Swivel coupling element

A swivel coupling element for coupling a tubular element to a conventional annular coupling flange which has a generally planar leading end defined by a leading end of an annular flange portion and by a seating face proximate the leading end, the annular flange portion having a plurality of circumferentially spaced stud holes for use in coupling the conventional annular coupling flange to another annular coupling flange, the swivel coupling element comprising:

• (a) an annular mounting flange having a trailing end, having a leading end which defines a seating face for cooperating with the seating face of such a conventional annular coupling flange, and having a bore which diverges towards its trailing end to define a concave surface;
• (b) a tubular member having a trailing end for connection to a tubular element, and having a leading end with a convex outer surface which extends partly into the bore of the annular mounting flange;
• (c) an annular retainer flange which has a bore through which the trailing end of the tubular member extends, the bore of the retainer flange diverging towards the leading end of the tubular member to define a concave gripping surface for engaging with the convex outer surface of the leading end of the tubular member;
• and
• (d) connection means displaceably connecting the annular retainer flange to the annular mounting flange to maintain the swivel coupling element in an assembled condition with the leading end of the tubular member held captive between the concave surface of the bore of the mounting flange and the concave gripping surface of the bore of the retainer flange while permitting the tubular member to swivel relatively to the mounting flange;
• the annular retainer flange being adapted to be bolted to such a conventional annular coupling flange by means of bolting means independent of the connection means to couple the swivel coupling element to such a conventional annular coupling flange, and thereby draw the concave gripping surface into engagement with the convex outer surface of the leading end of the tubular member, thereby draw the leading end of the tubular member into engagement with the concave surface of the bore of the mounting flange to thereby lock the tubular member against relative displacement, and thereby draw the seating face of the annular mounting flange into seating association with the seating face of such a conventional annular coupling flange.

Apparatus for forming a swivel coupling element for coupling a tubular element to a conventional or standard annular coupling flange which has a generally planar leading end defined by a leading end of an annular flange portion and by a seating face proximate the leading end, the annular flange portion having a plurality of circumferentially spaced stud holes for use in coupling the conventional annular coupling flange to another annular coupling flange, the apparatus comprising:

• (a) an annular mounting flange having a trailing end, having a leading end which defines a seating face for cooperating with the seating face of such a conventional annular coupling flange, and having a bore which diverges outwardly towards its trailing end to define a concave surface;
• (b) a tubular member having a trailing end for connection to a tubular element, and having a leading end with a convex outer surface to cooperate with the concave surface;
• and
• (c) an annular retainer flange which has a bore through which the trailing end of the tubular member can extend, the bore having a minimum diameter which is smaller than the maximum diameter of the leading end of the tubular member, the annular retainer flange being adapted to be connected to the mounting flange by means of connection means to form the assembled swivel coupling element by capturing the leading end of the tubular member between the annular retainer flange and the annular mounting flange while permitting pivotal displacement of the tubular member relatively to the annular mounting flange, the annular retainer flange having a plurality of circumferentially spaced stud holes which correspond with stud holes of such a standard annular coupling flange for receiving bolts or studs for bolting the retainer flange onto such a conventional annular coupling flange when the apparatus is in its assembled condition to thereby associate the seating face of the annular mounting flange with the seating face of such a conventional annular coupling flange, and to thereby draw the annular retainer and mounting flanges towards each other into locking engagement with the leading end of the tubular member for fixing the tubular member relatively to the annular mounting flange.

Apparatus for forming a swivel coupling element for coupling a tubular element to a conventional annular coupling flange which has a generally planar leading end defined by a leading end of an annular flange portion and by a seating face proximate the leading end, the annular flange portion having a plurality of circumferentially spaced stud holes for use in coupling the conventional annular coupling flange to another annular coupling flange, the apparatus comprising:

• (a) an annular mounting flange having a trailing end, having a leading end which defines a seating face for cooperating with the seating face of such a conventional annular coupling flange, and having a bore which diverges towards its trailing end to define a concave surface;
• (b) a tubular member having a trailing end for connection to a tubular element, and having a leading end with a convex outer surface to extend partly into the bore of the annular mounting flange;
• (c) an annular retainer flange which has a bore through which the trailing end of the tubular member can extend, the bore of the retainer flange diverging towards the leading end of the retainer flange to define a concave gripping surface for engaging with the convex outer surface of the leading end of the tubular member;
• and
• (d) connection means for displaceably connecting the annular retainer flange to the annular mounting flange to thereby form the assembled swivel coupling element in which the leading end of the tubular member is held captive between the concave surface of the bore of the mounting flange and the concave gripping surface of the bore of the retainer flange while permitting the tubular member to swivel relatively to the mounting flange;
• the annular retainer flange being adapted to be bolted to such a conventional annular coupling flange by means of bolting means independent of the connection means to couple the swivel coupling element when assembled to such an annular coupling flange and thereby draw the concave gripping surface into engagement with the convex outer surface of the leading end of the tubular member, thereby draw the leading end of the tubular member into engagement with the concave surface of the bore of the mounting flange to thereby lock the tubular member against relative displacement, and thereby draw the seating face of the annular mounting flange into seating association with a seating face of such a conventional annular coupling flange.

A swivel coupling element for coupling a tubular element to a conventional annular coupling flange of the type used in the oil and gas pipeline industry which has a leading end defined by an annular flange portion and by an annular seating face proximate the leading end, the swivel coupling element comprising:

• (a) an annular mounting flange having a trailing end, having a leading end which defines a seating face for cooperating with the seating face of such a conventional annular coupling flange, and having a bore which diverges towards its trailing end to define a concave surface;
• (b) a tubular member having a trailing end for connection to a tubular element, and having a leading end with a convex outer surface which extends partly into the bore of the annular mounting flange;
• (c) an annular retainer flange which has a bore through which the trailing end of the tubular member extends, the bore of the retainer flange diverging towards the leading end of the tubular member to define a concave gripping surface for engaging with the convex outer surface of the leading end of the tubular member;
• and
• (d) connection means connecting the annular retainer flange to the annular mounting flange in axially spaced relationship to maintain the swivel coupling element in an assembled condition with the leading end of the tubular member held captive between the concave surface of the bore of the mounting flange and the concave gripping surface of the bore of the retainer flange while permitting the tubular member to swivel relatively to the mounting flange;
• the annular retainer flange being adapted to be bolted to such a conventional annular coupling flange by means of bolting means independent of the connection means to couple the swivel coupling element to such a conventional annular coupling flange, and thereby draw the concave gripping surface into engagement with the convex outer surface of the leading end of the tubular member, thereby draw the leading end of the tubular member into engagement with the concave surface of the bore of the mounting flange to thereby lock the tubular member against relative displacement, and thereby draw the seating face of the annular mounting flange into seating association with the seating face of such a conventional annular coupling flange.

A swivel coupling element for coupling a tubular element to a conventional annular coupling flange which has a generally planar leading end defined by a leading end of an annular flange portion and by a seating face proximate the leading end, the annular flange portion having a plurality of circumferentially spaced stud holes for use in coupling the conventional annular coupling flange to another annular coupling flange, the swivel coupling element comprising:

• (a) an annular mounting flange having a trailing end, having a leading end which defines a seating face for cooperating with the seating face of such a conventional annular coupling flange, and having a bore which diverges towards its trailing end to define a concave surface;
• (b) a tubular member having a trailing end for connection to a tubular element, and having a leading end with a convex outer surface which extends partly into the bore of the annular mounting flange;
• (c) an annular flange which has a bore through which the trailing end of the tubular member extends, the retainer flange defining a gripping surface which has a smaller diameter than the maximum diameter of the leading end of the tubular member for engaging with the leading end of the tubular member;
• and
• (d) connection means connecting the annular retainer flange to the annular mounting flange to maintain the swivel coupling element in an assembled condition with the leading end of the tubular member held captive between the concave surface of the bore of the mounting flange and the gripping surface of the retainer flange while permitting the tubular member to swivel relatively to the mounting flange;
• the annular retainer flange being adapted to be bolted to such a conventional annular coupling flange by means of bolting means to couple the swivel coupling element to such a conventional annular coupling flange, and thereby draw the gripping surface into engagement with the leading end of the tubular member, thereby draw the leading end of the tubular member into engagement with the concave surface of the bore of the mounting flange to thereby lock the tubular member against relative displacement, and thereby draw the seating face of the mounting flange into seating association with the seating face of such a conventional annular coupling flange.

Apparatus for forming a swivel coupling element for coupling a tubular element to a conventional annular coupling flange which has a generally planar leading end defined by a leading end of an annular flange portion and by a seating face proximate the leading end, the annular flange portion having a plurality of circumferentially spaced stud holes for use in coupling the conventional annular coupling flange to another annular coupling flange, the apparatus comprising:

• (a) an annular mounting flange having a trailing end, having a leading end which defines a seating face for cooperating with the seating face of such a conventional annular coupling flange, and having a bore which diverges towards its trailing end to define a concave surface;
• (b) a tubular member having a trailing end for connection to a tubular element, and having a leading end with a convex outer surface to extend partly into the bore of the annular mounting flange;
• (c) an annular retainer flange which has a bore through which the trailing end of the tubular member can extend, the retainer flange defining a gripping surface which has a smaller diameter than the maximum diameter of the leading end of the tubular member for engaging with the leading end of the tubular member;
• and
• (d) connection means for connecting the annular retainer flange to the annular mounting flange to thereby form the assembled swivel coupling element in which the leading end of the tubular member is held captive between the concave surface of the bore of the mounting flange and the gripping surface of the retainer flange while permitting the tubular member to swivel relatively to the mounting flange;
• the annular retainer flange being adapted to be bolted to such a conventional annular coupling flange by means of bolting means to couple the swivel coupling element when assembled to such an annular coupling flange and thereby draw the gripping surface into engagement with the outer surface of the leading end of the tubular member, thereby draw the leading end of the tubular member into engagement with the concave surface of the bore of the mounting flange to thereby lock the tubular member against relative displacement, and thereby draw the seating face of the annular mounting flange into seating association with a seating face of such a conventional annular coupling flange.