Removable pipe connector

Claim 2

A connector for releasably joining the ends of two pipes together comprising: first and second mateable hub members; said first hub member being attached to an end of one of said pipes and having an external locking shoulder, an inner annular recess containing an outer sealing surface and an outer lug member having a seal ring arranged on the outer surface thereof; said second hub member being attached to an end of the other of said pipes and having an external locking shoulder, an inner annular recess containing a sealing surface, and an outer annular recess containing an outer sealing surface wall; an annular seal member having sealing surfaces for engaging the sealing surfaces of said inner annular recesses of said hub members; said outer lug member entering said outer annular recess in said second hub member to provide final axial alignment before said annular seal member engages said sealing surfaces of said inner annular recesses of said hub members in sealing positions; a stop sleeve slidably arranged on said one pipe adjacent said first hub member; a plurality of spring expandable, contractable locking fingers secured to and movable with said cylindrical stop member, said locking fingers having conically shaped inner end surfaces which taper outwardly in a direction toward the ends thereof, inner recesses having wall surfaces for engagement with the external shoulders of said first and second hub members, and outer tapered surfaces; and a housing slidable arranged on said locking fingers for holding said fingers in locked position on said mated hub members, said housing having an inner surface for engaging the outer surfaces of said locking fingers.

Claim 3

A connector as recited in claim 1 in which said first hub member is formed with an external slanted sleeve stop surface, the lower end of said stop sleeve being slanted to the same extent as said sleeve stop surface on said hub member for engagement therewith.

Claim 4

A connector as recited in claim 2 including an annular stop ring connected to said one pipe to limit movement of said stop sleeve in a direction away from said first hub member.

Claim 5

A connector as recited in claim 3 including a housing stop member secured to said locking fingers to maintain said housing arranged on said locking fingers.

Claim 6

A connector as recited in claim 4 including an actuator shoulder arranged on said other pipe for engagement with an axial actuator to move said second hub member towards and away from said first hub member; said fingers having a collar, one surface of which engages an axial actuator for moving said fingers and attached sleeve along said one pipe; said housing being provided with spaced-apart shoulder having surfaces for engagement with axial actuators for moving said housing along said fingers.

Claim 7

A connector as recited in claim 5 in which said sealing member is formed crescent shaped and initially retained in said annular recess on said first hub member.

Claim 8

A connector as recited in claim 6 including a passageway formed in said first hub member terminating between said annular recess and said lug member at one end and in a tube connected to a source of fluid pressure at the other end, said tube extending through said locking fingers collar, said stop sleeve having a groove formed therein to accommodate said tube.

Claim 9

A connector as recited in claim 7 in which said lug member extends over and thereby protects said annular seal member.

Claim 10

A connector for releasably joining ends of two pipes together comprising: first and second mateable hub members; said first hub member being attached to an end of one of said pipes and having an external locking shoulder and an inner annular recess containing an outer sealing surface and an outer lug member having a seal ring arranged on the outer surface thereof; said second hub member being attached to an end of said other pipe and having an external locking shoulder, an inner annular recess containing a sealing surface, and an outer annular recess containing an outer sealing surface wall; an annular seal member having sealing surface for engaging the sealing surfaces of said inner annular recesses of said hub members; said outer lug member entering said outer annular recess of said second hub member to provide final axial alignment before sealing surfaces of said annular seal member engage said sealing surfaces of said inner annular recesses of said hub members in sealing positions; a plurality of expandable- and contractable-locking fingers axially slidable on said first hub member from a retracting to an extended position and vice versa, each locking finger having an inner end surface which tapers outwardly in a direction toward the end thereof, an inner recess having wall surfaces for engagement with the external shoulder surfaces of said first and second hub members and an outer tapered surface, said inner recess being located away from said external-locking shoulder on said first hub member in an axial direction in said retracted position of said finger, said inner end surfaces functioning to guide said second hub member into a position of approximate axial concurrence with said first hub member when said fingers are in said extended position and said hub members are being drawn together; and means slidably arranged on said locking fingers for contracting and holding said fingers in locked position on said mated hub members.

