The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 28, 1978
Filed:
May. 05, 1976
John T Herbert, Arlington, TX (US);
Frank J Kovitch, Arlington, TX (US);
Paul E Sullivan, Euless, TX (US);
Murdock Machine & Engineering Co., Irving, TX (US);
Abstract
A flexible riser connector for connecting an offshore well pipe to a riser extending upward from the ocean floor is provided. An annular cup-shaped housing with an upfacing central cavity and a cylindrical bottom port is axially adjoined to the well pipe. A nipple having an inner bore and a downfacing and flared lower end is axially adjoined to the riser, and depends into the upfacing central cavity of the annular housing. The riser is supported by a guide ring slidably mating with the inner surface of the flared lower end of the nipple, and mounted to the bottom of the cup portion of the annular housing. An elastomeric body including an assembly of concentric spherical rings radially spaced apart by elastomeric pads is adhered to the outer surface of the flared end of the nipple, and to the lower surface of a collar in sealed relation with the inner surface of the annular housing. The collar is captured within the annular housing by a retainer. Angular deviation between the axis of the nipple and that of the annular housing is accommodated by making the inner and outer surfaces of the flared lower end of the nipple, the surface of the guide ring contiguous to the inner surface of the flared lower end, the rings of the elastomeric seal, and the lower surface of the collar spherical with respect to a point located on the longitudinal axis of the annular housing and slightly below the flared end of the nipple.