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US 6,305,720 B1Granted
Remote articulated connector
AssigneeBig-Inch Marine Systems, Inc.
InventorsMichael W. Spiering, Richard L. Ahlgrim, Bruce E. Morris
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An articulating connector system including an active connector coupled to a first line and a hub assembly coupled to a second line. The active connector includes a swivel coupling element intermediate a grip and a ball nose to allow rotational and articulating motion. A seal is coupled to the ball nose and is protected and guided by an alignment lip into mating engagement with a sealing surface defined by the hub. A clamp closes about the swivel coupling element and hub to draw together the seal and sealing surface into sealing contact to connect the first line to the second line.
Claims37
A connector apparatus for connecting a first line to a second line, comprising:
- a hub adapted to be coupled to said second line;
- a sealing surface coupled to said hub;
- a swivel coupling element adapted to be coupled to said first line;
- a seal coupled to and configured in operative relation with said swivel coupling element;
- an alignment lip coupled to said hub and configured to protect said seal and to guide said seal into mating engagement with said sealing surface;
- a clamp configured to close about said swivel coupling element and said hub to draw together said seal and said sealing surface into sealing contact to connect said first line to said second line;
- a grip configured in operative relation with said swivel coupling element;
- a support structure coupled to said grip;
- and
- a bolt coupling said support structure and said clamp, wherein said bolt is operable to close said clamp about said swivel coupling element.
7 more elements
An articulated connector component, comprising:
- a swivel coupling element;
- a grip configured in operative relation with said swivel coupling element;
- a ball nose coupled to said grip and configured in operative relation with said swivel coupling element, said swivel coupling element being coupled in a position intermediate said grip and said ball nose to allow rotational and articulating motion of said swivel coupling element;
- a seal coupled to said ball nose;
- a clamp configured in operative relation with said seal and operable to close about said swivel coupling element;
- a support structure coupled to said grip;
- and
- a bolt coupling said support structure and said clamp, wherein said bolt is operable to close said clamp about said swivel coupling element.
5 more elements
An articulating connector system, comprising:
- an active connector comprising:
- a swivel coupling element;
- a grip configured in operative relation with said swivel coupling element;
- a ball nose coupled to said grip and configured in operative relation with said swivel coupling element, said swivel coupling element being intermediate said grip and said ball nose to allow rotational and articulating motion of said swivel coupling element;
- a seal coupled to said ball nose;
- a clamp configured in operative relation with said seal and operable to close about said swivel coupling element;
- a soft landing body configured in operative relation with said seal;
- and
- an alignment cone slidably coupled to said soft landing body;
- and
- a hub assembly comprising:
- a hub adapted to be coupled to a line;
- a sealing surface defined by said hub;
- an alignment lip defined by said hub and configured to protect said seal and to guide said seal into mating engagement with said sealing surface;
- a clamping recess defined by said hub and configured to mate with said clamp upon closure of said clamp;
- and
- a landing base in operative relation with said hub and configured to receive said alignment cone.
14 more elements
A method for connecting a first line to a second line, comprising:
- providing an active connector coupled to said first line and comprising a swivel coupling element;
- a seal in operative relation with said swivel coupling element;
- a clamp configured in operative relation with said seal;
- a soft landing body configured in operative relation with said seal;
- and an alignment cone slidably coupled to said soft landing body;
- providing a hub assembly coupled to said second line and comprising a hub;
- a sealing surface;
- a clamping recess defined by said hub;
- and a landing base configured in operative relation to said hub;
- positioning said active connector adjacent said hub assembly;
- hard landing said active connector by passing said alignment cone over an outer surface of said hub to engage said landing base;
- soft landing said active connector onto said hub assembly by sliding said soft landing body relative to said alignment cone in a direction toward said landing base;
- and
- seating said seal into mating engagement with said sealing surface;
- activating said clamp to close about said swivel coupling element so as to draw together said seal and said sealing surface into sealing relationship to connect said first line to said second line.
12 more elements
A method for connecting a first line to a second line, comprising:
- providing an active connector coupled to said first line and comprising a swivel coupling element;
- a grip configured in operative relation with said swivel coupling element;
- a ball nose coupled to said grip and configured in operative relation with said swivel coupling element;
- a seal coupled to said ball nose;
- a clamp configured in operative relation to said seal;
- an annulus testing port configured in operative relation to said seal;
- a soft landing body configured in operative relation to said seal;
- and an alignment cone slidably coupled to said soft landing body;
- providing a hub assembly coupled to said second line and comprising a hub;
- a sealing surface defined by said hub;
- an alignment lip defined by said hub;
- a clamping recess defined by said hub;
- and a landing base configured in operative relation to said hub;
- positioning said active connector adjacent said hub assembly;
- hard landing said active connector by passing said alignment cone over an outer surface of said hub to engage said landing base;
- soft landing said active connector onto said hub assembly by sliding said soft landing body relative to said alignment cone in a direction toward said landing base;
- seating said seal into mating engagement with said sealing surface with said alignment lip;
- activating said clamp to close about said swivel coupling element;
- mating said clamping recess with said clamp;
- mating said grip with said clamp;
- drawing together said seal and said sealing surface into sealing relationship to connect said first line to said second line.
18 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.