Claim 11

A connector for releasably joining ends of two pipes together comprising: first and second mateable hub members; said first hub member being attached to an end of one of said pipes and having an external locking shoulder and an inner annular recess containing an outer sealing surface and an outer lug member having a seal ring arranged on the outer surface thereof; said second hub member being attached to an end of said other pipe and having an external locking shoulder, an inner annular recess containing a sealing surface, and an outer annular recess containing an outer sealing surface wall; an annular seal member having sealing surface for engaging the sealing surfaces of said inner annular recesses of said hub members; said outer lug member entering said outer annular recess of said second hub member to provide final axial alignment before sealing surfaces of said annular seal member engage said sealing surfaces of said inner annular recesses of said hub members in sealing positions; a plurality of expandable- and contractable-locking fingers axially slidable on said first hub member from a retracting to an extended position and vice versa, each locking finger having an inner end surface which tapers outwardly in a direction toward the end thereof, an inner recess having wall surfaces for engagement with the external shoulder surfaces of said first and second hub members and an outer tapered surface, said inner recess being located away from said external-locking shoulder on said first hub member in an axial direction in said retracted position of said finger, said inner end surfaces functioning to guide said second hub member into a position of approximate axial concurrence with said first hub member when said fingers are in said extended position and said hub members are being drawn together; and means slidably arranged on said locking fingers for contracting and holding said fingers in locked position on said mated hub members.

Claim 12

A connector as Recited in claim 9 including an actuator shoulder arranged on said other pipe for engagement with an axial actuator to move said second hub member towards and away from said first hub member; said fingers having a collar, one surface of which engages an axial actuator for moving said fingers along said one pipe; said means slidably arranged on said locking fingers being provided with spaced-apart shoulders having surfaces for engagement with axial actuators for moving said means along said fingers.

Claim 13

A connector as recited in claim 10 in which said seal member is formed crescent shaped and initially retained in said annular recess on said first hub member.

Claim 14

A connector as recited in claim 11 including a passageway formed in said first hub member terminating between said annular recess and said lug member at one end and in a tube connected to a source of fluid pressure at the other end, said tube extending through said locking fingers collar.

Claim 15

A connector as recited in claim 12 in which said lug member extends over and thereby protects said annular seal member.

Claim 16

A connector comprising first and second mateable hub members: said first hub member having an external-locking shoulder, a sealing surface and a lug member; said second hub member having an external-locking shoulder, a sealing surface and an annular recess; an annular seal member having sealing surface for engaging the sealing surfaces of said hub members; said lug member entering said recess in said second hub member to provide final axial alignment before said annular seal member engages said sealing surfaces of said hub members in sealing position; a plurality of expandable- and contractable-locking fingers axially slidable on said first hub member, each locking finger having an inner end surface which tapers outwardly in a direction toward the end thereof, an inner recess having wall surfaces for engagement with the external shoulder surfaces of said first and second hub members and an outer tapered surface, said inner recess being located away from said external-locking shoulder on said first hub member in an axial direction in one position thereof, said inner end surfaces functioning to guide said second hub member to a position of approximate axial concurrence with said first hub member when said hub members are being drawn together; and means slidably arranged on said locking fingers for holding said fingers in locked position on said mated hub members.

Claim 17

A connector comprising first and second mateable hub members: said first hub member having an external-locking shoulder, a sealing surface and a lug member; said second hub member having an external-locking shoulder, a sealing surface and an annular recess; an annular seal member having sealing surface for engaging the sealing surfaces of said hub members; said lug member entering said recess in said second hub member to provide final axial alignment before said annular seal member engages said sealing surfaces of said hub members in sealing position; a plurality of expandable- and contractable-locking fingers axially slidable on said first hub member, each locking finger having an inner end surface which tapers outwardly in a direction toward the end thereof, an inner recess having wall surfaces for engagement with the external shoulder surfaces of said first and second hub members and an outer tapered surface, said inner recess being located away from said external-locking shoulder on said first hub member in an axial direction in one position thereof, said inner end surfaces functioning to guide said second hub member to a position of approximate axial concurrence with said first hub member when said hub members are being drawn together; and means slidably arranged on said locking fingers for holding said fingers in locked position on said mated hub members.

Claim 18

A connector comprising first and second mateable hub members: said first hub member having a locking surface, a sealing surface and a lug member; said second hub member having a locking surface, a sealing surface and an annular recess; an annular seal member having sealing surfaces for engaging the sealing surfaces of said first and second hub members; said lug member entering said annular recess of said second hub member to provide final axial alignment before said annular seal member engages said sealing surfaces of said hub members in sealing positions; a plurality of expandable- and contractable-locking fingers axially movable on said first hub member, each locking finger having an inner end surface which tapers outwardly in a direction toward the end thereof and locking surfaces engageable with said first and second hub member locking surfaces, said locking surfaces on said fingers being located away from the locking surface on said first hub member in an axial direction in one position thereof, said inner end surfaces functioning to direct said first hub member toward axial concurrence with said hub member when said hub members are being drawn together; and means slidably arranged on said locking fingers for holding said fingers in locked position on said mated hub members.

