US 6,267,419 B1Granted

Remotely actuated and locked hub clamp

AssigneeCooper Cameron Corporation

InventorsGerald S. Baker, William M. Taylor

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Abstract

A clamping connector that can be remotely actuated and locked which is particularly useful in subsea applications for attaching subsea Christmas trees to marine wellheads. The clamping connector includes clamp halves linked by a locking stem. The locking stem is forced into a pre-stressed state by moving the locking stem from a first relaxed to a second pre-stressed position and retained in the second pre-stressed position by a locking collet. A locking collet through which the locking stem extends is moved from a first unlocked position to a second locked position wedged between the locking stem and one or the other of the clamp halves. When the locking collet is in the second locked position, it resists movement of the locking stem from the second pre-stressed position to the first relaxed position. The locking collet is then locked in the second locked position. The clamping connector of the present invention is characterized by a minimal height which is particularly advantageous over prior clamping connectors.

Claims8

Dependent claims

Apparatus for clamping adjacent clamping members, comprising:

first and second clamp halves each having an inside face, said first and second clamp halves having an annular cutout formed on said inside face for engaging an outer surface formed on adjacent upper and lower hubs and securing adjacent upper and lower hubs in abutting relationship;
a plurality of locking stems secured to said first clamp half and extending from said first clamp half to said second clamp half;
each of said locking stems having an intermediate piston portion formed thereon, said intermediate piston portions axially movable by a power source within a corresponding cylinder formed in said second clamp half between a first relaxed position and a second pre-stressed position wherein said annular cutout on said first and second clamp halves contact said outer surfaces formed on said upper and lower hubs, and;
a pair of locking mechanisms integrally affixed to said second clamp half, said locking stems extending through said locking mechanisms and axially aligned with said locking mechanisms, said locking mechanisms engaging and securing said locking stems in said second pre-stressed position when said first and second clamp halves engage and secure said upper and lower hubs in abutting relationship.

1 more element

A method of clamping adjacent clamp hubs in abutting relationship, said clamping apparatus comprising:

first and second clamp halves each having an inside face, said first and second clamp halves having an annular cutout formed on said inside face for engaging an outer surface formed on adjacent upper and lower hubs and securing adjacent upper and lower hubs in abutting relationship;
a plurality of locking stems secured to said first clamp half and extending from said first clamp half to said second clamp half, said locking stems having a tapered outer surface;
each of said locking stems having an intermediate piston portion formed thereon, said intermediate piston portions axially movable by a power source within a corresponding cylinder formed in said second clamp half between a first relaxed position and a second pre-stressed position wherein said annular cutout on said first and second clamp halves contact said outer surfaces formed on said upper and lower hubs, and;
a pair of locking mechanisms integrally affixed to said second clamp half, said locking stems extending through said locking mechanisms and axially aligned with said locking mechanisms, said locking mechanisms engaging and securing said locking stems in said second pre-stressed position when said first and second clamp halves engage and secure said upper and lower hubs in abutting relationship;
said method of clamping adjacent clamp hubs in abutting relationship comprising the steps of;
operating a power source to move a plurality of intermediate pistons in corresponding cylinders formed in said second clamp half to urge said annular cutouts formed on said inside face of said first and second clamp halves into engagement with said adjacent upper and lower hubs and securing said adjacent upper and lower hubs in abutting relationship and induce a pre-stressed condition in said locking stems;
and,
operating said locking mechanisms to engage said locking stems and maintain said locking stems in said pre-stressed condition.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.