# US 2016/0258562 A1 · Riser connector assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2016/0258562 A1 - Document ID: US20160258562A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/036,417 - Filed: 2014-11-14 - Published: 2016-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2013-11-15 - Assignees: Maritime Promeco AS - Applicants: Maritime Promeco AS - Inventors: Boerge BJOERNEKLETT; Per Martin Erik HANSSON; Stian SOLBERG - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20160258562A1 ## CPC - F16L 21/08: with additional locking means (F16L21/06 takes precedence; couplings of the quick-acting type F16L37/00) - E21B 17/01: Risers - E21B 17/046: with ribs, pins, or jaws, and complementary grooves or the like, e.g. bayonet catches - E21B 17/0853: {Connections between sections of riser provided with auxiliary lines, e.g. kill and choke lines} - F16L 23/003: {Auxiliary devices} - F16L 37/113: the male part having lugs on its periphery penetrating into the corresponding slots provided in the female part - F16L 2201/40: for special environments - F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## Abstract A riser connector assembly includes a first connector assembly portion comprising first locking members, a second connector assembly portion comprising second locking members, and a locking device comprising third and fourth locking members. The locking device is rotatably connected to the first connector assembly portion. The locking device is configured to rotate between a first position where each of the locking members are interlocked, a second position where the first and third locking members are interlocked, and the second and fourth locking members are not interlocked, and a third position where none of the locking members are interlocked, so that the locking device is removable. The first and third locking members selectively/releasably interlock via a relative rotation between the first connector assembly portion and the locking device. The second and fourth locking members selectively/releasably interlock via a relative rotation between the second connector assembly portion and the locking device. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1-12. (canceled) ### Claim 13 A riser connector assembly for connecting a first riser section to a second riser section in an end-to-end relationship, the first riser section comprising an upper main tubular element and the second riser section comprising a lower main tubular element, the riser connector assembly comprising: a first connector assembly portion comprising first locking members, the first connector assembly portion being attached to an end of the first riser section; a second connector assembly portion comprising second locking members, the second connector assembly portion being attached to an end of the second riser section; and a locking device comprising third locking members and fourth locking members, the locking device being rotatably connected to the first connector assembly portion, the locking device being configured to rotate between: a first position where each of the first locking members, the second locking members, the third locking members, and the fourth locking members are interlocked, a second position where the first locking members and the third locking members are interlocked, and the second locking members and the fourth locking members are not interlocked, and a third position where none of the first locking members, the second locking members, the third locking members, and the fourth locking members are interlocked, so that the locking device is movable in an axial direction of each of the first riser section and the second riser section and is removable from the first connector assembly portion, wherein, the first locking members and the third locking members are configured and arranged to selectively and releasably interlock via a relative rotation between the first connector assembly portion and the locking device, and the second locking members and the fourth locking members are configured and arranged to selectively and releasably interlock via a relative rotation between the second connector assembly portion and the locking device. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The riser connector assembly as recited in claim 13, further comprising: a male connector; and a female connector, wherein, the male connector comprises the first locking members as lugs arranged on an outer peripheral surface of the male connector, the female connector comprises the second locking members as lugs arranged on an outer peripheral surface of the female connector, and the locking device is provided as a ring member, the locking device comprising the third locking members and the fourth locking members as respective lugs arranged on an inner surface of the locking device. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The riser connector assembly as recited in claim 13, wherein, the first connector assembly portion further comprises a first connector assembly portion auxiliary tubular element and a first connector assembly portion flange comprising the male connector, the first connector assembly portion auxiliary tubular element being connected to the first connector assembly portion flange, and the male connector being fluidly connected with the upper main tubular element, and the second connector assembly portion further comprises a second connector assembly portion auxiliary tubular element and a second connector assembly portion flange comprising the female connector, the second connector assembly portion auxiliary tubular element being connected to the second connector assembly portion flange, and the female connector being fluidly connected with the lower main tubular element. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The riser connector assembly as recited in claim 13, wherein at least one of the first connector assembly portion and the second connector assembly portion comprises an alignment device which is configured to be operable between a guiding state and a non-guiding state. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The riser connector assembly as recited in claim 16, wherein, the alignment device comprises a first alignment device arranged on the locking device and a second alignment device arranged on the first connector assembly portion flange or on the second connector assembly portion flange, the first alignment device being configured to cooperate with the second alignment device. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The riser connector assembly as recited in claim 17, wherein the second alignment device is fixedly connected to the first connector assembly portion flange or to the second connector assembly portion flange. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The riser connector assembly as recited in claim 13, wherein the locking device is provided as a unitary body. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The riser connector assembly as recited in claim 16, further comprising: an external guide structure, wherein, the alignment device comprises at least one contact area configured to provide a sliding contact with the external guide structure. ### Claim 21 (depends on 13) A method of disconnecting a first riser section from a second riser section which are connected to each other in an end-to-end relationship via the riser assembly as recited in claim 13, the method comprising: providing a relative rotation between the locking device, the first connector assembly portion, and the second connector assembly portion, from the first position to the second position; removing the second connector assembly portion from the locking device; providing a relative rotation between the locking device and the first connector assembly portion, from the second position to the third position; and removing the locking device from the first connector assembly portion. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The method as recited in claim 21, wherein the removal of the locking device from the first connector assembly portion comprises moving the locking device in an axial direction with respect to the first riser section and the second riser section. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The method as recited in claim 21, wherein each relative rotation is provided by rotating the locking device. ### Claim 24 (depends on 13) A method of connecting a first riser section from a second riser section which are connected to each other in an end-to-end relationship via the riser assembly as recited in claim 13, the method comprising: moving the locking device onto the first connector assembly portion via a relative axial movement between the locking device and the first connector assembly portion when the locking device is in the third position; providing a relative rotation between the locking device and the first connector assembly portion, from the third position to the second position; moving the second connector assembly portion at least partially into the locking device; and providing a relative rotation between the locking device and at least the second connector assembly portion, from the second position to the first position. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The method as recited in claim 24, wherein each relative rotation is provided by rotating the locking device.