Claim 19

A connector comprising first and second mateable hub members: said first hub member having a locking surface, a sealing surface and a lug member; said second hub member having a locking surface, a sealing surface and an annular recess; an annular seal member having sealing surfaces for engaging the sealing surfaces of said first and second hub members; said lug member entering said annular recess of said second hub member to provide final axial alignment before said annular seal member engages said sealing surfaces of said hub members in sealing positions; a plurality of expandable- and contractable-locking fingers axially movable on said first hub member, each locking finger having an inner end surface which tapers outwardly in a direction toward the end thereof and locking surfaces engageable with said first and second hub member locking surfaces, said locking surfaces on said fingers being located away from the locking surface on said first hub member in an axial direction in one position thereof, said inner end surfaces functioning to direct said first hub member toward axial concurrence with said hub member when said hub members are being drawn together; and means slidably arranged on said locking fingers for holding said fingers in locked position on said mated hub members.

Claim 20

A connector as recited in claim 15 including a sealing wall in said annular recess, a seal member arranged on the outer surface of said lug member and sealing against said sealing wall of said annular recess when said lug member is positioned within said annular recess.

Claim 21

A connector as recited in claim 16 including a passageway formed in said first hub member terminating at one end thereof between said sealing surfaces of said first hub member and s aid lug member and at the other end thereof in a tube connected to a source of fluid pressure.

Claim 22

A connector comprising: two cylindrical hub members capable of being drawn to and withdrawn from each other in an axial direction for connection and disconnection of the ends thereof; a plurality of expandable and contractable fingers slidably arranged on one of said hub members for axial movement from a retracted position to an extended position in which the ends of said fingers extend beyond the end of said one hub member and vice versa; said fingers having inner end surfaces tapering outwardly in a direction toward the ends thereof; said end surfaces functioning to direct said other hub member toward axial with said one hub member when said hub members are being drawn together; sealing means located on the ends of said hub members cooperating to seal off the connection between said hub members when said hub members are drawn together into mating relationship; and means located on the ends of said hub members cooperating to protect said sealing means as said hub members are drawn together and to provide final axial alignment of said hub members before said sealing means is in sealing position.

Claim 23

A connector comprising: two cylindrical hub members capable of being drawn to and withdrawn from each other in an axial direction for connection and disconnection of the ends thereof; a plurality of expandable and contractable fingers slidably arranged on one of said hub members for axial movement from a retracted position to an extended position in which the ends of said fingers extend beyond the end of said one hub member and vice versa; said fingers having inner end surfaces tapering outwardly in a direction toward the ends thereof; said end surfaces functioning to direct said other hub member toward axial with said one hub member when said hub members are being drawn together; sealing means located on the ends of said hub members cooperating to seal off the connection between said hub members when said hub members are drawn together into mating relationship; and means located on the ends of said hub members cooperating to protect said sealing means as said hub members are drawn together and to provide final axial alignment of said hub members before said sealing means is in sealing position.

Claim 24

A connector as recited in claim 18 in which the ends of said fingers are about coextensive with the end of said one hub member when said fingers are in retracted position.

Claim 25

A connector as recited in claim 19 wherein said sealing means comprises an annular recess in said first hub member having a sealing surface and an annular recess in said second hub member having a sealing surface and an annular seal member having sealing surfaces for engaging the sealing surface of said recesses in said first and second hub members.

Claim 26

A connector as recited in claim 20 wherein said means cooperating to protect said sealing means and to provide final axial alignment of said hub members comprise a lug member arranged on the end of said one hub member and a mating recess arranged on the end of said other hub member.

Claim 27

A connector as recited in claim 21 including means slidable axially on said fingers from one position in which said fingers are expanded to another position in which said fingers are contracted to lock said mated hub members together when said slidable means is in said other position.

Claim 28

A connector comprising: two cylindrical hub members capable of being drawn to and withdrawn from each other in an axial direction for connection and disconnection of the ends thereof; a plurality of expandable and contractable fingers slidably arranged on one of said hub members for axial movement from a retracted position to an extended position in which the ends of said fingers extend beyond the end of said one hub member and vice versa; said finger having inner end surfaces tapering outwardly in a direction toward the ends thereof; said end surfaces functioning to direct said other hub member toward axial concurrence with said one hub member when said hub members are being drawn together; and sealing means located on the ends of said hub members cooperating to seal off the connection between said hub members when said hub members are drawn together into mating relationship.

Claim 29

A connector comprising: two cylindrical hub members capable of being drawn to and withdrawn from each other in an axial direction for connection and disconnection of the ends thereof; a plurality of expandable and contractable fingers slidably arranged on one of said hub members for axial movement from a retracted position to an extended position in which the ends of said fingers extend beyond the end of said one hub member and vice versa; said finger having inner end surfaces tapering outwardly in a direction toward the ends thereof; said end surfaces functioning to direct said other hub member toward axial concurrence with said one hub member when said hub members are being drawn together; and sealing means located on the ends of said hub members cooperating to seal off the connection between said hub members when said hub members are drawn together into mating relationship.