Connector for tubular members

Claim 2

In a connector for tubular members, the combination comprising: a housing arranged for positioning over the end of a tubular member; said housing having therein gripping means for engaging the outer surface of said tubular member upon actuation and seal means for forming a pressure tight seal between said housing and said tubular member upon actuation, said gripping seal means being actuatAble in response to an axial force applied thereto; means carried by said housing for imparting a hydraulically generated axial actuation force to said gripping means and seal means; said force imparting means including a plurality of longitudinally aligned circumferentially spaced cylinders provided in said housing, and a pair of pistons slidably positioned in each end of each of said cylinders; and the inside diameter of said cylinders intermediate said pistons being less than the outside diameter of said pistons, whereby a solid material disposed within said cylinders intermediate said pistons will be prevented from freely communicating movement of one piston to the other piston in the same cylinder.

Claim 3

In a connector for tubular members, the combination comprising: a housing arranged for positioning over the end of a tubular member; said housing having therein gripping means for engaging the outer surface of said tubular member upon actuation and seal means for forming a pressure tight seal between said housing and said tubular member upon actuation, said gripping seal means being actuatAble in response to an axial force applied thereto; means carried by said housing for imparting a hydraulically generated axial actuation force to said gripping means and seal means; said force imparting means including a plurality of longitudinally aligned circumferentially spaced cylinders provided in said housing, and a pair of pistons slidably positioned in each end of each of said cylinders; and the inside diameter of said cylinders intermediate said pistons being less than the outside diameter of said pistons, whereby a solid material disposed within said cylinders intermediate said pistons will be prevented from freely communicating movement of one piston to the other piston in the same cylinder.

Claim 4

In a connector for tubular members, the combination comprising: a housing arranged for positioning over the end of a tubular member; said housing having therein gripping means for engaging the outer surface of said tubular member upon actuation and seal means for forming a pressure tight seal between said housing and said tubular member upon actuation, said gripping seal means being actuatAble in response to an axial force applied thereto; means carried by said housing for imparting a hydraulically generated axial actuation force to said gripping means and seal means; said force imparting means including a plurality of longitudinally aligned circumferentially spaced cylinders provided in said housing, and a pair of pistons slidably positioned in each end of each of said cylinders; and the inside diameter of said cylinders intermediate said pistons being less than the outside diameter of said pistons, whereby a solid material disposed within said cylinders intermediate said pistons will be prevented from freely communicating movement of one piston to the other piston in the same cylinder.

Claim 5

The invention as claimed in claim 1 including: means for injecting a pressurized fluid into said cylinders intermediate said pistons to create said hydraulically generated actuation force.

Claim 6

The invention as claimed in claim 2 wherein: said pressurized fluid is a hardenable liquid.

Claim 7

The invention as claimed in claim 1 wherein said gripping means includes: said housing having an annular, circumferential inwardly facing tapered bowl formed therein; an outwardly facing tapered annular bowl positioned within said housing and arranged for axially sliding movement toward said inwardly facing bowl and radially outward movement into gripping engagement with the radially inward surface of said housing upon actuation thereof; and, an annular slip assembly slidably positioned intermediate said bowls within said housing, the radially outward surface of said assembly being formed to matingly engage said bowls, said assembly being arranged for radially inward movement into engagement with said tubular member in response to axial forces from said bowls.

Claim 8

The invention as claimed in claim 4 wherein said seal means includes: first and second annular seals carried by said housing and arranged for actuation into sealing engagement between said housing and said tubular member; an annular ring carried by said housing and positioned intermediate said seals, said ring being arranged to communicate a pressurized fluid to said seals; and, means for transmitting a pressurized fluid to said ring.

Claim 9

In a pipeline connector, the combination comprising: a housing arranged for slidable positioning over the end of a pipe to which connection is to be made, said housing having an annular, radially inwardly facing tapered bowl formed therein, and said housing having a plurality of cylinders longitudinally aligned and circumferentially spaced therein at a point axially spaced apart from said tapered bowl; a pair of hydraulic pistons mounted in each of said cylinders, with one of each pair arranged for axial movement toward said tapered bowl and the other one of said pair away from said bowl in response to application of fluid pressure thereto; means in said housing for transmitting a first pressurized fluid to the ends of said pistons for actuation thereof; a plurality of pipe gripping slips supported in said housing adjacent said tapered bowl, with said slips having outwardly facing tapered slips cooperative with said bowl for camming said slips radially inwardly upon axial movement toward said bowl in response to actuation of said pistons, and said pipe slips having a gripping surface on the radially inward side thereof for gripping said pipe upon actuation thereof; a pair of resilient seals supported in said housing generally axially adjacent the ends of one of each of said pairs of pistons, said seals being arranged for radial deformation into sealing engagement between said pipe and said housing in response to actuation of said pistons; an annular ring slidably mounted between said seals, said annular ring having conduit means therein for transmitting a pressurized fluid to the adjacent axial ends of said seals when said seals have been moved to the sealing position; means in said housing for transmitting another pressurized fluid to said annular ring after said seals have been actuated to the sealing positions; and means for retaining said gripping slips in the radially retracted non-actuated position prior to actuation of said pistons.

Claim 10

In a pipeline connector, the combination comprising: a housing arranged for slidable positioning over the end of a pipe to which connection is to be made, said housing having an annular, radially inwardly facing tapered bowl formed therein, and said housing having a plurality of cylinders longitudinally aligned and circumferentially spaced therein at a point axially spaced apart from said tapered bowl; a pair of hydraulic pistons mounted in each of said cylinders, with one of each pair arranged for axial movement toward said tapered bowl and the other one of said pair away from said bowl in response to application of fluid pressure thereto; means in said housing for transmitting a first pressurized fluid to the ends of said pistons for actuation thereof; a plurality of pipe gripping slips supported in said housing adjacent said tapered bowl, with said slips having outwardly facing tapered slips cooperative with said bowl for camming said slips radially inwardly upon axial movement toward said bowl in response to actuation of said pistons, and said pipe slips having a gripping surface on the radially inward side thereof for gripping said pipe upon actuation thereof; a pair of resilient seals supported in said housing generally axially adjacent the ends of one of each of said pairs of pistons, said seals being arranged for radial deformation into sealing engagement between said pipe and said housing in response to actuation of said pistons; an annular ring slidably mounted between said seals, said annular ring having conduit means therein for transmitting a pressurized fluid to the adjacent axial ends of said seals when said seals have been moved to the sealing position; means in said housing for transmitting another pressurized fluid to said annular ring after said seals have been actuated to the sealing positions; and means for retaining said gripping slips in the radially retracted non-actuated position prior to actuation of said pistons.

Claim 11

The invention as claimed in claim 6 wherein: the inside diameter of said cylinders intermediate said pistons being less than the outside diameter of said pistons, whereby a solid material disposed within said cylinders intermediate said pistons will be prevented from freely communicating movement of one piston of said pair to the other piston of said pair.