Rotary connector with removable spool

A rotary connector for coupling a rotating pipe to a stationary inlet pipe and a stationary outlet pipe, comprising:

• a casing having an inboard end, an outboard end, a cylindrical passage extending between said ends of said casing, an inlet passage communicating with said cylindrical passage, and an outlet passage communicating with said cylindrical passage;
• a rotary stem, positioned within said cylindrical passage of said casing, having a closed end, an open end, a first accessway for providing a first fluid flow path between said stationary inlet pipe and said rotating pipe, and a second accessway for providing a cinched fluid flow path between said stationary outlet pipe and said rotating pipe;
• a removable spool having a first end removably connected to said rotary stem and a second end removably connected to said rotating pipe, said removable spool having a first fluid flow path between said stationary inlet pipe and said rotating pipe, and a second fluid flow path between said stationary outlet pipe and said rotating pipe, said spool being removable when unconnected from said rotary stem and from said rotating pipe so that the rotary stem can be withdrawn through the inboard end of the casing for maintenance or replacement of components;
• and
• a seal attached to said casing and positioned adjacent said rotary stem for sealing said rotary stem within said casing.

A rotary connector for coupling a rotating pipe to a stationary inlet pipe and a stationary outlet pipe, comprising:

• a casing having an inboard end, an outboard end, a cylindrical passage extending between said ends of said casing, an inlet passage communicating with said cylindrical passage, and an outlet passage communicating with said cylindrical passage;
• a rotary stem, positioned within said cylindrical passage of said casing, having a closed end, an open end terminating as a flange, an inner stem, and an outer stem having a plurality of apertures, said rotary stem having at least a portion of said inner stem disposed within said outer stem for forming an annulus between said inner and outer stem for providing a first fluid flow path between said stationary inlet pipe and said rotating pipe, said inner stem providing a second fluid flow path between said rotating pipe and said stationary outlet pipe;
• a removable spool having a first flange for removable connection to said flange of said rotary stem and a second flange for removable connection to said rotating pipe, said removable spool having an inner sleeve disposed within an outer sleeve for forming an annulus between said sleeves for providing a first fluid flow path between said stationary inlet pipe and said rotating pipe, said inner sleeve providing a second fluid flow path between said stationary outlet pipe and said rotating pipe, said spool being removable when unconnected from said rotary stem and from said rotating pipe so that the rotary stem can be withdrawn through the inboard end of the casing for maintenance or replacement of components;
• a seal attached to said casing and positioned adjacent to said rotary stem for sealing said rotary stem within said casing;
• and
• a blind flange attached to said flange positioned at said outboard end of said casing for containing fluid passing through said second fluid flow path of said rotary stem within said casing prior to passage through said outlet pipe.