WO1997011301A1

WO1997011301A1 - Clamp connector arrangement

Info

Publication number: WO1997011301A1
Application number: PCT/GB1996/002352
Authority: WO
Inventors: John Stobbart
Original assignee: Vector International Limited
Priority date: 1995-09-22
Filing date: 1996-09-23
Publication date: 1997-03-27
Also published as: AU6997696A; GB9519380D0

Abstract

Conduits (2, 3) are clamped to form a joint by clamps (18, 11) which are rotatably mounted with respect to respective carriers (6, 7). The carriers are themselves movable in a predetermined relationship relative to one another between a clamping position in which the clamps are held relatively close to one another to clamp the conduits forming the joint, and a retracted position in which the clamps are held relatively further apart facilitating assembly or separation of the joint. The arrangement provides improved clamping characteristics and preferably remote actuation is facilitated.

Description

Clamp connector Arrangement

The present invention relates to a clamp connector arrangement.

Clamp connectors are commonly used in the oil and petroleum industry to connect conduit ends/hubs to form a jointed pipeline for transporting fluid. Typically axial force is applied to close the joint between the axially aligned hubs by means of a transverse clamping of a clamp connector; a sealing ring or gasket is interposed between the aligned hubs to ensure a leak free seal.

Usually, the clamp connector comprises separate clamp elements bolted together to close and seal the joint between the hubs.

An improved clamp connector arrangement has now been devised.

According to the present invention, there is provided a clamp connector arrangement comprising:

(a) a plurality of carrier elements movable in a predetermined relationship relative to one another;

(b) a plurality of clamp elements, each one carried by and rotatably mounted with respect to, a respective movable carrier element; and

(c) actuation means arranged to move the carrier elements between:

(i) a clamping position in which the clamping elements are held relatively closer to one another thereby to clamp coaxially aligned conduit elements together to form a joint; and

(ii) a retracted position in which the clamping elements are held relatively further apart facilitating assembly or separation of the conduit elements comprising the joint.

It is preferred that the carrier elements are movable, and the clamp elements rotatable, in the same general plane, which general plane is advantageously transverse to (preferably substantially perpendicular to) the axial direction of the conduit elements. The clamp elements are typically provided with clamping surfaces arranged to impart clamping forces in the axial direction of the conduits when moving to the clamping position.

It is preferred that the carrier elements are pivotable, preferably about substantially parallel pivots which are desirably spaced in a direction transverse to the axial direction of the pivot axes. Advantageously, the pivots about which the carrier elements are pivotable are carried by a support frame or beam member.

Desirably, the carrier elements are substantially identical; preferably two carrier elements are provided comprising a pair, advantageously being a pair of elongate arms. In a preferred embodiment each of the arms comprises adjacently spaced side plates in a fixed orientation relative to one another.

Each clamp element is preferably rotatable about a respective pivot carried by a respective carrier element. Desirably each clamp element is provided with an arcuate clamping surface for receiving the pivot formation. Advantageously two clamping elements are provided comprising a pair of clamping elements, each having a clamping surface extending through at least 90° of arc, more preferably at least 160° of arc.

Advantageously the clamping surface of each clamp element comprises an arcuately extending recess comprising inclined clamping edges adapted to engage inclined surfaces of respective hubs comprising conduits to be connected, thereby forming a sealed joint.

It is a preferred feature of the invention that the pivot formations about which the clamp elements rotatably pivot are radially adjacent the arcuate clamping surfaces substantially at their respective mid-points. This ensures that the clamp closing forces are reacted at the centre of the clamp elements giving a uniform clamping load around substantially the entire circumference of the joint.

Advantageously, in moving between the clamped and retracted positions, the actuation means is arranged to move the carrier elements simultaneously and preferably by substantially the same extent as one another. It is preferred that the actuation means comprises a lead screw arrangement actuatable to move the carrier elements between the clamping and retracted positions.

Desirably, the lead screw is arranged to extend transversely to the axial direction of the conduits being joined. The lead screw is preferably connected to distal ends of the arms comprising the carrier elements, the proximal ends of the arms being pivotally mounted as described above.

It is preferred that the lead screw is arranged to be remotely operable. In certain applications (for example sub-sea applications) the lead screw arrangement may be provided with control means which is operable by means of a remotely operated vehicle.

Preferably, the clamp connector arrangement is provided with means for mounting to a conduit end or hub as a permanent or semi-permanent fixture. Advantageously, the arrangement therefore includes mounding means for mounting to a conduit end or hub which mounting means preferably comprises a frame arranged to be welded or bolted to the conduit end or hub, or a mounting formation (such as a mounting flange) provided therefor.

The invention will now be further described in a specific embodiment, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic side elevation of an exemplary clamp connector according to the invention in an open (retracted) position;

Figure 2 is a schematic side elevation of the clamp connector of Figure 1 in a closed (clamping) position;

Figure 3 is a schematic end elevation of the clamp connector of Figures 1 and 2 mounted to a first pipe end in preparation for clamping connection to a second pipe end; and

Figure 4 is a schematic end elevation, similar to that of Figure 3 showing the final clamped configuration.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a clamp connector assembly 1 suitable for clamping end to end pipework hubs, for use particularly in the offshore petroleum industry. Pipe hubs 2,3 are effectively clamped by connector assembly 1 to provide a joint sealed by an interposed conventional sealing ring or gasket 4.

