CLAMP CONNECTION FOR USE WITH FLOWLINES AND/OR COMPONENTS OF A HYDRAULIC FRACTURING OPERATION

Abstract

A clamp connection for use with flowlines of a hydraulic fracturing operation has a female clamp hub having a seal pocket formed in the face thereof, a male clamp hub having a raised face at an end thereof, an elastomeric seal received in the seal pocket of the female clamp hub, and a clamp connector extending around the female clamp hub and the male clamp hub so as to maintain the male clamp hub and the female clamp hub in a liquid-tight relationship. The male clamp hub has an annular protrusion extending outwardly of the raised face. The annular protrusion bears against a side of the elastomeric seal. The raised face of the male clamp hub is received in an interior of the female clamp hub.

Claims

1. A clamp connection for use with flowlines of a hydraulic fracturing operation, the clamp connection comprising: a female clamp hub having a seal pocket formed in a face thereof; a male clamp hub having a raised face at an end thereof, said male clamp hub having an annular protrusion extending outwardly of the raised face; an elastomeric seal received in the seal pocket of said female clamp hub, said annular protrusion bearing against a side of said elastomeric seal, the raised face of said male clamp hub being received in an interior of said female clamp hub; and a clamp connector extending around said female clamp hub and said male clamp hub so as to maintain said male clamp hub and said female clamp hub in a liquid-tight relationship.

2. The clamp connection of claim 1, said female clamp hub having an end face that bears against an end face of said male clamp hub.

3. The clamp connection of claim 1, said female clamp hub and said male clamp hub each having an annular flange formed at an outer diameter thereof, said clamp connector being engaged with both of the annular flanges of said male clamp hub and said female clamp hub.

4. The clamp connection of claim 2, said female clamp hub having a recessed area formed inwardly of the end face thereof, the raised face of said male clamp hub being received in the recessed area of said female clamp.

5. The clamp connection of claim 1, the annular protrusion of said male clamp hub extending at least partially into the seal pocket of said female clamp.

6. The clamp connection of claim 1, said elastomeric seal having an anti-extrusion ring at an outer diameter thereof

7. The clamp connection of claim 6, said annular protrusion bearing against the anti-extrusion ring.

8. The clamp connection of claim 1, said female clamp hub having an interior passageway, said male clamp hub having an interior passageway axially aligned with the interior passageway of said female clamp hub.

9. The clamp connection of claim 8, said elastomeric seal having an inner diameter facing the interior passageway of said female clamp hub.

10. The clamp connection of claim 9, the interior passageway of said female clamp hub having a wall, the interior passageway of said male clamp hub having a wall, the inner diameter of said elastomeric seal being generally flush with or recessed from the walls of said male clamp hub and said female clamp.

11. The clamp connection of claim 1, further comprising: a swivel joint connected to one of said male clamp hub and said female clamp hub; and a check valve connected to another of said male clamp hub and said female clamp.

12. The clamp connection of claim 1, further comprising: a swivel joint connected one of said male clamp hub and said female clamp hub; and a pipe section connected to another of said male clamp hub and said female clamp hub.

13. The clamp connection of claim 1, further comprising: a check valve connected to one of said male clamp hub and said female clamp hub; and a pipe section connected to another of said male clamp hub and said female clamp hub.

14. The clamp connection of claim 1, further comprising: a first pipe section connected to one of said male clamp hub and said female clamp hub; and a second pipe section connected to another of said male clamp hub and said female clamp hub.

15. The clamp connection of claim 3, said clamp connector comprising: a first semi-annular member extending around a portion of the annular flanges of said male clamp hub and said female clamp hub, said first semi-annular member having bolt holes extending outwardly therefrom; a second semi-annular member extending around another portion of the annular flanges of said male clamp hub and said female clamp hub, said second semi-annular member having bolt holes extending outwardly therefrom, the bolt holes of said second semi-annular member being axially aligned with the bolt holes of said first semi-annular member; and a bolt received in each of the aligned pairs of bolt holes of said first semi-annular member and said second semi-annular member, said bolt being tightable so as to draw the end faces of said male clamp hub and said female clamp hub together.

16. The clamp connection of claim 15, the annular protrusion applying a compression force against said elastomeric seal when the end faces are drawn together.

17. A clamp connection system comprising: a female clamp hub having a seal pocket formed in the face thereof; a male clamp hub having a raised face at an end thereof, said male clamp hub having an annular protrusion extending outwardly of the raised face; an elastomeric seal received in the seal pocket of said female clamp hub, said annular protrusion bearing against the side of said elastomeric seal, the raised face of said male clamp hub being received in an interior of said female clamp hub; a clamp connector extending around said female clamp hub and said male clamp hub so as to maintain said male clamp hub and said female clamp hub in a liquid-tight relationship; a swivel joint connected to one of said male clamp hub and said female clamp hub; and a pipe section connected to another of said male clamp hub and said female clamp hub.

