GB2433565A

GB2433565A - A stab connector for use in subsea applications

Info

Publication number: GB2433565A
Application number: GB0602983A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Barber; Rowan Patterson
Original assignee: UWG Ltd
Current assignee: UWG Ltd
Priority date: 2005-12-22
Filing date: 2006-02-15
Publication date: 2007-06-27
Also published as: GB0602983D0; GB0526137D0

Abstract

A method of connecting a connector 10 to a receptacle (see fig.7) wherein the connector is inserted into the receptacle, one or more connector engagement means 40, 42 engages with (an) engagement means (29, see fig.7) on the receptacle, and wherein a connector motion means 44, 46 drives / draws the connector into the connected position. The pipeline connector may comprise a hollow body with one or more apertures 54, and may comprise two connector motion means, which are preferably hydraulic actuators. Each hydraulic actuator is preferably connected to connector engagement means, which ideally take the form of collet fingers 40, 42, or bayonet connections (29', see fig. 8). Threaded engagement means may be used instead of collet or bayonet connection. The connector is preferably used in subsea applications, and optimally a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) inserts the connector into the receptacle.

Description

CONNECTOR

BACKGROUND

a. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a connector and in particular to a stab connector for use in underwater applications.

b. Related Art It is conventional to use a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) to make a connection S...

to a pipeline head for test purposes, for example, sending a pig along the pipeline to remove detritus or to confirm the diameter of the pipeline. Such a connection is *::* made using a relatively small hose when compared to the pipelines used for transporting oil or gas. Typically, the ROV is used to introduce a connector into a female connector (or receptacle) and then to force the connector into the receptacle to provide a suitable, pressure tight connection. *:::: S...

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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of connecting a connector to a connector receptacle, the method comprising the steps of: a) inserting a connector into a connector receptacle; b) engaging one or more connector engagement means with one or more receptacle engagement means; and c) moving the connector into a connected position within the receptacle engagement means, wherein step c) comprises activating connector motion means that drive the connector into the connected position.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a connector comprising: a hollow body, the hollow body comprising one or more apertures; first and second arms received on the exterior of the hollow body, the first arm being coupled to the hollow body by a first motion means and the second arm being coupled to the hollow body by a second motion means; the first and second motion means being further coupled to a connector engagement means; such that, in use, I) the pipeline connector is inserted into a connector receptacle; ii) the connector engagement means are activated to engage with a receptacle engagement means; iii) first and second motion means are activated to move the connector relative to the connector receptacle to connect the connector with the receptacle.

In a first embodiment of the invention, the connector engagement means comprise collet fingers that engage with the receptacle engagement means. In a second embodiment of the invention, the connector engagement means comprise bayonet S...

connection means that engage with complementary receptacle bayonet connection means. *:*:* Preferably the first and second motion means comprise hydraulic cylinders. By incorporating these cylinders in the connector, the ROV need only be used to initially insert the connector within the receptacle. The hydraulic cylinders can * then be used to activate the engagement means to secure the connector to the * :: receptacle and then complete the pressure tight connection. As the ROV is not well suited to the application of the higher forces required to make the connection, the present invention allows the connection to made much more quickly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 shows a schematic depiction of a stab connector according to the present invention; Figure 2 shows a schematic depiction of a receptacle for use with the connector shown in Figure 1: Figures 3 to 7 show the different stages by which a stab connector according to a first embodiment of the present invention is coupled to a receptacle as shown in Figure 2; and Figures 8 to 10 show the different stages by which a stab connector according to a second embodiment of the present invention is coupled to a receptacle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Figure 1 shows a schematic depiction of a stab connector 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Stab connector 10 comprises a cylindrical body 60 that defines a hollow bore 62. A first end of the body 60 comprises guiding means 56 and the second end of the body comprises a connector 48 for onward connection to a line or hose (not shown). First and second arms 64 and 66 are attached to either side of the cylindrical body 60 and first and second hydraulic actuators 44 and 46 are connected to the first and second arms 64 and 66 respectively and to the cylindrical body 60. The first and second arms 64 and 66 are arranged such that the guiding means 56 is clear of the first and second arms such that the first and second arms do not interfere with guiding means or a S...

receptacle when the connector is inserted into a receptacle. *: ::: The first hydraulic actuator 44 is coupled to a first collet finger 40 and, similarly, the second hydraulic actuator 46 is coupled to a second collet finger 42. Near to the first end of the body there is provided one or more apertures 54 that enable a fluid to flow from the hollow bore 62 into a receptacle (see below), or vice versa.

