GB2216972A - Umbilical connectors - Google Patents

Abstract

An umbilical connector comprises two connector halves 110, 112 which can be mutually mated to couple respective sets of service lines. One of said connector halves is constructed or adapted to terminate an umbilical. The other of said connector halves is constructed or adapted either to terminate a further umbilical or to provide a termination of the set of service lines between the first umbilical and equipment to which the other connector half is coupled in use. Latch means, eg fingers 133 hooking over ends 121, are provided to retain said connector halves in mutual engagement when mated, said latch means either being self-locking or being provided with positive locking means, one of said connector halves being provided with disconnection means actuable by remote operation when said connector halves are mated to cause said latch means to change from a latched and locked configuration to an unlocked and delatchable or delatched configuration. <IMAGE>

Description

Umbilical Connectors This invention relates to umbilical connectors, and more particularly to umbilical connectors which are constructed or adapted for self-disconnection by remote operation.

Under-sea equipment which is to be remotely operated in a controlled manner is commonly connected to an above-surface control unit by a group of flexible hydraulic hoses. These hoses carry pressurised hydraulic liquid for control and/or power. The group of hoses is customarily integrated into a single composite multi-channel flexible hose-like assembly known as an "umbilical". An umbilical may additionally or alternatively carry one or more groups of other service lines, for example electric power cables, relatively light cables for electronic telemetry (instrumentation and/or control), and possibly pneumatic hoses. The hydraulic hoses may be present in an umbilical in widely differing sizes according to their intended functions.

As a matter of practical necessity, an umbilical requires to be capable of being connected and disconnected at one or more points along its length, preferably without significant loss of hydraulic fluid even if the hydraulic hoses are internally pressurised. Umbilical connectors should preferably make and break all service lines (power and control hoses, cables, etc) substantially simultaneously, and in a convenient manner.

Under-sea umbilicals can be connected to equipment prior to the equipment being lowered underwater, or can be attached by a diver after the equipment is submerged. The time and circumstances of connection of an umbilical to equipment (or to a further length of umbilical) are thus largely a matter of choice, but the time and circumstances of disconnection may not be. For example, in case of fire, blowout, storm, equipment failure, or any other emergency, it may be necessary or desirable to disconnect rapidly and by remote operation (which may be manual and/or automatic). Such capability of remote operation can be desirable on land as well as under-sea, and while features of the invention are particularly applicable to the drilling of submarine oil or gas wells, the invention is applicable in any circumstances where umbilicals require to be disconnected by remote operation.

In respect of umbilical connectors which are capable of disconnection by remote operation, it is desirable (though not essential) that the connector be positively locked in the connected configuration, and require a positive unlocking operation as part of the disconnection procedure.

This is in distinction from connectors which rely solely upon friction and/or spring latches to be non-positively self-retaining in the connected configuration. Such positive locking and positive unlocking should be nondestructive and fully reversible so as to leave the umbilical connector ready for immediate re-use without repair or replacement of any part (such as a shear pin, or a plastically deformable latch).

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an umbilical connector which can be disconnected by remote operation, and which preferably also has one or more of the above-described desirable features.

According to the present invention there is provided an umbilical connector comprising two connector halves which can be mutually mated to couple respective sets of service lines, at least one of said connector halves being constructed or adapted to terminate an umbilical, the other of said connector halves being constructed or adapted either to terminate a further umbilical or to provide a termination of the set of service lines between the first said umbilical and equipment to which said other connector half is coupled in use, latch means to retain said connector halves in mutual engagement when mated, said latch means either being self-locking or being provided with positive locking means, one of said connector halves being provided with disconnection means actuable by remote operation when said connector halves are mated to cause said latch means to change from a latched and locked configuration to an unlocked and delatchable or delatched configuration.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein Figs. 1-5 are sectional diagrams of the first to fifth embodiments respectively.

In each of Figs. 1-5, the respective embodiment consists of a connector half in the form of an umbilical terminator on the right, mated to a connector half on the left which is coupled to equipment (not shown) such that a set of service lines in the umbilical (not shown) is connected to a respective set of service lines in the equipment. In each instance, designations "Male" and "Female" denote the general nature of the respective halves of the connector.

