other end of the operating shaft 14 to allow the shifting
of the diverter 13 to its first position or second position.
Although a handle 29 is shown, any suitable means could be used
to engage and rotate the operating shaft 14 extending from the
opening 27 in the operator housing 25.
A locking plate 30 is fi~ed to the housing 25. The locking
plate 30 has a hole (not shown~ which aligns with a hole 93 in
the handle 29 when the diverter 13 is in its first position and
a hole 92 which aligns with hole 93 in handle 2~ when diverter
13 is in its second position. Thus, a means is provided to
insert a padlock (not shown) and securely lock the diverter 13
in a desired position.
As best shown in Figures 2 and 2A, the coupling 26 can be
easily uncoupled to release the operator housing 25 from the
Y-connector 10 and allow re~oval of the operating shaft 14 from
the diverter 13. Prior art Y-connectors and diverters require
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depressurizing the interior of the Y-connector before the
operating shaft can be replaced. However, this invention
includes a first sealing surface 41 on the diverter 13 sur-
rounding the blind opening 15 therein and a second mating
sealing surface 42 on the sealing gland 21. The diverter
sealing surface 41 mates with the sealing gland sealing surface
42 to provide a fluid tight seal when the operating shaft 14 is
removed from the diverter 13. Thus, the seal 24 and the seal-
ing surfaces 41 and 42 prevent fluid from escaping from Y-
connector 10 when the operating shaft 14 is removed fromdiverter 13. Preferably, the diverter sealing surface 41 is
conical and sealing surface 42 is spherical to ensure a metal-
to-metal solid line contact. A metal-to metal seal is especially
desired in subsea locations where an elastomer seal could not
be easily replaced. Alternatively, one sealing surface could
carry an O-ring in a groove.
Stem 31 is permanently positioned at assembly and is not
moved thereafter. Gland 21 is adjusted at assembly to place
the sealing surfaces 41 and 42 close to each other and yet
permit the diverter member to pivot freely. Gland 21 is then
secured by suitable means such as a "gun lock" set screw.
When either the manual operator 20 or hydraulic operator
50 is attached to the Y-connector 10 by a coupling 26, operating
shaft 14 is sized such that the diverter sealing surface 41 is
spaced from the sealing gland sealing surface 42. The spacing
between the two sealing surfaces is important to prevent wear
or damage to the surfaces during normal operation of the
diverter 13.
Referring to Figures 4 and 5, the hydraulic operator
generally designated by the numeral 50, translates linear
movement of piston 51 into rotary movement of operating shaft
14a. The hydraulic operator 50 comprises a housing 52, re-
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leasably attached to the Y-connector 10 by a coupling 26. The
housing 52 is generally cylindrical with a longitudinal blind
bore 73 which can be axially aligned with a passageway 17 in
the Y-connector body 16. A flange 74, surrounding the opening
of the blind bore 73, is compatible with the flange 18 on the
Y-connector body 16. The housing 52 partially defines a hy-
draulic chamber 53 within the blind bore 73, which contains a
piston 51. A seal 54 carried by piston 51, divides hydraulic
chamber 53 into two variable capacity zones. Port 55 admits
hydraulic control fluid from the exterior of housing 52 into
one zone and port 56 admits hydraulic fluid into the other
zone. A guide cylinder 57 is slidably contained within the
blind bore 73 by a snap ring 58. A seal 59 is provided con-
centrically about guide cylinder 57 to prevent communication of
fluid between hydraulic chamber 53 and the interior of the
Y-connector 10 along the exterior of guide cylinder 57.
There is a longitudinal slot 61 in the wall of the guide
cylinder 57 to receive pin 60, extending inwardly of housing
52, when guide cylinder 57 is inserted into the blind bore 73.
The pin 60 prevents rotation of guide cylinder 57 relative to
the housing 52 but permits longitudinal movement. That portion
of the operating shaft 14a having a circular cross section, is
inserted through an opening 62 in the guide cylinder 57. The
operating shaft 14a carries seals 63 to engage with the opening
62 to prevent communication of fluids between the interior of
the Y-connector 10 and the hydraulic chamber 53. The hydraulic
chamber 52 is defined by a housing 52, and seals 59 and 63.
The guide cylinder 57 has a second longidutinal slot 64 di-
rectly opposite slot 61.
