Coiled tubing weld-on connector

1 . A connector for coiled tubing, comprising:

a main body having a weld-on neck configured for welding to a free end of the coiled tubing and having an internal stem extending distally from the weld-on neck to a proximal end, the stem having a sleeve portion and a nut portion proximal of the sleeve portion;

an alignment sleeve arranged on the sleeve portion of the stem and having a longitudinal length and a longitudinally extending groove on an outside surface thereof for receiving a longitudinal weld bead on an inside surface of the coiled tubing; and

a retainer nut arranged on the nut portion and configured to retain the alignment sleeve, wherein the alignment sleeve is configured for free rotation relative to the stem and the retainer nut to align the longitudinally extending groove with the longitudinal weld bead, and wherein the retainer nut comprises a stopping cap configured to engage the proximal end of the stem and arrest distal motion of the retainer nut and establish a distance between a distal end of the retainer nut to the weld-on neck that exceeds the length of the alignment sleeve maintaining the distal end of the retainer nut clear of a proximal end of the alignment sleeve.

2 . The connector of claim 1 , wherein the main body comprises a weld-on neck arranged on a proximal end of the main body and configured for insertion into a free end of the coiled tubing, the stem extending distally from the weld-on neck.

3 . The connector of claim 2 , wherein the weld-on neck extends from the proximal end of the main body at a bevel, the bevel configured to form a groove with another bevel on the free end of the coiled tubing when the weld-on neck is inserted into the free end.

4 . The connector of claim 1 , wherein the longitudinally extending groove has a bottom defining a diameter.

5 . The connector of claim 4 , wherein the retainer nut has an outer diameter approximately equal to the diameter defined by the bottom of the longitudinally extending groove.

6 . The connector of claim 5 , wherein the retainer nut threadably engages the nut portion of the stem.

7 . The connector of claim 6 , further comprising a set screw configured to impinge on the nut portion of the stem.

8 . The connector of claim 7 , wherein the set screw has a length selected to prevent backing out of the set screw when the stem of the connector is arranged within the coiled tubing.

9 . The connector of claim 1 , wherein the alignment sleeve is configured for a snug fit within the free end of the coiled tubing.

10 . The connector of claim 9 , further comprising additional alignment sleeves each with a different outer diameter that are selectable and interchangeable with the alignment sleeve allowing for selection of the alignment sleeve from the additional alignment sleeves.

11 . The connector of claim 1 , wherein the main body comprises a stabbing tip extending from a distal end thereof.

12 . The connector of claim 11 , wherein the main body comprises a handling collar arranged between the weld-on neck and the stabbing tip.

13 . The connector of claim 12 , wherein a distal end of the handling collar comprises a shoulder for arresting relative proximal motion of an adjacent element threadably engaging the stabbing tip.

14 . A method of connecting a connector to a free end of coiled tubing, the method comprising:

aligning a groove in an alignment sleeve with a weld seam on an inside surface of the coiled tubing, the aligning comprising rotating the alignment sleeve relative to the connector and relative to the coiled tubing;

inserting a portion of the connector with the alignment sleeve thereon, into the free end of the coiled tubing such that the groove receives the weld seam; and

welding the connector to the free end of the coiled tubing.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein inserting further comprises inserting a weld-on neck of the connector slightly within the free end of the coiled tubing.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the free end of the coiled tubing comprises a first beveled end and the connector comprises a second beveled end distal of the weld-on neck and the first and second beveled ends form a V-groove.

17 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising selecting the alignment sleeve from multiple alignment sleeves by choosing one of the multiple alignment sleeves with a snug fit in the free end of the coiled tubing and assembling the connector to include the selected alignment sleeve.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein assembling the connector comprises slipping the selected alignment sleeve over a stem of the connector and securing the alignment sleeve with a retainer nut.

19 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising securing the retainer nut with a set screw.