Riser connector

Claim 2

A riser connector comprising: a first tubular member; a second tubular member which telescopes over one end of said first tubular member; an annular groove on the interior of one of said tubular members; latch means attached to the other of said tubular members for securely engaging said annular groove thereby connecting said tubular members; a locking sleeve on the interior of one of the tubular members for holding said latch means in secure engagement with said annular groove, said locking sleeve being longitudinally movable from a first position wherein said locking sleeve does not hold said latch means in secure engagement with said annular groove to a second position wherein said locking sleeve does hold said latch means in secure engagement with said annular groove; locking means on said locking sleeve and on one of said tubular members for locking said locking sleeve in its second position; and an actuator sleeve for driving said locking sleeve to its second position and for unlocking said locking sleeve, said actuator sleeve being longitudinally movable within one of said tubular members to an extended position.

Claim 3

The riser connector claimed in claim 1 including resilient means for preferentially urging said actuator sleeve away from its extended position and to a normal position.

Claim 4

The riser connector claimed in claim 1 wherein the direction of movement of said actuator sleeve from its normal position to its extended position is opposite the direction of movement of said locking sleeve from its second position to its first position so that in order to disconnect the tubular members once said locking sleeve is locked in its second position, said actuator sleeve must be moved in one longitudinal direction from its normal position to its extended position to unlock said locking sleeve prior to moving said locking sleeve in the other longitudinal direction.

Claim 5

A riser connector assembly comprising: a first tubular member having a longitudinal bore; a second tubular member which telescopes over one end of said first tubular member having a longitudinal bore; an annular groove on the interior of one of said tubular members; latch means attached to the other of said tubular members for securely engaging said annular groove thereby connecting said tubular members; a locking sleeve in the interior of tubular members for holding said latch means in secure engagement with said annular groove, said locking sleeve being longitudinally movable from a first position wherein said locking sleeve does not hold said latch means in secure engagement with said annular groove to a second position wherein said locking sleeve does hold said latch means in secure engagement with said annular groove; locking means on said locking sleeve and on one of said tubular members for locking said locking sleeve in its second position; an actuator sleeve for driving said locking sleeve to its second position and for unlocking said locking sleeve, said actuator sleeve being longitudinally movable within one of said tubular members to an extended position; resilient means for preferentially urging said actuator sleeve away from its extended position and to a normal position; and a shifting tool for engaging and moving said actuator sleeve to its extended position; said shifting tool also for engaging and moving said locking sleeve from its second position to its first position.

Claim 6

A riser connector assembly comprising: a first tubular member having a longitudinal bore; a second tubular member which telescopes over one end of said first tubular member having a longitudinal bore; an annular groove on the interior of one of said tubular members; latch means attached to the other of said tubular members for securely engaging said annular groove thereby connecting said tubular members; a locking sleeve in the interior of tubular members for holding said latch means in secure engagement with said annular groove, said locking sleeve being longitudinally movable from a first position wherein said locking sleeve does not hold said latch means in secure engagement with said annular groove to a second position wherein said locking sleeve does hold said latch means in secure engagement with said annular groove; locking means on said locking sleeve and on one of said tubular members for locking said locking sleeve in its second position; an actuator sleeve for driving said locking sleeve to its second position and for unlocking said locking sleeve, said actuator sleeve being longitudinally movable within one of said tubular members to an extended position; resilient means for preferentially urging said actuator sleeve away from its extended position and to a normal position; and a shifting tool for engaging and moving said actuator sleeve to its extended position; said shifting tool also for engaging and moving said locking sleeve from its second position to its first position.

Claim 7

The riser connector assembly claimed in claim 4 including sealing means between said tubular members.

Claim 8

The riser connector assembly claimed in claim 4 including means for limiting the amount that said second tubular member telescopes over the first tubular member.

Claim 9

The riser connector assembly in claim 4 wherein said shifting tool includes: an outer housing with a longitudinal bore; first engagement means on said outer housing for engaging said actuator sleeve whereby movement of said outer housing in one longitudinal direction after said engagement moves said actuator sleeve from its normal position to its extended position and movement of said housing in the other longitudinal direction after said engagement releases said first engagement means from said actuator sleeve.

Claim 10

The riser connector assembly in claim 7 wherein said shifting tool includes second engagement means on said housing for engaging said locking sleeve and moving said locking sleeve from its second position to its first position.

Claim 11

The riser connector assembly claimed in claim 8 wherein said shifting tool includes: an inner housing inside said outer housing and longitudinally movable therewith; means for limiting the longitudinal movement of said inner housing relative to said outer housing; and means for attaching said inner housing to a tubing string or a line.

Claim 12

The riser connector assembly claimed in claim 9 wherein said shifting tool includes: releasable attachment means for preventing longitudinal movement of said outer housing relative to said inner housing until said locking sleeve has been moved from its second position to its first position; and camming means for inwardly contracting said second engagement means and thereby disengaging said second engagement means from said locking sleeve after said releasable attachment means has been released.

Claim 13

The riser connector assembly claimed in claim 10 wherein said releasable attachment means is a frangible shear pin.

Claim 14

The riser connector assembly claimed in claim 11 including means for releasing said attachment means after said shifting tool has moved said locking sleeve from its second position to its first position.

Claim 15

A riser connector comprising: a first tubular member; a second tubular member which telescopes over one end of said first tubular member; remotely activated connecting means attached to at least one of said tubular members for connecting said tubular members together wherein said connecting means is remotely activated for both connecting and disconnecting the tubular members, and wherein said connecting means is movable first in one longitudinal direction and then in the other longitudinal direction in order to disconnect the tubular members; said connecting means including an annular groove on the interior of one of said tubular members; said connecting means also including latch means attached to the other of said tubular members for securely engaging said annular groove thereby connecting said tubular members; said connecting means also including a locking sleeve on the interior of one of the tubular members for holding said latch means in secure engagement with said annular groove, said locking sleeve being longitudinally movable from a first position wherein said locking sleeve does not hold said latch means in secure engagement with said annular groove to a second position wherein said locking sleeve does hold said latch means in secure engagement with said annular groove; and locking means on said locking sleeve and on one of said tubular members for locking said locking sleeve in its second position.

Claim 16

A riser connector comprising: a first tubular member; a second tubular member which telescopes over one end of said first tubular member; remotely activated connecting means attached to at least one of said tubular members for connecting said tubular members together wherein said connecting means is remotely activated for both connecting and disconnecting the tubular members, and wherein said connecting means is movable first in one longitudinal direction and then in the other longitudinal direction in order to disconnect the tubular members; said connecting means including an annular groove on the interior of one of said tubular members; said connecting means also including latch means attached to the other of said tubular members for securely engaging said annular groove thereby connecting said tubular members; said connecting means also including a locking sleeve on the interior of one of the tubular members for holding said latch means in secure engagement with said annular groove, said locking sleeve being longitudinally movable from a first position wherein said locking sleeve does not hold said latch means in secure engagement with said annular groove to a second position wherein said locking sleeve does hold said latch means in secure engagement with said annular groove; and locking means on said locking sleeve and on one of said tubular members for locking said locking sleeve in its second position.