18. The clamp connection of claim 17, said female clamp hub having an end face that bears against an end face of said male clamp hub, said female clamp hub and said male clamp hub each having an annular flange formed at an outer diameter thereof, said clamp connector being engaged with both of the annular flanges of said male clamp hub and said female clamp hub.

19. A clamp connection system comprising: a female clamp hub having a seal pocket formed in a face thereof; a male clamp hub having a raised face at an end thereof, said male clamp hub having an annular protrusion extending outwardly of the raised face; an elastomeric seal received in the seal pocket of said female clamp hub, said annular protrusion bearing against a side of said elastomeric seal, the raised face of said male clamp hub being received in an interior of said female clamp hub; a clamp connector extending around said female clamp hub and said male clamp hub so as to maintain said male clamp hub and said female clamp hub in a liquid-tight relationship; a first pipe section connected to one of said male clamp hub and said female clamp hub; and a second pipe section connected to another of said male clamp hub and said female clamp hub.

20. The clamp connection of claim 19, said female clamp hub having an end face that bears against an end face of said male clamp hub, said female clamp hub and said male clamp hub each having an annular flange formed at an outer diameter thereof, said clamp connector being engaged with both of the annular flanges of said male clamp hub and said female clamp hub.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0034] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the clamp connection of the present invention.

[0035] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the clamp connection of the present invention.

[0036] FIG. 3 is a detailed view showing circled area “3” of FIG. 2.

[0037] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of the male clamp hub.

[0038] FIG. 5 is an exploded upper perspective view of the female clamp hub of the present invention.

[0039] FIG. 6 is an upper perspective view showing the complete assembly of the clamp connection of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0040] Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown the clamp connection 10 in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. The clamp connection 10 includes a female clamp hub 12 having a seal pocket 14 formed therein, a male clamp hub 16 having a raised face 18 formed at an end thereof, an elastomeric seal 20 received in the seal pocket 14 of the female clamp hub 12, and a clamp connector 22 extending around the female clamp hub 12 and the male clamp hub 16 so as to maintain the male clamp hub 16 and the female clamp hub 12 in a liquid-tight relationship. The male clamp hub 16 has an annular protrusion 24 extending outwardly of the raised face 18. This annular protrusion 24 bears against a side of the elastomeric seal 20. The raised face 18 of the male clamp hub 16 is received in an interior of the female clamp hub 12.

[0041] The female clamp hub 12 has an end face 26 that bears against an end face 28 of the male clamp hub 16. The female clamp hub has an annular flange 30 formed at an outer diameter thereof. The male clamp hub 16 also has an annular flange 32 formed at an outer diameter thereof. The clamp connector 22 is engaged with both of the annular flanges 30 and 32 of the female clamp hub 12 and the male clamp hub 16.

[0042] The female clamp hub 12 has a recessed area 34 formed inwardly of the end face 26 thereof. The raised face 18 of the male clamp hub 16 is received in this recessed area 34 of the female clamp hub 12. It can be seen that the annular protrusion 24 of the male clamp hub 16 extends at least partially into the seal pocket 14 of the female clamp hub 12.

[0043] The elastomeric seal 20 has an anti-extrusion ring 36 at an outer diameter thereof. The annular protrusion 24 bears against this anti-extrusion ring 36.

[0044] The female clamp hub 12 has an interior passageway 38. The male clamp hub 16 also has an interior passageway 40. The interior passageway 38 of the female clamp hub 12 is axially aligned with the interior passageway 40 of the male clamp hub 16. The elastomeric seal 24 has an inner diameter 42 that faces the interior passageway 38 of the female clamp hub 12. The interior passageway 38 of the female clamp hub 12 has a wall 44. The interior passageway 40 of the male clamp hub 16 also has a wall 46. The inner diameter 42 of the elastomeric seal 20 is generally flush with or recessed from the walls 44 and 46 of the female clamp hub 12 and the male clamp hub 16.

[0045] In normal use, the female clamp hub 12 and the male clamp hub 16 can be joined the various components of a hydraulic fracturing system. In one embodiment, a swivel joint can be connected to one of the male clamp hub 16 and the female clamp hub 12 and a check valve can be connected to another of the male clamp hub 16 and the female clamp hub 12. In another embodiment, a swivel joint can be connected to one of the male clamp hub 16 and the female clamp hub 12 while a pipe section is connected to another of the male clamp hub 16 and the female clamp hub 12. In another embodiment, a check valve can be connected to one of the male clamp hub 16 and the female clamp hub 12 while a pipe section can be connected to another of the male clamp hub 16 and the female clamp hub 12. In still a further embodiment of the present invention, a first pipe section to be connected to one of the male clamp hub 16 and the female clamp hub 12 while a second pipe section is connected to another of the male clamp hub 16 and the female clamp hub 12.

