Connector

Claim 2

An underwater wellhead connector comprising: a receptacle, a stinger engageable in said receptacle when inserted into the reCeptacle, at least one passageway in said receptacle, at least one passageway in said stinger, one end of each of said passageways mating for fluid communication between said passageways when said stinger is engaged in the receptable opening, annular seal means around one of said passageways at its mating end for forming a water-tight seal between the ends of said passageways and alignment means for aligning the stinger as it engages the receptacle for the mating of said passageways, said annular seal means being further defined as including, an annular resilient seal mounted about the mating end of said one passageway, and retainer means for securing the resilient seal about said one passageway, said resilient seal being further defined as including, reinforcing means secured to the resilient seal and cooperating with the retainer means to prevent undesired outward displacement of the resilient seal.

Claim 3

The invention of claim 1 wherein said reinforcing means is defined as, a retention ring secured to said seal, a portion of the ring being of a smaller diameter than the retainer means, whereby the ring and attached resilient seal cannot be displaced beyond the retainer means.

Claim 4

An underwater well head connector comprising: a receptacle, a stinger engageable in said receptacle when inserted into the receptacle, at least one passageway in said receptacle, at least one passageway in said stinger, one end of each of said passageways mating for fluid communication between said passageways when said stinger is engaged in the receptable opening, annular seal means around one of said passageways at its mating end for forming a water-tight seal between the ends of said passageways and alignment means for aligning the stinger as it engages the receptacle for the mating of said passageways, said annular seal means being further defined as including, an annular resilient seal mounted about the mating end of said one passageway, retainer means for securing the resilient seal about said one passageway, said resilient seal having a circular lip extending outwardly to contact the receptacle and form a seal, the retainer means being threadedly engaged in said one passageway and including, an opening therethrough for fluid communication by the passageways, and flared circular flange means for compressing the resilient seal against said one passageway to insure a proper seal between the passageways.

Claim 5

An underwater well head connector comprising: a receptacle, a stinger engageable in said receptacle when inserted into the receptacle, at least one passageway in said receptacle, at least one passageway in said stinger, one end of each of said passageways mating for fluid communication between said passageways when said stinger is engaged in the receptable opening, annular seal means around one of said passageways at its mating end for forming a water-tight seal between the ends of said passageways and alignment means for aligning the stinger as it engages the receptacle for the mating of said passageways, said annular seal means being further defined as including, an annular resilient seal mounted about the mating end of said one passageway, retainer means for securing the resilient seal about said one passageway, said resilient seal having a circular lip extending outwardly to contact the receptacle and form a seal, the retainer means being threadedly engaged in said one passageway and including, an opening therethrough for fluid communication by the passageways, and flared circular flange means for compressing the resilient seal against said one passageway to insure a proper seal between the passageways.

Claim 6

The invention of claim 3 and further including a reinforcing ring secured to the resilient seal and having at least a part of the ring of a smaller diameter than the flange means, whereby the rings cannot pass over the flange means, thereby preventing undesired outward displacement of the resilient seal.

Claim 7

The invention of claim 3 and further including, an outer surface on the stinger, an inner surface in the receptacle, said surfaces being in contact when the stinger is engaged with the receptacle, a metal water-tight seal being defined by at least a portion of said surfaces when the stinger and receptacle are engaged.

Claim 8

The invention of claim 5 wherein, the circular lip extends beyond the surface surrounding said one passageway whereby the resilient seal is further compressed when said inner and outer surfaces are in contact.

Claim 9

The invention of claim 6 and further including, a recess in said one passageway for receiving the resilient seal, said retainer means compressing the resilient seal into said recess when the retainer means is threaded into said one passageway., said recess being larger than the portion of the resilient seal contained in the recess when compressed therein by the retaining means by a volume that is less than the volume of the portion of the resilient seal extending beyond said surface, whereby the lip can be received in said recess when subjected to said further compression.

