US4068865A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pipe connectors
Assignee: Vetco Inc
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Filing: 1976-07-28
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Granted: 1978-01-17
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Expires: 1996-07-28
Abstract
Abstract Pipe connectors particularly useful in securing sections of an underwater marine riser together, including a pin received in a box and bearing against a box shoulder, the pin and box being secured together by coengaging members mounted on the box, and between the pin and box, and forced against a shoulder at the outer portion of the pin over substantially 360° of the shoulder, to correspondingly force the outer end of the pin against the box shoulder, with the contacting pin and box surfaces axially preloaded against each other. The coengaging members can include a plurality of lock dogs mounted in the box and movable radially inwardly against a ring device disposed between the box and pin and engaging the shoulder at the outer portion of the pin, the dogs and pin device having coengaging cam surfaces causing dogs to exert an axial thrust on the ring device which is transmitted from the ring device to the pin shoulder. Bending forces imposed on the connector are transmitted between the box and pin without subjecting the lock dogs to such forces. In another embodiment of the invention, the coengaging members include a ring threaded on the box member and engaging a spacer ring which in turn engages a segmental ring contacting the pin shoulder, rotation of the threaded ring shifting the spacer and segmented rings axially to pre-load the pin and against the box shoulder.
Inventors
- 👤 II Forrest E. Shanks
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 15:28
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16L; F16L25/00; F16L25/06; F16L25/065
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
221 words
A connector for pipe subjecting the connector to high tensile and bending forces comprising a rigid metallic tubular pin having a first transverse thrust surface at one extremity, a rigid metallic tubular box telescopically disposed over said pin and having a transverse shoulder abutting said first thrust surface, said box and pin having inner and outer wall portions, respectively, spaced laterally from each other to provide an annular space therebetween, lock means on said box shiftable laterally thereof, rigid metallic thrust transmitting means in said annular space, said thrust transmitting means having a second transverse surface engaging a third transverse surface on said pin, first cam means on said thrust transmitting means engaging second cam means on said lock means, and means for shifting said lock means laterally toward said pin to force said second cam means against said first cam means to force said second transverse surface against said third transverse surface and urge said pin axially toward said shoulder to force said first transverse surface against said transverse shoulder to axially pre-load said pin and box for resisting axial separation of said first transverse surface and said shoulder under high tensile forces; and said connector having coengaged laterally opposed circumferentially extended wall means spaced from said first transverse surface and said transverse shoulder for resisting bending of the connector.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
221 words
A connector for pipe subjecting the connector to high tensile and bending forces comprising a rigid metallic tubular pin having a first transverse thrust surface at one extremity, a rigid metallic tubular box telescopically disposed over said pin and having a transverse shoulder abutting said first thrust surface, said box and pin having inner and outer wall portions, respectively, spaced laterally from each other to provide an annular space therebetween, lock means on said box shiftable laterally thereof, rigid metallic thrust transmitting means in said annular space, said thrust transmitting means having a second transverse surface engaging a third transverse surface on said pin, first cam means on said thrust transmitting means engaging second cam means on said lock means, and means for shifting said lock means laterally toward said pin to force said second cam means against said first cam means to force said second transverse surface against said third transverse surface and urge said pin axially toward said shoulder to force said first transverse surface against said transverse shoulder to axially pre-load said pin and box for resisting axial separation of said first transverse surface and said shoulder under high tensile forces; and said connector having coengaged laterally opposed circumferentially extended wall means spaced from said first transverse surface and said transverse shoulder for resisting bending of the connector.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
A connector as defined in claim 1; said first and second cam means comprising coengageable tapered surfaces on said thrust transmitting means and said lock means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
A connector as defined in claim 1; said lock means comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced lock members, said first and second cam means comprising tapered surfaces on said thrust transmitting means and lock members.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
A connector as defined in claim 1; said thrust transmitting means comprising rigid spacer ring means disposed in said annular space, said second transverse surface being on one extremity of said ring means, said first cam means being on the other extremity of said ring means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
79 words
A connector as defined in claim 1; said thrust transmitting means comprising rigid spacer ring means disposed in said annular space, said second transverse surface being on one extremity of said ring means, said first cam means being on the other extremity of said ring means, said lock means comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced lock members, said first and second cam means comprising tapered surfaces on said other extremity of said ring means and on said lock members.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
72 words
A connector as defined in claim 1; said thrust transmitting means comprising spacer ring means disposed in said annular space, said second transverse surface being on one extremity of said ring means, said first cam means being on the other extremity of said ring means, said first thrust surface and shoulder having a circumferential extent of substantially 360°, said second and third transverse surfaces each having a circumferential extent of substantially 360°.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
105 words
A connector as defined in claim 1; said thrust transmitting means comprising spacer ring means disposed in said annular space, said second transverse surface being on one extremity of said ring means, said first cam means being on the other extremity of said ring means, said first thrust surface and shoulder having a circumferential extent of substantially 360°; said second and third transverse surfaces each having a cirumferential extent of substantially 360°, said lock means comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced lock members, said first and second cam means comprising tapered surfaces on said other extremity of said ring means and on said lock members.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
76 words
A connector as defined in claim 1; said thrust transmitting means comprising spacer ring means disposed in said annular space, said second transverse surface being on one extremity of said ring means, said first cam means being on the other extremity of said ring means, said ring means comprising a split spacer ring having said second transverse surface thereon and a circumferentially continuous load ring engaging said spacer ring and having said first cam means thereon.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
106 words
A connector as defined in claim 1; said thrust transmitting means comprising spacer ring means disposed in said annular space, said second transverse surface being on one extremity of said ring means, said first cam means being on the other extremity of said ring means, said ring means comprising a split spacer ring having said second transverse surface thereon and a circumferentially continuous load ring engaging said spacer ring and having said first cam means thereon, said lock means comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced lock members, said first and second cam means comprising coengageable tapered surfaces on said load ring and on said lock members.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
