JPS633116B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention primarily relates to an apparatus and method for sealingly connecting a pair of hubs whose axes are aligned on a base of underwater working equipment by remote control.

Traditionally, offshore oil wells are formed by a platform laid on the seabed or equipment installed on this platform that reaches the sea surface, and the oil and natural wells produced by this platform are Gas has been collected by tankers or by pipelines laid on the seabed, and seawater operations have been carried out by divers, submersibles, or simple operations from the surface.

Furthermore, recently it has become necessary to drill very deep offshore oil wells, and therefore, the use of platforms has become necessary due to the dangers associated with underwater work by divers. . Furthermore, they devised a device and method for drilling an oil well on the seabed and connecting it with underwater pipelines, hydraulic control lines, electric cables, etc. for the operation of underwater equipment.
There has been a demand to eliminate the work of divers and the like. Up to now, various devices for connecting such underwater pipelines, etc. have been proposed in US Pat. No. 3,968,838 by Bo,
Suggestions include U.S. Pat. No. 4,019,334 to Sinclair et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 4,086,778 to Latham et al. Additionally, in the January 1978 issue of ``Offshore Services'' magazine published by Spearhead Publications Limited,
The problem may be better understood if you refer to pages 26 to 51.

The present invention connects subsea conduits, such as conduits, control lines, and electrical cables, from remote locations at sea, lowers them into the sea, and uses tools to retrieve them once the sealing operation is complete. A means and method for sealing connections between conduits is provided.

In the device according to the invention, the same tools that were used for the connection can be used again later when the connection is removed or when the seal is repaired or replaced.

Conventional equipment for this work has had the disadvantage of subjecting the production equipment to a high bending load when drawing the underwater line to a guide post erected on a base on the seabed that supports the production equipment. Additionally, the hydraulic cylinders and other tools attached to these devices remain on the seabed once the connection is complete, and these tools cannot be reused, resulting in high operating costs. . Additionally, conventional devices have the disadvantage that the connected seals or hubs cannot be recovered and reused.

The apparatus and method of the present invention eliminates these shortcomings of the prior art and allows the base and movable flow line loops to absorb the reaction force to the horizontal pulling force when connecting both hubs, thereby improving the apparatus. Reduces the stress generated on the posts etc. Further, this connecting device is configured so that reusable members and devices can be recovered at sea after connecting the flow lines and the like.

The coupling device of the present invention includes a rigid main frame body and a sub-frame body movably attached to the main frame body so as to be movable in a substantially horizontal direction. , a first fork capable of engaging with the collar of one hub is attached to the main frame body, a second fork capable of engaging with the collar of the other hub is attached to the sub frame body, and a second fork capable of engaging with the collar of the other hub is attached to the sub frame body; A sealant sandwiched between the hubs is removably retained, and the coupling actuator is lowered underwater to a position where each fork engages behind the hub collar and the sealant is between the hubs. and first hydraulically actuated means attached to the secondary frame for applying a force to the hubs in the axial direction through the forks until both hubs are in sealing engagement with the sealing material. , a second hydraulic actuating means is attached to the sub-frame for moving into operation a coupling which is removably supported by the main frame and has upper and lower clamps for sealingly connecting both hubs and the sealing material; It is characterized by: The method of the present invention also includes the steps of: lowering the joint actuator to a position where the hubs are connected to each other; positioning the seal material held by the joint actuator between both hubs; moving the pair of hubs toward each other and applying a pushing force behind both hubs to bring them into close contact with the sealing material;
tightening a clamp member from the actuator to the hub coupling portion so as to sealingly engage the hub with the sealing material to maintain the connection; and disengaging the coupling actuator from the hub, leaving the clamp member in place. It is characterized by consisting of.

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a floating vessel A, a drilling pipe 10 extending downward from the floating vessel A to an underwater production device 12, and various guidelines 11. Furthermore, the floating vessel B is a pipe-laying purge of known technology and is used for laying subsea pipelines for oil and natural gas, from which the pipeline 13 is installed in the vicinity of the subsea production equipment 12 with a lead-in adapter. It is connected to 14. Undersea production equipment 12 and retraction adapter 14
is fixed to the seabed 15.

