Tension leg platform mooring tether connector

Claim 1

A connector apparatus for connecting a tension leg platform mooring tether to a subsea foundation, said apparatus comprising: (a) a plug means positioned on the lower end of said mooring tether; (b) a receptacle means positioned in said foundation, said receptacle means having a first inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of said plug and being adapted to receive said plug; (c) a first shoulder means positioned in said receptacle means; (d) a second shoulder means positioned in said receptacle beneath said first shoulder means; (e) a second inner diameter section in said receptacle, said second inner diameter section being larger than said first inner diameter section and positioned beneath said first shoulder means and above said second shoulder means; (f) a compressible load ring means positioned in a groove means in said plug, said compressible load ring having an outer diameter larger than said first inner diameter of said receptacle means and including on its lower side compression means for compressing said load ring into said groove as said load ring is passed into said first inner diameter in said receptacle means to a diameter no larger than said first inner diameter of said receptacle means, said load ring being adapted to engage said groove and said first shoulder means after passing through said first inner diameter section; (g) a compression ring means having an outer diameter smaller than said second inner diameter section and an inner diameter substantially equal to said first inner diameter of said receptacle means, said compression ring means being slideably positioned in said second inner diameter section between said first shoulder means and said second shoulder means and adapted to compress said load ring when said plug means is lowered in said receptacle means so that as said plug means is passed into said receptacle means said load ring is compressed until said load ring has passed through said first inner diameter section of said receptacle means, with said load ring then returning to its uncompressed diameter and engaging said first shoulder means and said groove means and retaining said plug means in said receptacle means with said load ring being compressible by said compression ring upon lowering said plug means further in said second inner diameter in said receptacle means thus passing said load ring means into compressing engagement with said compression ring means which is urged into compressing engagement with said load ring by contact with said second shoulder means.