Coiled tubing weld-on connector
AssigneeNational Oilwell Varco, L.P.
InventorsJohn M. King, James R. Streater, Jr., Michael Rossing
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A connector for coiled tubing may include a main body configured for welding to a free end of the coiled tubing and having an internal stem extending distally therefrom. The stem may include a sleeve portion and the connector may include an alignment sleeve arranged on the sleeve portion of the stem and being free to rotate relative to the stem. The alignment sleeve may have a longitudinally extending groove on an outside surface thereof for receiving a longitudinal weld bead on an inside surface of the coiled tubing.
Claims19
A connector for coiled tubing, comprising:
- a main body having a weld-on neck configured for welding to a free end of the coiled tubing and having an internal stem extending distally from the weld-on neck to a proximal end, the stem having a sleeve portion and a nut portion proximal of the sleeve portion;
- an alignment sleeve arranged on the sleeve portion of the stem and having a longitudinal length and a longitudinally extending groove on an outside surface thereof for receiving a longitudinal weld bead on an inside surface of the coiled tubing;
- and
- a retainer nut arranged on the nut portion and configured to retain the alignment sleeve, wherein the alignment sleeve is configured for free rotation relative to the stem and the retainer nut to align the longitudinally extending groove with the longitudinal weld bead, and wherein the retainer nut comprises a stopping cap configured to engage the proximal end of the stem and arrest distal motion of the retainer nut and establish a distance between a distal end of the retainer nut to the weld-on neck that exceeds the length of the alignment sleeve maintaining the distal end of the retainer nut clear of a proximal end of the alignment sleeve.
A method of connecting a connector to a free end of coiled tubing, the method comprising:
- aligning a groove in an alignment sleeve with a weld seam on an inside surface of the coiled tubing, the aligning comprising rotating the alignment sleeve relative to the connector and relative to the coiled tubing;
- inserting a portion of the connector with the alignment sleeve thereon, into the free end of the coiled tubing such that the groove receives the weld seam;
- and
- welding the connector to the free end of the coiled tubing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.