CA1207657A - Device for rapidly connecting rods, tubes and casings, particularly for offshore drilling - Google Patents
Device for rapidly connecting rods, tubes and casings, particularly for offshore drillingInfo
- Publication number
- CA1207657A CA1207657A CA000431954A CA431954A CA1207657A CA 1207657 A CA1207657 A CA 1207657A CA 000431954 A CA000431954 A CA 000431954A CA 431954 A CA431954 A CA 431954A CA 1207657 A CA1207657 A CA 1207657A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- piece
- connecting piece
- grooves
- conical
- tube
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
- 238000005553 drilling Methods 0.000 title claims description 4
- 238000004873 anchoring Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 230000000295 complement effect Effects 0.000 claims 1
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 4
- 239000011295 pitch Substances 0.000 description 4
- 230000000712 assembly Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000000429 assembly Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000007667 floating Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000003801 milling Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000007789 sealing Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000010009 beating Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000903 blocking effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000008878 coupling Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000010168 coupling process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005859 coupling reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000006073 displacement reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000009826 distribution Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000000727 fraction Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000003754 machining Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000002093 peripheral effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000002787 reinforcement Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000009827 uniform distribution Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000004804 winding Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B19/00—Handling rods, casings, tubes or the like outside the borehole, e.g. in the derrick; Apparatus for feeding the rods or cables
- E21B19/16—Connecting or disconnecting pipe couplings or joints
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B17/00—Drilling rods or pipes; Flexible drill strings; Kellies; Drill collars; Sucker rods; Cables; Casings; Tubings
- E21B17/02—Couplings; joints
- E21B17/08—Casing joints
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B17/00—Drilling rods or pipes; Flexible drill strings; Kellies; Drill collars; Sucker rods; Cables; Casings; Tubings
- E21B17/02—Couplings; joints
- E21B17/04—Couplings; joints between rod or the like and bit or between rod and rod or the like
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B17/00—Drilling rods or pipes; Flexible drill strings; Kellies; Drill collars; Sucker rods; Cables; Casings; Tubings
- E21B17/02—Couplings; joints
- E21B17/04—Couplings; joints between rod or the like and bit or between rod and rod or the like
- E21B17/042—Threaded
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B17/00—Drilling rods or pipes; Flexible drill strings; Kellies; Drill collars; Sucker rods; Cables; Casings; Tubings
- E21B17/02—Couplings; joints
- E21B17/04—Couplings; joints between rod or the like and bit or between rod and rod or the like
- E21B17/042—Threaded
- E21B17/043—Threaded with locking means
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B19/00—Handling rods, casings, tubes or the like outside the borehole, e.g. in the derrick; Apparatus for feeding the rods or cables
- E21B19/16—Connecting or disconnecting pipe couplings or joints
- E21B19/161—Connecting or disconnecting pipe couplings or joints using a wrench or a spinner adapted to engage a circular section of pipe
- E21B19/163—Connecting or disconnecting pipe couplings or joints using a wrench or a spinner adapted to engage a circular section of pipe piston-cylinder actuated
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B17/00—Drilling rods or pipes; Flexible drill strings; Kellies; Drill collars; Sucker rods; Cables; Casings; Tubings
- E21B17/02—Couplings; joints
- E21B17/08—Casing joints
- E21B17/085—Riser connections
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Geology (AREA)
- Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
- Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
- General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
- Earth Drilling (AREA)
- Non-Disconnectible Joints And Screw-Threaded Joints (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT
The invention relates to a connecting element constituted by two pieces, male and female, provided with a conical threading of n threads (here 4) offset radially in an axial plane by a thread height value
The invention relates to a connecting element constituted by two pieces, male and female, provided with a conical threading of n threads (here 4) offset radially in an axial plane by a thread height value
Description
~zo~
The present invention relates to a device for rapidly connecting solid rods, tubes oE any diameter and casings, particularly adapted to the assernbly of risers, of casings even of large diameters for oEfshore drilJings, and of anchor piles oC oE[shore platforms.
It is very difficult to master the assembly of sec-tions of tubes or rods when tubes or casings used during oEfshore drillings efEec-ted from floating supports, are to be connected.
The length of the elernents used is in fact limited by the hand-ling difficulties which are encountered, this requiring the use of a large number of connections. Such connections must be rapid and efficient to maintain the assembly under the effect of the stresses to which it is subjected.
Assembling work must therefore be highly precise in order to prevent the risks of fatigue and of rupture of assemblies which are insufficiently -tigh-tened or capable of loosening.
In order to overcome the diEficulties encountered, various solutions have been proposecl which have lecl to crea-ting mechanical connecting elements capable oE rapidly assembling even casings oE large diame-ters.
l~or example, threadecl connectors exist which allow excellent connection, but they present the drawback of requiring a ro-tation of at least two and a half turns before the connected elements are tightenecl, which is always a relatively long and difEicult operation -to effect on the floating supports as soon as the diameter of the connec-tors exceeds 60 cm.
To overcome such a drawback, connectors have been proposed whose Eitting is hydraulically assisted. ~lowever, not being disconnectable, they can be used only in special cases.
Ano-ther embodiment consists in interruptinX the pitches of a thread or of a circular grooving over equidistant sectors so as -~o effect connection by simple axial approach of the tubular elements, then by rotation through a fraction of a turn of one element with respect to the other. The connection is thus effected over a plurality of series of portions oE thread or grooving in the manner of a bayonet-type Eitting.