Claim 10

A wellhead connecTor comprising: a receptacle for positioning at the wellhead and having an inner wall surface, a stinger engageable in said receptacle, the inner wall surface of the receptacle and the outer wall surface of the stinger contacting when they are so engaged, a plurality of passageways in the receptacle, one end of each passageway terminating at said inner wall surface, a plurality of passageways in the stinger, one end of each terminating at the outer wall surface for mating with one of said receptacle passageway ends when the stinger and receptacle are engaged, an annular seal means secured about each of said stinger passageways for forming a seal between it and its mating receptacle passageway end, and alignment means on said receptacle and stinger for aligning the stinger as it engages the receptacle for the mating of said passageways, each of said annular seal means being further defined as including, a generally cylindrically shaped resilient seal, and retainer means releasably secured to the stinger for retaining the seal in position.

Claim 11

A wellhead connecTor comprising: a receptacle for positioning at the wellhead and having an inner wall surface, a stinger engageable in said receptacle, the inner wall surface of the receptacle and the outer wall surface of the stinger contacting when they are so engaged, a plurality of passageways in the receptacle, one end of each passageway terminating at said inner wall surface, a plurality of passageways in the stinger, one end of each terminating at the outer wall surface for mating with one of said receptacle passageway ends when the stinger and receptacle are engaged, an annular seal means secured about each of said stinger passageways for forming a seal between it and its mating receptacle passageway end, and alignment means on said receptacle and stinger for aligning the stinger as it engages the receptacle for the mating of said passageways, each of said annular seal means being further defined as including, a generally cylindrically shaped resilient seal, and retainer means releasably secured to the stinger for retaining the seal in position.

Claim 12

The invention of claim 8 wherein the resilient seal is further defined as including, reinforcing means secured to the resilient seal and cooperating with the retainer means to prevent undesired outward displacement of the resilient seal.

Claim 13

The invention of claim 9 wherein said reinforcing means is defined as, a retention ring secured to said seal, a portion of the ring being of a smaller diameter than the retainer means, whereby the ring and attached resilient seal cannot be displaced beyond the retainer means.

Claim 14

The invention of claim 8 wherein said retainer means includes, a circular flange, an annular opening defined by the flange and the passageway sidewall, said resilient seal being secured in said opening by the flange.

Claim 15

The invention of claim 11 wherein, said flange is flared outwardly toward the walls of the passageway, whereby the outermost part of the opening is narrower in cross-section than is the innermost part, said resilient seal having an enlarged inner section cooperating with the flange to prevent outward displacement of the resilient seal.

Claim 16

The invention of claim 12 and including, reinforcing means secured to said enlarged portion of the resilient seal for preventing unwanted outward displacement thereof.

Claim 17

The invention of claim 13 wherein, said reinforcing means is further defined as, a ring secured to the enlarged portion, at least a part of the ring being of a smaller diameter than said flange.

Claim 18

The invention of claim 8 wherein each annular seal means is further defined as including, a lip on the resilient seal which extends beyond the outer surface of the stinger, whereby the seal is further compressed when the stinger is engaged in the receptacle.

Claim 19

A wellhead connector comprising: a receptacle for positioning at the wellhead and having an inner wall surface, a stinger engagable in said receptacle, the inner wall surface of the receptacle and the outer wall surface of the stinger contacting when they are so engaged, a plurality of passageways in the receptacle, one end of each passageway terminating at said inner surface, a plurality of passageways in the stinger, one end of each terminating at the outer surface for mating with one of said receptacle passageway ends when the stinger and receptacle are engaged, alignment means on said receptacle and stinger for aligning the stinger as it engages the receptacle for the mating of said passageways, and an annular seal means secured about each of said stinger passageways for forming a seal between it and its mating receptacle passageway end, each annular seal means including a generally cylindrically shaped resilient seal, and retainer means releasably secured to the stinger for retaining the seal in position, the inner and outer surfaces defining seals around said passageways when said surfaces are in Contact.

