Patent ID: 8511387

Claim:
An apparatus for connecting to a subsea member having an external flange or a connection point, the apparatus comprising: a tubular outer body defining a cavity; a tubular inner body defining a bore, wherein the lower end of the inner body resides within the cavity; a lower engaging member coupled to the outer body and configured to engage at least one of a backside of the external flange and a connection point, the lower engaging member being configured to move radially between a radially advanced position engaging at least one of the backside of the external flange and the connection point and a radially withdrawn position disengaged from at least one of the backside of the external flange and the connection point; and an upper engaging member coupled to the outer body and configured to engage the inner body, the upper engaging member being configured to move radially independently of the lower engaging member between a radially advanced position engaging the inner body and a radially withdraw position disengaged from the inner body; wherein the upper engaging member has a downward-facing ramp surface configured to slidingly engage a flange of the inner body as the upper engaging member moves radially inward to the advanced position to exert a preload force on a seal disposed between the apparatus and the subsea member.