WO2016118233A1

WO2016118233A1 - High pressure redundant seal connector

Info

Publication number: WO2016118233A1
Application number: PCT/US2015/062547
Authority: WO
Inventors: David Baer LEVY; Adam LASALLE
Original assignee: Petrotechnologies, Inc.
Priority date: 2015-01-22
Filing date: 2015-11-24
Publication date: 2016-07-28

Abstract

A high pressure redundant seal connector having a tube with a first end, a connector, a front ferrule, a rear ferrule, and a jamnut. The connector having a connector bore, a ferrule seal surface, a tube seal surface and a test port. The connector bore receives the first end of the tube and forms a first seal. The front ferrule having a front ferrule tapered surface and a front ferrule tubular insertion bore through which the tube to be connected is passed, the front ferrule forming a second seal between the front ferrule tubular insertion bore and the tube and forming a third seal between the front ferrule tapered surface and the ferrule seal surface. The connector receives a test fluid through the test port for determining if the first, second, and third seal are providing a leak proof sealing engagement.

Description

TITLE: HIGH PRESSURE REDUNDANT SEAL CONNECTOR

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] The present application claims priority to and the benefit of co-pending US Patent

Application Serial No.: 14/679,690 filed on April 06, 2015, which claims priority to and the benefit of co-pending US Provisional Patent Application Serial No.: 62/106,572 filed January 22, 2015, both Applications entitled "HIGH PRESSURE REDUNDANT SEAL CONNECTOR." These references are hereby incorporated in their entirety.

FIELD

[0002] The present embodiments generally relate to a high pressure redundant seal connector.

BACKGROUND

[0003] A need exists for a high pressure redundant seal connector that is robust and can withstand harsh conditions.

[0004] A need exists for a high pressure redundant seal connector that can use metal to metal seals avoiding degradation of a thermoplastic seal in offshore conditions.

[0005] A need also exists for a high pressure redundant seal connector that is easy to install.

[0006] The present embodiments meet these needs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] The detailed description will be better understood in conjunction with the accompanying drawings as follows:

[0008] Figure 1 depicts an exploded view of the high pressure redundant seal connector according to one or more embodiments.

Figure 1A depicts a partially assembled high pressure redundant seal connector according to one or more embodiments.

Figure 2 depicts an exemplary crimping tool usable to create the high pressure redundant seal connector according to one or more embodiments.

The present embodiments are detailed below with reference to the listed Figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[00012] Before explaining the present apparatus in detail, it is to be understood that the apparatus is not limited to the particular embodiments and that it can be practiced or carried out in various ways.

[00013] Specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis of the claims and as a representative basis for teaching persons having ordinary skill in the art to variously employ the present invention.

[00014] The current embodiments generally relate to a high pressure redundant seal connector.

[00015] A benefit of the invention is that the high pressure redundant seal connector has ease of installation, using few parts that screw together.

[00016] A benefit of the invention is that the high pressure redundant seal connector has ease of installation that is, it is quick to install in less than 3 minutes.

[00017] A benefit of the invention is that the high pressure redundant seal connector is that it only uses metal to metal seals avoiding degradation of a thermoplastic seal in offshore salty sea conditions.

[00018] The high pressure redundant seal connector can have a jamnut, a tube, a rear ferrule, a front ferrule and the connector. [00019] A jamnut as used herein can refer to a low profile type of nut that can be half as tall as a standard nut. It is commonly used as a type of lock nut, where it is "jammed" up against a standard nut to lock the two in place. It can also be used in situations where a standard nut would not fit.

[00020] The term "jamnut" can also refer to any nut that is used in the same function (even a regular-thickness nut used for the jamming purpose). Jam nuts, other types of locknuts, lock washers, and thread-locking fluid are ways to prevent vibration from loosening a bolted joint.

[00021] In embodiments, the high pressure redundant seal connector can be a high pressure redundant metal seal connector.

[00022] The jamnut can comprise an inner diameter from 1/8 of an inch to 1 inch and an outer diameter that provides a compressing engagement with the rear ferrule.

[00023] In embodiments, the jamnut can be a locking jamnut.

[00024] In embodiments, the tube can have a first end and can comprise an outer diameter from 1/8 of an inch to 1 inch. In embodiments, the tube comprises a steel alloy, a carbon steel, a steel, or combinations thereof.

[00025] The first end of the tube can be cone shaped, tapered, or both.

[00026] The rear ferrule can slidingly engage the front ferrule and the front ferrule can slide into a ferrule seal surface.

[00027] In embodiments, the rear ferrule can be crimped to the tube using a crimping tool.

[00028] It should be noted that the rear ferrule can be crimped at a distance, such as from about 0.010 inches to about 0.5 inches, such that upon manual torqueing, the jamnut advances the tube into the tube seal surface.

[00029] In embodiments, the connector can be made of a carbon steel, a steel, a high nickel alloy steel, and combinations thereof. [00030] In embodiments, the connector can have threads.

