Submergible flange coupling and gasket

Claim 1

A coupling for interconnecting submerged conduit means, said coupling comprising: first submergible conduit-coupling means; second submergible conduit-coupling means; passage means extending generally longitudinally of said first and second submergible coupling means; a plurality of coupling connecting means spaced circumferentially about said passage means, and operable to induce convergence of said first and second coupling means into fluid communicating and generally mutually sealed relationship; and a plurality of jack means carried by said first conduit-coupling means and spaced circumferentially about said passage means and generally circumferentially displaced from said couplinG connecting means; said jack means being operably independent of said coupling connecting means, and operable to induce relative movement between said first and second coupling means with said coupling connecting means being substantially immobilized relative to said first coupling means; said coupling further comprising: seal means including a generally annular seal operable to be interposed between said first and second coupling means; bifurcated alignment means connected with said seal means and operable to engage one of said connecting means and, in response to engagement with said one of said connecting means, position said seal in generally longitudinal alignment with, and interposed between, said first and second coupling means; handle means connected with said seal, said handle means projecting generally outwardly from said seal; said handle means, with said bifurcated alignment means engaged with said one of said connecting means, being located generally outwardly of said first and second coupling means; and alignment locking means carried with said handle means and operable to engage another of said connecting means and lock said seal in alignment with said first and second coupling means. 2. A coupling for interconnecting submerged conduit means, said coupling comprising: first coupling means including first body means having a first passage extending generally longitudinally therethrough, first flange means mounted on said first body means for rotation about said first passage, a plurality of first fastener-receiving means carried by, and circumferentially spaced about, said first flange means; second coupling means including second body means having a second passage means extending generally longitudinally therethrough, second flange means mounted on said second body means, a plurality of second fastener-receiving means carried by, and circumferentially spaced about, said second flange means; fastener means including a plurality of fastener elements operable to extend generally longitudinally of said first and second coupling means and be received by and interconnect generally longitudinally aligned first and second fastener-receiving means, said fastener elements being operable, when received by said first and second fastener-receiving means to induce convergence of said first and second flange means generally longitudinally of said first and second body means; seal means including a generally annular seal operable to be interposed between said first and second coupling means, bifurcated alignment means connected with said seal means and operable to engage one of said fastener elements and, in response to engagement with said one of said fastener elements, position said seal in generally longitudinal alignment with, and interposed between, said first and second coupling means, handle means connected with said seal, said handle means projecting generally outwardly from said seal, said handle means, with said bifurcated alignment means engaged with said one of said fastener elements, being located generally outwardly of said first and second coupling means, and alignment-locking means carried with said handle means and operable to engage another of said fastener elements and lock said seal in alignment with said first and second coupling means; flange-jacking means including a plurality of flange-jacking elements carried by and displaced circumferentially about said first flange means, said jacking elements being generally circumferentially displaced from said first fastener-receiving means, abutment means carried by each of said jacking elements and operable to abuttingly engage said second flange means, each said jacking element being operable to adjust the position of its associated abutment means longitudinally between said first and second flange means, and longitudinally withdraw its assOciated abutment means out of engagement with said second flange means; said fastener means being operable to induce generally horizontal convergence of said first and second coupling means into sealing engagement with longitudinally oppositely facing portions of said seal, with said abutment means being positioned by said jacking elements to permit said convergence.

Claim 3

A method of interconnecting first and second misaligned submerged conduit means, the method utilizing: first submergible conduit-coupling means including a member rotatable about said first submerged conduit means; second submergible conduit-coupling means; passage means extending generally longitudinally of said first and second submergible coupling means; a plurality of coupling connecting means spaced circumferentially about said passage means, and operable to induce convergence of said first and second coupling means into fluid communicating and generally mutually sealed relationship; and a plurality of jack means carried by said rotatable member of said first conduit-coupling means and spaced circumferentially about said passage means and generally circumferentially displaced from said coupling connecting means; said jack means being operably independent of said coupling connecting means, and operable to define a pivot axis between said first and second coupling means and to induce relative movement between said first and second coupling means with said coupling connecting means being substantially immobilized relative to said first coupling means, seal means including: a generally annular seal operable to be interposed between said first and second coupling means; bifurcated alignment means connected with said seal means and operable to engage one of said connecting means, and in response to engagement with said one of said connecting means, position said seal in generally longitudinal alignment with, and interposed between, said first and second coupling means; handle means connected with said seal, said handle means projecting generally outwardly from said seal; said handle means, with said bifurcated alignment means engaged with said one of said connecting means, being located generally outwardly of said first and second coupling means; and alignment-locking means carried with the handle means and operable to engage another of said connecting means and lock said seal in alignment with said first and second coupling means; the method including the steps of: manipulating the rotatable member of the first conduit-coupling means and two of the jack means so as to position the two jack means in a location defining a pivot axis related to the nature of the misalignment between the first and second submerged conduit means; manipulating the coupling connecting means to induce relative pivotal convergence of the first and second coupling means into fluid communicating, generally aligned and generally mutually sealed relationship; manipulating the handle means to position the bifurcated alignment means in engagement with one of the connecting means so as to position the seal in generally longitudinal alignment with and interposed between, the first and second coupling means; and locking the seal in alignment with the first and second coupling means by engaging the alignment-locking means with another of the connecting means.

Claim 4

A method of interconnecting first and second misaligned submerged conduit means, the method utilizing: first submergible conduit-coupling means including a member rotatable about said first submerged conduit means; second submergible conduit-coupling means; passage means extending generally longitudinally of said first and second submergible coupling means; a plurality of coupling connecting means spaced circumferentially about said passage means, and operable to induce convergence of said first and second coupling means into fluid communicating and generally mutually sealed relationship; and a plurality of jack means carried by said rotatable member of said first conduit-coupling means and spaced circumferentially about said passage means and generally circumferentially displaced from said coupling connecting means; said jack means being operably independent of said coupling connecting means, and operable to define a pivot axis between said first and second coupling means and to induce relative movement between said first and second coupling means with said coupling connecting means being substantially immobilized relative to said first coupling means, seal means including: a generally annular seal operable to be interposed between said first and second coupling means; bifurcated alignment means connected with said seal means and operable to engage one of said connecting means, and in response to engagement with said one of said connecting means, position said seal in generally longitudinal alignment with, and interposed between, said first and second coupling means; handle means connected with said seal, said handle means projecting generally outwardly from said seal; said handle means, with said bifurcated alignment means engaged with said one of said connecting means, being located generally outwardly of said first and second coupling means; and alignment-locking means carried with the handle means and operable to engage another of said connecting means and lock said seal in alignment with said first and second coupling means; the method including the steps of: manipulating the rotatable member of the first conduit-coupling means and two of the jack means so as to position the two jack means in a location defining a pivot axis related to the nature of the misalignment between the first and second submerged conduit means; manipulating the coupling connecting means to induce relative pivotal convergence of the first and second coupling means into fluid communicating, generally aligned and generally mutually sealed relationship; manipulating the handle means to position the bifurcated alignment means in engagement with one of the connecting means so as to position the seal in generally longitudinal alignment with and interposed between, the first and second coupling means; and locking the seal in alignment with the first and second coupling means by engaging the alignment-locking means with another of the connecting means.