Underwater wellhead connector

Claim 2

A connector apparatus for connection to an underwater wellhead, the wellhead having an upper detachable portion and a lower stationary portion, including, a. a female receptacle, b. spring mounting means secured to the female receptacle (a) and adapted for flexing attachment to the lower stationary portion of the wellhead, c. a male stinger engageable in said female receptacle (a) when inserted into the receptacle, and d. an annular second female receptacle releasably engaging between the female receptacle (a) and the male stinger (c) and adapted to be fixedly secured to the upper detachable portion of the wellhead.

Claim 3

The invention of claim 1 including, additionally, an interlocking shoulder on the annular second female receptacle, interlocking means pivotally carried by the male stinger (c), and link means for moving said interlocking means into engagement with the interlocking shoulder for interlocking the male stinger (c) and the annular second female receptacle.

Claim 4

The invention of claim 2 wherein the interlocking means includes, at least one lever pivotal about an axis member for engagement with said shoulder, and load-bearing surfaces on said lever and on said link actuating means, said surfaces being in mating engagement when said lever engages said shoulder, whereby any load transmitted to the lever from said shoulder is borne by said surfaces rather than the axis member.

Claim 5

A connector apparatus for connection to an underwater wellhead, the wellhead having an upper detachable portion and a lower stationary portion, including, a. a female receptacle, b. spring mounting means secured to the female receptacle (a) and adapted for flexing attachment to the lower stationary portion of the wellhead, c. a male stinger engageable in said female receptacle (a) when inserted into the receptacle, d. an annular second female receptacle releasably engaging between the female receptacle (a) and the male stinger (c) and being adapted to be fixedly secured to the upper detachable portion of the wellhead, and e. the sidewalls of the annular second female receptacle (d) and the surfaces of the female receptacle (a) and the male stinger (c) which engage the sidewalls of the annular second female receptacle (d) tapering downwardly and inwardly.

Claim 6

A connector apparatus for connection to an underwater wellhead, the wellhead having an upper detachable portion and a lower stationary portion, including, a. a female receptacle, b. spring mounting means secured to the female receptacle (a) and adapted for flexing attachment to the lower stationary portion of the wellhead, c. a male stinger engageable in said female receptacle (a) when inserted into the receptacle, d. an annular second female receptacle releasably engaging between the female receptacle (a) and the male stinger (c) and being adapted to be fixedly secured to the upper detachable portion of the wellhead, and e. the sidewalls of the annular second female receptacle (d) and the surfaces of the female receptacle (a) and the male stinger (c) which engage the sidewalls of the annular second female receptacle (d) tapering downwardly and inwardly.

Claim 7

In an underwater wellhead apparatus having an upper detachable portion and a lower stationary portion, the improvement comprising, a. a female receptacle, b. spring mounting means having (i) an outwardly extending flange secured to the female receptacle (a), (ii) a mounting ring secured to the lower stationary portion of the wellhead, and (iii) bolt-guided spring means for flexingly connecting the flange (i) to the mounting ring (ii), c. a male stinger engageable in said female receptacle (a) when inserted into the receptacle, and d. an annular second female receptacle releasably engaging between the female receptacle (a) and the male stinger (c) and adapted to be fixedly secured to the upper detachable portion of the wellhead.

Claim 8

In an underwater wellhead apparatus having an upper detachable portion and a lower stationary portion, the improvement comprising, a. a female receptacle, b. spring mounting means having (i) an outwardly extending flange secured to the female receptacle (a), (ii) a mounting ring secured to the lower stationary portion of the wellhead, and (iii) bolt-guided spring means for flexingly connecting the flange (i) to the mounting ring (ii), c. a male stinger engageable in said female receptacle (a) when inserted into the receptacle, and d. an annular second female receptacle releasably engaging between the female receptacle (a) and the male stinger (c) and adapted to be fixedly secured to the upper detachable portion of the wellhead.

Claim 9

The invention of claim 5 including, additionally, an interlocking shoulder on the annular second female receptacle (d), interlocking means pivotally carried by the male stinger (c), and link actuating means for moving said interlocking means into engagement with the interlocking shoulder for interlocking the male stinger (c) and the annular second female receptacle (d).

Claim 10

The invention of claim 6 wherein the interlocking means includes, at least one lever pivotal about an axis member for engagement with said shoulder, and load-bearing surfaces on said lever and on said link-actuating means, said surfaces being in mating engagement when said lever engages said shoulder whereby any load transmitted to the lever from said shoulder is borne by said surfaces rather than the axis member.