The stab connector 10 comprises a first seal means 50 that is located in between the guiding means 56 and the apertures 54 and a second seal means 52 is located in between the apertures 54 and the collet fingers 40, 42. A handle 30 is provided to allow the connector to be manipulated and manoeuvred by a remotely operated vehicle (ROy).

Figure 2 shows a schematic depiction of a receptacle for use with the connector shown in Figure 1. The receptacle 20 is a T-connector that comprises first and second pipeline apertures 22, 24 and a manifold connector 26. In use, a stab connector 10 will be connected to either the first or the second pipeline apertures 22, 24 and allowing fluid to flow from a line or hose connected to the stab connector to the manifold, or vice versa. The receptacle further comprises first and second engagement means 21, 23 and first and second pipeline apertures comprises first and second aperture engagement means 28, 29.

Figures 3 to 7 show the different stages by which a stab connector according to a first embodiment of the present invention is coupled to a receptacle. Figure 3 shows the initial insertion of the connector into a receptacle. The ROV is used to tilt the connector relative to the receptacle such that the connector is inserted into the receptacle at an angle. Once the guiding means and the seal means are ** received within the receptacle then the connector is rotated, through the * * appropriate movement of the ROy, such that the connector is substantially coaxially aligned with the receptacle. (see Figure 4) and the first end of the connector is loosely received within the receptacle.

S *.S.

Figure 5 shows the position of the connector once the guide means 56 has passed the second receptacle engagement means 23 (the following description of the present invention is predicated on the insertion of the connector into the second pipeline aperture 24. It will be readily understood that the connector could equally be inserted into the first pipeline aperture). The connector is inserted up to this point through the action of the ROV on the connector. The detailed region of Figure 5 shows that the first collet finger 40 has been brought into close proximity with the second aperture engagement means 29 (although it is not shown in detail it will be understood that the second collet finger 42 has similarly been brought into close proximity with the second aperture engagement means 29).

The next stage in the process of connecting the connector to the receptacle is for the hydraulic cylinders 44, 46 to be activated to cause the collet fingers to engage with the second aperture engagement means 29 (see Figure 6). The action of the hydraulic cylinders cause the collet fingers to be deflected away from the body of the connector to engage with the engagement surface of the second aperture engagement means 29 (see detailed region of Figure 6). This engagement of the collet fingers 40, 42 with the second aperture engagement means 29 causes the connector to be secured to the receptacle.

The hydraulic cylinders 44, 46 are then activated to fully retract the hydraulic cylinders. As the connector is secured to the receptacle through the engagement of the collet fingers with the second aperture engagement means, the retraction of the hydraulic cylinders causes the body of the connector to be advanced further into the receptacle, such that the first seal means 50 are received at the first engagement means 21 and the second seal means 52 are received at the second **** engagement means 23. This positioning of the connector causes the first and second pipeline apertures to be sealed such that any fluid flowing through from the manifold connector 26 will flow through a line or hose (not shown) that is connected to the connector 48, and vice versa. * : ** ** Figures 8 to 10 show a schematic depiction of a second embodiment of the..

present invention, which comprises a bayonet connection. Figure 8 shows a schematic depiction of a stab connector 10' according to this second embodiment being introduced into the proximity of a receptacle 20'. The stab connector 10' comprises a cylindrical body 60 that defines a hollow bore 62. A first end of the body 60 comprises guiding means 56. First and second arms 64 and 66 are attached to either side of the cylindrical body 60 and first and second hydraulic actuators 44 and 46 are connected to the first and second arms 64 and 66 respectively and to the cylindrical body 60. The first and second arms 64 and 66 are arranged such that the guiding means 56 is clear of the first and second arms such that the first and second arms do not interfere with guiding means or a receptacle when the connector is inserted into a receptacle. The connector 10' comprises a bayonet connecting means 41 that is used to secure the connector to a complementary bayonet connecting means 29' of the receptacle 20'.

Figure 9 shows a schematic depiction of the connector once the bayonet connection has been made with the receptacle. This is achieved by using the ROV to manipulate the connector such that the bayonet connecting means 41 of the connector is engaged with the complementary bayonet connecting means 29' of the receptacle 20'. The connector is then rotated relative to the receptacle in order to secure the bayonet coupling between the connector and the receptacle.

The hydraulic cylinders 44, 46 are then activated to fully retract the hydraulic cylinders. As the connector is secured to the receptacle through the engagement of the bayonet connection means, the retraction of the hydraulic cylinders causes the body of the connector to be advanced further into the receptacle, see Figure 10, such that the first seal means 50 are received at the first engagement means S...

