Shear ring casing coupler device

A casing assembly, comprising:

• first and second casings, each one of the first and second casings having an inner circumferential surface, a recess extending radially outward from the inner circumferential surface, and an inner end, wherein the inner end of the first casing is disposed proximal to the inner end of the second casing, the first and second casings being centered about a casing axis;
• and
• a coupler device including:
• at least one connector having an arcuate shape, two axial ends, an inner circumferential surface defining first and second angled surface sections each facing toward an adjacent one of the two axial ends and away from the other angled surface section, an outer circumferential surface, and first and second lugs extending radially outward from the outer circumferential surface, the first lug configured to be received into the first recess and the second lug configured to be received into the second recess so as to connect the first and second casings, the connector extending at least partially circumferentially about the casing axis;
• and
• a retainer sized to fit between the connector and the casing axis, the retainer including first and second members that are axially spaced apart, each of the first and second members having an angled outer circumferential surface facing toward the angled outer circumferential surface of the other one of the first and second members, the outer circumferential surface of the first member of the retainer being disposable against the first angled surface section of the inner circumferential surface of the connector and the angled outer circumferential surface of the second member of the retainer being disposable against the second angled surface section of the inner circumferential surface of the connector, the retainer configured to prevent radial displacement of the connector toward the casing axis so as to maintain the first and second lugs received into the first and second recesses, respectively.

A coupler device for connecting first and second casings comprising:

• a connector having an arcuate shape, a first lug engageable with a recess defined in the first casing, a second lug engageable with a recess defined in the second casing, so as to connect the first and second casings, and first and second angled surface sections each facing away from each other, the connector extending at least partially circumferentially about a casing axis;
• and
• a retainer disposeable within or about the at least one connector and configured to prevent radial displacement of the connector with respect to the casing axis so as to maintain the first lug engaged with the recess of the first casing and to maintain the second lug engaged with the recess of the second casing, the retainer including axially spaced first and second members, each of the first and second members having an angled outer circumferential surface facing toward the angled outer circumferential surface of the other one of the first and second members, the first member angled outer circumferential surface being disposeable against the first angled surface section of the connector and the angled surface of the second member being disposeable against the second angled surface section of the connector, the first and second members being adjustably connected such that the first and second members are displaceable toward each other so as to bias the connector radially with respect to the casing axis to engage the first lug with the recess of the first casing and second lug with the recess of the second casing.