Underwater connector for wellheads

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 first female receptacle secured to the lower stationary portion of the wellhead, b. a second female receptacle secured to the upper detachable portion of the wellhead, c. a male stinger engagable with both the first and second female receptacles (a) and (b) respectively when inserted into said receptacles, and d. said engaging surfaces of the female receptacles (a) and (b) and the male stinger (c) tapering downwardly and inwardly.

Claim 3

A connector apparatus for connection to an underwater wellhead, the wellhead having an upper detachable portion and a lower stationary portion, including, a. a first female receptable secured to the lower stationary portion of the wellhead, b. a second female receptacle secured to the upper detachable portion of the wellhead, c. a male stinger engagable with both the first and second female receptacles (a) and (b) respectively when inserted into said receptacles, d. at least one passageway in each of the female receptacles (a) and (b), and e. passageways in the male stinger (c), one end of each of the passageways (d) mating for fluid communication with the passageways (e) when the male stinger (c) is engaged with the female receptacles (a) and (b), and f. annular seal means around one of said passageways at its mating end for forming a liquid-tight seal between the ends of said passageways (d) and (e).

Claim 4

A connector apparatus for connection to an underwater wellhead, the wellhead having an upper detachable portion and a lower stationary portion, including, a. a first female receptable secured to the lower stationary portion of the wellhead, b. a second female receptacle secured to the upper detachable portion of the wellhead, c. a male stinger engagable with both the first and second female receptacles (a) and (b) respectively when inserted into said receptacles, d. at least one passageway in each of the female receptacles (a) and (b), and e. passageways in the male stinger (c), one end of each of the passageways (d) mating for fluid communication with the passageways (e) when the male stinger (c) is engaged with the female receptacles (a) and (b), and f. annular seal means around one of said passageways at its mating end for forming a liquid-tight seal between the ends of said passageways (d) and (e).

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 first female receptacle secured to the lower stationary portion of the wellhead, b. a second female receptacle secured to the upper detachable portion of the wellhead, c. a male stinger engagable with both the first and second female receptacles (a) and (b) respectively when inserted into said receptacles, and d. locking means for releasably securing the male stinger (c) in engagement with the second female receptable (b) wherein the locking means includes, i. a flange projecting from the second female receptacle (b), ii. at least one lever pivotal about an axis member for engagement with the flange (i) of the second female receptacle (b), iii. a link pivotally attached to and for moving the lever (ii), and iv. piston means coacting with the link (iii) for moving said link.

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 first female receptacle secured to the lower stationary portion of the wellhead, b. a second female receptacle secured to the upper detachable portion of the wellhead, c. a male stinger engagable with both the first and second female receptacles (a) and (b) respectively when inserted into said receptacles, and d. locking means for releasably securing the male stinger (c) in engagement with the second female receptable (b) wherein the locking means includes, i. a flange projecting from the second female receptacle (b), ii. at least one lever pivotal about an axis member for engagement with the flange (i) of the second female receptacle (b), iii. a link pivotally attached to and for moving the lever (ii), and iv. piston means coacting with the link (iii) for moving said link.

Claim 7

In an underwater wellhead apparatus having an upper detachable portion and a lower stationary portion, the improvement comprising, a. a first female receptacle secured to the lower stationary portion of the wellhead, b. a second female receptacle secured to the upper detachable portion of the wellhead, c. a male stinger engagable with both the first and second female receptacles (a) and (b) respectively when inserted into said receptacles, wherein the engaging surfaces of the female receptacles (a) and (b) and the male stinger (c) taper downwardly and inwardly, d. locking means for releasably securing the male stinger (C) in engagement with the second female receptacle (b), and e. spring mounting means for flexingly securing the first female receptacle (a) to the lower stationary 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 first female receptacle secured to the lower stationary portion of the wellhead, b. a second female receptacle secured to the upper detachable portion of the wellhead, c. a male stinger engagable with both the first and second female receptacles (a) and (b) respectively when inserted into said receptacles, wherein the engaging surfaces of the female receptacles (a) and (b) and the male stinger (c) taper downwardly and inwardly, d. locking means for releasably securing the male stinger (C) in engagement with the second female receptacle (b), and e. spring mounting means for flexingly securing the first female receptacle (a) to the lower stationary portion of the wellhead.

