Adjustable connection apparatus

Abstract: An adjustable connection apparatus for joining tubular members includes a first tubular member (30) with a central bore (46), a counterbore (48) on one end thereof, a flange (44) on the other end thereof and external fine pitch grooves and ridges (50), and a second tubular member (32) with a central bore (54), a flange (52) on one end thereof, a first reduced external diameter portion (58) on the opposite end for insertion into the counterbore of said first tubular member, a second reduced diameter portion (60) on the end of the first reduced diameter portion with external threads (62) on the end of the second reduced diameter portion and external fine pitch grooves and ridges (56). Clamping elements (34) having internal fine pitch grooves and ridges provide gripping engagement with the external grooves and ridges of said tubular members and means (40) secure the clamping elements together in gripping engagement with the tubular members to secure them into a joint having a preselected length. Sealing means (64) are provided between the tubular members.

Description: The present invention relates to an adjustable connection apparatus which has particular application to the connection of retrievable jumper flowlines between a subsea template and a flowline pull-in apparatus which allows the vertical and horizontal runs to be preset and lowered to the subsea location to be hydraulically set by a remotely operated vehicle (ROV). US-A-1,213,132 discloses a pipe coupling which includes two half sections and bolts tightening the half sections on the ends of pipes to be joined which pipes are non-rotatable. The pipe ends and the portions of the coupling which engage each pipe end have different threads or engaging surfaces to allow rotation of the coupling after it is securely attached to the pipe ends so that the pipe ends are pulled toward each other. A suitable metal ring or other type packing is suggested between the end surfaces of the pipe ends within the coupling to ensure a sealed relationship of the end surfaces. US-A-4,008,972 discloses a tubing connector which is intended to be used to join a tool to a tubing string and includes a split clamp around the exterior of the tubing string and a mandrel within the tubing string and tightening means to provide a tight engagement between the three components. It is suggested that teeth may be on the interior of the clamp or on the exterior of the mandrel (preferably on the interior of the clamp) or both to provide the secure engagement between these parts and the tube. US-A-4,175.405 discloses a coupling used between shafts which are transmitting rotary power so that a section of shafting may be removed without having to remove all the shafting to repair only one section. Each shaft is provided with split collars having a groove to receive the shaft key and axially extending openings to receive drive pins which engage the collars or the opposing shaft end to transmit the rotary power. A pair of housing sections clamp the ends together with seals and bearings into an aligned configuration for the transmission of rotary power between the shafts. US-A-4,603,887 discloses an adjustable length tubing connection with a first or outer member having a smooth interior and an outwardly extending end flange and a second or inner member having external threads and being slidably movable within the first member and a clamp to engage the first member flange and the second member threads to clamp them together. The clamp is rotatable to adjust the length of the two members. An object of the present invention is to provide an improved adjustable joint suitable for use in jumper flowlines in a subsea location. Another object is to provide an improved adjustable connection apparatus for joining tubular members which is adjustable in length and provides a suitable seal between the members on the interior of one member. A further object is to provide an improved adjustable connection apparatus for which when set functions to retain the connected members together without other locking elements. According to the invention, an adjustable length connection apparatus comprises a first tubular member having a central bore and external grooves and ridges, a counterbore at one end thereof, and means for connecting the first tubular member into a flowline at the opposite end from said one end; a second tubular member having a central bore and external grooves and ridges, a reduced outer diameter part at one end thereof, and means for connecting the second tubular member into a flowline at the opposite end from said one end; a pair of mating clamping sections having internal grooves and ridges for mating with the external grooves and ridges on the first and second tubular members, and means for joining the clamping sections into tight engagement with the exterior of the first and second tubular members; and sealing means positioned between the exterior of the reduced diameter part of the second tubular member and the interior of the counterbore of the first tubular member. In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a plan view of a pair of subseal templates which are connected a flow line pull-in apparatus by jumper flow lines including the adjustable connection apparatus of the present invention; Figure 2 is a sectional view of the adjustable connection apparatus of the present invention in a first short length position; and, Figure 3 is a sectional view similar to Figure 2 showing the adjustable apparatus in an extended position in comparison to the apparatus shown in Figure 2. Template 10 shown in Figure 1 is spaced from template 12 and its flowline 14 connects into line 16 from template 10 to jumper flowline 18 which is connected to the flowline pull-in apparatus 20. Similarly, flowline 22 from template 12 is connected to line 24 to jumper flowline 26 which is connected to flowline pull-in apparatus 28. Jumper flowlines 18 and 26 include adjustable connection apparatus A of the present invention and are also provided with suitable hydraulic means which can be operated by an ROV to provide the connections to the template flowlines 16 and 24 and to the pull-in apparatus 20 to 28. As shown adjustable connection apparatus A includes first tubular member 30, second tubular member 32, split camp 34 including clamp sections 36 and 38 and fastening means, such as bolts 40 and nuts 42 for securing section 36 and 38 together and for tightening them on the exterior of members 30 and 32 as hereinafter explained. First tubular member 30 includes end flange 44 secured on one end thereof with central bore 46 extending through member 30 ending in counterbore 48 which extends to the end of member 30. The exterior of member 30 includes a plurality of fine pitch grooves and ridges 50 which may be threads or annular grooves and ridges. Second tubular member 32 includes end flange 52 secured on one end thereof with central bore 54 extending completely therethrough. The exterior of second tubular member 32 includes a plurality of fine pitch grooves and ridges 56 which may be threads or annular grooves and ridges. Grooves and ridges 56 end in first reduced diameter portion 58 which extends toward the end of member 32 and ends in second reduced diameter portion 60 which in turn ends in external threads 62. First internal reduced diameter portion 58 has a diameter which fits within counterbore 48. Resilient seal 64 is positioned in surrounding relationship to the inner portion of second reduced diameter portion 60 for sealing against the interior of counterbore 48. Metal cup seal 66 is positioned around second reduced diameter portion 60 between resilient seal 64 and nut 68 which is threaded onto external threads 62. Nut 68 is provided to secure seals 64 and 66 on second reduced diameter portion 60 and has an external chamfer to allow easy entry with counterbore 48 of first tubular member 30. First reduced diameter portion 58 defines shoulder 70 which forms a stop limiting the entry of the outer end of second tubular member 32 into counterbore 48 of first tubular member. Clamp sections 36 and 38 include internal grooves and ridges 72 which are mated for engagement with grooves and ridges 50 and 56 on the exterior of tubular member 30 and 32. Thus, when bolts 40 and nuts 42 are tightened, clamp sections 36 and 38 are brought in tight engagement with the exterior grooved surfaces of member 30 and 32 to secure and retain them in their desired position. As shown in FIGURE 2 members 30 and 32 are telescoped with one another as far as possible so that the end of member 30 engages the stop shoulder 70 on member 32. When it is desired to have the joint of members 30 and 32 be longer it is only necessary to position member 32 in a position which is not totally within counterbore 48 of member 30 as shown in FIGURE 3. With members 30 and 32 in their desired positions so that the joint is as long as desired, clamp sections 36 and 38 are tightened thereon and the joint established thereby will have the desired length without sacrificing the integrity of the flowline or having problems with further relative movement of the members.