59 words
A connector as defined in claim 1; said box having a skirt surrounding said pin, said wall means including an inner wall on said skirt engaging a confronting external wall of said pin at longitudinally spaced locations to transmit bending forces between said pin and box to substantially prevent such bending forces from being transmitted through said lock means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
99 words
A connector as defined in claim 1; said box having a skirt surrounding said pin, said wall means including an inner wall on said skirt engaging a confronting external wall of said pin at longitudinally spaced locations to transmit bending forces between said pin and box to substantially prevent such bending forces from being transmitted through said lock means, one of said locations being at the outer end of said pin at one side of said lock means, another of said locations being at the outer end portion of said box at the opposite side of said lock means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
128 words
A connector as defined in claim 1; said thrust transmitting means comprising spacer ring means disposed in said annular space, said second transverse surface being on one extremity of said ring means, said first cam means being on the other extremity of said ring means, said ring means comprising a split spacer ring having said second transverse surface thereon and a circumferentially continuous load ring engaging said spacer ring and having said first cam means thereon, said box having a skirt surrounding said pin, said wall means including an inner wall on said skirt engaging an external wall at the outer end portion of said pin, the outer periphery of said load ring engaging said inner wall, the inner periphery of said load ring engaging said external wall.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
139 words
A connector as defined in claim 1; said thrust transmitting means comprising spacer ring means disposed in said annular space, said second transverse surface being on one extremity of said ring means, said first cam means being on the other extremity of said ring means, said ring means comprising a split spacer ring having said second transverse surface thereon and a circumferentially continuous load ring engaging said spacer ring and having said first cam means thereon, said box having a skirt surrounding said pin, said wall means including an inner wall on said skirt engaging an external wall at the outer end portion of said pin, the outer periphery of said load ring engaging said inner wall, the inner periphery of said load ring engaging said external wall, the outer end portion of said box engaging said external wall.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
210 words
A connector for pipe subjecting the connector to high tensile and bending forces comprising a rigid metallic tubular pin having a first transverse thrust surface at one extremity, a rigid metallic tubular box telescopically disposed over said pin and having a transverse shoulder abutting said first thrust surface, said box and pin having inner and outer wall portions, respectively, spaced laterally from each other to provide an annular space therebetween, rigid thrust means on said box shiftable with respect thereto, rigid metallic thrust transmitting means in said annular space, said thrust transmitting means having a second transverse surface engaging a third transverse surface on said pin, and means for shifting said thrust means relative to said pin to force said thrust transmitting means axially toward said third transverse surface to correspondingly force said second transverse surface against said third transverse surface and urge said pin axially toward said shoulder and thereby force said first transverse surface against said transverse shoulder to axially preload said pin and box for resisting axial separation of said first transverse surface and said shoulder under high tensile forces; and said connector having coengaged laterally opposed circumferentially extended wall means spaced from said first transverse surface and said transverse shoulder for resisting bending of the connector.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
210 words
A connector for pipe subjecting the connector to high tensile and bending forces comprising a rigid metallic tubular pin having a first transverse thrust surface at one extremity, a rigid metallic tubular box telescopically disposed over said pin and having a transverse shoulder abutting said first thrust surface, said box and pin having inner and outer wall portions, respectively, spaced laterally from each other to provide an annular space therebetween, rigid thrust means on said box shiftable with respect thereto, rigid metallic thrust transmitting means in said annular space, said thrust transmitting means having a second transverse surface engaging a third transverse surface on said pin, and means for shifting said thrust means relative to said pin to force said thrust transmitting means axially toward said third transverse surface to correspondingly force said second transverse surface against said third transverse surface and urge said pin axially toward said shoulder and thereby force said first transverse surface against said transverse shoulder to axially preload said pin and box for resisting axial separation of said first transverse surface and said shoulder under high tensile forces; and said connector having coengaged laterally opposed circumferentially extended wall means spaced from said first transverse surface and said transverse shoulder for resisting bending of the connector.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
35 words
A connector as defined in claim 14; said thrust means comprising an actuator ring on said box engaging said thrust transmitting means, said shifting means comprising a threaded connection between said actuator ring and box.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
A connector as defined in claim 14; said thrust transmitting means including a split spacer ring having said second transverse surface.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
41 words
A connector as defined in claim 14; said thrust transmitting means including a split spacer ring having said second transverse surface, and a circumferentially continuous spacer ring engaging an end of said split spacer ring remote from said second transverse surface.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
A connector as defined in claim 16; said split spacer ring including a plurality of separate segments, and means urging said segments apart.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
A connector as defined in claim 17; said split spacer ring including a plurality of separate segments, and means urging said segments apart.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
36 words
A connector as defined in claim 17; said thrust means comprising an actuator ring on said box engaging said circumferentially continuous spacer ring, said shifting means comprising a threaded connection between said actuator ring and box.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
36 words
A connector as defined in claim 19; said thrust means comprising an actuator ring on said box engaging said circumferentially continuous spacer ring, said shifting means comprising a threaded connection between said actuator ring and box.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
24 words
A connector as defined in claim 14; said wall means including walls on said pin and on said box coengaged at axially spaced locations.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
43 words
A connector as defined in claim 14; said wall means including walls on said pin and on said box at one location adjacent to said first transverse surface and said transverse shoulder and at another location spaced axially substantially from said first location.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-01-16 | 1981-07-18 | 1982-01-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-01-16 | 1985-07-18 | 1986-01-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-01-16 | 1989-07-18 | 1990-01-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |