Rotating Control Device Retaining Mechanism

A method of securing a sealing assembly or accessory inside a rotating control device apparatus, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing a rotating control device assembly comprising a retaining system, said assembly comprising:
• an outer member (RCD bowl or RCD housing);
• an inner member (sealing assembly housing or accessory);
• at least two retaining members, such as a ram block;
• said outer member comprising:
• a top surface adapted for connection with a flange or clamp, which also defines an aperture having a first diameter adapted to accommodate the insertion and removal of the inner member;
• an inner cylindrical surface defining a primary cavity;
• an inner circular side wall having a second diameter, and said side wall comprising an inwardly and downwardly tapered section, located below said at least two retaining members;
• an outer wall;
• a bottom surface adapted for connection with a flange or clamp;
• at least two secondary cavities extending through the inner cylindrical surface and outer wall adapted to surround and support said at least two retaining members, said secondary cavities being in connection with said primary cavity and being perpendicular thereto;
• at least two retaining members capable of moving within a corresponding one of said at least two secondary cavities between a closed position and an open position, where the at least two retaining members are adapted to abut and lock said inner member inserted inside said primary cavity when in a closed position and allowing said inner member to be inserted into or removed from the outer member when the at least two retaining members are in the open position;
• a tapered landing profile which establishes a penultimate installation position of the inner member when such is inserted in said aperture and abutted thereon;
• wherein said bottom surface being located below said at least two retaining members and having a third diameter, which is lesser than said first and second diameters;
• wherein the at least two retaining members when moved from an open to a closed position abut with the inner member to move the inner member to a final retaining position
• said inner member comprising:
• a circular body;
• a first sealing element and a second sealing element adapted to sealingly abut against said inner circular side wall of said outer member;
• said inner member, first sealing element and second sealing element surrounding said circular body and being rotatable relative to said outer member;
• a bottom edge;
• a circumferential slot, located above said bottom edge, comprising:
• a cylindrical center section;
• upward and outward angled upper face adapted to abut with said retaining members when said at least two retaining members are moved from said open position to said closed position;
• and
• optionally, a downward and outward angled lower face adapted to abut with said retaining members when said at least two retaining members are moved from said open position to said closed position
• a bottom edge which is optionally tapered bottom surface adapted to engage with the tapered landing profile of the outer member which establishes the penultimate installation position of the inner member
• said retaining member comprising:
• an inner surface adapted and profiled to abut with said inner member;
• a first and second side wall, where each one of the first and second side walls comprises a protrusion and a cavity adapted to mechanically engage with a cavity and a protrusion of an adjacent retaining member when said at least two retaining members are in the closed position;
• a top surface having a downward and inward tapered edge
• a bottom surface optionally, having an upward and inward tapered edge
• a shape adapted to extend through said secondary cavity of said outer member and into the primary cavity of said outer member
• optionally, an outer groove adapted to accept a seal which engages on said one of at least two cavities extending through the side wall of said outer member.
• inserting said inner member into said primary cavity;
• abutting said bottom edge of said inner member onto said tapered landing profile of said outer member;
• actuating said at least two retaining members to move such from an open position to a closed position;
• wherein during said actuating step, each one of said at least two retaining members comprising a downwardly and inwardly tapered top surface which abuts against a top edge of said circumferential slot and further movement of the retaining members towards said cylindrical center section of said inner member lifts said bottom edge off of said tapered landing profile of said outer member;
• stopping the movement of said at least two retaining members when such reach and abut against said cylindrical center section of said inner member;
• and
• optionally, stopping the movement of said at least two retaining members when such reach and abut against the ram block top surface having a downward and inward tapered edge and the upward and outward angled upper face of the circumferential slot of the inner member and the ram block bottom surface optionally, having an upward and inward tapered edge and the optionally downward and outward angled lower face of the inner member;
• wherein, in the closed position, the bottom edge of said inner member does not abut against said tapered landing profile.