Claim 9

The invention of claim 4 where the spring mounting means includes, i. an outwardly extending flange secured to the first 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).

Claim 10

In an underwater wellhead apparatus having an upper detachable portion and a lower stationary portion, the improvement comprising, a. a first female receptacle secured to the lower stationary portion of the wellhead, b. a second female receptacle secured to the upper detachable portion of the wellhead, c. a male stinger engagable with both the first and second female receptacles (a) and (b) respectively when inserted into said receptacles, d. locking means for releasably securing the male stinger (c) in engagement with the second female receptacle (b), e. spring mounting means for flexingly securing the first female receptacle (a) to the lower stationary portion of the wellhead, f. at least one passageway in each of the female receptacles (a) and (b), and g. passageways in the male stinger (c), one end of each of the passageways (f) mating for fluid communication with the passageways (g) when the female stinger (c) is engaged with the female receptacles (a) and (b), and h. annular seal means around one of said passageways at its mating end for forming a liquid-tight seal between the ends of said passageways (f) and (g).

Claim 11

In an underwater wellhead apparatus having an upper detachable portion and a lower stationary portion, the improvement comprising, a. a first female receptacle secured to the lower stationary portion of the wellhead, b. a second female receptacle secured to the upper detachable portion of the wellhead, c. a male stinger engagable with both the first and second female receptacles (a) and (b) respectively when inserted into said receptacles, d. locking means for releasably securing the male stinger (c) in engagement with the second female receptacle (b), e. spring mounting means for flexingly securing the first female receptacle (a) to the lower stationary portion of the wellhead, f. at least one passageway in each of the female receptacles (a) and (b), and g. passageways in the male stinger (c), one end of each of the passageways (f) mating for fluid communication with the passageways (g) when the female stinger (c) is engaged with the female receptacles (a) and (b), and h. annular seal means around one of said passageways at its mating end for forming a liquid-tight seal between the ends of said passageways (f) and (g).

Claim 12

In an underwater wellhead apparatus having an upper detachable portion and a lower stationary portion, the improvement comprising, a. a first female receptacle secured to the lower stationary portion of the wellhead, b. a second female receptacle secured to the upper detachable portion of the wellhead, c. a male stinger engagable with both the first and second female receptacles (a) and (b) respectively when inserted into said receptacles, d. locking means for releasably securing the male stinger (c) in engagement with the second female receptacle (b), wherein the locking means includes, i. a flange projecting from the second female receptacle (b), ii. at least one lever pivotal about an axis member for engagement with the flange (i) of the second female receptacle (b), iii. a link pivotally attached to and for moving the lever (ii), and iv. piston means coacting with the link (iii) for moving said link, and e. spring mounting means for flexingly securing the first female receptacle (a) to the lower stationary portion of the wellhead.

Claim 13

In an underwater wellhead apparatus having an upper detachable portion and a lower stationary portion, the improvement comprising, a. a first female receptacle secured to the lower stationary portion of the wellhead, b. a second female receptacle secured to the upper detachable portion of the wellhead, c. a male stinger engagable with both the first and second female receptacles (a) and (b) respectively when inserted into said receptacles, d. locking means for releasably securing the male stinger (c) in engagement with the second female receptacle (b), wherein the locking means includes, i. a flange projecting from the second female receptacle (b), ii. at least one lever pivotal about an axis member for engagement with the flange (i) of the second female receptacle (b), iii. a link pivotally attached to and for moving the lever (ii), and iv. piston means coacting with the link (iii) for moving said link, and e. spring mounting means for flexingly securing the first female receptacle (a) to the lower stationary portion of the wellhead.