The milling operations required by such a connector are-very expensive;
"` ~2~'i'6~7 in addition, the peripheral discontinuity of the assembly confers thereto limited mechanical characteristics.
The other solutions, such as connectors with circlips or with lockin~ dog, are either prone to a medio-cre fatigue strength when they are subjected to alternate stresses~ or are too expensive and cumbersome.
According to the present invention there is pro-vided a device for rapidl~ connecting rods, tubes, casings or sections of anchoring piles, particularly for offshore drilling, comprising a male piece and a female piece of the type with conical tightening helicoidal grooves, wherein each piece is provided with a plurality n of helicoidal grooves of constant section complementa.ry of that borne by the other piece, each groove vertex, seen in axial section, being offset radially with respect to the roots of the adjacent grooves by a value (a) at least equal to the frac-tion 1 of the variation (VR) of radius on a spiral pitch of the conical surface bearing said grooves and at most equal to VR.
Each of the grooves of the said plurality is preferably of sufficient length to intersect at least twice a determined generatrix or each groove of said conical surface.
Thanks to this feature, an axial approach of the male and female pieces and the rotation of one through a fraction of turn are sufficient to effect perfect tightening of the grooves of the tubes or casings to be connected, this tigh~ening being effecting over the whole length of each of the grooves and therefore over the whole periphery of the connection since, in the preferred case, each groove extends over more than one turn, n times.
Thus, contrary to the threaded connectors which always necessitate more than two turns to tighten together the threads of the two pieces over the whole of their length, a fraction of rotation e~ual to n turn suffices in the case '76~
- 2a -of n threads.
The arrangement according to the invention pre-sents the same advantage as the connectors with bavonet-type assembly mentioned above, i~e. procuring a complete tight-ening by axial approach followed by a rotation of a fractionof turn without presenting the drawback thereof, namely the discontinuity of the distribution of the efforts in the connector, due to the presence of the sectors bereft of threads.
/
/
` !~
ln addition and no less advantageously, -the invention makes it possible to avoid expensive machining opera-tions such as -the milling necessary in the connecting elements with interruptecl thread according to the prior art.
The invention also makes it possible to generate, at the end of tightening, a considerabJe pre-stress in the assembly enabling the use of devices for positively locking the pieces together to be dispensed with. The use oI these devices presents -the drawback o-f reducing~ and even eliminating, the tightening pre-stress and consequently of reducing 10 the resistance of the connecting devices to alternate stresses. ~\part from eliminating this drawback, the invention makes it possible to avoid loss of -these devices during transport of the tubes or connectors.
I~ur-thermore, taking into account the irnportance of the surfaces in contact and their uniform distribution in the connector of the inven-15 tion, -there are no zones of concentration of high stress requiring rein-forcements or at least a considerable mass of mat-ter. This results in that the connector according to -the invention is of much reduced dimen-sions.
These reduced radial dimensions ancl its tiglltening over a frac-20 tion of turn gives -the connec-tor according to the invention the possibility of coming within -the composi-tion ot numerous types of connections, whetller they are effected manually or by means of manoeuvring members for rernote-control thereof.
In this way, tightening may be effected by means of jacks 25 which may also constitute members for locking the connector.
In a particular embodiment, the female connecting piece may serve as means for tightening a tubular connector on a well head. In this case, the rnale connecting piece may be -the well head which com-prises to this end on its conical outer part n threads or grooves. ~he 30 female conne;-ting piece comprises on its inner surface~ beyond -the threads, a section adapted to the tubular connector bearing the body of the jacks, the ends of their rods being connected to the female piece with a view to rotation thereof.
It will also be noted that Ehe section of the grooves of the 35 connector according to the invention may be of very diverse forms~
~ w~ ~
For example, in a first embodiment, each groove may comprise an assem-bly of threads (at the vertex and bo-ttom of groove) of which the variation in nominal diarneter is iden-tical. In another embodimen-t, the groove may be a simple threacl oE triangular or trapezoidal section. ~lowever, 5 the sides of this groove will preferably be such that -the trace of the lower side for the male piece and of the upper side for -the fernale piece, in an axial plane9 intersects the axis of the assembly mounted with the female piece at the top, above its radial level.
The invention will be more readily understood on reading the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. I is a view in elevation of the connecting device according to the invention before assembly;
Figs. 2 and 3 show, in a partial sectional view, the cooperation of the grooves of the two elements of the connector;
Fig. ~ is an enlarged partial view of Fig. 2;
Figs. 5 and 6 illus-trate two variant embodiments of the groove;
Fig. 7 illus-trates two possible applications of the connector according to the invention;
Fig. ~ is a schematic radial section through Fig. 7j Fig. 9 is a partial view in elevation of a connec-ting device equipping a riser;
Fig. 10 is a section along line X-X of Fig. 9, and Fig. Il is a view in elevation of the linkage for blocking -the connecting device equipping the riser.
Referring now to the drawings, the connecting device of Figs.
I to ~ comprises a female piece I and a male piece 2. In the e~ample shown, these pieces are connected by means of four helicoidal grooves 3, ~, 5 and 6 for the female par-t and 3', 4', 5' and 6' for the male part.