21 and the second seal means 52 are received at the second engagement means:: : 23. This positioning of the connector causes the first and second pipeline..

apertures to be sealed such that any fluid flowing through from the manifold connector 26 will flow through a line or hose (not shown) that is connected to the * : connector, and vice versa. 5.. *..s

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Except for those details described above with reference to Figures 8 to 10, the: ::: connector 10' may otherwise be identical to the connector 10 according to the first embodiment of the invention. It should be understood that although Figures 8 to indicate that the connector comprises a male bayonet connecting means that can be connected to a female bayonet connecting means received on the receptacle, this situation may be reversed such that the connector comprises a female bayonet connecting means that can be connected to a male bayonet connecting means received on the receptacle.

It will be readily understood that the connector may be modified or varied in a number of ways without departing from the teaching of the present invention. For example, the connector may be provided with three (or more) hydraulic cylinders and their respective collet fingers to provide the engagement with the receptacle.

Alternative engagement means may be provided, for example a threaded connection. Alternatives to the hydraulic cylinders may be used, for example electrical or pneumatic drive systems, although hydraulic systems are generally preferred in the subsea environment in which the present invention is to be used.

A connector according to the present invention would be used in applications where conventionally the a pipeline has a diameter of 2-4 inches (50 -100 mm) but it will be understood that the present invention is also suitable for use with pipelines of a larger or smaller diameter. 1** * U bps. *5 * p * b * * * U * *_ SP 11b * p p.' p... * * SI *

Claims

CLAIMS

1. A method of connecting a connector to a connector receptacle, the method comprising the steps of: a) inserting a connector into a connector receptacle; b) engaging one or more connector engagement means with one or more receptacle engagement means; and c) moving the connector into a connected position within the receptacle engagement means, wherein step c) comprises activating connector motion means that drive the connector into the connected position. S.-

2. A method according to claim I wherein step b) comprises activating the e. * connector motion means to cause the one or more connector engagement means * to engage with the receptacle engagement means. * * S* *a 1S

3. A method according to claim I or claim 2, wherein step a) comprises engaging a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) with the connector and controlling the ROV to insert the connector into the connector receptacle. *:::: 4. A method according to claim I wherein step b) comprises the steps of I) mating one or more connector engagement means with one or more receptacle engagement means; and ii) rotating the one or more connector engagement means relative to the one or more receptacle engagement means such that the one or more connector engagement engages with the one or more receptacle engagement means.

5. A connector comprising: a hollow body, the hollow body comprising one or more apertures; first and second arms received on the exterior of the hollow body, the first arm being coupled to the hollow body by a first motion means and the second arm being coupled to the hollow body by a second motion means; the first and second motion means being further coupled to a connector engagement means; such that, in use, i) the pipeline connector is inserted into a connector receptacle; ii) the connector engagement means are activated to engage with a receptacle engagement means; iii) first and second motion means are activated to move the connector relative to the connector receptacle to connect the connector with the receptacle.

6. A connector according to Claim 5, wherein the connector further comprises attachment means for attaching a remotely operated vehicle to the pipeline connector.

7. A connector according to Claim 5 or Claim 6, wherein the hollow body S...

comprises a first end, the first end of the hollow body comprising guide means to enable the insertion of the pipeline connector into the connector receptacle.

8. A connector according to any of Claims 5 to 7, wherein the pipeline connector comprises a first sealing means located on the hollow body inbetween the first end and the one or more apertures. :;:; 9. A connector according to any of Claims 5 to 8, wherein the pipeline connector comprises a second sealing means located on the hollow body inbetween the one or more apertures and the second end of the hollow body.

10. A connector according to any of Claims 5 to 9, wherein the second end of the hollow body comprises a threaded connector.

11. A connector according to any of Claims 5 to 10, wherein the first and second motion means comprise a hydraulic cylinder.

12. A connector according to any of Claims 5 to 11, wherein the connector engagement means comprise coVet fingers.

13. A connector according to Claim 12, wherein the connector comprises first and second engagement means, the first engagement means being coupled to the first motion means and the second engagement means being coupled to the second motion means.

14. A connector according to any of Claims 5 to 11, wherein the connector engagement means comprise bayonet connection means.

15. A connector substantially as described hereinbefore and with reference to the Figures. S... * S S... S. * * S S * S * S * -S SS 55 55.5 * S I... * . S S. *