When using the hydraulic operator 50, the outer end of the
operating shaft 14a does not exit the housing 52. Rather, the
outer end of the operating shaft 14a is an integral part of the
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cam cylinder 70. The cam cylinder 70 i.s concentric with and is
rotatable within the guide cylinder 57. The wall of the cam
cylinder 70 has two helical slots 73 cut at an angle (pre-
ferably 45 degrees) on opposite sides of the cam cylinder 70.
A piston 51 is disposed within the cam cylinder 70. To faci-
litate rotation of the cam cylinder 70, bearing means 71 are
installed between the outer end of cam cylinder 70 and an
internal shoulder 72 in the housing 52. A wrist pin 80 is
inserted through the opening 81 in the piston 51 through
helical slots 73 with one end 82 contained in the longitudinal
slot 64 and the other end 83 contained in the opposite longi- .
tudinal slot 61.
The guide cylinder 57 is prevented by the pin 60 from
rotating within housing 52. Snap ring 58 prevents longitudinal
movement of the guide cylinder 57 within the housing 52.
Therefore, longitudinal movement of piston 51 by communicating
hydraulic fluid to one zone of the hydraulic chamber 53 will
cause movement of wrist pin 80 in slots 64 and 61. Helical
slots 73 will cause the cam cylinder 70 and attached operating
shaft 14 to rotate as pin 80 moves longitudinally, To assist
in movement of the pin 80, bearing rollers 84 may be formed to
engage slots 64, 61 and 73 respectively.
Operating Sequence
With the manual operator 20 installed on a Y-connector 10,
rotation of the operator handle 29 will shift diverter member
13 from its first position to its second position and back to
position one. The diverter member 13 can be locked in either
position by inserting a padlock (not shown) through a hole 93
in the handle 29 and either hole in the locking plate 30 which
corresponds to the selected position for diverter member 13.
The manual operator 20 can easily be replaced with the
hydraulic operator 50 without having to depressurize the tool
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diverter. When the coupling 26, which holds the operator
housing to the Y-connector, is removed from flanges 18 and 43,
operating shaft 14 will slide out of the sealing gland 21 and
diverter member 13. The housing 25 can then be removed from
the Y-connector 10. The fluid pressure within the interior of
the Y-connector 10 causes the diverter sealing surface 41 to be
forced into a fluid tight sealing relationship with the sealing
gland sealing surface 42. The seal 24, formed by sealing
surfaces 41 and 42, prevents any fluid from escaping from the
interior of Y-connector 10 when the operating shaft is removed.
After the removal of the manual operator 20, a hydraulic
operator 50 can be attached to the Y-connector body 16~ A seal
ring 44 is placed between the flanges 18 and 74 by following
the sequence of: (a) placing seal ring over the shaft 14a,
(b) inserting operating shaft 14a through the bore 22 of the
sealing gland 21 and into the diverter blind opening 15,
(c) seating the seal ring 44 against the face of flange 18, and
then (d) coupling 26 is assembled to join the hydraulic op-
erator housing 52 to the Y-connector body 16.
Hydraulic control fluid is conducted through hoses (not
shown) which are connected to ports 55 and 56 in the housing
52. Increasing the hydraulic control fluid pressure at one
port and venting pressure from the other port will cause the
piston 51 to move longitudinally within the hydraulic chamber
53. The wrist pin 80 is carried by and moves longitudinally
with the piston 51 within cam cylinder 70. Guide cylinder 57
is prevented from longitudinal movement within housing 52 by a
snap ring 58 and internal shoulder 72. A pin 60 secured to the
housing 52 prevents rotation of guide cylinder 57 with respect
to the housing 52. Since one end 82 of the wrist pin 80 is
contained in slot 64 of guide cylinder 57 and the other end 83
of wrist pin 80 is contained in the slot 61 of guide cylinder
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57, wrist pin 80 and piston 51 can only move longitudinally
within the operator housing 52. Wrist pin 80 also engages
helical slots 73 formed on opposite sides of the cam cylinder
70. Therefore, longitudinal movement of the wrist pin 80 will
cause the cam cylinder 70 to rotate with respect to the housing
52. Rotation of the cam cylinder 70 causes rotation of the
operating shaft 14a which is integral therewith. Rotation of
the operating shaft 14a moves the diverter 13 from its first
position to its second position and back.
The previous description is illustrative only and changes
or modifications may be made without departing from the scope
of the invention as defined by the claims.