[0046] FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a cross-section of the clamp connector 22. The clamp connector 22 is of a configuration of a clamp connector currently manufactured by Greyloc. This clamp connector includes a first semi-annular member 50 extending around a portion of the annular flanges of the male clamp hub 16 and the female clamp hub 12. There is a second semi-annular member 52 that extends around another portion of the annular flanges 30 and 32 of the female clamp hub 12 and the male clamp hub 16. When the first and second semi-annular members 50 and 52 are drawn together, the tapered relationship between the outer surfaces of the flanges 30 and 32 will cause the end faces 26 and 28 to be drawn together in order to create a liquid-tight seal between the female clamp hub 12 and the male clamp hub 16. When this liquid-tight relationship is achieved, the annular protrusion 24 will exert a compression force against the elastomeric seal 20.

[0047] In this configuration of the present invention, the use of the elastomeric seal, as opposed to metal-to-metal seals minimizes the effects of external loads and vibrations associated with pump systems. The elastomeric seal will tend to absorb many of these vibrations so that the vibrations do not pass entirely from one component to another component. This somewhat flexible and shock-absorbing connection avoids cracks in the connection that would otherwise occur by a metal-to-metal seal. The present invention entirely avoids such metal-to-metal seals. The use of the elastomeric seal 20, along with a clamp connector 22, allows the clamp connection to be reused. The engagement between the annular protrusion 24 and the elastomeric seal 20 establishes a more robust sealing configuration. The arrangement of the present invention allows the clamp connection to have a longer life than that of metal-to-metal seals. The use of the elastomeric seal 20, in combination with the annular protrusion 24, is very cost effective. The configuration of the clamp connection of the present invention allows it to be used in various locations along a flowline. This configuration also avoids damage to the various seal surfaces which could otherwise occur through the use of metal-to-metal seals.

[0048] FIG. 2 illustrates the relationship between the female clamp hub 12 and the male clamp hub 16. It can be seen that the female clamp hub 12 includes annular flange 30 extending outwardly therefrom. Male clamp hub 16 has annular flange 32 extending outwardly therefrom. The female clamp hub 32 includes a seal pocket (not illustrated) which is adapted to receive the elastomeric seal 20 therein. The male clamp hub 16 includes a raised face 18 that extends outwardly from the face 28 thereof. The annular protrusion 24 extends outwardly of the raised face 18.

[0049] FIG. 3 shows a detailed view of the relationship between the raised face 18 and the annular protrusion 24. It can be seen that the annular protrusion 24 has an outer diameter slightly less than the outer diameter of the raised face 18. The raised face 18 has a portion 60 that extends toward the body of the male clamp hub 16. The raised face 24 will extend into the seal pocket 14 so as to bear against a side of the elastomeric seal 20 in order to provide a strong sealing force thereagainst.

[0050] FIG. 4 shows a further view of the relationship between the female clamp hub 12 and the male clamp hub 16. In particular, it can be seen that the raised face 18 extends outwardly of the face 28 of the male clamp hub 16. The annular protrusion 24 extends slightly outwardly of the raised face 18. The annular protrusion 24 is generally aligned with the size and diameter of the elastomeric ring 20.

[0051] FIG. 5 shows the configuration of the seal pocket 14 of the female clamp hub 12. The elastomeric ring 20 is received into the interior of the seal pocket 12. The interior surfaces within the seal pocket 14 will bear against the side of the elastomeric ring 20 so as to provide a strong sealing force thereagainst. The male clamp hub 16 is positioned so as to be aligned with the female clamp hub 12.

[0052] FIG. 6 illustrates how the clamp connector 22 is configured so as to join the female clamp hub 12 with the male clamp hub 16. In particular, the clamp connector 22 includes a first semi-annular member 50 and a second semi-annular member 52 that are positioned over the respective annular flanges 30 and 32 of female clamp connector 12 and male clamp connector 16 in a manner shown in FIG. 1 hereinabove. The first semi-annular member 50 has bolt holes 62 and 64 extending outwardly therefrom. The second semi-annular member 52 also has bolt holes 66 and 68 extending outwardly therefrom. Bolts 70 and 72 are received in the bolt holes 62 and 66. Bolts 74 and 76 are received in the bolt holes 64 and 68. The bolt holes of the first semi-annular member 50 are axially aligned with the bolt holes of the second semi-annular member 52. The bolts 70, 72, 74 and 76 are suitably tightenable so as to draw the first and second semi-annular members 50 and 52 together so as to apply a strong force against the annular flanges of the female clamp hub 12 and the male clamp hub 16 in order to draw the end faces together. When this is accomplished, the annular protrusion applies a compression force against the elastomeric seal.

[0053] The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention is illustrative and explanatory thereof. Various changes in the details of the illustrated construction can be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the true spirit of the invention. The present invention should only be limited by the following claims and their legal equivalents.