Connector assembly for a mineral extraction system
AssigneeCameron International Corporation
InventorDennis P. Nguyen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A connector assembly configured to join a first tubular member to a second tubular member of a mineral extraction system includes a first annular body, a second annular body, and at least one fastener extending through the first annular body and threadably coupled to the second annular body. A sealed space is defined between the at least one fastener and the first annular body. The connector assembly also includes a lock ring configured to contact the first annular body and the second annular body. A fluid pressure within the sealed space is configured to drive the first annular body and the second annular body toward one another, thereby driving the lock ring radially inwardly to engage the second tubular member.
Claims20
A connector assembly configured to join a first tubular member to a second tubular member of a mineral extraction system, comprising:
- a first annular body;
- a second annular body;
- at least one fastener extending through the first annular body and threadably coupled to the second annular body, wherein a sealed space is defined between the at least one fastener and the first annular body;
- and
- a lock ring configured to contact the first annular body and the second annular body;
- and
- an outer annular sleeve configured to be disposed about the first and second annular bodies;
- wherein a fluid pressure within the sealed space is configured to drive the first annular body and the second annular body toward one another from a first position to a second position, thereby driving the lock ring radially inwardly to engage the second tubular member in a locked position;
- wherein the outer annular sleeve is configured to couple together and hold the first and second annular bodies in the second position to hold the lock ring in the locked position after removal of the fluid pressure within the sealed space.
A connector assembly configured to join a first tubular member to a second tubular member of a mineral extraction system, comprising:
- an annular body;
- an annular outer sleeve positioned circumferentially about the annular body;
- and
- a first radial lock supported by the annular body;
- a second radial lock supported by the annular body, wherein the first and second radial locks are axially offset from one another;
- wherein a sealed space is defined between the annular body and the annular outer sleeve along a radial axis, and a fluid pressure within the sealed space is configured to drive the annular outer sleeve relative to the annular body, thereby driving the first radial lock radially inwardly to engage the first tubular member and also driving the second radial lock radially inwardly to engage the second tubular member.
A method of joining a first tubular member to a second tubular member of a mineral extraction system using a connector assembly, comprising:
- aligning first and second radial locks supported by an annular body of the connector assembly with first and second mating features of the first and second tubular members, respectively;
- and
- providing a fluid to a sealed space defined at least in part by the annular body and an annular outer sleeve of the connector assembly, thereby driving axial movement between the annular body and the annular outer sleeve and thereby driving the first and second radial locks radially inwardly to engage the first and second mating features of the first and second tubular members, respectively.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.