WO1997046822A1

WO1997046822A1 - Cam lock tubing collar

Info

Publication number: WO1997046822A1
Application number: PCT/US1997/009621
Authority: WO
Inventors: Clifford R. Mccarty; William H. Cooper
Original assignee: Mccarty Clifford R; Cooper William H
Priority date: 1996-05-24
Filing date: 1997-06-04
Publication date: 1997-12-11
Also published as: AU3229297A; EP0976076A1; AU3140297A; EP0976076A4; WO1997044749A1; CA2255905A1

Abstract

A method and apparatus of preventing coupled piping from separating while in use comprising providing a locking mechanism (15) onto and near the end of the piping, placing a cam (10) substantially adjacent to the locking mechanism (15), and threadedly engaging the ends of at least two sections of piping together by means of a collar (05), and wherein torque is applied to the sections of piping, further comprising the steps of rotating the collar (05) thereby beginning the disengagement of the collar (05), rotating the cam (10) in the same direction of the collar (05) such that it is displaced away from the locking mechanism (15) and towards the collar (05), mating the cam with the collar (05), and engaging the cam (10) with the locking mechanism (15) thereby preventing the rotation of the cam (10) and thus locking the collar (05).

Description

CAM LOCK TUBING COLLAR

RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS: This patent application claims priority to United States Provisional Application No. 60/01 9,1 81 filed June 5, 1 996, entitled "Cam Lock Tubing Collar" .

DESCRIPTION TECHNICAL FIELD: This invention relates generally to the coupling of tubing.

More specifically, but not by way of limitation, it is directed to a method and apparatus for preventing sections of tubing that have been coupled together from separating when torque is applied to the tubing.

BACKGROUND ART: Tubing, piping or rods, such as that used in household plumbing, water pipelines, chemical plants, machinery, and the oil field is typically connected together by means of various types of coupling, including rigid flanged connections, clamp or resilient-type coupling, and threaded collars. In the rigid flanged connection, the flanged ends of piping are bolted together by one or more bolts placed concentrically about the flange.

With the resilient-type coupling or clamp, a cylindrical tubing is fitted over the ends of the tubing or pipes to be joined together. The tubing may be equipped with a type of tightening mechanism that functions in reducing the tubing diameter thereby tightening the tubing down upon the pipe ends and securing or locking or clamping the two pieces together. By lifting up on the tightening mechanism, the diameter of the tubing is increased thereby allowing the two sections of pipe to separate.

When a threaded collar is utilized to couple together sections of tubing or piping, typically both ends of the collar along with the ends of the piping are threaded, with the threads of the collar at each end rotating in either the same direction or opposite direction of each other. Either the piping or the collar is externally threaded, with the other being internally threaded. The ends of the two tubing are screwed into or onto the collar, thereby connecting the two pieces of tubing. When torque is applied upon the length of piping or tubing, the resilient-type or clamp coupling may not work as well as a threaded collar in holding sections of piping together. Still, even a threaded collar has not proven entirely reliable in securing sections of piping together where the piping is subject to a continuous or erratic motion or turning. Should sections of piping uncouple, for example, in the process of drilling an oil well, the costs of recovering the pipe in the well, as well as lost time, can be enormous. Therefore, it is desired that there be a method of coupling sections of pipe together that will not allow the sections to become uncoupled while in use. Likewise, it is desired that there be an apparatus that allows sections of joined piping to be easily and quickly separated as required.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION:

A method and apparatus has been conceived whereby tubing, piping or rods utilized in applications such as oilfield drilling are able to be prevented from uncoupling when torque is applied to the piping. Accordingly, the present invention incorporates a cam for locking a threaded collar onto the ends of piping in order to prevent sections of piping, rods or tubing from separating in a novel and unique manner. This is accomplished by means of a threaded collar, cam ring or plate, and locking ring that enables an individual to easily and quickly secure two sections of piping together.