FIG. 2 shows a part of the underwater working equipment 16, which consists of a production device 17 (only a part of which is shown) and a base 18. The equipment 16 allows oil or natural gas produced from one or several wells to be collected and sent to a pipeline. As shown in FIG. 2, the production device 17 is
A guide tube 20 attached to the end of a substantially horizontal bar 23a is guided by engaging a pair of guide posts 22 upright in a frame-shaped pouch 26 on the base 18. It is lowered to the specified position and installed. The import hub 24 is mounted on the production equipment and is slidably supported between the guide tubes 20 by a bearing housing 23 attached to the bar 23a. The hub has a sealing surface 24a, a cylindrical bearing portion 24b, and a collar 24c located therebetween. The bearing section includes a bearing (not shown) in the bearing housing 23.
slidably arranged and conduit loop 25,
It is connected to 27.

The overhang of the base becomes a pouch 26,
From this porch there is a ramp 27 that slopes outward and downward.
extends from above the end of the work equipment 16 to near the seabed. The base has four upright reaction posts 28, 30 and a fixing hole 32 for fitting a fixing sleeve 75 (see FIG. 11), which will be described later.
is arranged.

Another pouch 2 attached next to pouch 26
6' is used for arranging conduits such as hydraulic control conduits and electrical cables, for example. Here,
The means and devices described are suitable for the connection of any number of things, but are mainly described with respect to the connection of conduits. If it is necessary to connect other types of pipes, attachment means are obvious in the prior art, but in connection with the present invention, in FIG. Means are provided for interconnection, with a connection 38 for the hydraulic control line.

4, the retraction device 39 is shown in the pouch 26.
The installed state is shown above. The device is positioned by a guide tube 40 and a guide post 22. Reaction post 28, 30
Legs 42 and 44 are fitted into the legs 42 and 44, respectively. Legs 44 are connected to guide tube 40 by structural members 46 . The upper parts of both legs 42 are connected by a U-shaped guard 48 extending outside the device to protect the push-down bar 50.
The push-down bar is located between the legs 42 on both sides, and has members 52 at both ends thereof engaged with guide members 54 on the leg side so that it can move in the vertical direction. Fixed pin 6
A hub locking mechanism 62 having a number 4 is mounted on top of the push-down bar.

The retraction device 39 is configured such that the piston rod 43 is connected to the leg 4.
4 and a hole drilled in the reaction post 30, it is fixed on the base by a hydraulic cylinder 41 installed in the guide tube 40 at a position penetrating therethrough.

A cross member 56 is disposed between both structural members 46 and includes a bull nose latch 60.
A retractable part 58 having a diameter is supported thereon. The latch is located above and extends outwardly from the inboard hub 24.

Inside the retracting device, in the same plane as the latch 60, a hydraulic cable tensioning device 66 having the excavation pipe 10 therein is arranged. A drop-in cable 68 passes through the excavation pipe and further into the interior of the latch 60 through other mechanisms to be described below.

A hydraulic cable tensioning device, for example, has a cable gripping jaw, which is driven by a hydraulic cylinder and released after a retracting operation.
Alternatively, instead of a hydraulic cable tension device,
It may also be hoisted up by a winch above sea level.

In FIG. 5, an assembled retraction device is shown for connecting electrical cables or control lines. Although FIG. 5 shows the latch 60 and cable tensioner 66 in a central position, an off-center arrangement is also possible. Two fixing mechanisms 62 are attached to the push-down bar 50.

FIG. 6 shows the end of the conduit 13 and the retraction adapter 14 connected thereto. The end of the conduit is in a locking device 70, the locking device being connected to the conduit 13.
and is firmly fixed to the conduit hub 72. The conduit hub is inside a protective cage 74, which consists of a box-like structure with a hinged cover at the bottom. Plate 76 has an alignment slot 77 at its upper end. A bullnose 78 extends perpendicular to plate 76 and the end of cable 68 is connected to this bullnose.
Retractable adapter 14 , which consists of plate 76 , bullnose 78 , cage 74 and fixing sleeve 80 , is connected to fixing device 70 and hub 72 by fixing pin 82 .
is removably coupled to.

The hub 72 has a sealing surface 72a, and a collar 72b is disposed intermediate the sealing surface and the fixing device 70. The protective cover 200 is removably attached to the hub.