Clamp connector assembly 1 comprises a support frame having an upper support beam 5 to which is mounted a pair of spaced pivot arms 6,7 each pivotable about a respective pivot 8,9. Pivot arms 6,7 each comprise a pair of spaced side plates 6a,6b,7a,7b, arranged to carry therebetween respective clamp elements 10,11 which are pivotally connected thereto by means of respective pivot pins 12. Clamp elements 10,11 are thereby able to pivot over a predetermined angular range relative to respective support arms 6,7 to centralise on the aligned pipe hubs during assembly of the joint. This is an extremely important feature of the clamping arrangement because it ensures that minimum damage to the clamp connector arrangement and hubs is caused during assembly; furthermore, as a result of the position of the pivots 12 clamping force is applied to the pipe hubs/ends uniformly around the circumference of the joint.

The clamp elements 10,11 are substantially identical to one another, being formed of alloy steel and having arcuate clamping channels 13 and a body portion 14 provided with a circular aperture for receiving pivot pin 12. It is a further important feature of the clamping arrangement that when in a clamping configuration, pins 12 (which apply the clamping force to clamp elements 10,11) are diametrically opposed.

Distal ends of pivot arms 6,7 are both selectively pivotally movable toward one another (to clamp the joint) or away from one another (to release the joint) by means of a lead screw 15 and correspondingly threaded pivotable trunnion barrel 16 arrangement, in which the lead screw 15 extends to have its axis parallel to the support beam 5. A channel frame member 17 retains and guides the distal ends of pivot arms 6,7 when opening/closing. Channel frame member 17 comprises a part of the overall support frame which includes support beam 5.

The clamp connector arrangement 1 is typically utilised in sub-sea applications (such as for offshore oil pipelines) and is typically provided with a connection box 19 (of known type) for coupling with a remotely operated vehicle so as to drive the lead screw 15 to open or close the clamp arrangement thereby clamping or releasing the joint.

In the schematic embodiment shown in the drawings, the connection box 19 is mounted directly to the lead screw 15. In an alternative embodiment, the connection box may be mounted to the overall support frame of the clamp connector arrangement.

Typically, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, the clamp connector arrangement is permanently or semi-permanently fixed to a first hub 2 by means of bolting support beams 5 and frame member 17 directly to hub 2 (typically by means of a support flange 18) . Hub 2 is then presented axially to hub 3 with the seal ring 4 resting in the seal groove of hub 2 and the clamp connector arrangement l in its opened configuration (as shown in Figures 1 and 3) .

Control box 19 is subsequently operated by means of a remotely operated vehicle to turn lead screw 15 in the appropriate direction to cause arms 6,7 to pivot toward one another to clamp hubs 2,3 together (thereby energising seal ring 4) to provide an effective seal. In this situation, the joint is clamped as shown in Figures 2 and 4. During the clamping procedure, if mis-alignment of the hubs 2,3 occurs, the clamp elements 10,11 are free to pivot and clear the interference due to the high degree of freedom provided by the two pivot linkage (comprising pivots 8,12 and 9,12) for each clamp half. Lead in chamfers are provided on the clamp lips to aid this process. Even clamping around the circumference of the joint is ensured due to the ability of the clamp elements 10,11 to pivot about pivot pins 12.

Claims

Claims :

1. A clamp connector arrangement comprising:

(c) actuation means arranged to move the carrier elements between:

2. A clamp connector arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the carrier elements are movable, and the clamp elements rotatable, in the same general plane.

3. A clamp connector according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the carrier elements are pivotable relative to one another.

4. A clamp connector arrangement according to claim 3, wherein the carrier elements are pivotable about substantially parallel pivots which are spaced in a direction transverse to the axial direction of respective pivot axes.

5. A clamp connector arrangement according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the pivots about which the carrier elements are pivotable are carried by a support frame or beam member.

6. A clamp connector arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein the carrier elements comprise a pair of elongate arms.

7. A clamp connector arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein each clamp element is rotatable about a respective pivot carried by a respective carrier element.

8. A clamp connector arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein each clamp element is provided with an arcuate clamping surface for engaging the conduit elements comprising the joint.

9. A clamp connector arrangement according to claim 8, wherein a pair of clamping elements are provided, each having an arcuate clamping surface extending through at least 90° of arc.

10. A clamp connector arrangement according to claim 8 or claim 9, wherein the formations about which the clamp elements rotate relative to respective carrier elements are positioned radially adjacent the arcuate clamping surfaces substantially at their respective mid-points.

11. A clamp connector arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein in moving between the clamped and retracted positions, the actuation means is arranged to move the carrier elements simultaneously.

12. A clamp connector arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein in moving between the clamped and retracted positions, the actuation means is arranged to move the carrier elements by substantially the same extent as one another.

13. A clamp connector arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein the actuation means comprises a lead screw arrangement actuatable to move the carrier elements between the clamping and retracted positions.

14. A clamp connector arrangement according to claim 13, wherein the lead screw is arranged to extend transversely to the axial direction of the conduits being joined.

15. A clamp connector arrangement according to claim 13 or claim 14, wherein the carrier elements comprise respective elongate arms, the lead screw connecting respective distal portions of the arms, proximal portions of the arms being pivotally mounted.

16. A clamp connector arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein the actuation means is remotely operable.

17. A clamp connector arrangement according to claim 16, wherein the actuation means comprises control means for controlling operation of the actuation means.

18. A clamp connector arrangement according to claim 17, wherein the control means is operably by means of a remotely operated vehicle.

19. A clamp connector arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein mounting means is provided for mounting the arrangement to a conduit element end or hub.

20. A clamp connector arrangement substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.