[00031] In embodiments, the threads can be straight threads, tapered threads, parallel threads, or any known threads in the industry, to ensure that the jamnut compresses the rear ferrule forming first, second, and third seals.

[00032] In embodiments, the first, second, and third seals can be metal to metal seals.

[00033] In embodiments, the first, second, and third seals are capable of sustaining pressure from about 10 psi to about 40,000 psi.

[00034] The high pressure redundant seal connector can be characterized in that: when the tube is fastened to the connector, the connector can be adapted to receive a test fluid through the test port for determining if the first, second, and third seal are providing a leak proof sealing engagement.

[00035] In embodiments, the test port can have a threadable engagement using metal to metal seals to form a sealing engagement between a test fluid supply during seal testing and to form a leak tight seal with a test port plug when testing is complete.

[00036] The test port can comprise an access hole with a diameter from about 1/32 of an inch to about 1/4 of an inch.

[00037] In embodiments, the test port plug can be removable and re-installable when in operation.

[00038] In embodiments, the high pressure redundant seal connector can be formed by first creating a taper, or a cone shape on the first end of the tube. In embodiments, the cone shape can be tapered with sides that slope from about 2 degrees to about 60 degrees. In embodiments, the sides can slope at an angle of about 58 degrees included or 29 degrees per side.

[00039] Turning now to the Figures, Figure 1 depicts an exploded view of the high pressure redundant seal connector according to one or more embodiments.

[00040] The high pressure redundant seal connector 6 can having a tube 10 with a first end

11. The first end 11 can have a cone or tapered shape in one or more embodiments.

[00041] A jamnut 40 can slide over the first end 11 of the tube 10 using a jamnut bore 41.

[00042] A rear ferrule 30 can slide over the tube 10 using a rear ferrule tubular insertion bore

32.

[00043] The rear ferrule 30 can have a rear ferrule tapered surface 31 and an outer circumference that becomes wider in a direction opposite a connector 12.

[00044] The rear ferrule 30 can slide over the tube 10 using a rear ferrule tubular insertion bore 32 through which the tube 10 to be connected can be passed.

[00045] The rear ferrule 30 can be configured to be crimped onto the tube, wherein the rear ferrule compresses against a front ferrule 20.

[00046] The front ferrule 20 can have a front ferrule tapered surface 21 and an outer circumferential surface that becomes wider in a direction opposite the connector 12.

[00047] The front ferrule 20 can slide over the tube 10 using a front ferrule tubular insertion bore 22 through which the tube 10 to be connected can be passed.

[00048] The connector 12 is shown with a connector bore 14, a ferrule seal surface 16, a tube seal surface 17, and a test port 18 disposed between the ferrule seal surface 16 and the tube seal surface 17.

[00049] The connector 12 is shown with threads 71. In embodiments, the threads 71 can ensure that the jamnut compresses the rear ferrule forming the first, second, and third seals.

[00050] In embodiments, the test port 18 can be in communication with or connected with the connector bore 14. [00051] In embodiments, the test port can have a threadable engagement using metal to metal seals to form a sealing engagement between a test fluid supply during seal testing and to form a leak tight seal with a test port plug 60 when testing is complete.

[00052] In embodiments, the test port plug can be removable and re-installable during operation.

[00053] Figure 1A depicts a partially assembled high pressure redundant metal connector according to one or more embodiments.

[00054] The high pressure redundant seal connector 6 is shown with the jamnut 40, the tube

10, the rear ferrule 30, the front ferrule 20 and the connector 12.

[00055] This Figure shows the high pressure redundant seal connector 6 prior to final torqueing of the jamnut for fluid testing using the test port

[00056] Referring to Figures 1 and 1A, the connector bore 14 can be configured to receive the first end 11 of the tube 10 and form a first seal 80 at the tube seal surface.

[00057] In embodiments, the front ferrule 20 forms a second seal 82 between the front ferrule tubular insertion bore 22 and the tube 10, and forms a third seal 83 between the front ferrule tapered surface 21 and the ferrule seal surface 16.

[00058] The jamnut 40 can be used for slidingly engaging the tube 10 to compress the rear ferrule 30 against the front ferrule 20, while simultaneously pushing the front ferrule 20 against the ferrule seal surface 16 forming both the second seal 82 and the third seal 83.

[00059] The high pressure redundant seal connector 6 can be characterized in that when the tube 10 can be fastened to the connector 12, the connector 12 can be adapted to receive a test fluid through the test port 18 to determine if the first seal 80, the second seal 82 and third seal 83 can be providing a leak proof sealing engagement.

[00060] Figure 2 depicts an exemplary crimping tool usable to create the high pressure redundant seal connector according to one or more embodiments.

[00061] In embodiments, a usable crimping tool 70 can have an identical inner configuration to the inner configuration of the connector, with the exception that the crimping tool does not require a test port and the spacing of the inner surface of the crimping tool allows the jamnut to push the tube into a crimping tool tapered surface.

[00062] The ferrule seal surface 16 is also shown.

[00063] The current embodiments, also relate to a method of making and using the high pressure redundant seal connector.

