Rotating pressure control head

A sealing element comprising:

• a substantially cylindrical outer surface;
• a substantially cylindrical inner surface concentric with and having a smaller diameter than the outer surface;
• a central aperture defined by the exterior of the inner surface, the central aperture sized to allow passage of a chill pipe;
• a plurality of inner cavities disposed within the sealing element between the inner surface and the outer surface, each of the inner cavities having an opening through the outer surface;
• wherein upon introduction of a pressurized fluid into the inner cavities through each of the openings, the diameter of the outer surface remains fixed and the diameter of the inner surface decreases;
• wherein the inner cavities control the deformation of the inner surface as the diameter of the inner surface decreases;
• and
• wherein the inner cavities cause the inner wall of the sealing element to constrict the innermost cylindrical member in a twisting action.

A rotating pressure control head comprising:

• an upper body;
• and
• a lower body;
• wherein the upper body comprises:
• an outer housing;
• an inner housing that rotates with respect to the outer housing;
• a sealing element fixed within the inner housing;
• wherein the sealing element comprises:
• a plurality of internal cavities;
• a plurality of apertures connecting the internal cavities to a pressurized fluid;
• wherein inflation of the cavities by the pressurized fluid causes an inner wall of the sealing element to constrict a drill pipe in a predictable manner;
• wherein the upper body secures to the lower body in a locked position by aligning at least four sets of upper discontinuous threads with a plurality of spaces between at least four sets of lower discontinuous threads;
• wherein the upper body rotates less than forty-five degrees with respect to the lower body between the locked position and an unlocked position;
• wherein the upper body and lower body are adapted to be moved manually to the locked position and to the unlocked position;
• wherein the upper body is removable from the lower body without any further rotation when the upper body is in the unlocked position;
• and
• wherein the upper body must be rotated at least twenty degrees with respect to the lower body between the locked position and the unlocked position.

An apparatus comprising:

• an upper body removably connected to a lower body by discontinuous threads;
• wherein the upper body comprises:
• an outer housing;
• a sealing element adapted for rotation within the outer housing;
• an inner housing rotatably engaged within the outer housing and adapted for holding the sealing element;
• wherein the inner housing is rotatably engaged with the outer hosing by a first bearing configured to support the vertical load placed upon the upper body and by a second bearing configured to support the horizontal load placed upon the upper body;
• wherein the sealing element comprises a plurality of internal cavities;
• a plurality of apertures for connecting the internal cavities to a pressurized fluid;
• wherein inflation of the cavities by the pressurized fluid causes an inner wall of the sealing element to constrict the drill pipe in a predictable manner;
• wherein the upper body secures to the lower body in a locked position by twisting and interlocking at least four sets of upper discontinuous threads at least four sets of lower discontinuous threads;
• wherein the upper body rotates in range less than forty-five degrees with respect to the lower body between the locked position and an unlocked position;
• and
• wherein the upper body and lower body are adapted to be moved manually to the locked position and to the unlocked position.

A rotating pressure control head comprising:

• an upper body having an outer housing, a plurality of upper rapid engagement threads affixed to the outer housing, an inner housing rotatably engaged within the outer housing;
• a lower body having an plurality of lower rapid engagement threads;
• a sealing element removeably engaged to the inner housing and having a plurality of internal cavities and having a plurality of apertures for connecting the internal cavities to a pressurized fluid;
• wherein inflation of the plurality of internal cavities by the pressurized fluid causes an inner wall of the sealing element to constrict a drill pipe in the rotating pressure control head in a twisting action;
• wherein the upper body engages the lower body by a twisting and interlocking of the upper rapid engagement threads with the lower rapid engagement threads;
• and
• wherein the inner housing is rotatably engaged with the outer hosing by a first bearing configured to support the vertical load placed upon the upper body and by a second bearing configured to support the horizontal load placed upon the upper body.