Fig. 4 shows that the trace in an axial plane of each groove of the piece I is composed of an inclined side 10 connected a-t its lower part to a side 11 slightly inclined upwardly in the direction of the axis and terminating in its upper par-t at the inclined part 11 of another groove by a small vertical portion 12.
` 12~'i'6i~7 Each groove is macle on a comrnol- conical surface 7 of which the conicity is suci) that in the radial plane of the Figure the vertex 12 of each groove is olJ'set raclially with respect to th~root's of the adjacent grooves by a value a at least equal to the fractionnl of the 5 variation of radius VR of the conical surface 7 along a spiral pitch n being the number o[ grooves useci (~ in the present case).
The trace in a plane of each groove of the piece 2 is adapted to that of tlle grooves of the piece 1 with the result that during the simple axial displacement of the Iemale piece I with respect to the 10 male piece 2 the grooves 3 ~ 5 6 are applied by their side 10 on the corresponding side of grooves 3' 4' 5' and 6' of the male piece
The present invention relates to a device for rapidly connecting solid rods, tubes oE any diameter and casings, particularly adapted to the assernbly of risers, of casings even of large diameters for oEfshore drilJings, and of anchor piles oC oE[shore platforms.
It is very difficult to master the assembly of sec-tions of tubes or rods when tubes or casings used during oEfshore drillings efEec-ted from floating supports, are to be connected.
The length of the elernents used is in fact limited by the hand-ling difficulties which are encountered, this requiring the use of a large number of connections. Such connections must be rapid and efficient to maintain the assembly under the effect of the stresses to which it is subjected.
Assembling work must therefore be highly precise in order to prevent the risks of fatigue and of rupture of assemblies which are insufficiently -tigh-tened or capable of loosening.
In order to overcome the diEficulties encountered, various solutions have been proposecl which have lecl to crea-ting mechanical connecting elements capable oE rapidly assembling even casings oE large diame-ters.
l~or example, threadecl connectors exist which allow excellent connection, but they present the drawback of requiring a ro-tation of at least two and a half turns before the connected elements are tightenecl, which is always a relatively long and difEicult operation -to effect on the floating supports as soon as the diameter of the connec-tors exceeds 60 cm.
To overcome such a drawback, connectors have been proposed whose Eitting is hydraulically assisted. ~lowever, not being disconnectable, they can be used only in special cases.
Ano-ther embodiment consists in interruptinX the pitches of a thread or of a circular grooving over equidistant sectors so as -~o effect connection by simple axial approach of the tubular elements, then by rotation through a fraction of a turn of one element with respect to the other. The connection is thus effected over a plurality of series of portions oE thread or grooving in the manner of a bayonet-type Eitting.
The milling operations required by such a connector are-very expensive;
"` ~2~'i'6~7 in addition, the peripheral discontinuity of the assembly confers thereto limited mechanical characteristics.
The other solutions, such as connectors with circlips or with lockin~ dog, are either prone to a medio-cre fatigue strength when they are subjected to alternate stresses~ or are too expensive and cumbersome.
According to the present invention there is pro-vided a device for rapidl~ connecting rods, tubes, casings or sections of anchoring piles, particularly for offshore drilling, comprising a male piece and a female piece of the type with conical tightening helicoidal grooves, wherein each piece is provided with a plurality n of helicoidal grooves of constant section complementa.ry of that borne by the other piece, each groove vertex, seen in axial section, being offset radially with respect to the roots of the adjacent grooves by a value (a) at least equal to the frac-tion 1 of the variation (VR) of radius on a spiral pitch of the conical surface bearing said grooves and at most equal to VR.
Each of the grooves of the said plurality is preferably of sufficient length to intersect at least twice a determined generatrix or each groove of said conical surface.
Thanks to this feature, an axial approach of the male and female pieces and the rotation of one through a fraction of turn are sufficient to effect perfect tightening of the grooves of the tubes or casings to be connected, this tigh~ening being effecting over the whole length of each of the grooves and therefore over the whole periphery of the connection since, in the preferred case, each groove extends over more than one turn, n times.
Thus, contrary to the threaded connectors which always necessitate more than two turns to tighten together the threads of the two pieces over the whole of their length, a fraction of rotation e~ual to n turn suffices in the case '76~
- 2a -of n threads.
The arrangement according to the invention pre-sents the same advantage as the connectors with bavonet-type assembly mentioned above, i~e. procuring a complete tight-ening by axial approach followed by a rotation of a fractionof turn without presenting the drawback thereof, namely the discontinuity of the distribution of the efforts in the connector, due to the presence of the sectors bereft of threads.
/
/
` !~
ln addition and no less advantageously, -the invention makes it possible to avoid expensive machining opera-tions such as -the milling necessary in the connecting elements with interruptecl thread according to the prior art.
The invention also makes it possible to generate, at the end of tightening, a considerabJe pre-stress in the assembly enabling the use of devices for positively locking the pieces together to be dispensed with. The use oI these devices presents -the drawback o-f reducing~ and even eliminating, the tightening pre-stress and consequently of reducing 10 the resistance of the connecting devices to alternate stresses. ~\part from eliminating this drawback, the invention makes it possible to avoid loss of -these devices during transport of the tubes or connectors.
