Patent ID: 7922218

Claim:
A coupler device for a casing assembly, comprising: at least one connector having an arcuate shape and extending at least partially around a casing axis of the casing assembly, the connector comprising: two axial ends; an inner circumferential surface having first and second angled surface sections each facing toward an adjacent one of the two axial ends and away from the other of the first and second angled surface sections; an outer circumferential surface; and first and second lugs extending outwardly from the outer circumferential surface, the first lug configured to be received into a first recess defined in a first casing of the casing assembly and the second lug configured to be received into a second recess of a second casing of the casing assembly so as to connect the first and second casings, the first and second recesses extending radially outward from an inner circumferential surface of the first and second casings, respectively; and a retainer at least partially disposable radially inside of the connector, the retainer comprising first and second members that are axially spaced apart, the first and second members each having an angled outer circumferential surface facing toward the angled outer circumferential surface of the other one of the first and second members, the angled outer circumferential surface of the first member being disposable against the first angled surface section of the inner circumferential surface of the connector and the angled outer circumferential surface of the second member being disposable against the second angled surface section of the inner circumferential surface of the connector, the retainer being configured to prevent radial displacement of the connector toward the casing axis so as to maintain engagement of the connector with the first and second casings.