Hydraulic connector and process for performing hydraulic connection

Abstract

A hydraulic connector type (“Titus”) may be used in oil production and extraction operations in the seabed. The hydraulic connector type (“Titus”) may be able to provide a connection between cylindrical bodies such as Christmas tree and a wellhead. The hydraulic connector type (“Titus”) may have a locking system including a hydraulic circuit and the unlocking system has a hydraulic circuit. Additionally, a pre-load adjustment system may be performed through an adjustment ring. The hydraulic connector type (“Titus”) contains a set of jaws, one actuator hydraulic piston, pressurization chambers, sealing elements, external jacket, bottom cap, adjustment ring and hydraulic fluid lines.

Claims

1. A hydraulic connector for the connection between two cylindrical bodies, the hydraulic connector comprising: jaws positioned and preloaded by an actuating hydraulic piston through a pressurization chamber, wherein the jaws include a plurality of teeth configured to increase a load capacity of the hydraulic connector; an unlocking pressurization chamber; an adjustment ring configured to regulate a locking pressure of the hydraulic connector; a bottom cap fixed to an external jacket, wherein the external jacket is fixed to the adjustment ring; and a tapering surface between the jaws and the adjustment ring, wherein the tapering surface is a surface of the jaws opposite the plurality of teeth.

2. The hydraulic connector according to claim 1, wherein the pressure chamber and the unlocking pressurization chamber are formed by sealing elements and the actuating hydraulic piston surrounded by the external jacket.

3. The hydraulic connector according to claim 1, wherein the actuating hydraulic piston has cylindrical faces.

4. The hydraulic connector according to claim 1, wherein the external jacket has hydraulic fluid lines.

5. The hydraulic connector according to claim 1, wherein the hydraulic connector is configured to have a positive locking characteristic and preload regulation system by means of the adjustment ring.

6. The hydraulic connector according to claim 1, wherein the hydraulic connector is configured to be used in subsea equipment for rigid connection of a wellhead, WCT, PLET, VCM, risers, and installation tools.

7. A method for performing a hydraulic connection, the process comprising: an application of the hydraulic connector as defined in claim 1; and using parallel locking with regulation during assembly simultaneously with an application of a specified preload, wherein the specified preload being a hydraulic locking pressure.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the parallel locking of the hydraulic connector comprises the simultaneous application of the specified preload through a hydraulic fluid line, wherein the hydraulic fluid line pressurizes the pressurization chamber actuating the actuating hydraulic piston and forcing the actuating hydraulic piston in a vertical downward motion and causing cylindrical faces to interfere with the actuating hydraulic piston and the jaws, and moving the jaws in a radial direction in order to perform bonding among surfaces of the cylindrical bodies maintaining a preload force confined between contact surfaces and H4 profile.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein, when an unlocking of the hydraulic connector is required, the unlocking comprises pressurization of the unlocking pressurization chamber by a hydraulic fluid line, in order to force the actuating hydraulic piston in an vertical upward motion and removing a load on the jaws, thus leading the jaws to move radially outward, back to an unlocked position.

10. The method according to claim 7, wherein the parallel locking requires regulation during assembly of the equipment assembly for adjusting preload which provides positive locking using the adjustment ring.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Hydraulic connector according to the present invention may be better understood along with the description of attached figures which illustrates, in a non limitative schematic way one example for basic configuration of its structure. Therefore:

(2) FIG. 1 illustrates detailed view of internal components from a first building way for hydraulic connector according to the present invention in locked/unlocked positions; and

(3) FIG. 2 illustrates detailed view of internal components from a second building way for hydraulic connector according to the present invention in locked/unlocked positions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(4) FIGS. 1 and 2 are exemplary embodiments of hydraulic connector which is the object of the present invention. In such figures is noted, on the right side, the connector in locked position and, on the left side, the connector in unlocked position. Since it is an equipment perfectly symmetrical (unless the jaws) against its longitudinal axis, number references apparent on one side of the figures may be not apparent on the other side, since they are the same elements.

(5) In a first embodiment of the hydraulic connector of the present invention, illustrated in FIG. 1, it can be seen its use for providing connection between two cylindrical bodies (1) and (2). Said hydraulic connector comprises jaws (3) located and preloaded by a actuator hydraulic piston (4) through pressurization chamber (5). Pressurization chambers (5) and (6) are settled through sealing elements (7, 8 and 9), by piston (4), external jacket (10) and bottom cap (11). Cylindrical body (1) and jaws (3) show, in this embodiment example, only one contact surface (17) for transferring connection preload. The jaw (3) confines connection preload with forces present between contact surface (17) and H4 profile (20). The actuator piston (4) maintains preload force by means radial contact of surface (14).

(6) FIG. 2 illustrates a second embodiment example of hydraulic connector according to the present invention. In relation to the configuration described for FIG. 1, hydraulic connector has as main difference the number of contact surfaces (17) between cylindrical body (1) and jaws (3). In this embodiment, jaws (3) have three teeth (18) for transferring preload. The number of teeth (18) may be two or four or even more, which affects only the load capacity of connector. Connector topology as well as its functions are the same for both embodiments presented in FIGS. 1 and 2.

(7) The adjustment ring (12) works for allowing preload regulation of hydraulic connector design, removing the requirement for use the strict manufacturing tolerances and therefore lowering the equipment manufacturing cost. The load transference between jaws (3) and adjustment ring (12) occurs through contact surface (19). One important characteristic of connector according to the present invention consists of presenting low stress levels in all threads, granting to it excellent fatigue resistance when compared to the prior art Torus connector.

(8) The process for making a hydraulic connection with the connector according to the present invention comprises locking the hydraulic connector together with applying the specified preload, through hydraulic locking fluid lines (13) from from any source. This hydraulic fluid line (13) pressurizes the chamber (5) by actuating the locking piston (4). The locking piston (4), which has cylindrical faces (14), is then forced in vertical downward movement causing the interference of said cylindrical faces (14) with the internal diameters of the jaws (3) in the region, moving the jaws (3) in the radial direction so as to make the connection between the surfaces of the cylindrical bodies (1) and (2) thereby preloading the connection, being the loading confined between surfaces (17) or (18) and H4 profile. After locking the connector the hydraulic pressure is removed and the equipment is locked without the need for further external forces. During the connector locking process, it is also obtained energization of metal sealing (15) which works for isolating the interface between cylindrical bodies (1) and (2) from external environment.

(9) Hydraulic connector unlocking occurs by pressurizing the unlocking chamber (6) using the hydraulic fluid lines (16). This procedure forces the vertical upward movement from the piston (4) releasing the load on the jaws (3), causing the jaws (3) to move radially outwards, returning to the unlocked position.

(10) As appreciated by those skilled in the art, the hydraulic connector according to the present invention, due the occurrence of unlocking by parallel face (14), which grants to it additional safety for avoidance of accidental unlocking in the presence of vibrations occurring naturally in the environment where it is installed.

(11) It is further noted that the hydraulic connector object of the present invention has been designed, notably, for use in subsea equipment for rigid connection of two equipment such as wellhead, WCT, PLET, VCM, risers among others, but without limitation to equipment of the prior art.