[00064] The method of making and using the high pressure redundant seal connector starts with sliding the jamnut over the first end of the tube.

[00065] The rear ferrule can then be slid over the tube to rest against the jamnut. The front ferrule can then be slid over the tube to slidingly engage the rear ferrule.

[00066] The tube first end with the jamnut and the rear and front ferrules can then be installed in the crimping tool.

[00067] The jamnut can be manually rotated in the crimping tool applying sufficient torque to crimp the rear ferrule to the first end of the tube.

[00068] The crimped assembly can then be removed from the crimping tool and installed in the connector.

[00069] The jamnut can then be manually torqued to create the first and third seals simultaneously between the tube, the jamnut, the rear and front ferrules, and the connector.

[00070] The second seal between the tube and the front ferrule can be created during the crimping process prior to the final installation.

[00071] The test port plug can then be removed from the test port of the connector. [00072] A pressurized test fluid can be introduced into the test port to test the leak tight status of the first, second, and third seals.

[00073] After testing, the test port plug can be reinstalled in the test port and the assembly can then be usable for operation.

[00074] While these embodiments have been described with emphasis on the embodiments, it should be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the embodiments might be practiced other than as specifically described herein.

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is:

1. A high pressure redundant seal connector comprising: a. a tube having a first end; b. a connector comprising a connector bore having a ferrule seal surface, a tube seal surface, and a test port disposed between the ferrule seal surface and the tube seal surface, the test port communicating with the connector bore, the connector bore configured to receive the first end of the tube and form a first seal at the tube seal surface; c. a front ferrule having a front ferrule tapered surface having an outer circumferential surface that is wider on a side opposite the connector, the front ferrule having a front ferrule tubular insertion bore through which the tube is passed, the front ferrule forming a second seal between the front ferrule tubular insertion bore and the tube, and forming a third seal between the front ferrule tapered surface and the ferrule seal surface; d. a rear ferrule having a rear ferrule tapered surface having an outer circumference that is wider on the side opposite the connector, the rear ferrule having a rear ferrule tubular insertion bore through which the tube is passed, the rear ferrule configured to be crimped onto the tube, the rear ferrule compresses against the front ferrule; and e. a jamnut having a jamnut bore for slidingly engaging the tube to compress the rear ferrule against the front ferrule, while simultaneously pushing the front ferrule against the ferrule seal surface forming both the second seal and the third seal; and wherein the high pressure redundant seal connector is characterized in that when the tube is fastened to the connector, the connector is adapted to receive a test fluid through the test port for determining if the first seal, the second seal, and the third seal are providing a leak proof sealing engagement.

2. The high pressure redundant seal connector of claim 1, wherein the rear ferrule is crimped to the tube.

3. The high pressure redundant seal connector of claim 1, wherein the tube comprises an outer diameter from 1/8 of an inch to 1 inch.

4. The high pressure redundant seal connector of claim 1, wherein the tube comprises a steel.

5. The high pressure redundant seal connector of claim 1, wherein the first end of the tube is cone shaped, tapered or both.

6. The high pressure redundant seal connector of claim 1, wherein the jamnut comprises an inner diameter from 1/8 of an inch to 1 inch and an outer diameter that is capable of being compressed to engage with the rear ferrule.

7. The high pressure redundant seal connector of claim 1, wherein the rear ferrule slidingly engages the front ferrule during operation and the front ferrule slides into the ferrule seal surface during operation to form the second seal and the third seal.

8. The high pressure redundant seal connector of claim 1, wherein the test port has a threadable engagement comprising metal to metal contact to form a sealing engagement with a test fluid supply during seal testing and to form a leak tight seal with a test port plug when testing is complete.

9. The high pressure redundant seal connector of claim 8, wherein the test port comprises an access hole with a diameter from 1/32 of inch to 1/4 of an inch.

10. The high pressure redundant seal connector of claim 8, wherein the test port plug is removable and re-installable.

11. The high pressure redundant seal connector of claim 1, wherein the jamnut is capable of locking.

12. The high pressure redundant seal connector of claim 1, wherein the connector is a steel.

13. The high pressure redundant seal connector of claim 1, wherein the connector has straight threads, tapered threads, or parallel threads that are capable of forming the first seal, the second seal and the third seal when the jamnut compresses the rear ferrule into the connector.

14. The high pressure redundant seal connector of claim 1, wherein the first seal is a metal to metal seal.

15. The high pressure redundant seal connector of claim 14, wherein the first seal is capable of sustaining pressure from 10 psi to 40,000 psi.

16. The high pressure redundant seal connector of claim 1 , wherein the second seal is a metal to metal seal.

17. The high pressure redundant seal connector of claim 16, wherein the second seal is capable of sustaining pressure from 10 psi to 40,000 psi.

18. The high pressure redundant seal connector of claim 1, wherein the third seal is a metal to metal seal.

19. The high pressure redundant seal connector of claim 18, wherein the third seal is capable of sustaining pressure from 10 psi to 40,000 psi.