Claim 20

A wellhead connector comprising: a receptacle for positioning at the wellhead and having an inner wall surface, a stinger engagable in said receptacle, the inner wall surface of the receptacle and the outer wall surface of the stinger contacting when they are so engaged, a plurality of passageways in the receptacle, one end of each passageway terminating at said inner surface, a plurality of passageways in the stinger, one end of each terminating at the outer surface for mating with one of said receptacle passageway ends when the stinger and receptacle are engaged, alignment means on said receptacle and stinger for aligning the stinger as it engages the receptacle for the mating of said passageways, and an annular seal means secured about each of said stinger passageways for forming a seal between it and its mating receptacle passageway end, each annular seal means including a generally cylindrically shaped resilient seal, and retainer means releasably secured to the stinger for retaining the seal in position, the inner and outer surfaces defining seals around said passageways when said surfaces are in Contact.

Claim 21

A wellhead connector comprising: a receptacle for positioning at the wellhead and having an inner wall surface, a stinger engagable in said receptacle, the inner wall surface of the receptacle and the outer wall surface of the stinger contacting when they are so engaged, a plurality of passageways in the receptacle, one end of each passageway terminating at said inner surface, a plurality of passageways in the stinger, one end of each terminating at the outer surface for mating with one of said receptacle passageway ends when the stinger and receptacle are engaged, alignment means on said receptacle and stinger for aligning the stinger as it engages the receptacle for the mating of said passageways, and an annular seal means secured about each of said stinger passageways for forming a seal between it and its mating receptacle passageway end, each annular seal means including, a generally cylindrically shaped resilient seal, retainer means releasably secured to the stinger for retaining the seal in position, and a lip on the resilient seal which extends beyond the outer surface of the stinger, whereby the seal is further compressed when the stinger is engaged in the receptable, said stinger passageway including, a recess portion for receiving the resilient seal, the retainer means compressing the resilient seal into said recess when the retainer means is secured to the stinger, said recess being larger than the portion of the resilient seal contained in the recess when compressed therein by the retaining means, whereby the lip extending beyond the outer surface of the stinger can be received in said recess when subjected to said further compression by the receptacle.

Claim 22

A wellhead connector comprising: a receptacle for positioning at the wellhead and having an inner wall surface, a stinger engagable in said receptacle, the inner wall surface of the receptacle and the outer wall surface of the stinger contacting when they are so engaged, a plurality of passageways in the receptacle, one end of each passageway terminating at said inner surface, a plurality of passageways in the stinger, one end of each terminating at the outer surface for mating with one of said receptacle passageway ends when the stinger and receptacle are engaged, alignment means on said receptacle and stinger for aligning the stinger as it engages the receptacle for the mating of said passageways, and an annular seal means secured about each of said stinger passageways for forming a seal between it and its mating receptacle passageway end, each annular seal means including, a generally cylindrically shaped resilient seal, retainer means releasably secured to the stinger for retaining the seal in position, and a lip on the resilient seal which extends beyond the outer surface of the stinger, whereby the seal is further compressed when the stinger is engaged in the receptable, said stinger passageway including, a recess portion for receiving the resilient seal, the retainer means compressing the resilient seal into said recess when the retainer means is secured to the stinger, said recess being larger than the portion of the resilient seal contained in the recess when compressed therein by the retaining means, whereby the lip extending beyond the outer surface of the stinger can be received in said recess when subjected to said further compression by the receptacle.

Claim 23

The invention of claim 17 wherein, each recess is larger than its respective resilient seal when compressed therein by the retainer means by a volume that is less than the volume of the lip that extends beyond said outer surface.

Claim 24

The invention of claim 18 wherein, each retainer means is threaded into its respective passageway and includes, an opening therethrough for communication by its mating passageways and further including, a shoulder in the passageway which controls a portion of the retainer means when it is threaded into the passageway, thereby preventing further movement of the retainer means into the passageway.