Pull-head release mechanism for bend stiffener connector

An automatic release system for a riser coupled to a bend restrictor/limiter, comprising:

• a guide funnel assembly configured to receive a shaft;
• the shaft configured to be coupled to the riser and configured to be received inside the guide funnel assembly;
• a pull-head located inside at least a portion of the shaft and coupled to the shaft, wherein the pull-head is coupled to a pulling mechanism, and wherein the pulling mechanism pulls the shaft and the riser into the guide funnel assembly during use;
• one or more stopper mechanisms mounted on an outside of the shaft and aligned with one or more spring-loaded dogs mounted on the outside of the shaft, wherein, in a first position, one or more of the stopper mechanisms inhibit one or more of the spring-loaded dogs from disengaging from a groove in the pull-head, wherein one or more of the stopper mechanisms are moved into a second position by being contacted with the guide funnel assembly when the shaft is pulled a selected distance into the guide funnel assembly, and wherein, in the second position, one or more of the stopper mechanisms allow one or more of the spring-loaded dogs to disengage from the groove in the pull-head;
• wherein the groove on the pull-head is located on an adapter coupled to the pull-head, and wherein the adapter locates the pull-head inside the shaft.

An automatic release system for a riser coupled to a bend restrictor/limiter, comprising:

• a guide funnel assembly;
• a shaft configured to be coupled to the riser and configured to be received inside the guide funnel assembly;
• a pull-head located inside at least a portion of the shaft and coupled to the shaft, wherein the pull-head is configured to couple to a pulling mechanism;
• and
• one or more stopper mechanisms mounted on an outside of the shaft, wherein the stopper mechanisms rotate when the guide funnel assembly contacts the stopper mechanisms as the shaft is pulled into the guide funnel assembly during use.

An automatic release system for a riser coupled to a bend restrictor/limiter, comprising:

• a guide funnel assembly configured to receive a shaft;
• the shaft configured to be coupled to the riser and configured to be received inside the guide funnel assembly;
• a pull-head located inside at least a portion of the shaft and coupled to the shaft, wherein a majority of the pull-head is located inside the shaft, wherein the pull-head is coupled to a pulling mechanism, and wherein the pulling mechanism pulls the shaft and the riser into the guide funnel assembly during use;
• one or more stopper mechanisms mounted on an outside of the shaft and aligned with one or more spring-loaded dogs mounted on the outside of the shaft, wherein, in a first position, one or more of the stopper mechanisms inhibit one or more of the spring-loaded dogs from disengaging from a groove in the pull-head, wherein one or more of the stopper mechanisms are moved into a second position by being contacted with the guide funnel assembly when the shaft is pulled a selected distance into the guide funnel assembly, and wherein, in the second position, one or more of the stopper mechanisms allow one or more of the spring-loaded dogs to disengage from the groove in the pull-head.

An automatic release system for a riser coupled to a bend restrictor/limiter, comprising:

• a guide funnel assembly configured to receive a shaft;
• the shaft configured to be coupled to the riser and configured to be received inside the guide funnel assembly;
• a pull-head located inside at least a portion of the shaft and coupled to the shaft, wherein the pull-head is coupled to a pulling mechanism, and wherein the pulling mechanism pulls the shaft and the riser into the guide funnel assembly during use;
• one or more stopper mechanisms mounted on an outside of the shaft and aligned with one or more spring-loaded dogs mounted on the outside of the shaft, wherein, in a first position, one or more of the stopper mechanisms inhibit one or more of the spring-loaded dogs from disengaging from a groove in the pull-head, wherein one or more of the stopper mechanisms are moved into a second position by being contacted with the guide funnel assembly when the shaft is pulled a selected distance into the guide funnel assembly, and wherein, in the second position, one or more of the stopper mechanisms allow one or more of the spring-loaded dogs to disengage from the groove in the pull-head;
• wherein the stopper mechanisms rotate from the first position to the second position when the guide funnel assembly contacts the stopper mechanisms.

An automatic release system for a riser coupled to a bend restrictor/limiter, comprising:

• a guide funnel assembly;
• a shaft configured to be coupled to the riser and configured to be received inside the guide funnel assembly;
• a pull-head located inside at least a portion of the shaft and coupled to the shaft, wherein the pull-head is configured to couple to a pulling mechanism;
• one or more stopper mechanisms mounted on an outside of the shaft;
• and
• one or more spring-loaded dogs mounted on the outside of the shaft and aligned with the one or more stopper mechanisms;
• wherein one or more of the stopper mechanisms inhibit one or more of the spring-loaded dogs from disengaging from a groove on the pull-head until one or more of the stopper mechanisms are contacted by the guide funnel assembly as the shaft is pulled into the guide funnel assembly during use, at which time, one or more of the stopper mechanisms allow one or more of the spring-loaded dogs to disengage from the groove in the pull-head.