US 5,099,882 AGranted

Pressure balanced hydraulic coupling with metal seals

AssigneeNational Coupling Company, Inc.

InventorRobert E. Smith, III

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A pressure-balanced hydraulic coupling for use in undersea drilling and production operations, the coupling having radial passageways communicating between the male and female members such that substantial fluid pressure is not exerted against the face of either member during coupling or uncoupling or during the coupled state. Check valves in both the male and female members are opened when the male member probe is fully inserted into the receiving chamber of the female member. Mutually opposed valve actuators contact one another to effectuate the simultaneous opening of each check valve, and allow fluid to flow through a valve port and then radially through matching fluid passageways in the male and female members. The radial passageways of the male and female members match up at their longitudinal surfaces so that fluid pressure between the male and female members is in a substantially radial direction and is not exerted at the face of either member. A first pair of seals is positioned on each side of the radial passage for sealing between the receiving chamber and the seal retainer. A second pair of seals is positioned on each side of the radial passage for sealing between the seal retainer and the male member. The seals are pressure-energized metal seals.

Claims50

Dependent claims

A coupling comprising:

(a) a female member having a longitudinal axis, a central bore extending along the longitudinal axis from a first end to a second end thereof, a first longitudinal fluid passage generally parallel to the central bore, first and second radial fluid passages extending from the first longitudinal fluid passage to the central bore for fluid communication therebetween, and a first shoulder in the central bore intermediate the first and second radial fluid passages;
(b) a first seal retainer insertable into the central bore and positionable adjacent the first shoulder, the first seal retainer having a first end, a second end, an inner surface, an outer surface, and a radially-directed port between the inner surface and the outer surface for fluid communication with the second radial fluid passage;
(c) a first retainer-locking member engagable with the female member for locking the first seal retainer in the central bore adjacent the first shoulder;
(d) a male member for insertion into the central bore and extending through the first retainer-locking member and the first seal retainer, the male member having an outer surface, a central bore, and a third radial fluid passage extending between the central bore of the male member and the outer surface of the male member, the third radial fluid passage positionable to provide fluid communication with the radially directed port of the first seal retainer and the second radial fluid passage of the female member when the male member is inserted into the first central bore of the female member;
(e) a first ring-shaped seal positionable between the first shoulder and the outer surface of the first end of the first seal retainer for sealing radially with the first seal retainer and the central bore;
(f) a second ring-shaped seal positionable between the first shoulder and the inner surface of the first end of the first seal retainer for sealing radially with the first seal retainer and the outer surface of the male member;
(g) a third ring-shaped seal positionable between the first retainer-locking member and the outer surface of the second end of the first seal retainer for sealing radially with the first seal retainer and the central bore;
and
(h) a fourth ring-shaped seal positionable between the first retainer-locking member and the inner surface of the second end of the first seal retainer for sealing radially with the first seal retainer and the outer surface of the male member.

6 more elements

A coupling comprising:

(a) a male member having a leading face, a central bore, a fluid passage extending radially from the central bore to an outer lateral surface of the male member, and first valve means to control fluid flow between the central bore and the fluid passage;
(b) a female member having a receiving chamber for receiving the male member, a central bore, a fluid passage having a first section extending radially from the central bore, a second section extending radially from the receiving chamber, and a longitudinal section interconnecting the first and second radial sections, the female member including second valve means to control fluid flow between the central bore and the fluid passage in the female member;
(c) first seal retaining means insertable into the receiving chamber, the seal retaining means having a port through which fluid is communicated between the fluid passages in the male and the female members;
(d) a first pair of radial metal seals located in the receiving chamber, one seal on each side of the fluid passages, for sealing engagement with the receiving chamber and with the first seal retaining means;
and
(e) a second pair of radial metal seals located in the receiving chamber, one seal on each side of the fluid passages, for sealing engagement with the first seal retaining means and with the outer lateral surface of the male member.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 07/640,063Filed 11 Jan 1991
Granted: 31 Mar 1992
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification8 codes

F16L 1/26
Laying or reclaiming pipes; Repairing or joining pipes on or under water: repairing or joining pipes on or under water
F16L 29/04
Joints with fluid cut-off means: with a cut-off device in each of the two pipe ends, the cut-off devices being automatically opened when the…
Y10S 285/90
Pipe joints or couplings: balanced pressure
Y10T 137/87925
Flow path with serial valves and/or closures: separable flow path section, valve or closure in each