It should be understood that the invention's use is not limited to one application, such as oilfield drilling equipment. The device could be also utilized in many other applications in the oilfield, as well as household plumbing, machinery, chemical plants, and water lines. Basically, the present invention may be used in any application where two or more sections of tubing, rods or pipe need to be securely joined together.

In the present embodiment, the invention is comprised of a locking ring, cam ring and cam collar. However, it is possible for the locking ring to be incorporated as-an integral part of the pipe or tubing. The locking ring is comprised of a knurled end adjacent to the cam ring. The cam ring is comprised of a knurled end and a cammed end, with the knurled end adjacent to the knurled end of the locking ring. The cam collar is threaded and comprised of at least one cammed end, with this cammed end adjacent to the cammed end of the cam ring.

With all three components placed over the end of the pipe to be coupled, sufficient space or play is provided between each component without locking each component together so that they may be removed when required. If desired, the locking ring may be permanently fixed onto the end of the pipe after placing it thereon.

When torque is applied to the pipe in such manner so that the threaded collar would be screwed off of the pipe, the cam end of the cam ring engages with the cammed end of the collar thereby halting the unscrewing of the collar. Initially, as torque is applied, the cam ring moves in the same direction as the collar. The knurled ends of the locking ring and cam ring work together so as to push the cam ring outwardly away from the locking ring and causing the cam ring and collar to engage. The more torque that is applied upon the pipe, the more force that is exerted upon the collar to prevent it from unscrewing and the pipes from uncoupling.

Among those benefits and improvements that have been disclosed, other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the present invention and illustrate various objects and features thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:

The manner in which these objectives and other desirable characteristics can be obtained is explained in the following description and attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view generally illustrating the collar portion of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of one end of the collar portion of the present invention generally illustrating a cammed cut end;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view generally illustrating a cammed end of the cam ring portion of the present invention; FIG. 4 is an perspective view of a knurled end of the cam ring portion of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a side cross-sectional view of the cam ring portion of the present invention; FIG. 6 is a perspective view generally illustrating a knurled side of the locking ring portion of the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is a side cross-sectional view of the locking ring portion of the present invention.

MODE(S) FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION:

A method and apparatus for coupling sections of piping or tubing together is described herein. In the following description, illustrative embodiments of the present invention are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. It will be obvious, however, to one skilled in the art that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various forms, and that these specific details need not be used to practice the present invention. The figures are not necessarily to scale, and some features may be exaggerated to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention.

Certain terminology will be used in the following description for convenience and reference only and will not be limiting. For example, the words "rightwardly", "leftwardly", "upwardly" and "downwardly" will refer to directions in the drawings to which reference is made. The words "inwardly" and "outwardly" refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the structure being referred to. This terminology includes these words, specifically mentioned derivatives thereof, and words of similar import.

Furthermore, elements may be recited as being "coupled"; this terminology's use anticipates elements being connected together in such a way that there may be other components interstitially located between the specified elements, and that the elements may be connected in fixed or movable relation one to the other. Still further, some structural relationships or orientations may be designated with the word "substantially" . In those cases, it is meant that the relationship or orientation is as described, with allowances for variations that do not effect the cooperation of the so described component or components. There is illustrated in FIG. 1 a side cross-sectional view of the collar 05 of the present invention with a threaded surface 08 for coupling the threaded ends of tubing or piping. FIG. 2 provides further detail of the collar 05 by generally illustrating a cammed end 07 of the collar 05.

FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 provide various perspectives of the cam ring 10 of the present invention. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the ring 1 0 is comprised of a smooth internal surface 1 3 for easily though snugly sliding along a section of tubing or piping. Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the ring 10 is further comprised of a cammed end 1 1 and a knurled or teethed end 1 2 for purposes described below. Although FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate six-point cammed surfaces as references 07 and 1 1 , it should be noted that the present invention is not limited to only six points.

Another element of the present invention, the locking ring 1 5, is illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7. The locking ring 1 5 is comprised of a knurled or teethed end 17 and a threaded surface 1 9. In other embodiments, the locking ring 1 5 may be integral with the piping, or it may be permanently affixed thereto after placing it onto the tubing.

