Remotely operated pipe connector

Patent · Tue Feb 16 04:00:00 EST 1988

OSTI ID:5239984

Josefiak, L J; Cramer, C E

An apparatus for remotely assembling and disassembling a connector between a pipe and a closure for the pipe is described, wherein the connector includes an angled flange defining an annular camming surface on the end of the pipe, an angled flange defining an annular camming surface on the closure, two semicircular collars which surround the flanges on the pipe and the closure, each of the collars having annular camming surfaces thereon adapted to contact the annular camming surfaces on the pipe and closure, a nut and bolt means extending through the two collars at each side for drawing the collars together, and an annular sealing ring located between the pipe and closure. The sealing ring is compressed between the pipe and the closure as the camming action of the camming surfaces on the collars against the camming surfaces on the pipe and closure draws the pipe and closure toward one another. The apparatus comprises: a base, a receptacle on the base, the closure being positioned on the receptacle with the flange of the closure upwardmost and horizontally disposed, and the sealing ring resting on the flange; a positioning means for moving the pipe into position vertically above the closure with the flange on the end of the pipe immediately adjacent to and the sealing ring resting on the flange of the closure; a moving means for each collar for reciprocally moving each collar horizontally from a position free of the closure to a position such that the annular camming surfaces on each collar are in contact with the annular camming surfaces on the pipe and closure; and a tensioning means for automatically tightening the nut and bolt means in each side of the collars to draw the collars together and thereby draw the pipe and closure toward one another to cause the seal ring to be compressed between the pipe and closure.

• Assignee: Dept. of Energy, Washington, DC
• Patent Number(s): US 4725080
• OSTI ID: 5239984
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
03 NATURAL GAS
030300 -- Natural Gas-- Drilling
Production
& Processing
AUTOMATION
BOLTED JOINTS
DESIGN
DRILL PIPES
DRILLING EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
FLANGES
INSTALLATION
JOINTS
MATERIALS HANDLING EQUIPMENT
NATURAL GAS WELLS
OIL WELLS
PIPES
POSITIONING
REMOTE HANDLING
SEALS
SLEEVES
WELLS