US 4,538,840 AGranted

Connector means for use on oil and gas well tubing or the like

OwnerRichard W. DeLangeinventor

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Abstract

Connector means for joining together two adjacent pipe members in a fluid/pressure tight relationship comprising an externally threaded male element cooperatively engageable with an internally threaded female element, the male and female elements each respectively including three adjacent complementary annular sealing surfaces positioned axially adjacent the threaded portion associated respectively therewith, the three adjacent complementary sealing surfaces being arranged in an irregular pattern such that when the male and female elements are threadingly secured together, the three adjacent sealing surfaces associated respectively with the male and female elements sealingly engage one another to form three independent adjacent pressure-tight seals. The sealing arrangement of the present invention is ideally suited for use on both an integral joint system and on a coupled joint system and may be arranged and located in the particular connection so as to form an internally shouldered connection and/or externally shouldered connection.

Claims14

Dependent claims

Connector means for joining together two adjacent pipe members comprising a male member having an externally threaded portion associated therewith and an unthreaded annular portion positioned axially adjacent said threaded portion, a female member having an internally threaded portion associated therewith adaptable for cooperatively engaging the threaded portion of said male member, said female member including a corresponding unthreaded annular portion positioned axially adjacent said female threaded portion, each of said unthreaded portions including a group of three complementary annular sealing surfaces having a first surface angularly positioned relative to the longitudinal axis of said pipe members such that said first surface is angularly displaced therefrom in the range from between approximately 90.degree. to 125.degree., a second surface located adjacent to said first surface, said second surface being angularly positioned relative to the longitudinal axis of said pipe members such that said second surface lies in a plane substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said pipe members, and a third surface located adjacent to said second surface, said third surface being angularly positioned relative to the longitudinal axis of said pipe members such that the angular displacement of said third surface relative to said longitudinal axis is greater than the angular displacement of said second surface relative to said longitudinal axis, the second surface associated with each of said group of three sealing surfaces being disposed between said first and third surfaces, and unthreaded portions being positioned respectively on said male and female members such that when said male and female members are threadingly secured together the sealing surfaces associated respectively therewith sealingly engage one another to form three independent adjacent pressure-tight seals.

Joinder means for connecting together two adjacent pipe members in fluid/pressure tight relationship with each other, said joinder means including a male element having an externally threaded end portion and a female element having an internally threaded end portion cooperatively engageable with the threaded portion of said male element, said male element having a group of three adjacent sealing surfaces positioned axially forward of said male threaded portion and said female element having a group of three adjacent complementary sealing surfaces positioned axially rearward of said female threaded portion, each of said group of three adjacent sealing surfaces including a first surface angularly positioned relative to the longitudinal axis of said pipe members such that said first surface is angularly displaced therefrom in the range from between approximately 90.degree. to 125.degree., a second surface located adjacent to said first surface, said second surface being angularly positioned relative to the longitudinal axis of said pipe members such that said second surface is angularly displaced therefrom in the range from between approximately 0.degree. to 20.degree., and a third surface located adjacent to said second surface, said third surface being angularly positioned relative to said second surface such that said third surface is angular displacement therefrom in the range from approximately 10.degree. to 75.degree., the second surface associated with each of said group of three adjacent sealing surfaces being disposed between said first and third surfaces, said group of three adjacent sealing surfaces being positioned respectively on said male and female elements such that when said male and female elements are threadingly secured together the sealing surfaces associated therewith sealingly engage one another to form three independent adjacent pressure-tight seals.

Joinder means for connecting together two adjacent pipe members in fluid/pressure tight relationship with each other, said joinder means including a male element having an externally threaded end portion and a female element having an externally threaded end portion cooperatively engageable with the threaded portion of said male element, said male element having a group of three adjacent sealing surfaces positioned axially rearward of said male threaded portion and said female element having a group of three adjacent complementary sealing surfaces positioned axially forward of said female threaded portion, each of said group of three adjacent sealing surfaces including a first surface angularly positioned relative to the longitudinal axis of said pipe members such that said first surface is angularly displaced therefrom in the range from between approximately 90.degree. to 125.degree., a second surface located adjacent to said first surface, said second surface being angularly positioned relative to the longitudinal axis of said pipe members such that said second surface is angularly displaced therefrom in the range from between approximately 0.degree. to 20.degree., and a third surface located adjacent to said second surface, said third surface being angularly positioned relative to said second surface such that said third surface is angular displacement therefrom in the range from approximately 10.degree. to 75.degree., the second surface associated with each of said group of three adjacent sealing surfaces being disposed between said first and third surfaces, said group of three adjacent sealing surfaces being positioned respectively on said male and female elements such that when said male and female elements are threadingly secured together the sealing surfaces associated therewith sealingly engage one another to form three independent adjacent pressure-tight seals.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.