Patent ID: 8186429

Claim:
A coupling assembly comprising: a first well tool having a first end and a second end, a first primary fluid flow path, and a first shunt tube; a second well tool having a first end and a second end, a second primary fluid flow path, and a second shunt tube mechanically disengaged from the first shunt tube; a coupling, the coupling being operably attached to the first end of the first well tool and the second end of the second well tool, and wherein the coupling allows for substantial axial alignment between the first primary fluid flow path and the second primary fluid flow path; a manifold region located in an annulus concentrically around an exterior surface of the coupling, the annulus at least partially defined by an exterior surface of the coupling and wherein the manifold region provides a hydraulically contained region that allows for fluid flow communication between at least the first shunt tube and the mechanically disengaged second shunt tube; and at least one torque spacer operably attached to the coupling, wherein the torque spacer is substantially disposed at least partially within the manifold region and is mechanically engaged with the coupling and at least one of the first well tool and the second well tool.