Gravity actuated connection mechanism for high pressure wellhead applications

A pressurizable assembly which avoids transfer of torque, the pressurizable assembly comprising:

• a first assembly and a second assembly which, when assembled with one another, form the pressurizable assembly;
• the first assembly having a tubular section, at a first end thereof, for mating with an inwardly facing surface of the second assembly and a connection member, at a second end thereof, for connecting the first assembly to the wellhead;
• the connection member and the tubular section of the first assembly having an opening extending therethrough which permits a flow of fluid;
• the second assembly comprising a hollow housing which has an internal diameter which is size and shaped to intimately receive and mate with the tubular section of the first assembly;
• one of the first assembly and the second assembly having a plurality of spaced apart cam grooves formed in an exterior surface thereof, while the other of the first assembly and the second assembly supporting a plurality of locking pin mechanisms, each of the plurality of locking pin mechanisms supporting a respective locking pin which is located to interact with one of the plurality of spaced apart cam grooves;
• and
• axial movement of the second assembly, toward and away from the first assembly, causing each of the locking pins to follow along a respective one of the plurality of spaced apart cam grooves and move from an entrance to an intermediate locking position, of the respective cam groove, to connect the second assembly to the first assembly, while a subsequent axial movement of the second assembly, toward and away from the first assembly, causing each of the plurality of locking pins to follow further along the respective one of the plurality of spaced apart cam grooves, and move the locking pins from the intermediate locking position to an exit and thereby disconnect the second assembly from the first assembly, with the entrance being located at one end of the respective cam groove and the exit being located at an opposite end of the respective cam groove and the intermediate locking position being located between the entrance and the exit.

A pressurizable assembly which avoids transfer of torque, the pressurizable assembly comprising:

• a first assembly and a second assembly which, when assembled with one another, form the pressurizable assembly;
• the first assembly having a tubular section, at a first end thereof, for mating with an inwardly facing surface of the second assembly and a connection member, at a second end thereof, for connecting the first assembly to a wellhead;
• the connection member and the tubular section of the first assembly having an opening extending therethrough which permits a flow of fluid;
• the second assembly comprising a hollow housing which has an internal diameter which is size and shaped to intimately receive and mate with the tubular section of the first assembly;
• the second assembly having a connection member which facilitates connection of the second assembly to a desired piece of pressure equipment;
• the connection member of the second assembly and the hollow housing having an opening extending therethrough which permits a flow of fluid;
• one of the first assembly and the second assembly supporting at least one elastomeric seal for forming a seal therebetween when the first assembly and the second assembly engage with one another;
• one of the first assembly and the second assembly having a plurality of spaced apart cam grooves formed in an exterior surface thereof, while the other of the first assembly and the second assembly having a plurality of locking pin mechanisms, each of the plurality of locking pin mechanisms supporting a respective locking pin which is located to interact with one of the plurality of spaced apart cam grooves;
• and
• axial movement of the second assembly, toward and away from the first assembly, causing each of the locking pins to follow along a respective one of the plurality of spaced apart cam grooves and move from an entrance to an intermediate locking position, of the respective cam groove, to connect the second assembly to the first assembly, while a subsequent axial movement of the second assembly, toward and away from the first assembly, causing each of the plurality of locking pins to follow further along the respective one of the plurality of spaced apart cam grooves, and move the locking pins from the intermediate locking position to an exit and thereby disconnect the second assembly from the first assembly, with the entrance being located at one end of the respective cam groove and the exit being located at an opposite end of the respective cam groove and the intermediate locking position being located between the entrance and the exit.

A method of forming a pressurizable assembly which avoids transfer of torque, the method comprising:

• providing a first assembly and a second assembly which, when assembled with one another, form the pressurizable assembly;
• forming the first assembly to have a tubular section, at a first end thereof, for mating with an inwardly facing surface of the second assembly and a connection member, at a second end thereof, for connecting the first assembly to the wellhead;
• extending an opening through the connection member and the tubular section of the first assembly which permits a flow of fluid;
• forming the second assembly as a hollow housing which has an internal diameter which is size and shaped to intimately receive and mate with the tubular section of the first assembly;
• providing the second assembly with a connection member which facilitates connection of the second assembly to a desired piece of pressure equipment;
• extending an opening through the connection member of the second assembly and the hollow housing which permits a flow of fluid;
• supporting, on one of the first assembly and the second assembly, at least one elastomeric seal for forming a seal therebetween when the first assembly and the second assembly engage with one another;
• providing one of the first assembly and the second assembly with a plurality of spaced apart cam grooves formed in an exterior surface thereof, while providing the other of the first assembly and the second assembly with a rotatable sleeve supporting a plurality of locking pin mechanisms, each of the plurality of locking pin mechanisms supporting a respective locking pin which is located to interact with one of the plurality of spaced apart cam grooves;
• and
• causing axial movement of the second assembly, toward and away from the first assembly, such that the respective locking pin, of each of the plurality of locking pin mechanisms, follows along a respective one of the plurality of spaced apart cam grooves when moving from an entrance to an intermediate locking position, and then causing a subsequent axial movement of the second assembly, toward and away from the first assembly, so that each of the plurality of locking pins again follow along the respective one of the plurality of spaced apart cam grooves and move from the intermediate locking position to an exit to disconnect the second assembly from the first assembly, with the entrance being located at one end of the respective cam groove and the exit being located at an opposite end of the respective cam groove and the intermediate locking position being located between the entrance and the exit.