Positive retraction latch locking dog for a rotating control device

An apparatus for latching an item of oilfield equipment comprising:

• a housing;
• a latch member contained within the housing, the latch member movable between a radially engaged position in which the latch member is engaged with the item of oilfield equipment, and a radially retracted position in which the latch member is disengaged from the item of oilfield equipment;
• an actuator configured to drive the latch member into the radially engaged position, wherein the actuator is configured to drive the latch member toward the radially retracted position;
• wherein the actuator has a ledge within a slot defined radially through the actuator;
• wherein the actuator further comprises a radial rod attached at one end to the latch member, and a carriage head located at the other end of the radial rod;
• and
• wherein the latch member is driven into the radially retracted position by the carriage head riding on the ledge as the actuator is driven in an axial direction.

An apparatus for latching an item of oilfield equipment comprising:

• a housing;
• a latch member contained within the housing, the latch member movable between a radially engaged position in which the latch member is engaged with the item of oilfield equipment, and a radially retracted position in which the latch member is disengaged from the item of oilfield equipment;
• an actuator configured to drive the latch member into the radially engaged position, wherein the actuator is configured to drive the latch member toward the radially retracted position;
• wherein the actuator has a ledge within a slot defined in the actuator;
• wherein the actuator further comprises a dovetail arrangement located at one end to the latch member;
• and
• wherein the latch member is driven into the radially retracted position by the dovetail arrangement riding on the ledge as the actuator is driven in an axial direction.

An apparatus for latching an item of oilfield equipment comprising:

• a housing;
• a latch member contained within the housing, the latch member movable between a radially engaged position in which the latch member is engaged with the item of oilfield equipment, and a radially retracted position in which the latch member is disengaged from the item of oilfield equipment;
• an actuator configured to drive the latch member into the radially engaged position, wherein the actuator is configured to drive the latch member toward the radially retracted position;
• wherein the latch member and the actuator together form a unitary piston;
• wherein the unitary piston has a piston head;
• wherein the housing defines a radial bore;
• and
• wherein a spring is mounted in the radial bore between the piston head and the housing.

An apparatus for latching an item of oilfield equipment comprising:

• a housing;
• a latch member contained within the housing, the latch member movable between a radially engaged position in which the latch member is engaged with the item of oilfield equipment, and a radially retracted position in which the latch member is disengaged from the item of oilfield equipment;
• an actuator configured to drive the latch member into the radially engaged position, wherein the actuator is configured to drive the latch member toward the radially retracted position;
• wherein the latch member has a shoulder;
• wherein the actuator further comprises a leaf spring arm biased between the housing and the shoulder;
• wherein the latch member is driven into the radially engaged position by impact at a first contiguous interface between the actuator and the latch member;
• and
• wherein the latch member is driven into the radially retracted position by the leaf spring arm biasing the shoulder and the latch member away from the housing.

An apparatus for latching an item of oilfield equipment comprising:

• a housing;
• a latch member contained within the housing, the latch member movable between a radially engaged position in which the latch member is engaged with the item of oilfield equipment, and a radially retracted position in which the latch member is disengaged from the item of oilfield equipment;
• an actuator configured to drive the latch member into the radially engaged position, wherein the actuator is configured to drive the latch member toward the radially retracted position;
• wherein the housing defines a slot,
• wherein the slot is defined in a position selected from the group consisting of above the latch member, below the latch member, and above and below the latch member, and
• wherein the slot is configured to remove an amount of debris or a volume of fluid or both.

An apparatus for latching an item of oilfield equipment comprising:

• a housing;
• a latch member contained within the housing, the latch member movable between a radially engaged position in which the latch member is engaged with the item of oilfield equipment, and a radially retracted position in which the latch member is disengaged from the item of oilfield equipment;
• an actuator configured to drive the latch member into the radially engaged position, wherein the actuator is configured to drive the latch member toward the radially retracted position;
• wherein the latch member further comprises a radial rod protruding from one end of the latch member, and a spring mounted on the radial rod;
• wherein the latch member is driven into the radially engaged position by impact at a first contiguous interface between the actuator and the latch member;
• and
• wherein the latch member is driven into the radially retracted position by the spring biasing the radial rod and the latch member away from the housing.

An apparatus for latching an item of oilfield equipment comprising:

• a housing;
• a latch member contained within the housing, wherein the latch member is movable between a radially engaged position in which the latch member is engaged with the item of oilfield equipment and a radially retracted position in which the latch member is disengaged from the item of oilfield equipment;
• and
• an actuator connected to the latch member, wherein the actuator is configured to convert axial movement of the actuator to radial movement of the latch member, wherein the actuator is connected to the latch member with a dovetail arrangement having angled ledges on the latch member, and wherein the dovetail arrangement is inserted in a slot on the actuator.