Stress isolated seal for flexible flowline connector

Abstract

The end fitting of a flexible flowline is provided with a mechanical clamp that secures the end fitting to the flowline while isolating the sealing area between the end fitting and the flowline from tension forces exerted on the flowline body. The pressure seal between the end fitting and the flowline is disposed behind the mechanical clamp so that the seal area of the flowline remains unaffected by flowline tension forces. The flowline is connected to the end fitting with a tubular assembly sleeve that is concentrically disposed between layers of the flow conduit adjacent the conduit end. During the initial assembly of the end fitting to the flowline, collet fingers in the assembly sleeve are snapped behind a receiving shoulder formed internally of the end fitting. The assembly sleeve may be welded to the flowline end before the sleeve is inserted into the end fitting. Snapn-in connection of the separable sleeve permits the flowline end to be welded and otherwise prepared for mating with the end connector before it is inserted into the end connector. In the assembled position, the sleeve is contained within the end fitting intermediate layers of the flowline end. The mechanical seal connecting the end fitting to the flowline body compresses the flowline radially toward the internal connector components to mechanically secure the end fitting and flowline body. The flowline end intermediate the clamp and the free end of the end fitting maintains a pressure seal with the surrounding end fitting and seal ring as the flowline is stressed in tension. Lateral and longitudinal adjustments in the fasteners of the clamp permit adjustment of the radial forces exerted by the sealing and clamping mechanism against the flowline.