In FIG. 11, the fixing device 70 has a pair of fixing holes 71, each of which has a fixing groove 73 at its lower end and a stop shoulder 69 disposed intermediate the groove and the upper end. End portion 75a whose upper end is widened
A fixing sleeve 75 having a diameter is inserted into each fixing hole 71. The sleeve is longitudinally grooved at its lower end to form a plurality of elastic fingers 79 which are bulged at 81 to fit into the grooves 73.

The fixed sleeve 80 is also longitudinally grooved at its lower end and has an flared portion 81 at its lower end that mates with the groove 73 to form a resilient finger 79 extending downwardly from the sleeve. . A fixing pin 82 having a head 83 and a collar 85 is attached to each sleeve 8.
0, and the bottom end of the finger 7.
9 prevents it from moving out of the groove 73. The retraction adapter 14 is thus secured to the securing device 70, which includes the hub assembly.

24 to 27 show one form of the hub cover 200 that is used. This cover consists of a body 201 in which a U-shaped groove 202 is disposed, and the structure is such that the surface of the hub fits into the U-shaped groove. The protective plate 204, which fits inside the groove, is relatively flexible, preferably made of a plastic material such as Delin, in order to come into close contact with and not damage the sealing surface of the hub.
Plate 204 is secured to the body by a securing assembly 206 consisting of rods 208 and screws 210. The protective plate 204 is pressed by the spring 212 into tight contact with the surface of the hub.

The cover body is secured onto the hub by a pair of clasps 214 inserted into tubes 216. tube 2
16 is fixed by a rod 218 whose catch protrudes from the upper end of the cover so that it fits into the hub groove. Both rods 218 fit into a trigger plate 220. The rod is attached to the shear pin 222 (shear pin 222) as shown.
Each shear pin fits into a groove 224 in the rod. Additionally, the rod has another groove 226 located just above the catch in the position shown in FIGS. 24 and 25. The clasp tube 216 has a groove 228 that fits into the body of the rod 218 on one side so that the rod retains the clasp within the hub groove.

When a downward force is applied to the trigger plate 220,
Rod 218 moves downward until groove 226 is in position opposite tube 216 of the catch. Further downward force forces the tip of the catch 214 laterally out of the groove in the hub surface, thus causing the hub cover to fall off the hub.

The structure of the post 42 and the push-down bar 50 is similar to that of the 20th
This is shown in detail in FIG. As shown there, each post has a telescoping hydraulic cylinder 1
50,152, one cylinder has an upwardly extending rod and is attached to the bottom of the post, and the other cylinder has a downwardly extending rod and is attached to the top of the post. It is being Each cylinder has a hydraulic connection (not shown) and when hydraulic pressure is applied, the cylinder 150
The cylinder 152 operates to push the rod upwardly and the cylinder 152 pushes the rod downwardly. Both piston rods are connected to a common driven member 154 consisting of a plate and an inner sleeve 162 to which blocks 156, 158 are attached. Each block is fitted with a piston rod and the end of a pin 160 for securing the rod to the block.
A hole is drilled. Sleeve 162 extends upwardly from block 158 and has a mounting bracket 164 to which link 166 is attached. The other end of each link 166 is attached to the push-down bar 50.

The hold-down bar 50 has a pair of locking pin retaining sleeves 168 attached to a gusset 170 located approximately centrally along the length of the hold-down bar 170 to which the pin retaining sleeves 168 are rigidly secured. ing. Each sleeve 168 extends upwardly from the gusset and has a semi-cylindrical window 172 positioned to receive a fork 174 attached to the piston rod 176 of a hydraulic cylinder 178 picked up by the gusset 170. There is.

A similar pair of hydraulic cylinders 180 are attached to the bottom gusset plate 182 of the holddown bar, and similar forks 184 are attached to the rods of these cylinders. These forks are disposed to pass through windows 276 in fixing pin retaining sleeve 278.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the hydraulic control line 84 and the retraction adapter for the electrical cable 86. 1
There are pairs of fixing devices 70, each fixing device 70 having a pair of fixing pins 82 and a fixing sleeve 80.
is removably connected to a plate 76 by means of which a protective cage 7 is provided for protecting the hubs 72a and 72b.
4a is attached. Furthermore, plate 76
Mounted above is a bullnose 78 to which a drop-in cable 68 is attached.

