JPS5829400B2 - toggle mechanism connector - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention generally relates to improvements in connectors for connecting and disconnecting two members.

The invention is more particularly directed to over-the-center
-center)) This connector uses a toggle mechanism to reliably mechanically fix a fixed engagement portion with a connector to a wellhead, and also to provide a relatively high mechanical strength due to the high mechanical oscillation force of the toggle mechanism. A small actuation force produces a high preload to hold the toggle mechanism beyond dead center and firmly support the biasing mechanism in the oil-filled cavity.

Generally, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,851,897, a connector is used and a hydraulically actuated piston is used to move a locking engagement portion into engagement with a locking notch, and to connect a button to an underwater wellhead. Disconnecting has been practiced for a long time.

However, this US Pat. No. 3,851,897 has the risk of leakage during use.

In view of the foregoing, the present invention includes a first member including a fixed notch, and a second member including a double-acting vertical piston for moving at least one fixed engagement portion forward and backward into the fixed notch. The fixed toggle mechanism includes a fixed engagement part that is slidably supported by a second member and moves back and forth in a lateral direction with respect to the second member to engage and disengage from the fixed notch;
a first pivot joint connected to the fixed engagement part; and a second pivot part biased longitudinally by the piston such that longitudinal movement of the second pivot joint moves the fixed engagement part laterally. The present invention provides an improved connector for connecting and disconnecting two members, characterized in that the connector includes at least one toggle link having a toggle link.

providing an elastic load spring ring acting against the second pivot joint and toward the first pivot joint to fix the second pivot joint in a dead center passing position with respect to the first pivot joint; This ensures reliable mechanical fixation of the interlocking part, and the high mechanical oscillation of the toggle link creates a high preload acting between the pivot joint and the second member with a relatively small viston force. It's advantageous.

Preferably, the second tubular body has an annular cavity in which a longitudinally reciprocating carriage is mounted and moved by a piston.

the carriage supports a second pivot joint and a load spring;
These pivot points and load springs are movable laterally on the carriage.

By providing a sealing means to surround the cavity, it is possible to fill it with oil.

A curved flexible member is provided, the curved side of which is exposed inside the cavity, and the curved side of which is exposed outside of the cavity to prevent fluid flow between the inner and outer parts of the tubular body. In addition to compensating for the pressure difference, it may also be possible to compensate for the movement of the piston into the cavity of the engagement portion.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Although the present invention is disclosed in connection with a connector for connecting or disconnecting two spaced underwater conductors, such as a subsea plowout preventer standpipe or subsea Christmas tree, to the wellhead of an oil and/or gas well, , this connector may also be used in remote subsea pipeline connectors, flow lines, marine standpipe connectors and the like, as appropriate.

Referring to the drawings, the reference numeral 10 generally designates the top of a first tubular member, e.g.
or more annular fixing notches 12, and this first
A second connector member, generally designated 14, is connected to and disconnected from the tubular member.

Connector 14 includes an annular body 16 having an annular cavity 18 therein.

The tubular body 16 is adapted to fit into and seal the first tubular member 10.

one or more double acting piston and cylinder devices 2
0 within the tubular body 16, each device comprising a piston 21 having a piston rod 22 extending into the cavity 18.

The hydraulic line 24 supplies hydraulic pressure to one side of the piston 21,
Further, the hydraulic pressure line 26 applies hydraulic pressure to the curved side of the pipe 210.

The annular carriage 30 is vertically movable within the cavity 18 and is connected to the piston rod 22 to reciprocate vertically together with the piston 21.

This carriage 30 presses against the inside of the tubular body 16 to provide a rigid support.

One end engages with a fixing notch 12 provided in the first member 10, and the curved end is connected to the cavity 1 of the tubular body through a sealing member.
A plurality of fixing engagement portions 32 extending from 8 to 8 are provided.

This engaging portion 32 moves laterally within the tubular body 16,
It engages and disengages from the fixing notch 12.

A toggle link 34 is provided to convert longitudinal movement of each piston rod 22 into lateral movement of the fixed engagement portion 32.

Each toggle link 34 has a first pivot portion that connects with one of the mating portions 32 within the cavity 18 .

This first pivot point includes a pin 36 as well as an arcuate force bearing surface 38.
It may also include.

The second pivot of each toggle link 34 is biased vertically by the piston 21 such that vertical movement of the second pivot causes the fixed engagement portion 32 to move laterally.

This second pivot point has an arcuate force-bearing surface 4 that cooperates between the pin 40 and the link 34 as well as the support arch 44.
2 may also be included.

Note that this support journal portion is placed on and supported by the carriage 30.

An annular load spring ring 46 is supported on the carriage 30 and acts against the second pivot joint and toward the first pivot joint to force the second pivot joint into the first pivot joint. In contrast, it is fixed at the dead center passing position.

The annular spring ring 46 is held in engagement with the carriage 30 by a retaining plate 48 and a restraining bolt 50, but the load spring ring 46 and support journal 44 are movable laterally on the carriage 30. The load spring ring 46, which acts as a large garter spring, flexes outward and inward, causing the toggle link 34 to bounce past dead center and into a locked or unlocked position.

Cavity 18 includes a sealing member that hermetically surrounds the cavity, thereby filling the cavity with oil to reduce the need for maintenance of the working components and to protect the working components from erosive marine environments. Protect from environmental conditions.

A flexible member, for example a rubber bag 52, is provided.

One side of the rubber bag is exposed inside the cavity 18 and the pond side is exposed outside the tubular body 16 to prevent a liquid pressure difference between the cavity 18 and the outside of the tubular body 16. It also compensates for the movement of the piston rod 22 and the movement of the engaging portion 32 into and out of the cavity 18.

