Pipe connector and torque tool
AssigneeVetco Gray Inc.
InventorsCharles Jennings, Brian Munk
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A connection system for connecting tubular members to each other includes a rotatable connector sleeve on one of the tubular members. A make-up tool has a curved rack of gear teeth that are engagable with the connector sleeve for causing rotation of the connector sleeve in unison with the rack. The make-up tool includes a power tool having a drive motor that rotates a drive shaft. A pinion gear mounted on the drive shaft engages the teeth of the rack to cause the rack to move in a rotational direction when the drive shaft is rotated. This movement causes the connector sleeve to rotate to make-up or break-out the connection.
Claims20
A connection system for connecting tubular members to each other, comprising:
- a connector sleeve for mounting to an end of one of the tubular members, the connector sleeve being rotatable relative to at least one of the tubular members for securing the tubular members to each other;
- a curved rack of gear teeth, the rack being engagable with the connector sleeve for causing rotation of the connector sleeve in unison with the rack;
- a power tool that rotates a drive shaft;
- and
- a gear mounted to the drive shaft in engagement with the gear teeth of the rack to cause the rack to move in a rotational direction when the drive shaft is rotated, thereby rotating the connector sleeve to move between released and made-up positions.
A connection system for a tubular string, comprising:
- first and second tubular members;
- a connector having mating components on ends of the first and second tubular members for securing the first and second tubular members to each other;
- one of the mating components comprising a connector sleeve having an axis and an inner side containing a set of threads that engage a set of threads formed on another of the mating components;
- a rack of gear teeth, the rack being curved about a center point;
- an engagement arrangement for releasably coupling the rack to the connector sleeve with the center point coinciding with the axis of the connector sleeve;
- a power tool having a drive motor that rotates a drive shaft;
- and
- a gear mounted to the drive shaft and in engagement with the gear teeth of the rack to cause the rack to move in a rotational direction when the drive shaft is rotated, thereby rotating the connector sleeve to secure the first and second tubular members to each other;
- and
- a retainer arrangement between the power tool and the rack to connect the rack to the power tool, the rack being slidable relative to power tool when the gear is rotating.
A method of connecting tubular members to each other, one of the tubular members having a rotatable connector sleeve, the method comprising:
- (a) engaging a curved rack of gear teeth with the connector sleeve;
- (b) engaging a rotatable drive gear of a power tool with the gear teeth of the rack;
- and
- (c) rotating the drive gear to cause the rack to move in a rotational direction, thereby rotating the connector sleeve to secure the tubular members to each other.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.