Underwater connection apparatus

Claim 2

A removable seal connector for providing fluid connection between two underwater flowlines, comprising: a first flowline terminating in a first flowline flange and a second flowline terminating in a second flowline flange and mount means mounting said first flowline flange for movement toward and away from said second flowline flange; a removable seal assembly for releasable, sealable attachment to said first flowline flange, said removable seal assembly including means for engaging said second flowline to provide a sealed, fluid connection between said first and second flowlines; and a removal tool adapted for lowering downwardly underwater to said removable seal assembly for positioning between said removable seal assembly and said second flowline flange, said removal tool including latch means for latching said removal tool to said removal seal assembly, said mount means moving said first flowline flange away from said seal assembly is freed for removal by said removal tool.

Claim 3

The structure set forth in claim 1, including: said releasable attachment of said seal assembly to said first flowline flange being provided by a connection member subject to failure under stress.

Claim 4

The structure set forth in claim 1, including: said removable seal assembly including a connection ring including annular connection ridges; said first and second flowline flanges having annular grooves positioned about said flowlines for receiving said annular ridges of said connection ring.

Claim 5

The structure set forth in claim 1, including: side connector plates and hydraulic power means mounting said side connector plates with said first flowline flange for movement with respect thereto; said side connector plates having internal lug portions; and said second flowline flange having external lug portions which are engageable by said internal lug portions of said side connector plates to cause seal assembly to sealably engage said first and second flowline flanges.

Claim 6

The structure set forth in claim 1, wherein said latch means of said removing tool includes: a removing tool body; a latch member pivotally mounted on said removing tool body, said latch member including means for attaching to said seal assembly in response to movement of said seal assembly toward said removing tool.

Claim 7

The structure set forth in claim 5, including: means for holding said latch member in a substantially lateral position for receiving and attaching said seal assembly to said tool body for removal.

Claim 8

Apparatus for joining first and second axially aligned flowlines together, wherein said first flowline terminates in a first flowline flange and said second flowline terminates in a second flowline flange and said first and second flanges are substantially in axial alignment, comprising: a first flowline flange for receiving and supporting one end of a a first flowline; a connector plate member permanently mounted on said first flowline flange for movement in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of said first flowline; lug means on said connector plate for latchingly engaging a lug portion on a second flowline flange and resisting movement of said second flowline flange with respect to said first flowline flange; actuator means operably connected to said connector plate for moving said connector plate in a direction substantially perpendicular to said first flowline axis to bring said lug means into engagement with said lug portion on said second flowline flange; an actuator means operably attached to said connector plate member and to said first flowline flange for moving said connector plate lug portion into and out of engagement with said lug portion and said second flowline flange, said actuator means including: a stationary piston member mounted with said first flowline flange and a movable sleeve, slidably, sealably mounted over said piston, said movable sleeve cooperating with said piston member to form a fluid chamber such that the entry of fluid under pressure into said chamber moves said sleeve with respect to said piston.

Claim 9

Apparatus for joining first and second axially aligned flowlines together, wherein said first flowline terminates in a first flowline flange and said second flowline terminates in a second flowline flange and said first and second flanges are substantially in axial alignment, comprising: a first flowline flange for receiving and supporting one end of a a first flowline; a connector plate member permanently mounted on said first flowline flange for movement in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of said first flowline; lug means on said connector plate for latchingly engaging a lug portion on a second flowline flange and resisting movement of said second flowline flange with respect to said first flowline flange; actuator means operably connected to said connector plate for moving said connector plate in a direction substantially perpendicular to said first flowline axis to bring said lug means into engagement with said lug portion on said second flowline flange; an actuator means operably attached to said connector plate member and to said first flowline flange for moving said connector plate lug portion into and out of engagement with said lug portion and said second flowline flange, said actuator means including: a stationary piston member mounted with said first flowline flange and a movable sleeve, slidably, sealably mounted over said piston, said movable sleeve cooperating with said piston member to form a fluid chamber such that the entry of fluid under pressure into said chamber moves said sleeve with respect to said piston.

Claim 10

The structure set forth in claim 7, including: said connector plate being attached to said movable sleeve for movement therewith.

Claim 11

The structure set forth in claim 7, including: a seal assembly sealably mounted onto said first flowline flange for movement into sealed engagement with said second flowline flange for providing a sealed connection between said first and second flowline flanges; and means mounting said seal assembly for removal separate from said connector plate member.