Referring now the Fig. 1, the first embodiment of umbilical connector consists of a male connector half 10 operatively coupled to a female connector half 12 (both halves of the connector being shown in half-section only, about the centre line). The male connector half 10 comprises a core 14 in which a number of umbilical hoses (not shown) are terminated in respective passages. The female connector half 12 has a core 16 with hydraulic passages aligned to match those in the core 14. When the coupling halves 10 and 12 are mated as shown in Fig. 1, the respective passages in the cores 14 and 16 are mutually connected by individual ones of a known form of self-sealing quick-disconnect hydraulic coupling, of which a representative specimen is designated at 18.

The core 14 of the male connector half 10 is encased in an outer sleeve 20 which is secured by a screw-thread connection 22 and sealed to the core 14 by an O-ring 24.

The core 14 and the sleeve 20 between them form an annulus which is occupied by an annular piston 26. A spring 28 biasses the piston 26 towards the proximal end of the sleeve 20, in which position the rim 30 of the skirt of the piston 26 lies just within the distal end of the sleeve 20.

The core 16 of the female connector half 12 is encased in a fixed outer sleeve 32 whose distal end circumscribes the distal end of the sleeve 20 when the connector halves 10 and 12 are mated, as shown in Fig. 1.

The distal end of the sleeve 20 has a circumferential row of radial perforations each supporting a metal ball 34. With the piston 26 in the position shown, its skirt rim 30 pushes the balls 34 radially outwards of the connector centre-line to engage a matching circumferential groove 36 in the inner face of the distal end of the sleeve 32. This locks the connector halves 10 and 12 together. (In place of the balls 34, radially movable dogs (not shown) may be employed; the dogs may be part-annular segments).

To release the connector halves 10 and 12 from each other, hydraulic control pressure P is applied along a control line hose in the umbilical and through a port 38 in the male core 14 to the space between the head of the annular piston 26 and the annular space formed by the conjunction of the sleeve 20 with the core 14. When the hydraulic control pressure P in the port 38 reaches a magnitude sufficient for the hydraulic force on the piston 26 to exceed the return force of the spring 28, the piston 26 will move leftwards.

The balls 34 are now free to move radially inwards into an annular recess 40 immediately to the right of the rim 30, and are no longer restrained radially outwards into their connector-locking positions in the groove 36. The connector halves 10 and 12 are now mutually unlocked, and can be separated by internal hydrualic pressure forcing apart the halves of the individual quick disconnect couplings 18, and/or by mechanical tension applied through the umbilical from its far end (as a remotely applied disconnection force).

When the connector halves 10 and 12 are fully separated and disconnected, the balls 34 are prevented from falling radially out of the skirt 20 by suitably pre-shaping the perforations in which the balls 34 are carried so as to permit the balls 34 to protrude sufficiently, while precluding their complete outward passage.

The connector locking mechanism described above can also be employed to prevent accidental detachment of the connector halves 10 and 12 by normal (non-destructive) levels of force, such as wave-induced heave on the umbilical, or an erroneous disconnection attempt by a diver. The mechanism also allows the connector to be remotely unlocked for nonremote completion of disconnection, as by a diver pulling the connector half 10 directly out of the connector half 12.

Referring now to Fig. 2, this shows a second embodiment of umbilical connector having a number of similarities to, and differences from, the first embodiment (Fig. 1). In the second embodiment, the latch (detailed below) is selflocking, and the unlocking/delatching mechanism is transferred from the umbilical (right) half of the connector to the equipment (left) half of the connector. In Fig. 2, these components which structurally and/or functionally correspond to components in Fig. 1 are given the same reference numeral but with a prefix "1" (i.e. the Fig. 1 reference plus 100), and for details of any part not described below, reference should be made to the corresponding component in the description above.

As in Fig. 1, the umbilical connector consists of a male connector half 110, and a female connector half 112. In the umbilical (male) half 110, the distal end of the sleeve 120 is reshaped as an annulus 121 joined to the main part of the sleeve by several longitudinal struts. In the equipment (female) half 112, the distal end of the sleeve 132 is slotted longitudinally in several places to form a number of axially extending latching fingers 133. These fingers 133 are made resilient by radially thinning the sleeve 132 intermediate the distal end of the sleeve and the proximal ends of the slots, and by suitable choice of the material for the sleeve 132.

The distal ends the latching fingers 133 are relatively thick for strength and rigidity, and are inturned at their ends so as to hook over the annular end 121 of the sleeve 120 when the fingers 133 are relaxed radially inwards in accordance with their inherent elastic bias (as shown in the lower half of Fig. 2) to form self-locking latches positively holding the coupling halves 110 and 112 together.

The piston 126 (now in the equipment half 112 rather than the umbilical half 110) differs only in that its skirt rim 130 is now frusto-conical so as to be suited to wedge against the inside surfaces of the resilient latching fingers 133 formed on the sleeve 132. Since the piston 126 is no longer directly accessible to the control hose in the umbilical (still connected to the right connector half 110), the control port 138 (not fully illustrated) is extended fully axially through the core 114, accross to the core 116 by way of its own quick disconnect coupling 118 (not shown for the control line), and through an extension of the control port 138 in the core 116 to pressurise the top (left end) of the piston 126.When the control pressure rises sufficiently, the piston 126 moves rightwards (as viewed in Fig. 2), and its tapered skirt rim 130 forces the latching fingers 133 radially outwards so that their inturned ends disengage from the annular end 121 of the sleeve 120. This single operation results in simultaneous unlocking and delatching to free the two coupling halves 100 and 112 from each other to cause or enable remote self-disconnection as previously described in respect of the first embodiment.

Referring now to Fig 3, this shows a third embodiment of umbilical connector (in half-section about the longitudinal centre-line) which is generally similar to the second embodiment (Fig. 2) except that the combined unlocking/delatching mechanism has reverted to the right (umbilical-side) connector half. In Fig. 3, the same numbering convention is adopted relative to Fig. 1 as for Fig. 2, except that the relevant prefix is "2". Subject to the general transpositions referred to above, the third embodiment differs only in minor details such as the modification of the latching fingers 233 to make them bi-directionally axially locking.

Referring now to Fig. 4, this shows a fourth embodiment of umbilical connector (in half-section above the centre-line, and part in half-section with other parts broken away below the centre-line) which has some similarities to the third embodiment (Fig. 3) and some significant differences. In Fig. 4, the same numbering convention is adopted relative to Fig. 1 as for Fig. 3, except that the relevant prefix is "3".

In the fourth embodiment, the piston 326 and the latching fingers 333 are radially inverted relative to the third embodiment, i.e. the fingers 333 unlatch by radial inward movement. Also, the latching fingers 333 no longer have purely radial faces, and are thus not self-locking in the latched position. Therefore a distinct locking mechanism in the form of a second annular piston 327 is incorporated into the fourth embodiment. The piston 327 is in a separate annular chamber nested inside the piston 326 and its respective annular chamber. The skirt of the piston 327 is an undivided tube whose rim 331 normally lies immediately radially inwards of the latching fingers 333, to which position it is biassed by a spring 329 in the absence of hydraulic control pressure in the contol port 338.This normal position of the rim 331 blocks the latching fingers 333 against radially inward movement, and thus locks the fingers 333 against unlatching of the umbilical connector.

Upon application of hydraulic control pressure at the control port 338, the piston 327 will retract rightwards (as viewed in Fig. 4) into the connector half 310, and unlock the latching fingers 333 by freeing them for subsequent radially inward movement from the illustrated latching configuration. When the piston 327 has fully retracted, a port 342 through the wall of the piston 327 admits the sustained control pressure through a radial passage 344 in the sleeve 320 into an annular chamber 346 above the piston 326. Thereupon, the piston 326 is driven leftwards until its bevelled skirt rim 330 wedges the fingers 333 radially inwards to cause positive unlatching of the umbilical connector. The connector halves 310 and 312 are now delatched for total disconnection as previously described.

To reconnect the connector halves 310 and 312, the control pressure is reapplied, the connector halves are mated, whereupon reduction of the control pressure to zero allows, firstly, the piston 326 to retract under the bias of the spring 328 to re-latch the fingers 333, and secondly, the piston 327 to extend under the bias of the spring 329 to re-lock the fingers 333 in the latching configuration.

Referring now to Fig. 5, this shows a fifth embodiment of umbilical connector which has some features in common with the fourth embodiment (Fig. 4), but also substantive differences. In Fig. 5, the same numbering convention is adopted relative to Figs. 1-4 as for Figs. 2-4, except that the relevant prefix is "4".

In the fifth embodiment, the latching fingers 433 are nonpositive as in the fourth embodiment, but more so, due to a much greater taper on both leading and trailing surfaces.

De-latching of the fingers 433 is by radially inward movement as in the fourth embodiment, but the fingers are formed on the sleeve 432 of the equipment-side connector half 412 as in the second embodiment (Fig. 2).

The fingers 433 are locked in the latched configuration by the piston 427 as in the fourth embodiment.

However, in contrast to all preceding embodiments, positive disconnection of the connector halves 410 and 412 takes place by an axial extension of the skirt of the piston 426 such that following upon unlocking movement of the piston 427 to the right (as viewed in Fig. 5), the piston 426 moves leftward to kick off against the core 416. The correct sequence of movements of the pistons 427 and 426 is ensured by correct choice of the relative spring rates (ratios of axial compression to axial loading) of the respective bias springs 429 and 428. Thus the choice of spring rates ensures the correct sequencing of piston movement despite the pistons 426 and 427 running in a common annulus (in contrast to the use of separate annuli sequentially connected by porting in the fourth embodiment).

Reconnection of the connection halves 410 and 412 can be accomplished by reducing the control pressure at the control port 438 to zero, and pushing the connector halves 410 and 412 axially together. The leading edges of the latching fingers 433 will kick back the locking piston 427 until the fingers 433 spring out to the latched configuration, whereupon the piston 427 will automatically spring forward to its locking position.

While several modifications and variations of the invention have been described above, the invention is not limited thereto and other modifications and variations can be adopted without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended Claims.

Claims (14)

1. An umbilical connector comprising two connector halves which can be mutually mated to couple respective sets of service lines, at least one of said connector halves being constructed or adapted to terminate an umbilical, the other of said connector halves being constructed or adapted either to terminate a further umbilical or to provide a termination of the set of service lines between the first said umbilical and equipment to which said other connector half is coupled in use, latch means to retain said connector halves in mutual engagement when mated, said latch means either being self-locking or being provided with positive locking means, one of said connector halves being provided with disconnection means actuable by remote operation when said connector halves are mated to cause said latch means to change from a latched and locked configuration to an unlocked and delatchable or delatched configuration.

2. An umbilical connector as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said latch means is provided with positive locking means in the form of radially movable balls or dogs positively moved radially to a locked configuration by axial movement in one direction of an annular piston partially housed in an annular chamber in one said connector half and remotely operable by selective application thereto of hydraulic pressure, said piston having a tapered skirt wedgably engageable with said balls or dogs, said balls or dogs being released for radial movement to an unlocked and delatchable configuration by axial movement of said piston in the other direction to cause said tapered skirt to come out of wedging engagement with said balls or dogs.

3. An umbilical connector as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said latch means comprises a respective sleeve on each of said connector halves, one said sleeve being formed to have a plurality of radially resilient fingers with latching surfaces and the other said sleeve being formed with a rim or other latching surface such that interengagement of said latching surfaces upon mating of the connector halves retains said connector halves in mutual engagement.

4. An umbilical connector as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the latching surfaces are so shaped as to be mutually selflocking upon interengagement.

5. An umbilical connector as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the latching surfaces are so shaped as to be mutually nonself-locking upon interengagement, said positive locking means comprising an annular piston partially housed in an annular chamber in one said connector half and remotely operable by selective application thereto of hydraulic pressure, said piston in one position thereof positively locking said latching surfaces together retain said connector halves in mutual engagement.

6. An umbilical connector as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 5, wherein said piston is movable to a position in which the latch means is locked by a spring acting on said piston, the piston being moved to a position in which the latch means is unlocked by said application of hydraulic pressure.

7. An umbilical connector as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 5 or Claim 6, and further comprising a further annular piston partially housed in said one connector half and remotely operable by selective application thereto of hydraulic pressure, said further piston being operable upon movement of the first said piston to a position in which said latch means is unlocked to cause said latch means to change to a delatched configuration.

8. An umbilical connector as claimed in Claim 7, wherein said operation of said further piston positively separates said connector halves.

9. An umbilical connector as claimed in Claim 7 or Claim 8, wherein said piston and said further piston are coaxially movable in a common annular chamber.

10. An umbilical connector substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings.

11. An umbilical connector substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings.

12. An umbilical connector substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Fig. 3 of the accompanying drawings.

13. An umbilical connector substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Fig. 4 of the accompanying drawings.

14. An umbilical connector substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Fig. 5 of the accompanying drawings.