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:
Sep. 29, 1987
Filed:
Jun. 05, 1985
Thomas R Schmitz, Katy, TX (US);
William M Taylor, Houston, TX (US);
Cameron Iron Works, Inc., Houston, TX (US);
Abstract
An adjustable flowline joint having an arcuate bell flange and a flanged assembly including a flange and a ring which are connected by studs and nuts, the assembly flange and ring have facing arcuate surfaces adapted to receive the arcuate bell flange therebetween, the nuts are tightened sufficiently to tension the studs to bring the arcuate surfaces into gripping clamping engagement with the arcuate bell flange and thereby make the joint rigid with metal-to-metal seals, an annular recess between the assembly flange and ring, and means for introducing fluid under pressure into the annular recess, whereby introduction of pressure into the recess increases the tension on the studs to cause sufficient elongation in them to relax the gripping clamping engagement of the surfaces on the arcuate bell flange and allow relative angular movement between the arcuate bell flange and the flange assembly to adjust angular relationship, release of pressure in the recess bringing the surfaces back into gripping engagement with the arcuate bell flange in a rigid metal-to-metal sealing relationship. In replacing a section of subsea flowline, two flowline sections are connected together by the improved adjustable joint and each section has at its other end means for connecting to the subsea flowline which connecting means preferably includes another adjustable joint and a remotely operable connector such as a collet connector.