GB1219703A - Flow line connector system - Google Patents

Abstract

1,219,703. Pipe-line connections. FMC CORP. 5 May, 1969 [7 May, 1968], No. 22759/69. Heading F2G. Two sets of pipe-lines 34, 36 and 46, 48 are connected by an apparatus 16 whereby the sets are housed in connector units 50, 52 respectively, which are lowered into a V-trough 70 and are held by latches 80 in coaxial alignment ; the unit 52 comprises a stationary sleeve 184 connected to the ends of pipe-lines 46, 48, and the unit 50 comprises a fixed sleeve 116 and an axially movable sleeve 110 connected to the ends of pipe-lines 34, 36, so that the sleeve 110 is moved toward sleeve 184 causing the pipe-line ends to abut and the sleeves to be clamped by latching dogs 114. The latch mechanisms (80), Fig. 4 (not shown), comprise hooks (82) depending from the units 50, 52 which, during downward movement of the units, force spring-loaded pins (84) pivoted at (90), over the hook faces (100), into engagement with the hooks at (102). The movable sleeve 110 is actuated by fluid pressure on a piston 136 until the sleeve engages sleeve 184, where a plug 256 is pushed to the right by the contact between the sleeves, opening a ball-valve 246 by a plunger 254, allowing fluid to pass from a chamber 140 to a chamber 168 causing a sleeve 112 to move to the left, which cams the latching dogs 114 into engagement with the ends of sleeves 110, 184, thereby locking the sleeves, Fig. 5. At the end of the operation, some fluid escapes from chamber 168 via a restricted flow ring 270, to indicate completion of the coupling. The sleeves 110, 184 are uncoupled by reversal of the above sequence, completion of which is indicated by minor fluid flow past a restricted flow ring 268. In the event of a failure of the above hydraulic system when the pipe-lines are coupled, a movable sleeve 186 is actuated by fluid pressure and pushes sleeve 112 to the right, thus releasing the dogs 114. The sleeve 186 is then retracted, allowing the pipe-lines to uncouple. Further sealing between the pipe-lines is effected by resilient seals 226 held by tapered sleeves 228 wedged between the pipe-lines during coupling. The connection of such pipe-lines may be utilized between a wellhead and an underwater pipe-line, Fig. 1 (not shown).