Patent ID: 8870234

Claim:
A connector ( 15 ) for a hydrocarbon system comprising: a first duct section ( 21 ); a second duct section ( 23 ); a first connector part ( 20 ); a complementary, second connector part ( 22 ) attached to the second duct section ( 23 ), the second connector part ( 22 ) including a frusto-conical coupling head ( 43 ), wherein, the first connector part ( 20 ) has i) a sleeve ( 30 ) slidably attached to said first duct section and connectable to the second connector part ( 22 ), the sleeve ( 30 ) having an upper transverse wall ( 32 ) and a lower transverse wall ( 34 ), ii) a generally T-shaped core ( 26 ) having a cylindrical part ( 27 ), a transverse part ( 28 ), and a central channel ( 29 ), the core ( 26 ) being fixedly connected to the first duct section ( 21 ) for transport of hydrocarbons, the sleeve ( 30 ) being slidably around the core ( 26 ) in an axial direction between a retracted disconnect position and an extended connect position, the upper and lower transverse walls ( 32 , 34 ) contacting the core ( 26 ), iii) a longitudinal wall ( 37 ) extending between the upper and lower transverse wall ( 32 , 34 ), a lower end ( 40 ) of the longitudinal wall ( 37 ) defining a tapering cavity ( 39 ) for receiving the frusto-conical coupling head ( 43 ) of the second connector part ( 22 ) in the connect position, iv) a locking member ( 51 ) attached to the sleeve ( 30 ) and axially extendable with the sleeve, and v) a retraction member ( 25 ) for moving the first connector part in the axial direction between the extended position and the retracted position, the retraction member comprising at least one fluid pressure actuating member ( 25 ) connected with one end to the sleeve ( 30 ) and with another end to the core ( 26 ).