A coupling system, coupler tools and methods of use thereof
AssigneeHolmes Solutions Limited Partnership
InventorsBenjamin Thomas SCOTT, Jonathan Keith ROEBUCK, Jeremy Neil WALTERS, Kevin Paul BOTMAN, Byron Ronald VAN DEUN
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A coupling system is described comprising an anchor that may releasably connect to a coupled member. Associated tools configured to cooperate with the coupling system and methods of use of the coupling system and release or re-engagement of the coupling system are also described. In one embodiment, the coupling system may further comprise an enclosing member and release member and a related tool or tools to actuate release of the connection and re-engage of the connection as desired.
Claims37
A coupling assembly configured to releasably connect a coupled member to the coupling assembly, the coupling assembly comprising:
- an anchor comprising:
- at least one jaw, the jaw, or each jaw, having an internal jaw side interfering with movement of the coupled member relative to the anchor and an external taper;
- a body with an internal taper complementary to, and abutting against, a jaw external taper;
- and,
- an enclosing member,
- wherein the enclosing member at least partly surrounds the anchor with an opening therein to allow passage of the coupled member to the anchor inside the enclosing member wherein, the anchor fits snugly within the enclosing member thereby minimising any relative movement between the anchor and enclosing member;
- and
- a release member;
- wherein the coupling assembly is configured so that, in a first coupled position, the anchor at least one jaw engages the coupled member and therefore prevents separation of the coupled member from the anchor, and, when actuated, the release member forces the anchor at least one jaw to disengage the body and move to a second uncoupled position.
A coupling assembly configured to couple an end of a first coupled member coaxially to an end of a second coupled member, wherein:
- the first and second coupled members are located coaxially within the coupling assembly and wherein the coupled member ends comprise an alignment member configured to align the coupled member ends together coaxially, the first and second coupled member ends engaging each other within the coupling assembly;
- and
- wherein the coupling assembly comprises:
- an anchor comprising:
- at least one jaw, the jaw, or each jaw, having an internal jaw side interfering with movement of the coupled member relative to the anchor and an external taper;
- a body with an internal taper complementary to, and abutting against, a jaw external taper;
- and,
- an enclosing member,
- wherein the enclosing member at least partly surrounds the anchor with an opening therein to allow passage of the coupled member to the anchor inside the enclosing member wherein, the anchor fits snugly within the enclosing member thereby minimising any relative movement between the anchor and enclosing member;
- and
- wherein the coupling assembly is configured so that the anchor at least one jaw engages the first or second coupled member, the opposing coupled member otherwise fixed to the coupling assembly, the first and second coupled members thereby coupled by the coupling assembly.
A coupling assembly configured to connect a coupled member to the coupling assembly, the coupling assembly comprising:
- an anchor comprising:
- at least one jaw, the jaw, or each jaw, having an internal jaw side interfering with movement of the coupled member relative to the anchor and an external taper;
- a body with an internal taper complementary to, and abutting against, a jaw external taper;
- and,
- end caps,
- wherein the end caps link to the body, the end caps defining the coupling assembly ends and, wherein one or both end caps comprise an opening therein to allow passage of the coupled member to the anchor inside the body;
- and
- wherein the coupling assembly is configured so that the anchor at least one jaw engages the coupled member and therefore prevents separation of the coupled member from the anchor.
A coupling assembly configured to connect a coupled member to the coupling assembly, the coupling assembly comprising:
- an anchor comprising:
- at least one jaw, the jaw, or each jaw, having an internal jaw side interfering with movement of the coupled member relative to the anchor and an external taper;
- a body with an internal taper complementary to, and abutting against, a jaw external taper;
- and,
- an enclosing member,
- wherein the enclosing member comprises a sleeve and end caps, the sleeve slidingly engaging and surrounding the anchor and the end caps defining the sleeve ends and extent of internal volume inside the enclosing member, one or both end caps comprising an opening therein to allow passage of the coupled member to the anchor inside the enclosing member wherein, the anchor fits snugly within the enclosing member thereby minimising any relative movement between the anchor and enclosing member;
- and
- wherein the coupling assembly is configured so that the anchor at least one jaw engages the coupled member and therefore prevents separation of the coupled member from the anchor.
A column comprising:
- at least one coupling assembly as claimed in any one of the above claims;
- and,
- at least one coupled member per coupling assembly, the coupled member, or each coupled member, being located intermediate a column and the coupling assembly, the at least one coupled member coupled at a first end to the column via a retention means and, at a second opposing end to the coupling assembly.
A column assembly with a coupled member releasably coupled to the column, the column assembly comprising:
- a column;
- a coupled member releasably coupled at one end to the column interior and extending from an end or side of the column;
- a retention means releasably coupling the coupled member end to the column interior, the retention means comprising a barrel nut and wherein the coupled member end releasably engages the barrel nut and the barrel nut engages the column or a part thereof.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.