As described herein, the present invention is specified in terms such that it is applied over the exterior ends of two sections of piping or tubing. However, it should be noted that the present invention could also function in the same manner if placed inside of the exterior ends of two sections of pipe, should such be desired for aesthetic or other purposes. Nevertheless, the preferred embodiment of the present invention is over the exterior ends of two sections of pipe.

In application, the invention functions by placing the cam ring 10 between the locking mechanism or ring 1 5 and the collar 05. The knurled end 1 2 of the cam ring 10 is positioned such that it is able to mate with the knurled end 1 7 of the locking, ring 1 5. Likewise, the cammed end 1 1 of the cam ring 1 0 is positioned such that it is able to mate with a cammed end 07 of the collar 05. The locking ring 1 5 is threadedly engaged with the end of a section of pipe to the extent necessary to allow both the ring 10 and a portion of the collar 05 to likewise fit over the end of the pipe. With the locking ring 1 5 sufficiently engaged over the end of a pipe, it then may be secured to the pipe by epoxy or other means, depending upon whether the ring 1 5 is to be permanently or temporarily fixed upon the pipe.

Once the locking ring 1 5 is secured, the cam ring 1 0 may be placed over the pipe such that the knurled end 1 2 of the ring 10 is able to mate with the locking ring knurled end 1 7. With the smooth inner wall 1 3 of the cam ring 10, it should be able in its preferred embodiment to slide snugly over the threaded portion of the pipe.

With the cam ring 10 in place over the pipe end, the cam collar 05 is then threadedly engaged onto the end of the pipe. The same method of applying another locking ring 1 5, cam ring 1 0 and the other end of the collar 05 to another end of a section of pipe, thereby joining two sections of pipe together, is then followed. As such, two locking rings 1 5, two cam rings 1 0, and one cam collar 05 may be used to securely join two sections of pipe together.

In another embodiment, the piping or tubing may be fabricated such that the locking ring 1 5 is incorporated into the end of the pipe as an integral part of the pipe. The pipe or tubing would then be comprised of at least one threaded end with a section of pipe situated substantially at the inner end of the threaded end or ends. This locking section 1 5 would be of an external diameter substantially similar to that of the cam ring 10 and collar 05. By doing so, one less component of manufacture would be required for joining the pipe ends, leaving only the cam ring 10 and the collar 05 to be placed over the end of the pipe.

It is well understood in the art that a cam is a mechanical component that is used to transmit motion to another component, called the follower, through a prescribed motion by direct contact. Using the terms of this definition, the cam mechanism then is comprised of the cam, follower and frame. The frame provides the means of support for the cam and the follower.

Keeping the above definition in mind, the present invention, or cam mechanism, can be viewed as comprising the cam ring 10 as the cam, the cam collar 05 as the follower, and the combination of the pipe and locking ring 1 5 included in the frame. In operation, the prescribed motion mentioned above would be the halting of the collar 05 from rotating off of the end of the pipe when torque is applied, such as in a drilling operation. With the definitional background provided, the mode of operation is as follows. When the components of the invention are placed upon the threaded end of the piping as described above, the locking ring 1 5, cam ring 1 0 and cam collar 05 should preferably be positioned sufficiently close in proximity to each other so that they come in contact with one another when torque is applied, but still sufficiently apart so that the components may come quickly off of the end of the pipe should the sections of piping require uncoupling.