Claims: An adjustable length connection apparatus (A) comprising a first tubular member (30) having a central bore (46) and external grooves and ridges (50), a counterbore (48) at one end thereof, and means (44) for connecting the first tubular member into a flowline at the opposite end from said one end; a second tubular member (32) having a central bore (54) and external grooves and ridges (56), a reduced outer diameter part (58,60) at one end thereof, and means (52) for connecting the second tubular member into a flowline at the opposite end from said one end; a pair of mating clamping sections (36,38) having internal grooves and ridges (72) for mating with the external grooves and ridges (50,56) on the first and second tubular members (30,32), and means (40,42) for joining the clamping sections into tight engagement with the exterior of the first and second tubular members; and sealing means (64,66) positioned between the exterior of the reduced diameter part (58,60) of the second tubular member (32) and the interior of the counterbore (48) of the first tubular member (30). An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the grooves and ridges (50,56) have a relatively fine pitch. An apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the reduced diameter part of the second tubular member (32) includes a first reduced diameter portion (58) which is a fit in the counterbore (48), and a second reduced diameter portion (60) on the end of the first reduced diameter portion, the sealing means (64,66) being positioned on the second reduced diameter portion (60). An apparatus according to claim 3, including a nut (68) threaded on the end of the second reduced diameter portion (60) to retain the sealing means thereon. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sealing means includes a resilient ring (64) and metal cup sealing ring (66).

Inventors: HART BRIAN, HART, BRIAN
Applicants: COOPER IND INC, COOPER INDUSTRIES INC.
Application year: 1989
Main classification: F16L27
IPC codes: F16L27, E21B43