Patent ID: 7819439

Claim:
An apparatus for sealing a connection ( 30 ) between oil and gas well tubular members ( 20 , 22 ) comprising, a compression ring ( 10 , 50 , 70 ) defining an axial bore therethrough with an internal diameter adapted to align with bores of an upper tubular member ( 20 ) and a lower tubular member ( 22 ), said compression ring having an upper compression ring surface ( 66 A, 86 A) arranged and designed to sealingly engage an upper tubular member frustoconical seating area ( 24 A), a lower compression ring surface ( 66 B, 86 B) arranged and designed to sealingly engage a lower tubular member frustoconical seating area ( 24 B), and a central rib ( 28 , 58 , 98 ) extending outwardly from said axial bore beyond said upper and lower compression ring surfaces, said central rib having an upper surface ( 62 A) arranged and designed to seat with said upper tubular member and a lower surface ( 62 B) arranged and designed to seat with said lower tubular member, wherein in a cross section of said compression ring along said axial bore, said central rib has a shape profile of a fishtail such that axial distance between said upper surface and said lower surface increases as said central rib extends outwardly from said axial bore, and a resilient rubber seal ( 60 , 64 , 80 ) coupled to at least one of said upper surface and said lower surface for providing additional sealing resistance to external pressure ( 32 ).