Should torque be applied to the coupled sections of piping so that the tubing turns in the direction that would unscrew the collar 05 from the tubing, the knurled ends of the cam ring 10 and the locking ring 1 5 come in contact with each other initially pushing the cam ring 10 outwardly from the locking ring. As stated previously, enough play is provided between the locking ring 1 5, cam ring 10 and cam collar 05 to allow all components to be removed from the pipe end when required. However, the components are sufficiently close together so that the knurled end of the cam ring 10 does not freely spin around the pipe end beyond the outer most portion of the knurled end 1 7 of the locking ring 1 5 when the cam ring 10 and cam collar 05 are engaged. In other words, at least part if not all of the locking ring knurled end 1 7 should come in contact with at least part if not all of the cam ring knurled end 1 2. As such, sufficient resistance is provided against the cam ring 10 and the locking ring 1 5 when torque is applied. By initially pushing the cam ring 1 0 away from the locking ring 1 5, the cammed ends of the ring 1 0 and collar 05 are able to engage or mate with one another, thereby halting the collar 05 from disengaging or rotating off of the end of the pipe. By thus engaging the cam ring 10 and collar 05, opposing forces are exerted upon the tubing or piping resulting in the locking of the collar 05 upon the end of the tubing. The more torque that is applied to the tubing, the greater the force exerted by the cam for preventing the sections of tubing from uncoupling. Sections of piping that have had torque applied thereto can be released or uncoupled from each other when required by simply rotating the section of pipe in the opposite direction to which torque was applied. By doing so, the collar 05 is uncammed from the ring 10 thereby allowing the collar to be screwed or removed off of the end of the pipe.

While there has been disclosed effective and efficient embodiments of the invention using specific terms, it should be well understood that the invention is not limited to such embodiments as it is contemplated that changes may be made in the arrangement, disposition, and form of the parts without departing from the principle of the present invention.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY: The present invention finds utility in businesses and industries requiring use of coupled or linked sections of piping or tubing. This piping may be utilized in various applications such as plumbing, chemical industries and pipelines, but particularly in oil field drilling applications. In a preferred embodiment, the method prevents the uncoupling of coupled piping due to the application of torque upon the piping by camming the collar which connects the piping and thereby halting its motion of unscrewing from one end of the piping. In an alternative embodiment, the present apparatus may its locking mechanism integral with the piping.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1 . An apparatus for preventing sections of piping coupled together from uncoupling while in use, said apparatus comprising: a collar for coupling the ends of two sections of piping, a cam for mating with an end of said collar, and a ring for preventing the rotation of said cam and, thus, said collar, thereby preventing said collar from separating from the end of the piping.

2. The apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said ring has a knurled end.

3. A The apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said ring is integral with the pipe.

4. The apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said cam has at least one end that is cammed.

5. The apparatus as described in claim 4 wherein said cam has a knurled end for mating with said ring.

6. The apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said collar has at least one end that is cammed for mating with said cam.

7. A method of preventing coupled piping from separating while in use, said method comprising: providing a locking mechanism onto and near the end of the piping, placing a cam substantially adjacent to said locking mechanism, and threadedly engaging the ends of at least two sections of piping together by means of a collar.

8. The method as described in claim 7 wherein torque is applied to said sections of piping further comprising the steps of: rotating said collar thereby beginning the disengagement of said collar, rotating said cam in the same direction of said collar such that it is displaced away from said locking mechanism and towards said collar, mating said cam with said collar, and engaging said cam with said locking mechanism thereby preventing the rotation of said cam and thus locking said collar.

9. The method as described in claim 8 wherein the force in locking said collar increases with an increase in torque applied to the pipe.

10. The method as described in claim 7 further comprising the step of positioning said ring, cam and collar onto the pipe such that each may disengage in the same manner that they are placed onto the pipe.

1 1 . A cam mechanism for preventing coupled piping from separating while in use when torque is applied, said mechanism comprising: a follower for coupling the piping, a cam for transmitting a halting motion to said follower due to the application of the torque, and a frame for supporting the halting motion of said cam and follower.

1 2. The mechanism as described in claim 1 1 wherein said frame has a knurled edge for supporting the halting motion of said cam and follower.

1 3. The mechanism as described in claim 1 2 wherein said cam has a knurled edge for engaging with said frame.

1-4. The mechanism as described in claim 1 1 wherein said follower has a cammed edge for engaging with said cam.