Referring to FIG. 2, the second member 14 is in position surrounding the first member 10 and in an unsecured position, with hydraulic fluid being supplied to the bottom side of the piston 21 via conduit 26. The piston rod 22a and carriage 30 are forced upward.

A second pivot, consisting of a support journal 44 and a pin 40, is captured between the carriage 30 and an annular load ring 46.

As the second pivot moves upwardly, i.e. in the longitudinal direction, it moves the toggle link 34 onto the arcuate support surface 3.
8i- and about the first pivot joint including the pin 36 to laterally move the locking engagement portion 32 into the locking notch 12 in the first member 10.

Additionally, as the angle between the centerline of toggle link 34 and the centerline of engagement portion 32 decreases, the ratio of the radial inward force on engagement portion 32 to the vertical actuation force on carriage 30 is increase

This mechanical force provides high gripping force with relatively low actuation force.

Additionally, the load ring 46 flexes radially outward, causing the link 34 to jump past dead center, and then the annular ring 46
When it contacts the bottom of the tubular body 16, it bends inward and is firmly fixed beyond its dead center, engaging and holding the engaging portion 32 as shown in FIG.

To release connector 14, apply hydraulic fluid to line 2.
4, piston 21, piston rod 22
and moves the carriage 30 downward.

The retaining plate 48 supports the load ring 46 and forcibly moves the second pivot portion including the support journal portion 44 downward beyond the dead center relative to the first pivot portion to release the fixation of the connector 14. do.

Further, as the carriage 30 moves downward, the pins 36 and 42 cause the engaging portion 32 to retreat.

Accordingly, the present invention is well suited to the foregoing objects and advantages.

Although the invention has been described in terms of preferred embodiments for purposes of illustration, many changes may be made in details of construction and arrangement without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a 4-section front view of the connector according to the present invention in the fixed position, FIG. 2 is a 4-section front view of the connector according to the invention in the unlocked position, and FIG. - It is a 3-line sectional view. 10... First tubular member, 12... Annular fixing notch,
14... Second member, 16... Tubular body, 18... Cavity part, 20... Cylinder equipment! ,, 21...Piston, 22...Piston rod, 24.26...Hydraulic pressure line, 30...Carriage, 32...Matching portion, 3
4... Toggle link, 36... Pin, 38... Arched force support surface, 40... Pin. 42... Arched force support surface, 44... Support journal portion, 46... Spring ring, 48... Retaining plate, 50
...Suppression bolt, 52...Rubber bag.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1 A fixed toggle mechanism consisting of a first member including a fixed notch and a second member including a double-acting vertical piston that moves at least one fixed engagement portion forward and backward into the fixed notch. a fixed engagement part 32 that is slidably supported by the second member 14 and moves laterally toward and away from the second member to engage and disengage from the fixed notch 12; and a first engagement part 32 that is connected to the fixed engagement part. at least one toggle having a pivot 36 and a second pivot 40 biased longitudinally by the piston 21 such that longitudinal movement of the second pivot moves the fixed engagement laterally; An improvement of a connector for connecting and disconnecting two members, characterized by including a link 34. 2. An elastic load spring ring 46 is provided that acts against the second pivot joint 40 and toward the first pivot joint 36, and the second pivot joint is located at a dead center position with respect to the first pivot joint. 2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the connector is fixed by crossing over the connector. 3 The second member is an annular body 16 having an annular cavity 18.
The plurality of fixed engagement parts 32 are disposed to extend into the cavity, are slidably supported by the annular body 16, and move back and forth in the lateral direction with respect to the fixed notch. a plurality of toggle links for engaging and disengaging from the fixing notch and disposed in the cavity, the toggle links including a first pivot portion 36 and a second pivot portion; The connector according to claim 1, characterized in that: 4. A longitudinally reciprocatable carriage 30 is mounted in the cavity, said carriage supporting said second pivot mount 40, said annular load spring ring 36 also being supported by said carriage and said second Acting against the pivot joint 40 and towards the first pivot joint connected to one of the fixed engagement parts, the second pivot joint is moved beyond the dead center position with respect to the first pivot joint. 2. A connector as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the piston (21) is fixed and the piston (21) is connected to the longitudinally moving carriage. 5. A sealing member that hermetically surrounds the cavity, and a seal member having a side portion exposed inside the cavity and a female side portion exposed outside the cavity, between the cavity and the outside of the annular body. 5. A connector according to claim 4, further comprising a flexible member 52 for compensating for fluid pressure differences. 6. The second pivot point and the load spring ring are movable laterally on the carriage.
The connector according to any one of items 1 to 5. 7. The second member includes a tubular body 16 that is fitted into the first member 10 and includes the annular cavity 18, and
The pivot portion 36 is connected to the fixed engagement portion toward the inside of the cavity, and the longitudinally reciprocating carriage is disposed in the cavity and has its inner side connected to the inside of the tubular body 16. Claims 3 to 6 consist of an annular carriage pressing toward the piston, and are supported by the piston tubular body 16 and extend into the cavity to move the carriage.
A connector described in any of the paragraphs. 8 An annular body 1 comprising a first member including a fixed notch, a second member including a fixed engaging portion and a means for moving the fixed engaging portion forward and backward into the fixed notch, and having an annular cavity 18.
6. The second sealing means surrounding the cavity, the fixed engagement part, and the means for extending and moving the fixed engagement part into the cavity, that is, the oil-filled cavity. Connection and disconnection of two members characterized by a member 14 and a flexible member 52 whose negative side is exposed inside the cavity and whose curved side is exposed outside the cavity. Connector to do.