FIG. 8 shows the retractable adapter 14 being raised on the ramp 27 to the pouch 26 by means of the retractable cable 68. In some cases,
The retraction adapter and hub assembly may be suspended off the seabed, and the device operates similarly in either case. The retraction cable extends from the bullnose latch 60 and passes through the universal joint 88 as the retraction part 58, the rotary actuator 90 and the hydraulic cylinder 92. The lead-in cable leaving the hydraulic cylinder passes over a set of rollers 96 and is introduced into a hydraulic cable tensioning device 66 via a plurality of sleeves 97, 98, 99.

The piston rod 94 together with the piston 240
It is hollowed out in the center, as shown at 242, for passage of the drop-in cable. Tubular member 2
44 is slidably and airtightly seated within the cylinder 92 and serves to feed the incoming cable out of the cylinder.

A spline gear 246 is attached to the piston rod 94 and is matingly connected to a rack 248 to be driven by a hydraulic cylinder (not shown). This rack, gear, and cylinder combination rotates the piston rod and thus rotates the latch 60 as a whole more than 360 degrees, or at least 180 degrees in each direction from the central position shown.

FIG. 9 shows one embodiment of latch 60 locked in position with bullnose 78. The latch generally has a cylindrical housing having a back plate 250 and a front opening 252 into which the bull nose fits. A plurality, preferably three, of latch jaws 254 are rotatably mounted at 256 and engage the shoulders 258 of the bullnose. Rotation of the latch jaw is provided by a hydraulic cylinder 260. The piston rod 262 of the hydraulic cylinder is
It is rotatably connected to the latch 254 by a connecting member 264 . The housing of the latch also includes a cylindrical hole 268 provided in the surface of the latch.
a guide pin 266 that is slidably inserted into the interior of the
has. The guide pin has a narrowed diameter part 27
Screw the fixing nut 270 into the end of hole 26.
8 and the spring 274 presses against the guide pin as shown, ie, keeps the guide pin protruding from the front face of the latch.

FIG. 10 is a plan view showing the relative positions of the latch 60 and retraction adapter assembled on the hub with the bullnose retracted into the latch. In this position, normally the conduit and its hub 7
Although the flow line hub 72 is not yet aligned with the inboard hub 24, the flow line hub 72 has been drawn to approximately the final position where it is connected to the inboard hub 24.

FIG. 16 shows that by the excavation pipe operating line 10,
The pipe connection actuating device 100 is shown in a lowered state to a certain position. The coupling part actuating device 100 is guided to the proper position by the guide post 22 and the guide tube 107 that extends along the guideline 11.
The pipe connection actuating device consists of a support frame having a header 102 and a part of a vertical hanging frame member 104, a fork 106 is mounted on one frame member 104, and another fork 105 (the 22nd (see figure) is
Support member 11 movable laterally with respect to frame material 104
Mounted on top of 0. Multiple hydraulic cylinders 1
08 extends between the fork 105 and the support member 110, and the support member extends between the rods 1 and 110 extending between each frame member.
12. Two hydraulic motors 113 and a gearbox 114 are installed for horizontal movement of the hydraulic cylinders. Hexagonal socket 115 is drivingly connected by the output shaft of each gearbox. The conduit connection 116 is supported below the gearbox through a pair of pins 118.

The conduit coupling device is described in U.S. Pat.
It may also be of the type shown in No. 3843168. This coupling device can be used, for example, as shown in FIG.
It has a pair of plates 120 and 122 attached to a seal plate 124 disposed between 28 and 28. Second
3, as shown, the upper and lower plates 12
Each pin 118, inserted through a pair of sleeves 130 connecting the pins 130 and 122, has at its lower end a pair of laterally sliding latching members 132 which are attached to the ends of rods 136. The conical wedge 134 is positioned to mesh with the disposed conical wedge 134 . Further, the other end of the rod is fixed to a piston 138. The piston 138 is housed in a cylindrical hole 140 provided inside the pin and is attached to the spring 14.
2, it is urged upward. Hydraulic line 1
44 is present for pumping liquid into and out of the cylindrical hole 140.

Hydraulic lines and connections required to operate the necessary equipment have been omitted to simplify the illustration, but these elements are known in the art. Such connections and conduits are provided when necessary and the hydraulic hoses are connected before the equipment is lowered. At that time, as each device is lowered, the hydraulic hoses are tied to the excavation pipes. Although this is also a known technique, a suitable control panel is mounted on the vessel A to operate the device as will be described later.

Next, the operation of the present invention will be explained.

The operation of the apparatus and method of the present invention begins with installing the guideline 11 between the ship A and the underwater production equipment 12.

The retraction device 39 is tested on ship A for proper operation. A bundle of conduits is assembled on vessel B, and a retraction adapter 14, a conduit hub assembly, and a protective cover are attached to the bundle.
The necessary hydraulic hoses are attached to the retraction device 39,
The wire line 68 that constitutes the drop-in cable is
The arrow to be retrieved is attached to one end and the head of a swivel bearing is attached to the other end. The arrow is the cable retraction device 66
Also, the swivel bearing head is a bullnose 78 on ship B.
can be attached to. The guideline is retraction device 3
9 is passed through the guide pipe 40, and the excavation pipe 10
is connected to a hydraulic cable tensioning device 66 and the device 39 is lowered to the seabed. While the device is lowering,
The drop-in cable is paid out from ship B and tension is applied to the cable to prevent it from becoming tangled. When the device approaches the pouch, pressure acts on the "release" side of the locking cylinder 41 of the retraction device. When the device reaches the pouch, pressure is applied to the "lock" side of the locking cylinder. The drill pipe is pulled upward with a force that exceeds the weight of the operating line and retraction device, such as 5000 pounds. This force is sufficient to ensure that the device is secured to the pouch. Cylinder 1 to make sure the assembly rises properly.
Pressure is applied to 50. This pressure is maintained throughout the drawing operation. The arrow at the end of the cable passes through the excavation pipe and is pulled up to the surface of the water, and a pull-in cable is paid out from ship B to compensate for this. The cable is tensioned to prevent tangling. On ship A, the end of the tow cable is connected to a winch.

The bundle of conduits descends from ship B to the ocean floor, and the excess cable is rolled into ship A. What is important here is to apply the pulling load so as not to exceed the cable's maximum allowable tension. Once the bundle of conduits approaches or reaches the seabed, continue pulling the cable until the retraction adapter 14 approaches the ramp 27. A television camera may be used to monitor the operation to determine when the adapter is in the correct position. Continue pulling the cable until bullnose 78 enters latch 60. This situation will be monitored using a television camera. Furthermore, whether or not the bullnose has entered the latch is determined by the sudden load on the lead-in cable.
I can judge. If necessary, press water into the excavation pipe to spray clean the draw adapter.

When the bullnose enters the latch, pressure is applied to the "lock" side of the latch's hydraulic cylinder 260.
A latch jaw 254 secures the bullnose. Rotary actuator 90 is actuated to rotate the latch in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction until the bullnose and latch center axes are aligned and guide pin 266 of the latch fits into slot 77 located in the retraction adapter. Rotate it. Further, the rotational actuator is actuated and the adapter 14 rotates with the conduit hub 72 until the flowline hub 72 adjacent the retraction abutment 14 is aligned with the inboard hub 24.

At this point, even if the latch 60 and retraction adapter 14 are engaged as shown in FIG.
The axial centers of both hubs 24, 72 are typically not yet perfectly aligned. For example, in the mechanism shown in FIG. 8 with the retractable part 58, hydraulic pressure acts on the hydraulic cylinder 92 and the latch 60 is retracted so that its rear plate 250 is pressed together at one edge with the front plate 280 of the rotary actuator 90. do. As the cable 68 is now retracted further, the latch 60 is pivoted about its pivot point, causing both plates 250,
When 280 is in close contact, the outboard hub 7
2 coincides with the inboard hub 24 in the axial direction and faces each other at a predetermined distance.

Next, a situation in which the retraction adapter 14, the fixing device 70, and the pouch 26 are mutually engaged and disengaged by the fixing pin and the sleeve will be described. As shown in FIG. 11, various members are arranged. The lower end of the retaining sleeve 278 of the bar 50 is connected to the fixing device 70.
The push-down bar 50 is pushed into the telescoping hydraulic cylinder 15 until it comes into contact with the upper end 75a of the fixing sleeve 75 inside.
Descends by 0,152. Retaining sleeve 278
A fixing pin 186 is supported in advance by a fork 184. Fixed pin 186
A spring-like latch 188 is provided near the lower end of. In FIG. 12, retaining sleeve 278
is lowered and joined to the upper end portion of the fixing sleeve 75, but the lower end portion of the pin 186 does not enter the hole 190 of the reduced diameter at the lower end of the sleeve 75. However, the downward pressure applied to the securing sleeve 75 forces the bulging portion 81 of the sleeve 75 downwardly out of the groove 73 in the retraction adapter 14, so that the bulging lower end portion 81 of the securing sleeve 75 It fits into the groove 192 provided in the fixing hole 32 of. At this time, the fork 184 on the lower side of the push-down bar 50 is once retracted, and the push-down bar 50 is
4 is raised above the top of pin 186 (see FIG. 13). The fork 184 then extends into the sleeve 278 again and the push-down bar 50
is descending. Therefore, the fork 184 is connected to the pin 18
6 and press down the pin 186 until the lower end of the pin 186 enters a hole 190 with a reduced diameter at the lower end of the sleeve 75. Elastic finger 7
The swollen end 81 of 9 is connected to the hole 32 of the pouch 26.
The locking device 70 is thus secured to the pouch 26 by a pair of locking sleeves 75 .

Next, when the retractable adapter 14 is removed from the fixing device 70 , the fork 174 on the upper side of the push-down bar 50 is retracted, and the sleeve 168 is attached to the fixing sleeve 80 on the retractable adapter 14 .
The push-down bar 50 is lowered until it rests on the upper end of the holder. Subsequently, the hydraulic cylinder 178 operates,
The fork 174 enters the sleeve 168 and engages the fixing pin 82 by entering between the head 83 of the pin 82 and the collar 85 (fourteenth
(see figure).

In FIG. 15, the push-down bar 50 is raised;
At the same time, the fork 174 also rises, pulls out the pin 82 from the sleeve 80, and releases the locking state between the retractable adapter 14 and the fixing device 70 by the fixing sleeve 80.

Here, the hydraulic cylinder 41 (see Fig. 4)
Then, the rod 43 is retracted to remove the retraction device 39 from the base 18. The entire device 39 is raised by the excavation pipe 10, the sleeve 80 is withdrawn from the fixing device 70, and at the same time the protective cage 74 is removed from the position where the outboard hub 72 was covered. In this manner, inboard hub 24 and outboard hub 72 are placed in their final positions in alignment with each other, protected by protective cover 200.

Next, in FIG. 16, the pipe connection part actuating device 1
00 is attached on top of the guideline 11 and descends together with the excavation pipe 10. When the device 100 is lowered, the forks 105 and 106 move toward the collar 24.
c, 72b and adjacent hub saddles 192, 194
Place it on top of. Upon further descent, button 211 engages trigger plate 220 to remove protective cover 200 from each hub. The final position of the device is formed by attaching a seal plate 124 between both hubs, as shown in FIG. Hydraulic cylinder 1
08 is activated and the force applied to the forks 105 and 106 pulls both hubs together. (See Figure 18)
Since the outboard hub is fixed on the pouch, only the inboard hub slides within the bearing housing 23 and movement is absorbed into the flow line loop of the production facility.

Each half of clamp 116 moves together;
The hub is tightened and brought into close contact with the sealing material by rotation of the hex socket 115 driven by the motor 113 and gearbox 114.

In FIG. 23, hydraulic pressure is applied to piston 138 of pin 118 to disengage latch member 132. The entire pipe connection actuator is pulled up by the excavation pipe. (See Figure 19) Recovered by ship A.

The apparatus of the present invention also includes means for removing the conduit hub from the pouch and raising it to the surface for replacement, even repair, or replacement of the hub and seal arrangement, if necessary.

In this way, the pipe connection actuating device 100 is again lowered by the excavation pipe, and the forks 105, 1
06 is placed astride the hub saddles 192, 194 adjacent to the collars 24c, 72b.
Pin 118 enters sleeve 130 and moves downwardly therein until latch member 132 emerges from the bottom of sleeve 130. The hex socket engages the hex driver in the clamp, activating motor 113 to open the clamp and loosen the hub and seal. When the actuator 100 is raised, the pin 118
moves the clamp and seal upwards together with the actuator. New sealant is installed as before.

When repairing or replacing the conduit hub, the retraction device 39 is lowered into position together with the adapter 14. Put the fixing device 70 into the sleeve 80 and insert the groove 7
Insert into 3. Cylinder 41 is actuated to secure the retraction device to the pouch. The push-down bar 50 descends,
Place the pin 82 into the sleeve 80 and secure it to the fixation device. Fork 174 operates and pin 18
The pin is retracted in response to upward movement of the push-down bar 50. The latch 188 mates with the lower end of the sleeve 75 and locks the sleeve into the fixing hole 7.
1, thereby releasing the fixation device from the pouch. The fixing cylinder 41 is retracted, and the entire device rises to the sea level together with the conduit hub end face. The retraction cable, together with the adapter, can be lowered, but may also be used to lift the device.

Although the present invention has been described primarily with respect to connecting conduits to subsea production equipment, similar devices and methods may be used to connect electrical cables and hydraulic control conduits, as described above. The modifications necessary for this connection will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Of course, other embodiments and modifications are possible and the present invention is not limited to the embodiments, but any embodiments are possible without departing from the scope of the claims.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a sea sectional view depicting a vessel used in carrying out the method of the invention, together with a schematic representation of the device of the invention; FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of the device of the invention; FIG. Figure 3 is an alternative perspective view showing the hub for connecting hydraulic lines and electrical lines; Figure 4 is a perspective view of the base used to pull the conduit into position for connection FIG. 5 is a front view of the device of FIG. 4; FIG. 6 is a front view of the end of the conduit hub with the retraction adapter retracted to the position where it is to be connected to the conduit hub; FIG. 7 is a plan view of the ends of the hydraulic line hub and the electric wire hub with the retracting adapter attached, FIG. 8 is a partially sectional front view showing the retracting adapter being retracted by the retracting device, and FIG. 10 is a plan view of the device of FIG. 8; FIG.
12 to 15 show successive stages of operation; a front view similar to FIG. 11; FIG. 16 shows the connection FIG. 17 is a front view of the coupling device of the present invention showing the position just before mating with the hub;
Figures 18 and 19 are front views of the apparatus of Figure 16 showing successive stages of operation; Figure 20 is used to operate the locking mechanism between the retraction adapter, hub and base; 21 is a partially sectional front view of a portion of the retraction device; FIG. 21 is a partially sectional plan view of the device of FIG. 20; FIG. 22 is a partial sectional front view of the retraction device; FIG. 23 is a longitudinal sectional view of the pin mechanism forming part of the device of FIG. 22, and FIG. 24 is a front view of the protective cover used in the hub of the present invention. Figure 25 shows the protective cover shown in Figure 24.
-25 line vertical sectional view, Figure 26 is 26 in Figure 24.
-26 line sectional view, Fig. 27 is 27- in Fig. 24
27 is a sectional view taken along line 27. 66... Hydraulic cable tension device, 68... Retractable cable, 70... Fixing device, 72... Outboard hub, 78... Bullnose, 132... Latch.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A device for remotely connecting a pair of hubs whose axes are aligned on an underwater base, the device comprising:
A connecting part actuating device that exerts a tightening force on the collars of both hubs has a rigid main frame and a sub-frame attached to the main frame so as to be movable in an approximately horizontal direction, and the main frame has one of the hubs. A first fork that can be engaged with the collar of the other hub is attached, a second fork that is engageable with the collar of the other hub is attached to the subframe body, and a seal that is sandwiched between the hubs is attached to the subframe body. The material is removably retained and has suspension and guiding means for lowering the linkage actuator into the water into a position such that each fork engages behind the hub collar and the seal material is between the hubs. Further, a first hydraulic actuating means is attached to the secondary frame body and is removably supported on the main frame body by applying a force to the hubs through the fork to move the hubs in the axial direction until both hubs are in sealing engagement with the sealing material. A second hydraulic actuating means is attached to the sub-frame body for moving a coupling device having upper and lower clamps to an operating state for sealingly connecting both hubs and a sealing material. Sealed coupling device. 2. In order to horizontally move the connector and the sealing material together with the sub-frame, the connecting part actuating device connects two upper and lower support plates connected by a cylindrical sleeve with a plurality of support plates connecting facing plates of the main frame. The support member is detachably attached to the rod 112 through a locking pin 118, and the support member is connected to the sub-frame body, and the cylindrical sleeve is inserted through the locking pin 118 vertically. By engaging and disengaging the latch 132, which is moved in and out of the lower circumferential surface of the locking pin by hydraulic pressure, from the support plate, both the coupling tool and the sealing material can be separated from the frame body, and the coupling tool can be removed from the frame body. The sealing connection according to claim 1, wherein the clamp has a clamp connected to the second hydraulic actuating means for moving the clamp to a tightened state via a vertically removable socket member. Device. 3 a vertically movable pin 118 having a latch 132 actuated to engage and disengage the connector from the frame;
A hermetic connection device according to claim 1, which is attached to a. 4. the first hydraulic actuating means includes a plurality of horizontally arranged hydraulic cylinders, the cylinders housing pistons attached to the first fork;
2. The sealing connection device according to claim 1, wherein the sub-frame body having the second fork is drawn toward the first fork when actuated by remote control. 5. A sealing connection as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second hydraulic actuating means includes at least one rotary hydraulic motor releasably having a threaded rod for tightening said clamp. 6. A sealing connection as claimed in claim 1, wherein one hub is linked to guide bearing means on the base to facilitate horizontal movement towards the other hub. 7. The main frame of the connection part actuating device includes a plurality of rods extending through the sub-frame between the vertical members on both opposing sides thereof, and a support member slidably attached to the rods, and the sub-frame The body is movable between the hubs via a connecting member including a pin member fixed to the support member and a removable sleeve, and the first hydraulic actuating means is arranged on the rod to move the connector between the hubs. the second fork, the movable hub, the coupler and the second fork, the second hydraulic actuating means being actuated to clamp the coupler together, and the first hydraulic actuator actuating the second fork, the movable hub, the coupler and The second hydraulic actuating means is moved horizontally relative to the stationary hub, and the second hydraulic actuating means clamps the coupling to tighten both hubs to sealingly connect them to each other with the sealing material in between. A sealing connection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: 8. The sealing connection of claim 7, wherein said first hydraulic actuating means includes a hydraulic cylinder parallel to said rod. 9. The hermetic coupling device of claim 7, wherein said second hydraulic actuating means includes a plurality of hydraulic motors having drive coupling pieces releasably connected to the top of a coupling having a clamp. 10. The sealed coupling system of claim 9, wherein said hydraulic motor has a gearbox coupled thereto. 11. The sealing connection device according to claim 9, wherein the connection device with the clamp has, at its upper part, a driven connection piece that cooperates with the driving connection piece. 12. The sealing connection device of claim 7, wherein the connection device includes two substantially horizontal plates supporting a sealing material between the upper and lower parts of the clamp. 13 A plurality of cylindrical sleeves are installed between the two plates, and a pin is suspended from the support member so as to be inserted into the sleeve, and is clamped to the support member by a latch member provided at the lower end of the pin. 8. The sealing connection device according to claim 7, wherein the connection tool having the above-mentioned connection tool is detachable. 14 The pin has a hydraulically axially sliding piston therein, from which a rod extends downwardly, and the latch member is moved across the pin by movement of a wedge member provided at the lower end of the rod. 14. A sealing connection device according to claim 13, which extends and retracts from a pin. 15. The sealing connection device of claim 7, wherein there are at least four rods spaced around the connector. 16 A method for remotely connecting a pair of matched hubs on a subsea base in a sealed manner, which includes the steps of lowering a coupling actuating device to a position where the hubs are connected to each other, and holding the coupling actuating device. positioning a sealing material between both hubs; and applying a force behind both hubs by the actuating device to move the pair of hubs toward each other and into intimate contact with the sealing material. tightening a clamp member from the actuating device to the hub coupling portion so as to sealingly engage the hub with the sealing material to maintain the connected state; and removing the coupling portion actuating device from the hub, leaving the clamp member. A method for sealingly connecting hubs in the sea, comprising the steps of: