US2950895A

US2950895A - Pressure balanced fluid pressure connector

Info

Publication number: US2950895A
Authority: US
Inventors: Edwin A Anderson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1958-05-19
Filing date: 1958-05-19
Publication date: 1960-08-30
Anticipated expiration: 1977-08-30

Description

Aug. 30, 1960 E. A. ANDERSON PRESSURE BALANCED FLUID PRESSURE CONNECTOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 19, 1958 w MW 5 Q 2 4 7 z 1 y 3 WNW 2/, I I 4 M 7 a a x 0 7 w 3 a Zg fi i Tw L a v a INVENTOR fpw/A/ A; AwotiesoA/ M Jag ATTORNEY Aug. 36, 1960 E. A. ANDERSON PRESSURE BALANCED FLUID PRESSURE CONNECTOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 19, 1958 ATTORNEY PRESSURE BALANCED FLUID PRESSURE CONNECTOR Edwin A. Anderson, 1104 Chimney Rock Road, Houston, Tex.

Filed May '19, 1958, Ser. No. 736,034

1 Claim. (Cl. 251-148) This invention relates to fluid pressure connections and more particularly to a quick detachable pressure balanced fluid pressure connector primarily intended for use withoil or gas well equipment, but which may well be utilized wherever it is desired to provide a quick detachable fluid pressure connection. For convenience, the device of this invention will be described in connection with gas and oil well equipment, but it is to be understood, that the same may be utilized for connecting a flu-id pressure source to a suitable fluid pressure device.

In connection with the gas and oil wells it is frequently desirable to ascertain the fluid pressure present in such wells and heretofore it has been customary to either install a fluid pressure gauge on the Christmas tree of each Well from which a pressure reading may be taken or to connect a pressure gauge to the Christmas tree when it is desired to ascertain the pressure in the well. Where pressure gauges have been permanently installed, this represents a very considerable investment and furthermore, since pressure gauges are relatively delicate, exposure to the elements often damages the same and like wise the same have been frequently damaged, either intentionally or unintentionally by company or other personnel. Heretofore, the attaching of a pressure gauge to each well in order to ascertain the pressure therein has been a relatively difiicult and time consuming experience, particularly in view of the relatively high fluid pressures involved and since it may be desired to ascertain the pressure in a large number of wells within a relatively short time, it would be highly advantageous to provide a quick detachable connection which would permit attachment and removal of the pressure gauge within a matter of minutes and at the same time, providing safeguards against damage to the equipment or personnel due to the relatively high fluid pressures involved.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a quick detachable pressure balanced fluid pressure connector primarily designed for use on the Christmas trees of gas or oil wells.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a quick detachable balanced fluid pressure connector for use on the Christmas trees of gas or oil wells and in which one element of the connector is permanently installed on the Christmas tree and in which the other element carrying a fluid pressure gauge is merely slipped into and removed from the element on the Christmas tree.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a quick detachable pressure balanced fluid pressure connector including two elements, one of which is permanently attached to the Christmas tree of a gas or oil well and the other element of which may be conveniently inserted into and removed from the first element to perrnit a pressure reading to be taken, the second element being held in place during such reading by a balanced pressure connection which prevents inadvertent separation of the elements.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a States Paten Patented Aug. 30, 1960 quick detachable pressure balanced fluid pressure connector in which means is provided for relieving pressure in a pressure gauge and one element of the connector prior to separation of such element from the other element of the connector.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a quick detachable pressure balanced fluid pressure connector including two elements, one of which is attached to the Christmas tree of a gas or oil well and the other of which is removably received in the first element, the connection between the two elements being. merely a sliding fit thereby eliminating the use of tools in making the connection and also eliminating the need for any particular manipulation of one element with respect to the other in order to establish the proper connection therebetween.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a quick detachable pressure balanced fluid pressure connector including two elements, one of which is attached to a fluid pressure source and the other carrying 'a pressure gauge or other fluid pressure device, one element being merely plugged in to the other to effect a connection therebetween, this operation requiring noparticular manual dexterity of the use of tools.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view showing a conventional Christmas tree for gas or oil wells and with the connector of this invention in place thereon;

Fig. 2 a fragmentary transverse sectional view showing the connector of this invention and the manner of attaching the same to a control valve, as well as the manner of attaching the fluid pressure gauge or other fluid pressure device thereto;

Fig. 3 a fragmentary sectional view showing a modified form of one element of the connector of this invention;

Fig. 4 a sectional view showing a combination valve and one element of the connector of this invention;

Fig. 5 a sectional view similar to Fig. 4, but showing a somewhat modified form of valve and one element of the connector; and

Fig. 6 an exploded view with parts in section for greater clarity and showing a modified form of the quick detachable pressure balanced fluid connector of this invention.

With continued reference to the drawing and particularly Figs. 1 and 2, there is shown a well casing 10 projecting upwardly above ground level 11 provided with a cap 12 at the .upper end and with the usual conduits i3, 14, 15 and 16 connected thereto for withdrawing oil or gas and in some instances, for introducing fluids into the well. This is the more or less conventional Christmas tree utilized on gas or oil wells and the structure shown is by way of illustration only, it being understood that various types and sizes of Christmas trees may be utilized of these. As shown, the conduit 14 is provided with a valve 17 for controlling flow through the conduit 14 and in a similar manner, the conduit 16 is provided with a valve 18 having a manually operable hand wheel 19 thereon for controlling operation of the valve. The valve 18 may be of any suitable construction, but for purposes of illustration, such valve is shown in Fig. 2 as comprising a body 24 threadedly attached to the conduit 16 as at 21, there being a valve stem 22 engageable with a valve seat 23 in the body 20 to close or open a passage 24 leading to a threaded outlet connection 25 on the body 20. A conventional packing nut 26 surrounds the valve stem 22 and is threadedly engaged with the body 3. and the hand wheel 19 is mounted on the valve stem 22 in order to operate the same and engage or disengage the inner end of the valve stem 22 with the valve seat 23 in the body 20.

The pressure balanced fluid pressure connector of this invention may well comprise a first connector element 7 and a second connector element 28. The structure of these two elements is best shown in Fig. 2 and the first connector element 27 may Well comprise a body portion 29 of any suitable size and configuration provided with a straight cylindrical bore 30 extending therethrough to opposite sides of the body portion. A fluid pressure passage 31, co-planar with and transverse to bore 30, communicates with the bore 30 substantially midway of the length thereof and the outer end of the passage 31 may be closed by a conventional screw plug 32. The body 29 of the first element 27 may be provided with a nipple 33 projecting therefrom in oifset relation to the bore 39 and the nipple 33 serves to screw threadedly engage the outlet opening in the body 26 of the valve 18 to attach the first element 27 thereto. A fluid pressure passage 34 in the nipple 33 communicates with the passage 31 and also with the passage 24 in the body 20 of the valve 18. a

The second connector element 28 may well comprise a body 35 of any suitable size and configuration, which is provided with a reduced cylindrical extension 36 of a diameter to slidably engage in the bore of the first connector element 27. A shoulder 37 is provided at the juncture of the extension 36 and the body of the second element 28 in order to engage the upper surface 38 of the first element 27 to limit movement of the extension 36 into the bore 30 and to accurately position the same therein. The extension 36 on the second element 28 is provided with an annular groove 39 which is in alignment with the passage 31 in the body 29 of the first element 27 when the extension 36 is positioned in the bore 30 and the shoulder 37 is in engagement with the upper surface 38 of the first element 27 and a transverse passage 40 is provided in the extension 36 which passage 40 communicates with the annular groove 39.

A packing receiving groove 41 is provided in the extension 36 at one side of the annular groove 39 and an O-ring of suitable packing material 42 is disposed in the groove 41. In a similar manner, a packing receiving groove 43 is provided in the extension 36 at the opposite side of the annular groove 39 and received in the groove 43 is an O-ring 44 of suitable packing material.

A threaded bore 45 is provided in the body 35 of the second connector element 28 to facilitate connection of a fluid pressure device, such as a pressure gauge 46 thereto, but, of course, any other suitable fluid pressure device could also be connected to the threaded bore 45. An axial passage 47 in the body 35 of the second connector element 28 communicates with the transverse passage 46 and the threaded bore 45.

A transverse bore 48 may be provided in the body 35 of the second element 28, the bore 48 communicating with the axial passage 47 and extending from one side of the body 35 to the other. The bore 48 may be provided with a shoulder 49 for retaining a valve seat 50 in place and a valve stem 51 may be provided with screw threads 52 threadedly engaged in the transverse bore 48 for permitting adjustment of the valve stem 51 to bring the inner end 53 into or out of engagement with the valve seat 50. Suitable packing means in the form of an O-ring 54 may be provided on the valve stem 51 and also finger engaging means 55 may be provided thereon to permit convenient manual manipulation.

In the operation of the above described form of the invention, it is assumed that the valve 18 is closed with the valve stem 22 engaging the seat 23 whereupon the extension 36 of the second connector element 28 may be inserted in the bore 30 of the first connector element 27 until the shoulder 37 engages the upper surface 38 of the body 29 of the first element 27 whereupon the transverse passage 40 will be in alignment with the passage 31 in the first connector element 27. It is also assumed, that the inner end 53 of the valve stem 51 in the second connector element 28 is in engagement with the seat 50 thereby preventing flow of fluid pressure from the transverse bore 48 through the outlet or vent opening 56 in the second connector element 23. Upon opening the valve 18, fluid pressure will flow from the conduit 3.6 through the passage 24 in the valve 18 and then through the

passages

34 and 31 in the first connector element 27 to the transverse passage 40 in the extension 36 of the second connector element 28. Since equal pressure is exerted on the O-rings 42 and 44 positioned on opposite sides of the transverse passage 40 in the extension 36, there will be no pressure tending to force the extension 36 out of the bore 30 in the first connector element 27. Consequently, fluid pressure from the conduit 16 will be transmitted as set forth above, and also through the axial passage 47 in the second connector element 28 to the pressure gauge 46 or other fluid pressure device connected to the second connector element 28. Upon noting the fluid pressure reading on the gauge 46, or upon completion of the use of the fluid pressure device connected to the second connector element 28, the valve 18 will be closed and the valve stem 51 operated to move the inner end 53 out of engagement with the valve seat 50 thereby opening communication between the axial passage 47 in the second connector element 28 and the vent opening 56 to relieve pressure in the connector element 28 and the gauge 46 or other fluid pressure device and after such fluid pressure has been relieved, the second connector element 28 may be conveniently removed from the first connector element 27 merely by an upward pull thereon.

It will, therefore, be seen that by the above described invention there has been provided a simple and convenient means by which a pressure gauge or other fluid pressure device may be conveniently attached to or removed from the Christmas tree of a gas or oil well in order to ascertain the pressure therein and furthermore, only a simple manual manipulation is required for this operation and regardless of the magnitude of the fluid pressure involved, there is no danger, either to the equipment or to the personnel operating the same, by reason of the fact that the connector is in a pressure balanced condition when installed and operating and further in view of the fact, that means is provided for completely relieving pressure prior to separation of the elements forming the connector.

A slightly modified form of first connector element 57 is shown in Fig. 3, in which such element may well comprise a body 58 provided with a cylindrical bore 59 extending therethrough and with a threaded nipple 6t} projecting from the body 58. The nipple 60 and body 58 is provided with a fluid pressure passage 61 communicating with the bore 59 and the nipple 60 may be conveniently attached to a fitting 62 on the Christmas tree of a gas or oil well or to any other fluid pres sure source and it is assumed that the fitting 62 will be provided with a suitable valve to control the flow of fluid pressure through the passage 63 provided therein. The bore 59 of the first connector element 57 shown in Fig. 3 serves to receive the cylindrical extension 36 on the second connector element 28, as shown in Fig. 2, and the operation of this form of the invention is identical with that described above.

If desired, the first connector element may also be combined with a valve to control flow of fluid pressure thereto and such a device is shown in Fig. 4. In this case, a first connector element 64 may well comprise a body 65 having a cylindrical bore 66 extending therethrough and also formed as part of the connector 64 is a valve 67 comprising a valve stem 68 threadedly rescrew threads 74 thereon for facilitating attachment of the connector element 64 to a Christmas tree or other source of fluid pressure. The valve stem 68 may be provided with an actuating hand wheel 75 and a conventional packing nut 76 may be provided to prevent fluid pressure leakage around the valve stem 68. The operation of this form of the invention is the same as that described above in connection with. Fig. 2, but this form of the invention may be conveniently utilized where a valve is not already installed on the Christmas tree or other fluid pressure source.

The form of first connector element shown in Fig. 5 is substantially the same as that described above in connection with Fig. 4, except for the relative position of the valve stem with respect to the bore 66 and nipple- 73 and consequently, the same reference numerals are utilized on this figure and no detailed description thereof is provided since the structure and operation thereof is obvious and this form may be utilized interchangeably with the form shown in Fig. 4, depending upon the particular orientation desired of the valve wheel 75. With particular reference to Fig. 6, there is shown a somewhat modified form of the invention in which a first connector element 77 may well comprise an elongated cylindrical portion 78 and a threaded nipple 79 for attaching the first element 77 to a source of fluid pressure 80 having a passageway 81 therein. An annular groove 82 may be provided in the cylindrical portion 78 substantially midway of the length thereof and a transverse passage 83 extending through the cylindrical portion 78 communicates with the annular groove 82. An axial passage 84 communicates with the transverse passage 83 and extends through the cylindrical portion 78 and the nipple 79 for communication with the passage 81 in the source of fluid pressure 80.

The second connector element 85 may well comprise a body 86 having an outwardly opening cylindrical recess 87 at one end thereof of a diameter for slidably receiving the cylindrical portion 78 of the first connector element 77 and a vent opening 88 may be provided at the inner end of the cylindrical recess 87 to permit the escape of fluid under pressure from such recess.

A threaded bore 89 is provided in the body 86 of the second connector element 85 for facilitating attachment of a pressure gauge 90 or other suitable fluid pressure device and a passage 91 in the body 86 of the connector element 85 communicates with the bore 89 and with a transverse passage92 which in turn communicates with the cylindrical recess 87 substantially midway of the length thereof. The outer end of the transverse passage 92 may be closed by a suitable plug 93. The transverse passage 92 in the body 86 of the second connector element 85 is substantially in alignment with the annular groove 82 in the cylindrical portion 78 of the first connector element 77 when such connector element is positioned in the cylindrical recess 87 of the second connector element 85.

A packing receiving groove 94 is provided in the wall of the cylindrical recess 87 at one side of the transverse passage 92 and positioned in the groove 94 is an O-ring 95 of suitable packing material. In a similar manner, a packing receiving groove 96 is provided in the Wall of the cylindrical recess 87 at the opposite side of the transverse passage 92' and an O-ring 97 of suitable packing material is positioned in the packing groove 96.

A transverse bore 98 is provided in the body 86 of the second connector element 85, there being a shoulder 99 provided in the bore 98 for retaining a valve seat 100 in place therein and the bore 98 communicates with the atmosphere through an opening 101 which may be closed by the inner end 102 on a valve stem 103 engaging the valve seat 100. The valve stem 103 is provided with screw threads 104 threadedly engaged in the body 86 of the connector element and a suitable finger engaging knob 105, as well as packing means 106 are provided on the valve stem 103 to facilitate manipulation thereof and prevent fluid pressure leakage from the transverse bore 98.

The operation of this form of the invention shown in Fig. 6 is very similar to that described above in connection with Fig. 2, the only difference being that the second connector element 85 is positioned over the cylindrical portion 78 of the first connector element 77, rather than providing an extension which is plugged into the connector element as in the form of the invention shown in Fig. 2. It is assumed that there would be a suitable valve in the fluid pressure source 80 and, of course, the operation of the valve stem 103 by the finger engaging knob 105 would be the same as that shown in Fig. 2. The vent passage 88 in the body 86 serves to relieve any fluid pressure leaking by the O-ring 97 in the cylindrical recess 87.

It will be seen that by the above described invention there has been provided a simple, yet highly efficient means for permitting quick attachment of a pressure gauge or other fluid pressure device to the Christmas tree of an oil or gas well or other fluid pressure source and for quick removal of the same, regardless of the magnitude of pressure involved and in this manner, one pressure gauge may be utilized for ascertaining the pressure in a large number of oil or gas wells and with the utilization of a minimum of time for attaching and disconnecting the pressure gauge. In a similar manner, other fluid pressure devices could be attached and removed in a similar short period of time.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof and therefore the invention is not limited by that which is shown in the drawings and described in the specification, but only as indicated in the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

A fluid pressure connector device, particularly adapted for use on oil and gas wells, comprising in combination, first and second connector members, said first connector member having a main body portion with at least two oppositely disposed surfaces thereon, a cylindrical bore of constant diameter extending through said main body portion and open in each of said opposite surfaces, a transverse fluid passage in said main body portion opening at one end into said cylindrical bore substantially midway the length thereof, means closing the opposite end of said transverse passage, said main body portion having an oifset projection thereon extending from one of said opposite sides and co-planar with said cylindrical bore, a longitudinally extending passage in said offset projection extending from the outer end thereof and connecting with said transverse fluid passage, said projection having connector means at its outer end adapted for connection to a source of fluid under pressure, said second connector member comprising a body having a reduced cylindrical extension projecting from one side thereof, said reduced cylindrical extension being of a diameter for slidable engagement in said bore of said first connector member and having a shoulder at the juncture of said cylindrical extension and body portion, said cylindrical extension having an annular groove in its cylindrical surface, said shoulder being eflective to align said annular groove with said transverse passage when said cylindrical extension is fully received in said cylindrical bore, said cylindrical extension having a packing receiving groove disposed adjacent each side of said annular groove, packing disposed in each of said packing grooves, a transverse passage in said cylindrical extension opening into said annular groove, a longitudinally extending passage in said cylindrical extension connecting said last-mentinned transverse passage with the side of said body 0P posite the side having the cylindrical extension, the outer end of said longitudinally extending passage ending in said opposite body side and having means therein adapted to detachably secure thereto a fluid pressure measuring device or the like, a transverse bore in said body of said second member extending completely therethrough and communicating said longitudinally extending passage with the atmosphere, and a manually operable valve member in said transverse bore cooperating with valve seat means positioned at one side of said longitudinally extending passage for selectively opening or closing said last-mentioned passage to the atmosphere, said valve member extending beyond said transverse bore at the opposite side of said lengitudinally extending passage. 7

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 143,13 8 Goldthwait Sept. 23, 1873 5 Fenton Mar. 27, 1888 Crane Feb. 1, 1898 Adams June 19, 1923 Fesler June 9, 1925 Sartakofi Mar. 24, 1931 Buchet Apr. 5, 1932 Strouf Feb. 6, 1934 McGrath Sept. 3, 1940 Donner Sept. 6, 1949 Hanson Dec. 11, 1951 Blaydes Dec. 9, 1952 Seeler Dec. 4, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS France Dec. 23, 1953 Italy Apr. 13,1955