I~ur-thermore, taking into account the irnportance of the surfaces in contact and their uniform distribution in the connector of the inven-15 tion, -there are no zones of concentration of high stress requiring rein-forcements or at least a considerable mass of mat-ter. This results in that the connector according to -the invention is of much reduced dimen-sions.
These reduced radial dimensions ancl its tiglltening over a frac-20 tion of turn gives -the connec-tor according to the invention the possibility of coming within -the composi-tion ot numerous types of connections, whetller they are effected manually or by means of manoeuvring members for rernote-control thereof.
In this way, tightening may be effected by means of jacks 25 which may also constitute members for locking the connector.
In a particular embodiment, the female connecting piece may serve as means for tightening a tubular connector on a well head. In this case, the rnale connecting piece may be -the well head which com-prises to this end on its conical outer part n threads or grooves. ~he 30 female conne;-ting piece comprises on its inner surface~ beyond -the threads, a section adapted to the tubular connector bearing the body of the jacks, the ends of their rods being connected to the female piece with a view to rotation thereof.
It will also be noted that Ehe section of the grooves of the 35 connector according to the invention may be of very diverse forms~
~ w~ ~
For example, in a first embodiment, each groove may comprise an assem-bly of threads (at the vertex and bo-ttom of groove) of which the variation in nominal diarneter is iden-tical. In another embodimen-t, the groove may be a simple threacl oE triangular or trapezoidal section. ~lowever, 5 the sides of this groove will preferably be such that -the trace of the lower side for the male piece and of the upper side for -the fernale piece, in an axial plane9 intersects the axis of the assembly mounted with the female piece at the top, above its radial level.
The invention will be more readily understood on reading the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. I is a view in elevation of the connecting device according to the invention before assembly;
Figs. 2 and 3 show, in a partial sectional view, the cooperation of the grooves of the two elements of the connector;
Fig. ~ is an enlarged partial view of Fig. 2;
Figs. 5 and 6 illus-trate two variant embodiments of the groove;
Fig. 7 illus-trates two possible applications of the connector according to the invention;
Fig. ~ is a schematic radial section through Fig. 7j Fig. 9 is a partial view in elevation of a connec-ting device equipping a riser;
Fig. 10 is a section along line X-X of Fig. 9, and Fig. Il is a view in elevation of the linkage for blocking -the connecting device equipping the riser.
Referring now to the drawings, the connecting device of Figs.
I to ~ comprises a female piece I and a male piece 2. In the e~ample shown, these pieces are connected by means of four helicoidal grooves 3, ~, 5 and 6 for the female par-t and 3', 4', 5' and 6' for the male part.
Fig. 4 shows that the trace in an axial plane of each groove of the piece I is composed of an inclined side 10 connected a-t its lower part to a side 11 slightly inclined upwardly in the direction of the axis and terminating in its upper par-t at the inclined part 11 of another groove by a small vertical portion 12.
` 12~'i'6i~7 Each groove is macle on a comrnol- conical surface 7 of which the conicity is suci) that in the radial plane of the Figure the vertex 12 of each groove is olJ'set raclially with respect to th~root's of the adjacent grooves by a value a at least equal to the fractionnl of the 5 variation of radius VR of the conical surface 7 along a spiral pitch n being the number o[ grooves useci (~ in the present case).
The trace in a plane of each groove of the piece 2 is adapted to that of tlle grooves of the piece 1 with the result that during the simple axial displacement of the Iemale piece I with respect to the 10 male piece 2 the grooves 3 ~ 5 6 are applied by their side 10 on the corresponding side of grooves 3' 4' 5' and 6' of the male piece
2 as shown in Fig. 2.
It then suffices to rotate the piece I through a quarter -turn (or a fraction InOf turn if the assembly comprises n helicoidal threads 15 or grooves) Eor the position of tightening shown in Fig. 3 to be attained.
The grooves are then in total mesh with one another. The grooved conical part will be arrangecl to be sufficiently high (axially long) on each of pieces I and 2 for a groove or thread to intersect at least twice a cleter-mined generatrix of this surface. In other words it will be preferable 20 to have a thread winding over at least one turn about each piece I
and 2.
A close contact is thus effected all along each of the four threads each extending over at least one cormplete turn. The assemb!y made then presents a homogeneous mechanical strength over the whole 25 of its surface capable by the pre-stress procluc:ecl of withstanding numerous operations even of beating - without loosening.
Perfect tightness may be ensured wi-th the aid of well-known O-rings. An O-ring 8 has been shown in one groove of piece 2. At the end of connection by rotation the O-ring 8 slides on the vertical part 30 9 of piece 1.
To facilitate assembly marks 13 1~ for orientation may if desired be made on pieces I and 2 to be connectecl.
Figs. 5 and 6 show two possible variants of grooves7 one (Fig.
5) in the form of new trapezoiclal threads the other (Fig. 6) in the 35 form of groups of threads 15 16 17 18 developing on nominal helicoidal 7~
surfaces 15', ... offset radially under the same condi-tions as the groove vertices of Fig. 4.
The applications of the connecting device according to the invention may be very numerous, and particularly for performing the 5 function of connector, i.e. of a device whose connection or disconnection is remote-controlled.
By way of example, Figs. 7 and 8 show two connecting devices, one composed of pieces with multiple threads 24 and 25, the other of pieces with multiple threads 26 and 27.
The female connecting piece 26 may be rendered fast with a well head receptacle 28 or be incorporated therein by any known means.
The male piece 27 surrounds the well head 25 and its lower end serves, after tightening and locking, as stop for a flange 29 of 15 the well head 25.
The upper part of -the high pressure well head 25 comprises a rnultiple threading with 8 threads for example and is surroundecl by the connecting piece 24. This piece belongs to an assembly 30 ancl corn-prises above its multiple threads a groove surrounding the flange 31 20 of the same assembly 30 serving as hydraulic connec-tor. To this end, the assembly 30 further comprises flanges 32, 33, 34 and 35 servlng to fix vertical shafts such as 36 for example supporting -the bodies of jacks 37. The encls of the rods 38 of these jacks are fixed to ver-tical shafts such as 3'3 contiguous to the flanges 40 of the connecting piece 25 with multiple threads 24. It therefore suffices to control the jacks 37 so that the rods 38 drive the connecting piece 24 in rotation through an eighth of turn. The tigh-t connection of the well head 25 to the assem-bly 30 serving as hydraulic connector is thus ensured, tightness being provided by any sealing means 41.
In this example, the connecting device 24, 25 is maintained tightened by the locl<ing effected by the control of the jacks 37. Repea-ted connection and disconnection of the well head rnay thus be easily carried out.
Other applications oE the device according to the invention 35 exist, particularly as rneans for connecting the tubes of a riser, as ~2~6~i~7 shown in Figs. 9 and lO. To this end, -the tube 60 comprises on its outer upper part six threads for example on which are tightened s;x threads borne on the connecting piece 70. This conr-ecting piecc, like piece 24 of the previous example, alreacly belongs to an assembly which, this tirme, is that ot the lower part oE tube 80.
extcnsion 49 of the tube 60 bereft of -thread makes it pos-sible, after tightening of the connecting piece 70, to be applied la-terally against a sealing ring 50 disposed in a groove of a lower extension of the flar-g- 42 of tube 80 supporting the connecting piece 70. The tubes 10 60 and 80 respectively comprise Elanges 43 and 44 serving LO Eix sleeves such as 45 for the passage of guiding lines 46.
After sirnple approach of -tubes 60 and 80, it suffices to subject piece 70 to a rotation through a sixtil of turn in order to tighten the six threads borne by the -tube 60 and the piece 70 over their whole 15 length. At the encl of tightening, a catch 48 oE the piece 70 is l~ouscd in a groove 47 in the sleeve 45, thus ensuring an aclditiollal linliage for locking the connecting piece.
It is thus seen that the connecting device describecl r~lay be applied to any rapicl connection oE tubular elements, the pre-`itress 20 oE the -threads obtained at the end of tightening of the el~mel-lts not being aEfectecl by the possible locl<ing linkage when -the latter is rencl-red necessary ei-ther when a torque oE direction opposite that Or thc tightc-ning torque is ernployed, or when high safety measures against any loosening are requirecl.
The linkage between the pieces connectecl by means of the threalls unclergoing a pre-stress at the end of tighterling aftel- a rotation through a fraction of turn is adapted to the use oL -the connected pieces.
This results in tha-t, if -tubes such as 60 and 80 are to be separ~ted then connected again by means of the connec-ting piece 70, the device 30 shown in l~ig. Il may be used as means for connection between tube 60 and connector 70.
ln the state of rest, the lever 55 fast with -the ~Eork joint 51 rotating in its support 90 mountecl on the connec-tor 70 is hori~ontal and on the side opposite the catch 54 fast with the flange 43 of tube 35 60. L\ lever 52 rotating freely about the shaEt 56 borne by t`ork joint 7~;~'7 Sl is retaincd by the edge 53 of an excess thickness of the latter. Uncler thesc concliti(>r s, tllc levcr 52 is horizontal arld opposi-te Icvcr 55 Arter rotation through a sixth of turn in the case of the assern-bly 60-70 given as example, the threads borne by these picces are pre-5 stressed and it sufrices to manoeuvre the lever 55 towarcls the positionshown for the lever 52, retainecl only by its shaft 56, to lip, striking against the fl.lnge 43. CorI-tinuation of the movcrr)en-t brings about locl<ing ol` the end of the lever 52 on -the catch 54 due to the ecc:cntricity of the shaft 56, the fork joint 51 being immobilized by reason of its periphe-10 ral friction on its support. In tlle example shown, two diametricallyopposi-te devices have been mounted on the connector 70, tlle catches 54 being borne by the flange 43. It suffices to manoeuvre the levers 55 in opposite direction to allow unlocking of the linl<age, loosening of the tubes by reverse rota-tion and disengagernent thereor.
Finally, it will be notecl -that, by an astutc colrlbination of the climensiolls of the diameter ot the connector, the threacl pitch and the conicity of the nominal surfaces, the invention makes it possibJe to preserve the self-locking characteristics of -the linkages by conventio-nal thread and therefore to create pre-stresses whils-t rnairItaining the 20 advantages of a bayonet-type coupling. Finally, it should be noted tha-t the arrangements of the inven-tion are also applicable to thc corInectior of solid rods in multiple applications, particularly to -the constitutio of anchoring pilcs in offshore platforms.
It then suffices to rotate the piece I through a quarter -turn (or a fraction InOf turn if the assembly comprises n helicoidal threads 15 or grooves) Eor the position of tightening shown in Fig. 3 to be attained.
The grooves are then in total mesh with one another. The grooved conical part will be arrangecl to be sufficiently high (axially long) on each of pieces I and 2 for a groove or thread to intersect at least twice a cleter-mined generatrix of this surface. In other words it will be preferable 20 to have a thread winding over at least one turn about each piece I
and 2.
A close contact is thus effected all along each of the four threads each extending over at least one cormplete turn. The assemb!y made then presents a homogeneous mechanical strength over the whole 25 of its surface capable by the pre-stress procluc:ecl of withstanding numerous operations even of beating - without loosening.
Perfect tightness may be ensured wi-th the aid of well-known O-rings. An O-ring 8 has been shown in one groove of piece 2. At the end of connection by rotation the O-ring 8 slides on the vertical part 30 9 of piece 1.
To facilitate assembly marks 13 1~ for orientation may if desired be made on pieces I and 2 to be connectecl.
Figs. 5 and 6 show two possible variants of grooves7 one (Fig.
5) in the form of new trapezoiclal threads the other (Fig. 6) in the 35 form of groups of threads 15 16 17 18 developing on nominal helicoidal 7~
surfaces 15', ... offset radially under the same condi-tions as the groove vertices of Fig. 4.
The applications of the connecting device according to the invention may be very numerous, and particularly for performing the 5 function of connector, i.e. of a device whose connection or disconnection is remote-controlled.
By way of example, Figs. 7 and 8 show two connecting devices, one composed of pieces with multiple threads 24 and 25, the other of pieces with multiple threads 26 and 27.
The female connecting piece 26 may be rendered fast with a well head receptacle 28 or be incorporated therein by any known means.
The male piece 27 surrounds the well head 25 and its lower end serves, after tightening and locking, as stop for a flange 29 of 15 the well head 25.
The upper part of -the high pressure well head 25 comprises a rnultiple threading with 8 threads for example and is surroundecl by the connecting piece 24. This piece belongs to an assembly 30 ancl corn-prises above its multiple threads a groove surrounding the flange 31 20 of the same assembly 30 serving as hydraulic connec-tor. To this end, the assembly 30 further comprises flanges 32, 33, 34 and 35 servlng to fix vertical shafts such as 36 for example supporting -the bodies of jacks 37. The encls of the rods 38 of these jacks are fixed to ver-tical shafts such as 3'3 contiguous to the flanges 40 of the connecting piece 25 with multiple threads 24. It therefore suffices to control the jacks 37 so that the rods 38 drive the connecting piece 24 in rotation through an eighth of turn. The tigh-t connection of the well head 25 to the assem-bly 30 serving as hydraulic connector is thus ensured, tightness being provided by any sealing means 41.
In this example, the connecting device 24, 25 is maintained tightened by the locl<ing effected by the control of the jacks 37. Repea-ted connection and disconnection of the well head rnay thus be easily carried out.
Other applications oE the device according to the invention 35 exist, particularly as rneans for connecting the tubes of a riser, as ~2~6~i~7 shown in Figs. 9 and lO. To this end, -the tube 60 comprises on its outer upper part six threads for example on which are tightened s;x threads borne on the connecting piece 70. This conr-ecting piecc, like piece 24 of the previous example, alreacly belongs to an assembly which, this tirme, is that ot the lower part oE tube 80.
extcnsion 49 of the tube 60 bereft of -thread makes it pos-sible, after tightening of the connecting piece 70, to be applied la-terally against a sealing ring 50 disposed in a groove of a lower extension of the flar-g- 42 of tube 80 supporting the connecting piece 70. The tubes 10 60 and 80 respectively comprise Elanges 43 and 44 serving LO Eix sleeves such as 45 for the passage of guiding lines 46.
After sirnple approach of -tubes 60 and 80, it suffices to subject piece 70 to a rotation through a sixtil of turn in order to tighten the six threads borne by the -tube 60 and the piece 70 over their whole 15 length. At the encl of tightening, a catch 48 oE the piece 70 is l~ouscd in a groove 47 in the sleeve 45, thus ensuring an aclditiollal linliage for locking the connecting piece.
It is thus seen that the connecting device describecl r~lay be applied to any rapicl connection oE tubular elements, the pre-`itress 20 oE the -threads obtained at the end of tightening of the el~mel-lts not being aEfectecl by the possible locl<ing linkage when -the latter is rencl-red necessary ei-ther when a torque oE direction opposite that Or thc tightc-ning torque is ernployed, or when high safety measures against any loosening are requirecl.
The linkage between the pieces connectecl by means of the threalls unclergoing a pre-stress at the end of tighterling aftel- a rotation through a fraction of turn is adapted to the use oL -the connected pieces.
This results in tha-t, if -tubes such as 60 and 80 are to be separ~ted then connected again by means of the connec-ting piece 70, the device 30 shown in l~ig. Il may be used as means for connection between tube 60 and connector 70.
ln the state of rest, the lever 55 fast with -the ~Eork joint 51 rotating in its support 90 mountecl on the connec-tor 70 is hori~ontal and on the side opposite the catch 54 fast with the flange 43 of tube 35 60. L\ lever 52 rotating freely about the shaEt 56 borne by t`ork joint 7~;~'7 Sl is retaincd by the edge 53 of an excess thickness of the latter. Uncler thesc concliti(>r s, tllc levcr 52 is horizontal arld opposi-te Icvcr 55 Arter rotation through a sixth of turn in the case of the assern-bly 60-70 given as example, the threads borne by these picces are pre-5 stressed and it sufrices to manoeuvre the lever 55 towarcls the positionshown for the lever 52, retainecl only by its shaft 56, to lip, striking against the fl.lnge 43. CorI-tinuation of the movcrr)en-t brings about locl<ing ol` the end of the lever 52 on -the catch 54 due to the ecc:cntricity of the shaft 56, the fork joint 51 being immobilized by reason of its periphe-10 ral friction on its support. In tlle example shown, two diametricallyopposi-te devices have been mounted on the connector 70, tlle catches 54 being borne by the flange 43. It suffices to manoeuvre the levers 55 in opposite direction to allow unlocking of the linl<age, loosening of the tubes by reverse rota-tion and disengagernent thereor.
Finally, it will be notecl -that, by an astutc colrlbination of the climensiolls of the diameter ot the connector, the threacl pitch and the conicity of the nominal surfaces, the invention makes it possibJe to preserve the self-locking characteristics of -the linkages by conventio-nal thread and therefore to create pre-stresses whils-t rnairItaining the 20 advantages of a bayonet-type coupling. Finally, it should be noted tha-t the arrangements of the inven-tion are also applicable to thc corInectior of solid rods in multiple applications, particularly to -the constitutio of anchoring pilcs in offshore platforms.
Claims (9)
1. Device for rapidly connecting rods, tubes, casings or sections of anchoring piles, particularly for offshore drilling, comprising a male piece and a female piece of the type with conical tightening helicoidal grooves, wherein each piece is provided with a pluralily n of helicoidal grooves of constant section complementary of that borne by the other piece, each groove vertex, seen in axial section, being offset radially with respect to the roots of the adjacent grooves by a value (a) at least equal to the fraction ? of the variation (VR) of radius on a spiral pitch of the conical surface bearing said grooves and at most equal to VR.
2. The device of Claim 19 wherein the length of each groove inter-sects at least twice a determined generatrix of said conical surface.
3. The device of Claim 2, wherein the trace of the upper side of the grooves of the female piece and lower side of the grooves of the male piece, in an axial plane, is inclined upwardly towards the axis of the assembly if the female piece is the upper piece of the assembly.
4. The device of Claim 1, wherein one of the pieces comprises multiple threads borne by a conical surface of a first tube, the other connecting piece being borne by a flange belonging to a second tube.
5. The device of Claim 4, wherein the connecting piece borne by the flange of the second tube is further connected to said tube by jacks so that their control brings about a rotation of said connecting piece.
6. The device of Claim 1, wherein one of the connecting pieces fixed on a well head receptacle comprises, below its conical part with multiple threading, a cylindrical surface for guiding a flange of the well head.
7. The device according to Claim 6, wherein the other connecting piece comprises on the side opposite its multiple and conical threading, a cylindrical surface for guiding said well head, the lower end of said connecting piece being in contact with said flange during tightening thereof by rotation in the threads of the first connecting piece.
8. The device of Claim 4, wherein the first tube bearing a conical threading with a plurality of threads extends by a threadless part housed, during tightening or the connecting piece with multiple and conical threading, beneath the flange supporting the connecting piece of the second tube, the first and the second tubes being fast with auxiliary flanges for fixing sleeves of the guiding line, one of the two bearing a groove for engagement of a catch of the connecting piece after tighte-ning.
9. The device of Claim 1, wherein it comprises a device for locking the connected pieces by axial engagement and rotation through a fraction of turn, constituted by a fork joint mounted in a support fast with the piece and by a catch fast with said piece, a lever articulated on a shaft borne by the fork joint and eccentric with respect to the shaft of the fork joint bringing about, during rotation of the fork joint manoeuvred by a lever, the abutment of the lever on the catch and the locking by friction of the periphery of the fork joint on its support.
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| FR8211939A FR2529991B1 (en) | 1982-07-07 | 1982-07-07 | |
| FR8211939 | 1982-07-07 | ||
| FR8213381 | 1982-07-20 | ||
| FR8213381 | 1982-07-30 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1207657A true CA1207657A (en) | 1986-07-15 |
Family
ID=26222981
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000431954A Expired CA1207657A (en) | 1982-07-07 | 1983-07-06 | Device for rapidly connecting rods, tubes and casings, particularly for offshore drilling |
Country Status (11)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP0100259B1 (en) |
| JP (1) | JPS5923180A (en) |
| KR (1) | KR840005516A (en) |
| AU (1) | AU560764B2 (en) |
| BR (1) | BR8303617A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1207657A (en) |
| DE (1) | DE3367649D1 (en) |
| DK (1) | DK312983A (en) |
| ES (1) | ES8403594A1 (en) |
| NO (1) | NO161987C (en) |
| OA (1) | OA07484A (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4757593A (en) * | 1986-03-20 | 1988-07-19 | Vetco Gray Inc | Method of locking a connector |
Families Citing this family (10)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4610467A (en) * | 1981-07-06 | 1986-09-09 | Dril-Quip, Inc. | Connector |
| JPH0695824B2 (en) * | 1985-01-14 | 1994-11-24 | 株式会社日立製作所 | Magnet type DC machine stator |
| JPS61126779U (en) * | 1985-01-24 | 1986-08-08 | ||
| DE3513347C1 (en) * | 1985-04-13 | 1987-01-02 | Karl Burgsmueller | Conical, multi-start threaded connection for fastening parts of a deep-drilling tool |
| DE3673875D1 (en) * | 1985-06-06 | 1990-10-11 | Nippon Denso Co | MAGNETIC RUNNER. |
| US4846508A (en) * | 1987-12-16 | 1989-07-11 | Vetco Gray Inc. | Tubular connector system |
| GB2220716B (en) * | 1988-06-17 | 1992-06-03 | Vetco Gray U K Limited | An indicator system for threaded connections |
| FR2749369B1 (en) * | 1996-06-03 | 1998-09-04 | Domine Sa | DEVICE FOR QUICK CONNECTION OF TUBES |
| CN102733763B (en) * | 2012-06-16 | 2014-10-08 | 无锡西姆莱斯石油专用管制造有限公司 | High-extrusion resistance special threaded connection joint for sleeve pipes |
| RU2757481C1 (en) * | 2020-10-13 | 2021-10-18 | Федеральное государственное бюджетное образовательное учреждение высшего образования "Тюменский индустриальный университет" (ТИУ) | Drill string disconnector |
Family Cites Families (13)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE628915C (en) * | 1931-12-23 | 1936-04-18 | Spang Chalfant & Co Inc | Thread connection for pipes |
| DE701558C (en) * | 1935-02-19 | 1941-01-18 | Chalfant And Co Inc | Screw connection of the casing pipes for deep boreholes |
| US2215770A (en) * | 1939-09-29 | 1940-09-24 | William F Sheffield | Drilling shaft coupling |
| US2587544A (en) * | 1948-06-01 | 1952-02-26 | United States Steel Corp | Threaded joint capable of being quickly made and broken |
| GB804798A (en) * | 1954-05-11 | 1958-11-26 | Joy Mfg Co | Screwing-up and unscrewing mechanism for an oil well drill pipe |
| US2885225A (en) * | 1955-02-17 | 1959-05-05 | Drilco Oil Tools Inc | Drill pipe coupling having particular thread formations |
| US3086796A (en) * | 1958-11-13 | 1963-04-23 | Fmc Corp | Pipe coupling with wedging locking means |
| GB897572A (en) * | 1959-05-20 | 1962-05-30 | Dowty Rotol Ltd | Improvements relating to a unit for tightening and loosening a screwed pipe joint inearth boring equipment |
| US3129963A (en) * | 1960-06-30 | 1964-04-21 | Robbins Machine & Mfg Co | Low release torque threaded joint |
| BE633562A (en) * | 1962-06-26 | |||
| CH479017A (en) * | 1968-12-09 | 1969-09-30 | Naamanka Armas | Arrangement for connecting two hoses or pipes to one another |
| US4043575A (en) * | 1975-11-03 | 1977-08-23 | The Rucker Company | Riser connector |
| GB2064041B (en) * | 1979-11-19 | 1983-07-27 | Hunting Oilfield Services Ltd | Pipe connectors |
-
1983
- 1983-07-05 NO NO832449A patent/NO161987C/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1983-07-05 ES ES523882A patent/ES8403594A1/en not_active Expired
- 1983-07-06 AU AU16614/83A patent/AU560764B2/en not_active Ceased
- 1983-07-06 DK DK312983A patent/DK312983A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1983-07-06 OA OA58051A patent/OA07484A/en unknown
- 1983-07-06 BR BR8303617A patent/BR8303617A/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1983-07-06 CA CA000431954A patent/CA1207657A/en not_active Expired
- 1983-07-07 JP JP58122442A patent/JPS5923180A/en active Pending
- 1983-07-07 DE DE8383401399T patent/DE3367649D1/en not_active Expired
- 1983-07-07 EP EP83401399A patent/EP0100259B1/en not_active Expired
- 1983-07-07 KR KR1019830003104A patent/KR840005516A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4757593A (en) * | 1986-03-20 | 1988-07-19 | Vetco Gray Inc | Method of locking a connector |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| EP0100259A1 (en) | 1984-02-08 |
| NO161987B (en) | 1989-07-10 |
| DE3367649D1 (en) | 1987-01-02 |
| OA07484A (en) | 1984-12-31 |
| ES523882A0 (en) | 1984-04-01 |
| JPS5923180A (en) | 1984-02-06 |
| NO832449L (en) | 1984-01-09 |
| EP0100259B1 (en) | 1986-11-12 |
| BR8303617A (en) | 1984-02-14 |
| AU1661483A (en) | 1984-02-09 |
| DK312983D0 (en) | 1983-07-06 |
| AU560764B2 (en) | 1987-04-16 |
| NO161987C (en) | 1989-10-18 |
| KR840005516A (en) | 1984-11-14 |
| DK312983A (en) | 1984-01-08 |
| ES8403594A1 (en) | 1984-04-01 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |